Working as a police officer in Mexico.

Chapter 641 This is a shithole, and you're jumping in?
Juan's dying accusations and the shocking footage captured by journalists broke through the lockdown in Medellín immediately via satellite signal.

The headlines from the BBC, Reuters, and AFP were increasingly sensational: "Medellín: City of Slaughter?", "Survivors Accuse Mexican Army of Systematic Executions", and "Victor's 'Cleansing': The Entire City Turned into a Graveyard?"

The blood-stained face of drug dealer Juan, the hideous wound on his shoulder blade, the terrified faces of the reporters, and his fragmented yet heart-wrenching description.

"A volley of gunfire... finishing blows... all dead... now empty... graveyard"—this instantly ignited global public opinion.

The international community was in complete uproar.

The scattered reports and speculations previously about Viktor's forces "using excessive force" in Medellín now seem to have found the bloodiest and most direct evidence.

Juan's identity as a "drug dealer's henchman" has been deliberately obscured by many in the face of the enormous humanitarian disaster; he is first and foremost a "survivor" who crawled out of "hell".

Human rights organizations and UN agencies have used unprecedentedly strong language, demanding an immediate independent investigation. Several governments have issued statements expressing "extreme shock and concern" over the "atrocities described in the reports" and putting pressure on the Colombian government.

The atmosphere at the National Palace in Colombia suddenly plummeted to freezing point.

The president and his staff looked grim.

The initial glimmer of hope that Viktor would "cut through the Gordian knot" was completely drowned out by a tsunami of international condemnation and a torrent of domestic skepticism.

Allies are calling inquiringly one after another, while the domestic opposition is seizing the opportunity to fiercely criticize the government for "inviting wolves into the house" and "losing sovereignty."

Anxiety and unease filled the air; a storm was brewing.

“The international phone lines are about to explode,” the Foreign Minister said in a hoarse voice, trying to summarize. “Britain, France, Germany… the wording is getting harsher and harsher. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is demanding immediate and unimpeded access to Medellín. We… we are almost out of options.”

"Have room to maneuver?" President Armando Benede slammed his fist on the table, the expensive mahogany making a dull thud. "What business is it of theirs what we do?!"

Actually, he was also a little irritated.

She even complained to Viktor, asking why he hadn't told her about such a big thing.

I'm labeled as Viktor myself, so why are you just going to ignore my life and death?

Just then, Vice President Cyril Douglas walked in, a deliberately suppressed worry on his face, holding a freshly printed document in his hand.

"Mr. President," Douglas's voice broke the brief silence brought on by the president and successfully drew everyone's attention: "The situation is more complicated than we thought; international pressure is just the tip of the iceberg."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the aides present, each with their own distinct expressions. "I just received a phone call from the Conservative Party chairman and the Liberal Party leader, and their words were more intense than ever before."

He waved the document in his hand, “The opposition alliance has reached an agreement to launch an emergency motion in Congress to immediately establish a bipartisan special commission of inquiry into the Medellín incident.”

President Armando Benede's face darkened further as he stared intently at Douglas, sensing even worse news.

Douglas met his gaze, his tone hardening, each word like a cold stone striking the ground: "They made it clear that this committee will have supreme authority to thoroughly investigate every link in Operation Medellín, from the decision-making level to the execution level, including," he paused deliberately, "the presidential order authorizing Operation Victor itself, and the legality and necessity of all military orders issued during the operation!"

You could hear a pin drop in the room.

The staff exchanged glances. This was no longer just an investigation into atrocities; it was a direct attack on the president's core decision-making power!

This is an attempt to oust Armando Benedera.

“That’s not enough,” Douglas’s voice was lower but more penetrating. He took a step forward. “That old fox from the Conservative Party reminded me on the phone that, according to Article 178 of the Constitution, if the special commission of inquiry ultimately finds that the president authorized and allowed this humanitarian disaster to occur with knowledge or reasonable concern about the risk of systemic violence, then Parliament will have the power to initiate impeachment proceedings.”

