Chapter 188: Gear Up
[Black Dragon Corporation]
"They’ve taken the 31st district..."
"The reports on who was behind this..."
Lucian massaged his brow, barely listening to the conversation around him.
The mont Rum and Gin discovered that soone had sedated Ashley, his n had begun moving even before the reports reached him. It was protocol — this was an ergency, and Ashley’s bodyguards’ top priority was to retrieve her as soon as possible.
They were not about to tell Lucian first and wait for his orders.
Unfortunately, Red and Tank, who had managed to tail the abductors, had also failed.
But even after their failure, Dominion was already working, tracking where the van had gone, where the vehicle had been ditched, and the possible locations where Ashley had been taken. After ditching the van, the group slipped into another residential area where CCTV coverage was scarce.
"These are the people we suspect are behind the abduction..."
Lucian arched a brow and lifted his eyes, watching the man standing at the head of the table in the smaller conference room. He began pinning mugshots to the board one by one.
"This group is small, but don’t let that fool you — they operate at a high level, specializing in kidnapping for ransom," he explained. "Since the group was ford ten years ago, they’ve successfully carried out dozens of kidnappings, mostly targeting the wealthiest individuals..."
"Their last victim was a child of a politician in Z Country, cashing in hundreds of millions, and getting away from it even when the police worked with Interpol on the transaction."
Lucian leaned back and listened, studying the faces on the board.
"Master, their profiles," said soone at his side, setting a folder before him.
Lucian kept quiet as a dull throb settled behind his temples. He reminded himself that acting without thinking it through could make things worse. The people they were up against had been gutsy enough to step on Dominion’s toes.
So, even as his patience wore thin, he let his n go through the situation before making a move.
"This is the one — the brain of the operation," the presenter continued, pointing to a long-haired man with a distinctive scar across his brow. "From what we’ve gathered, he designs every mission. Since he joined, their success rate is over eighty percent."
"Their getaway driver..." He moved to the next picture. "Has won multiple underground racing circuits."
The presenter went through each profile thodically, making sure everyone understood exactly what kind of people they were dealing with. No one wanted to say it out loud, but even with Dominion’s resources, these people had Ashley.
They couldn’t just act rashly... or she might get hurt.
"And this," the presenter said, placing a final photo over the others, "is said to be the man who founded the group ten years ago."
Everyone furrowed their brows. He looked like an ordinary old man who should have been enjoying his retirent.
"We’re expecting a call from these people soon," the presenter said, finally turning his attention to the far end of the table where Lucian sat. "If this is a kidnapping for ransom, they’ll be in touch any ti now."
"I don’t think that’s what this is," Gin said, leaning forward. "There’s no obvious reason for them to take the madam. She hasn’t done anything to draw this kind of attention."
Vodka nodded and glanced at Red, only to find him staring down at the table, expression grim. Tank, seated beside him, wore the sa dark look. It was clear that both n’s patience was fraying, even if they understood that this briefing was necessary.
"Gin, I hear you, but this could still be —"
"We live in an old ghost town," Gin cut in. "Even the master’s car is modified to look ordinary. These people didn’t choose the madam at random."
"With all due respect," the presenter — one of the investigators under Lukas’ division — frowned, glancing briefly at Gin before addressing Lucian directly. "Master, you’ve been driving to this building regularly after dropping off the young master at school."
"Black Dragon Corporation has established itself as a major presence in this country. Many other companies have taken notice," he continued evenly. "If these people have been watching this company and spotted the master, it wouldn’t take long to put two and two together."
The argunt was logical. No one in the room was willing to believe that a small group like these people would deliberately provoke Dominion without reason.
"So it’s possible they’ve been tailing the madam," the man added. "I’m not saying she was the specific target from the start. If anything, I believe they were eyeing either the madam or the young master — and when it ca down to it, the madam presented the cleaner opportunity."
"Cleaner opportunity?" Red finally broke his silence, eyes cutting to the presenter. "What exactly are you implying?"
The man smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "No offense intended, Red. What I an is, there was no viable window to take the young master. But when the madam was alone in the restroom, they took it."
"Regardless, that’s beside the point now," he said, refocusing on Lucian. "Master, we’ll handle the negotiations once they make contact."
Red’s jaw twitched, his fist trembling at his side. "You really think that’s all this is? That they grabbed her because of that?"
"Red."
Red’s breath caught at the sound of Lucian’s voice — quiet, cold, and absolute. He turned toward the head of the table, swallowing as the emotions churning in his chest collapsed into sothing he couldn’t na.
What Lucian did next surprised everyone in the room.
For a man who had been stepping back from bloodshed — who had been choosing diplomacy for the sake of Dominion’s full legalization — no one expected what ca next. Lucian rose from his seat, gaze sweeping slowly across every face in the room.
"Gear up," he said, a cold glint cutting through his eyes.
Before he could even finish, the room held its breath as a shadow settled over his expression.
Then ca the order.
"Use every ans possible to get her back. Then... wipe out every single one of them."
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