The dawn sky resembled a giant celadon bowl turned upside down, perfectly sealing the world beneath it. Chek Lap Kok was covered with countless golden lights of various sizes, and the runway lights, like two golden edges embedded in the riverbank, made Hong Kong International Airport stand out distinctly against the pitch-black sea.


    A Boeing 747-400 with deep green stripes roared as it landed on the runway, the massive wheels making a screeching sound as they touched the ground.


    Deng Shiyang, carrying a small travel bag, followed the crowd through the jet bridge into the terminal. Just a week ago, he had left Cyprus, ending his interrupted vacation. The Aegean sun had tanned his skin to a wheat color, and two months of leisurely and comfortable living had left him feeling rejuvenated.


    Shortly after his vacation ended, an email from Harrowby arrived in his inbox, mentioning a special job opportunity and inviting Deng Shiyang to Hong Kong for a briefing. The email also included a first-class electronic ticket to Hong Kong.


    He arrived at Los Angeles International Airport last night and boarded Cathay Pacific flight CX883, reaching Hong Kong after a flight of more than ten hours.


    The clock in the lobby showed 6:45 a.m. He yawned, shook his head to chase away the sleepiness creeping in, and walked toward the immigration area.


    As the morning light turned the eastern horizon golden, he stepped out of the airport and took a taxi to the SkyCity Marriott Hotel on the eastern coast of Chek Lap Kok, checking into the room booked by Harrowby. He took a shower, then soaked in a hot bath until his entire body felt relaxed, and finally fell asleep, not waking until sunset.


    On his first day in Hong Kong, he spent the entire day adjusting to the time difference and didn''t wake up until the evening. He called room service for a simple dinner, then sent a text message to Harrowby.


    It wasn’t long before his phone rang with a new message notification. The content was typical of Harrowby’s style, a simple sentence composed of just a few words: "Tomorrow at noon, Four Seasons Hotel, Lung King Heen."


    He pursed his lips, tossed the phone aside, and began thinking about how to pass the remaining time that evening…


    The next morning, he didn’t wake up until almost eleven. He lay in bed staring at the ceiling for a while before getting up.


    The bedding was disheveled, and clothes were scattered on the nearby floor, giving the scene a faintly sensual atmosphere. On the nightstand was a note with "Daisy" and a phone number written in neat handwriting, with a wine-red lipstick mark in the lower corner.


    He chuckled, put the note in the drawer, and went into the bathroom to wash away the sweat. After a quick shower, he changed into a casual-style suit jacket and left the room, hanging the "clean room" sign on the door as he closed it behind him.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    He walked to AsiaWorld-Expo, took the Airport Express to Central, and then strolled to the International Finance Centre. At 11:50 a.m., he arrived at the entrance of the Lung King Heen restaurant on the fourth floor of the Four Seasons Hotel, where a beautiful hostess led him to a table by the window.


    Harrowby, already waiting, stood up with a smile and stepped forward to greet him. He extended his right hand, adorned with a diamond pinky ring, and said, "I’m glad you could make the time. I’ll need your help again for this one."


    Compared to their last meeting in Bolivia, he appeared much leaner, but his face was beaming with energy. He wore polished brown leather shoes, a traditional British-style dove-gray three-piece suit, a white checkered shirt, and a dark gray Burberry plaid scarf around his neck. Although the suit bore no label, the fine material and tailored fit clearly indicated it came from a prestigious Savile Row shop. In addition to the pinky ring, he wore a diamond-studded Vacheron Constantin platinum watch on his left wrist, looking every bit the part of a British aristocrat on holiday.


    "Thanks for arranging the flight and hotel room," Deng Shiyang said as he shook Harrowby''s hand. After a brief pause, he added with a touch of admiration, "Nice suit."


    Harrowby smiled, inviting Deng Shiyang to sit. Though he didn’t respond verbally, a hint of pride in his expression showed that the compliment had pleased him.


    Since the operation in Bolivia, A.F.S., a previously unknown small company, had gained significant fame within the industry, enjoying a surge of attention. Harrowby had also established good personal connections with the Bowman family, securing numerous security contracts for their businesses. In just two months, A.F.S.''s operations had expanded to cover South America, the Middle East, and Africa, shifting from an intermediary agency to a private security firm.


    Recently, he had also secured an investment from the Bowman family to establish a subsidiary called "United Training Center" on the Isle of Man. The new company purchased over five thousand acres of land in Minnesota, where a training facility was being built to enter the training market.


    The two enjoyed a lavish lunch at a window overlooking Victoria Harbour. After their meal, they took the elevator to the forty-first floor and entered Harrowby’s suite.


    The seaview suite, costing two thousand dollars per night, was spacious at one thousand square feet, more than twice the size of Deng Shiyang''s room. It had separate living and sleeping areas, with a north-facing floor-to-ceiling window that offered a panoramic view of Victoria Harbour. The living room had a mini-bar in the corner, next to a round wooden dining table for four. Near the window, there was a small but fully equipped work area.


    Harrowby invited Deng Shiyang to sit on the sofa by the window, then walked over to the bar to make a pot of Darjeeling tea, which he brought over to the coffee table along with some refreshments.


    "Now, let''s discuss the job," he said, pouring tea for himself and Deng Shiyang before asking, "How much do you know about the country of Swaziland?"


    Deng Shiyang took a small sip from his cup and responded with a question, "Isn''t that the country with the highest HIV infection rate in the world?"


    "That''s right."


    Harrowby lowered his head to add milk and a cube of sugar to his tea, stirring gently with a spoon. After mixing it thoroughly, he looked up and answered, "Swaziland is a landlocked country located between South Africa and Mozambique. It was formerly known as the Kingdom of Swaziland, one of the last absolute monarchies on Earth. At the end of last year, Colonel Antoine Ndofa, the former commander of the army, launched a coup that overthrew the monarchy and established the Republic of Swaziland. The deposed King Mswati III and most of the royal family have since fled abroad."


    A glint of approval flashed in Harrowby''s eyes. He elegantly sipped his tea, cleared his throat, and said candidly, "Our task this time is to take over that country."


    Notes:


    - Savile Row: A famous street in London known for traditional bespoke tailoring.