Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 186 - 174 Two Plans

Chapter 186: Chapter 174 Two Plans

The Secret Action Bureau was still the same, but with a few more people.

However, the biggest difference was that Grins had become the highest commander of the Defense Clandestine Service in Iraq.

It sounded like a significant title, but it was really just in charge of the intelligence work at one workstation.

There were only about a dozen or twenty people, and with the addition of Peter and his team of five, the power in Grins’s hands had undergone an earth-shattering change.

Moreover, the advantage of a small temple is that you don’t need a big Buddha to hold the place.

But the most impressive thing was that Grins had just taken office today, and he hadn’t even had time to celebrate.

"Do you know, my appointment was supposed to take some time, about a month to go through all the processes, and I would need to return to the Pentagon for the appointment, training, and to report on duty."

Grins wasn’t boasting; he was just calmly stating a fact, then with great emotion, he said, "But after you mentioned a 500 million USD deal, I received special approval to take office immediately and to oversee all the operations of the Secret Action Bureau in Iraq. Moreover, my level was raised a level higher than originally planned. I was promoted by four levels because I made an extremely outstanding contribution, and it was necessary for me to oversee new tasks and make new contributions quickly."

After finishing, Grins said very composedly, "You know what the new contributions I’m talking about are, right?"

"Of course I know. It’s about rescuing Abdulla, and your boss getting the 500 million USD order kickback."

"That’s not just a simple kickback. It’s a great opportunity for our General to repay his major backers. It’s no longer a matter of how much money."

Grins chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Previously, I was shuffled around various intelligence agencies, always unable to rise in level. Just when I thought I lacked the capacity and didn’t deserve a promotion, I suddenly met you."

Spreading his hands, Grins said earnestly, "Now, my rank is the highest among my contemporaries, on par with the best among my colleagues. I’ve known you for a month, yet I’ve progressed faster than in the previous twenty years. Or rather, you helped me catch up on the twenty years I’d fallen behind in less than a month. Now I understand, my inability to be promoted was just because I had no one above me."

Scratching his head, Grins pondered for a moment, then said, "I don’t know what to say. I just want to thank you, and now, let’s discuss how we’re going to carry out the rescue operation."

"You’re welcome."

Gao Yi smiled understatedly, whispering, "It’s coincidental, but also a testament to your outstanding abilities."

Grins smiled, then immediately said, "The Secret Action Bureau cannot intervene directly, which means we can’t move, including myself and the action team. We definitely cannot act directly."

"I understand, and what I need most is intelligence support."

"Our penetration into the CIA isn’t great; it’s hard to get reliable inside information from the CIA, but this case is somewhat different."

Grins sighed, "After receiving your call, I sent someone to the embassy to inquire, and just this evening, a CIA special forces team flew here from Syria. They were initially only supposed to make a brief stop in Baghdad and catch a plane back to the United States tomorrow, but now they’ve been urgently deployed."

"I already know this."

Grins paused, "You know?"

How should Gao Yi explain that Harold had directly inquired about it from his allies? To be honest, it almost seemed like selling out Harold.

Seeing that Gao Yi didn’t respond, Grins knew this was a question better left unasked, so he immediately continued, "No matter, we continue. The CIA has a very strong combat team, and they were supposed to leave tomorrow but will now likely continue guarding Abdulla. This means a forced rescue would be extremely dangerous."

Gao Yi nodded, "Yes, I saw their moves. They are indeed a different kind of team."

Grins rubbed his hands, speaking softly, "My superior, sorry, I still can’t reveal his name, is very interested in cooperating, willing to do everything possible to achieve it. Therefore, we could also deploy the Black Army!"

Gao Yi was quite surprised.

"Oh? Black Army?"

"An unlisted force, belonging to no department, comprising carefully selected experts."

Grins confidently stated, "Let me put it this way, in intelligence, we can’t compare to the CIA, but in combat, the CIA could never compare to us."

No need for a direct confrontation then? That’s indeed very good.

Gao Yi immediately said, "That’s wonderful!"

Grins grimaced, "Don’t be too happy too soon. It takes time to mobilize a usable Black Army. It’s like this, we ultimately cannot directly attack the CIA, so the Black Army must be utterly reliable, and this is Baghdad. The Pentagon doesn’t have a need for Black Army here, so selecting the right personnel and sending them to Baghdad will take at least twenty-four hours."

"Twenty-four hours?"

