Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 305 - 291: Wise Counsel

Chapter 305: Chapter 291: Wise Counsel

"It’s over," not only struck at Joelson’s confidence but also shattered the already soaring morale of everyone present.

Khalid slightly opened his mouth, not knowing whether to explode with anger or maintain silence.

Gao Yi’s brain only momentarily crashed, but then it started operating at high speed. "It’s over," did he mean Joelson and his boss were finished, or was everyone doomed? Just analyzing this was enough to preoccupy Gao Yi for a while.

Only Joelson, who had just revived, seemed unaffected in spirit.

After a brief pause, Joelson said with a calm tone, "No, sir, we’re not done yet. I’m at the scene, I know, Libya is very chaotic. Our intelligence system there has already been destroyed. Therefore, no matter what happens here, no one will know."

"Joelson, you’ve disappeared, you can’t come back. You know what you’d face if you did. A lie is still a lie. We can only cover lies that haven’t been discovered, but now, there’s no way to hide it."

With a heavy sigh, his boss said in a grave voice, "Don’t worry about me destroying you to save myself, and I can’t kill you to silence you, because I don’t even know where you are. You’ve disappeared, so just disappear forever. It’s better for all of us."

After saying that, the boss hung up the phone, briefly explained the current situation, and felt there was nothing more to say.

Joelson held his mobile phone but didn’t put it down, his expression congealed on his face.

Khalid opened his mouth several times, finally asking, "CIA going all out? What does that mean? Does it mean a lot of people?"

Joelson, expressionless, responded, "Nearby, headquarters, any personnel that can be mobilized are all brought here, primarily operational staff. Not thousands, but at least hundreds, bringing along every surveillance device CIA owns, planes, helicopters, satellites..."

As Joelson spoke, his voice grew lower and lower, while Khalid’s face turned increasingly pale.

Suddenly, Gao Yi asked, "What would you face if you went back? They would interrogate you? I heard that Americans treat even prisoners as heroes."

With an expressionless face, Joelson said, "That’s for soldiers. I am a spy. Spies... don’t get captured, exposure for a spy means termination. If I go back to the CIA now, I would have to undergo a lie detector test, and if they suspect me, interrogation is definitely on the table."

After finishing, Joelsen quietly added, "No one can endure that kind of torment. No one."

Finally having someone on the inside of the CIA, and so soon to be disposed of?

Gao Yi earnestly asked, "Can you tell me who your boss is, what his position is, and what exactly is your relationship to him?"

Joelson glanced at Gao Yi and whispered, "No chance."

"You still want to protect him? I know you, can’t you find him?"

Gao Yi’s words were brief but Joelson must have understood their implication—since they knew Joelson’s identity, inferring his boss’s identity shouldn’t be too hard.

Of course, it wasn’t that simple, but, from what Gao Yi had demonstrated so far, Joelson figured it wouldn’t be difficult for him.

"Crawford Charles, Director of Overseas Intelligence, CIA Intelligence Bureau. Five months ago, he was transferred from his post to take charge as the head of the Cybersecurity Office."

So, he was a key player at the CIA, moved to manage cybersecurity—a significant demotion indeed.

It wasn’t that cybersecurity was unimportant, but in the United States, other departments, such as the NSA, had more say and power than the CIA in that area.

Therefore, cybersecurity was somewhat regarded as a lesser position within the CIA.

Joelson looked at Gao Yi, saw no particular reaction, and continued, "I was his assistant. After he was transferred, I had two choices: work as a deputy in the Cybersecurity Office or be dispatched abroad for specific assignments. According to my level, I should have been in charge of intelligence work for one country. They originally wanted to send me to Norway, but I refused, volunteering for a dangerous zone instead. Libya was still considered a risky area on the CIA’s list, but actually, not much was happening here, so I got sent."

After finishing, Joelson seemed too exhausted to gesture and then faintly added, "Just think about it, if the Director of Overseas Field Operations of the CIA’s Intelligence Bureau doesn’t even know the real identity of Freedom Wind, the hierarchy there must be very high, at least at the Deputy Director level."

Gao Yi thought for a moment, then said, "You mean, you’ve been working hard in Libya, hoping to earn your way back to headquarters?"

"Of course not! I just wanted to do what a spy is supposed to do, for the country, for myself, do something meaningful, not spend all day handling office politics, competing with bastards for promotions, vying for power. I don’t want to drink coffee from a coffee cup that costs 120,000 US Dollars. I’d rather use that money as payment for informants. 120,000 US Dollars—it could support a hundred informants here in this godforsaken place in Libya!"

Gao Yi was quite surprised, "120,000 US Dollars for a coffee cup?"

