Free Web NovelI smiled inwardly at the hostility filling their eyes toward Ramos.
The deeper the hatred from the drug cartels, the more it proved that Ramos had been doing his job properly.
“I assume all of you know Ramos better than I do. But whatever happened in the past—forget it.”
Antonio, whose brother had been taken down because of Ramos, growled as he spoke.
“We can’t trust him. How can you be sure he’s not a double agent sent in to infiltrate us?”
Except for the cartels that had already switched to my side, the rest nodded in agreement with Antonio.
“That’s something Javier Arellano Félix will explain.”
When I pointed to Javier, he stood up with a nod.
“I understand your concerns. There’s no one here who hates the DEA more than I do.”
Because of the Mexican government and the DEA, two of his brothers had ended up in prison, and one had died.
Everyone knew that, which made them listen even more closely.
“The one who stepped in this time to prevent my brother’s extradition to the United States... was Ramos. That’s why I chose to forget the past. I hope all of you will leave the past behind as well and look toward the future.”
The reality was more complicated, but in the end, it was true that Rafael of the Tijuana Cartel had not been extradited to the United States.
The cartel bosses already knew that fact, which gave Javier’s words more weight.
“If the U.S. government truly sets its mind to it, we cannot withstand them. How long do you think the Mexican government can keep calling this a domestic issue? At this rate, we’ll end up collapsing like Godfather Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo.”
“What does that have to do with letting this man into the committee?”
“Antonio. This is a historic place where the council is being formed. Show some respect.”
“......”
“And it matters. He’s the one who will mediate between us and the U.S. government.”
“What are you—”
As Antonio was about to demand further explanation, I cut him off.
“Javier, that’s enough. I’ll explain.”
I decided to reveal the real reason I had created this committee.
“The U.S. government will never officially acknowledge your existence. The moment they do, they lose everything.”
They would never recognize the Mexican drug cartels.
“They want to reduce the amount of drugs entering the United States. But they know better than anyone that they can never eliminate it completely.”
Everyone nodded.
It had been the same when Gallardo was arrested, and when the Medellín Cartel in Colombia was brought down.
Drug trafficking hadn’t decreased—it had only increased. freёweɓnovel.com
The amount of drugs entering the U.S. had grown exponentially, and prices had dropped.
As prices fell, more people began using drugs.
I intended to break that vicious cycle.
“You people gathered here control the volume of drugs entering the United States. If that’s the case, the U.S. will be willing to negotiate with you to some extent.”
“Do you really think that’s possible? If it’s exposed, it’ll be a massive scandal.”
“The United States joins hands even with dictators who have killed tens of thousands of people if it serves their national security. And you can block drug trafficking from other organizations on their behalf. That directly benefits you as well. If you do that, they’ll know about you—and still pretend they don’t.”
Nearly 90% of the drugs entering the U.S. come through Mexican cartels.
If they united and reduced supply, prices would rise, and drugs would become a luxury only the wealthy could afford.
“Negotiations with the United States will be handled directly by Ramos.”
His connections alone weren’t enough—but with a little help from me, he would be more than capable.
After all, he had been part of the DEA.
“What you need to do is strictly control the flow of drugs into the United States.”
“New organizations will keep emerging. No matter how much we try to stop them, there are limits.”
Antonio kept pushing back. freewёbnoνel.com
“That’s exactly why this committee exists. Any new cartel that emerges in Mexico will be crushed with force.”
“What about other countries?”
“You’ll handle that as well.”
“......”
“Anyone who wants to reap benefits without doing anything will have no place in this committee. Is that what you intend?”
Antonio had no answer to that. Even if he thought it, saying it out loud was a different matter.
“Do you understand now why Ramos is necessary? There’s no one who can replace him.”
No one spoke.
I moved on to define Ramos’s role.
“Ramos will serve as an advisor to this committee. He will attend as my representative. The chairman, four members, and one advisor—six people will make all decisions.”
Even if others were replaced, the advisor would remain completely independent from the committee unless I permitted otherwise.
“The advisor has one role: to correct the committee when it goes astray. Aside from that, he will not offer any opinions. Although he belongs to the committee, he will be separate from its command structure. He will also form an independent armed organization.”
Antonio frowned again.
“An independent armed organization?”
