Deng Shiyang was curious. "What''s the matter?" he asked.


    "Three days after you left, news came from the China that,the China Metallurgical Geology Bureau is negotiating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the military government, hoping to obtain entry permits for an exploration team from the First Geological Survey Institute. The Chinese are clearly eyeing the mineral resources there," Haloby explained casually.


    This comment piqued Deng''s interest. Feigning a look of surprise, he probed casually, "Are there any other parties interested in the place?"


    "Of course not!" Haloby responded reflexively, raising his voice slightly, whether intentionally or not.


    Realizing his slip, he quickly explained, "What I mean is, like in Myanmar and Sudan, China''s military assistance is also aimed at securing resources from the country. If they were just after a UN Security Council vote, periodic interest-free and non-repayable ''loans'' would suffice. But to obtain mining rights in Swaziland, they need to ensure the military government''s long-term rule. Especially for Ndofa, who''s isolated from the West, allying with China offers great advantages."


    "Indeed, buying off a dictator is much cheaper than bribing a parliament and avoids the hassle of open bidding," Deng said, picking up the thread. "Once economic cooperation begins, those factories will rely on Chinese funding and technology to remain operational. At that point, simply cutting off support could paralyze most of Swaziland''s industrial facilities, creating leverage for negotiations."


    Haloby''s face grew darker. He lowered his head, interlocking his fingers and remaining motionless in deep thought for over ten minutes before looking up decisively and pleading, "I need you to downplay the sections about the Chinese government in the report."


    Although Deng had a sense of what Haloby was planning, he feigned ignorance and asked, "Are you asking me to falsify the report?"


    "Of course not," Haloby immediately replied. "I absolutely respect your expertise and objective analysis. I just don''t want the client to be influenced by the Chinese government and make a wrong judgment. You have to understand, this project could bring a substantial reward for ''us.''" He deliberately emphasized "us."


    "This won’t be easy..." Deng said, resting his chin on his hand and appearing troubled. "You know intelligence is the key to success or failure. Setting aside the potential rewards, if we misjudge the situation, the operation could turn into a disaster, and it won''t just be you who bears the consequences."


    "You make a good point. That''s why I’ve decided that if we get the contract, I’ll appoint you as the head of this operation," Haloby said, picking up on the suggestion and immediately offering a lure.


    Deng lightly hummed in response and said, "I''m not good at management; I might not be suited for the position."


    Haloby''s expression grew more complicated. He gritted his teeth and said, "That''s okay, I''ll find experienced people to assist you. You just need to make recommendations, and we''ll handle the rest. I guarantee you''ll have the maximum decision-making power."


    This was already the biggest concession Haloby could make. Knowing he had struck a favorable deal, Deng pretended to mull it over before extending his hand. "Alright, I agree to your request."


    "Pleasure doing business," Haloby said, shaking his hand.


    At 9 p.m., Deng returned to his room. He took a shower in the bathroom and then soaked in the hot bathtub for over an hour until his body felt relaxed.


    Just after 10:30 p.m., he took his digital camera and laptop into the living room and began organizing the photos and notes he had brought back from Swaziland.


    His laptop contained several hidden text files that he wrote nightly, summarizing his daily observations. There were also captions and annotations for some pictures, as well as a draft of the report he had casually written on the plane to pass the time.


    He started by copying the photos from the camera to the computer, then connected the laptop to the room''s plasma TV, using the 42-inch screen to review the pictures one by one, selecting the useful ones and adding annotations. He also downloaded satellite images of Mbabane and the presidential palace from Google Earth, marking relevant buildings and providing explanations.


    Sorting through the materials took longer than expected, and it wasn''t until the early hours of the next day that he finished. Rubbing his stiff neck, he stood up and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face, then took a short nap.


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    The next morning, after a quick wash, he ordered room service and enjoyed a Chinese breakfast of lobster porridge, Cantonese dim sum, and soy milk. He then spent the morning writing the report.


    The report was divided into three main sections: an overview of the inspection, detailed descriptions of the capital and presidential palace, and an assessment of the country''s military situation.


    In the final summary, he wrote:


    > "The basic issue with overthrowing the military government has been simplified by the president himself. In every aspect, the current government''s political and economic policies are unpopular. Once the military''s support is lost, they won''t be able to control the country.


    > Ndofa clearly understands this, which is why he has placed loyalists in high-ranking positions to tighten control over the military. However, the majority of the military''s rank-and-file are ''fence-sitters,'' with low morale and loyalty. If they believe a coup would succeed, they would no longer support the government.