"Impeachment?!" a young aide exclaimed in surprise, then realized his mistake and immediately covered his mouth.

The air instantly dropped to freezing point.

Armando Benede's body visibly trembled.

The questions from allies are an external storm, while the political offensive launched by the domestic opposition using this incident, especially the threat of impeachment, is a sharp blade piercing the heart.

This means that he not only faces international judgment, but may also completely lose power in domestic political struggles, and even be ousted from the National Palace.

Vice President Douglas gently placed the document, a symbol of the domestic political storm, in front of the president and said, "They are demanding a public response within 24 hours and a commitment to full cooperation with the investigation, or it will be submitted to Parliament for a vote tomorrow, and public opinion will be completely on their side. Right now, it's not just journalists outside; Liberal and Conservative MPs have already started making statements on the steps."

Armando Benede stared intently at the document, furious. "Is this a threat?!"

“Tell them I will absolutely not agree to them doing this. This is wartime, and I have the right to exercise my rights!”

In the office, everyone looked at each other, feeling that his words didn't carry much weight. After a brief silence, the meeting ended abruptly.

However, when they saw the president coming downstairs, he wasn't paying attention to his footing and almost tumbled down, but was caught by the security personnel next to him.

His disheveled appearance was witnessed by many.

This looks so much like Margaret Thatcher's dramatic fall!

Although they may be of very different quality, they both illustrate the same point: their inner world is not so peaceful.

News of what happened at the National Palace in Colombia could not be kept secret; like wildfire, it quickly reached the ears of the opposition alliance.

President Armando Benedet's defiant stance was interpreted as utter stubbornness and a guilty conscience, prompting opposition leaders to immediately initiate emergency procedures, no longer waiting for a futile 24-hour response.

He submitted his application, and Congress quickly passed a resolution allowing the call to proceed, which made Armando Benede look rather awkward.

The following day, the atmosphere in the Capitol was as heavy as iron.

When he entered the venue, he was no longer greeted with polite applause; many people looked at him as if he were a criminal being scrutinized.

The media is raving about how he took money from Victor. While many people in Medellin are drug dealers, are the lives of drug dealers any less important?
Many of them are legal Colombian citizens.

Even if it's a trial, it's not the Mexicans' place!
They should help us take Medellin and then hand them over to us.

Viktor is no good person!
A very typical example of... prioritizing profit over morality.

As soon as the meeting began, the leader of the opposition alliance, a member of parliament known for his sharp tongue, took to the podium immediately. Without any pleasantries, he launched into a direct attack on the president:

"Mr. Speaker! Fellow members of parliament! Yesterday we gave the President 24 hours to respond to the people's questions about the Medellin tragedy and to the international community's condemnation. We expected a responsible attitude, a commitment to accept the highest level of investigation to prove his innocence! But what did we get?" His voice suddenly rose, filled with accusatory force, "We got silence from the Presidential Palace! We got arrogant evasion! We got naked fear of the truth!"

He pointed sharply at Armando Benede, whose face was ashen: "This silence itself is an answer! It answers all our questions: President Armando Benede, he dares not face it! He dares not explain, because he cannot explain! He cannot explain why, knowing the risks, he still signed that fatal order! He cannot explain why he stood by and watched those atrocities happen! He cannot explain why his decisions have brought shame upon the nation. What is the point of a president who cannot protect his own people?"

"This is not a mistake, gentlemen! This is dereliction of duty! This is an abuse of the power granted by the Constitution! This is the most shameless betrayal of the national interest!" The opposition leader's voice slammed into the silent council chamber like a hammer blow. "For some ulterior political purpose, or simply a pathetic misjudgment, he has pushed our country to the brink of war crimes! He has betrayed honor, betrayed the dignity of the nation, he—Armando Benede—is a traitor!"

“Traitors do not deserve to sit on the throne in the National Palace!” he shouted, raising his arms. “For the future of the nation, for justice, and for an explanation to the victims of Medellín, I hereby formally propose: to immediately initiate impeachment proceedings against President Armando Benede! To remove him from office!”

"Seconded!"