Joelson paused, then wearily said, "Is that all you focused on?"

"Come on, who wouldn’t notice that? How do they expense it?"

Joelson smiled wryly, then whispered, "If Freedom Wind hadn’t caused trouble, Crawford would have worked with me to suppress this issue here. The local chief, Henry, has no background; he’s just here to bide his time. Making him take the blame wouldn’t have been a problem, but now, no one can suppress this. I can only disappear forever..."

After finishing, Joelson looked at Gao Yi and asked, "Are you going to kill me now?"

Why wasn’t Joelson’s will to survive as strong as it used to be?

Was it because despair outweighed heartbreak?

Gao Yi thought for a moment, feeling that Joelson could not die and Crawford could not fall.

It was a simple reason: they finally had a CIA insider, how could they just let him slip away.

Joelson had given up, but Gao Yi had to figure out a way to save him.

"Wait a minute, all of you wait, I need to make a phone call."

After saying that, Gao Yi said to Joelson and Khalid, "Don’t panic, things aren’t that bad yet. Just wait for me to make a call."

In such matters, Gao Yi actually didn’t understand very well, and he didn’t know how to break the deadlock.

When in doubt, ask for advice from others.

Whom to ask? Marina was an option, but considering her abilities, she might not have any great solutions for breaking the deadlock.

Abdulla was not worth considering either, as his brain was not particularly useful.

Gao Yi had one thought: a CIA insider was extremely valuable. Joelson himself was nothing; the key was Crawford. If they could actually pull it off and bring them ashore, that would be incredibly valuable.

So, Gao Yi decided to seek help from his top strategic adviser.

Who?

Of course, Musa.

Gao Yi walked out of the hut and dialed Musa’s number in the courtyard.

Musa answered, then cheerfully said, "Big brother, you’re not calling me for something again, are you?"

It seemed that without an issue, Gao Yi would hardly remember Musa. Gao Yi chuckled awkwardly, then whispered, "There’s something... I’ve come across someone, um, I’ve captured someone, let’s assume he’s from the CIA..."

It took Gao Yi a full twenty minutes to clarify the situation, his predicament, and the CIA’s reaction, detailing everything clearly.

At last, Gao Yi got to the crux of the matter, then eagerly said, "Now I just want to know how to break this deadlock. Do you have any ideas?"

Musa sighed and whispered quietly, "Big brother, I guess... you want me to ask the teacher, right?"

"Right, could you ask him?"

"Okay, wait for me; this might take a long time."

Musa hung up, and then Gao Yi paced back and forth in the courtyard, waiting anxiously.

Gao Yi himself took twenty minutes to explain, so Musa’s recounting wouldn’t be brief either, but contrary to Gao Yi’s expectation, Musa called back in less than ten minutes.

"Big brother, I asked about it. Assuming everything you said is true and no one has deliberately set a trap for you, then the problem is quite simple."

Gao Yi could hardly believe his ears and urgently asked, "Simple? How so?"

"The teacher said, now time is precious, and the situation is urgent. You only need to achieve three things to turn danger into safety. First, one should not strive for an unattainable victory but should secure the one possible against the enemy.

Second, you should use reverse psychology, pretending to let go when actually you intend to capture.

Third, the most dangerous place is the safest place."

Gao Yi thought about it and said, "Let’s not talk in proverbs now, make it more direct."

"Don’t worry, the first point doesn’t apply to you; it’s key to the person you’ve captured, as for self-preservation, those most familiar with the situation will naturally think of suitable methods. But for the second point, you need to release Joelson, not just let him go, but have CIA personnel rescue him, you get that? The third point, the darkest place is under the candlelight; your current location is very dangerous, indeed very easy to expose, but instead of waiting for them to discover, better expose yourself proactively. Then don’t go elsewhere, just hide a little further away, that should be enough. You can expose yourself then go into hiding for the long term."

Understanding this, Gao Yi couldn’t help but nod, saying, "The most dangerous place is indeed the safest place, yeah, I get it now."

Musa lowered his voice, "This matter is both difficult and simple, too hurried, but if you understand what to do, then good, and if not, you still need to handle the most important things first. Build overtly, march covertly: you need to pretend as if you’re planning to flee."

Gao Yi suddenly said, "Your teacher isn’t just right beside you, is he?"

Musa was silent.

Gao Yi hesitated for a moment, then finally said, "Maybe I should just talk to him directly?"

Musa whispered, "Are you sure you want to do this? Big brother, have you thought it through?"

Gao Yi hesitated for a moment, then ultimately said, "Never mind; it’s better if you convey it. Um, the darkest place is under the candlelight, I got it. Now I’ll go handle it."