Lady M had just returned from the morning briefing and hadn't even had time to ask her secretary for a cup of coffee when her secure phone began vibrating.
Seeing Song Heping's number, she had already guessed what it might be about.
Recently, she had been sitting back watching the tigers fight.
She was very pleased to see Song Heping gaining the advantage. At least in the Sahel Region, the Americans' expansion had slowed down.
Without obtaining the keys to Sudan and Darfur, the American influence would find it difficult to take root in this area.
Sudan remained the same Sudan.
Great Britain called the shots.
Earlier at the briefing, the intelligence department chief reported to her that there seemed to be a significant development regarding Song Heping's key member Ferrari; he had been captured by the CIA in Eastern Europe and was now missing.
In Eastern Europe, MI6 intelligence agents discovered that CIA Counterterrorism Center Director Wright appeared in the Romanian capital Bucharest, indicating a significant operation there.
综合情报分析, 法拉利失踪肯定与CIA有关.
This time, Song Heping seemed quite careless, with a key figure captured.
More critically, Ferrari was now serving as the financial director of the "Musician" defense company, managing all the company's overseas secret accounts and money laundering.
If he couldn't withstand the CIA's interrogation and confessed everything, it would be a deadly blow to Song Heping.
"Song."
Lady M devised a plan within five seconds of thought.
She decided to answer Song Heping's call.
This was not the time to abandon Song Heping.
This person still held significant value. Cutting ties with him was not advisable at the moment.
"You are looking for me right after I started work, it seems urgent."
While speaking, Lady M glanced at her phone screen.
The anti-recording software was already activated. This software can break down sound and recode it.
If Song Heping recorded, a future playback would reveal edits after comparing sounds, indicating post-processing.
When dealing with Song Heping, she always kept a hand behind.
"M, I need your intelligence support."
Song Heping's voice came through the encrypted line, lacking his usual composure, tinged with tension.
"I suppose you've heard my good friend Ferrari had trouble in Romania."
Lady M moved toward the window, overlooking London's morning street view, a red double-decker bus passing over Westminster Bridge.
"I've heard some whispers," she deliberately made her voice sound indifferent, "CIA is acting big this time, even Wright has personally gone to Bucharest."
Two seconds of silence from the other end.
"Are you monitoring the CIA?"
"Professional habit." Lady M chuckled lightly, "Just like you mercenaries hiding an extra magazine in every gun."
"I need to know where Ferrari is held, how many guards there are, and the CIA's retreat route."
Song Heping was straightforward.
Lady M lightly tapped the window glass with her fingers.
"Song, you know our relationship with the Americans. Among allies... some intelligence cannot be shared."
"Allies?" Song Heping suddenly laughed, a laugh filled with sarcasm, "M, don't pretend. You Brits claim to be international troublemakers, allies are just talk. During WWII you tricked even the French, let alone the Americans."
Lady M's mouth twitched slightly.
Song Heping's bluntness was always discomforting, yet irrefutable.
She turned and walked to her desk, pulling up an encrypted file.
"Even if I'm willing to help, what can you offer me? Intelligence exchange is always reciprocal."
"I can owe you a favor," Song Heping said.
"A favor?" Lady M sneered, "In the intelligence world, favors are the least valuable currency."
"Then what do you want?"
Lady M opened a map in the file, marked with the location of the small African country Nase.
"After the Eastern Europe event, I need you to go to Nase. A coup is about to happen there, and the puppet regime supported by the French needs professionals to help quell the unrest."
The other end noticeably hesitated.
"The French? Why the French?"
"Because they are also our friends."
Lady M said carelessly.
"Moreover, they have ceded some interests, internally there are too many things I don't need to explain to you, you are a defense company boss, you just need to complete the client's request."