Taxes are only within machine gun range!

Chapter 218 Oil
When everyone saw the high priest collapse to the ground in front of the mound of corpses, with murky tears streaming down his face, they knew that he had been completely defeated.

It was not only a defeat on the military level, but also a defeat on the spiritual level.

The corpses of countless believers were piled up into a mountain, and all the "sacred" items were like burial goods. The church's leaders held up their heads and worshipped the perpetrators...

For a high priest, such a scene was enough to shatter his worldview for life.

……

“…That’s terrifying.” Flora squatted to the side watching Milton show off and inflict full physical and psychological torture on the High Priest. She shook her head. “I told you, the fact that Milton didn’t say a single threatening word means he’s really angry.”

Brandon nodded: "The high priest died the most tragically... but what I find strangest is that cell. It was just a little dark, how could the high priest go insane in just a few days?"

If the high priest's mental state hadn't been already so fragile, and he hadn't stumbled upon the Jingguan (a mound of corpses) while trying to escape and find the light, the shock wouldn't have been so intense.

Flora thought for a moment and said, "This is not ordinary solitary confinement... In more professional terms, this is 'sensory deprivation'."

Simply put, when in a completely dark, silent, soft, and tactile environment, sensory input is extremely deprived, causing the brain to become confused and attempt to actively create signals to fill the information gaps.

"This is not just simple psychological torture... Due to the lack of light input, neurons in the visual cortex may spontaneously generate abnormal discharges, which may cause the victim to see some flashing lights. However, this will increase anxiety because the victim knows clearly that such light will not appear."

"When the auditory cortex loses sound stimulation, it will interpret internal physiological noise as external signals... Imagine you can hear the sound of bones rubbing together when you take a step, or feel the sound of blood flowing through your veins when you sleep. Isn't that terrifying?"

"There's also the loss of reference points leading to a breakdown in attention and a distortion of time perception... This is a systemic approach that causes the entire human body to collapse."

Flora watched as Milton descended the pyramid, executed the high priest, and threw his head to the very top of the pyramid. She clicked her tongue twice before continuing her explanation:
"But in reality, the 'tax collectors' were in a hurry this time, and there were many loopholes. If professional agents were brought in, they might be able to find some loopholes... For example, the room wasn't big enough, so they could touch the walls; or the soundproofing wasn't perfect, so they might be able to hear some noises."

"But the high priest clearly does not have that ability."

Brandon remarked, "That's ruthless... It feels like the boss is conducting experiments to deal with even more difficult enemies in the future?"

"It's possible..."

As the two were secretly discussing this, the final reckoning with the original Voodoo cult also came to an end.

Several soldiers stepped forward and piled the remaining heads on the top of the pyramid, completing the final part of the Jingguan (a mound of skulls).

Next, technicians will come in to carry out tasks such as pest control, simple anti-corrosion, venting waste gas, and building the museum.

Before long, the "Jingguan Park," which was once just a simple place for townspeople to rest, relax, and dance in the evenings, will have a museum that details the origins and development of the story.

Milton, having finished washing his hands, came up and asked, "What are you two whispering about?"

Flora clapped her hands: "How do you plan to develop this tourism project?"

“It’s simple. These 2000 people are all corrupt. Just put their deeds in a museum.” Milton shrugged. “Especially the things done by the cult leaders. That newspaper page can be put up, and the relic made from the victims’ remains can be placed in the most prominent position.”

"If you want to build cohesion among your people, it's simple—give them a specific, but not overly ambitious, target of hatred."

Instead of saying how bad someone is, just lay out what they've done and let everyone see for themselves.

"Similarly, hatred alone is not enough... This small mountain piled up with the corpses of the enemy can also give the people a sense of pride."

Milton clapped his hands: "Alright, we can promote this tourism project now—we also welcome foreign friends to visit. This is a constantly evolving tourist attraction, and it's right next to the airport. I think we should be able to sell some tickets."

Flora agreed: "Maybe next time we come, this place will be packed with people!"

“The airport is still too inefficient and too costly,” Milton said. “If the railway could be repaired, I think there would be even more people. So, have you made contact with them yet?”

"We're trying to contact them... We don't even have diplomatic relations, and you're just a local military government, how can you be so easy to contact?" Flora shrugged. "Even if you can produce the design drawings and get the construction team to come and start immediately, they'll definitely have to send someone to inspect it first. It won't be that quick."

