After finishing the call with Kim Muhyuk, Luis began talking with the warden.

“What the hell is going on? You’re saying you’re going to betray Rafa? What are you thinking? No, before that, Rafa said he’d help you escape prison?”

“Yes. He told me to escape and kill Amado.”

“An escape isn’t some damn walk in the park......”

Luis cut Carlos off and continued.

“If Rafa really sets his mind to it, what is there he can’t do in here?”

Warden Carlos glared at Luis for hitting him where it hurt.

But Luis ignored him and kept speaking.

“You know it too, don’t you, Warden? Even you can’t touch Rafa carelessly.”

Thinking about Rafa, Carlos clicked his tongue and nodded.

“I know. That bastard, seriously.......”

“Escaping wouldn’t be difficult. Didn’t El Chapo escape from another prison while living almost exactly like Rafa?”

“Hrmm.”

“Anyway, that’s not the important part. This can only happen if you help.”

Luis spoke firmly, making Carlos clear his throat awkwardly.

“And what exactly do you want me to help with?”

“Before I explain the plan, I’ll try persuading the others first. I’ll tell you after that.”

“What if the information leaks out?”

If this became known, Rafa would go absolutely insane.

Just imagining it made Carlos’ face turn pale.

“You don’t need to worry about that. Everyone’s dissatisfied with Rafa. You know what his personality is like, don’t you?”

Carlos clicked his tongue again after recalling Rafa’s temperament.

“I know. That son of a bitch, damn.......”

“I’ll come back tomorrow first. Didn’t you say a guest would be arriving?”

“Yeah. I’ll contact you.”

“Please maintain security.”

“I can’t help with anything illegal. Looking the other way on crimes is one thing, but I won’t be directly involved.”

“Of course. I’m not asking for that much.”

“We’ll discuss the details tomorrow.”

After leaving the warden’s office, Luis headed toward Rafa’s prison facility.

Standing in front of it, he stopped for a moment.

‘This is the right thing to do... right?’

Honestly speaking, escaping prison and living the rest of his life as a fugitive didn’t worry him that much.

But if he killed Amado, and if people found out he was the assassin, then his family would be in danger.

Rafa had promised to protect them, but Luis knew very well that promise would never be kept.

How many things had he seen and heard while acting as Rafa’s sicario?

Rafa was the kind of man who discarded hunting dogs the moment they stopped being useful.

If he failed, he died.

If he succeeded, he died.

“Then before that, I should kill Rafa first.......”

Luis swallowed dryly as he looked up at the facility doors.

Killing Rafa wouldn’t be difficult. But what Kim Muhyuk wanted was the evidence Rafa possessed.

Luis couldn’t accomplish that alone.

After hardening his resolve, he started walking again.

* * *

The day Luis had promised finally arrived.

A lot had happened during those ten days.

The division of the Sinaloa Cartel’s territory was completed without major conflict.

Everyone had been allowed to secure a hub city along the U.S. border, so even those who suffered minor losses were willing to accept it.

The organizations that originally controlled hub cities received additional territory elsewhere as compensation.

Half of the Sinaloa Cartel’s members went under El Mencho, while the remaining personnel were distributed among the other cartels.

In addition, they decided to reduce the amount of drugs entering the United States each month.

Once that news reached the retailers selling drugs in America, the prices of all narcotics rose by more than fifty percent.

“The effects are showing immediately.”

“I understand most of the drugs entering the U.S. pass through Mexico. If Mexico reduces the supply, the prices will rise even further.”

“Good. They said the remaining supply would be sent toward Europe, right?”

“Yes. They’re opening new distribution routes. On top of that, they’re planning to pursue businesses outside the drug trade as well.”

While listening to Chief Ma’s report, I fell into thought for a moment.

Since the amount of drugs entering the U.S. had decreased, their profits were bound to shrink as well.

Opening routes into Europe and Asia would take quite a long time.

They would also have to compete with the drug organizations already established there.

So the cartels came up with another source of income: diversification.

Aside from narcotics, most illegal businesses within Mexico were usually controlled by local gangs.

