The Internal Affairs Bureau interrogated Flores overnight, using slightly harsh methods. Even then, he cried out,
"I've bled for the Governor, I've risked my life for Mexico, you can't treat me !"
George Smiley, in a rush, hurried to Victor's villa, where security was extremely tight.
Joseph Xiafei came out and glanced at him, "Why are you so late?"
"I have urgent intelligence to report."
The bodyguard cracked the door open just enough to let him slip through.
Joseph Xiafei led him through the deep courtyard, where the restless barking bulldogs could be seen pacing anxiously in their cages.
Even George Smiley didn't dare look around too much, holding his breath and focusing intently, afraid of losing his way.
The two entered the house, went upstairs, and the Guard Commander gently knocked on the door.
Victor was a light sleeper, "Who is it?"
"General, George Smiley has important matters to report."
Soon after the rustling sounds of dressing came from inside, Victor opened the door, his eyes slightly red and swollen.
It seemed his sleep quality was poor.
"You've had a hard time coming all the way here so late," Victor said with a smile, patting him on the shoulder.
George Smiley felt a mix of warmth and awkwardness.
See, that's what you call a leader, who doesn't think you're up to no good coming in so late, but appreciates your hard work. Though just a few spoken words might not be materially beneficial, they are comforting.
It's said that Takagi Masao from South Korea had severe morning anger, which is why he was killed by Jin Zai Gui.
Besides the struggle for favor, another reason was that Takagi Masao, during his term as intelligence chief, was woken up many times, cursing at each awakening.
That caused great dissatisfaction within him, hence, the assassination.
"For Mexico, for the General!" George Smiley shouted.
Victor smiled, leading them to the living room downstairs, ordered some coffees, and while smoking a cigarette, he began addressing the matter at hand.
"The Internal Affairs Investigation Department arrested Customs Director Flores, and from him, we learned about a transnational smuggling route."
"Smuggling includes arms, human organs, trafficking women and drugs!"
"Mostly, it's the southern drug traffickers exporting through him."
Victor raised an eyebrow, took the confession document handed to him, and scanned it carefully.
"That takes guts!" he cursed angrily, his liver almost aching with rage.
Customs General Administration was a lucrative department; assigning Flores there was meant to support him.
Flores wasn't wrong—in the assault on the Tijuana Cartel, he fought bravely, storming into a drug trafficker's building armed with a machine gun, and blew up their machine gun nest.
Back then, he too was a dashing war hero.
How long had it been before he'd fallen so far as to work for drug traffickers?
According to the confession submitted, starting from when he took over as Customs Director, Flores had transported for drug traffickers over a hundred times!
Including helping to purchase drugs from the north to the south, handing them to the military, which then passed them to drug traffickers.
Seeing the military's involvement, Victor's anger exploded into laughter, "It seems drug money smells sweeter than mine."
"Damn it!" He kicked over the coffee table in front of him, "Execute him by firing squad!"
"Obliterating Flores isn't enough to appease the public outrage, dismember him!"
Guard Commander Xiafei and George Smiley shivered.
"General, while Flores, the Director, may not have achieved much, he has suffered much. Maybe dismembering him is...?"
"Does achievement mean he can live in drunken stupor? Does achievement allow him to collude with drug traffickers? This is the frontline of anti-drug, not a damn place to get rich and climb ranks!"
"If you haven't been conspiring with drug traffickers, everything is negotiable. Once you mix up with them, you're the enemy, the opponent, the traitor!"
"Call Horatio Herbert Kitchener, the Chief of Staff, tell him to come over with Rudendorf, and summon the heads of other important departments as well."
Joseph Xiafei nodded rapidly and dashed out to make the calls.
George Smiley felt uneasy, even though he was famously known as one of the Thirteen Protectors.
But in Victor's presence, he still dared not even breathe heavily.
He couldn't believe it; the General hated drug traffickers so much. Trouble again, another group of people was about to be doomed.
Just as George Smiley was feeling uneasy, noticing an urgent need to pee, suddenly, chaotic footsteps approached.
A group of high-ranking officers rushed in.
All wore expressions of tension, looking like they were dragged out of their beds.
Horatio Herbert Kitchener and others, seeing the General's grim expression, bit back their words, daring not to say more.
They could only look towards George Smiley, who also uneasily stood up.
The bunch of bigwigs just stood there, silently enduring the reprimand.
"I can't believe I've been painstakingly combating drug traffickers, only to find out that drug traffickers are among us. Look, George, show them what I've been harboring." Finally, Victor spoke. Though still furious, his words slightly eased the pressure on everyone's shoulders.
The Chief of Staff, General Horatio, took the investigative report about Flores, and understood instantly why he was so angry.
This would enrage anyone!
"This matter needs in-depth investigation, no matter who's behind it, they must be caught and executed!"
Is there anyone in the north with a bigger background than Victor?
"Goebbels, you'll be responsible for investigating the internal officials. Horatio, lead the inspection of the army units. According to the list, bring me those who have been bought off. I want to see how many in my Anti-Drug Force have been corrupted."