A few days later.
Northern Sudan, Darfur Region.
Yellow sand fills the sky, and the heat wave distorts the horizon.
Five desert-camouflaged SUVs form a loose convoy, slowly advancing on the rugged desert highway.
The dust lifted by the wheels trails behind the cars like a slowly dissipating snake.
Song Heping sits in the passenger seat of the second vehicle, his eyes scanning the desert on both sides behind his sunglasses.
He's wearing a light desert combat uniform, with binoculars hanging from his chest, tapping his left-hand index finger rhythmically on his knee, holding a satellite phone with his right hand during a call.
"Old Demon?"
"Hey, is it Heping?"
"Yes, yes, it's me. By the way, how are you and Mr. Hou doing?"
"We're safe, currently in Central Africa."
"How's his injury?"
"Mostly healed, he's very grateful to you. He said, you can come for the gold mine anytime."
"Damn! Hahaha!"
Song Heping couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Gold mine.
The one in Mexico is the real gold mine.
"That's too polite, I helped him because of you, not for his gold mine."
"A man must keep his word, and Old Hou is straightforward."
"Here's the thing, if he wants to thank me, it's simple, help me with something. But I must state upfront, there will be some risk, not sure if he's willing."
"I don't see a problem, you saved his life, a little risk is nothing."
"I'm currently inconvenienced to return to the country, but I have something to do there, not sure if he or you can help."
"What's wrong with you? Can't return home?"
"Yes, can't go back."
While saying this, a trace of bitterness rose in Song Heping's throat.
Actually, it's more than just not being able to return home.
He doesn't even dare to contact his family now, fearing implicating them.
His identity is too sensitive, not knowing how the country and the old unit view him. He must ask Captain Lei clearly next time or call Lao Yinbi to inquire.
"Then tell me, if I can do it, I surely will. If I can't do it, I'll find a way to get it done!"
"Alright, just help me take a device to Huaqiang North, find the best tech personnel to see if it can be replicated. If it can be replicated, I'll pay a high price, whatever amount they say."
"Cough!"
Old Demon laughed heartily on the phone.
"I thought it was something major, isn't it just taking something back for cloning! What's replication!"
"Yes, yes, it's cloning, but this item isn't easy to clone."
"What item is so difficult to clone? It's not like it's aircraft or artillery! Any electronic product at Huaqiang North can be cloned."
"You guessed right, it really is an aircraft."
"Damn!"
Old Demon exclaimed in surprise.
"How do you want me to transport it back for replication!?"
"You don't need to worry about transporting it back, I have channels here to get it back home. It's an aircraft, but not a large one, it's a UAV, a very small one, which makes it quite precise, hard to clone."
"A UAV..."
Only then did Old Demon understand.
"Yes, a UAV, and it's military. Once you get it, go to Huaqiang North and find someone to replicate it. Tell the master to replicate the internal diagrams for me, I need it. Also, inform the cloning factory that as long as they can replicate this, my orders will be continuous in the future."
"Alright!"
"But first let me be a gentleman before a villain, Old Demon. This UAV is American, a military short-range reconnaissance UAV, so when you go, you might be watched, bringing certain risks. If you are watched, you might not be able to go abroad in the future."
There was a brief silence on the phone.
"No worries! If I can't go out, then I won't! I'll just stay in the country."
Over the airwaves, Song Heping could hear Old Demon gritting his teeth.
"Rest assured, I won't let you suffer either. Even if you can't go abroad, I'll support you, give you a consulting fee every month through overseas companies. Also, if you want to do business, just tell me, how much you need, I'll fund it for you. Now, isn't real estate quite good? You might try it, I have the funds."
"Really?!"