Chapter 16: Deal with the Devil
Quinn was sitting in his dimly lit office, mulling over the possibilities of a lucrative deal in South Africa. The previous call with the South African officials had left him intrigued, sensing the desperation in their voices. They were scrambling to maintain order in a country where rebel forces were growing stronger every day. More and more civilians were joining the Rebel Army, and it was clear that the government was barely holding on.
Ara, his robotic assistant, interrupted his thoughts as she processed the gathered information on the rebel leader, Draven Voss. Her voice echoed in the room, "I've completed the analysis, Quinn. You'll want to hear this."
Quinn leaned forward, intrigued. "Go ahead."
Ara continued, "Draven Voss is more than just a rebel leader. He's the right-hand man of a cartel leader based in Africa—one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the continent. They call themselves the Raven Cartel."
Quinn's eyes narrowed. The name immediately sounded dangerous, fitting for the type of chaos that could engulf a region. Ara proceeded to explain the depth of Draven Voss's connection to the Raven Cartel.
"The Raven Cartel primarily deals in drugs, assassinations, kidnappings, and trafficking. But this rebellion in South Africa isn't just political. It's personal. The cartel leader, Joaquin 'El Cuervo' Voss, had a son who was arrested in South Africa after a car accident. The boy was high on drugs and tested positive on the scene. The arrest was a major scandal, and although Joaquin managed to bail him out, it took a week of negotiations and bribes."
Quinn raised an eyebrow. "So this is about revenge?"
"Yes," Ara confirmed. "Joaquin felt disrespected. Despite his wealth and influence, he couldn't buy his son's freedom quickly enough. Now, Draven Voss is leading this rebellion with full backing from the cartel, and they're using it as a front for a larger operation."
As Ara continued to explain, Quinn learned about the origins of the Raven Cartel. Formed over two decades ago, the Raven Cartel had started as a drug trafficking operation, smuggling cocaine and heroin from South America into Africa and Europe. Joaquin Voss, nicknamed 'El Cuervo' for his ruthlessness and cunning, had built the cartel from scratch, using violence and intimidation to eliminate competitors and expand his empire. Soon, the cartel diversified, moving into other illegal activities—kidnappings, assassinations, and human trafficking.
What made the Raven Cartel even more dangerous was their front as a legitimate business. They owned several shipping companies, import-export firms, and even construction businesses across Africa, Europe, and parts of the Middle East. On paper, these companies operated within the law, but in reality, they were the perfect cover for the cartel's criminal operations.
Joaquin Voss ruled the cartel with an iron fist, and his son was poised to take over one day. The arrest in South Africa had been an insult to the family's power, and Joaquin saw it as an opportunity to destabilize the region, creating chaos where he could expand his influence further. Draven Voss, a loyal enforcer, had been put in charge of leading the rebellion.
Quinn sat back in his chair, digesting all the information. He understood now that this civil unrest was more than just a power struggle in South Africa. The Raven Cartel had its hands in the rebellion, and if he played his cards right, there was a fortune to be made. Draven Voss would be a key figure in this—his relationship with Joaquin gave him power, but it also meant he would be willing to do whatever it took to please his cartel leader.
Quinn saw a business opportunity here. "So, the Raven Cartel is using Draven and the rebellion to strike back at South Africa's government," he mused aloud.
"Exactly," Ara confirmed. "Their goal is to destabilize the country, but more importantly, to seize control of its resources. The rebellion is a smokescreen for the cartel's larger ambitions."
Quinn was impressed with how deep the cartel's influence ran. Joaquin Voss had built a criminal empire that operated across continents, and his influence was now fueling an entire civil war. It was a level of power that Quinn found both intriguing and dangerous.
Ara continued, "Draven Voss has been leading the rebel forces with brutal efficiency. Reports indicate that they've gained significant ground in the last month. With your weapons and resources, they could turn the tide of this conflict entirely in their favor."
Quinn smirked. "And that means they'll pay whatever it takes."
He rose from his seat, pacing the room. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how much potential this situation held. If he could play both sides—arming the rebels and maybe even selling to the government under the table—he could turn this civil war into a goldmine.
"Ara, I want you to gather everything on Draven Voss—his personal history, his military tactics, everything. And find me a way to get in contact with him directly."
"Already working on it," Ara replied. "I've accessed several encrypted channels they've been using. I should be able to make contact within the next hour."
Quinn grinned, knowing that a deal with Draven could be the start of something much bigger. The Raven Cartel was already one of the most feared criminal organizations in the world. Aligning himself with them—even temporarily—would give him access to new markets and resources. And once the dust settled, he'd be in a prime position to dominate.
As the chapter closes, Ara confirms that she's secured the necessary communication channels. The next move would be to negotiate directly with Draven Voss, offering him the kind of weapons that could tip the scales in the cartel's favor.
Quinn knew he was about to make a deal with the devil, but in his mind, it was all just business.