Fatal Strike: Mercenary Road of Gunfire Ranger-Chapter 1008 - 942: New Laredo

Mountain Eagle drove a standard luxury car, Cadillac Escalade, into New Laredo City...

Americans have no barriers entering Mexico, and when Mountain Eagle was driving through customs, the customs officer checking his passport gave a suggestive smile and didn't forget to wish him 'have a little fun!' as he left.

After crossing the border into New Laredo, the number of people started to increase.

Actually, both sides of Laredo are predominantly Spanish-speaking, just one side is American and the other side is Mexican. Their language and lifestyle habits are the same, so you can hardly feel a big difference between the two sides.

The only difference might be that the prosperous areas of Laredo are inland, while the areas near the border are very desolate.

Because any American who has a little means would not be willing to live and work in this dangerous border area, especially those with children; unless they have no choice, at the very least they would prefer to work and live in the center of Laredo or the northern area.

Therefore, the infrastructure in this border area of Laredo has not been updated in decades, and you cannot see the bustling commerce that should exist at the largest land transport hub at the US-Mexico Border. However, the warehousing business is very developed here.

In contrast, the Mexican side of New Laredo is much more prosperous. People here would love to push the city's development into the river and completely connect with the United States.

Mountain Eagle, unfamiliar with this place, just drove around for a while...

What surprised Mountain Eagle was that there were actually many 'tourists' here. The streets were filled with dental clinics and various small hospitals of questionable legitimacy. Buses coming from the US would bring a busload of 'tourists' here to enjoy Mexico's cheap medical care.

Mountain Eagle even noticed some gang members standing guard at intersections. Although they weren't carrying guns, they would collect fees from the drivers when the buses stopped, while the police nearby ignored this entirely.

While waiting at the intersection for the traffic lights, Mountain Eagle openly rolled down the window, curiously watching where these 'tourists' were headed. Soon, a skinny man wearing a floral shirt, tight jeans, and cowboy boots approached...

This guy, under Mountain Eagle's gaze, first looked inside the Escalade through the window. After discovering Mountain Eagle was alone, he lewdly smiled and handed over a business card, saying: "Sir, if you're here for fun, then you've come to the wrong place.

I know a few lively spots, where the girls are the best in New Laredo."

Mountain Eagle glanced at the business card with explicit graphics, then sized up this apparent junkie pimp. He slightly shook his head and said: "I've already booked a hotel, and I've arranged to meet a friend."

Speaking, Mountain Eagle held the card between his fingers and laughed: "Of course, if I'm not satisfied with my friend's arrangements, I'll give you a call.

Maybe you can offer me a different surprise!"

Mountain Eagle implied in his words that he had friends in New Laredo. Coupled with his attire and luxury car, as well as his calm demeanor and self-confidence, this naturally gave him an extra layer of protection in New Laredo.

Don't think gang members are all senseless thugs. Even small-time thugs know not to mess with those who seem to have connections and are very wealthy, because targeting such people will likely lead to unpredictable consequences.

Moreover, the most important industries for gangs in Mexico's border towns are prostitution and drugs. Rich people like Mountain Eagle are their ideal clients, as long as they don't actively seek trouble.

The skinny pimp grinned, stepped back slightly, bowed with a smile, and said: "OK, I look forward to your call...

Sir, I not only have many girls here but also the best marijuana and cocaine. If you need it, as long as you're in New Laredo, I can deliver it to you."

Mountain Eagle listened, smiled, nodded, and slowly drove away...

The skinny pimp's words indicated he had large gang connections, and he was likely part of a branch under Los Zetas.

Because the source of cocaine has basically been monopolized by large gangs, many local Mexican gangs are in the business of similar chemical drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl.

There's definitely still money to be made, and chemical drug profits are higher, but such drug trafficking gangs have difficulty reaching the high-end market.

One must trust the wisdom of wealthy people, especially the wealthy of the United States...

Compared to chemical drugs, they prefer drugs extracted from natural plants, believing those drugs cause less harm to the body.

So, despite the advanced chemical drug production techniques in Mexico today, the prices of cocaine from South America remain very robust, and there's never a worry about sales.

Later, as Mountain Eagle drove down the road, from time to time, very young girls would come out of shops or houses by the roadside to greet him.

The pedestrians on the street seemed unfazed by it. Some burly American rednecks, drunk even before nighttime, would taunt Mountain Eagle driving his luxury car by flipping him the bird, then approach those women in white stockings.

Mountain Eagle sometimes found it hard to understand the aesthetics of these Texas rednecks. Whether it was the price or something else, they seemed to prefer those big-bottomed women in white stockings, rather than the long-legged, slim-waisted ones.

