His whole family had been "ushered" to this place early in the morning.
Patrick was still a bit groggy.
Suddenly, he heard a commotion from the crowd nearby, and as he looked up in confusion, he saw several people take the stage that had been set up in the square, among them, a very familiar face.
"Dad, that looks like the portrait posted at our front door," Patrick pointed out.
His father hastily pressed down on his hand.
Patrick nodded, looking up to see the man standing in front of the microphone, a pained expression on his face.
"Gentlemen, ladies, I am guilty," he said.
"Such hypocrisy! Pah!"
"Even if he apologizes, Halina's whole family is gone, what good is an apology."
Listening to the quiet conversations of the adults around him, Patrick also realized who the man above was.
"My soldiers brutally killed an entire family. Such an act is utterly shameful and despicable. When I heard about it, I was also in pain. We came together to rebuild Mexico, our comrades fell before the dawn, what for?"
"We fought and sacrificed for the same anti-drug dream!"
"We hope for Mexico's sky to be blue every day, we hope for children to smile, for the people to have dignity, for the world to listen to Mexico's voice."
"But these two bastards did such a thing, causing both Heaven's wrath and human resentment!"
The soldiers below dragged up two culprits trembling from fear, their military ranks already removed.
Victor was swinging his fist forcefully, his face flushed with anger as he pointed at them, "By military law, execution by firing squad!"
Execution by firing squad?!
The crowd below was stunned upon hearing this.
This place was Sinaloa's Base Camp; under Guzman, the Northern Anti-Drug Force was portrayed as a wolf that "eats without spitting out bones."
Victor was a warlord, a bastard known only for accumulating wealth.
There had been incidents before of corrupt Mexican police killing people on the streets, but with only a few Pesos in compensation.
This, a direct execution?
Victor took an M16 from a soldier, cocked it, and the two soldiers looked at him pleadingly, but they couldn't run away as they were gagged and bound.
He aimed at the two men and pulled the trigger.
30 bullets riddled the two men, turning them into sieves.
"Here, I make a public pledge to all Mexicans!"
"Any member of the Northern forces, killers shall be put to death!"
"Any civilians who suffer at the hands of the government or military bullys can directly contact the Governor's Mansion office, and I will definitely respond to everyone!"
"To kill my citizens is like killing my own parents!!"
Jason Bourne's mouth was half open as he heard these words, and he suddenly turned his head to look at Goebbels next to him, "Did you teach the Governor this?"
Goebbels was expressionless, "Of course not!"
"He's a genius orator." The other's eyes shone with fervor, "Every move he makes can stir people's emotions; on the stage, he is like an emperor, influencing everyone. If needed, anyone would be willing to sacrifice their life for him!"
Jason Bourne actually felt a trace of fear.
A man whose personal charm ignited national fervor, what would happen to him in the end? Would he coerce or comply?
Would he settle his steps peacefully?
Or would he unleash his ambition?
WWII had just ended barely four decades ago.
Jason Bourne shook his head, and nearby, Goebbels looked at him with a meaningful gaze and said, "War is merely the collision of ambition and discontent."
"When drug traffickers are eventually killed off, where does the ambition go?"
"As long as there is evil in the world, Victor will not stop, Jason. Is the world truly clean?"
"Damn it! You madman!" Jason Bourne looked at him, and hearing the other's calm tone, even this intelligence chief felt a trickle of chill.
Goebbels smiled and murmured, "The world is too dirty!"
Then let Victor loose!
Warlords in Africa are bullying the people; the crimes in Southeast Asia are on the rise; the gangs in Europe, the wars in the Middle East…
Even penguins dare to flock in threes, this is the underworld!
Jason Bourne watched Victor on the stage.
"Sir, you must stay calm!"
The crowd in the plaza dispersed.
But the looks in many people's eyes were complicated.
Patrick was being held by his father, who asked, "Daddy, is Mr. Victor a good person?"
"Of course not, have you ever seen a good person who kills?" a grimy middle-aged man interjected.
"Andrei!" The father scowled and scolded, then patted Patrick on the head, "These are things for you to think about for yourself. What do you think?"
"He avenged Aunt Halina's entire family; he is a good person."
The thoughts of a child are always so simple.
His father smiled wryly, "Use your eyes to see, Patrick. Any truth needs to be observed for oneself."
Patrick nodded, somewhat understanding, and leaned on his father's shoulder, turning his head towards the stage.
That man was standing quietly!
Was he waiting for his people to leave?
Victor's statement "He who kills shall die!" exploded like a bomb, leveling all the unease in Culiacán.
And those soldiers didn't dare to be arrogant anymore.
Miraculously, it brought about a sudden peace in this city that had been a bit chaotic.
The Base Camp of Sinaloa listened to the voice of their "Emperor."
This bad student had a new principal.
And at this moment, Rommel was also baffled.
He received his new appointment.
To take over Horatio Herbert Kitchener's position as the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Company!
Promoted to the rank of Major!
"I've been promoted?"