Taxes are only within machine gun range!

Chapter 106 That damn judge, does he think people are idiots?

The next morning, at the checkpoint.

Milton sat in his office reviewing documents, while Flora and a painter conducted a final check on a small helicopter on the nearby helipad.

After handling several projects, Milton felt that it was indeed time to hire some clerical staff to manage administrative matters.

There were just so many things to deal with every day, it was really too troublesome—his job was to set the direction and strategy.

He signed the last document and muttered a complaint:
“I’m a tax officer, not an administrator… My job is to collect taxes everywhere, not to sign these strange documents here.”

Milton hasn't completely eradicated some of the black market because many people still rely on these industries for their livelihood.

Once the planning is complete, infrastructure and education will begin; once the takeover of the mines is finished and enough positions are available, he will begin to truly normalize Malakan.

"Tax collector!" Flora's voice came through. "The helicopter is almost ready. What did Aurelia say? Has the application been approved?"

"Let me tell you, to ensure Pedro is absolutely dead, I've prepared not only napalm but also a 50kg aerial bomb! If all else fails, just drop it; he'll definitely die."

Milton looked up: "Where did you get these aerial bombs?"

"It's right there in the checkpoint's warehouse. Isn't this your stuff? Shouldn't you check it carefully?"

"Sorry, I've collected too many loot these past two days, I haven't had time to count them."

"Alright, alright, I know you're rich! How's things going with Olya?"

Milton chuckled. "It went more smoothly than I expected."

"Could things go even more smoothly than we imagined?"

“Yes.” Milton nodded. “After we sent the ten thousand dollars, they were incredibly attentive. They not only immediately approved our flight route application, but also told us the exact time and location of the ‘speech’.”

As long as the timing is precise enough, there's no need to worry about the range—if the delay is too long, the R44 helicopter may not have enough fuel to return.

“Great!” Flora was delighted. “Do you have any more specific information? I’m worried that if Pedro gets too close to the crowd, it might affect our bombing.”

Milton laughed, "They told me that Pedro is terrified of death, lining his pockets everywhere, afraid I'll send someone to assassinate him. They said they practically want to stretch the police cordon all the way to Rio de Janeiro..."

“All I can say is that you’ve instilled too much fear in Pedro’s heart. In fact, if he really hides in the crowd, it will be difficult for you to carry out your plan.” Flora sat in front of Milton, resting her chin on her hand. “But Pedro will never believe it. He will definitely think that you will use machine guns to wipe out the innocent people along with him.”

Milton glanced at her: "That's what I meant. Even if you really care about the people, don't show it in your attitude, or you'll become a weakness that others can exploit."

“That makes sense. So when will you sign a contract with me and become a shareholder in my ‘War Wind Company’?”

“After we get back,” Milton said. “It’s pretty much confirmed now that there’s no room for compromise between us and the Sinaloa Group. If we want to operate in Mexico, we’ll have to use your company’s name.”

Milton now needs more and more professional combat personnel to join him.

"it is good!!!"

While the two were chatting, Brandon drove into the checkpoint.

As the current police chief, he dealt with personnel matters in the police department yesterday, purged corrupt officers, and tried to extend his rule to every corner of the town.

Brandon, wearing heavy body armor and carrying two more sets of body armor, walked over with a tired look in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Milton asked, somewhat amused. "Why are you so listless now that you've been promoted?"

“Sigh… Boss, being a bureau chief is much more troublesome than I imagined! I’d rather go to war.” Brandon handed the two of them his bulletproof gear. “Mainly because that bastard Pedro, who deserves to go to hell, left behind a huge mess.”

“I looked through the files last night… Boss, you know what? There used to be a huge organ trading market in our town! I suspect the ‘boss’ was… Sigh, it’s a pity they’ve moved away now.”

Milton wasn't surprised: "This area is completely rotten, it's normal... Now that we have control of Malacan, we can deal with these problems little by little later."

"Um, boss... By the way, aren't we bringing parachutes? What if our plane gets hit?"

Milton laughed in exasperation: "I told you to watch fewer movies. What do you think a helicopter is? You think you can just shoot it down after a couple of shots?"

"Do you know how fast this helicopter flies? 220 km/h. Do you know what that means?"

"This helicopter can fly at a maximum altitude of 3000 meters. This thing is so small, you can't even see it at 3000 meters, how can you expect to hit it?"

"Without specialized air defense weapons, such as anti-aircraft guns or anti-aircraft missiles, a few broken guns simply cannot shoot down a helicopter."

"Because its flight altitude exceeds the effective range of most firearms, including sniper rifles and heavy machine guns, not to mention its speed, you'll never hit it in your lifetime with just a couple of irregular maneuvers."

"Do you think Pedro could have security guards equipped with anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft missiles?"

“I said that a helicopter is only vulnerable when hovering at low altitude, and I have solved that problem through bribery.”