"At least. We must use only Middle Eastern personnel, and their public identities have to be ISIS. Only such people can be used."

After speaking, Grins suddenly said, "This is top secret, you won’t go around spreading it, right?"

"Top secret... isn’t that a public secret?"

"Uh, at least there’s no evidence."

"I definitely won’t spread it around, but if you need it within twenty-four hours, it might be too late."

Gao Yi, somewhat helplessly, said, "We can send someone from Saudi now. My plan is to have them draw attention. What do you think?"

Grins furrowed his brows and replied, "Forget it, they’d even mess up drawing attention. Using them is worse than going yourself. The difference between risking and courting death lies here. Acting alone is a risk, but acting with the National Intelligence Bureau is courting death."

After speaking, Grins dismissively waved his hand and said, "The National Intelligence Bureau is like a subordinate unit to the CIA. You want to cooperate with them? I’m afraid the moment you issue an order, the CIA will know right away."

Gao Yi was speechless, on the verge of tears.

Prince Shaman’s attitude was firm, but the people he could use were not up to the task.

"What should I do then?"

"I’ll first pinpoint Abdullah’s place of detention, figure out the security forces. Let me put it this way, rescuing him is hard, but killing him would be much easier."

Gao Yi nodded helplessly.

Grins continued, "There are two plans now. One is to wait for the Black Army to arrive and initiate a terrorist attack, then publicly blame ISIS and secretly blame the National Intelligence Bureau."

Gao Yi exclaimed in astonishment, "A terrorist attack? That’s an embassy, you guys really dare?"

"No, we can’t attack the embassy, that’s definitely not feasible, the consequences would be too severe."

Grins instinctively lowered his voice and said, "Have Shaman put pressure on the United States, demand someone from the embassy, and we will definitely support the prince in pressuring the CIA. All the CIA can do is deny they captured Abdullah and, under pressure, they must transfer him. Once he leaves the embassy, we can act, the Black Army can directly ambush the entire team, leaving no survivors, and even if the CIA suspects, they have no evidence, and they should suspect Prince Shaman’s people, not us."

This was a method of throwing the blame both openly and secretly.

Gao Yi thought about it; this method was indeed good, but there seemed not to be enough time.

"What’s the second plan?"

"The second plan is riskier for you. Try to infiltrate the embassy. We can provide support, then find a way to get close to Abdullah and kill him. That’s exactly your assassin’s bread and butter."

Spreading his hands, Grins said helplessly, "We’re indeed willing to cooperate, but there’s just not enough time. These are the two plans we can come up with, and I personally strongly recommend the first one. Because if you personally go to kill Abdullah, you might succeed, but how to retreat is really a problem, because the CIA’s Special Action Team is personally ensuring protection, and that’s a different concept."

Gao Yi also preferred the first plan, but he didn’t have to stick to just the two options presented by Grins.

"Maybe there’s a third option."

"Oh?"

Might as well be open about it, there was no point hiding anything for Harold now.

Gao Yi said in a low voice, "Harold is willing to help. He can try to meet Abdullah, and if he can see him, I can go with him. That way, I’ll have a chance to get close to Abdullah."

"Harold is personally intervening? Has he switched sides to Shaman?"

Grins was still aware of the situation, and after a brief moment of surprise, he said softly, "If Harold is truly willing to help, that would make getting close to Abdullah much easier."

Gao Yi raised two fingers and whispered, "So now we walk on two legs; I’ll try to approach Abdullah first. This will take time, and meanwhile, let Prince Shaman publicly apply pressure. If the CIA can transfer Abdullah out of the embassy, it would be convenient for us to act."

Grins shook his head and said, "If the CIA transfers Abdullah, then the Black Army’s engagement would be strong; their combat capability is no weaker than the CIA’s Special Action Team, and they don’t care if they die in the process, but the same transfer, if you guys go in guns blazing, that’s suicide."

Grins took a breath and continued, "I don’t doubt your capabilities, perhaps you really can kill Abdullah, but how to survive the CIA’s retaliation is the question, so, is it worth it?"

It’s not worth it.

Gao Yi sighed and said, "Is there a quick and safe method?"

"Not from me. The safe plan is to wait twenty-four hours, ensuring action within forty-eight hours, allowing the Black Army to act, even indeed carrying out a rescue operation."

Gao Yi pondered for a moment, then finally said, "Alright, we’ll proceed with this plan for now, safety first!"