“Yes. A force that answers only to the advisor. Their training will be handled by military advisors dispatched from Black Bear. Their sole purpose will be to execute traitors within the committee and those who oppose its decisions. Aside from that, they will never appear in the world.”
A military force capable of controlling the committee.
That was the safety mechanism that would bind it together.
This was something no one knew except me and Ramos.
“So you’re saying there will be an organization that doesn’t follow the committee’s orders?”
For the first time, Amado Carrillo Fuentes spoke up in opposition.
“Think of it as a minimum safeguard. If the committee runs wild, the Mexican government alone won’t be able to stop it.”
“That won’t happen. None of us intend to go to war with the Mexican government.”
“Not now. But human greed has no end. Earn one dollar today, and tomorrow you want two. If you lose your original purpose and run wild, this committee will become far too powerful.”
I stared directly at Amado.
“Or did you have such intentions?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
Under my cold gaze, Amado hurriedly clarified.
“But the mere existence of a group outside the committee’s authority means the committee itself isn’t complete.”
“They may not follow orders, but their equipment and funding will all be provided in the committee’s name.”
“That still means we bear responsibility without having authority over them.”
“So? What do you suggest?”
At my cold question, Amado answered carefully.
“I agree that such a force is necessary. But they should still follow the committee’s decisions.”
“I already said—they exist to eliminate traitors and those who oppose the committee.”
“...And who decides that? Ramos?”
“That’s why I’m entrusting it to him. My representative. Do you think I’d destroy the committee I built with my own hands? ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) I have zero interest in the money this committee earns—not even one dollar. I only want it to operate as intended. So accept it. Or...”
I looked around at all of them.
“...we kill everyone here.”
The moment I finished speaking, the mercenaries inside the hall raised their guns.
“What will it be? Will you accept? Don’t think you can just walk out of here and be safe. If anyone leaks what was decided here or harbors other thoughts, that cartel will become an example. Just like Los Zetas—they’ll be wiped off the face of the earth.”
From the start, I had planned to kill them all if the talks failed.
An opportunity to eliminate the major cartels in one stroke wouldn’t come again.
Even if that included Javier and Amado.
“Make your choice. Accept—or die.”
After exchanging glances, Javier spoke first.
“We accept. I’m tired of being hunted by governments. If we can secure stable profits, I don’t want to fight anymore.”
Starting with Javier, the other cartel bosses followed one after another.
There had never really been a choice.
Finally, instead of Antonio, Eduardo Arellano Félix spoke.
“The Gulf Cartel accepts as well.”
Seeing Antonio remain silent, he stepped in.
“That represents an agreed decision?”
“Antonio and I are equal co-leaders. My decision is the cartel’s decision.”
“Good. I’ll take your word for it.”
I called Ramos.
“Ramos.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Let’s make one thing clear. Tell them yourself.”
“Thank you for the opportunity.”
Ramos gave a slight bow, then spoke.
“I do not feel sorry toward any of you. I simply fulfilled my duty as a DEA agent.”
Murmurs spread at his blunt opening.
“That means as long as I serve as advisor, I will fulfill my role just the same. And I will not regret it. So forget the past, and let’s move forward together.”
He made it clear—he did not regret fighting the cartels.
And he would act the same way here.
That honesty only made him seem more credible.
“Lastly, from today onward, I will not meet any boss outside this committee. If you meet me, it will be for your execution. So follow the committee’s decisions.”
With that final warning, he finished.
Once the biggest obstacles—the advisor role and execution force—were settled, everything else proceeded smoothly.
“This is as far as I go. The details will be decided by the council. I’ll take my leave—set your rules.”
As I stood, everyone followed.
“Chairman Amado. Lead the committee well. Earn my trust. If I come to trust you completely, I may allow you to share the authority given to Ramos.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Good. I’ll trust you.”
I shook hands with each boss.
Finally, I stopped in front of El Mencho.
“El Mencho.”
“Yes.”
“I have high expectations for you. I’ll contact you separately—come see me.”
“Yes.”
I patted his shoulder and walked out.
To Ramos, who followed me, I said:
“The committee’s first decision must be a declaration of war against the Sinaloa Cartel.”
“Yes. I’ll make it happen.”
“Good. The mercenaries will stay. Do whatever you need.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll be going.”
Thus, the council uniting the three major cartels and others was formed.
And soon, the news reached the Sinaloa Cartel.
Because the first decision of the committee—
was war against them.