"By the time they realized what was happening, we had already climbed to high altitude and successfully escaped."

Brandon remarked with some emotion, "Dude, where did you study? You know so much! I want to send my kids to your school too. Is it in America?"

"No, Americans are terrible at reading books."

"Huh? Why?"

Milton said slowly, "Because in America, only students who skip class survive."

"Damn, boss, how many hellish jokes do you have in your head...?"

Flora's face immediately showed a tense expression, and she forced a smile as she said seriously, "Ahem, and you should also trust my driving skills."

As they chatted, they loaded everything onto the co-pilot's seat of the helicopter—including a napalm bomb, an aerial bomb, and a map.

Milton and Brandon went to the back seat, while Flora went to the driver's seat, skillfully started the engine.

"Shall we set off?"

"set off!"

……

San Marcos.

The appellate court’s gray concrete exterior exudes its majesty—and the long, long cordon around it only adds to that majesty.

Outside the courthouse stands a statue of a goddess holding scales, symbolizing fairness and justice.

The outer ring was lined with a large number of police officers armed with riot shields and weapons, while the inner ring was lined with even more well-equipped guards.

Several armored vehicles slowly drove up from a distance, with many armed guards standing beside them.

Outside the police cordon, a large crowd of angry citizens and reporters had gathered.

"Kill this executioner! My mother died from that drug, along with my unborn brother or sister!"

"He must be involved in that biological weapons terrorist attack! He's a terrorist, and we actually let a terrorist become our police chief?"

"Oh my god... I also took this medicine. I'm lucky I didn't die."

"We must find out exactly how many counterfeit drugs have entered our area, and how many of them originated from him!"

"death penalty!"

"Is it just about counterfeit drugs? I suspect he's also involved in business with the Sinaloa Group."

“My child, an 18-year-old child, such a big child, just disappeared inexplicably a few days after going to the hospital! I heard that the gang runs a lot of businesses like this, and this police chief must be colluding with that gang.”

"Representative Lopez said that he would solve these problems as long as we vote for him."

"I will definitely vote for him..."

"They drained our wallets, but they won't even give us real medicine?! Go to hell!"

"I believe our judge, even if he was once the bureau chief, will certainly receive the trial he deserves."

Soon, the armored convoy drove past the angry crowd, many of whom threw their trash at the vehicles to vent their anger.

Of course, the guards were constantly shouting.

"Please keep order..."

"Trust our laws, trust our judges, every criminal will receive the punishment they deserve..."

Soon, the convoy entered the cordon and arrived at the courthouse entrance.

Several heavily armed police officers opened the bulletproof car door, pulled Pedro out of the vehicle, and escorted him into the courthouse. Outside the courthouse, a large screen was broadcasting the proceedings live.

A prosecutor in a dark suit-style uniform stood solemnly in front of the camera, looking at the documents in his hands with a serious and righteous expression.

Five judges sat on the bench, dressed in black robes with loose sleeves, their red lapels adorned with gold collar buttons, exuding an air of solemnity.

Pedro stood in the center of the dock, without a lawyer beside him.

"The defendant, Pedro Thorne, is guilty of..."

At this moment, the judge looked at him, the people in the courtroom looked at him, countless people outside looked at him with anticipation, and even many people in the distant town of Malacan gathered in various bars to watch this scene.

He was prosecuted for administrative dereliction of duty, accepting bribes, and abuse of power.

"The evidence suggests..."

"The defendant failed to discover in time..."

"Because a trusted subordinate treated him to a meal, he agreed without conducting much investigation..."

"...The purchase of surgical instruments without bidding was a violation of the Government Procurement Law and constituted a procedural irregularity."

"Now, let's welcome a brave key witness..."

The courtroom remained relatively quiet after hearing the charge, but an uproar erupted outside.

The townspeople of Malacan, in particular, who had been ravaged by Pedro for who knows how long, were stunned when they saw this scene.

What are these charges?!

They're completely avoiding the important issues!
How could Pedro's actions be so easily covered up with just a few charges?
Even a fool would know that Pedro was deeply involved in these crimes, was one of the masterminds, and was a protector of the criminals.

However, these charges clearly steer the issue from the perspective of a protective umbrella to one of dereliction of duty in public security management.

The trial is still ongoing.

The judges solemnly struck their gavels, looked at Pedro, and asked, "Does the defendant have anything to say in his defense?"

Pedro lowered his head and shook his head: "No."

"Did the defendant plead guilty?"

“I confess to all my crimes and promise never to appeal. I am deeply remorseful for what I have done. I ask the judge to punish me severely to alleviate my pain.”

The judges stopped speaking and began to engage in a perfunctory discussion.

Five minutes later, the leading judge struck the gavel again.

At the same time, the judge looked at the camera with a sense of honor on his face.

"I, Raymond Collin, as a legal practitioner, solemnly swear, with the law and my conscience as my witnesses:"

"I will always remember that legal professional ethics are above personal interests, uphold justice as the highest principle, and never compromise judicial dignity for personal gain."

