Little King of The South Part 1 is the twenty-first chapter of the Black Lagoon spinoff series Eda Initial Stage. It was originally released on December 19, 2023.
Plot[]
Somewhere in South America at night, state military troops surround an apartment and break into a room operated by rebels. Finding no one inside, one of the soldiers recalls that there were signs of people in the residence a few days before. Nearby outside, one soldier curses the guerrillas and compares them to cockroaches. Sitting in the car, an intelligence officer guesses that it must be the work of an insider, angering the soldier since he believes his men are not responsible. The officer rhetorically asks if the military is still in disorder, commenting that anyone will sell information in their current climate. Warning him to be quiet, the soldier insults him as a mere man of the Intelligence Bureau. The officer ignores his comment and asks if they should withdraw the troops and posits that they will not leave without a price. Suddenly, the guerrilla hideout explodes, killing the troops inside. In the city, guerrillas witness the explosion from the distance and cheer on their successful attack. Sighing, a young boy admits that he is surprised the military took the bait, insulting the country's military as a poor quality one. An impressed female guerrilla thanks him for aiding their escape and asks him how he knew the military would conduct a raid. The boy answered by repeating that the country's military is of poor quality, adding that it was easy to acquire information from a low-ranking soldier.
The woman compliments him for being very reliable, and he thanks her in turn. At that point, the woman yells to everyone to flee town as soon as possible since the military would chase them if they did not hurry up. The next day in the national parliament, a representative lambasts President Duarte for his governance, elaborating that austerity measures will only widen the economic gap, security is worsening throughout the country, and public unrest is growing. The opposition member claims that the root cause is the failure of the President's economic restructuring plan. Responding that he sympathizes with the opposition parties who repeatedly criticize his government, Duarte instead places the blame on guerrilla terrorism. Ardently rebuffing the accusation, the opposition member reminds him of the high unemployment rate and criticizes him for using the police to suppress the populace in order to distract from that reality. Unconcerned, Duarte reasons that his government is merely doing their best to restore public order, adding that now is the time to endure and accept economic reform as the lifeline of the country. Frustrated, the representative proclaims that the President's obsession is what will bring ruin to their country.
At the same time inside the United States' embassy in the country, Eda and her new partner Jaden watch the live broadcast of the session in an office. Addressing the American ambassador who has sought out the CIA's help, Eda inquires of what exactly he wants. The elderly man replies that President Duarte is uncooperative with the United States, clarifying that they need someone else in power who will be easier to handle. Although acknowledging that the parliamentary opposition movement is strong, he pointed out that their claims and objectives were scattered, summarizing the situation as one where a strong leader is currently not present to unify the various anti-government factions. Specifying that he has to appease the opposition for the time being on his end of things, he requests that the CIA will provide internal support for the opposition coalition. Standing up, Eda comments that he has a very passive policy for someone who has urged the CIA to increase their staff. Leaving his office, she confidently states that she will get the job done.
As the two CIA agents depart by car, the man observes them from his window. He recalls that after repeated requests for additional staff, they finally but only got the help of the "little girl" Eda, lamenting the fact that they did not get a more senior case officer. In the room with him, his secretary mentions that after the dissolution of the USSR, the CIA retired a lot of senior officers. Hearing that, the elderly man jokes that only boy scouts and cheerleaders seem to be the ones sent to them these days. Smiling, the secretary asks if they should expect anything more from the CIA, to which the man sighs and agrees. Later, Jaden drives for Eda and assesses that as long as the CIA continues to provide financial support to the opposition, they will not have to pull off any "tricks" and the regime will be overthrown. As he continues speaking about the debt-ridden president and how the opposition has been gaining momentum from public support, the bored Eda hesitantly listens to him. Jaden wonders if their superiors truly do not trust him enough to fill other positions, asking Eda what she thinks.
Thinking to herself, she believes that it was Jaden's fault as to why the ambassador was very irritated. Knowing that she is still a rookie, Eda guesses that Jaden was sent to her because her higher-ups thought it would be a good opportunity to train new recruits. Addressing their partnership, he asks her why he cannot be sent on his own if she wants him to gain experience. Sighing, Eda responds that he is quite confident despite his shyness, to which Jaden politely jokes that she has a big attitude for a rookie. In a short time, the two agents arrive at a Popular Action (AP) office, where they wait inside. Coming to them, Farias Cordero, a parliamentary representative and member of the opposition, grins and expresses his gratitude to Jaden for coming by so often. He wonders if Eda is a secretary, prompting her to introduce herself as a case officer. Shaking her hand and joking that he does not meet too many beautiful women from the CIA, Cordero introduces himself as the head of the Peruvian opposition coalition, exclaiming that he will be honored to work with them. Jaden confirms that he is going to brief Eda on their discussion for future plans of cooperation, pleasing Cordero. The representative says that he will be frank on his goal: the assassination of the president.