"Seconded!"

"Seconded!"

In the opposition seats, arms were raised like a forest, and the shouts of seconding the motion rose and fell, instantly converging into a surging tide of anger demanding the president's resignation.

The Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, and numerous independent MPs reached a remarkable consensus at this moment.

"Get out of here! You bastard, what kind of good person are you? Who are you sympathizing with? Those are drug dealers. It's still wartime, and Mexican soldiers are just fulfilling their battlefield duties!" The president's supporters also began to curse.

then…

The two groups went from arguing to a physical fight, and it was quite a spectacle.

Armando Benede stood behind the podium and slammed his hand on the table, the loud noise silencing the commotion for a moment.

“Betrayal!” he roared, his voice distorted with agitation. “This is betrayal!”

"I! There is no way I will resign. Drug dealers must die, I said it!"

After he finished speaking, he left with his men, completely tearing away the pretense of domestic conflict.

After he returned to his office, he made a private phone call to Victor. No one knows what they talked about, but they talked for more than four hours!
At this critical juncture, just 30 hours after the reporter's report was published, Victor himself issued an extremely brief statement through the Mexican Ministry of Defense, without any explanation:

"In response to external doubts about the Mexican coalition forces, effective immediately, all Mexican combat units have withdrawn from Medellín and its surrounding areas, ceased fighting, and handed over the defense of the area to the Colombian authorities!"

"Furthermore, Colombian President Armando Benedetto has temporarily assumed command of the Mexican forces!"

This sudden order to withdraw troops and the power of appointment were like an ice cube thrown into a boiling pot of oil.

Bogota was stunned.

The opposition was also dumbfounded!

Victor…

He just withdrew like that? At the height of global condemnation and pressure, instead of defending himself or resisting, he simply walked away?
This was completely out of character for him, even being domineering. A strong sense of unease instantly replaced his brief moment of surprise.

And what the hell does it mean to give Armando Benede military power?
Who are you trying to protect yourself from?

What is this doing?
The opposition wants to oust him, but this is no easy task. Armando Benede, who holds military power, is like a roly-poly toy.

Do you know how scared we are by what you're doing?

Inside the Allied command, the British reacted far faster than the Colombians; almost half an hour after the announcement of the Mexican withdrawal, the British Ministry of Defence made a high-profile announcement:
"In view of the withdrawal of Mexican troops and the current severe humanitarian situation in the Medellín area, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has decided that the valiant 16th Airborne Brigade, under the Allied framework, will immediately move forward to take over security and humanitarian relief operations in the Medellín area."

"Our military will adhere to international law and humanitarian principles to ensure stability in the region and provide safe passage and proper accommodation for all non-combatants seeking asylum, including those who have laid down their weapons."

The words were grand and dignified, but the actions were swift and unexpected.

British rapid deployment forces had been waiting near the border for some time, and now, like sharks smelling blood, they quickly advanced toward Medellín.

Meanwhile, the Cali Group...

All that's left here are some rotten salted fish and bird eggs.

When the news reached Viktor.

Casare angrily cursed, "The British must have been plotting this for a long time. They even fueled the impeachment of Armando Benede. They are the world's troublemakers!"

He had an urge to challenge the Queen to a duel.

Ok…

He can't beat anyone else either.

Victor gestured for him to calm down. "We were never on the same side from the beginning. Have you forgotten that we blew up their aircraft carrier?"

Uh…

"But boss, if we blow it up, let them blow it back up! What kind of nonsense is this, sneaking around like this!"

Although Mexico doesn't have an aircraft carrier, you can wait until we build one before you bomb it.

This bias is too obvious.

“If the British want to go, let the British go. Medellin is a huge powder keg. The drug dealers will resist. Once they get in, they’ll know that place is a pile of dog shit.”

Victor isn't stupid...

He's just using public opinion to back down!

There are millions of people in that area. Do you think the British will be any better off going there?

They suffered some of the consequences.

"We should shift our focus to something else now."

"Where?" Casare asked hastily.

"Brazil next door!"

……

(End of this chapter)