"Too……"

While the two were chatting, a soldier suddenly came up and gave Brandon a report.

Now that we control an increasing number of areas, we no longer need to report many non-urgent matters directly to Milton.

But after listening, Brandon still came over and said, "Boss, the DEA agent, Winnie, just arrived at the airport, and judging from the direction she's heading, it seems like she's coming this way."

Flora asked, "Here to see you?"

“Definitely not.” Milton shook his head. “At least it’s not business, otherwise they would have told me beforehand.”

"It doesn't matter, they're still friends. Let's just wait here and see what they're up to."

Milton then simply sat down in the park and watched the townspeople point and discuss something around the museum.

Not long after, a car pulled up. DEA agent Winnie got out, greeted Milton, and then, without looking back, walked around to the park. She glanced at the barriers surrounding the park and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

But Winnie seemed to have thought of something, and turned around and walked towards Milton again.

"Tax collector, are you the boss here?"

“That’s a boring question.” Milton shrugged. “Of course I am.”

"Can I go in and take a look?" Winnie rubbed her hands excitedly. "I heard you created a spectacle. Can I go in and see it now? I'll be busy after today, and I don't know when I'll have time to travel again."

It really is a private matter...

Moreover, it was a private matter related to the tourism project.

But Milton was very professional: "The museum is still under construction, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter. If you want to see it, you have to wait until it opens and then buy a ticket to visit in an orderly manner."

"Do we need to buy tickets for a relationship that's survived a bullet together?"

“This isn’t my private property. It’s the town’s museum. Even if they wanted to invite you, the government would pay for the ticket and give it to you… Do you think I’m an emperor?” Milton stretched. “Besides, you’re the one who got shot. I’ve never been shot.”

"Alright!" Winnie sighed. "Take a day off, then go to work tomorrow. Any hotel recommendations? Something a bit pricey, we have plenty of money."

"Where do you work?" Milton ignored this tacky American flaunting of wealth and asked with some curiosity, "In my territory? Did you find drug dealers?"

That shouldn't be the case. If there were drug dealers on his territory, he should have become part of the Jingguan (a mound of corpses) by now. How could he still be walking?
“It’s not in your territory, but it’s not far either.” Winnie, whose trip had failed, started chatting as well. “A new drug lord has recently emerged in Mexico. His organization is being built very quickly, and he has a lot of weapons, which has aroused our vigilance.”

Drug dealers...

Milton glanced at his points, thought about the government's funding, and asked calmly, "Where is the location?"

"Comitan, a city in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, is in the same state as Tapachula, which you conquered... But Mexico is different from your small place. Chiapas is a large state, and it is divided into north and south by mountains. You have taken control of Tapachula in the south, but the north is still in a terrible mess."

"Government troops, insurgent guerrillas, and now a group of drug dealers have joined the fray, creating a chaotic mess."

"This place is very close to Vevetenango and is connected by the Pan-American Highway."

"If you hadn't pushed the flames of the Guatemalan civil war out of Vevetenango and restored order and traffic to that place, we wouldn't know where to find a safe rear to investigate drug traffickers."

Milton understood now: "So, after your trip, you plan to go to Vevetenango, meet up with your teammates there, and then investigate the drug lords in Comitan?"

Winnie nodded: "That's right, but it's just a preliminary investigation, so we don't need your cooperation yet."

Milton fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

The province of Vevetenango, the home of the rebels, fell under Milton's rule after López's defeat.

The city's capital, Vevetenango, is the closest major city to the Mexican border. Just a short walk away is Comitán, a small border town in Mexico.

Previously, when Milton's influence was not in this region, it was difficult to exert influence in Mexico, but now it's different.

Moreover, Milton also has needs in the Mexican state of Chiapas.

Despite being the poorest state in Mexico, Chiapas boasts vast oil reserves and accounts for 40% of Mexico's total oil production. However, its oil fields are mainly concentrated in the northern region bordering Tabasco, a region that Milton, to the south, previously had no say in.

What's even more remarkable is that, as one of the few exceptions, Chiapas has, for various reasons, no independent foreign companies to date, and not even into the 21st century!

In other words, this is one of the few places with abundant oil reserves that has not yet attracted US troops.

