Chapter 1962: Chapter 825: Mexico’s Old Acquaintance Has Gotten Smarter! (2)

Mamadou’s eyes narrowed. He knew those people were ambitious, but they were all watching intently.

"Give me a week." He finally said.

"Three days."

Hendrick held up three fingers, "Three days later, give me an answer. If you agree, the next shipment will have heavy weapons—mortars, recoilless rifles, and maybe even a few used armored vehicles. Also, the first batch of ’agriculturalists’—they’ll teach your people how to turn those wild poppies and coca into more productive and profitable strains."

The deal was made. The goods were quickly transferred to a hidden warehouse in the jungle ashore. Mamadou’s men began unloading, their movements skillful. Hendrick didn’t linger, boarding a small boat back to the ’Tuna’. The bulk carrier sounded its horn, slowly turned, and sailed towards the open sea, soon disappearing over the horizon.

Mamadou stood by the shore, looking at the boxes of weapons and drugs, and the box of electronics gleaming with cold metallic light. He picked up a blank passport, rubbing its smooth cover. Nation...this word began to take root in his heart.

...

Democratic Republic of Congo, Eastern Mine Area.

The atmosphere in the temporary command tent was heavy.

Mexican mining representative Mendoza looked at the latest loss report: In the past 72 hours, two relatively remote exploration sites had been attacked, five local workers killed, and exploration equipment worth tens of thousands of US Dollars stolen or damaged. The attackers were clean and efficient, leaving no survivors, and did not engage in direct firefights with the General’s troops, taking what they wanted and leaving.

"Not the ’Liberation Front’." Warlord’s envoy Malik smoked irritably, "Those guys are still tangling with the General’s main forces up north. This group...more like bandits, but their equipment and training are ten times better."

"Still the ’Skull and Snake’?" Mendoza asked.

Malik nodded, "A worker who survived but wasn’t dead said he saw their insignia. This time they didn’t grab drug ingredients; they took high-precision geological sensors and drilling core samples. Damn it, what do they want with those rocks?"

Mendoza’s security chief, Captain Gals, who had been silent, spoke, "Two possibilities. First, they’re hired by our commercial competitors to sabotage exploration and acquire our geological data. Second..." He paused, "They’re looking for something. Not just drug ingredients, possibly other mineral deposits. This region, apart from cobalt and lithium, is rumored to have uranium and some rare earth elements."

Mendoza felt a chill in his heart.

If they were truly after strategic minerals, then the level and purpose of the enemy would be completely different. Drug traffickers want money, but certain countries or large corporations want the lifeblood of future industries.

"Has the General’s troops found their hideout?" Mendoza asked. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"No."

Malik shook his head, "They’re like ghosts, emerging from the rainforest, robbing and then disappearing. Our men go in to pursue, only to step on booby traps or encounter ambushes, losing more than a dozen people."

Mendoza knew they couldn’t continue taking passive hits. The mine must be quickly put into production to generate cash flow and deterrence. He remembered Victor’s instructions: to take ’self-defense’ actions if necessary but to disguise it.

"Captain Gals," Mendoza looked at him, "If we give you a lean squad under your direct command, with the best equipment and drone support, can you find them, and then...make them ’disappear naturally’? Make it look like conflict with other local armed factions, or ’black on black’?."

Gals flashed a glint of cold light in his eyes, "It requires time for reconnaissance, to determine their activities and possible camps. We also need authorization—to use lethal force without restriction, including crossing borders for pursuit if their lair is in neighboring countries. Also, we need ’activity funds’ to bribe informants and pay ’partners’."

"I’ll give you the authorization and funds." Mendoza decisively said, "But it must be clean, leaving no evidence linking us to the Mexican government. Use cash, use untraceable weapons, use...the name of ’international mercenaries’."

"Understood." Gals nodded. This kind of operation wasn’t unfamiliar during his time in Special Forces, just with a different employer and battlefield now.

Mendoza then said to Malik, "Tell the General that we will deal with these flies. But in return, we need the General to expedite the processing of the official mining permits and approve the construction of a small ’mineral processing and storage center’ in the core area of the mine—nominally to improve efficiency but actually to be fortified as a future stronghold."

Malik knew this was to further bind the General to Mexico’s chariot, but he had no choice at present. "I will convey."

Mendoza walked to the edge of the tent, looking at the mine pit outside illuminated by searchlights, like a giant monster’s mouth. Amidst chaos lies opportunity, but also breeds more dangerous predators. Not only did he want to mine, but also establish order for the Mexican Company on this lawless land. And the first step is to use blood and fire to clear away those unruly competitors, whether they are drug traffickers, mercenaries, or shadowed by others.

...

Scotland, Glasgow East District, an unremarkable warehouse.

This place used to store textiles, now empty, with only a few lonely lights illuminating a small area in the center. John McLean, former SAS, now head of the Scottish Self-Defense Army’s Special Investigation Group, was looking at several photos and maps spread out on the ground. Beside him were several men with equally cold expressions, dressed casually but standing upright, all chosen from the Self-Defense Army and his old subordinates.