Chương 658: Chapter 658: I Will Start Asking Questions Now
Baghdad International Airport in Iraq.
Once known as Saddam International Airport, named after the dictator.
After the U.S. occupation of Baghdad, they stripped away Hussein's name and renamed it after the city.
After leaving the Blue House, I flew to Iraq the very next day.
Unfortunately, I still hadn't heard anything from the U.S.
They must have seen that video, and surely checked the Americans' footage as well…
As I sorted through my thoughts, the private jet touched down at the airport.
I drew in a deep breath as soon as I stepped off the plane.
It was a sort of ritual I performed every time I arrived in a new country.
"This area always feels suffocating upon arrival. It's like the air tastes different."
"I never thought about it that way, but now that you mention it, I guess you're right, Boss."
Manager Ma responded, shielding me from the scorching Middle Eastern sun.
This was my first time entering Iraq.
It was fascinating to feel the distinct air and atmosphere compared to Afghanistan.
"Welcome!"
As I glanced around, a man who met my eyes saluted loudly.
"Greetings. I'm Yuri Zhirkov."
I extended my hand toward him as he maintained a rigid salute.
"Good to meet you. You're the head of the Black Bear branch in Iraq, right?"
"That's correct."
Yuri's stiff tone did little to hide his nervousness.
"You can call me Yuri."
"It's an honor, Boss."
He cautiously shook my hand.
"I heard you were Igor's subordinate."
"Yes, I have been with him since my time in the Russian military."
"Sounds like you've known him for quite a while. Let's talk as we move."
Turning my gaze to the runway, I spotted some waiting vehicles.
Several Humvees were equipped with machine guns on their rooftops.
"So, you have armed vehicles prepared? Is Baghdad that dangerous?"
"It's one of the safer places in Iraq, but there's always the threat of terrorism. Safety first, safety second. Above all, we were ordered to prioritize your safety, Boss."
Hearing Yuri's reply finally made me feel like I was in a war zone.
Afghanistan didn't have this same feeling.
"You can get into this vehicle."
Fortunately, the vehicle I was to ride wasn't a Humvee. Yuri guided me to a Benz G-Wagon.
The G-Wagon was originally produced as a military vehicle during World War II.
It continued to be manufactured for military use until it rebranded to G-Wagon in the 1980s and started being sold for civilian purposes.
It was well-known for its durability worldwide, especially among Middle Eastern royalty and the wealthy, where terrorism and assassination were common.
Its reputation for strength was even such that North Korea has used it as a command vehicle.
"A G-Wagon… it seems dangerous after all."
Preparing a vehicle prioritized for safety over comfort was quite telling.
It showed that Black Bear had put thought into my visit to Iraq.
"It's the best vehicle we have in terms of comfort. We do have sedans, but this was prepared with your safety in mind."
Yuri seemed to misunderstand my discomfort and anxiously offered excuses.
Perhaps it's because he's been a soldier for a long time, he was a bit naive.
"How did you know I like SUVs? Thanks for considering my preferences, Yuri."
My casual compliment lit up Yuri's face.
His emotions were so evident on his face, he didn't appear to be good at hiding his true feelings.
"I'm relieved. I was worried you might not like it."
"Haha, no need to be so formal. You're the commander here, no matter what anyone says. I want to prioritize and respect the opinions of the field's officer."
"Thank you! I'll do my best to serve you!"
Unlike other PMCs, Black Bear's mercenaries had a strong sense of belonging to the company.
With high salaries and substantial compensation for injuries or deaths during operations, their commitment was understandable.
I observed Yuri from the corner of my eye.
They say you can't buy loyalty with money. So, would it mean giving them more money until they are loyal?
Mercenaries were those who had risked their lives to take on dangerous tasks.
The more they were treated well, the more they understood the worth of their own lives, responding faithfully to any directs given.
"I think it's okay to get in now."
"You seem fine, Manager?"
"Yes, Boss. The vehicle is reinforced to the point where it's hard to damage with most firearms. I'll be the one driving."
Manager Ma said as he opened the door to the driver's seat.