To seize those operations, massive clashes broke out all over Mexico between local gangs and cartel members.

But most local gangs couldn’t compete against the drug cartels, so that situation would settle quickly as well.

The businesses those gangs operated were incredibly diverse.

If it made money, they did it.

Compared to drug smuggling, the profits were smaller, but the income was still larger than expected.

Once things stabilized, they would at least be able to breathe a little easier.

“Let’s remove ourselves from this now.”

“Yes. I’ll handle it that way.”

“Tell the mercenaries to prepare to return home as well. Once I leave the country tomorrow, they can withdraw immediately.”

“I’ll pass that along too.”

After finishing the arrangements, I checked my watch.

“It should be about time for the call.”

The time Warden Carlos had informed us about in advance was approaching.

In exchange for the money we gave him, he had agreed to provide convenience for Luis.

Right on cue, Chief Ma’s phone rang.

He answered immediately, spoke briefly, then handed me the phone.

“Hello.”

— Charlie. This is Luis. We subdued Rafa and got him out of the prison.

“There wasn’t too much commotion?”

— No. Most of the men agreed to follow me. We promised compensation using the money you gave us.

“That’s good. So what are you planning to do?”

— I was thinking of torturing him first. Should we kill him after we get the information?

Luis’ voice remained completely flat despite the chilling words.

I thought for a moment before checking my watch again.

“No. I’ll come personally. Just tell me the location.”

— Understood. The place is......

Luis explained the address in detail.

After ending the call, I headed there with Chief Ma and the guards.

The place they had dragged Rafa to was an abandoned house near the prison.

It was connected to an escape tunnel Rafa had prepared beforehand in case something unexpected happened.

The warden had agreed that no one would enter Rafa’s prison facility for the entire day.

If Rafa died quietly and we returned without incident, they would simply conclude that Rafa had escaped.

I stepped inside the abandoned house.

Luis and the men I had previously seen inside Rafa’s prison wing were waiting for us.

The moment he saw me, Luis bowed his head slightly.

“Luis. Where’s Rafa?”

“Tied up inside.”

“Didn’t he resist?”

“He resisted violently, so he got injured a little while we subdued him.”

“That’s unfortunate. He can still talk, right?”

“Yes. There’s no problem with speaking.”

“Good. Only Chief Ma and I are going in. No one else enters.”

Leaving Luis and the others outside, I entered the room where Rafa was imprisoned with Chief Ma.

Rafa was bound to a steel chair bolted to the floor.

The moment he saw my face, his eyes widened.

But with his mouth gagged, all he could do was groan.

“Take the gag off, Chief Ma.”

I sat down while giving the order.

The instant Chief Ma removed the gag, Rafa exploded in rage.

“You son of a bitch! If I die, the evidence I have will be released to the world! You think you’ll survive after this?!”

Seeing Rafa screaming hysterically, I slowly curled one corner of my lips upward.

“Rafa. You still don’t understand the situation?”

“What?”

“You’re dying here today. If you tell me where the evidence is before that, I’ll let you go comfortably. Otherwise, you’ll suffer the same torture you inflicted on others.”

At my calm words, Rafa’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly.

The methods Rafa usually used for torture were horrifying.

He would pull out fingernails and toenails one by one, then cut off each finger and toe individually.

And if the victim still refused to talk, he drilled into their head.

I’d heard the terror of hearing a drill spinning right next to your ear was indescribable.

Most people talked before it even reached that stage.

“So? Will you hand over the evidence? Or......”

At my slight glance, Chief Ma picked up the pliers lying beside him.

“Boss, shall we begin?”

“You son of a bitch! You think I’ll talk?!”

Instead of answering, I simply nodded.

Chief Ma brought the pliers toward Rafa’s thumb.

“Aaaagh!”

Rafa screamed at the top of his lungs as the nail was ripped out alive.

“If you want to talk, talk anytime.”

“Son of a...... bitch! Aaaagh!”

With a blank expression, Chief Ma continued pulling out every nail on his hands.

Blood poured from Rafa’s hands as he gripped the chair handles hard enough to crush them, but he still refused to speak.

