Jalisco State, Guadalajara.
A coastal village.
You could smell the fishy air. Outside, densely hanging salted fish were visible, with some people in farmer's clothing walking back and forth.
This was the Jalisco New Generation's stronghold.
El Mencho truly deserved to be later praised by Americans as "the most brutal, most cunning, most organized" major drug lord. In just three months, he managed to pull together a force of no less than 300 people, and understood the importance of weapons.
His subordinate drug dealers uniformly carried AK-74 assault rifles, wore skull masks, and were also equipped with RPK machine guns, RPG rocket launchers, Dragunov SVD sniper rifles, and even armored vehicles.
These personnel weren't scrap metal either.
Most had even previously served in the Mexican military.
Of course, he initially used the Gulf Cartel's reputation and money, but El Mencho was quite generous. He wasn't stingy, paid drug dealers on schedule, and even provided bonuses. Everyone quite respected him.
After hanging up on Abrego, El Mencho exhaled deeply. "From now on we work for ourselves, earn more money!"
The subordinates cheered.
Very excited.
Being a dog for the Gulf Cartel - how could that compare to being your own boss?
"Find people to contact Juárez and Sinaloa. We can help them transport goods to America. Routes others don't dare take, I dare. Payment is one-third of each shipment."
Without plantations now, he could only do outsourcing first.
But El Mencho believed his drug empire would definitely monopolize from the source.
"Brother, have you really decided to break ties with the Gulf?" El Mencho's younger brother hesitated before asking.
"Abrego is a short-sighted petty person. Guzmán is cunning and deceitful but lacks strategic vision. The Michoacán Family are wastes. Tijuana's idiots are also gone. In all of Mexico, I recognize only two figures."
El Mencho held up two fingers. "One is Victor, and the other is me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, lightning struck, startling his brother, who shrank his neck hard and looked out the window, swallowing.
Big brother's words were too much like showing off.
"Mexico's landscape will change because of us two."
El Mencho's eyes revealed ambition.
...
"Go suppress drug dealers?"
"Of course no problem."
Victor appeared very calm, looking at Alejandro rubbing his fingers together, smiling. "But shouldn't there be some indication?"
"This..."
"The lords in Mexico City don't provide anything, just one sentence telling us to fight to the death? That's fine, after all I'm police, but my brothers need to eat, my weapons and equipment need updating and purchasing. We can't front everything ourselves, right?"
"Without money, it's hard to do things!"
Alejandro frowned. He naturally knew what Victor meant - nothing more than raising prices while sitting on the ground!
Warlord!
This was a damn warlord!
"Give me $200 million..." Victor had just started when Alejandro shook his head. "Getting money from their pockets is harder than snatching bones from a dog's mouth."
"Then promote my police rank, and I want command of a national independent anti-drug force, allowing me to recruit nationwide and organize special anti-drug operations."
EDM had too few people after all, while the Violent Terrorism Mobile Team (EDTV) didn't completely belong to him alone.
If he could have an anti-drug force directly under his command, EDM members could serve as officers inside. Then using financial resources and faith to pull a batch of people from the Marines - wouldn't that make him a minor warlord?
Now relying on just these few people, wanting to fight hundreds of thousands or even millions of drug dealers - it was only because their organization and discipline were poor. If they had the coordination of drug dealers around 2010, Victor would have been chopped into mincemeat by now.
Drug dealers at that time...
Even when the U.S. military came for anti-drug operations, they'd be thoroughly embarrassed.
Several helicopters were shot down.
"This... is also very difficult." Alejandro said with a bitter face.
"Difficult? Then let the lords in Mexico City go fight themselves. These are my conditions. As long as they agree, tomorrow I'll take my people to fight the Gulf Cartel!"
"If they don't agree..."
Victor squinted. "Then I'm very sorry, the drug dealers on Guadalupe Island haven't been completely eliminated yet!"
He was too lazy to waste words, standing up directly. "I hope to get an answer soon. I'm leaving first. It's Sunday today, and I need to baptize my godson!"