    > Lastly, due to Ndofa''s paranoia and obsession with the threat of rebellion, the target has been further reduced to one location—the presidential palace. Not only is it the symbol of Swaziland''s power, but it also contains the government''s core, the radio station, and Ndofa himself—all things needed for a takeover."


    After working on the report for over six hours, Deng Shiyang finally finished it. He exited Word and glanced at the clock on the computer screen: 2:13 p.m. Feeling parched and hungry again, he noticed the leftover breakfast dishes cluttering the coffee table. He called Room Service to order a Chinese lunch with two dishes, a soup, and some fruit.


    After placing the order, he grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the fridge and sat back down at the desk to review the report while waiting for the meal. Following lunch, he inserted the maps and photos into the document, printed the twenty-page report using the room''s printer, and clipped it together in a Manila folder. Then he sent a text message to Haloby at 4:20 p.m. to notify him.


    Shortly after receiving the message, Haloby called and asked him to bring the report to his room.


    Deng went to the bathroom for a quick freshen-up and changed clothes. Hanging the "Make Up Room" sign on the door, he left the room carrying the folder.


    Haloby carefully read the report for over two hours before finally setting it down with a satisfied expression. He turned to Deng, who had been dozing off on the sofa from boredom, and said with a smile, "This report is very well done—concise and insightful. I’m impressed."


    Deng just smiled in response, as if the praise was expected, then asked, "In that case, can the payment be settled now?"


    "No problem. The fifty thousand pounds will be transferred to your account tonight."


    "Thank you."


    After putting the report back into the folder, Haloby asked, "Now, I’d like to know your thoughts on the coup."


    Deng Shiyang fell silent, contemplating the question for several minutes. Then, he looked up and answered, "Taking down Ndofa would definitely plunge Swaziland into chaos, so someone with sufficient influence would need to step in and stabilize the situation."


    Haloby nodded gently.


    "Therefore, capturing the presidential palace and taking over the radio station is the key to success. Once Ndofa''s death is made public, the military government would collapse. At that point, the king could return under the pretext of restoring the monarchy, using public opinion to create an appearance of a successful coup. The goal would be to win over the rank-and-file soldiers, or at the very least, incite them to mutiny, making it impossible for the officers loyal to the president to organize an effective defense."


    "Indeed, the presidential palace holds a unique symbolic value for the people of Swaziland," Haloby agreed, then asked, "And the method to attack the palace?"


    Deng scoffed slightly and replied, "Local forces alone wouldn''t be able to pull it off. In Swaziland, even hunting rifles and machetes are regulated. The people there simply don’t have access to weapons."


    "Even if they had weapons, crossing the kill zone outside the palace would result in heavy casualties. I don’t see them having the spirit for such sacrifices. And even if they made it to the walls, scaling them would be suicide. The four-foot-thick concrete walls would be difficult to demolish even with excavators, let alone by hand. Blowing the gate open with explosives is an option, but there probably aren''t any trained demolition experts available. As for the two-ton retractable barriers at the entrance, they go four feet underground and can''t be lowered from outside."


    "To capture the presidential palace, sufficient artillery support would be essential. The best time to strike would be during the night or early morning when the enemy is asleep. Before the assault, mortar fire should target the guard barracks to inflict heavy damage before they can react. The walls won’t provide protection against such weapons and could even trap the defenders inside."


    "There are two ways to breach the walls and enter the palace. The first is to bribe the guards or plant someone as a mole to open the gate for the attacking force at night. However, from what I saw inside, infiltrating the palace would be extremely difficult. And I don’t trust potential traitors enough to bet everything on them, as they could turn at any moment."


    Growing impatient, Haloby frowned and asked, "What’s the second option?"


    "The second option is an airborne assault. Following the preparatory artillery barrage, helicopters would deploy troops inside the palace, capitalizing on the chaos caused by the mortars to eliminate the guards quickly. The attackers could then occupy the palace and use the walls and defenses to repel any reinforcements. This plan is more challenging to execute but has a higher chance of success."


    Haloby thought for a long time, making Deng Shiyang impatient, before finally looking up. He rubbed his chin and said, "There''s no denying that this ''sledgehammer tactic'' is risky, but it’s direct and unexpected."


    He paused, then smiled. "I understand your ideas now. I''ll relay them to the client along with the report. If we secure the job, you''ll be leading this operation."


    Deng readily accepted the proposal, extending his hand. "Let me congratulate you in advance on your success."


    "Thank you," Haloby replied, shaking his hand.