Chapter 26: Cut Grass Must Remove the Roots

These people who live on the edge of the knife all year round are different. Their way of thinking is different, their way of doing things is different, and even their way of bargaining is different.

It feels like there's no need to say much to these people. Just start a topic, and the rest will be understood by themselves. It can only be said that they are all clever people.

Mait hit the nail on the head. However, Frank just nodded casually and said, "The key is how much cash you can come up with. Nowadays, cash is king."

Mait began to ponder. After thinking for a long time, he finally said, "I don't have much cash, less than one hundred thousand dollars, but I have 1.4 million dollars in my bank account, and 700,000 Mexican pesos. This money can be used by me at any time. If you want more, I can only sell some assets. Give me twenty-four hours, and I can liquidate 1 million dollars of light assets for you. Give me a week, and I can raise 4 million dollars for you."

Although Mait's payment method also required installment payments, it only took a week at most, and there was still a lot of cash. But Peter was different. Peter needed to take over Mait's assets, which would take more time.

Frank nodded and said, "Hmm, 4 million. Do you know about the mother and son who are following us?"

Mait sighed softly and said, "Of course. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have ended up like this. The woman is a wealthy widow. Her husband was a well-known real estate developer in Tijuana. He was kidnapped and killed by drug traffickers a few years ago. She took over her husband's business, which has shrunk in scale, but still doing well. She didn't let the company her husband left behind go bankrupt."

After taking a few breaths and moving slightly, Mait continued, "If she decides to move to the United States, she should be able to apply for a visa. But she doesn't have time, so you can seize the opportunity to make a profit."

Frank nodded but didn't say much. He just said softly, "You can rest for a while. We'll be there soon."

Mait struggled and said, "No, I can't rest. I'm afraid if I fall asleep, I won't wake up again. Buddy, if 4 million isn't enough, just say it."

Frank waved his hand and said, "Let's talk about it when we see Peter."

Mait wanted to say more, but after hesitating for a moment, he finally sighed lightly and didn't say anything in the end.

The car was about to return to the meeting point. George and the others came back earlier. When Rubber stopped the car, George and Peter had already walked out from behind the car.

The headlights were bright, and Peter shielded his eyes with his hand. Frank said to Arthur in a low voice, "Help Mait out of the car."

When the car stopped, Frank opened the door and got out of the car. Peter came up excitedly and said, "How is it, did you succeed?"

Frank nodded. Peter wanted to say something, but when he saw Arthur helping a blood-soaked person out of the car, Peter's face changed drastically, and he trembled, "Mait? Mait! You're alive! That's great, I thought I had lost you forever..."

Peter opened his arms and walked towards Mait, but Arthur reached out his hand and said coldly, "Stop! Don't come over!"

The scene became somewhat tense. Peter's outstretched arms slowly drooped, and then he suddenly said to Frank, "It's all yours! All the money is yours."

Being generous with someone else's property was stress-free. Peter was willing to give all of Mait's assets to Frank, just to keep Mait alive.

Mait's body trembled slightly. He said in a harsh tone, "Peter! I took you in, gave you this job, and even saved your life!"

"Don't be silly!"

Peter shrugged helplessly, then said with sorrow and indignation, "Do you think I want this? But I thought you were dead. You were taken by the Seta Group. Why aren't you dead? If I knew you weren't dead, I wouldn't have stayed. Can you blame me? I didn't want to kill you. I just thought you were dead. But now, now that I have promised a condition, I can't turn back. What can I do?"

Arthur listened somewhat dazed, because he felt that Peter's words were wrong somewhere, but he didn't know how to refute them. And it seemed like Peter had a point.

After finishing speaking, Peter looked at Frank and said, "Kill him, and everything is yours. He can't offer this condition no matter what."

Peter could be generous with someone else's property and give it all to others, but Mait himself could not offer this condition. Even if he did, no one would believe him.

Frank looked at Mait, pulled out his gun, and Mait shouted, "I can offer more. I can handle my assets myself and get more than he can..."

Frank said in a low voice, "Stop talking, it's meaningless."

After that, Frank raised the gun.

With a gunshot, a small hole appeared on Peter's forehead. His expression froze, and he slumped down softly.

Mait was startled by the gunshot, but when he realized that Peter, not he, was dead, his expression changed from shock to extreme joy.

Arthur wasn't surprised by this outcome at all, as it was the inevitable result.

No matter how much money Peter could offer, no matter how good the conditions Peter could offer, whether Mait lived or died, Peter had to die.

If you don't remove the roots, the grass will grow back. If Peter could drag King Defense down this time, he could do it again in the future. As a professional intermediary, Peter broke the rules.

So, the original plan was to get rid of Juan first. But getting rid of Juan wasn't a necessary option. If there was no opportunity, then so be it. But Peter had to die. No matter what trump cards he had, he had to die. No matter how much money he could offer, he had to die.

As for saving the alive Mait, that was purely a surprise. Originally, after getting rid of Juan, they would take as much as they could from Peter. They didn't expect him to slowly sell off his partners' assets. But now that Mait was alive, wouldn't it be better to let Mait pay rather than let Peter go through another middleman?

Now that Juan was dead and Peter was dead, even if Peter had arranged some backup plans, the Seta Group would not go to King Defense for revenge. The drug cartel didn't have the time for that. They had just lost one leader; there were plenty of newcomers eager to take his place. Making money was the priority. Who had time to seek revenge for a former leader?

Frank put away his gun. He said to Mait, "Why did I kill Peter? Because he broke the rules. Now, how do you plan to fulfill your promise?"

Mait hesitated and said, "I need time to sell my assets. 4 million, I need about a week. You can..."

Frank raised his hand, interrupting Mait. He said sternly, "I don't want 4 million, and I don't want you to sell your assets. I just want your cash, 1.5 million dollars. Is this price unreasonable?"

Arthur was very surprised because Frank only wanted 1.5 million dollars, while 4 million was Mait's proposal. He didn't understand why Frank would actively lower the price.

Mait was extremely surprised and said, "1.5 million? Of course, but why?"

Frank said in a low voice, "We are people who follow the rules. We won't push our clients to bankruptcy. It's better to have one more friend and maintain a good relationship with a client, than to have one more bankrupt enemy. We take the money we deserve and do what we should. Mait, I don't know what your relationship with Peter is, but I hope you won't drag your clients down like he did when you're in danger."

Mait said excitedly, "Of course not! Buddy, you can completely trust my professional ethics. So, give me an account number, and I'll transfer 1.5 million dollars tonight. Do you need help finding someone to launder the money for you? You have a defense company, right? I also have a defense company. We can cooperate. I can transfer the money to you through a business account. How you receive the money is up to you. Buddy, I like your style!"

Frank thought for a moment and said, "You should go to the hospital, but I'd like to ask you for a favor. Can you safely send us to the United States?"

"Yes! For 100,000 dollars! No need for passports, I guarantee you safe passage. But you have to leave your equipment here. Buddy, I've given you all the money I have. I really can't help you with the bribe, otherwise, I would pay for it for you."

If the equipment could be abandoned, or temporarily left in Tijuana, then Frank and the others wouldn't have to pay to pass through. Even if they brought all the equipment and Tova and his mother, it wouldn't cost 100,000 dollars.

Mait's passage channel was not as good as Frank's.

Frank didn't show any disappointment. He looked at his watch and said, "Let's go through customs ourselves. George, Rubber, you two take Mait to the hospital. We'll meet in San Diego. Mait, please give us the money as soon as possible."

After that, Frank grabbed Mait's blood-stained hand, shook it symbolically, and said in a deep voice, "Pleasure doing business with you."