At five in the morning, Baghdad was still asleep.
As Rashim's sedan drove into the Ministry of Defense's compound, the eastern skyline had just begun to glow a pale crab green.
The guard recognized the license plate, quickly saluted, and the electric iron gate silently slid open.
He did not close his eyes to rest in the back seat as usual, but instead looked through the tinted windows, observing the office buildings with blurred outlines in the morning fog.
Today was different.
Today was the day for transporting the batch of arms.
Arms worth a full fifteen billion dollars—this was the Iliko Government Army's largest arms order in the past three years.
If these weapons can be safely delivered to Baghdad and handed over, then they will quickly equip at least three divisions, turning these so-called semi-motorized infantry divisions into true mechanized infantry brigades.
Rashim paused for two seconds before opening the car door.