Chiapas is also rich in electricity, which is of utmost importance to industrialization—nearly half of the country’s hydroelectric power comes from here, located in central Chiapas!
“Electricity and oil, and drug dealers…” Milton sighed. “We have to control that area no matter what.”

Not to mention, if Milton could control that area, he would unlock new panel features, start railway construction, and further boost the economy of the entire occupied territory.

“Alright~” Winnie stood up. “I’m going to wander around. I’ll call you if I need anything. Don’t worry, the budget is definitely in place.”

After the DEA agent left, Milton looked at Brandon. "Boss, are we going to teach those drug dealers a lesson?"

Milton chuckled: "Not bad, you've even learned to answer first... That place has all the resources we need, oil and electricity. In any case, we cannot let that region fall into enemy control."

"But, after all, we are a foreign power, and we could easily cause a diplomatic incident if we're not careful..."

Brandon interrupted again: "So, boss, you're planning to contact Omar and Vic and get them to cooperate with us?"

Omar is the police chief who previously worked with Milton in Tapachula; Vic is the new mayor of Tapachula.

They were deeply disappointed by the corruption and incompetence of the state government and deeply concerned about the situation within the state, so they launched a campaign against drug traffickers, which is Mexico's internal problem.

Whether the Tapachula government seeks out PMC or where to purchase or lease weapons is beyond the control of Mexico City, which is also in a state of extreme internal chaos.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) plunged the entire country into an unprecedented recession, turmoil, and civil war.

Even drug lords right under your nose can become warlords and establish their own independent operations, while a city government in a faraway city in Chiapas state launching an armed anti-drug operation wouldn't even make the news.

Milton nodded: "Yes... there's a drug cartel trying to take control of this area, called Elmenjo."

"Is he desperate for money to come to such a poor state?"

“Although Chiapas is poor, it borders Guatemala,” Milton explained. “The road to the south is completely blocked, and he can’t take Tapachula in the short term, but the north is still in chaos. He might want to take complete control of Comitan first, and then try to destabilize Vevetenango.”

"Moreover, Chiapas is just one of the territories they want to seize. Elmenjo's cartel is called Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), and you can tell from the name that their base isn't here."

Brandon was very confident: "A new drug cartel... We've already faced established drug cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel. Can CJNG be any better than them?"

“Strategically we can despise the enemy, but tactically we must take them seriously,” Milton said seriously. “Don’t forget, Lopez used the same idea to view us before.”

In the future, CJNG will be Mexico's strongest and largest drug cartel, bar none!

Its rapid rise is astonishing.

Milton certainly looked down on drug dealers, but when facing them, he would also throw the heaviest punches without the slightest carelessness.

At the mention of Lopez, Brandon immediately became serious, nodded, and said, "You're right... Boss, should we shift our focus there for now?"

The warlords in Guatemala had reached a tacit understanding, and Milton was powerless in the short term, with not many people launching attacks, so the civil war entered a period of stability.

But in Mexico, it's completely different.

First, Vic has been publicly expressing his dissatisfaction with drug cartels, especially with the state government's collusion with the CJNG.

What good is it for a city like Guangtapachula to be clean?

If we stand idly by and watch drug traffickers grow stronger, one day their tentacles will reach out again—Vic predicted that if we don't intervene early, drug cartels will become increasingly powerful, hijacking the national economy, becoming completely parasitic on the entire country, and ultimately making them impossible to eradicate.

Such remarks enraged the drug dealers, some of whom attempted to assassinate Mayor Vic, but with the help of "War Wind Company," these assassinations were essentially thwarted before they even began.

However, this also created a deep-seated animosity between the two sides.

Milton had previously focused all his energy on Guatemala, but now he can finally turn back and "support" his ally.

“The war in Mexico is more about urban warfare and special operations. We don’t need to deploy a costly and exhausting army, nor do we need to provide logistics,” Milton said. “More importantly, PMC is the company doing the work there, so it’s profitable for us to fight.”

I'm short of money right now!

“Okay, shall we contact Vic?” Brandon asked. “I think he’s getting impatient waiting for your call.”

The group arrived at the tax office, not far from Jingguan Park, and went to the familiar office—even though a new director had been appointed, Milton would always have a room there in remembrance.

And now, this room is actually being used.

Soon, the call connected with Vic, and a gruff voice came through the receiver.

