I was a general in South America

A villa near Manizales.

"Fiona, hurry... I'm here to get the money from home. Pack your things, we have to leave soon."

Ronan Einar rushed anxiously into the bedroom, opened the wardrobe, and while crouching down to enter the safe's combination, instructed his wife, who was still putting on makeup.

"What happened?" His wife clearly sensed that something was wrong with Ronan. She quickly put down the cosmetics she was holding and asked with some concern, "Are we leaving now? Lucy and the others have their piano lessons this afternoon."

Seeing that her husband didn't reply, but instead buried his head in throwing the gold bars, luxury watches, jewelry, and cash from the safe into his travel bag.

She completely panicked...

Since getting married, I've never seen my husband Ronan look like this.

Perhaps it was a telepathic connection, but Ronan seemed to sense his wife's emotions. He turned around and hugged the flustered Fiona tightly, stroking her chestnut hair and gently comforting her.

"Honey, don't worry... We're just leaving Manizales temporarily. Haven't you always wanted to travel? Europe? America? Or Panama?... This is a good opportunity to take Lucy along, and our family can have a good time together."

"We can find the best piano teachers in America, so we don't have to worry about the children's studies. We have more US dollars in our account than we can spend. I just want to have a good honeymoon with you."

"Alex is still in Manizales. You're overthinking it."

Although she knew things were unusual, Fiona, a housewife, still felt a little uneasy. She gently pressed her face against Ronan's chest and said, "I don't know what happened, but I hope you can think more about the family and the children. I will always be with you."

"I love you, hurry up and get ready... the bus is coming soon."

Ronan released Fiona, and seeing the lingering worry in his wife's eyes, he hated Lucas to the core!

Since the North Valley Group established its presence in Manizales, he has never been in such a sorry state.

Although unwilling, she had no choice but to obey Alex's orders, while also worrying about her brother's current situation.

After dealing with the prostitute, Ronan rushed home and discovered that numerous police officers had set up checkpoints along the way...

Fortunately, he had sources and knew that leaving as soon as possible would be the greatest help to Alex.

Soon, the luggage was packed, and the two children were carried by the maid.

While waiting, Ronan kept squeezing his wife's hand, trying to soothe her nervousness.

Suddenly, Ronan's phone rang in his pocket. When he took it out and saw the number on the screen, he breathed a long sigh of relief.

Alex Ennar's phone call...!

It seems the matter has been resolved, and perhaps none of them will need to leave Manizales.

Colombians have an extraordinary attachment to their homeland. While many Americans live, work, and settle in many of the fifty states of the United States, Colombians rarely choose to leave their homeland unless there are special circumstances.

Even drug lord Pablo Escobar, who was already incredibly wealthy, was still looking for a way back to Colombia.

On one hand, it was for business, and on the other hand, family members wanted to return to their hometown.

"Alex, is everything settled?"

Ronan answered the phone and anxiously began asking questions...

Alex looked up at Lucas standing beside him and said calmly, "I just came from the police station. They don't know it was you. The matter has been dealt with. Where are you now?"

Alex closed his eyes as he asked that last question.

His other trembling hand indicated that he was not calm at the moment.

The image of his mother holding his hand before leaving, telling him to take good care of five-year-old Ronan Einar, kept flashing through his mind.

Between life and death, career and brotherhood, he still broke the vow he made to his mother.

Mom, it's my fault for not teaching Ronan well...

Ronan, don't blame me... For the sake of the Einar family, I have no choice but to sacrifice you.

Upon hearing Alex's words, the person on the other end of the phone immediately responded, their tone noticeably rising.

"I'm with Fiona, big brother... so now we don't need to leave Manizales anymore?... I promise you, I'll never mess with that bastard Lucas again. You know Fiona doesn't want to leave home."

That "big brother" pierced Alex's heart even more, and at that moment he almost couldn't help but shout for Ronan to leave quickly.

demon...!

"If one member of Ronan's family escapes, your family will pay with their lives!"

These words, like a curse, lingered in Alex's ears, forcing him to swallow them back down.

He suspected that Lucas had done it on purpose, creating this situation to see the brothers turn against each other and to make Ronan die in the most painful and unacceptable way.

He was even somewhat annoyed, thinking, "There are so many drug cartels and drug dealers in Colombia, why is Lucas targeting the Kitakura Group so specifically?"

But the next second, he discarded this cowardly idea.

A bet is a bet; if you lose, you lose!

A resolute glint flashed in Alex's eyes as he softly spoke into the phone, "You don't need to leave, you never need to leave again... Manizales is our home, everything's settled... Don't make a move for now, things are tense outside, we'll talk about it after everything settles down."

"I'll do as you say, Alex. Are you coming over tonight? I'll have Fiona make a barbecue; we're going to have a good celebration."

"No problem, I'll arrange things and come right back."

He did not reject Ronan's words. Although the answer was not approved by Lucas, Alex still wanted to make Ronan feel better in the last moments.

*Slap...slap...slap*

The call ended, and Lucas burst into applause: "Should I say it's brotherly love, or should I praise you as an excellent drug lord?"

The tone was clearly sarcastic...

Alex looked up and met Lucas's gaze, saying simply, "I hope you can spare my family."

Lucas did not answer, but gave his subordinates a look that suggested he was on good terms, and then turned and walked out of the tent.

Seeing his attitude, Alex finally snapped, yelling at the departing figure without any regard for his image: "Lucas, you promised me...! You bastard...!"

"You're lying to me! There are so many drug traffickers in Colombia, how can you kill them all? I can help you. I can take you to Medellín's drug trafficking routes, Cali's drug pick-up point in Manizales, and other drug manufacturing plants of other groups. As long as you want to know, I can take you there."

"Keep me here, I can atone for my past sins, I am more valuable than all of them...!"

Seeing Lucas stop, Alex's face lit up with elation, and he quickly added, "I can bring you three hundred kilograms of cocaine every month, no... five hundred kilograms...! As long as you let me go."

Click...

As Alex waited expectantly, Lucas still didn't turn around, only saying from afar, "I really thought you were a man...!"

...................

"The downfall of the North Valley Cartel marked the official entry of General Lucas Bolívar Franco, the greatest leader of Gran Colombia, onto the historical stage. It was also a landmark victory in the early stages of the Second Drug War, and the event played a driving role in the then democratically elected government's decision to completely eradicate the Medellín Cartel."

—Excerpt from the junior high school history textbook, "The Beginning of the Drug War in 1986"