The longer the conversation with Rafa went on, the more convinced I became that he truly didn’t have the evidence.

“No matter how much I like money, it’s not more important than my life. How am I supposed to trust you and hand that over? And I have no intention of leaving Mexico.”

“The United States will never give up on you. Eventually, there will come a time when that evidence won’t have any power anymore.”

America’s persistence operated on a completely different level from other countries.

Even knowing that, Rafa spoke firmly.

“I still won’t hand it over. So stop talking about it. The only reason I allowed this visit today was because I was curious.”

Rafa picked up the glass in front of him, downed another shot of tequila, and muttered,

“I wanted to see what kind of foreigner was trying to unite the cartels. But you’re unexpected. You’re way too young.”

For someone who supposedly didn’t like tequila, he was drinking far too much of it.

Feeling my gaze on him, Rafa narrowed his eyes and looked straight at me.

“And on top of that, you even pulled Chairman Slim in? How did you manage to rope in that fox-like old man?”

Rafa sounded genuinely puzzled that Carlos Slim was backing this committee behind the scenes.

“Well. Rather than saying he joined hands for the sake of the drug cartels, it’d be more accurate to say he joined hands with me.”

“Hm.”

Rafa stroked his chin for a moment while looking me up and down.

“With that much influence, maybe you really could get me taken off America’s wanted list.”

“I have never once in my life made a promise I couldn’t keep.”

“Hm. Then take me off the wanted list first. I’ll think about it after that.”

He was telling me to pay first.

If we’d known each other for years, maybe things would’ve been different, but Rafa and I had absolutely no trust between us.

“I don’t do business on credit.”

“That would be better for you though......”

Rafa trailed off and flashed a vicious grin.

“If you want to leave here alive.”

Well, look at that.

The ridiculous threat made me burst out laughing before I could stop myself.

Naturally, Rafa’s face twisted.

“You’re laughing?”

“Rafa. Do I look like I came here without any preparations?”

“What?”

I stood up and walked toward Rafa.

The man standing behind him immediately moved, but Manager Ma stepped in front of him and blocked his path.

Rafa glared at me, then raised a hand to make the man back off. I also motioned for Manager Ma to step back.

Once I got close enough, I spoke in a low voice devoid of emotion.

“If I die, you die too. I know bastards like you better than anyone. Other people’s lives mean nothing to you, but you treasure your own life more than anyone else.”

The cold voice, stripped even of fake politeness, made Rafa’s eyebrows twitch.

“But I’m different. Everyone’s life weighs the same to me. That’s why every time I walk into a place like this, I put my own life on the line. Because that’s the most valuable thing a businessman like me has. Can you do that?”

“......”

“You can’t answer, can you? If you were that kind of man, you wouldn’t be sitting here pretending to be a king. You’re hiding in here because you’re scared.”

“You little piece of—”

I cut Rafa off as he glared at me murderously.

“Shut up and listen to me until the end. You thought if you puffed yourself up without understanding a damn thing, I’d be afraid of trash like you? As if. Nobody fears a tiger with no teeth left. Understand?”

“......”

“Take the opportunity I gave you, or spend the rest of your life playing king in here. Do whatever you want. No, I don’t even need that evidence anymore.”

I looked around Rafa’s room as I spoke. Rafa followed my gaze and turned his head as well.

“A place like this really does suit you.”

After finishing my warning, I returned to my seat.

“There’s probably no point talking any further. Got anything else to say?”

At the sudden shift in my tone again, Rafa let out a hollow laugh.

“I can’t tell whether you’re fearless or just insane. Get out of here. And don’t come looking for me again.”

“Fine. This will be the last time I ever come looking for you. You’ll regret missing this opportunity for the rest of your life.”

I stood up without the slightest hesitation.

I’d already gotten everything I came here for.

“Let’s go. Manager Ma.”

“Luis, escort them to the entrance.”

Luis, the same man who had guided us earlier, answered shortly before leading us again.

Once we reached the first floor and he opened the exit door, Luis spoke.

“Don’t provoke Rafa too much. He may look like this, but there are still subordinates outside willing to carry gasoline into a fire if Rafa orders them to.”

I was about to walk out, but I stopped at Luis’s words.

“Your name was Luis, right?”

“Yes?”

“What exactly do you gain from loyalty?”

“......”

“How much time do you have left on your sentence?”

“Life imprisonment.”

A lifetime in prison.

A strange sense of defeat lingered on Luis’s face as he said it.

“Were you always a sicario under Rafa?”

“No. I originally worked under Gallardo.”

A sicario referred to the people responsible for the real muscle within the Mexican cartels.

They carried out assassinations on the boss’s orders, fought during cartel wars or police raids, and often handled the most important job of all—collections.

Many sicarios earned more money than the American middle class.

That was why the dream of so many cartel members in Mexico was becoming a sicario.

But once their backing disappeared, sicarios also became targets for every cartel around them.

The Luis standing before me had probably suffered through multiple assassination attempts after Gallardo was captured.

“You wanted Rafa’s protection so you could avoid assassination? You wanted to live comfortably in prison no matter what?”

“......I had no choice. Without Rafa’s protection, I wouldn’t receive any protection inside prison.”

“What if I got you out? Would you do anything I told you to?”

“What? You’d get me out?”

Luis’s eyes widened in shock.

I nodded.

“If you carry out my orders without complaint.”

“It’s a life sentence. One without parole or sentence reduction.”

“Since when did life imprisonment in Mexico actually mean spending your entire life in prison?”

“......”