“‘Hellish Tax Collector,’ ‘Khorne,’ and our ‘Merciful Father’! Hahahaha! My friend, it’s been so long since I’ve heard your voice!”

Milton: "..."

"Alright, alright, I heard things are getting chaotic over there again?"

“Heh…” Vic was clearly in good spirits. “You have no idea how infuriating the state government in Tustra-Gutierrez is. I gave them a piece of my mind at a press conference yesterday.”

Tustra is the capital of Chiapas state, but as the mayor of Tapachula, the economic center, Vic is not the only state government in the capital.

“I thought you’d focus on developing the business and making some money first,” Milton said. “Why the sudden surge of activity? Has the economy improved recently?”

Speaking of this, Vic's tone became even more grateful: "The national economy is not good, but our municipal government has made a lot of money. We have to thank you for that!"

“Do you remember when you said the Mexican peso would plummet and that we should reduce our holdings and try to convert them into foreign exchange, gold and commodities? I was thinking, since that’s the case, why not go a step further and make some investments?”

"I borrowed pesos when interest rates were low and quickly exchanged them for dollars... Now the peso has practically become worthless, so I exchanged the dollars back for pesos and made a huge profit!"

"For example, I previously exchanged borrowed Mexican pesos for US dollars, earning 10. After the peso depreciated for a while, I only needed 2 US dollars to exchange for enough pesos to repay the debt, and the remaining 8 US dollars was pure profit."

"This money is more than enough to cover the costs of leasing your equipment and hiring your personnel."

I know, this is short selling...

Milton mentally scoffed, deciding at the same time that he would absolutely not give Vic a discount on this deal: "Oh, congratulations on your fortune."

"By the way, you knew it would fall, but you didn't invest?"

“We were too busy back then, and the war was very tense. Every penny of liquidity had to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances, so there was simply no energy or space to make investments,” Milton explained. “Now that things have calmed down, the Treasury will take care of it.”

It's November now, and the peso has been falling for a long time, but there's still some time before the biggest crash, and there's still plenty of room for profit.

Using information from my past life to earn some military funds...

Of course, Milton is not an individual investor, but a regional government whose territory will continue to expand in the future. The amount of funds it can control is enormous, and its various actions will inevitably affect the market trend to some extent. Therefore, even if you have some information about the future, investing is by no means without risk.

Therefore, simply provide the information and entrust the money to professional and loyal financial officials.

“Okay, it’s settled then.” Vic smiled. “I’ve already prepared the contract, and I’m just waiting for you to come over so we can catch up and you can tell us your story… Even though we’re separated by a border, we’ve heard about what you’ve done; it’s truly amazing.”

“We can catch up later.” Milton didn’t want to awkwardly dig a hole in the floor. “My people will be here soon. When they arrive, you can tell me about the situation over there and how we should intervene.”

Vic replied, "No problem, I'll wait for you—let that Elmenjoy see what true terror is!"

"..."

After hanging up the phone, Milton contacted Juan, a former rebel, to tell them about the future plans for Vevetenango, then left the tax office and boarded a plane to Vevetenango Airport.

The next plan is clear—to use this battle to revitalize the depleted treasury.

Oil, electricity, land, railways... and the dollars in the hands of drug dealers.

Milton is determined to achieve his goal in one fell swoop!
As the plane flew by, Flora looked out the window at the scenery and said, "Weevetenango and this place are only connected by two highways, and there are no stable commercial flights at the airport. The railway is really necessary."

Milton said, "If we can control Comitan and the oil and gas fields here in the future, the railway will be even more necessary. We can't rely on cars for transportation."

Upon arriving at Vevetenango Airport, Milton disembarked from the plane and discovered that the person greeting him was neither Juan nor Lac, but an adjutant.

After handing over military power, Juan became the head of the local police system, while Lac and other reliable officials formed a new administrative team.

Milton stepped off the plane and casually asked, "Where's Juan?"

The adjutant looked troubled: "Sir... because the war ended and the economic environment improved, a few days ago a businessman from our area went to Mexico to do some business, but for some reason, his whole family was beheaded by drug traffickers."

"When the photos were circulated here, the citizens were outraged..."

"Commander Juan quickly led his men to investigate the matter, but there was great resistance... Once we crossed the border, we lost our law enforcement authority, and the investigation came to a standstill."

"And things have become increasingly unstable over there lately; occasionally, bullets even fall into our area."

(End of this chapter)