“You did well Eliza, go take a break” suggested the boss, once they had prepared for the session.

“I'll stay, I want to participate in the meeting” Eliza quickly contextualized, panicking that she might be left out.

“That's dangerous news boss, how did some simple thugs manage to get information from us and anti-mutant weapons” Antonio commented, a tone of concern tinged his voice.

“How long did we hire the locals for?” asked the boss,

“two weeks. why?” asked Eliza, turning to Johann and koemi, who looked equally puzzled.

“Have we finished selling all our produce?” she continued her questions.

“No,” said Johann. “We're still working with what we have, but we'll run out in a week.”

“And how long until you get what we ordered?” This time his question was directed toward Canary, who was on call due to still being in Hightown.

The continued off-topic questions were getting on everyone's nerves.

“A week, maybe a little less, if they haven't closed the ports for the celebrations” Canary replied.

“Good, we'll avoid going into the red if we get that” Maleït said as he continued to note the latest updates in the stock book, after a moment. his eyes lifted from the pages seconds later when he noticed the concern and tension in the others.

“Apparently one of them is related to an organization with a lot of power, they call themselves Hellfire club” his immediate comment was even more disconcerting to everyone.

Eliza frowned. “Hellfire club?”

“A club where people of power meet, It has brought together important and power figures such as Howard Stark, Warren Worthington II and John Braddock. The purpose of the club is to obtain and exercise power through politics and economic influence rather than external conquest and domination. Since their founding they have been involved in wars and assassinations.”

“I thought the Starks have always been clean,” Canary interjected.

“Many are only interested in the lavish parties the club used to throw, something father and son have apparently been interested in.” he explained.

“I don't think we can take on something like that.”

“We won't, being a member of the club isn't special, you have money and connections and you can get in, those we really need to fear are the ones who make up the inner circle.”

“Something like a VIP plus” asked Antonio spontaneously.

Maleït nodded. “Which have had recent problems with a famous group of mutant superheroes.”

“Hence the sudden surge of anti-mutant weapons in the markets.” Canary exclaimed.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Johann exhaled deeply. “The heroes are affecting our lives again.”

“It's not like that Johann, only the weak let themselves be affected by the waves caused by others, We are not weak, not if we want to accomplish our goal.”

“What is the plan?” Koemi spoke, with euphoria barely retained in his voice.

__________

Lowtown was a chaotic place, a city that was never planned but still arose from the desire of those weaklings who were rejected from luxury and comfort. The lowtown syndicate was no different, weak people who wished to be strong and claim their place, sacrificing what was necessary to achieve it.

It was not difficult for Shinobi Shaw to sniff out easy prey. Anyone could see the plan, to use the syndicate to seize total power of Madripoor. The poor fools enjoy the club's beneficial contacts and supplies until they are discarded as useless pieces in a much bigger game.

Well, at least they would make that clear today.

A softly lit room with a sofa stretched to the wall and surrounded the rectangular table that dominated much of the space. with a commanding view of the docking piers and a soft lunar reflection coming in.

Paintings hung on the walls, portraying the beauty of the seas. The cost must have been staggering and was a sign of the great benefits of the Hellfire Club.

“Guards!” shouted a desperate voice, but no one answered. “Respond useless ones, confirm if they eliminated the threat.” Worry and fear in his voice. “Bah dogs,” he cursed, discarding his communicator.

The conclusion that he needed to escape was easy, the loot he had accumulated was significant enough to have a solid base and recover.

He even considered taking his paintings with him, thinking that the security and how well-hidden his safe room was, would allow enough time for him to escape until he was found.

“It was worth its exorbitant price, I'll flee to the west,” he muttered, not caring about the death of the entirety of his men.

came the reply from behind.

Raman was startled and was about to turn around, but something caught his neck and all he could do was grab the strong, thin rope that tightened like a noose around his neck.

He was gasping for breath when he received a kick from behind that forced him to his knees on the carpet. He wanted to ask, to curse, to beg, but could only gasp and cough helplessly.

_______________________

“Do you know who's after me?” Raman shouted in alarm, anger barely contained in his voice with fear ”Do you have any idea what they'll do to you and your pathetic bunch of freaks once you do something to me?”

“There will be no trace of you once I'm done with you.”

“What do you want, power, money, you'll be able to get it all, with your skills they'll accept you once I tell them about-” the pleas suddenly interrupted by a koemi punch, only to take his index finger between his lips, asking for silence.

“I'm not interested in anything you're offering" I stated, as I further inspected the luxuries.

“What do you want then” Raman questioned, with pleading in his voice.

“Answers, tell me to whom and where were you sending the kidnapped mutants?” I asked directly.

“Everywhere” Raman immediately replied. “Every time the X-men are in the news there is always a country begging for them, they want their group of mutants.”

“Someone as small as you can't have relationships with that many countries, who gives you the contracts.”

Raman looked at me with a mixture of pain, hatred, and fear. “I am but one of many who do friend, A few years ago a message came to me that I was to deliver a certain amount of mutants to a certain place. I receive payment and that's all I know.”

Koemi and I exchanged a look.

“Give me all your records and details of your bank accounts.”

“...Behind that painting” Raman said with a hint of pain. “the code is 304”

“Koemi, please” At my request, koemi checked the code, whereupon he picked up a bundle of documents which he handed into my hands.

I took my time to inspect everything, just to verify that he was telling the truth about the whole world; the USA, China, Japan, Brazil, and Russia. From powerhouses to small countries were on the list.

I'm afraid this was the end of my heroic actions, I was not in a position where I could mess with nations without risking the lives of all my allies. For now, I hoped that I could repay them by avenging their captors.

“I'm sorry Koemi, I know I promised you it would be yours but I think this time I'll take it personally” Although his screams would not leave this room, I'll make sure it is heard by all the poor victims of his greed.