I planned to scramble all the information and fra the Sinaloa Cartel as the culprits.
After hearing my explanation, Javier Arellano Félix nodded with a hardened expression.
“As long as it doesn’t bring harm to our cartel, we want to do it ourselves. They’re the ones truly responsible for Ramon’s death.”
After being deceived by the Sinaloa Cartel’s misinformation, Ramon personally entered Sinaloa to assassinate Ismael Zambada García, only to be killed by police acting under orders from Joaquín Guzmán.
And that wasn’t the end of it. After that, even his second brother, Benjamín Arellano Félix, was arrested, and the Tijuana Cartel suffered massive losses.
All of it was because of Director Luna, who had sided with the Sinaloa Cartel and turned against them.
“Good. Then prepare quickly and clean it up. All the information will be shared by Black Bear’s intel team.”
“Understood. I’ll return imdiately and begin preparations.”
“I’ll erase El Chapo from this world myself. So make sure this operation is handled cleanly. I’ll take care of the aftermath.”
Javier nodded and stood up.
“If there’s nothing more to discuss, I’ll take my leave.”
I stood as well and extended my hand to him.
Javier’s hand was large and firm—rougher than I had expected.
“The Tijuana Cartel will stand at the forefront of the order I create.”
“Thank you. I look forward to our next eting.”
After Javier left, I thought for a mont before calling for Manager Ma.
“Manager Ma.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“We’re going to xico City. Set up a eting with Carlos Slim.”
* * *
The mont I arrived in xico City, I t Carlos Slim right away.
“Welco, Charlie. I heard you wiped out Los Zetas. And you even killed Heriberto Lazcano?”
“Yes. We’ll be handing over his body to the governnt tomorrow. Most of his organization is dead as well, so they won’t be able to resurface.”
“As expected, the na Black Bear isn’t empty. Incredible. Truly incredible.”
Carlos Slim looked delighted. He seed satisfied that the matter he had involvent in was # Nоvеlight # proceeding smoothly.
“It wasn’t difficult.”
“If you say that, what does that make the xican governnt and the federal police? Don’t say things like that in front of President Vicente Fox.”
Even as he said that, a smile never left Carlos Slim’s face.
“So once the Sinaloa Cartel is dealt with, everything is finished, Charlie? Unifying all xican cartels... Yes, that’s sothing only I could accomplish.”
At first, he had been reluctant.
Now that the end was in sight, seeing him puff himself up like this was almost laughable.
Hiding my thoughts, I played along.
“Of course. It’s only possible because of the weight of the na Carlos Slim.”
“When the Institutional Revolutionary Party was in power, the cartels at least feared political authority. But after the National Action Party took power, they tried to break free from that control.”
As he said, when the Institutional Revolutionary Party ruled, the cartels never escaped the shadow of political power.
They were practically a mutually beneficial network.
But after more than seventy years, the shift in political power severed the ties between the governnt and the cartels.
Violence filled that structural vacuum. While clashing with the governnt, the cartels began taking control of entire regions.
As a result, aside from xico City and a few major cities, most areas fell under cartel control.
“Now, the cartels must coexist with political power again. We can’t let my country be toyed with by them any longer.”
“That’s how it will be. More importantly, Chairman, I ca today to ask a difficult favor.”
I cut off the circling conversation and got straight to the point.
“A difficult favor?”
“Yes. Within a few days, Director Luna of the Federal Investigation Agency will die.”
“What did you say?”
Carlos Slim, who rarely showed surprise, was visibly shocked.
I continued calmly.
“Director Luna leaked my information to the Sinaloa Cartel. Because of that, I was ambushed. One of my bodyguards died protecting . I intend to remove him.”
“...Even so, you’re talking about killing the head of federal law enforcent? Our entire plan could fall apart.”
Carlos Slim wasn’t worried about Luna’s life—he was worried about the plan failing.
Greedy as ever.
“Don’t worry about that. I ca to you precisely because of the aftermath. The Sinaloa Cartel will be blad for Luna’s death.”
“What do you an? You’ll make it look like they killed him...?”
Carlos Slim trailed off, frowning.
Seeing that he didn’t imdiately understand, I explained the plan in full.
After hearing everything, he nodded—but his expression remained troubled.
“Even so, killing Luna will cause massive repercussions. If the head of federal law enforcent is killed by cartel mbers, the governnt won’t tolerate it. And he reached that position purely through his ability.”
“I know. President Fox appointed him as the first director precisely because of that ability. That’s why it’s even better. His death will isolate the Sinaloa Cartel further. I’ll gain both revenge and justification at the sa ti.”
Carlos Slim t my gaze, lips parting slightly.
“...So what exactly do I need to do?”
“We’ll handle all the misinformation. You just need to steer public opinion so that xican dia condemns the Sinaloa Cartel. The sa articles will appear in the United States.”
“That’s all? What if El Chapo reacts unpredictably?”
If El Chapo couldn’t resist and ca out of hiding, that would be ideal.
If he chose to stay hidden, it would take far longer to catch him.
“If he shows himself to refute it, that’s even better. It saves the trouble of finding him.”
“No matter what, this must not disrupt our plan.”
“Of course. Don’t worry. Soone else will take care of killing Luna.”
