CHAPTER 425: CHAPTER 263: PRISON BREAK_1

Just as Dean was utterly bored and waiting for news from Barton, a grim-looking man arrived at the prison warden’s office. "Rem," the man said, "I had thought that after the holiday, I would receive an email notification of a prisoner’s death, but the result has disappointed me."

If Dean were here, he would recognize this man. He was the captain of the anti-drug squad, the very one who had led the team that arrested Dean and thrown him into prison.

Surrounded by smoke, a greasy fat man shook the cigar in his hand and chuckled as he looked at the man who had barged into his office. "Galod, surely such a minor character isn’t worth you coming here personally, is he?"

"But this minor character is still very much alive," Galod retorted.

Galod unceremoniously sat down, propped his feet on the fat man’s table, and lit a cigarette. After taking a deep drag, he said with frustration, "Rem, you know the new mayor—lecherous and perverted. And since we’ve previously crossed the Hada Group, we must show some results and pay a price to silence that Hada Group dog of his."

These words seemed to sting the fat warden, who held immense power in the prison.

Rem nodded in agreement. "I also didn’t expect the Hada Group to eventually take over our city. Now the city government is staffed with their people, and I’ve already received notifications requesting the release of some drug lords. Our days ahead probably won’t be easy."

Then, he shifted the topic. "Galod, as far as I know, you previously assisted Benmingda in cracking down hard on the Hada Group’s drug trafficking channels in this region. After their people took power, why would they be willing to let you off so easily?"

In this chaotic country dominated by drug cartels and gangs, the prison system and the anti-drug system were often in cahoots, blurring the line between right and wrong. Therefore, with their intertwined interests and close private relationship—they were friends outside of work—Rem’s inquiry was not abrupt.

Upon hearing this, Galod smirked with pride. "As long as there are sufficient benefits, there are no eternal enemies. We did indeed cause trouble for the Hada Group before, but now we’ve obtained the new mayor’s forgiveness. He’s the godson of the Hada Group’s boss. As long as he’s willing to protect us, our previous conflicts are just misunderstandings."

"So, what’s the price?"

"Women!"

Galod lowered his head, his face hidden in the shadows, and said indifferently, "Enough of them. Safe enough to torment, vent on, and ’discipline.’ Women of all ages and statuses!"

SNAP.

The cigar in fat Rem’s hand slipped from his grasp, rolled off the table, and scattered sparks as it hit the floor.

He licked his thick lips. "So, that recent string of disappearances involving female residents and tourists... that was all your doing?"

Galod exhaled a puff of smoke and shook his head. "No, Rem. It’s everyone—the police department, the anti-drug division, even your superiors. This is the gift we’re offering to the new rulers of this city."

Those family members and tourists reporting the missing persons—how could they ever imagine that their loved ones, their friends, were actually taken by these seemingly upright officials, packaged up, and sent to a hell on Earth?

Truly a hell of a joke.

After a long silence, the fat warden Rem said gratefully, "Thank you for the warning, Galod!"

Hearing this, Galod chuckled softly.

This, in fact, was Galod’s real reason for coming. In the face of these new changes, he needed reliable allies to ensure his own interests weren’t compromised.

As for Dean, that minor character? Just someone mentioned in passing. Galod hadn’t even considered he might ever see that panicked face again, the one shouting about being framed. Dean was far more suited to appearing on an accidental death list from the prison.

「After sending Galod off」

Warden Rem picked up the phone and called the captain of the prison guards.

"Warden!" the captain of the prison guards greeted respectfully.

Rem casually tossed a file in front of him. "Deal with this quickly."

The guard captain looked down. On top was a photograph of a man named Dean.

He had some recollection of this inmate. One of his subordinates, a guard named Barton, had mentioned this guy, saying he could be squeezed for some money, and Barton had recently been pondering how to milk him dry.

A pity. But now that the warden had spoken, he couldn’t let Barton waste any more time on that Dean, no matter how much money was involved.

Thinking this, the captain of the prison guards nodded, took the file, and left the office.

「Elsewhere」

Barton rode a motorcycle through crowded, dirty alleys. Even with five or six cousins following him, his eyes darted around nervously, terrified that some reckless fool might suddenly rush out and shatter the fortune he carried.

After confirming the potent effects of the ’Burning Blood’ potion, Barton knew his chance to change his destiny had arrived! But, as Dean had said, "In the face of a mountain of gold, if your strength isn’t enough, rashly revealing it is just courting death." He was just an inconspicuous prison guard; he definitely couldn’t handle this gold mine alone.

But after years of navigating the prison environment, Barton had a clear understanding of all walks of life in this city. Now, he was taking the potion to find someone who could handle this gold mine, someone whose reputation was at least passable.

In Mexico, this nation ruled by drug cartels, the most powerful entities weren’t the government officials or the vicious gangs. The true power lay with the drug cartel organizations!