Chapter 10 - 10 - Wolf's Adventures

With a wolfish grin, Wolf grabbed Ren's usual chair behind the imposing desk in the study.

Ren shook his head fondly and let him be. After all, he was the man of the hour.

Pax slouched on the sofa like a lazy cat.

Fang stood nervously until Ren took his hand and led him to adjoining seats.

"Ready?" Ren asked Wolf.

The man nodded cheerfully. He glanced at his twin brother. "Before I begin, I have to say, half the credit this time belongs to Pax."

"I know," Ren said. "I'm very grateful to both of you, and the Blue Wolves as well."

The twins flushed.

"Right, then," Wolf said. "First, we approached the pervert director and the other swindlers at Orchid Orphanage as a corporate looking to make a sizeable donation as an excuse for money laundering with kickbacks. We invited them for a dinner meeting last night, and asked them to bring their associates as well, so that we could finalise the plan quickly." He shook his head. "Over twenty people turned up. We fed them a slow acting poison mixed with the drinks. They'll all show flu-like symptoms and die within a month. It's nearly untraceable, and everyone's reaction time will differ, based on their health and body types. Outside the Blue Wolves, no one knows how to synthesise this poison or to mix an antidote. Just to be safe, however, we're keeping an eye on everyone's situation."

Fang drew a sharp breath, trying to remain calm.

"The misappropriation of funds has been reported to relevant authorities and everyone involved has been suspended from their posts. As of this afternoon, Sirocco's team has taken over the management of Orchid Orphanage temporarily," Pax said. "We've identified a few potential replacements and we've advertised for more. We're replacing everyone."

"Our contacts in the government were very supportive," Wolf said. "Elections are coming up soon, and this makes a good agenda. We'll see some interesting news reports tomorrow. I expect that most people involved will be sent to prison...in any case, the poison is already administered, so even if they manage to bribe their way out, they'll not have much time left."

"Good," Ren said. This was the first time in both his lives that he'd set out to kill people. He wondered idly why he wasn't more upset with himself. After all, Wolf was just the knife...the real killer was Ren himself. Why weren't these lost lives weighing on his conscience more?

"Now, the pervert director and his associates and customers outside," Wolf continued, his voice sombre and somewhat hoarse. "Ren... you won't believe what we stumbled on to. The people involved with Orchid Orphanage are just a handful and small fry... overall, it's an international racket..." He clenched his fists. "Thousands of children around the world!"

Fang's face was white as a sheet. He gripped the armrests of his chair so hard that his knuckles turned white.

Ren bowed his head. He had more or less expected it.

"We can't clean up the whole thing at once," Wolf said sadly. "But the ones in this city...they had a "party" last night just after our dinner meeting... perhaps to celebrate. We burnt down the entire building and rescued only the captured teenagers. They are currently in our safehouse with the doctors sent over by Pax and Dr. Gordon." He took a deep breath. "There were three additional persons who weren't at the party. Two are travelling overseas, and our associates there have killed them under the guise of a local mugging gone wrong. The third one was involved in a car accident we orchestrated this morning."

"Cosmopolis is clean for the moment," Pax said. "The ones who hurt Fang...and the other children at Orchid Orphanage...they've all been neutralised."

Ren stood up, walked to his assistant and hugged him. Then he walked over to Wolf and hugged him as well.

"Thank you," he said heavily. "Thank you both." He took a deep breath. "But I'm afraid I must still ask you for more..."

Wolf and Pax exchanged a glance.

"We thought as much," Pax said quietly. "You want to clean up the entire organisation, don't you?"

Ren rubbed his temples. "I do. Is it possible?"

"We can try," Wolf said seriously. "But it will take years and more money and resources than we can afford."

"Don't worry about the money," Ren said. "I will earn as much as we need and I'm willing to spend every last penny I have for this purge."

Pax shook his head. "Resources and connections is what we need more at the moment," he said.

Wolf nodded. "I'm reaching out to my friends and associates all over. Even in the world, a lot us can't stand child abusers. We will seek whatever help we can."

"I'm also reaching out to government authorities and international organisations," Pax added. "This is not a project we can undertake by ourselves. We need to look for powerful support both above and below."

"But I can promise that the Blue Wolves won't let them enter Cosmopolis ever again," Wolf swore.

Ren hugged the twins again.

"I...I'd like to help," Fang said in a small voice. "I can't do much else at the moment, but I could...I could act as bait to lure out the... the perverts."

"We're not that desperate yet," Wolf said lightly.

Pax nodded. "The best way for you to help right now would be to study well. When you grow up to be a successful and powerful person, it'll be great if we can rely on you."

Fang hung his head despondently. "I'm sorry I'm so useless," he whispered.

"You're not," Ren said immediately.

"If you hadn't spoken up, we would never have been able to do anything," Pax added.

"Don't underestimate yourself, kid," Wolf said. "You were the most important thing in the clean up this time."

Fang looked up, his eyes full of determination. "I'd like to continue to help, then."

"We would be glad to have you," Ren said, before the twins could protest again. He saw the fire in the teenager's eyes.

Perhaps this would be beneficial for his psyche....