“I pledge to provide equal legal services to all citizens, regardless of their social status, economic ability or background.”

“Treat every legal matter with a professional attitude, maintain respect and restraint towards all parties involved in the case, and eliminate any form of professional arrogance and prejudice.”

"I will remain loyal to the Constitution and the law for life, uphold judicial integrity, and adhere to both procedural and substantive justice!"

"Even if the person in front of me is a police chief, he must be subject to legal supervision and punishment just like an ordinary person!"

"The verdict is now announced."

"This court finds that the defendant, Pedro Thorn, was charged with administrative dereliction of duty, accepting bribes, and abuse of power, and was found guilty by the judicial team."

"Mr. Pedro, you have been found guilty of violating... Evidence shows that from March 12, 1990, until..."

"Taking into account the nature of the crime, your criminal record, your surrender, and the impact on the victim, this court hereby renders the following judgment."

"Two years imprisonment, with no possibility of parole within one year."

"Pay a fine of 200 million guilders to the court."

"I apologize to all the people."

"You must apologize immediately after the court hearing and pay all fines by noon tomorrow. Failure to comply will result in immediate imprisonment."

"This verdict reflects both accountability and gives you an opportunity to reform."

Pedro looked remorseful: "I respect the judgment of the law."

"..."

The trial is over.

The police chief, who killed countless people, burdened countless people with exorbitant debts and drug addictions, kidnapped and murdered countless people for profit, trafficked their organs, and forced countless people to sell their bodies and blood, has finally met his deserved end.

Do you fucking think everyone's an idiot?
What crime of dereliction of duty, what crime of accepting bribes, what crime of abuse of power, what crime of a 2 million yuan fine, what crime of a 200-year prison sentence, and then parole? Go to hell!
The crowd outside was immediately enraged, throwing garbage and rotten eggs at the courthouse, leaving the statue of the goddess holding scales in a terrible state.

There have even been instances of angry citizens attempting to storm the police cordon.

What started as onlookers is now showing signs of evolving into a protest or demonstration.

A helicopter covered in the TV station's name appeared in the sky at some unknown time, seemingly recording the scene.

click!
Upon seeing this situation, the police officers and soldiers guarding the door immediately raised their shields, leveled their guns, and assumed a posture ready to fire at any moment.

The public calmed down somewhat, but they still couldn't suppress their anger, and the shouting continued.

"He shouldn't only have this one crime!"

"We demand a retrial... a different court, the Supreme Court!"

"The court and the police are in cahoots; he should be sent to the International Court of Justice!"

"Pedro, get out here!"

"Judge, get out here!"

In Malacan, the townspeople gathered in a bar watching television were even more furious.

"What kind of verdict is this? Damn it, can't the 'Hell Tax Collector' punish him? I've found that guns and cannons are more effective against this kind of person."

"Hehe... Is it strange? I expected this result."

“‘The Godfather’, I suddenly miss ‘The Godfather’.”

"He's just our town's 'tax collector,' 'godfather.' It's already quite an achievement that he managed to get Pedro out. Oh well, that's it. Sigh."

"Damn! He killed my wife and only got two years?! And he can even get parole after a year?!"

At this moment, Pedro walked out of the courthouse.

He stood far away from the crowd, in an open space where nothing could hit him, where there was a loudspeaker.

Pedro picked up the megaphone and feigned a hint of grief: "Today, with immense remorse, I offer my sincerest apologies to everyone. My negligence has caused so much suffering, and I have been living in constant torment. Finally, my conscience has led me to confess."

"Despite the immense inner turmoil, I respect the outcome of the judicial process—which precisely demonstrates the unquestionable fairness of our great legal system. I urge everyone to join me in upholding the dignity of the judiciary and to stop making unfounded speculations about judges and prosecutors, whose professionalism has been fully demonstrated in this case."

“As an act of repentance, I also voluntarily returned 3 qchal to my financial account—money that came from my legitimate savings from my personal salary. In the future, I hope my case can inspire more colleagues so that they will not make similar mistakes.”

"Finally, I appeal to the media and the public, and to everyone present, to put aside hatred and respect the sanctity of the law. We need unity, not division, and our children should grow up in an environment of reconciliation, not hatred!"

"I apologize again to everyone, and I implore you to believe that a person who calmly accepts trial understands the weight of justice more than someone who has never made a mistake!"

This last, extremely disgusting statement ignited the scene, pushing public anger to its peak.

But even as the public's shouts and curses grew louder and louder, they could no longer affect Pedro's mood.

Tomorrow he will be sent to Quetzaltenango International Airport, from where he will take off and fly to Mexico, to freedom.

Goodbye, cesspool!

Pedro looked up at the sky in the direction of Mexico. The sun was shining brightly... Hmm, but that TV station's helicopter was flying a little too close...

(End of this chapter)