“Think about it carefully. You can contact me anytime through the warden.”

I patted the frozen Luis on the shoulder before walking outside.

Without saying another word, Luis continued guiding me.

We exited Rafa’s building and arrived at the gate leading back toward the prison.

Standing there was Warden Carlos, who must have come out while we were inside.

“Did your conversation go well?”

“No. He says he’s satisfied playing king in there.”

“I see.”

Warden Carlos nodded.

He showed no surprise whatsoever, as if he had already expected Rafa’s response.

“More importantly, do you know that man named Luis well?”

“Luis? That guy over there?”

“Yes.”

“Of course I do. He used to be the king here.”

Unexpected.

A man reduced to acting like a mere attendant had once ruled the prison?

Warden Carlos continued speaking.

“He used to carry out Gallardo’s assassination orders. Not a single failure. That’s how he earned Gallardo’s trust. He was arrested during one of those missions and imprisoned here. After that, Gallardo’s support allowed him to rule this place like a king.”

Now I could understand at least a little of how miserable Luis’s situation was.

He had fallen from being the king of the prison to merely surviving as Rafa’s subordinate.

“What happened after Gallardo was captured?”

“There were three assassination attempts.”

“And you looked the other way too?”

At my question, Warden Carlos hesitated slightly before answering.

“......You know how it is. If we refuse cartel requests, the prison can’t function. If a riot breaks out, this place would literally turn into Armageddon.”

“And since they all failed, Luis is still alive.”

“Yes. He was the best sicario.”

“I see. What about his loyalty to Gallardo?”

Warden Carlos burst into loud laughter at my question.

“Why are you laughing?”

“My apologies. I don’t think you fully understand the nature of drug cartels yet. In the end, cartels are all about money. Loyalty? Brotherhood? Close relationships can exist, sure, but cartel members can become enemies overnight even if they were friends yesterday. Loyalty itself is money.”

“You mean they’ll switch sides anytime if the money is right?”

“Most of the sicarios imprisoned here would.”

“I see.”

By the time the conversation ended, we had reached the prison entrance.

“Manager Ma. Give him your contact information.”

Manager Ma handed Warden Carlos his number.

“If Luis wants to contact me, have him call that number. Keep it secure. If you do me that favor, I’ll reward you separately.”

“Understood. It’s not difficult.”

“Thank you. Then we’ll be leaving.”

Our business here was finished.

I left the prison.

A few days passed.

The meeting of the core executives of the Sinaloa Cartel was now only two days away.

“You said you still couldn’t find the evidence even after searching everywhere around him?”

“Yes. There’s not even a trace.”

“Then why is the Institutional Revolutionary Party so terrified of it? Even the United States wouldn’t wage war against the Mexican government over testimony alone.”

“Boss, may I say what I think?”

I gave a slight nod, and Manager Ma carefully continued.

“Politicians in Latin America are extremely conscious of the United States. They either openly oppose America or follow behind them and feed on the scraps they throw down.”

I nodded.

Cuba alone was enough to prove that.

Because it sat close enough to America to practically touch it, simply maintaining good relations with the United States brought tremendous benefits.

Before the Cuban Revolution, Cuba had been a vacation paradise for Americans.

But after the revolution, Cuba turned completely anti-American and used its conflict with the United States as a political weapon.

Not just Cuba—most Latin American countries ended up choosing either a pro-American or anti-American stance.

“Mexico has no choice but to lean pro-American. That’s why they’re even more sensitive to American pressure. I think that became the Institutional Revolutionary Party’s weakness. If the evidence is genuine, they probably know they’ll never be able to take power in Mexico again.”

“That’s possible.”

It was a convincing theory.

As I nodded ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) in satisfaction, the stiffness in Manager Ma’s expression relaxed slightly.

“The DEA Director is arriving today, right?”

“Yes. We received word he’ll arrive here in three hours.”

Ramos, who had flown to the United States, had done everything possible to carry out my orders.

In the end, he even managed to drag the normally immovable DEA Director all the way to Mexico.

“His name was Max Walker, right?”

“Yes. He was the head of the DEA’s Colombia division. He personally oversaw the operation to eliminate Pablo Escobar. His abilities were recognized, and he became Director this time.”

“What’s his disposition like?”

“He’s a hardliner. He has a history of trying to wipe out the Colombian cartels.”

“A hardliner, huh. Fine. Let’s meet him first.”

A short while later.

Ramos and Director Max arrived.

“Welcome. I’m Charlie.”

“Max. Though I’ve been given the overly generous position of Director of the DEA.”

“You’re humble. I heard you’re a legend within the DEA.”

“Haha, you flatter me. I was just lucky.”

“Let’s head inside first.”

I led him inside.

“Ramos. Wait outside.”

“But, Director—”

Ramos was about to say something, but I quickly shook my head at him with a look.

“What? You got something to say?”

“......No. Please call me once you’re finished.”

“Manager Ma, show Agent Ramos somewhere he can rest.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Ramos and Manager Ma left, leaving only Director Max and me.

“Charlie. Let’s get straight to the point.”

I had been planning to ease the atmosphere with some small talk, but he spoke first.

He seemed even more impatient than I expected.

“Fine by me. I prefer it that way too.”

“I heard you demanded that we remove El Azul from the wanted list in exchange for extraditing Rafa to the United States.”

“Yes. I need his help if we’re going to catch El Chapo.”

Director Max nodded before speaking again.

“And what if we say no?”

He asked the question casually, but unlike his cold demeanor, his eyes were filled with interest and anticipation as he waited for my answer.