The "5.27" Gendarmerie Square massacre shocked Mexico and also stunned the world.
But Carlos had already prepared countermeasures.
He pinned the massacre on the cartels, and even put on a showy front: "In response, the Mexican government will launch a nationwide crackdown on drug dealers!"
"Justice for the dead."
On TV, Carlos looked grief-stricken and stern. "On behalf of myself and the Mexican government, I offer condolences to the victims, and I strongly condemn the violence. Such behavior is inhumane and unacceptable!"
"I will personally donate two years of salary, a total of 200,000 pesos, as humanitarian aid to families of those killed in this incident."
Mexicali. Security Department.
Victor sipped coffee as he watched, unable to keep from laughing. "If I remember right, the maid who wipes his ass costs him 200,000 pesos a year."
Alejandro felt sick, too!
Casare and Best exchanged a look.
If an entire country is run by drug dealers—if you open your eyes and even the spider webs overhead glisten with narcotics—how does that feel?
Disgusting!
Blatantly disgusting.
These people all deserve to die!
"You think his chances of stepping down are high?"
"Judging by that thick skin, what do you think? Throw out a few scapegoats—unless he resigns himself, no one can make him go," Victor said, his expression turning grim.
The Salinas machine was massive. From Raúl's mouth Victor had heard several names. They monopolized oil, telecom, media, and more.
That made it Victor vs. Mexico's chaebols + cartels!
He glanced at his points: 1,197,892,118!
Over a billion!
Time to mass-recruit!
"He's surely hiding somewhere rallying allies to snipe us. I don't have time to play politics. If Mexico is saturated with evil, then use fists to knock everyone down!"
"And then tell them: the iron fist of justice has arrived!"
Victor set the coffee on the table. "Slash the state and local police formations. Rename them: the National Guard. Recruit 15,000. I propose I serve as Baja's Security Minister, Mr. Alejandro as Governor, and Casare as Senior State Aide and Mayor of Ensenada City and Guadalupe Island."
"All military units in Baja either leave or are automatically folded into the National Guard!"
Alejandro and the others widened their eyes. He felt Victor had gone mad. His Adam's apple bobbed. "Th-this… Carlos and the rest won't agree."
"Then let them send someone to take over—as long as anyone dares come!"
Alejandro didn't know how to refute that.
Everyone knew your temper—who'd dare come?
They might step on a mine on the way, and then you'd announce: the new governor… was eaten by a tiger.
Your mouth spews nothing but filth.
"You're planning…" Alejandro still didn't dare say the word "independence." It was too heavy.
Victor looked at them and chuckled. "How could that be."
"This country isn't just Carlos's. We have enemies—and so do they. I recall you said his rival's name is…"
"Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas!"
Alejandro's face even carried a hint of a smile when he spoke the name. "He's the cleanest politician I've ever met. He has never cooperated with any cartel. He and his wife even squeeze into a public rental apartment."
"?? Someone like that still exists?"
"His father is arguably the greatest Mexican to date—Lázaro Cárdenas del Río!"
Casare and Best suddenly understood.
In modern polling, Cárdenas is seen as one of Mexico's most beloved presidents, adored to the extreme.
"Because of his father, many traffickers tried to buy him. The money they sent—he donated to welfare homes. The gold—he turned over to charities. He draws a meager monthly salary from the government. His children have even dropped out several times for lack of tuition. When a trafficker paid his kid's tuition, he hauled his son back home."
"He is, in the truest sense, a great warrior!"
"His anti-drug stance earned him the hatred of many. Even the brutal Gallardo regarded him as a dear mentor. When traffickers pointed a gun and demanded he join, he said: 'I have never feared death—filth is what I fear!'"
"But as cartel methods grew more savage, his wife was crippled in a car-ramming, his son was kidnapped, and he himself was once shot three times—thankfully unharmed. He has never feared, just like his father."
Listening to Alejandro, everyone stood in solemn respect!
"Victor, Mexico isn't just you—you've never fought alone. There are many willing to sacrifice for their country. They may not have rifles, grenades, or soldiers, but their love for this land is no less than anyone's."
Victor nodded. "Invite him and his family to Baja. Let him see a place without drug dealers."
"After his visit, we'll discuss a position. I believe he'll support our vision."
For a true anti-drug warrior, he had reverence!
These were like minds.
Alejandro nodded vigorously.
The office grew heavier with talk of Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas. Victor stood, rolled his neck, and looked at Best. "Buddy, you probably can't stay in Mexico for a while."
No telling when someone might try to kill him.
"I want you to go to the Soviet Union."
Best blinked. "To do what?"
Victor found the coffee too bitter—nothing like a cigarette. "That giant Bear is dying. Maybe this year, maybe next. I've got a feeling—it's going down!"
That startled everyone present.
The 20th century really had only three—America, the Soviet Union, and the Third World. The two superpowers tugged for decades and reshaped the world.
And the boss suddenly said the Bear would die. That joke wasn't funny at all.
Seeing their disbelief, Victor didn't push it. He smiled. "Maybe it's my mistake. But things are rough there now. Take money and go recruit."
"I need a lot of combat-experienced veterans. Try to poach them—Alpha, Vympel, even the KGB."
Victor needed them as the junior officer backbone of the soon-to-be-formed Baja National Guard.
KGB hands would be the core of the intelligence branch.
Yep!
Grand Duke Victor's police were getting more "militarized." Don't overthink it—it's just to counter ever-more-arrogant cartels!
To strike them more effectively.
Victor leaned forward. "If you get a chance to meet someone with real authority, ask if they'd sell a Tu-160!"
Best's face stiffened.
Seeing his expression, Victor laughed and patted his shoulder. "Relax—I'm joking."
The Tu-160 is available in the System too.
But it's too expensive—150 million points. Those points could raise an army of tens of thousands.
Later, India tried to spend $10 billion for six—about $1.6 billion each. Still pricey.
But if the Bear's about to die, you can always do installments—maybe cheaper.
If canned goods can get you two planes, I'll trade coats if I have to!
(End of Chapter)
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