After the cook and Song Heping left, Thomas returned to his desk and once again propped his legs up on the table, reaching into his pocket to retrieve something.
Suddenly, the computer screen lit up, displaying a dialog box for an encrypted video call waiting to be confirmed.
Seeing the ID code, Thomas quickly maneuvered the mouse and connected the call.
His direct superior appeared on the screen, Bront, the chief of operations at Langley.
"Thomas, I have some bad news to inform you of,"
Hearing his superior mention bad news, Thomas, who had planned to report good news, was momentarily stunned.
"You need to organize and classify the operation files about Angel. Someone will come to take over soon."
"Who?! Who is taking over?"
Thomas felt as if a spring had been installed under his chair, giving him an urge to jump up on the spot.
Thomas had been tracking Operation Angel.
He had even been assigned here largely because his superiors had tasked him with this responsibility.
Planning, waiting, and finally Angel had arrived.
Now he was to hand over all the operation files?
"It's ISA. They are going to take over this operation,"
Bront seemed helpless.
"They have Level Five highest command authorization. This decision was made after consultation at the highest level,"
Hearing it was ISA, Thomas's head buzzed.
ISA stands for Intelligence Support Activity, an American Army task force.
This unit didn't have the renown of Special Forces like Navy Seals and Delta because their reputation wasn't for the lack of capability but rather their extreme efficiency and secrecy.
While you might see Delta Force in action, and images of them could be captured, you would never find a photo of an ISA task force member.
Thomas knew very well that these bastards were not to be trifled with!
"Why them? The military is intervening?!"
Bront spread his hands helplessly: "Yes, the military was very dissatisfied with your failure in the airport operation last time. Keep in mind, the DOD guys have always been skeptical about us at Langley, they are biased against us. Only ISA can reassure those arrogant old men,"
"Even if I failed last time, they shouldn't strip me of the authority to keep tracking Operation Angel!" Thomas said indignantly, "I should have another chance, at least one!"
Bront said, "Maybe you haven't received the latest intelligence. According to the information obtained by ISA, this time Angel is not only involved with the hidden issues in David Kelly's report but also Mr. S's Gold and funds issues. So, the situation has completely changed, the latest directive from the top is that Angel must not die. We need her to head to Krasa Town and ensure she meets Mr. J."
Thomas was shocked, "How could Mr. J be involved with Mr. S's hidden Gold?"
Bront sighed and said, "ISA received precise intelligence, after the coalition forces entered Illigo, so far apart from the 30 tons of Gold in the Imperial Palace and those AK47s made from gold, at least 150 tons have gone missing. ISA learned from a secret informant that Mr. J is Mr. S's former confidant, Mohammed Said. If we catch him, we won't just find the gold, but possibly Mr. S as well."
The so-called Mr. S is a codename for Sadam.
Thomas immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
The process was originally straightforward—before launching "Operation Freedom Illigo," Langley fabricated false intelligence about Mr. S possessing massive weapons and provided these false details to David Kelly, a renowned weapons expert from Country M, who then issued the infamous analysis report on weapons of mass destruction.
Subsequently, Mr. Powell, the minister from the DOD of Country M, dramatically presented a tube of washing powder at the UN, famously condemning Mr. S as a menace to humanity.
Country M and Britain used this report as a critical basis to justify their "righteous" launch of "Operation Freedom Illigo."
Weapons expert Kelly, perhaps troubled by his conscience, revealed some details about the report to a newspaper in July of the year the war broke out.
He died near his home a few days later, and the local police in Country M, after an extremely "professional" investigation, concluded that it was a case of "suicide," and the matter was dropped.
Usually, with death, the account is settled, and secrets blow away with the wind.
But suddenly, a Mr. J emerged, contacted Angel, and claimed to have a video of a conversation between Kelly and Mr. S during Kelly's investigation in Illigo. In the video, Mr. S allegedly provided "undeniable" evidence proving he had no massive weapons.
The video was Angel's reason for coming to Illigo and also why Thomas needed to prevent Angel from meeting Mr. J.
Everything seemed perfectly seamless.
Even disguising Kelly's death as a suicide wasn't difficult.
Just as Thomas thought everything was about to end, did ISA suddenly interfere?
Were they trying to pick the ripe fruit?
Thomas didn't think so.
After all, those 150 tons of scattered Gold seemed even more tempting.
"SIR! I have a plan." After a brief consideration, Thomas bit his lip as he stared at the screen, his eyes revealing a hint of ruthlessness.
"We must get involved; we can't let ISA have it all to themselves."
Upon hearing this, Bronte responded with a soft "Oh," expressing his surprise, a flash of admiration in his eyes, and then asked Thomas, "What's your plan?"
"SIR, leave everything to me," Thomas said. "I'll persuade them because I have something they really need. Besides, if they offend us, I believe ISA's operations here won't go smoothly."
Bronte appeared to consider and didn't immediately answer the question.
Eventually, he nodded and said, "Alright, this conversation never happened. In three hours, I will have this conversation with you, and I will have the tech department erase the computer records. As for how you did it, I'm not interested to know—I only need the results."
Thomas gave a sly smile: "Everything as you command, rest assured!"
The video call ended.
Thomas sat in his chair, staring blankly for a moment.
Soon, he heard footsteps.
The footsteps of several people.
Then came a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Clearing his throat, he composed himself, poised like a warrior headed to the battlefield, ready to confront the ISA agents who were entering through the door.
Indeed, it was the people from ISA.
"Are you GSR Director Thomas?"
The leader, a man in his thirties with a buzz cut and a pair of golden yellow sideburns, slim in build, walked straight up to Thomas.
The people behind him ignored Thomas completely and walked straight towards the file cabinets.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!"
Thomas angrily stood up and turned towards the few ISA agents.
"Take your paws off! This is my territory!"
Golden Beard directly took out a document from his briefcase and handed it over.
"This is an order from the highest authority, take a look. Hurry up with the handover, we don't have time to waste here with you."
Thomas took the document and glanced at it without paying much attention, almost as if he had no interest in the document at all.
His hand slowly reached into his pocket.
Golden Beard's gaze sharpened suddenly, like two daggers. His right hand, which had been hanging by the seam of his pants, lifted slightly.
He had a SIG P226 pistol on his waist.
If Thomas made any sudden moves, he was confident he could subdue this GSR member.
"Don't get excited."
The corner of Thomas's mouth twitched, almost as if mocking Golden Beard's tension.
"I just want to give you guys something nice."
After speaking, his hand slowly pulled out from his pocket, holding something and shaking it in his hand.
"I think I can make a deal with you."
As he spoke, his face was confident of victory.