Chapter 194: Operation Commences

The announcement of a first-level war readiness by the Asan country’s military shocked the world.

With such a posture, it seems Asan country wishes to invade the Tanga Federation, even separated by the Indian Ocean, otherwise why would the army be on first-level alert?

Asan country dispatched a fleet at the first opportunity, but it was limited in scale and included salvage ships, clearly aiming to recover the wreckage of their own warships.

However, no one excluded the possibility that this was an advance fleet—after all, Asan country’s aircraft carrier task force also showed signs of movement and was preparing to sail out.

Given the state of Asan country’s aircraft carriers, sailing out would take some time, so sending an advance fleet first made perfect sense.

In the following days, Old Qian’s shuttle visits made the world appreciate the responsible attitude of a certain harmonious great nation, starkly differing from the cold concern of the United States State Department spokesperson.

People were initially indifferent to the mediating efforts by the great harmonious nation, considering the relationships between the mediatory and the states involved; Asan country might not agree to have an intermediary.

But when their aircraft carrier task force rapidly headed towards the Tanga Federation, the world felt they were mediating through show of strength.

The aircraft carrier task force was evidently accepting an invitation to visit the Tanga Federation.

As expected, Asan country subsequently announced their willingness to negotiate with the Tanga Federation.

The international situation relaxed considerably, and the prices of oil and gold fell back.

However, no one noticed that Asan country’s first-level readiness across all military branches was not lifted.

During these eventful days, the insurgency within the Seychelles, the initiators, was also quelled.

In the early hours of the night, with the arrival of the Dodoma, the rebels’ days were numbered, and the vice president along with the defense minister quickly took shelter in the Asan country’s embassy.

President Danfor regained control, declared a state of emergency nationwide, and conducted a thorough purge of the Unity Party’s elder faction.

Simultaneously, Danfor decisively invited a certain country, requesting their aircraft carrier task force make a stopover visit to Victoria Harbor.

The Seychelles was willing to provide a certain level of supply to the aircraft carrier task force and once again expressed willingness to lease Mahe Island to a certain country for a military base.

To everyone’s surprise, a certain country agreed this time, and the carrier task force en route to the Tanga Federation docked at Victoria Harbor.

For a time, the local Tang-born residents were simply overjoyed.

The United States responded immediately, with the White House spokesperson expressing serious concerns about the Seychelles inviting another country to establish a military base.

The United States would suspend related aid programs to the Seychelles to prevent the government from using the aid money for military base construction.

Asan country, which promptly followed, expressed dissatisfaction with the policy of the Seychelles government. If the expatriates in Seychelles were not treated fairly, there would be economic sanctions against the Seychelles.

Nevertheless, President Danfor of the Seychelles made a speech expressing his outrage at the unwarranted interference in his country’s internal affairs by the great powers.

He praised the great harmonious country for never interfering in the internal affairs of others and always speaking out for the rights of small and weak nations, showing an admirable great nation’s style.

While the international community was in flux, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, a group of Japanese hurriedly exited the airport and boarded several awaiting off-road vehicles.

Inside the central vehicle, two middle-aged men were already talking.

The one with a somewhat fierce face cautiously said, “Director Watanabe, do we rest here first and set off tomorrow, or…”

The one referred to as Director Watanabe was none other than the bespectacled staff officer, Watanabe Tomohito.

He waved his hand, saying directly, “It’s still early; we head immediately to the subsidiary of Heiying Pharmaceutical Research Institute. I’ve heard it’s a long drive.”

“Yes, it’s a 400-kilometer journey.”

“Nase, how is the matter I asked you to investigate going?”

“I’ve sent people to the pharmaceutical institute; it’s indeed empty— even the secret room you mentioned has been cleared out,” Nase Ojiro quickly replied.

“Oh, even such a secret room could be discovered— it seems Kodamura really turned traitor,” Watanabe Tomohito said as he leaned back in his seat, relaxing.

Nase Ojiro glanced at Watanabe Tomohito and asked, “Director Watanabe, since there’s nothing left there, do we need to rush over so urgently?”

Watanabe Tomohito glanced at Nase Ojiro and said indifferently, “Did you inquire with the Kenyan government whether they specified a route when they allowed the South Sudan Defense Force Special Unit to enter their country?”

Nase Ojiro hurriedly replied, “I asked, but it seems that it was personally arranged by President Uyata, and no one knows how South Sudan’s forces crossed Kenya from west to east to reach the research institute near the U.S. military base in Mombasa.”

“President Uyata personally arranged it? There must be someone carrying out the orders, right? Didn’t you find that person?”

“No, I investigated all departments of the presidential palace; no one knew how President Uyata arranged it.”

