BXBX NOVEL Chapter 117: Corporate Attack
A knock on the door interrupted his concentration. Before he could respond, the door opened, and Olivia stepped in, her expression tense.
"Ezra, we have a problem," she said, her voice low.
He looked up, concern flickering in his eyes. "What is it? Silent Hand?"
"In a way." She amswered. "My feelers into authority just informed me that the Investigation Bureau is sniffing after Ascendant Capital. They\'re investigating our financial transactions and looking into our clients. It\'s not just a routine audit. They suspect something."
"Shit." Ezra hrowled. This had to be an attack from Silent Hand. His mind raced. This was a serious threat.
If the authorities uncovered the true nature of Ascendant Capital\'s operations, it would be disastrous. Ascendant Capital, had always been a cornerstone of his operations.
On the surface, it appeared to be a legitimate financial institution, providing loans and financial services to various clients. However, beneath the surface, it served as a front for the illicit activities of the Black Spider gang.
The company\'s clean image had allowed Ezra to expand his influence and maintain a powerful presence in the criminal underworld. But now, that carefully crafted image was under threat.
He had to act quickly to cover their tracks and protect the company and the gang. "How much do they know?" he asked, his voice calm despite the urgency of the situation.
"Not enough to make a case yet, but they\'re digging. We need to shut down any leads they might find and ensure there\'s no evidence linking us to the Black Spider gang."
Ezra nodded, already formulating a plan. "Get Gen and Red in here. We need to coordinate our response."
Olivia nodded and left the room, leaving Ezra to plan their next steps. The authorities\' interest in Ascendant Capital was unexpected, but not entirely surprising.
They had always operated on the edge, balancing legality and illegality with careful precision. Now, that balance was at risk, and they needed to tip the scales back in their favor.
Thirty minutes later, Gen and Miss Red joined Ezra in his office.
"What\'s the plan, boss?" Gen asked, dropping into a seat.
"First, we need to clean up our financial records and eliminate any connections between Ascendant Capital and the Black Spider gang," Ezra said as he stood. "Olivia, I want you to handle the records. Make sure everything looks legitimate and remove any traces of any connections to Black Spider."
Olivia nodded, already making notes. "I\'ll start with the most recent transactions and work my way back. It\'ll take time, but I can do it."
"Good," Ezra replied. "Gen, I need you to take care of our clients. Use the resources of Black Spider. Anyone who might talk needs to be silenced, one way or another. Make sure they understand the consequences of betrayal."
Genesis gave a grim smile. "Consider it done."
"And Red," Ezra continued, turning to her, "I need a favor from you."
"Shoot." She spoke. She seemed amused by all that was happening around her. "I need you to gather information on the authorities investigating us. Find out who they are, what they know, and how we can divert their attention. Use any means necessary."
"That sounds exciting. I\'ve always wanted to do this." Miss Red\'s eyes gleamed with excitement. "Leave it to me. I\'ll find out everything we need."
With their tasks assigned, the group dispersed, each member focused on their part in protecting Ascendant Capital.
Ezra remained in his office, his mind a whirl of thoughts and strategies. The stakes were high and he couldn\'t risk falling. He took a deep breath and sat back down.
He pulled the keyboard to the Holo computer closer to him. It was time to work.
The first step was to review the company\'s financial records. Olivia was already working on it, but Ezra knew he needed to understand exactly what the authorities might find.
He pulled up the latest reports on his computer, scanning through the numbers and transactions with a practiced eye.
Ascendant Capital\'s legitimate activities were straightforward enough. Loans, investments, and financial consulting. But hidden within those transactions were the threads that connected to the Black Spider gang.
Payments for "services rendered," loans to shell companies that funneled money back into the gang\'s operations, and coded messages that detailed their illegal activities.
Ezra\'s fingers flew over the keyboard, identifying potential red flags and making a mental note of what needed to be altered or erased.
It was a delicate process, one that required both technical skill and an understanding of how the authorities would approach their investigation. Fortunately, he\'d helped a few times in corporate crime during his time as a lawyer.
Hours passed as Ezra worked, the sunlight outside his window shifting from evening to night. His focus never wavered, each keystroke bringing them closer to safety.
He was interrupted only by occasional updates from Olivia, Genesis, and Red, each report bringing a mix of progress and new challenges.
By midnight, Olivia had made significant headway in cleaning up their records. She had altered transaction histories, removed suspicious entries, and created plausible explanations for the funds that had flowed through Ascendant Capital.
She entered his office, her shoes echoing off the floor. "We\'re making progress." She said as she sat opposite him. "I\'ve covered most of the major transactions. We should be in the clear if the authorities don\'t dig too deep."
Ezra nodded, grateful for her hard work. "Keep at it. We need to be thorough. What\'s the update with Gen?"
"She hasn\'t reported back yet."
"That\'s okay." Ezra sighed. "I trust her. Unfortunately, I won\'t be coming home today. I have a meeting."
Olivia gave him a slight smile. "Okay. Have fun." She left.
Ezra sat down and began waiting. Sooner or later, X will appear.