Working as a police officer in Mexico.

Chapter 726 I've said it so many times, let's not talk too much.

Just as Operation Iron Broom was in full swing in the mountains of Michoacán.

There are always people who like to point fingers and criticize.

Just like climbing over a wall and seeing only rebels outside, what happens in Mexico cannot be completely confined to the border.

Scattered video footage and the horrifying conclusions "analyzed" by certain international human rights organizations were keenly captured and quickly pieced together by major European media outlets.

Despite the Mexican government's strict control over information, claiming that this was a "necessary targeted killing operation against militants" to combat "lawless drug terrorism and separatist armed groups," shocking terms such as "genocide," "chemical weapons," and "indiscriminate killing" have appeared on the front pages of major European newspapers and during prime time on television news, accompanied by some blurry yet highly impactful photos.

These European "gentlemen" love nothing more than pointing fingers at others.

London, The Times front-page headline: "The 'Final Solution' of Mexico's New Strongman? — Ethnic Cleansing Mysteries in the Michoacán Mountains"

The report was accompanied by an enlarged, somewhat blurry photograph with the caption: "Traces of a large-scale earthmoving operation suspected to have been found in the Sanchez Valley area, raising concerns among analysts that it may be a burial site following a mass execution."

God knows where the photo came from.

In Paris, Le Monde's editorial section featured a strongly worded commentary titled: "From the Drug Wars to Genocide: Viktor's Path to 'Modernization'."

The article states: "We naively believed that with the fall of the Mexican drug cartels, the dawn of peace and democracy would descend upon this land. However, what we are witnessing is an even more cold-blooded and authoritarian regime. Victor's iron fist against drug lords has been turned against the ethnic minorities under his rule. Agent Orange, a chemical weapon condemned for its horrific consequences in the Vietnam War, has been reactivated approximately 30 years later. This is not only a regression of civilization but also a complete trampling of the bottom line of humanitarianism!"

In Berlin, during an evening news special on ZDF television, the presenter's expression was grave.

The program invited international law experts and human rights activists to analyze several photos allegedly leaked from within, showing civilians harmed by chemical weapons. The experts lamented, "Based on the information we currently have, this fully meets the characteristics of a crime against humanity. The international community cannot stand idly by in the face of systemic, large-scale violence targeting specific ethnic groups!"

Pantheon Square, Paris.

Thousands of protesters, mostly young, gathered here, holding signs written in Spanish and French: "Alto al Genocidio en México!" (Stop the genocide in Mexico!), "Victor = Assassin!" (Victor = Assassin!), "Dónde está la humanidad?" (Where is humanity?). Some lay under symbolic shrouds, their bodies painted with blood, while rousing speeches blared from loudspeakers condemning the French government and the EU for their "appeasement policy" toward Mexico and their "selective blindness" to human rights.

Damn, isn't that a picture of Jesus?
London, outside 10 Downing Street.

The crowd waved black and white "Stop Killing" flags and scattered leaflets with Victor's image and red X's all over the place.

The speaker cried out, his voice hoarse: "Our government is still considering trade negotiations with that butcher! Do we want to have the blood of Michoacán Indians on our hands?!"

In front of the EU headquarters building in Brussels.

A larger transnational civil society gathering is underway.

Human rights organization members, students, and left-wing activists from multiple countries joined hands to form a human chain. They pressured the European Union to immediately impose severe sanctions on Mexico, freeze the assets of officials associated with the Viktor regime in Europe, and bring them to trial at the International Criminal Court.

European governments are facing enormous pressure.

Opposition parties seized the opportunity to attack the ruling party's foreign policy, demanding a tougher stance. While official statements were relatively cautious, avoiding legal terms like "genocide," words such as "deep concern," "strongly urge," and "independent international investigation" frequently appeared in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson's statements.

Some members of the European Parliament have jointly submitted a proposal calling for a reassessment of bilateral relations with Mexico.

As condemnation of the events in Michoacán, Mexico, intensifies in European public opinion and protests sweep across major cities, a political rally is also taking place in a community school square in Tel Aviv, Israel, in the distant Middle East.

The speaker was a member of parliament known for his hardline liberal stance and sharp wit, Ilan Barak, who was running for re-election and was a strong contender for the party's next leader.

Thousands of supporters gathered in the square, the air thick with the heat of the Mediterranean sun and the crowd’s excitement.

Barak was clearly aware of the international uproar surrounding Mexico, and he astutely recognized this as an excellent opportunity to enhance his international profile and consolidate support from domestic liberals and human rights groups. At the climax of his speech, he abruptly shifted his focus, directing his criticism at the Victor government thousands of miles away.

"And while we talk about freedom and dignity in this seemingly peaceful square, on the other side of the world, in the Michoacán Mountains of Mexico, a dirty war against indigenous people is being waged!" Barack's voice echoed through the square through the loudspeaker, filled with moral indignation.

“We have seen those blurry yet horrifying photos, and we have heard the silent cries of survivors, if any! How could a modern government use chemical weapons, condemned by the international community, to indiscriminately and systematically eliminate its own citizens? This is not just an atrocity; it is a crime against humanity!”