Knowing he didn't want to let anyone else drive, I nodded without insisting.
"Yuri, you're riding with me."
Something about my order seemed to make Yuri hold the rear door open. Yet he didn't sit next to me.
Once inside, I was greeted by a luxurious interior, unlike the vehicles commonly available.
I admired it briefly and then asked Yuri who took the passenger seat.
"The interior is splendid. Is this a custom-built vehicle?"
"Yes. It was used by Hussein."
The unexpected name slipped out of Yuri's mouth.
I widened my eyes in surprise and scanned the vehicle's interior.
"Used by Hussein? How did Black Bear acquire this?"
"In Baghdad, there's nothing money can't buy."
There were a lot of implications in Yuri's reply.
The implication of 'nothing money can't buy' meant that corruption ran deep here.
"That's good news for us."
At that moment, after confirming we were all seated, Manager Ma looked at me.
"Boss, we're ready to leave."
"Just follow the vehicle in front of us."
Yuri instructed Manager Ma, who nodded and slowly started the car.
"Yuri. Have you found out who the first group to carry out the kidnapping was?"
In response to my question, Yuri turned back and answered.
"Yes. Fortunately, there was a record of them contacting a South Korean company, so we were able to get their identity."
He was certainly efficient in handling affairs.
Hearing he had quickly identified them made me smile in satisfaction.
"Who exactly are they?"
"They are a band of armed robbers made up of former Iraqi military. It seems they were motivated by money."
"Have they been caught?"
"We haven't caught everyone, but we did capture two who were in Baghdad. They are currently detained at our headquarters."
Not only did I identify the kidnappers, but getting our hands on at least a few of them who initially kidnapped Kim Mugil was also a win.
I couldn't help but smile wider.
"That's great news."
Finding a needle in a haystack would have been impossible without Yuri's quick actions, which at least gave us a small lead.
"Have you interrogated them?"
"Not yet. We only secured them a few hours ago. We've learned that one of the locals who helped transport the victims passed information to them. We have been trying to track that Iraqi down."
I had thought it was strange how they hadn't put up a fight during the kidnapping.
It seemed there had been an insider.
"Do you think you can catch him?"
"Though he went into hiding after the kidnapping, since we have issued a wanted notice, we should be able to catch him if he is in Iraq."
The convoy left the airport and soon arrived in downtown Baghdad.
The scent of war still lingered heavily in Baghdad.
"The restoration efforts haven't progressed much yet."
"Yes. I heard they will be starting soon."
After the war began, a massive wave of missiles fell upon Baghdad.
No matter how precise the strikes were aimed at military facilities, the destruction inevitably affected the entire city.
Whether it was debris, friendly fire, or intentional destruction.
As a result, there were countless buildings in the downtown area of Baghdad that had been bombed and reduced to rubble.
Such an eyesore was an understatement.
Though the U.S. military quickly implemented restoration efforts for roads and the airport, buildings still lacked substantial solutions.
As I observed the outside, I posed questions to Yuri, who answered them sincerely.
After what felt like a long drive, the vehicles finally came to a halt at the Black Bear Iraq branch.
Unlike the broken buildings scattered around downtown Baghdad, the branch was intact.
Moreover, barricades and various weapons were set up to prevent any intruders within a one-kilometer radius.
"The security here is top-notch, even in Baghdad. No one can attack this place, not even the U.S. military."
Yuri proudly stated as we got out of the vehicle.
Seeing the mercenaries work with pride for Black Bear lifted my spirits a bit.
I smiled gently and lightly patted Yuri's shoulder, asking,
"It seems so. Do you spend most of your time here?"
"Yes. Unless something special happens, I manage everything from here, including communication with the U.S. military…"
Yuri went on to explain what he did at length.
It sounds like the people working in the Iraq branch have it pretty rough. Maybe I should consider raising their salaries.
"For now, let's head over to where those guys are. I want to have a chat with them. Is there someone who can interpret?"
I could speak a bit of Arabic, but I wasn't fluent.
I could pick up some things, but understanding the locals' slang or idioms could be quite challenging.