I didn’t ntion that the Tijuana Cartel would be the one carrying it out.
“Then I’ll begin preparing the aftermath. Once news of Luna’s death breaks, move imdiately. And until then, I’d prefer no leaks. From now on, we won’t be sharing full operational details. I don’t intend to let sothing like this happen again.”
I could no longer trust the xican governnt.
Carlos Slim seed to understand the aning behind my words and nodded slightly.
“Very well. I’ll handle the governnt.”
“Good. Then let’s et again under better circumstances.”
With that, I left Carlos Slim’s mansion.
* * *
After returning to Tijuana, Javier imdiately convened a family eting.
“What’s going on? Calling everyone together like this all of a sudden?”
Francisco Rafael Arellano Félix grumbled as he walked in, recently freed thanks to Kim Muhyuk.
“Rafael, you’re here?”
“Yeah. I said I was stepping away from cartel business. Why did you call too?”
“It’s that important. I’ll explain once everyone’s here.”
Sensing the unusual tension, Rafael nodded and took a seat.
mbers of the Arellano family began to gather one by one.
Once everyone had arrived, Javier spoke.
“We finally have the chance to avenge Ramon.”
“What? Ramon’s revenge?”
Rafael hadn’t even been able to attend Ramon’s funeral. As the eldest son of the family, it had remained a deep regret.
“That’s right. Revenge. We already killed the police officer who killed Ramon—but that wasn’t true revenge.”
After Ramon’s death, the Tijuana Cartel had brutally murdered the officer responsible.
“So what, you’re saying we’re killing that bastard Luna next?”
“That’s right. The head of the Federal Investigation Agency. Genaro García Luna—we’re going to kill him—”
“Have you lost your mind?!”
Rafael shot to his feet, cutting him off.
“He’s the one I want dead the most! But the mont he dies, our family and cartel won’t survive in xico!”
“It’s fine. It won’t be us. It’ll be El Chapo of the Sinaloa Cartel.”
“What?”
“I’ll explain the details later.”
After staring at Javier for a long mont, Rafael asked,
“You’re certain the family won’t suffer any damage?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t do anything that would harm the family. I’m the one leading it now. Why would I?”
“...Then do as you wish. But I’ll handle this myself.”
Rafael sat back down, declaring he would personally take charge.
Javier panicked and tried to stop him.
“Brother! Stay out of this. If sothing goes wrong, you might never get out again.”
“This isn’t cartel business. It’s Arellano business. As the eldest son of this family, I’ll handle it myself. I’ll avenge our brother with my own hands.”
Rafael refused to back down.
Javier knew he couldn’t easily change his mind.
“...Fine. Then you take responsibility for this.”
In the end, Javier entrusted the assassination to Rafael.
Others continued to ask questions, and Javier explained as much as he could.
“I’m going too! I’ll help Uncle Rafael.”
“Luis!”
Two won imdiately tried to stop him.
“Mom, Aunt—I’m part of this family too. How long are you going to treat like a child?”
“....”
Javier backed him up.
“That’s right. Luis, assist Rafael and make sure this is finished cleanly.”
“Got it, Uncle.”
Javier then turned to Rafael.
“Brother. The hitman won’t be you—it’ll be Teodoro.”
“....”
“He was loyal to Ramon to the end. He’s the right man for this.”
“...Fine. But I’ll watch that bastard die myself.”
“Understood. Luis, go bring Teodoro.”
Luis nodded and hurried out.
A mont later, a man with a vicious look entered with him.
“Teodoro.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“The opportunity to avenge Ramon has co.”
A chilling light flickered in Teodoro’s eyes.
He lifted his head and t Javier’s gaze.
“Boss. Please entrust that task to .”
His voice was as cold as his eyes.
Javier looked satisfied.
“Good. You’re the hitman, Teodoro. But Rafael is in charge. Can you follow him?”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Good. Then I’ll explain the plan.”
Javier laid out the strategy based on the intelligence provided by Black Bear.
“The key to this operation is luring him out of xico City. First, through an interdiary...”
* * *
A shabby cabin on the outskirts of xico City.
Inside that damp, filthy place, a man lay collapsed.
“Hey, García Luna!”
Rafael splashed water on him.
“W-What?!”
Half-drugged and drunk, García Luna jolted awake in shock.
“Awake now?”
His blurred vision cleared. Recognizing Rafael, his brows furrowed.
“...Rafael Arellano?”
“That’s right. You recognize ?”
“You insane bastard! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
García Luna snarled.
Rafael let out a strange smile.
“Ha. This is funny. You still don’t understand the situation? Where do you think you are?”
Only then did García Luna look around.
Realizing this wasn’t his bedroom, confusion filled his face.
“W-What...?”
“What do you an what? This is your grave. Teodoro, your turn. Make it last as long as possible.”
Rafael stepped back.
Behind him, Teodoro stepped forward, curling his lips into a grin.
“Understood. That’s my specialty.”
He crouched down in front of García Luna.
“It’s been a while. Nice to see you.”
García Luna’s face turned pale.
He knew Teodoro’s reputation better than anyone.
A human butcher—that was what Teodoro was.
“R-Rafael!”
He called out desperately, but Rafael simply stood back with his arms crossed, watching.
After that, for a long ti, the cabin echoed with horrifying screams.
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