Chapter 387: Chapter 387
Chapter 387
2-in-1-Chapter
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Don’t talk to me about so-called counterattacks—throughout history, monarchs who truly managed to turn their fates around have been exceedingly rare. Most ended up like King Louis XVI during the French Revolution.
And even Louis had loyalists within his court, and outside it, there were royalist factions who tried to restore the monarchy.
But what about Diego? What did he have? He had nothing. With what leverage could he possibly fight against the ruling elite?
There was no way he could win.
That was why Leo insisted it would be better to send him to Europe than to leave him in Bolivia.
If he stayed, whether he chose to align himself with the elites or not, there would be no good outcome.
If he sided with them, he would likely end up like his father—or worse.
If he didn’t, then sooner or later, he would be assassinated.
Yes—assassinated. Not "suicided."
This was Latin America. People here didn’t bother with the American-style "he killed himself" charade. If someone had to die, they would be murdered outright, through a direct and well-executed hit.
If Diego had been a woman, he might have suffered fates worse than death before being killed—his body left in the streets afterward, as a warning.
So if there was no path that led to a decent end, what reason was there for him to stay?
"If I leave... what will happen to this country?"
"I’ll take your father’s place," Leo said, "and do what he couldn’t. I’ll make sure ordinary people in this country can live the way human beings should."
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After sending Diego away, Takemura Gorō walked in.
"Boss, did he agree?"
Leo nodded.
Diego’s agreement had been expected.
"Truthfully, he didn’t have a choice, did he?"
Takemura said nothing more.
But in his mind, he knew what the alternative would’ve been. If Diego hadn’t agreed, he would’ve suffered an unfortunate accident.
Takemura had a hundred ways to make him die silently—each one able to pass for natural causes, without ever linking back to Leo.
But since Diego had agreed, there was no need for any of that.
"How long until Saul and the others arrive? Have you contacted them?"
"I have. They’ll arrive in the capital around five o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Saul, Mitch, Panam—all of them are coming. They’re bringing fifteen thousand people."
Aurora PMC currently had a force of thirty thousand, but eastern Bolivia was already its established territory. They couldn’t afford to transfer all their forces west.
Sending half was already pushing it.
"Once they’re here, we’ll discuss the plan to strike the insurgents. I already have a general framework in mind, but I want to refine it together with the rest of you."
The insurgents were entrenched in northern and western Bolivia. Aurora PMC could crush them in open battle with fifteen thousand troops, but sweeping the area afterward would be difficult.
Bolivia had plenty of mountainous terrain. Once defeated in direct combat, the remnants would likely scatter into the hills.
To deal with that, Aurora PMC would need the support of local farmers. The people had to become their eyes and ears—ready to report any insurgent presence as soon as someone saw them.
"Boss, there’s one more thing. Someone claiming to represent the Shining Group showed up at the presidential palace. He asked to speak with you."
Leo’s brow furrowed slightly.
The Shining Group held considerable sway in Bolivia. They controlled the south and had turned it into a coca plantation.
In terms of threat level, the Shining Group was even more dangerous than the insurgents.
Not just because of their wealth, but because of their manpower.
Their fighters weren’t desperate conscripts like the rebels. They were mercenaries—professionals who had seen real combat.
Most were veterans of the unification war launched by New America in 2069–2070.
When that war ended, a wave of mentally damaged ex-soldiers were discharged without support.
New America had thrown them out of the military like broken tools, abandoning them outright.
With no skills other than killing, and nothing to show for their service but trauma, they couldn’t reintegrate into society.
So when the Shining Group in Bolivia started hiring, many of those discarded veterans came running—crossing borders to do the Group’s dirty work.
They knew exactly what kind of business the Shining Group ran. They didn’t care.
They had given up on honor. Now, all they cared about was money.
Originally, Leo’s plan was to ignore them. Once the insurgents were dealt with, he would turn Aurora PMC’s full force on the Shining Group.
But now, they had made the first move.
What did they want?
Takemura saw Leo fall silent. "Want me to send him away?"
"No. Let him in. I want to hear what he has to say."
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The man Takemura referred to was the quintessential Latin American type—brown skin, black hair, sharply dressed in a clean, well-fitted suit.
Yet despite the appearance, there was something about his posture, his confidence—it didn’t match the look of a drug lord. He carried himself more like a member of the American elite.
He approached with an open hand.
"Good afternoon. You must be Mr. Leo, CEO of Aurora PMC. You can call me Gustavo."
Leo gave a curt nod, his expression indifferent, and did not shake the offered hand.
"Mr. Gustavo, I heard from my men that you identified yourself as part of the Shining Group. I’m curious—what business do you have with me?"
"Mr. Leo, won’t you invite me to sit, so we can talk properly?"
Leo glanced at him.
"Fine. Let’s sit. Takemura, two coffees."
Gustavo immediately added, "Mine without sugar, please. I prefer it bitter."
"Who said I brought you coffee? Both cups are mine. I stayed up late last night—I need the caffeine to stay alert."
Gustavo’s expression stiffened momentarily, but as the so-called "diplomat" of the Shining Group, he had the thick skin for such situations and quickly composed himself.
"If you’re looking for something stronger than coffee, I have a few stimulants on hand—drugs that work better."
Leo didn’t bother to hide the disgust on his face.
"If what you’re offering is Shining, then you’re not walking out of this room alive."
Gustavo froze mid-motion, his hand hovering just above his bag. After several seconds of awkward silence, he withdrew it slowly.
"It seems you have quite a strong bias against me, Mr. Leo."
"Don’t talk in circles. Just get to the point. It’ll make things easier for both of us."
"Since you insist, I’ll be direct. Mr. Leo, you’re not just after the eastern region of this country—you want the whole thing, don’t you?"
Leo gave no clear response.
That someone could see through his intentions didn’t particularly matter to him. If he had no such ambition, then when the insurgents were storming the capital, he would have chosen to flee rather than stay and defend it.
Driving back the rebels may have saved the city, but it also served to win hearts and minds. Leo didn’t deny that his motives included ruling the country. Good deeds should be rewarded—without reward, who would bother doing them?
Seeing Leo remain silent, Gustavo continued.
"I admit Aurora PMC is a powerful force, but defeating the insurgents completely will not be easy."
"That’s not your concern. If that’s the only reason you came, then you can leave now."
Gustavo didn’t move from his seat.
"Mr. Leo, it’s not just you. My employer also dislikes the insurgents—despises them, even."
Leo smirked faintly. "Why? They don’t let you sell Shining? Or are they trying to cut in on the business themselves?"
"Both," Gustavo answered honestly.
"Then what makes you think I wouldn’t make the same decision as the rebel leadership?"
The former President—Diego’s father, President Anton—Leo figured he had dealings with the Shining Group.
Otherwise, Gustavo, as the group’s so-called diplomat, wouldn’t have appeared before him so quickly after the capital stabilized. Even if he’d flown in from the Shining-controlled south, he couldn’t have arrived this fast.
Most likely, Gustavo had been living in the capital all along.
And as for what benefits President Anton received from cooperating with the Shining Group—that hardly needed explaining. Just look at the lavish presidential palace, and the wealth Anton left behind for Diego.
Unaware of Leo’s thoughts, Gustavo went on.
"Because our cooperation would be far more profitable than mutual destruction."
"In fact, everything Aurora PMC has done in eastern Bolivia—Shining has been watching. Many within the group believe it’s all just theater, an elaborate show to win public support. They say that if you ever became President, you’d drop the act and reveal your true nature."
"They think you’d turn out even more ruthless and cold-blooded than President Anton."
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