Victor had to create more beneficial value for himself within the rules.
Otherwise, the lords in Mexico City would think he was still that ordinary little police officer they could order around at will.
In the office, only Alejandro was left scratching his head.
"Boss, will they agree to these conditions?" Casare asked beside him.
"Why not?"
"Drug dealers are eroding their control over the country, but I'm not. To a certain extent, what I'm doing also brings glory to their faces."
After all, anti-drug work was the most righteous cause in the world!
Whether you were high officials or famous families, as long as you were connected to drug use, your reputation would definitely collapse.
Not conducive to progress!
Things that can't see light are always dirty things in the sewers!
Victor boarded the helicopter and flew toward Guadalupe Island.
Today was Santos's baptism.
Having promised to be his godfather, he certainly couldn't break his word.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral.
The place previously found to be hiding drugs.
It had reopened.
Approved by Duke Victor, God was allowed to be reborn here!
Behind the church, beside an artificially dug stream, many people stood around. Santos nervously clenched his fists.
"Don't worry, if Mr. Victor promised you, he'll come." Valentina touched her son's head and smiled.
Just as she finished speaking, they heard a tsunami of cheers.
A convoy of over a dozen vehicles came from afar. When they stopped at the church entrance, over twenty fully armed EDM officers got out of the Humvees.
He had a bit of a big shot's presence now.
Kennedy followed him closely, able to block bullets when necessary. Looking at his bulging waist, he had stuffed quite a few weapons there too.
Victor smiled and waved at the crowd.
These people cooperatively raised their hands in response.
On the small island of Guadalupe, perhaps before long, Victor's portrait would have to be hung up.
Where the people's hearts turn!
"Sorry, I'm late!" Victor touched Santos's face. The latter was so excited his eyes shone. He looked up at Valentina and smiled, extending his hand. "First time meeting you, Ms. Valentina."
She was equally delighted. As a mother, she was very direct. Becoming Victor's godson meant Santos's future needn't worry.
At least he had a powerful patron.
In Valentina's eyes, he was a noble benefactor.
"Let's begin." Victor said to the priest.
The new priest beside them quickly nodded. He had heard that this man had quite a temper. The previous priest was reportedly shot full of holes by him.
Santos quietly lay in the small river. This river was specially marked - it wasn't seawater. Otherwise, with the nearby seawater, even Satan couldn't purify it.
Victor supported him with both hands, repeating word by word along with the priest's prayer.
Under that scorching sun.
It seemed like over a thousand years ago, on the east bank of the Jordan River, a figure destined to be written into history was receiving baptism from John.
"Completed." The priest said softly.
But Victor, pressing Santos's forehead, added an extra sentence: "Both I and God bless you!"
The priest's eyes widened suddenly.
Damn!
That line wasn't in the script! Oh my!
He really wanted to stand up and slap Victor to defend the sanctity of his profession, but glancing aside, those strongmen looked rather fierce. He could only shrink his head and say nothing.
The priest didn't want to meet God just yet.
He hadn't had enough fun.
Firepower could make him shut up.
After helping Santos up, the latter with his wet head asked: "Mr. Victor, have you been baptized?"
Victor smiled. "Jesus has already died. No one baptized me."
Priest: Damn!
He turned and left. Out of sight, out of mind.
Staying here - couldn't fight, didn't dare speak.
Sooner or later he'd join liberation theology!
Left hand holding incense, right hand holding gun. When it's time to burn incense, burn incense. When it's time to shoot, shoot!
After Santos's baptism, Victor didn't leave. He witnessed the baptism of over hundreds of remaining children and gave them blessings.
Standing on that baptismal platform, he said: "Children are Guadalupe's hope and the beginning of struggle. Please allow me to call you gentlemen and ladies. From today on, you must fight like adults."
"Long live ideals!"
The people below cheered.
But suddenly someone shouted: "Long live Mr. Victor!"
The style gradually became dictatorial.
The priest hiding to the side was old, and his mouth was trembling.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Mutter"]
[Every 50 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]