"Yes. We have someone on standby already."
Confidently claimed Yuri as he took me and Manager Ma down into the basement.
Two mercenaries stood guard with rifles in front of the thick iron door.
"You stay outside, and you come with me."
Yuri opened the firmly shut iron door. Inside was complete darkness without a flicker of light.
The man assigned as the interpreter flicked a switch, illuminating the room.
When the lights came on, I saw two men wearing masks tied to chairs.
"Manager, could you bring a chair over here?"
Standing before them, Manager Ma skillfully fetched a chair and placed it behind me.
"Remove their masks."
I ordered as I took my seat. Yuri and the interpreter removed the masks from the two men.
As they adjusted to the sudden light after growing accustomed to darkness, the kidnappers squinted their eyes.
Moments later, it seemed they had adapted somewhat, and the kidnappers started blinking excessively.
Watching this, I began to speak.
"I will start asking questions now."
The interpreter relayed my words, and I continued on.
"If you don't answer my questions or lie, forget about leaving here alive. But if you tell the truth to the best of your knowledge, I will spare your lives."
The men, gagged, struggled to make sounds as if trying to say something.
"Now, please remove the gags."
As one of the men, now ungagged, shot me a glare.
"Why should I trust you?"
"If you don't trust me, what's your plan?"
"…"
"That said, my expectations aren't high. This isn't a difficult task, even a child can do it. I'm asking questions, and you provide the answers. It's not hard, right? I'm giving you a chance here."
The two men turned to look at each other.
I smirked, understanding what their exchange implied.
"Haha, how optimistic of you. You don't really think I plan to let both of you walk away unharmed, do you? Only the one who tells the truth first will have a chance to leave here alive."
Unlike me, the kidnappers' faces drained of color in an instant.
Regardless, I went ahead and asked the question that had been on my mind.
"Why did you hand over the hostages to The Monotheistic Group and Holy War after kidnapping them?"
"…"
Neither responded. It's always like this—refusing to speak.
"Manager, break one finger for each of them."
Since I had spoken in Korean, the two men seemed confused by the instruction.
Manager Ma stepped forward and broke the index finger of the man on the left in one swift motion.
In an instant, his finger bent grotesquely in the wrong direction.
I heard a sickening crunch as the bone snapped, and the tortured man let out a scream of agony.
"Aaaah!!"
The scream ricocheted off the windows and echoed throughout the basement.
The man on the right began to roll his eyes.
As Manager Ma approached, he started to sweat profusely and began to mutter.
"W-wait a moment…"
But Manager Ma didn't pause and immediately broke the index finger of the man on the right as well.
The finger bent painfully towards his palm, and the man screamed, thrashing his body violently.
However, the chair he was bound to remained firmly in place.
"From now on, if you don't answer my questions immediately, I will break another finger. If that's not enough, I'll start breaking something else, so you better cooperate."
Both men could only whimper, tears streaming down their faces.
"Let me ask again. Why did you hand the hostages over to The Monotheistic Group and Holy War? You were motivated by money, weren't you? Or was it always your plan to get paid first and then hand them over?"
Perhaps, they planned to receive a ransom and sell the hostages elsewhere as well.
While they only groaned in response, they both remained tight-lipped.
I shrugged and shot a look at Manager Ma. The man on the left seemed to read my thoughts and hastily spoke up.
"Ransom! We were thinking of collecting a ransom before handing them over to The Monotheistic Group and Holy War!"
As soon as he answered, Manager Ma snapped the middle finger of the man on the right.
Caught in the wails of pain coming from the man next to him, the other man quickly continued explaining.
"The Monotheistic Group and Holy War also promised us money! Our original plan was to kidnap them then pass them over to them, but we were greedy and wanted to ask for a ransom first before handing them over…"
That answer wasn't exactly satisfying. Raising an eyebrow, I conveyed my discontented gaze towards Manager Ma.
"I'll say everything! I'll tell you everything! Just please don't hurt me!"
Their reaction from just one broken finger was enough to show they were still only human despite seeking to serve their own motives.
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