Mercenary’s War

Chapter 2317 - 2293: The President’s Secret Envoy

Gao Yang didn’t fly directly to Yemen but followed Glewatov’s instructions, going to Bulgaria first and then taking a Russian airline flight from Bulgaria to Sana’a.

As he walked out of Sana’a International Airport, Gao Yang was looking for the people sent to pick him up. Yet, he looked around for a while and still didn’t see anyone from the Black Demon, until he noticed a man in local attire—more precisely, a man in a traditional Yemeni men’s sarong—Glewatov.

Glewatov was wearing a white sarong, exposing his legs, and had slippers on his bare feet, but he had on a suit on his upper body.

Gao Yang admired how Glewatov managed to blend in completely with the locals in just two or three months.

What impressed Gao Yang even more was that Glewatov had at least a dozen people with him. Not all followed him closely, but in Glewatov’s vicinity, at least a dozen people looked suspicious, and Gao Yang believed that they were all brought by Glewatov.

Glewatov stood right next to Gao Yang, and a middle-aged man with a big beard followed Glewatov closely, looking curiously at Gao Yang.

"Welcome, Peter Ram, your arrival gives me confidence."

Glewatov stepped forward to shake Gao Yang’s hand and said a few words lightly, while the middle-aged man beside Glewatov asked in Arabic with a puzzled expression.

Glewatov spoke in Russian, and he used a completely unfamiliar fake name for Gao Yang, none of which had been agreed upon beforehand.

It meant that Glewatov brought these people not out of his own volition, but out of necessity, and in the brief words of welcome, Glewatov had already conveyed the necessary information to Gao Yang.

Eileen leaned toward Gao Yang and whispered in Russian: "He said, why does this Mr. Peter Ram not look like a Russian at all."

Glewatov spoke a few words to the big-bearded middle-aged man, and Eileen continued to whisper in Gao Yang’s ear: "He said, Mr. Peter Ram is of Russian Tatar descent, so there’s nothing surprising about it."

Gao Yang’s expression darkened, and with a tone addressed both to Glewatov and the big beard, he said in Russian: "I’m not Russian, nor am I Tatar. My name is Peter Ram. Just remember this name. I have no nationality, I’m not of that ethnicity, I’m just a very common East Asian person. Don’t you understand?"

Glewatov remained expressionless, but the big beard nodded repeatedly, a smile crossing his face as he extended his hand to Gao Yang, mumbling a few words.

Gao Yang shook the big-beard’s hand. Eileen then rapidly said in Russian: "He said he’s very pleased to meet you, Mr. Peter Ram. He understands your intentions. From now on, he doesn’t know where you come from, only the name you go by. Please forgive his earlier rudeness."

After hearing Eileen, Gao Yang smiled and spoke in English: "From now on, I will mostly speak in English, please understand."

Eileen wanted to laugh but translated Gao Yang’s words into Arabic, and after she finished, Gao Yang gestured and said, "No more translations, I will handle it myself."

The middle-aged man shook Gao Yang’s hand and smiled, "My name is Salim Hassan, very pleased to meet you. The reason I was eager to follow Mr. Glewatov to the airport is to be the first to know what mission you are here on."

Gao Yang could understand most of what Salim said, even though his Arabic was not great, he could still express his meaning accurately.

So Gao Yang whispered in Arabic: "I have no mission, I’m not appointed by anyone. I’m here just for tourism."

After speaking righteously, Gao Yang’s expression changed to a smile as he said: "Of course, I’m here with goodwill, Mr. Hasan. Please understand one thing, some topics are not to be discussed in such places. At least, we should have a safe and formal setting to discuss some serious matters, don’t you think?"

Salim nodded repeatedly, saying: "I was too impatient, too hasty. Please follow me, we’ve prepared a car for you. We should leave as soon as possible, as this place is indeed not very secure."

Gao Yang nodded in agreement, and then Salim pointed to Eileen, with a hint of discontent, saying: "This woman, Mr. Peter Ram, her appearance is quite inappropriate. At the very least, she should wear a veil. I’m not criticizing, I’m just saying that her appearance is indeed very, very inconvenient."

Gao Yang glanced at Eileen and then said: "Understood, it was an oversight on my part, we will resolve this issue."

Salim immediately smiled and said: "Then please get in the car, let’s leave here at once."

Salim didn’t seek Glewatov’s opinion, brushing him aside. Gao Yang, unsure of the current situation, pointed at Glewatov and said in a deep voice: "I would like to have a private conversation with him if you don’t mind."

Salim didn’t object, he immediately stepped back with a smile: "Of course, certainly, you may talk."

After Salim turned and walked away, Gao Yang whispered to Glewatov: "What’s the situation?"

Glewatov said in a low voice: "I originally planned to come alone to meet you, so I would have enough time to explain what’s happening, but when I was about to leave, they insisted on coming along with me. There’s no danger; it’s just their way of showing respect to you."

Gao Yang whispered: "It seems like this guy doesn’t respect you enough. Why?"

Glewatov answered softly: "I’ve arranged a lower identity for myself, just a liaison. A higher identity would make it inconvenient for work, as it would require me to speak on many major issues. But being a liaison makes it much easier. Salim holds a very high position; he doesn’t have a formal title in the Houthis Armed Forces, but his status is at least in the top five. So his coming personally to greet you shows enough respect. Of course, he won’t be very respectful towards me."

Gao Yang chuckled softly and whispered: "Understood. So, what is my identity?"

Glewatov said flatly: "Secret envoy of the President of Russia."

Gao Yang almost bit his tongue.

"What?"

Glewatov remained unflinching as he said: "Presidential envoy. The situation here is very complex. Russia has always had people active here, as do Iranians, and they all have contact with the Houthis Armed Forces. If you’re a secret presidential envoy, unless they personally verify with the President of Russia, no one can reveal your identity as fake."