CHAPTER 316: F*CK UP.

Leo consoled Lily, but the rage in his head had yet to calm down. After he fed her the meal, he gave her a massage and told her stories before putting her to bed. Lily’s exhaustion didn’t go away just because Leo wanted it too, she would take sometimes to recover, and during that time, Leo had to arrange for the destruction of the so called Crimson Scorpion mercenary.

He found Kyle in the living room, and he said, "Call Markus, I want to set up an office here. I want to monitor everything that is been done against the Crimson Scorpions. I want them to confess their cruel actions to the world."

Kyle nodded and went out to call Markus, and Leo went inside the bedroom to check on Lily. He found the girl had fallen asleep, and then he took out her tablet to connect to Percie and Cherry. The entire network of employees responsible for sales and marketing have been called up.

The meeting was called, people attended it in their night wears. The general managers of the various subsidiaries were there, and everyone had one question, what are we going to do. So, after the address, Leo said, "I want you to do a few things. All the products that we have in clash with the industries of the Shrine family, even if it is a matchstick, I want you to compete with them, and take them down. Join hands with their rivals, form connections and sabotage them. You all have one week, I want them running for their money.

Second, find me dirt, on their employees, their managers, the entire chain of staff, anyone. I don’t mind who finds what, but it should be dirty and after verification I will not shortchange you guys. Then we will publish it all in one go. Target everyone, from top to bottom, specially the top brass, find me the objectionable things they have done in the past.

Third, poach the talents they have. I care not if you have to establish a new company just to get them under our flag, but find them and get them. Destroy Shrine group."

The people were stunned by the absolute commands Leo had issued. He had never looked that serious, and this time, none of the people denied or refused. The reason was simple, the sales department had seen how Lily showed care for them, and the news that Lily was attacked had become an international issue. So, the people accepted the task and the meeting was concluded.

While they decided to target their new enemy, they didn’t forget the old ones as well, Percie and Cherry were smart, and they have left a few people solely to handle the advances from Lugers and the Primals.

Leo finished dealing with this, and he called Snow, and checked on her. The lady said, "I wanted to go to the office and take charge, but Ma didn’t let me."

Leo broke out in cold sweat and he said, "Are you intending to add to my troubles now? Can’t you stay home and look after yourself? Am I not handling things rightfully? Tell me?"

He was sounding a little dismissive of Snow’s behavior, and the lady was stunned, Leo had never taken such a tone with her unless he was too worried. She realized that her actions have indeed added to the anguish of her husband and she sighed before she said, "fine, I will rest at home, but I will still remotely coordinate things that they need to do."

Leo agreed and then after coaxing Snow for a bit the call was disconnected, and at this time, Markus walked in with three men, all carrying several laptops. He said, "Sir, these laptops will be streaming the proceedings from various fronts."

Leo nodded and the room was set up, and reports began to pour in. After a few minutes, Leo asked, "Where is the leader located?"

Markus pointed at a screen and said, "Sir, that monitor. It is located in the Kuuch District of the Crescent Nation. Our team has zero’d in to the location, they are just about to attack."

Leo said, "Make them hold their positions and not to attack."

Markus frowned and Leo said, "They are ready for the attack to start anytime. Our men are their, and it is still not too late in the night. When the enemy is waiting for an attack, it is always tense, and tension drains the person more than combat. Break their mental fortitude, and get that leader alive."

The operatives at present understood the task, and they issued the orders quickly. In the meantime, Leo issued a few commands on the other target locations and the attacks were concluded quickly. None of the mercenaries were spared, he even had Milo hack into the accounts of these people and transfer all the money they had to various small amounts and leading back to their families.

Milo was not alone in this task, he had several similar highly qualified techies helping him achieve the most optimal results. It was now the dead of the night in the Crescent Nation, Leo said, "Go."

The team moved, and the gunfight ensued. Leo and Markus received live updates from the field, it was just like a world leader listening to the reports from the field as a crucial mission was being overtaken.

After half an hour of gunfighting, one man, probably the leader of the small team said, "Target captured."

Leo smiled, and said, "Have them interrogate this swine on the spot, and record his confessions. In the end, have him confess how they organized a hit on Lily and who contracted them. Then kill him and deliver the file on the internet. Let the world see how Harry Shrine was an accomplished young elite. If the national government wants to give him a state funeral, then set fire to the public opinion and suffocate the people in the smoke. I want him to be desecrated by his own family and nation."

Markus shivered, he realized once again, how deeply Leo could hate someone.

...

In the evening, Hershell Shrine, Harry Shrine’s father was discussing the funeral affairs. They found only one arm, and even if it was confirmed that Harry had involvement with the mercenaries, he deserved to be buried like the rest of the humans.

If that was not all, the company stocks were free falling before the stock market had collapsed. Just when the family members found a way to wrap it up peacefully, the steward walked inside and said, "Sire, I apologize for the intrusion but we received an urgent news."

Hershell turned to look at the steward and asked, "What is it, Cel?"

Cel replied calmly, "Sire, please check your social media, you will find out."

Hershell and the elders were surprised but they knew Cel was not somebody to joke, and they checked the social media. As soon as they did, the leader of the family, Hershell erupted in rage. He yelled, "What the fuck is this? How can they say such things? He is dead already, why do they want us to disown him? Can we not bury our child in peace?"

The elders looked at him, and one of them said, "Second Brother, you are right to grieve, but Harry did go a little overboard in this matter. Contacting mercenaries could have been overlooked but this whole operation took place in broad daylight. How can the people forget that? The business is already suffering from this and I am sure that Leo Cardinal will not sit back and he will add fuel to this. We have no leverage against them and we need to sit back and tough it out."

Hershell looked at his elder brother, but then another news came, the leader of the Crimson Mercenaries have confessed that it was Harry Shrine who gave out the task to kill Lily. That was the nail in the coffin and Hershell Shrine said, "Cel, call for a press conference."

...

Later that night, just as Leo had predicted, Shrine Family announced how the condemned Harry for his actions, and how they denied giving him a funeral. They passed the decision to the state authorities on what to do with the hand they found and the demolished mansion. They stated that if the state wanted to cease that mansion estate, then the Shrine Family will fund the construction of an orphanage or any welfare body there.

This did win them some goodwill, but the news was also broadcasted the injured Harry Shrine who was kept in captivity by the Pinnacle Security people.

...

The next day, Leo picked up Lily, they went out for a tour and they encountered the media when they were busy shopping. The media reporter asked, "Sir, your daughter had just been through a drastic attack, at this time, shouldn’t you all be focused on her recovery?"

Lily beckoned the man and said, "My Baba has told me that I have no physical injury, only psychological and that will heal with time. The only thing I can do right now is to face the world as bravely as I can."

The reporter realized that it was him who fucked up.