"Moreover, I have some doubts about this intelligence, as if it was deliberately leaked. Based on my longstanding understanding of Song Heping, the ease with which I've tracked his financial path always makes me feel something is off."
Simon seemed hesitant for a moment, but ultimately voiced his doubts.
"Deliberately leaked?"
Pence fell into contemplation.
He also had a deep impression of Song Heping.
This man is indeed cunning.
"Hmm... you have a point, but the intelligence you've provided is indeed valuable. Simon, leave this matter to Jasper and let him handle it."
"Sir..."
Simon seemed somewhat anxious.
"I strongly request to join the plan to hunt Song Heping."
"You want to join?!"
Pence's gaze settled on Jasper's face and then moved to the suspect list on the table.
After hesitating for 0.5 seconds, he made his final decision.
"Currently, you are the head of intelligence operations in the Illiguo region, and there's still a lot to be done there. I heard the northwest region is unstable, is that correct?"
"Yes, lately the armed organization in that region has been active, and there seem to be signs of expansion among local factions and extremist groups..."
"That's right, you already have a lot on your plate. As a regional chief, it's impractical for you to split your focus and participate in the operations in Africa. Let's leave it at this. If the operation is successful, I'll mention you in the report."
Pence offered Simon a sweetener.
What he said was just an excuse.
Simon's current role as head of Illiguo Intelligence Station wasn't a barrier to participating in the operation; it was the list.
The list was the real obstacle.
Seeing Pence refuse Simon, Jasper standing at the desk secretly sighed in relief.
He didn't want to collaborate with Simon.
The closest competitor to him right now was Simon.
That guy's abilities are decent.
The hunt for Song Heping is currently one of the bureau's key missions, ranked just below the hunt for Dengge but among the top five on the pursued list.
Taking down Song Heping would be a great merit and would benefit his career immensely; he couldn't allow others to interfere.
"Sir, Song Heping is too cunning. I'm afraid he might play tricks. It's my intelligence, so I need to be responsible for the upcoming actions. What if it's a trap..."
Simon still seemed to want to fight for involvement.
But Pence interrupted him: "You don't need to worry about this matter. Whether the intelligence is true, there are specialized teams from the bureau and the Africa department to verify, so don't question their professional standards. As for responsibility..."
Pence shrugged: "You don't need to be responsible for anything upcoming, those are my words, let's leave it at that."
"Alright, Sir..."
Simon finally gave up the fight and silently hung up the phone.
Pence thought for a moment with his phone, then looked up to ask Jasper: "How did your main suspect provide Song Heping's positional coordinates?"
"Well..."
Jasper shrugged, appearing somewhat awkward.
He didn't dare to definitively declare Simon's clues as false intelligence.
After all, he was a cautious person.
What if it's true?
"Alright, immediately contact colleagues from the Africa department and coordinate with the Secret Action Department. Contact the military to dispatch drones for surveillance and reconnaissance in the Atlon Oasis area. We must find Song Heping and verify Simon's intelligence."
"Yes, sir!"
After Jasper left, Pence picked up a pen on the table and rotated it several times between his fingers, then picked up the list again and drew a question mark next to Simon's name.
Jasper's actions were swift.
Upon leaving Pence's office, he immediately began contacting departments for coordination.
Two hours later, a reconnaissance MQ-9 drone took off from the US Air Force base in Saudi Arabia, flew along the Red Sea, and ascended to an altitude of ten thousand meters, flying stealthily along the border.
In the surveillance room at CIA Headquarters, Jasper sat in a swivel chair with coffee in hand, his eyes never leaving the big screen.
"Already inside Sudan territory, thirty more minutes of flight south to reach the Atlon Oasis..."
A report came through the microphone, the operator's voice coming from Whiteman Air Force Base's drone control center in Missouri.
"Visuals are clear, high visibility, good weather."
The drone operator sat in an authentic leather chair, staring at more than ten screens of varying sizes.
The drone control center was set up in the Air Force base, a container area fenced with barbed wire.