His voice grew louder and louder, and he waved his arms, becoming extremely persuasive.

“Some call that Viktor a ‘strongman,’ a ‘man who brings order,’ but I tell you, in my dictionary, he’s an executioner! A dictator whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent people!”

Supporters began to applaud and cheer, pushing the atmosphere to its peak. The sound of camera shutters clicking filled the air.

Barak enjoyed the spotlight and made even more explosive promises:

"If I am successfully re-elected and win the support of the party, I assure you, I assure the world!"

He practically roared, “I will push for a motion on the international stage to arrest Viktor for ‘crimes against humanity’! To put him in the dock of the International Criminal Court! To make him pay for every atrocity his troops committed in Michoacán!”

“Wow——!!!”

The square instantly erupted in cheers!
Cheers, whistles, and thunderous applause filled the air. Supporters were completely ignited by his "brave" declaration, with many waving Israeli flags and Barak's campaign signs excitedly.

This is a promise that can greatly satisfy their sense of moral superiority and internationalist sentiments.

Seeing the crowd's enthusiastic response, Barack became even more excited. Seizing the opportunity, he spoke into the microphone, almost in a vow-like tone, adding:

"And I want to say here to the persecuted and genocidal minorities in Michoacán—"

"If you need it, and if the situation allows, Israel, the country that once sheltered countless persecuted people, is willing to provide you with everything possible, to the fullest extent..."

His words came to an abrupt end there.

Just as the word "help" was about to slip out—

"boom!!!"

A crisp, short, and highly penetrating gunshot ripped through the clamor in the square!
The source of the sound seemed to be neither too far nor too near.

Just a moment ago, Elan Barak was immersed in a passionate speech, but his body suddenly stopped, and the fervor on his face froze instantly, replaced by extreme astonishment and bewilderment.

His head seemed to be pulled backward and to the side by a huge force, and his neck was twisted at an unnatural angle.

It was clearly visible that on the left side of his neck, near the carotid artery, a tiny bullet hole appeared instantly. Blood did not flow out, but rather gushed out like a ruptured blood sac, forming a brief but horrifying mist of blood that splattered onto the podium behind him and the blue and white flag of Israel.

The microphone slipped from his hand and fell onto the podium, producing a piercing buzz and echo.

He felt as if all his bones had been removed; his legs went weak, and he fell heavily backward onto the wooden lectern floor with a loud thud. His body convulsed unconsciously, and blood gushed from the wound on his neck, spreading a glaring crimson stain beneath him.

Time seemed to freeze for a second.

The deafening cheers in the square were abruptly cut off by a knife.

Everyone was stunned, their faces still showing the excitement of the previous moment, but their eyes were filled with disbelief and horror.

immediately--

"what!!!!!!!!!"

A sudden burst of sharp, terrified screams erupted, replacing the previous cheers.

The crowd instantly descended into extreme panic and chaos! People scattered like headless flies, pushing and trampling each other, knocking over chairs and scattering signs all over the ground.

"Shooting! There's a gunman!" "Ilan! Ilan has fallen!"

"Protect the lawmaker! Protect the ambulance!"

This is all very vague and unclear.

The bodyguards and security personnel on site then realized what was happening and rushed toward the fallen Barak in a panic. At the same time, they drew their pistols and nervously looked around, trying to find the gunman's location, but the chaotic crowd made all their efforts futile.

After a brief moment of shock, the reporters frantically turned their cameras toward the podium and onto the political figure lying in a pool of blood, a man who had once been full of vigor but whose life was now rapidly slipping away.

The flashbulb, like a maniac epileptic, clearly captured his horrific near-death experience.

The ambulance siren wailed as it approached, its sharp wail mingling with the cries and screams from the scene, creating a bloody and ironic symphony.

Just minutes before, he was here, loudly condemning the violence on the other side of the world and promising to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Minutes later, he himself became the most direct and bloodiest victim of political violence, falling on his own country's soil, his blood staining the national flag that symbolized his beliefs.

The news that Senator Ilan Barak was shot dead in public at a campaign rally was like a thunderbolt, instantly igniting global public opinion.

His death quickly dominated the front pages of newspapers around the world, its impact even overshadowing ongoing coverage of the events in Michoacán, Mexico.

Headlines such as "Israeli hardliners splattered with blood on the podium!", "The fall of the voice of freedom: Barak's last roar", and "The shadow of political violence looms over Tel Aviv"... These sensational headlines, accompanied by high-resolution photos of Barak lying in a pool of blood, spread wildly around the world.

Barack himself is a controversial figure, known for his radical liberal stance, his fierce criticism of domestic right-wing policies, and his frequent pronouncements on international affairs.

Those who admired him saw him as a moral beacon unafraid of powerful figures, while those who disliked him considered him a boastful, attention-seeking opportunist politician. Now, his death, especially in such a dramatic and visually striking manner, has amplified the controversy surrounding him countless times over.

