Working as a police officer in Mexico
Chapter 842 - 454: "North America's Fury Operation!

Nixon, Reagan, and Old Bush were the triad of the Bohemian Club.

However…

As everyone knows, the triad actually consisted of four people, including the United States' own Kissinger, arguably the most powerful Secretary of State in U.S. history.

Just the composition of the members says it all…

"The Bohemians decide the world"—this statement wasn't made lightly.

"Do you need me to call a doctor for you?" Reagan, with a gentle expression, looked at Robert Gates.

The latter hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "No need, sir."

He wasn't in any position to throw a tantrum in front of Reagan and could only cover his mouth as he got up, casting a vicious glance at Rumsfeld before sitting down off to the side.

"Mexico is challenging the established order. The cake of the world is only so big; we don't need new hands at the table slicing into our shares of the profits." Nixon coughed—weakened, as his health had been deteriorating recently.

After all, the man was nearly eighty years old.

"Are we going to start a war?" Robert Gates couldn't help but ask.

As the Deputy Defense Minister, he was an extreme right-winger. During the Vietnam War, he had served on the front lines but was exposed by journalists for massacring Vietnamese soldiers.

Later, however, he used his family connections to ride out the storm, earning the favor of heavyweight figures and skyrocketing in his career.

He was known for his heavy-handed methods, boasting about taking Tijuana in three days and marching into Mexico in five—typical war-monger bravado.

What can one say…

It's the peculiar nature of Americans: arrogant and conceited, capable of holding up mud and calling it a groundbreaking weapon.

Rumsfeld opened his mouth and frowned. "Their intercontinental missiles can reach Washington."

"We won't be intimidated by this kind of fear-mongering, Donald." Reagan arched his brows. "We'll crush Mexico just as we crushed Grenada."

"Our backyard already has a Cuba, which is giving us enough headaches. Now a nearer threat emerges in Mexico—this is absolutely unacceptable."

Reagan himself was a war-monger. How many wars had he waged during his tenure?

The Grenada invasion, the airstrikes on Libya, the Bolivia invasion, the oil platform assault in Iran, the Honduras invasion, just to name a few.

Reagan's left eyebrow trembled slightly. "Deploy rapid response forces, strike from sea, land, and all directions. Mexico's internal issues are already significant—Victor's tyrannical behaviors have angered many people. As soon as we attack, they're bound to assist us. Justice belongs to the United States!"

"We've also come up with a justification: Americans in Mexico have been subjected to prolonged oppression. It's our duty to rescue our citizens," Reagan said expressionlessly, glancing at Old Bush's younger brother, John Ellis Bush, standing behind him.

The latter promptly pulled a document from his briefcase, handing it to Rumsfeld. His chubby face wore a fake smile. "Please trouble yourself to sign here, Mr. Donald."

The old Defense Minister picked it up for a look and immediately felt goosebumps.

"No! I won't allow it!!"

He slapped the document onto the floor forcefully.

On its cover, bold letters read: "Military Action Plan Against Mexico."

It already bore the signatures of Old Bush and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff…

With the Defense Minister's approval, the Constitution would permit the war to commence.

"Cough, cough, cough…"

Nixon was exhausted, slumped in a chair. His face was covered in age spots, and he looked utterly lifeless, his eyelids sagging as though he might die any second.

"Donald, you should understand—it makes no difference whether you sign or not. What the Bohemian Club decides, no one can refuse."

"You're dragging the United States into a quagmire of war!!" The old Defense Minister had never been so furious.

And he felt deeply frustrated…

Damn it, if I could beat them, wouldn't I have fought back?

The problem was, Mexico had the troops, the depth, and over a million square kilometers of land. Could the U.S. Military flatten it all in one go?

How big was Grenada, anyway?

A bomb dropped at the airport could be heard throughout its capital.

Most importantly, Victor wasn't a pushover like Bishop. Mexico wasn't Grenada!

"Belief in the struggle itself is war. Compromise itself is defeat. You, more than anyone, should understand this." Nixon spoke calmly, lifting his head. Despite his clouded gaze, a glimmer of youthful decisiveness shone through. "Will you sign or not?"

The wind blew gently…

The lower-ranking figures standing nearby, Robert Gates among them, held their breath, not daring to exhale loudly.

In the Deputy Defense Minister's narrow eyes, there was obvious schadenfreude—let's see you swagger now, Donald. No more bluster from you, huh?

Though the triad had stepped down, removing him from his position would still be child's play for them.

After all, during Rumsfeld's tenure in the Ford administration, he hadn't achieved much—those were rare peacetime years.

Now, with his second appointment, he was eager to leave a legacy. But faced with such a thorny matter, he was caught in a dire predicament.

"Donald, didn't you always claim to be the toughest Secretary? Why won't you sign the order? Unless… there really is some unspeakable connection between you and Victor, as the outside world speculates?"

John Ellis Bush narrowed his eyes, directly hitting a nerve.

"Shut up!"

Sure enough, the quick-tempered old Defense Minister erupted, shouting angrily. His breathing turned uneven as he bent down and picked up the document from the floor. He glared at them, teeth clenched. "You'll regret this!"

With swift, deliberate strokes, he signed his name.

He stuffed the document into John Ellis Bush's arms, his face darkening as he prepared to leave—only to be blocked by security personnel.

"What's the meaning of this?"

He turned back and questioned them.

"Due to your unclear relationship with Victor, you are requested to stay here as a guest until the war concludes," Reagan said with a smile.