“Their marching route must have encountered people, right? You couldn’t find out anything?”

“I couldn’t find out; there were no caravans heading near Mombasa during that time. Maybe it was a plane, but the U.S. military base told us that there were absolutely no unidentified planes landing at Mombasa Airport at that time.”

Watanabe Tomohito’s hand patted his knee lightly. “Interesting, when did the South Sudan Defense Force have such a covert special ops team?”

“Do you suspect that Kenya is lying?”

“I wouldn’t exclude such a possibility; Kenya has always been supportive of South Sudan, and they are actively building that oil pipeline for South Sudan…”

Watanabe Tomohito stopped and asked, “Since this incident, has Kenya’s attitude towards us changed in any way?”

Nase Ojiro seemed to recall something, “Kenya’s politicians seem quite unwilling to meet with us, and a few projects we invested in are being rushed to completion ahead of schedule…

“Moreover, a few ministers close to us were dismissed by President Uyata.”

“These black devils— so pragmatic. We have large investments here; it would be unacceptable for them to go to waste.”

“Director Watanabe, how should we respond?”

“This matter is not within our job scope. However, we should also offer some help. Arrange it so that after I return from Mombasa, I will meet with that prime minister.”

“All right. But that prime minister can’t really influence President Uyata’s decisions, can he?”

“He, a leader of the opposition, has become a powerless prime minister. I presume he must be tired of it; I’ll make sure he is filled with fighting spirit once again.”

“Understood, I’ll arrange it right away.”

Nase Ojiro immediately took out his phone and made a call. Soon after, his face showed a trace of happiness, “Director Watanabe, the prime minister’s secretary heard that you came to Kenya and is very happy to arrange a meeting with the prime minister.

“He says that since you are on your way to Mombasa, he can arrange for you to meet the prime minister there, as the prime minister is vacationing in Mombasa these few days.”

“Lucky us, Nase. You’ve done an excellent job. I am looking forward to meeting that prime minister.”

In South Sudan, Zhuba, the Mystic Technology Industrial Park.

The night was deep and starless, so dark one could hardly see their own hand before their face.

At two in the morning, when most people were asleep,

A fully armed squad, in combat formation, was quickly sneaking towards the industrial park.

“Stark, why is there suddenly a forest here? Isn’t it a grassland on the map?”

A tall man dressed in camouflage looked at the dark forest in front of him and asked Stark, who was following close by.

Stark was also bewildered.

As the leader of GIA’s action group, he finally persuaded Clark, the head of the office, to allow him and his group to come to South Sudan’s Zhuba ahead of time to keep an eye on Li Shennan (Du Qiu).

After all, Clark, his boss, had planned to use Imanka as bait to lure Li Shennan somewhere to capture him.

This bothered Stark because the greatest credit would inevitably go to Imanka; he never believed that they needed Imanka as bait, and then they could capture Du Qiu (Li Shennan).

According to the intelligence sent out by Lagia before his death, Li Shennan was already identified as Du Qiu.

Stark believed that since Du Qiu had gone through plastic surgery and changed his appearance, even if Imanka showed up, Li Shennan might not recognize her or let her get close.

Fortunately, Stark had a brainwave and suggested to Clark that even if they used Imanka as bait, they should first familiarize themselves with Li Shennan’s current patterns and environment to facilitate the final action.

Clark then allowed him to take people to Zhuba, South Sudan, in advance.

During this time, he led his group in tracking and surveillance, familiarizing themselves with Li Shennan’s behavior and the surroundings of this industrial park.

They also reported the topography and security situation, allowing the military to redraw topographic maps based on satellite images in conjunction with their intelligence.

Everything was ready; they were just waiting for the final order from Clark.

But Clark kept insisting on waiting, and Stark was stuck here, “soaking up the sun” every day.

It wasn’t until the conflict between the Tanga Federation and Asan country began, with a certain country’s aircraft carrier moving towards the Tanga Federation, that things changed.

Yesterday, Stark’s action group got wind from inside South Sudan’s defense forces that Li Shennan might be returning to the Tanga Federation.

When Stark relayed the information to Clark, he immediately said that the action would begin soon and arranged for a military assault team to assist.

Stark didn’t think much about why Clark suddenly decided to take action; as long as they acted now, there would be no role for Imanka, and the credit would naturally be his.

Tonight, finally, they moved into action.

But why was there suddenly a forest in front of them?

“Shit, there shouldn’t be a forest here, I even checked again during the day,” Stark angrily told Sanchez, the captain of the assault team.

Captain Sanchez was shocked and immediately shouted over the communication channel, “All units, halt!”

Members of the assault team and the action group stopped advancing and looked around cautiously.

Suddenly, every one of them was enveloped in a dazzling burst of light!