Almost immediately after the incident, a highly pointed speculation began to ferment and spread in the public sphere. Many media outlets, in their reports, unanimously or implicitly linked Barak's death to his fierce attack on Viktor in the minutes before the assassination.

The New York Times op-ed's title was highly suggestive: "Coincidence or Revenge? Barack Goes to Bloodshed in the Streets After Vowing to Put the Mexican Strongman to Court."

In a BBC feature report, the presenter spoke with a guest analyst: "We have to consider the possibility that the death of MP Barak was a brutal reprisal for his outspokenness and challenge to certain lawless regimes. This undoubtedly sends a terrifying signal to all those who try to criticize the Victor regime."

Social media is flooded with all sorts of "Sherlock Holmes" figures. Some "analyzed" that the type of bullets used by the gunman "suspected" matched some equipment of the Mexican military, some "dug up" the so-called "dark history" of Mexican intelligence agencies' activities in Israel, and some even photoshopped Victor's image to resemble the mastermind behind the scenes, with the caption "Those who obey me prosper, those who oppose me perish."

Although this "Victor assassination theory" lacks any substantial evidence, its simple and exciting narrative fits many people's imagination that "strongmen are bound to be vengeful," and it quickly gained a large following.

just like…

Many people who resent the rich believe that all wealthy people are heartless and all officials are freeloaders. Regardless of whether this is true or not, they are just unhappy.

In a short time, Viktor's image in international public opinion deteriorated further from that of a controversial leader who implemented iron-fisted policies at home.

Mexico City, National Palace.

The atmosphere in Viktor's office was somewhat somber.

An Israeli newspaper lay carelessly tossed on a large desk, its front page featuring a large photograph of Barak's assassination, accompanied by a sensational headline: "Prominent MP Dies After Publicly Criticizing Viktor! Is the Mastermind About to Emerge?"

Victor leaned back in his chair, a slowly burning cigarette between his fingers, his gaze sweeping over the newspaper.

"That's a really low-class tactic."

"Everyone thinks I hired someone to do it? If I really did it, his wife who flaunts her wealth all day long, and his two sons who cause trouble at private schools, wouldn't have the chance to cry in front of the camera now. I would make sure their whole family is wiped out, not a single one left."

Am I the kind of person who would kill someone but not their whole family?

Casare, who was standing to the side, nodded slightly upon hearing this.

“Public opinion is very unfavorable to us, especially in Europe, where we have almost been convicted.”

Casare looked worried. "Boss, should we issue a formal statement strongly condemning this assassination attempt and clarifying that it has nothing to do with us?"

Viktor pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head. He picked up the newspaper, weighed it in his hand as if it were trash, and then casually tossed it into the wastebasket.

"A statement? To whom? To these tabloid reporters, or to those politicians who are pretending to be ignorant?"

He scoffed, "The more you care, the more eager you are to defend yourself, the happier they are. They can get their fill of traffic and the topic can be hyped up. Once we give a formal response, it's like we've taken the mud they've thrown at us, which actually helps them raise their own status. Don't pay any attention to it. Time will prove that I, Viktor, may be a bad person, but I'm also a bad person who dares to take responsibility for my actions and wouldn't stoop to such despicable tricks."

That's still true...

American tabloid reporters said in the newspaper that the French president's wife was a man. Hey, the couple took it seriously and argued with them. But if you care about something like that, you've already lost, haven't you?

This is their livelihood; the more you care, the more traffic they'll generate.

So either don't care, or kill him.

Power always needs a little bit of capriciousness, right?

He stubbed out his cigarette. "How's it going in Michoacán?"

Casare immediately composed himself and reported, "Operation 'Iron Broom' is proceeding as planned. Felix just informed us that the main downhill routes have been completely blocked and cleared, and the remaining personnel have been compressed into several core primeval forest areas, making the clearing operation more difficult, but the overall situation is under control. He assured us that at most two months, the problem of the Kola tribe can be completely resolved, and the area can be purified."

Viktor nodded. "Let him do it. We support him unconditionally."

As he spoke, he walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the city lights that were gradually coming on outside. "Now that the biggest obstacle inside is about to be removed, we should also broaden our horizons. Let's make preparations and set off according to the original plan."

Casare's spirits lifted: "Yes, boss, preparations for the southern tour are basically complete."

Victor is about to embark on his first official domestic tour since taking office, focusing on several resource-rich but relatively underdeveloped southern states with deeply entrenched local powers.

This southern tour was intended to demonstrate authority, streamline local relations, and pave the way for the next step of nationwide integration and reform.

Many people in Latin America would have to be beaten up.

Viktor looked south and said, "Let the big talkers know that we're here to cause trouble, not to be guests. We need to make an example of someone."

Casare nodded vigorously.

Some are good-looking.

I hope the people below won't do anything "inappropriate," otherwise, it will really look bad.

"If we leave, who will stay in Mexico City?"

Viktor squinted and thought for a moment, "General Manfred von Richthofen will remain in command."

This is the Air Force Deputy Commander, and also Viktor's absolute confidant!

……

(End of this chapter)