"Bring me that young woman!" Dante focused on the remaining people, who were terrified by his behavior. He then turned to William, who stood by his side. William nodded upon hearing the order.
Following the command, William turned around and walked toward a dark corner nearby. He pulled a young woman out of the shadows and roughly threw her to the ground.
"Ah!"
Thrown so violently, the young woman clearly felt pain. However, as if her mouth had been covered, she could only let out a faint groan of distress.
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances before turning to look at the young woman lying on the ground. Her hands were tied behind her back, her mouth was gagged with cloth, and her face was covered in scrapes. Already wounded and frightened, the young woman had become exactly what Dante wanted: a tool for his purposes.
Dante let the sorrow on his face fade and replaced it with a kind smile. He looked at the people before him and said, "This young woman has told me many things. But, as a good leader, I cannot rely on the word of just one person. Now that things have come to this, I trust none of you will fail me in these delicate times."
As Dante spoke, he leaned slightly toward the next person and repeated the same question he had asked before:
"Where is the cocaine the Jiménez cartel moves into the United States? And what role do the Twelve Monkeys play in all this?"
"I… I don't know…"
Bang!
Dante shook his head and shot the man, deeming him useless. His death served as an example, and the remaining people trembled under Dante's gaze, the fear in their eyes unmistakable.
The next person also failed to answer satisfactorily, and Dante killed him without hesitation.
By the time he reached the sixth individual, Dante finally obtained what he wanted. As it turned out, these high-ranking members held enough knowledge to make his search for the Jiménez cartel's drug routes much easier.
The Jiménez cartel, infamous for its brutality and absolute control over border routes, led a strategic alliance known as "The Alliance of Fangs." This organization consisted of four major cartels, previously unknown to Dante.
The Jiménez cartel, the most powerful among them, specialized in money laundering and the expansion of synthetic drug markets into the eastern United States. They were the "financial brains" of the operation and sought to expand their influence, threatening Felipe Lobos's territory.
The Juárez cartel, on the other hand, controlled the land routes in Chihuahua, ensuring the supply of chemicals needed for methamphetamine production.
The Salazar cartel, whom Dante had recently attacked, served as paramilitary forces and hitmen for the Jiménez cartel. They protected the routes and eliminated any competitors threatening the operation.
The Paredes cartel specialized in clandestine infrastructure, constructing tunnels, airstrips, and underground hideouts.
Alejandro Gillick had mentioned something about this alliance, though even he hadn't known its full extent.
The alliance had developed a nearly impenetrable system for smuggling drugs into the United States, known as "The Devil's Mouth," a massive underground tunnel connecting Sonora to a strategic point in Arizona. This wasn't just any tunnel—it was a feat of advanced engineering designed specifically for the alliance's operations.
With this system, the Jiménez cartel had established itself as the undisputed leader in international drug trafficking, surpassing even Felipe Lobos. The allied cartels, though subordinate, benefited from a secure and efficient network.
However, tensions within the alliance had begun to surface. According to the man Dante interrogated, some leaders, like Fausto Alarcón of the Sonora cartel, sought to maintain centralized control, while others, like the Jiménez cartel, desired greater power within the alliance.
Dante realized the Jiménez cartel's recent conflict with the Sons of Anarchy would only complicate matters. He knew he needed to halt any further attacks for now.
"Do you know who we should focus on?"
"Fausto Alarcón is the leader of the Sonora cartel, a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking and responsible for violent acts in both Mexico and the United States," William replied. As usual, he organized the information gathered by Crocodile.
Dante nodded slightly, pondering the best way to strike. He decided not to act before his meeting with Felipe Lobos but knew he had to move quickly before their forces mobilized.
"Alejandro wants revenge on Alarcón because he was responsible for the death of his wife and daughter," William added.
"That's of little concern to me. This is a mutually beneficial relationship, so he'll help us as long as we deal with that fool, whether we care about him or not."
"Now the question is: where in Sonora is the tunnel, and where exactly do they send everything?" William asked, knowing it would take time to pinpoint the exact location.
"I don't know…"
Dante frowned, clearly dissatisfied. His gaze shifted to the remaining individuals.
"Where is it?"
"I know!"
Feeling Dante's piercing stare, a scrawny young man wiped the sweat from his forehead. Knowing he'd face a grim fate if he stayed silent, he spoke before anyone else could.
"Fausto is a reasonable man. He doesn't like to get his hands dirty and is extremely cautious. If you talk to him, you wouldn't have to start a war that would cost both sides lives."
"That sounds good, but that wasn't the damn question I asked…"
Bang!
With another shot, another person fell lifeless to the ground, eliciting screams of fear and anguish.
"Where exactly is the tunnel?"
Dante's expression remained unchanged. Given the other party's strength, he knew he had to approach strategically and assess the situation.
"It's in a factory. The place is heavily guarded, but I can tell you where it is."
"Well!"
Surprised but satisfied, Dante pressed further. "How do you know this?"
"I'm in charge of overseeing the mules and firearms."
"Good!"
"Not bad at all! Thank you for your cooperation!"
Pleased with the information he had gathered, Dante's lips curled into a smile as he clapped his hands.
Then, with that same smile, he raised his weapon and shot everyone else kneeling on the ground, sparing neither men nor women. He even shot Rodrigo, who hadn't uttered a single word.
The entire sequence of events happened so quickly that before anyone could react, ten bodies lay lifeless on the ground.
Dante didn't insist on killing the majority, but he found it unproductive to keep such liabilities alive. Only the essential individuals were spared. He didn't want distractions or unstable elements in his operation.
"Well, let's get out of here."