Charlie wade awkwardly replied, “By that logic, I must be fated with that Middle Eastern boss we saw at the restaurant earlier.”
“Quite fated indeed,” Claire Wilson nodded, “I’ve lived in Aurous Hill for years and never bumped into anyone I know on the local subway, let alone abroad. Yet here you are, running into acquaintances one after another. That’s definitely fate.”
Charlie wade gave a sheepish laugh and said nothing.
As the staff were busy preparing for Tawana’s arrival, Charlie wade and Claire Wilson strolled along the beach back to their overwater villa.
Jacob Wilson and Elaine, staying next door, hadn’t returned yet. As Charlie wade was about to enter, he saw the door of the villa opposite open, and Hamid stepped out, waving at him, “Brother Wade, got a moment to chat?”
Charlie wade nodded, “Sure.”
He turned to Claire Wilson, “Darling, you go in first. I’ll have a quick chat with this mate.”
Claire Wilson nodded slightly and entered the villa.
Hamid approached Charlie wade and said quietly, “Brother, can we talk privately?”
The area was filled with standalone overwater villas, offering good privacy, but speaking outside risked being overheard.
So, they walked a fair distance before Charlie wade asked, “Mate, what’s up?”
Hamid said, “Brother, I’ve booked a flight for early the day after tomorrow. I’m heading back, taking the seaplane from Baima Island to Malé at midnight, then flying to Beirut, Lebanon.”
Charlie wade asked, “Is this your original plan or a last-minute decision?”
“Last-minute,” Hamid sighed, “I was planning to rest here for a while, but after our chat at the restaurant this evening, I’ve been feeling uneasy, a bit nervous, so I decided to head back early. I wanted to leave tomorrow, but my two wives heard that international superstar Tawana Swift is arriving tomorrow and insisted on staying to meet her, take a photo, and get an autograph. I had no choice but to change it to the day after.”
He added with a hint of melancholy, “I was hoping to catch up with you properly, brother, but it’ll have to wait until next time.”
Charlie wade said, “No worries, mate. Go take care of business. In the meantime, try reaching out to some fringe opposition groups and lay some groundwork. It’s always good to be prepared.”
Suddenly, Charlie wade remembered something and asked, “Do you recall when I helped you fend off the Wanlong Temple attack?”
“Of course!” Hamid said excitedly, “Every strategy you gave was spot-on, digging reverse-slope tunnels, building fortifications, setting up hidden bunkers, creating a crossfire network, drone reconnaissance, we crushed those well-trained Wanlong Temple soldiers! Thinking about it still gets my blood pumping!”
Charlie wade said, “I want to remind you about drones. Back then, I told you to make good use of them for reconnaissance, small, agile, and hard to detect. But in the past two years, the stalemate in Eastern Europe has led to new drone uses, mostly for carrying small bombs for low-altitude bombing or kamikaze attacks. I suggest you stockpile a large number of drones, aim for 100,000. If the enemy launches a full-scale attack, drones could be a game-changer!”
“Absolutely,” Hamid nodded in agreement, “I’ve read reports about that. They’re powerful, cheap, and hard to defend against.”
Charlie wade added, “You should also prepare to counter drones. Look into advanced radar systems. You may not stop them entirely, but early detection can prevent precise strikes on your heavy equipment or a decapitation attack against you.”
“No problem!” Hamid’s face grew serious, recognizing the danger, “I’ll have my team reinforce drone defenses at permanent fortifications and tunnel entrances.”
Charlie wade continued, “Make routine drone patrols a priority, tightly monitoring personnel and equipment movements within a 50-kilometer radius of your base. Also, prepare an escape plan. If the situation becomes dire, find a way to get out alive and come to China. I’ll ensure your safety.”
Hamid grew nervous, “Brother, is the situation that grim? My base is years of my blood and sweat, and you’ve invested so much money and new infrastructure. If I abandon it, it’ll all go to those bastards!”
Charlie wade shook his head, “Mate, think big picture. When it’s a matter of life and death, nothing is worth clinging to except life itself.”
Noticing Hamid’s tension, Charlie wade smiled, “But it may not come to that. It’s just about being thoroughly prepared. Your region is full of variables, anything could happen.”
Hamid bit his lip, nodded firmly, and said, “Alright! I’ll follow your advice!”