After pulling out all the fingernails, Chief Ma removed Rafa’s shoes and started on the toenails.

“Guaaagh!”

By then, Rafa could no longer curse. He only screamed.

Once every fingernail and toenail had been removed, Chief Ma stood up.

Rafa’s bloodshot eyes glared at me.

“You still don’t want to talk?”

“......”

“Guess not. I told you to speak anytime you wanted. We’d stop if you did.”

Chief Ma, who had been reaching for a saw, instead picked up a hammer beside it.

“Boss. I think this would be faster.”

“Really? If you say so, Chief Ma.”

Squatting in front of Rafa, Chief Ma raised the hammer.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, he brought it down.

“AAAAAH! Ughhh!!”

An even louder scream than before echoed through the room.

Because the room was nearly empty, the sound reverberated horribly.

Terrible noises rang out one after another, but Rafa refused to speak, and Chief Ma never stopped.

Eventually, both of Rafa’s feet became mangled masses dripping blood.

Stubborn bastard. Even after this, he still won’t talk?

Without realizing it, I frowned slightly, and Chief Ma glanced at my expression.

“Boss. Are you alright watching this? Maybe you should step outside for a moment......”

“No. He threatened me. I should witness it personally.”

“Understood, Boss.”

After answering, Chief Ma stood up again.

Then he mercilessly smashed Rafa’s trembling fingers.

His horrific screams continued, but Rafa still refused to speak.

Eventually, even his fingers were left shredded and ruined.

“Hm. Anything more than this would just waste time. Bring the drill, Chief Ma.”

Chief Ma tossed the hammer aside and picked up an electric drill.

The moment he pressed the button, the sound of the motor roared loudly through the room.

He walked straight toward Rafa.

“N-no...... don’t.”

For the first time, Rafa reacted differently.

His filthy face, covered in blood, sweat, tears, and mucus, twisted in terror.

“Then are you going to hand over the evidence?”

“......”

Instead of answering, Rafa stared at the drill with terrified eyes.

Useless.

I gave Chief Ma a look.

The drill bit slowly approached Rafa’s temple.

“Don’t! Don’t!! Please!”

But Chief Ma didn’t stop.

The spinning drill touched Rafa’s temple. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Rather than driving it in immediately, Chief Ma slowly pressed forward little by little.

I’d heard the terror of hearing the drill motor screaming right beside your ear was unimaginable.

Sure enough, Rafa burst into tears like a child.

“I-I’ll talk. I’ll tell you, so please.......”

The ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ moment Chief Ma removed his finger from the trigger, the motor stopped spinning.

“Where is it? The evidence?”

“It’s...... it’s inside a bank vault only I can access personally.”

He stammered badly, but understanding him wasn’t difficult.

Personally access it?

What kind of bullshit trick is this?

“Stop talking nonsense and just tell me where it is. I’ll handle the rest.”

“......”

“Guess this won’t work. Chief Ma.”

“N-no! Don’t!”

Trembling violently, Rafa finally gave the name of the bank and the branch location.

If he was talking this much, did the evidence really exist?

Was my judgment wrong?

“If you’re lying to buy time, you’ll wish you were dead.”

“......”

“I’ll ask one last time. Is it really there? I’m sending someone right now, so pray it actually exists.”

As I pulled out my phone, Rafa suddenly screamed desperately.

“N-no! It was a lie! There’s no evidence! It’s true!”

I watched Rafa sobbing violently for a moment before putting the phone away.

I still wanted to bet there was no evidence.

“Rafa. This isn’t another lie too, is it?”

“It’s true. So just kill me already. Please.......”

Leaving the crying Rafa behind, I rose from my seat without hesitation.

“Chief Ma. Handle the rest yourself. Make sure he feels as much pain as possible. He threatened me, so he deserves at least that much suffering.”

With those words, I turned around and walked away.

“You son of a bitch! That’s not what you promised! Just kill me! Aaaagh!!”

Leaving Rafa’s screams behind me, I exited the room.

Perhaps because there was nothing separating the space except a single thin wooden door, Rafa’s screams could still be heard clearly even outside.