Krugger walked through Medellín, visibly surprised by its size. Having lived in Berlin—a city of more than one hundred thousand inhabitants—this place could scarcely be called a town. It felt more like a small frontier outpost, with perhaps two thousand souls at most.
What puzzled him even more was how such a settlement could possibly sustain a thousand troops. Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked,"Are all the men here part of your army? You claim to command a thousand soldiers, yet these men look more like farmers than warriors. Something is not right."
Carlos shifted uncomfortably."Father-in-law, the troops are divided among several cities and remain under the influence of the local families. In exchange for supplies and trade privileges, they allow me to move and coordinate them. Here in Medellín, I keep only four hundred men—and half of those guard my estate outside the city, protecting the plantations and factories."
