When the response arrived, it was already the next morning. Perhaps because Keith''s plan to reduce the number of helicopters had saved a substantial amount of the budget, Harobi didn''t comment on the overpriced weapons. He said in his email that the $31,000 service fee had already been transferred to the designated account and attached a transfer receipt number.


    Deng Shiyang forwarded the transfer receipt number to the broker’s email, then went into the bathroom to freshen up briefly, and changed clothes to go down for breakfast. About half an hour later, he received a new email from the broker, informing him that the transaction had been confirmed.


    He forwarded this information to Harobi by email, marking the successful completion of his tasks. Feeling relaxed, Deng was in a good mood and combined breakfast and lunch, eating heartily.


    He didn''t return to his room until noon, then immediately made a long-distance call to the villa in Durban.


    This time it was Keith who answered the phone, and he seemed to know what Deng wanted to ask. He got straight to the point, "I was in Pretoria yesterday, and I’ve already inspected those two helicopters."


    "What’s their condition?"


    "Pretty good," Keith replied. "SkyLink''s maintenance is well done, and from the exterior, you can’t tell that they are over twenty years old. Besides, since they are military models, the cockpit is surrounded by armor plates, and they have self-sealing explosion-suppressant fuel tanks, and even machine gun mounts in the cabin. However, the backup hydraulic system and fire suppression system have both been removed."


    "That’s a shame," Deng muttered softly, then asked, "What about the other aspects?"


    "I’ve already commissioned an aircraft maintenance company to conduct a full inspection of the mechanical condition. It’ll take about two to three days to get the results."


    "How long will it take to complete the transfer procedure?"


    "I asked about that yesterday. Including the inspection, it will take about two weeks." Keith paused, then added, "Besides, both helicopters are white and need to be repainted—"


    "Let''s do that once they’re in storage or loaded onto a ship," Deng interrupted. "Avoid raising any suspicion."


    "Yeah, I was thinking the same." Keith agreed, then said, "I’ve got the resumes of the backup mechanics and pilots. Do you need me to fax them to you?"


    "Don’t bother. I’m done with things on this end. I’ll be back in Durban soon, and I’ll take a look then."


    "Got it."


    Deng then remembered the call from last night. "Jansen’s progress has been faster than expected. I think you can pull Du Preez away now and have him start setting up the mortar team. Also, I want you to spend the next few days devising a plan for entering Swaziland by land."Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "All the good jobs fall to me…" Keith mumbled under his breath.


    Deng raised an eyebrow. "What did you just say?"


    "Nothing, just talking to myself."


    After exchanging a few more words, they ended the call.


    Just as he hung up, Deng''s phone rang again. He glanced at the screen—it was an international number starting with "44." He quickly pressed the "answer" button.


    "Are you done with everything you needed to do in Germany?" As soon as the call connected, Harobi''s urgent voice came through.


    Deng was a bit surprised, as this was the first time calling this number.


    "Yes. I plan to head back to South Africa tonight."


    "Don’t rush back." Before he could finish, Harobi interrupted. "You need to go to Angola immediately. I just got word that the recruits have all arrived."


    "So soon?" Deng sounded a little taken aback. "Keith didn’t mention anything about it."


    "Maybe Keith doesn’t know yet either. My guy in Luanda called to let me know. He said that German fellow you sent contacted him today, hoping to arrange for a hundred people to leave the country in the coming days."


    Deng frowned. "Belgian passports don’t allow for visas on arrival in Angola, and applying for a visa now will take at least two or three days."


    "Dammit," Harobi cursed under his breath, then said, "In that case, head to Botswana."


    "What do you want me to do there?"


    "There are mainly two reasons. First, that guy—um, what’s his name—"


    "Semler, Kruger Semler."


    "Oh, right, Semler," Harobi continued. "That guy doesn’t know the details of the operation, and it’s inevitable that the training he’s overseeing may not be up to standard. I think if you’re there, you can give them some substantial advice."


    "Okay," Deng nodded.


    "Second, it’s our first time working with this guy, and all we know about him is from Du Preez''s introduction and his work record at EO and Shield Defense. I’m sure you understand, those Angolan soldiers will be the main force in the operation. No one knows if they’ll slack off or even defect if they get trapped in the Presidential Palace. If we can’t control them at that time, you’ll be in a very passive situation. So, you need to ensure that those guys are on our side—at least for this job. I’m sure you understand what I mean."


    "I understand," Deng replied. "But how do you expect me to do that?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "In other words, what terms do you allow me to use for negotiation?" Deng added, "If you’re worried about Semler, we can buy him off with money or offer a well-paying job in exchange. As far as I know, his life has been rough these past few years, so he’s eager to prove himself to us. One reason he recruited those soldiers who don’t speak English may be to make us more dependent on him. I think if this job can bring him enough benefits, he shouldn’t betray us."


    "What about the soldiers?"


    "I asked Semler to tell them that if they perform well, they could get at least a six-month contract, with a monthly salary not less than $1,500." Deng paused and then added apologetically, "Sorry for making that promise without your consent, but I feel that if the coup succeeds, their value to the new government will far outweigh that money."


    "No problem." Harobi didn’t blame him, but instead praised him, "You handled it well. After all, fulfilling that promise is for after the coup’s success, and giving them a reason to work hard is no bad thing."


    "Yeah, that’s what I thought too."


    "Alright." After a moment of thought, Harobi said, "Let’s do it your way. If the coup succeeds, those soldiers will get a six-month contract with a monthly salary of $1,500. Additionally, I’ll hire Semler as the supervisor to lead them, with a daily rate of $500."


    "Good, I think they’ll accept that."


    That night, Deng Shiyang boarded a flight from Frankfurt International Airport to Johannesburg. Thirty-five hours later, he traveled via Botswana''s capital Gaborone, arriving in the central city of Maun at 8:30 in the morning.