Working as a police officer in Mexico-Chapter 1823 - 798: Hit the Snake at Its Weak Spot—Take Down the British!

"Maria Teresa also encountered an incident." His cousin lowered his voice. "News from Lisbon, sudden heart attack this morning, didn't make it to the hospital in time. She just had a check-up last week, her heart was very healthy."

Two incidents?

Eduardo put down the phone, his hand trembling slightly. He returned to his desk, opened the address book, and found a secure number Carl had left him last time— it was a contact at the German Federal Intelligence Agency (BND).

He had just dialed two digits when the doorbell rang.

Eduardo cautiously walked to the door, peering through the peephole. Outside was a delivery man holding a small box.

"Mr. De Bourbon-Parma? A delivery for you."

"I didn't order anything."

"The sender said it's 'a Christmas gift from an old friend'."

Eduardo hesitated for a moment. It could be a gift from a friend. He unhooked the chain and opened the door slightly.

The next second, the delivery man forcibly pushed open the door. Eduardo stumbled back, seeing that the man was not holding a package, but a thin metal rod— a stun gun.

As the electric current surged through his body, his last thought was: at least I guessed right, they aren't cosplayers.

...

"Over in Europe, the Phoenix Society has begun cleaning house."

Bennett spread photos across the table, "Eduardo de Bourbon-Parma, 'accidentally electrocuted' in his Paris apartment last night— disguised while repairing Christmas lights. Maria Teresa, Lisbon, 'sudden heart attack'. Carl von Württemberg, Berlin, robbery and shooting."

Victor picked up the photo from the Berlin scene.

On the sidewalk outside the café, there was a chalk outline of a human figure, and the bloodstains had already been washed away, but the outline was still visible.

"Professional methods." Kitchener remarked, "Paris's seems like a professional hitman, Lisbon's likely involved drugs, Berlin's was the roughest, but ironically the most believable street crime."

"Friedrich is accelerating."

Casare stated, "He feels the pressure. After the Diana incident, countries in Europe have strengthened monitoring of extremist organizations, and the Phoenix Society's operational space has been compressed. He needs to quickly consolidate Royalist Party forces and eliminate dissenters."

Victor put down the photo: "How's our progress in Scotland?"

"McTavish is on board with the plan."

Kitchener pulled up a report, "On December 23rd, simultaneously attack the Glasgow Tax Office and the Edinburgh Royal Bank. We've provided a detailed action plan and withdrawal route. Additionally, per your instructions, we 'accidentally' leaked some intelligence to Military Intelligence Five— vague information about the 'Scottish separatist group potentially acting during Christmas,' no specific time or place."

"Enough to alert London, but not enough to stop them." Victor nodded, "Then what?"

"Then, 24 hours before the action, we'll anonymously deliver specific targets, time, and even McTavish's hiding place to a mid-level officer in Military Intelligence Five— we've investigated, this person is ambitious, wanting to rise through anti-terrorism achievements. He'll take credit, mobilize the police to raid the farm."

Casare laughed: "McTavish will feel betrayed and think it was the Phoenix Society, after all, the weapons were provided by them. And when the Phoenix Society finds the plan leaked, they'll think there's a mole beside McTavish. They will suspect each other, maybe even fight."

"But McTavish might get captured." Bramo warned.

"We've arranged an escape route."

Kitchener stated, "There's an abandoned mine tunnel at the farm leading to the back mountain. When the Special Forces attack, McTavish and core members can retreat through there. They will be grateful for the 'International Revolutionaries Alliance's' warning and trust us more."

Victor walked to the map of Europe, his finger moving from Paris to Berlin, then to Lisbon: "After the Phoenix Society cleans up inside, what's next?"

Bennett pulled up another intelligence report: "We've intercepted Friedrich and Erin's encrypted communications. They're planning to hold a 'European Monarchist Conference' in Vienna next March, inviting all exiled royal families and nobility. The agenda includes: 'European Federation' constitution draft, 'Monarchy Succession Committee' formation, and... establishing a joint military force."

"Military force?" Casare raised an eyebrow, "They've got money to hire an army?"

"Not a conventional army." Bennett said, "'Royal Guard'— nominally security, but in reality, private soldiers. They've already recruited about two hundred former Special Forces in Eastern Europe, mostly veterans unemployed after the Soviet Union dissolution. They're equipped with light weapons but are well-trained."

Victor was silent for half a minute. Only the low hum of server fans filled the room.

"We need to prevent this conference from happening."

He finally said, "But not directly destroying it, that's too obvious. We need those exiled royals themselves to be too afraid to attend."

"How?"

Victor turned, the familiar calculating glint in his eyes that Casare knew well: "If I were Friedrich, what would I fear most now? The royal circles spreading rumors that attendees of the conference would 'die unexpectedly.' Eduardo, Maria, Carl, what do these three have in common?"

Bramo was the quickest to react: "They all publicly or privately opposed the Phoenix Society, and... they all received an invitation to the conference."

"Exactly." Victor smiled, "So if we spread the word in the nobility circles: Friedrich is eliminating all potential opponents, including those who promised to attend— because the dead are the least likely to leak secrets. Along with some 'evidence,' like a forged Phoenix Society internal memo, saying 'eliminate unstable elements after the conference'..."

"Those nobles will be scared and cancel their trips." Kitchener interjected, "The conference would be thwarted, the Phoenix Society's integration plan would be stalled. They would be isolated, become anxious, and make mistakes."

"Then," Victor's finger tapped on Scotland's location, "Once the situation in Scotland erupts, we can anonymously send evidence of the Phoenix Society funding separatist militants to the British media. I've already thought of the headline: 'Habsburg Remnants Sponsor Terrorists, Attempt to Divide the UK'."

Casare whistled: "By then, London will go mad. MI6 will be in full pursuit of the Phoenix Society, and European countries will also ramp up monitoring. We can sit in the back and enjoy the show."

"Not just that." Victor added, "When London is overwhelmed, we can 'offer help' through secret channels— for example, hand over the hiding spots of a few mid-level Phoenix Society members. In exchange for what? Concessions in the North American 'Trust Zone,' or for the UK to stop blocking us in the United Nations."

He looked around at everyone: "That's the rule of the game. You don't need to win every battle, just make your opponent lose worse than you. The British have too many wounds globally, we just need to sprinkle salt on them, then... wait for them to fester."

Kitchener took note of the key points: "I'll arrange to spread the rumors immediately. Do we need to use our media resources in Europe?"

"Yes, but indirectly." Victor said, "Find some tabloids, first run some vague gossip: 'Mysterious deaths within the royal circles.' Once the hype builds, then release the 'internal documents.' Remember, never directly say the Phoenix Society is the culprit, let the readers 'infer' it themselves."

"Understood."

Victor stopped Kitchener as he was leaving, "In Scotland, make sure McTavish survives as long as possible. As long as he's alive, the hatred exists, and the resistance continues. A living martyr is more useful than a dead hero."

"What if he insists on attacking military trains?"

"We can't expect a bear to eat grass, we can't manage that if he insists on courting death."

Kitchener nodded and left. The room was left with Victor, Casare, and Bramo.

"Sometimes I feel like we're even better at this game than the British." Casare lit a cigarette, "Conspiracy, betrayal, using a borrowed knife to kill... textbook Empire tactics."

"Because history is the best teacher." Victor walked to the window, looking at the morning light of Mexico City outside, "The Spaniards taught us plundering, the British taught us divide and rule, the Americans taught us economic control. Now we've graduated, it's time for the final exam."

"A new day has begun."

"The sun rises as usual, this world will always bring new excitement every day, maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe in the future."

Victor smiled, "Who knows?"

...