"Alright, alright, we're all close business partners, there's no need to be too formal. Treat this place like home, no need to be so reserved."
Joaquin saw that everyone had arrived and then clapped his hands.
Soon, a beautiful woman brought over delicious food and drinks to the table.
"We're all family here, no need to be shy, eat while we talk."
After saying this, he took the initiative to pick up the knife from the plate of barbecued meat, and cut a piece of Mexican barbecue for each guest.
"Today, I've invited everyone to discuss a major issue."
"What big issue?" Lucas sensed something unusual in Joaquin's tone, his hand holding the piece of meat dropped again, placing the beef back on the plate.
"Recently, our shipments have been facing frequent issues, as you all must have heard, not just me, but all of our businesses have suffered losses." Joaquin's gaze gradually turned cold: "DEA agents seem to have gotten help from God, intercepting our goods precisely every time they cross the border. Have you guys ever thought that there might be a problem within our ranks?"
Lucas looked at Joaquin but didn't speak, slicing another piece of meat to eat, mockingly said: "Shorty, maybe the mole is in your own team."
Joaquin didn't respond and continued: "Five days ago, two tons of my goods were intercepted by the Americans just after crossing the border, three days ago, the Valle brothers' one ton of goods had just entered Arizona when it was caught by the border police, two days ago, the Marine Corps dispatched three battalions, raided three warehouses at the border, including mine and also Leva brothers', and the Sita Group's, in this recent period, our combined losses surpassed seventy percent of our shipments..."
"Did you summon us from miles away just to tell us your delivery will be delayed?" Lucas's tone suddenly filled with disdain: "If it's just to report losses, you could've just called me, why bother making a big deal and having us come over?"
"No, Joaquin isn't brainless," Joaquin said while cutting another piece of beef for himself, forked it and swallowed before sweeping his gaze over everyone present, finally resting on Lucas.
"Have any of you noticed that the Gulf Group has suffered the least?"
At this remark, everyone's gaze turned to Lucas.
Lucas paused for a second, his face slightly changing color, then threw down the carving knife and said: "Shorty, what are you implying? Are you blaming me because I lost the least of goods?"
Joaquin, with a cold smile, said: "Lucas, isn't that so?"
Lucas suddenly stood up: "Shorty, I knew you didn't invite us here for anything good, good thing my boss is wise not to come personally. If you want to settle the disputes over territories from this past year, just say it. What's with this bullshit about losses—are you trying to pin something on us?! If it's a fight you want, then fight, don't play these dirty tricks, we aren't afraid of you, we're up for it!"
Joaquin, with a calm expression, said: "These past two years you've grown rapidly, and among all the groups, you've expanded the quickest. But don't forget, when you talk tough in front of me, consider whether you're really up to it."
Lucas's face turned iron blue, his facial muscles twitching slightly: "Shorty, don't think that just because you're an old-hand, I'm scared of you. Times have changed, you can kill me today if you dare bear the consequences!"
Seeing how the situation was turning bad, junior Valle tried to mediate: "Shorty, Lucas, we are here to discuss future business, not declare war. Can we talk nicely?"
Finally, turning to ask Joaquin: "Shorty, we've all lost quite a bit of money recently, but what you just said was indeed too much. Just because the Gulf Group has lesser losses doesn't mean they're colluding with the Americans. If it were me, I'd be outraged too."
"Go, bring the person out!"
Joaquin ignored junior Valle, straightened up, his upper body slightly leaning back, and with a twist of his head, he gave a signal to his subordinate standing by.
Everyone was stunned, not sure what Joaquin was implying, so they all watched quietly to see how things would unfold.
Only Lucas still stood in place, unsure whether to sit back down or continue standing.
Song Heping watched the scene before him unfold with wide eyes.
These were representatives of the five biggest drug trafficking groups in Mexico, truly a gathering of drug lords.
He came here today to collect debts, getting involved in their disputes was not his intention.
Balrot is indeed his target.
But now that they have actually started fighting, it's good.
It's beneficial to him.
However, he has more important things to do right now.
This matter is very crucial and concerned with the success or failure of today's operation.
In fact, a special signal transmitter is hidden on Song Heping's person, concealed in the top button of his shirt.
This device, once activated, can emit a faint tracking signal.
Normally, such signals are difficult to track, but for this operation, the CIA directly collaborated with the Mexican military, deploying an unmanned electronic reconnaissance aircraft in the nearby airspace.
The pod of this reconnaissance aircraft can capture signals from micro transmitters and thus perform location tracking. Today, to capture Balrot, the CIA's "Watcher" team and two battalions of the Mexican Marine Corps are already on standby near Mexico City, ready to raid the target as soon as they receive the location information.
However, Joaquin is very cautious; all persons coming here are picked up and driven by his men, and after undergoing strict body searches, including scans for electronic devices to ensure there are no signal sources, can they then meet here.
For safety, the transmitter hidden inside the button by Song Heping is not powered on at the moment. He must find a spot to turn the power on, and it's obviously not feasible here.
He can only take advantage of using the restroom or a unmonitored corner to do it.
Just as he was contemplating how to activate the tracker, a few of Joaquin's men came around from the back of the house carrying a guy who was tightly bound, until they were in front of everyone.
Among those present, only Lucas's face drastically changed upon seeing the newcomer.
Joaquin looked at Lucas with a smile, "Lucas, you wouldn't say you don't recognize this man, right?"
Lucas squeezed out words through clenched teeth, his face cold, "I don't recognize him, Shorty, what do you mean by this?!"
Song Heping noticed the man's face was swollen like a pig's head, clearly having undergone severe torture.
Looking at Lucas again, he was certain that Lucas recognized the man.
Could it be Lucas's undercover agent?
Linking it to everything Joaquin had mentioned earlier.
It really was a possibility...
Before Lucas could finish, the man forced to kneel on the ground, the "pig head", suddenly raised his head, staring desperately and resentfully at Lucas right in front of him.
Joaquin said to the "pig head", "Gonzalez, look at your master. He's now saying he doesn't recognize you, hahaha!"
He laughed uproariously, his laughter filled with mockery towards Lucas.
Lucas's face amidst the laughter turned even graver, completely drained of color.
Finally, Joaquin said, "Gonzalez, this is your only chance to speak. If you confess honestly, I will grant you a quick death and promise not to harm your family; I'll even provide them with some money for funeral expenses."
After a pause, he turned his gaze to Lucas and continued, "Of course, if you plan to be a hero and take all the blame, then your wife and child—and your eighty-year-old mother—will all—"
He drew his hand across his throat.
The meaning was clear.