Evenings fell quickly on Guadalupe Island.
Most of the residents in the neighborhood named after the Mexican independence hero Morelos were from the lower class.
Their main sources of livelihood were odd jobs or going out to sea to fish.
But due to battles between drug traffickers and the police, factories had closed, ports were at standstill, and even the only two schools had suspended classes.
"Ugh, really sick of those damn police. Why do they have to fight drugs? Wouldn't it be better to live in peace with the drug traffickers?"
"Yeah, my dad could make some money following them, and just one trip to the United States could earn 50 US dollars, plus he could buy me lots of toys, but now these cops have messed it all up."
"Heard the drug traffickers are recruiting to fight against the cops, 300 pesos a day, are you in or not?"
A few teenagers sitting under a big tree were grumbling to each other.
A skinny figure passed by with a basket on his back, head down, but upon hearing their conversation, he seemed to muster his courage, "That's not true!"
The teenagers were startled.
"Drug traffickers are like a cancer, they're the parasites of this country, they are killing people!" the little boy said bravely.
"What did you say! Santos, you asking for a beating?"
"Beat him! Beat him! I think he's been asking for it lately."
"Kill the little bastard!"
The older kids shouted and charged towards him.
The boy named Santos stepped back in fright, but only one step, then he raised his hands in anger and shouted, "Justice will never die!"
"Long live Mr. Victor!"
"Long live Mexico!"
He charged at the children who were bigger than himself.
...
Valentina looked at the worn wall clock, her brows furrowed with tension, two pieces of cornbread lay on the table, the usual dinner for her family.
Of course, there were also those whose eyes shone bright—1000 US dollars!
That sum was enough to make many people lose their senses.
"Long live the great nation of Mexico! Long live the great people of Mexico!!" Santos jumped down from his chair, yelling fervently with his hands raised as he ran into the room.
"Your head isn't even clean yet." Valentina called out after him.
"Mom, a man should not weakly moan but should enjoy the pain!" Santos said, standing at the door of the room.
Valentina was stunned, her eyes turning red, perhaps feeling her son had grown up.
Santos climbed onto the bed and carefully took down a delicate little box from the shelf, placing it on the table. He opened it forcefully, revealing a police badge lying inside.
He took it in his hands and held it tightly, lifting his head to gaze at the Morning Star in the sky. He seemed to see his father, bearded and clad in police uniform, holding him as a child. He had told him to grow up and become a policeman.
"Father, please bless Mr. Victor from heaven, he is a good man."
Santos bowed his head onto his hands and prayed with his eyes closed.
...
"Set up the Browning M2HB on the second floor, the television station is key for us to control the narrative on Guadalupe Island." .net
Victor was willing to invest heavily, as it was estimated that at least close to 10,000 people on the island were involved in the drug trade. If these people all rushed forward together, the few hundred officers at the police station would definitely be overwhelmed, even with Tairo coming it would be useless.
But the drug traffickers could not truly unite, among those 10,000 were dozens of organizations, and many were part of the transportation line. If you want a driver to do a gunman's job, you have to pay him extra.
Therefore, the number of drug traffickers with actual combat capability would not exceed 2000 at most, and many of them had been killed by him.
But it wasn't easy to wipe them all out, so mobilizing the public was the only way.
1000 US dollars per head, that was practically robbery.
But the more such a place, the more it should utilize lightning-strike tactics.
To truly pull everyone away from drugs, there needed to be industry. Once the society stabilized somewhat (after most of the drug traffickers were dead), a few factories could be opened, giving everyone a job.
Victor had indeed taken Guadalupe Island as his stronghold.
"Let the bullets fly for a while."
...