Speechless at what he said, Jaden and Eda ask if he is joking. Realizing that Cordero is serious, the former emphasizes that the CIA is forbidden by executive order from conspiring to plan assassinations. Undeterred, Cordero tells him that the behind-the-scenes loophole would be providing military support and having the Peruvian military stage a coup d'état. Concerned about his idea, Jaden reminds him that they are in the 1990s and the Cold War is long over, mentioning that there is no way such a violent method would go unnoticed. Confused, Cordero rhetorically questions what the CIA's purpose even is in his country. He assures Jaden that the assassination will be carried out by left-wing guerrillas, pleading with him to give financial and weapons support to the opposition. Worried at the revelation, the CIA agent asks what has happened since last time, to which Cordero bluntly elaborates that the change in policy is due to their country reaching bankruptcy if they play it easy any longer. Reasoning that they have to take some risks to prevent it, he asserts that the coalition has made up their minds. Eda states that she understands his intentions but wonders how they are in contact with the guerrillas. Snapping his fingers, Cordero orders his associate, Enrique Gasol, to come in, introducing him as the bridge between the coalition and the guerrillas.
Leaving the office, Eda and Jaden head out after learning that President Duarte will be having a luncheon with the Federation of Economic Organizations' Chairman Gomez followed by an economic policy review between 2 and 4 p.m. Meanwhile, at the presidential hall, Duarte enters his office and sees Melgar, who was waiting for him and nonchalantly tells the president that he is a busy individual. Ignoring his comment, the president asks how checking out the new CIA recruits went. Recalling that she was a young woman, Melgar confesses that he does not understand why the CIA took the trouble to send her in as a replacement, positing that she must be more than a mere cheerleader. President Duarte wonders what she was up to, but Melgar answers that they need not worry if she has been a "good girl" so far. Hearing the intelligence officer point out that the guerrillas and the opposition have been active lately, he asks if the CIA is behind the unrest. Melgar agrees to continue spying on them and says that he may be able to find something. Almost forgetting about the earlier news, he warns the president not to rely on the military too much because their raid the previous night was terrible, then announcing his leave.
Back at the American embassy, Jaden, Eda and the ambassador discuss Enrique, with the female agent recalling that he was used by Ruggles, who was killed in the line of duty in Central America. Jaden asks if Enrique was even involved in that since he looked like a child. Stating that it is not how he appears, Eda advises them not to take him lightly. Brushing off the warning, the ambassador stresses that he is the connection to the guerrillas. In complete disbelief, Jaden warns them that the president is not stupid, opining that he cannot imagine the left-wing guerrillas successfully pulling off the assassination. Reminding them that they do not deal in coups and assassinations anymore, he anxiously exclaims that people have too many illusions about the CIA. In response, the ambassador retorts that it does not mean they are to do nothing. Finally, he commands the two agents to negotiate and cooperate with the guerrillas, all the while doing it discreetly and confidently. To Jaden's surprise, Eda agrees to see what she can do.
Afterward, the frustrated Jaden begins to drive and rhetorically asks Eda if they are really heading to the guerrilla stronghold, deriding the mission as absurd. She claims that the ambassador is an old-fashioned cowboy who will get restless if he does not take the initiative on the situation. Worried again, Jaden suggests that they pretend to listen to him, reasoning that they do not need to prove themselves by crossing a dangerous bridge. Intrigued, Eda confesses that she is curious and wants to know what else is going on in the South American country. Angered, Jaden mutters that he already wrote a bunch of reports about it, silently asking if she even knows how long it took for him to gain his current position. Smoking a cigarette, Eda claims that she respects his report but asserts that because she is in charge, she must be in direct contact with the environment. Annoyed, Jaden curses the dirt road and laments that they did not use a Jeep since he had no idea they would travel on a dirt road.
Seconds later, Eda spots Enrique, making Jaden stop the car. Walking up to their car, the boy greets her and professes that he never thought he would see her again in South America of all places. Reciprocating the acknowledgment of his survival, Eda tells him to get in. Relaxing in the backseat, Enrique assumes that she will have lots of questions for him but clarifies that he will brief her on everything once they arrive at their destination. She denies that she has anything to say, making him curious. Annoyed, Jaden orders Enrique to stop kicking his seat, complaining that he is not a taxi driver. Noting that the opposition has changed course, Eda asks Enrique if he prodded them into the plan. Noticing Enrique's bafflement, she explains that Cordero seemed like a show-off who would not directly step into the fire himself. Feeling lost, Jaden asks where he needs to go, and Enrique excitedly informs him that they must continue following the road straight the entire way for another twenty kilometers.