After driving a few hundred meters, Mountain Eagle found more than one drug dealer peddling drugs to passersby, while the police, who should have been arresting them, acted as if they hadn't seen anything, letting the dealers roam and sell among the crowd.

Mountain Eagle even saw a few children who were clearly only about ten years old. They walked in groups, holding wads of marijuana wrapped in cling film, following those seeking pleasure, trying to sell.

No one seemed to think there was anything wrong with it. Everyone went about their business or played, seemingly unaware of the dangers brought by the overt proliferation of drugs and sex.

Mountain Eagle himself lacked sensitivity to danger, and to be honest, the security in New Laredo City's bustling areas was quite decent. At least, he hadn't seen any gang members with obvious violent features parading openly there.

He even stopped on the way to line up at a very busy taco shop to buy two boxes of what were said to be the local specialty 'priest tacos'...

Crispy corn tortillas filled with roasted marinated pork, onions, cilantro, pineapple chunks, a dash of lime juice, and a bit of special hot sauce—honestly, they tasted very good.

Although Mountain Eagle wasn't exactly parading around ostentatiously, he still acted flashy enough. Yet, until he drove to the finest hotel in New Laredo, 'Cantara Royal Hotel,' he hadn't noticed anyone tailing him or anything like that.

It wasn't until Mountain Eagle parked at the hotel entrance, took the tacos in his hand, and handed over the car keys to the valet, that he noticed the skinny pimp he'd talked to on the road appear at the roadside facing the hotel entrance...

When the guy noticed Mountain Eagle had seen him, he even took off his cowboy hat and patted his chest to greet him. Then he sidestepped to open the car door and pulled out two girls in sequin miniskirts, twirling them around on the spot.

Only then did Mountain Eagle realize how deep the gang's control over New Laredo ran. They didn't even need to tail him deliberately; they simply needed to inform their underlings to keep an eye on the road, and they could easily determine Mountain Eagle's destination and come early to show off their 'goods.'

It was a kind of local ruffian's display with a show-off nature, not malicious, but clearly demonstrating the attitude of 'you have to do business with me.'

For Mountain Eagle, this was a bit bothersome, but it also indirectly proved that the persona he built for himself was effective.

Mountain Eagle understood that as a rich guy, he was being watched, but he didn't feel tense. Instead, he waved at the skinny pimp as a greeting, then held the box of tacos in one hand and stuffed a crispy taco into his mouth.

With two bites per taco, they were very tasty, but the crispy shell would make it a bit messy for those who walk while eating.

Mountain Eagle walked to the front desk, put the taco box on the counter, took out his passport with his left hand, and handed it over, then looked back at the taco crumbs on the glossy floor and shrugged at the smiling front desk clerk, saying 'sorry'...

Although he looked a bit disheveled, Mountain Eagle's demeanor was natural, even exuding an air of justified nonchalance.

The front desk clerk with a sweet smile took the passport and the American Express platinum card, quickly processing Mountain Eagle's check-in, and thoughtfully included a napkin with the room card...

Mountain Eagle used the napkin to wipe the sauce off his fingers, then noticed the clerk staring at his face. He gestured with the napkin at the clerk's suggestion to wipe off the sauce at the corner of his mouth.

Feeling the clerk's enthusiasm and the 'trouble' from the tacos, Mountain Eagle's gaze shifted back to the tacos on the counter. Then, with the clerk's light laughter, he picked up the box, seemingly unwilling to give up such tasty treats.

After bidding farewell with his eyes seemingly reluctant to part, he walked to the center of the hotel lobby and looked around...

At this moment, Ryan Donovan, dressed as a pleasure seeker, stood up from a booth at the far end and waved at him...

Mountain Eagle, like a greedy child with a box of tacos in hand, couldn't resist eating another while on the road.

While walking, a blond woman in a dark red dress suddenly stood up from her seat, and because the path between the sofas was quite narrow, they accidentally bumped into each other.

As the blond woman let out a soft exclamation, Mountain Eagle instinctively reached out to wrap his arm around her waist, preventing her from falling due to her high heels.

The moment the blond woman fell into Mountain Eagle's arms, she turned her head to glance at him, and froze for a second...

Mountain Eagle also froze for a moment, not expecting to meet an acquaintance here...

Seeing the blond woman's strange expression, Mountain Eagle smiled and said, "Hello, Ms. Peggy, didn't expect to see you here..."

He glanced at the somewhat dismayed girl opposite Peggy and then, looking at Blond Peggy still leaning against him, joked with a smile, "Beautiful lady, the sauce from my taco is getting on your clothes. If you stand up straight now, the stained area will be smaller..."