Free Web NovelAfter finishing my meeting with Carlos Slim, I got into the car to head back home.
“Boss.”
The moment Manager Ma got in, he called out to me.
“Yes, Manager.”
“Do you really intend to clean up the cartels and hand them over to Chairman Slim?”
“Haha. Is that what you’re worried about?”
Manager Ma gave a small nod.
It seemed he was worried that I’d do all the hard work while Carlos Slim walked away with the money.
“I’ll maintain a certain level of influence. But this isn’t like dealing with the mafia or the yakuza. The deeper we get involved with drug cartels, the worse it is for us.”
Most criminal organizations kept an eye on the government, walking a tightrope between legality and illegality.
But drug cartels were different. To them, there was only one thing that mattered.
Money.
They were lunatics who would even wage war for it.
“So I’m planning to plant one of our people inside. On the surface, Carlos Slim has to be the godfather. But behind the scenes, we need someone who will follow my orders whenever I need them.”
“Understood.”
“As long as Carlos Slim holds most of the legal power in the open, it’s difficult for me to dig any deeper. If he were someone who could be swayed by money, I’d pull him to our side somehow—but he’s not someone who lacks money.”
Carlos Slim had always expanded his wealth whenever an economic crisis hit.
The reason he could grow richer even during crises was simple—most of his businesses were tied to essential goods.
‘And he’s not someone who can be pressured through threats either.’
If he were outside Mexico, maybe something could be done. But within Mexico, he was untouchable.
“It’s enough if we can exert influence at the right level. Of course... Carlos Slim must never find out.”
Once we left the wealthy district where Slim lived, the reality of Mexico revealed itself.
Unlike the vibrant, dazzling neighborhoods, the expressions on people’s faces here carried a heavy gloom.
A country that produced the richest man in the world... yet remained impoverished.
The irony couldn’t have been more glaring.
Several days passed after arriving in Mexico. I hadn’t met a single cartel boss yet.
Even though Carlos Slim had personally reached out, they were still testing the waters.
“The Tijuana Cartel has agreed to meet.”
“Tijuana?”
The Tijuana Cartel was run by relatives of Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, once known as the godfather of Mexican drug cartels.
“Didn’t most of their leadership get captured or killed?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Gather everything we have on them. And call everyone in.”
“Understood, Boss.”
Manager Ma stepped out to assemble the team.
A short while later, he returned with documents, accompanied by Ramos and Marcelo Castro.
“You’ve all heard?”
“Yes.”
“We have, Boss.”
They answered in unison. I turned to Ramos first.
“Agent Ramos. What do you think about making the Tijuana Cartel our first meeting?”
Ramos paused briefly before speaking.
“After their founding boss Benjamin was arrested, their influence weakened significantly.”
“The eldest son is someone else, right? Francisco Rafael?”
“He’ll likely be extradited to the U.S. next year.”
The Tijuana Cartel, being a family-run organization, passed control between siblings whenever one was killed or arrested.
“If he returns, how will the power structure change?”
“Since it’s a family operation, the eldest son’s influence will be strong. Benjamin may have been the official founder, but even he listened to his older brother Francisco.”
“But you said Francisco will be extradited?”
“He’s about to be released. He served his sentence in Mexico, but he still has to answer for crimes ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) committed in the U.S.”
The U.S. government had been consistently demanding the extradition of cartel members arrested in Mexico.
I continued questioning him.
“Who’s the current boss?”
“The youngest, Javier, is effectively running the organization.”
Manager Ma added,
“The one who contacted us is Javier, Boss.”
“Is that so? Then he’s the real boss. What about his personality and their strength?”
“The Tijuana Cartel still has legitimacy. Most major organizations today originated from the Guadalajara Cartel under Félix Gallardo. But their power has declined compared to the past.”
Ramos went on to explain the cartel’s leadership, manpower, and their strained relationships with rival groups.
As expected, his field experience made his explanation far more tangible than the documents in front of me.
“Good. Manager Ma, set up the meeting.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“And Captain Castro, recheck the mercenaries’ equipment. We’ll aim for dialogue, but we need to prepare for any unforeseen situation. Show them an overwhelming difference in force—so they won’t even think about trying anything.” ƒrēewebnovel.com
“Understood.”
Castro answered firmly.
“And Agent Ramos—stop Rafael’s extradition.”
“...Excuse me?”
Ramos looked stunned.
“We’ll use Rafael’s custody as leverage to negotiate with the Tijuana Cartel.”
“No, that—what...?”
“In exchange, we’ll demand they withdraw from the drug business. Isn’t extradition to the U.S. what Mexican cartels fear the most?”
