"Look, this is the reaction," Allen said to Sara. "The warehouse was cleared ahead of ti, the police went through the motions. This shows the report hit a sore spot and also indicates who is tipping off the information. Next, we’ll see whether they temporarily restrain themselves or retaliate."
Retaliation ca faster than expected, but it wasn’t directly aid at Sara or the "Congress."
Three nights after the report was published, a popular bar often frequented by young people and students in the center of Liverpool exploded. It wasn’t a big explosion, just a makeshift device in the bathroom, causing minor injuries to three people but sparking huge panic. Police found scrawled slogans at the scene: "Busybody dies," along with a crude Skull graffiti.
Although there was no direct evidence, everyone linked the explosion to The Guardian report and the recent security actions of the "English Congress." Panic spread across Liverpool, with fears of more severe violence.
Pressure returned to Sara. So community residents who originally supported the "Congress" began to withdraw, afraid of getting involved. Local dia started questioning whether the "Congress" security actions were "too aggressive," "sparking unnecessary violent responses." Even within the "Congress," divisions appeared, with so feeling they shouldn’t delve into the dangerous drug issue and should focus on political reform.
Sara stood at the center of the storm. She knew this was the opponent’s counterattack, aid at intimidating her and undermining her support. If she backed down, previous efforts would be wasted, and her authority damaged. If she pushed back, it might lead to more unpredictable violence.
Allen gave her so advice: "Hold a community eting and make a public statent. First, strongly condemn the violent acts and express support for the victims. Second, emphasize that the ’Congress’ is pursuing the rule of law and safety, and will never bow to violent threats. Third, announce the expansion of community patrols and volunteer training, and urge genuinely responsible politicians and police leadership to take real action, not just talk. Pass the ball back while demonstrating our determination and organizational capacity."
Sara adopted his advice. She organized a rally in the largest public square in Liverpool, attended by hundreds. She delivered a tough speech, not avoiding the bombing incident, but using it as an example of security out of control, urging everyone to unite and face it together.
The rally had so effect, stabilizing part of the base, but it also exposed her and the "Congress" more to hostile forces. She didn’t know what form the next attack might take or when it would co. Street struggle was sliding from peaceful protest to the dangerous edge of violence.
xico City, the "Feathered Serpent Temple."
Bramo compiled intelligence related to "Skull and Snake" and "Black Pearl," including the expansion of Mamadou’s forces in West Africa, an ambush targeting the Galsa Squad in Congo, the discovery of a suspected dirty bomb facility in Scotland, and the bombing incident in Liverpool, and presented it to Victor.
"Their activities are escalating, expanding in areas, and getting more radical and diverse in approaches," Bramo summarized. "West Africa is attempting to establish a base, Congo has a stable stronghold and elite ard groups, Scotland might be planning radioactive terrorism, England is using street violence for intimidation. This is not like a disorganized roving band but rather a coordinated and divided... network. Although the nodes might operate independently, there is a commonality in resources, technology, and patterns, likely behind them is one or several unified coordinators and sponsors."
Victor looked at the striking red dots on the map, lightly tapping his fingers on the desktop. "Hendrick, the forr 32nd Battalion of South Africa. Those ambushing your n in Congo, they use sophisticated tactics and Western equipnt. Ramirez from Scotland, forr ’Zetas’ detonation expert, has access to radioactive materials and precision parts. The Liverpool bombing, the thod crude but effective, like a warning." He paused, "Connecting these dots, what does it look like?"
Casare frowned: "Like... a damn dirty special forces team scattered worldwide? Doing everything—drug trafficking, robbery, assassination, intimidation, perhaps even setting up dirty bombs?"
"More like a filthy broom spreading fires everywhere," Victor slowly said. "The goal isn’t to occupy sowhere but to create chaos, disrupt stability, test reactions, and seize resources in the turmoil—drug profits, smuggling channels, even potentially territories. Who needs chaos the most? Who fears stability the most?"
Bramo imdiately responded: "Beneficiaries of the old order, or... those who don’t want to see us smoothly building a new order. If the United Kingdom collapses, we benefit the most. If Scotland, infiltrated England, and invested Africa all fall into the quagmire of drugs, violence, and terrorist attacks, our model will be questioned, our expansion thwarted."
The Aricans’ "Wind Roll Grass" plan..." Casare recalled previous intelligence.
"Not necessarily just Aricans," Victor’s eyes deepened, "So forces in Europe, stubborn elents within the United Kingdom, even so... ’nostalgic’ forces within us might use or secretly boost this ’dirty broom.’ Rember, these drug trafficker warlords themselves are viruses, but virus spread requires a suitable environnt and sotis so deliberate ’placing.’"
"What should we do then? West Africa according to plan, borrowing others’ knife? Congo, Scotland, England? These places are directly linked to our interests." Casare asked.
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