Ethiopia, border temporary camp.
Song Heping squatted beside the diesel generator, using a tactical knife to slice through a piece of hard compressed biscuit.
In the distance, a sandstorm was approaching, a yellow-brown wall of wind swallowing the horizon. The perimeter sentries had long since erected dust blankets, yet fine sand still infiltrated every crevice without fail.
Ferrari lifted the tent flap, walking in with a somber face.
"Henry is missing," he spoke directly, his voice low yet audible to everyone in the tent.
Song Heping paused briefly in his actions but soon resumed slicing the biscuit, asking without looking up, "When did it happen?"
"Three days ago."
Ferrari was fixated on Song Heping's reaction.
"I hired someone locally to investigate. His apartment in Morocco was raided, signs of a struggle were left behind, but no bodies."
Song Heping finally lifted his head, his gaze was unnervingly calm.
"Oh," he replied casually, continuing to slice the biscuit, "He has a lover in Casablanca, might have gone wild."
Ferrari's brow furrowed intensely.
"Song, are you kidding me? Do you think Henry is some reckless youth? Even if he went wild, his satellite phone wouldn't be uncontactable."
His voice suddenly elevated, "Henry is the head of our company's intelligence department! There are only ten days left until the Mogadishu operation. Without his analysis, we don't even know Abdul's security setup!"
Song Heping finally stopped his knife, looking up at Ferrari.
"I know."
"You know?" Ferrari was nearly exploding, "And you're still so calm? If Henry got into the hands of the CIA or Mossad, as soon as they tip off Abdul, we're all dead!"
The air inside the tent instantaneously solidified.
Hunter, White Bear, Nura, along with several other core members were all staring at Song Heping, awaiting his response.
Song Heping slowly stood up, dusted the biscuit crumbs off his hands, and walked to the tactical table, pointing a finger at the map showing Mogadishu Port.
"No change in plan," Song Heping maintained his composure, "The unchanging withstands all changes."
"What?!"
Ferrari could hardly believe his ears.
"Song, you're mad! This is not how you deal with sudden events. The plan must be revised, I advise abandoning it!"
"I said, no change in plan," Song Heping's tone was as hard as iron, "Proceed on the 15th as scheduled."
"I oppose!"
Ferrari slammed a fist onto the table, causing the marker pens on the tactical board to jump up.
"Are you insane?! If the CIA already knows our plan, then this is a trap!"
Song Heping stared at him, his eyes unwavering.
"Then let it be a trap."
Ferrari stared hard at Song Heping, trying to find a hint of hesitation on his face, but Song Heping's expression was like an ice wall, perfectly intact.
"Song, what exactly are you thinking?" Ferrari lowered his voice, almost squeezing out the words from between clenched teeth, "If Henry is captured, the CIA will surely pry open his mouth! They might already have laid a sky-net waiting for us in Mogadishu!"
Song Heping did not respond, instead, he pulled a USB drive from the secret pocket of his tactical vest and tossed it onto the table.
"This is the intelligence analysis report Henry completed before he left."
Ferrari was stunned, quickly grabbing the USB and plugging it into the tactical tablet. Instantly, the screen displayed a series of encrypted files—Abdul's itinerary, Mogadishu port security deployment, Buntland Armed's patrol routes...
"This..." Ferrari looked up, eyes full of shock, "Why didn't you say this earlier?"
Song Heping did not respond directly, remaining cold, "The intelligence is already in hand, Henry completed his task, I had no need to report it."
Ferrari suddenly realized, his face turning pale instantly, "Even so, I still demand to halt the plan!"
With that, he raised his hand.
"I demand a vote, my stance is opposition!"
Song Heping's gaze finally showed a slight change, coldly sweeping across the room at everyone.
"You all oppose me? Demand halting the plan? But before you vote, you need to know one thing, our weapons have already been transported to the waters near Somalia, they'll be delivered to Sajia tomorrow. If we halt the plan now, there won't be anyone willing to cooperate with us later, and establishing our own turf in Africa will become increasingly difficult. Think it over before voting. Henry is missing, but he doesn't know much about the plan, I can adjust the tactical scheme, but action on the 15th is a must."
The tent was dead silent.
Everyone's gaze shifted back and forth between Song Heping and Ferrari.
However, no one raised a hand.
Song Heping's prestige was unshakable.
Most present knew how rarely Song Heping had been wrong in judgment.
That was trust built from long-term cooperation and following.
"Who opposes?"
Song Heping asked.