Still dazed, Ramos nodded.
“That’s true. In Mexico, they can still exert influence inside prisons.”
“Exactly. So we’ll use that. Inform DEA headquarters accordingly.”
“...I’ll pass it along.”
“That’s all I need. I’ll handle the rest.”
After finishing, I dismissed everyone except Manager Ma.
“As expected, since Chairman Slim had ties with Félix Gallardo, his relatives responded first.”
“Their weakened position likely played a role. And the possibility of receiving Slim’s support must have influenced their decision.”
I nodded as Manager Ma organized the documents.
“Either way, we got a response. That’s enough. Inform the security team from Korea to stay sharp.”
“Yes, Boss.”
We had to establish dominance in this first meeting.
In anything, the first move mattered the most.
A few days later, I left Mexico City and headed to Tijuana, bordering San Diego.
To protect me, the mercenaries prepared armored vehicles and the latest military equipment.
Heavy military vehicles surrounded my car—front, back, and sides.
After a long drive, we arrived in Tijuana. At the city entrance, a man from the cartel greeted us.
As Manager Ma stepped out, the man complained,
“Are you here to start a war?”
Manager Ma replied firmly,
“This is for the Boss’s safety. If you don’t threaten us, nothing will happen.”
“We didn’t invite you here to harm you.”
“That doesn’t matter. If you don’t like it, we’ll leave.”
I quietly listened.
Manager Ma had only asked one thing of me:
Never separate from him and the mercenaries in Mexico.
To him, my safety was always the top priority.
“...Fine. We won’t meet in the city. Turn around and follow us.”
The man sighed and got back into his car. Manager Ma returned as well.
Only after their vehicle moved did ours follow.
“Eduardo, right?”
“Yes.”
“At least someone at your level came.”
“That just shows how much we’re hoping for this.”
“Indeed. You seem more cooperative than expected.”
We drove far outside the city and arrived at a ranch.
The atmosphere changed completely.
Armed men guarded the place heavily.
Their equipment made it hard to dismiss them as just another criminal group.
Eduardo’s car stopped first. He got out and approached us.
Knocking on the window, he said,
“This is it. Only a minimum number of people can enter.”
“We can’t leave our security behind.”
“My family is the only one inside. You don’t need to worry.”
“Still—”
If I let this continue, it would drag on. I stepped in.
“Manager. Take only the Korean security team. The rest stay here.”
Manager Ma frowned.
“Then I’ll go in first and check, Boss.”
“Do that.”
He went inside with Eduardo.
A moment later, he returned alone.
“Boss. Members of the Arellano family are waiting inside.”
“Can our team handle them?”
“Yes, easily.”
“Good. Bring only the security team. Call Castro.”
I stepped out of the car.
At Manager Ma’s signal, Castro rushed over.
“Captain Castro. Secure the perimeter. If gunfire breaks out, deploy all firepower and wipe everything out—except the building I enter.”
“Understood, Boss.”
I entered the ranch house with Manager Ma and the guards.
A heavyset man with thick eyebrows introduced himself.
“Welcome. I’m Javier.”
“Kim Muhyuk. You can call me Charlie.”
We shook hands as I scanned the room.
About ten people—just as they said, the whole family was here.
“This is Eduardo—my brother.”
He introduced each family member in turn.
“Please, sit. Could you have your guards step back a bit?”
I nodded and had everyone except Manager Ma and two guards move toward the door.
The moment I sat down, he got straight to the point.
“Chairman Carlos Slim contacted us personally. Said you’re someone worth meeting.”
“Yes. I came with a proposal that will benefit not only the Tijuana Cartel, but all Mexican cartels.”
“Oh? All cartels?”
“Did Chairman Slim say anything else?”
Javier shook his head.
“Nothing. Just told us to meet you. Oh—and warned us not to even think about attacking you. Said if we did, the Tijuana Cartel would disappear from the map. Looking at your forces, I understand why.”
I smirked slightly.
The show of force had worked.
“Do you know Black Bear?”
“Of course we do.”
“I’m the owner of Black Bear. And the forces I brought are its elite.”
“...Is that true?”
“Didn’t you look into me?”
“We heard some things, but not that. I suppose we should hope this negotiation goes well.”
Javier chuckled.
Despite his nickname “Little Tiger,” he didn’t look particularly afraid.
So that’s why the youngest ended up as boss.
“Then let’s hear it.”
I looked at each member of the Arellano family before speaking.
“Like your uncle, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo—the boss of the Guadalajara Cartel—I intend to unite all Mexican cartels into a single power.”
At my shocking declaration, everyone’s eyes widened.
