Working as a police officer in Mexico-Chapter 1814 - 797: Our Wish Is..._2
Capítulo 1814: Chapter 797: Our Wish Is…_2
The Prime Minister’s heart sank suddenly: “A UK citizen? Who?”
“Sir Richard Salisbury. The Mexican side accuses him of being a former MI6 officer, suspected of planning and funding this conspiracy.”
The restaurant fell into dead silence.
“The Mexico Ministry of Foreign Affairs is displaying it to envoys of various countries. According to the ambassador, it includes signed documents, encrypted communication records, proof of money transfers, and… photos of Sir Salisbury being captured at the manor.”
“Photos?” Mayor’s voice rose, “They took photos?!”
“Not just photos, there are video clips too. The Mexican TV station is already broadcasting them on a loop.”
The Prime Minister grabbed the remote control and turned on the TV on the wall.
The BBC was broadcasting the morning news, and the screen cut to the scene of the press conference at the Mexico City Foreign Ministry.
The Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs stood behind the podium, and on the large screen behind him was an enlarged photo: Sir Salisbury sitting in a chair, with two masked Special Forces soldiers standing behind him, holding the day’s ‘Guatemala Daily’— a standard “proof of life” photo.
“Oh God…” the Prime Minister murmured.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs was speaking in fluent English: “Based on conclusive evidence, the Mexican Government has determined that this is a serious incident planned by foreign forces, and carried out by corrupt officials in Guatemala, aimed at undermining regional stability and infringing on Mexico’s sovereignty. We have lawfully detained all involved parties and will handle it in accordance with Mexican law and international law.”
Someone in the press gallery raised a hand: “Minister, can you specify which country these foreign forces belong to?”
The Minister glanced at the reporter who asked the question: “Based on the existing evidence chain, the funds, orders, and planning all point to the United Kingdom. But we do not rule out the possibility of involvement by other forces. The investigation continues.”
“Is this an act of war?”
“No. This is a law enforcement action. The Guatemalan Government has essentially lost control over some of its officials, who are engaged in criminal activities harmful to neighboring countries. According to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, Mexico has the right to take necessary measures for self-defense.”
The screen cut back to the BBC studios, where the host’s expression was quite remarkable: “This is an unprecedented diplomatic incident. A former senior British official arrested in a third country, and accused of planning terrorist activities. We will now connect with our correspondent in Mexico City…”
The Prime Minister turned off the TV.
“Convene an emergency Cabinet meeting.” His voice was hoarse, “Get the Foreign Minister, Minister of Defense, Minister of Internal Affairs, heads of Military Intelligence Five and the Sixth Department, in the wartime Cabinet meeting room within half an hour.”
“Yes, Prime Minister.”
After the Cabinet Secretary left, the Prime Minister stood alone in the restaurant, gazing at the gray London sky outside the window.
He recalled the secret meeting three weeks ago following the Diana incident, where Acting Director Graham of MI6 had proposed the “Guatemala Plan.”
What had he said at that time?
“Risks are controllable, Prime Minister. The Portillo Brothers are greedy but cowardly, Salisbury is an old hand. In the worst-case scenario, if things go south, we can deny everything, attributing it to ‘the personal actions of a former officer.'”
Controllable?
Now a former knight is holding a newspaper on TV, broadcasted by media worldwide.
The Prime Minister picked up the phone and dialed Graham’s private number.
The phone rang three times before it was answered, Graham’s voice sounded like he hadn’t slept all night: “Prime Minister.”
The Prime Minister remained silent, saying nothing.
The other party braced himself to explain:
“We’ve been set up, Prime Minister. The Mexicans initiated the trap. From the moment the Portillo Brothers contacted Salisbury, they were monitoring everything. Our encrypted communications were cracked, an insider was turned, and even the timeline of our plans was crystal clear to them.”
“So the encrypted system developed by your Sixth Department with taxpayers’ billions of British Pounds was opened like a tin can by the Mexicans?”
Graham was silent for a few seconds: “The technical department’s preliminary analysis suggests they might have used a brand new decryption algorithm, a mathematical breakthrough. It requires top cryptographers and immense computational power, and Mexico…”
“And theoretically, Mexico shouldn’t have this capability.”
The Prime Minister picked up on his words, “But the fact is they do. Just like they theoretically shouldn’t have those drones, shouldn’t have autonomous chips, and shouldn’t have turned into a regional power overnight—but they do.”
Heavy breathing came from the other end of the line.
“Will Salisbury be tried?” the Prime Minister asked.
“According to Mexican law, planning terrorist activities holds a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. If they insist on a public trial…”
“Then beg them!!”
“I said beg!!!!”
The Prime Minister shouted angrily, “Useless! Might as well sell sausages directly!”
“There’s another option.”
Graham seemed a bit embarrassed, “But we can’t discuss it over the phone. See you in the meeting room in half an hour?”
Hanging up the phone, the Prime Minister walked to the window.
Outside Downing Street, some journalists were already gathered, long lenses aimed at the door of the Prime Minister’s Mansion. In the distance, the clock tower of the Parliament Building loomed in the fog.
The British Empire once ruled a quarter of the world.
Now, they can’t even handle a former colony.
“Sun Never Sets?” the Prime Minister mocked himself in a low voice, “The sun set long ago, it’s just that we never bothered to draw the curtains.”
At the same time, in Mexico City, in the command center of the “Silicon Valley Mexico” park.
Bramo stood in front of a huge monitor, watching real-time footage coming from Guatemala.
