Chapter 85 - 85 - Ren Takes Action

Fang sighed and called Ren, informing him of the situation.

"Wade was kidnapped as well?" Ren asked, surprised.

"Apparently he was chatting with the princess when she was taken and got pulled along," Fang informed him. "One of the boys in their group who was left behind by the kidnappers said that he heard Wade threaten them using your name...so you may receive a ransom call."

Ren rolled his eyes in exasperation. He wasn't particularly worried about Wade - after all, in this book world, Wade was the Protagonist, so he wouldn't come to harm. Still, the original Ren-the-villain had cherished this little brother deeply, so Ren decided to help him. After all, Ren had taken over the life of the original Ren-the-villain...he owed him at least this much.

Fang didn't really agree with Ren's reasoning, but was reluctant to say anything. He simply told Ren to be careful and not to land himself in danger.

As soon as Fang disconnected the call, Ren's phone rang again. The caller ID showed 'Little Brother Wade'.

Ren put the call on speakerphone and gestured to Pax to trace it.

"Is that CEO Ren?" a gruff voice asked.

"Speaking," Ren said politely. "May I know who's calling?"

The person on the other side laughed heartily. "So polite!" he mocked. "We've got your little brother with us...and if you want him back in one piece, come over unarmed and alone with five billion in cash!"

"Big Brother, don't come! They're planning to keep you as a hostage if you - mmmppff!" Wade's panicked voice shouted from behind before he was gagged.

The kidnapper laughed. "Looks like CEO Ren's little brother really cares about him...we can only hope that CEO Ren holds him in the same regard as well," the gruff voice continued.

"Send me the location, I'll come over," Ren said. "But if my little brother is harmed in any way, you'll be responsible for the destruction of your group!"

"I will send you a location. You must reach there within an hour. Someone will meet you there and bring you to us," the man instructed Ren. "Remember, CEO Ren, you must come alone and unarmed and carry nothing but the cash!"

"I need an hour to arrange for that much cash," Ren said. "Be reasonable."

"All right, you have two hours," the gruff voice said reluctantly. "But if you are not here within this time, we'll start chopping off your little brother's fingers one by one...every ten minutes of delay."

"Don't harm Wade," Ren said. "I'll be there."

The kidnapper was satisfied and hung up the call.

Ren glanced at Pax, who nodded and called his twin brother. Pax and Wolf immediate prepared a task force to proceed to the location which had been traced from the call, while Ren prepared fake cash with his magic. Even if the kidnappers successfully escaped today, the five billion would turn into ash within a few hours!

The kidnappers sent Ren a location which was twenty miles away from the phone trace. Clearly Wade's warning was correct - these guys had probably decided to keep Ren as a hostage and get more money...after all, Ren was worth a lot!

"Don't tell Fang about this right now," Ren told the twins.

Pax agreed immediately, but Wolf frowned. "He should know that you're stepping into danger," he told Ren.

"Fang is stuck at the museum with his schoolmates," Ren pointed out. "What's the point in worrying him unnecessarily?"

Wolf opened his mouth to argue but Pax interrupted him impatiently.

"Fang already knows that Wade has been abducted and he knows that Ren will pay the ransom for him. It was Fang who informed us before the kidnappers called. We can tell him the details of our operation when we're back home," Pax said firmly.

That put Wolf at ease.

Ren suddenly realised that the recent fight between him and Fang had affected those around them quite deeply. He was touched by Wolf's concern.

Exactly two hours later, Ren appeared in the specified location with a large bag of cash and no weapons on him. As expected, the criminals searched him thoroughly and then bound his hands and threw him in the back of a truck.

Ren was brought to an abandoned warehouse at the outskirts of the town. How cliché, he thought wryly.

Wade and the other kidnapped teenagers were on the floor, their hands and feet bound with thick ropes, and their faces tear stained.

"Wade? Are you all right?" Ren asked as soon as he saw his little brother.

Wade burst into tears. "Big Brother...you shouldn't have come..." he sobbed.

Ren smiled ruefully. "Don't worry, I've paid the ransom money. They'll let you go now."

Wade shook his head. "We heard them talking among themselves," he said softly. "They are planning to keep the princess and you as hostages and kill the rest of us!"

"Don't worry," Ren said in a comforting voice. He turned around and found the leader of the criminals with his eyes.

"I brought you the money you asked for, please release my little brother and me now," Ren said loudly.

The leader laughed. "You're in no position to make demands, CEO Ren," he spat. "We'll wait for the ransom for the others to arrive before we let anyone go."

Ren sighed. "You should have told me you had other hostages, it would have been faster for me to arrange for everyone's share of the ransom. If you let me call my secretary now, I can still arrange for it. My secretary will bring the money and you can let all of us go."

The leader laughed again. "Spoken like a true businessman," he mocked. "I'm afraid you can't afford it, CEO Ren!"

Ren shrugged. "Isn't this girl a princess of Dune Country? My secretary will collaborate with her people and arrange for the cash, it's not a problem.. I just don't want to waste too much time here."