Chapter 94

Aidid shouldered the blame, maintaining an eerie silence as if he had lost his voice. This silence fueled the speculations of the onlookers, who wondered if he had genuinely accepted the situation. However, this was all part of Tang Dao's cunning plan.

Among the armaments lined up were 3 NSV machine guns, 20 rocket launchers, and 7 M1939 37mm anti-aircraft guns from the Eighth Artillery Factory in Kaliningrad, the Soviet Union. Despite their age, these towed anti-aircraft guns were based on the improved Bofors 40mm artillery from Sweden and had served as the primary light anti-aircraft weapons for the Soviet Army during World War II.

Tang Dao challenged Aidid to fly a helicopter at low altitude, daring him to see how many rounds he could carry. While these weapons might have aged, Aidid had an unwavering trust in their firepower, particularly against what he perceived as "coffins with propellers hanging on them." He believed their high rate of fire made them formidable anti-aircraft tools.

Aidid also harbored suspicions about Tang Dao. When the opportunity to "cooperate" was presented, he readily accepted. Pretending to be mute allowed him to play along, as he saw it as a golden opportunity to profit from the situation.

To Aidid, it seemed like he was merely acting as a scapegoat. He held little regard for Bernard, an individual who had repeatedly pressured him to buy pistols from Sig via Bega. In Aidid's eyes, the process was overly complicated, and the $500 price per gun made it impractical for equipping the US military.

Unbeknownst to Aidid, he had unwittingly entered a complex web of schemes, becoming a pawn in someone else's game. It was unclear who the true fool was in this intricate setup.

Grant had donned civilian attire, concealing a Ruger P-85 pistol at his back and wearing body armor as a precaution. A Hummer awaited him outside, but he swiftly vetoed the idea, realizing that driving a Humvee in Somalia would draw too much attention and danger.

His adjutant found a motorcycle for him, a rather decrepit one that trembled as he mounted it. However, Grant was no stranger to motorcycles; he skillfully maneuvered it. Despite the bumpy terrain, he reached the fifty-kilometer airport within an hour.

As he approached the airport, a sudden barrage of bullets struck the ground before him, jolting Grant into an abrupt halt. He shouted anxiously, "I'm here to find Nicholas."

Observing his surroundings carefully, Grant noticed a wall surrounding the airport and even individuals positioned on elevated vantage points. Faint figures dashed across his line of sight, and considering the ground's disturbed soil, it was evident they were armed with heavy machine guns.

Fear gripped Grant as he contemplated the reckless use of heavy weaponry to halt him. If he made the wrong move, his life could be in jeopardy.

Robert emerged from the airport with several employees in tow, and an unspoken exchange passed between them. Robert then addressed Grant with a solemn request, "Mr. Grant, kindly surrender your weapon; it will be returned when you depart."

Grant obliged, revealing his pistol from beneath his clothes. He decided to cooperate rather than face a search, as it appeared the airport personnel were well-prepared. Robert nodded approvingly and gestured, "Please, follow me."

Motorcycle-mounted employees made way for them as Grant navigated the airport's bustling activity. Soviet weaponry, including tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery, was conspicuously scattered throughout the area, drawing his attention.

Throughout the journey, Grant remained silent but visibly unsettled. Upon reaching the office, Robert knocked and entered, announcing, "Lieutenant Colonel Grant has arrived."

Tang Dao, with an African folded-back tortoise in hand, greeted the guest with a warm smile, "Sam, you stay here." He placed the tortoise in a water tank, wiped his hands, and extended a welcoming gesture, "Welcome, Mr. Lieutenant Colonel."

Two individuals, now in different roles and circumstances, faced each other. Grant, overwhelmed by a surge of anger, felt that Tang Dao's smile was insincere and repulsive. He chose to ignore Tang Dao's outstretched hand and pulled a chair back, sitting down with a firm grip on the chair's arms. "You asked me to come. I assume you didn't summon me here for small talk," he asserted.

Robert and Osborne prepared to intervene, but Tang Dao calmly waved them off. Unperturbed, he settled across from Grant, undeterred by the hostility. "I genuinely want to befriend you, Mr. Grant," Tang Dao began.

Grant, however, vehemently refused, "I have no desire to befriend an arms dealer. It would be disgraceful."

Tang Dao sought to rectify Grant's misconceptions, leaning back and crossing his legs as he continued, "You've misunderstood me deeply. I'm merely a businessman. Why single me out? If we can't ship our goods, my employees won't receive their wages, and we could all starve. Is that fair?"

Grant struggled to respond and eventually resorted to a confrontational stance. "This world isn't fair," he retorted.

Tang Dao agreed wholeheartedly, saying, "You're absolutely right; it isn't fair at all. Now, are we here as friends sharing coffee, or are we enemies waiting to collect your daughter's body?" Tang Dao opted for a straightforward approach, noting that candor might be more effective with this uncooperative man.

Grant, his temper flaring, stood up and bellowed, "You're threatening a U.S. lieutenant colonel!"

Tang Dao countered, "But you're jeopardizing the livelihood of a military businessman. If I can't make money, your entire family will suffer. Think about it calmly. If you turn a blind eye, won't you simply pass by? Also, I heard your wife wishes to enroll Jenny, right? Her name is Jenny, correct? She wants her to attend the best school. Well, I can take care of the expenses. Don't tell me it's challenging to secure admission; once the dollar speaks, doors tend to open. What do you say?"

Having a family and making rash decisions rarely ended well. Grant appeared to believe that Tang Dao still adhered to notions of "benevolence, righteousness, and morality" and that "family comes before all else." Tang Dao, however, knew better; in his world, climbing to the top required stepping on a few toes.

Grant, despite his standing, displayed vulnerabilities, and his family was held hostage. Crushed under the weight of his enemies, he could only howl in frustration.

Tang Dao would have disposed of him without hesitation if not for Grant's identity. Instead, he offered a solution, "I require $2 million. But first, Mr. Grant, you'll need to meet someone. Robert, bring our guests."

With a sense of intrigue, Tang Dao patted the table and blinked mysteriously, leaving Grant to wonder what awaited him next.