Chapter 246 The Crimson Shadows
"We've thought this through," Thelonius said, "and we're making it look like a debt collection gone wrong. Let the loan company take the heat." He paused. "Besides, Jaxon already owes a ton of money. If they grab him without roughing him up too much, even Suzanne, hot-headed as she is, won't risk an all-out war. It's not worth it for a screw-up like him."
"And how do you plan to pull that off?" Eulalia asked, clearly skeptical.
"Jaxon might be hooked on those online games, but he's not dumb," Thelonius explained. "He avoids borrowing from local loan sharks. He knows they play rough. He prefers out-of-town lenders, thinking they won't bother coming after him. But there's one exception. Seems our boy Jaxon needed quick cash for some in-game purchase and borrowed a hefty sum – twenty grand, to be exact – from a local loan company. Still hasn't paid it back."
"And who runs that company?" Eulalia asked, sensing the pieces coming together.
"The Crimson Shadows," Thelonius said simply. "They dabble in everything. We grease their palms, they pick up Jaxon for 'debt collection,' Suzanne gets a message demanding payment for her brother's release. Distraction achieved."
"And this kind of thing," he continued, "it's an economic dispute, a civil matter. Nothing the authorities get too worked up about."
"So the risk is minimal," Eulalia concluded, starting to get it. "And with the right incentive, the Crimson Shadows won't hesitate."
"Exactly," Thelonius confirmed. "We create the window, and once Suzanne is out of the picture, you make your move. Trust me, Eulalia, you'll have Skyview dead to rights."
"Then consider me ready," Eulalia said, a steely glint in her eyes. "Just give the word when the time is right."
The Crimson Shadows' headquarters was an imposing compound, a testament to their power. Founded by the notorious Kellan Kensington, they had their fingers in every shady deal in Golden Isle City, their influence stretching even further. Yet, they operated with a chilling discretion. Most people were clueless about their true reach, only whispering tales of those who crossed them and met unfortunate, often bizarre ends.
Kellan himself had retired a decade ago, stepping back from the day-to-day operations. He handed the reins to his youngest son, Maddox, content to provide guidance from The Crimson Shadows.
Maddox was an unlikely successor. With his scholarly demeanor and gentle features, he looked more like a university professor than the head of a criminal empire. And in a way, he was. Maddox held a degree in sociology from a prestigious university. But with the job market for sociologists being what it was, he eventually bowed to his father's wishes and took over the family business.
In Kellan's private study, a room surprisingly spartan for a man of his stature, Maddox stood respectfully before him. The only notable decoration was a single, exquisitely valuable painting that hung on the far wall.
"You called for me, Father. What are your instructions?" Maddox asked.
Kellan regarded his son with a satisfied smile. "You've done well these past years, Maddox. Managing The Crimson Shadows is no small feat. It hasn't been easy for you."
"It's my duty," Maddox replied, his tone formal.
"Indeed," Kellan acknowledged Maddox's unspoken resentment. It was no secret that Maddox harbored a deep disdain for the criminal underworld. It was an irony not lost on either of them.
"The truth is," Kellan confessed, his voice softening, "I never cared much for this life either. But I despise poverty even more. Joining the ranks, building The Crimson Shadows, it was a means to an end."
"You could have built a legitimate business empire, Father," Maddox pointed out. His studies had given him a keen understanding of Evalian socioeconomics.
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