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  Nero, seated in his offi the top floor of Prince's Nightclub, stared at the report with an uncharacteristic stillness. Maria sat beside him, her face tight with anger and disbelief. Anthony paced the room like a caged lion, his ched fists trembling with barely suppressed rage. The murderous aura emanating from him alpable. Diego sat quietly, but his brooding silend the lethal glint in his eyes spoke volumes. Sofia's fingers flew over her keyboard, her usually cheerful face dark with a rare fury. Donald leaned on his e, his gaze fixed on the window, lost in his thoughts.

  The intel Nami had stolen had arrived, and it was far worse than any of them had anticipated. Child traffig. The words alone were enough to fill the room with a heavy, oppressive silence.

  Nero broke the silence first, his voice cold and resolute. "This is worse thahought. We o act swiftly and decisively."

  "Yeah, no kidding," Anthony growled, pung the wall in frustration. "Those bastards will pay for this."

  Maria shook her head, "I k was bad, but this... it's monstrous."

  Sofia, not looking up from her ptop, added, "I've already started trag their unications. It'll take some time, but I'll find where they're operating from."

  "Good," Nero nodded. "We o hit them hard and fast. But we also o be smart about this. We 't afford any mistakes."

  Diego leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "We o gather more intel before we move. We 't just storm in without knowing what we're up against."

  "He's right," Donald agreed, turning to face them. "We o be thh. These people are dangerous, and we o be prepared for anything."

  Maria pced a hand on Nero's arm. "What's the pn?"

  Nero looked at Sofia, his voice steady, "What have you found about their operation?"

  Without lifting her eyes from the s, Sofia reported, "They use online marketpces, disguising their listings as overpriced children’s clothing. Each description is coded, an allegory about the age, race, and gender of the child. The buyers tact them through these listings, and after verifying both parties are safe, they arrahe transa."

  Anthony, still pag, let out a low growl. "Disgusting. They think they're untouchable behind those ss."

  Maria's lips pressed into a thin line. "If we don't take them down, no one will."

  Sofia snorted, her eyes never leaviop. "They've made a big mistake thinking they are safe oer."

  Nero's gaze was cold. "Sofia, how long until you pinpoint their maiions?"

  "Give me a few hours," Sofia replied fidently. "I've already breached their first yer of security. With some luck, I'll have locations soon."

  Diego, finally speaking up, leaned forward, his tone serious. "We o prepare for their defehese people won't go down without a fight."

  Nero shook his head, "We o be smart about this. Even if we cate of them, we don't know where they keep the children or who their suppliers are. Killing a feturing small bosses, and saving a handful of kids wohis operation."

  Anthony ched his fist, feeling the heat of his rage. "I want to smash every single one of them."

  Maria, knowihe best, touched his arm. "We don't have a clear identity. If we mess this up, they'll get smarter. ime, they'll be even harder to find."

  Nero nodded, appreciating her insight. "Exactly. We 't afford to give them a ce troup."

  Donald hit his e on the ground twice, drawing everyone's attention. "You want to use Erwin?"

  Diego leaned back, uanding Nero's pn. "Erwin works for SHIELD. His involvement could give us an edge and be him by boosting his standing."

  Nero smiled, a glint of promised trouble in his eyes. "That's precisely the pn. Here's how we'll do it..."

  The discussion tinued in hushed tohe details of their strategy id out meticulously. Pns were made, tingencies discussed, and roles assighey had to be precise, swift, and ruthless.

  Diego, now outside the office, was on a mission of his own. He dialed a number on his sleek smartphone, his expression shifting from calm to charming as the call ected.

  "Good evening, Mr. Ashcroft. It's Diego Martinez," he said smoothly. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

  The voi the other end chuckled. "Diego! Always a pleasure. To what do I owe the call?"

  "I have some exclusive arras tonight at Prince's Nightclub. Thought you might be ied," Diego said, his tone inviting and hinting at secrecy.

  "Exclusive, you say? I do enjoy your taste in exclusivity," Ashcroft replied, intrigued.

  "Let's just say, it's a gathering of our kind. Discreet, enjoyable, and beneficial. Shall I expect you at midnight?" Diego's voice was honeyed, each word crafted to entice.

  "Midnight it is. I wouldn't miss it for the world," Ashcroft firmed, the eagerness evident in his voice.

  Diego hung up, a satisfied smile pying on his lips. He repeated the process with a few other seledividuals, each versation tailored to their is and weaknesses. By the end, he had secured the attendance of several iial ahy patrons.

  At midnight, the nightclub was alive with the muted hum of versation and the king of gsses. Diego moved through the crowd with ease, his athletic build and charming demeanor drawing appreciative gnces. He was a master at this game, effortlessly weaving through the social fabric of the natioe.

  As he approached Ashcroft, he was greeted with a hearty handshake. "Diego! This pce is marvelous as always."

  "Thank you, Mr. Ashcroft. I aim to please," Diego replied with a grin, guiding him to a private booth.

  The night wore on, ughter and deals mingled in the air. Diego gathered information subtly, his questions masked as casual versation. The patrons, loosened by alcohol and the intimate setting, spoke more freely than they might have elsewhere.

  "Iing developments iy tely," Diego remarked casually, his eyes sharp. "I heard about a hidden pyer, Harold Givens."

  Ashcroft arched an eyebrow, swirling his drink thoughtfully. "Harold Givens? The name rings a bell. Isn’t he a phinthropist? Runs those charity events for orphans?"

  "That's the public face," Diego replied smoothly, leaning ba his seat. "But I've heard whispers that he's involved in less savory activities."

  Another patron, a portly man with a cigar, ughed. "In this city? Everyone's got a skeleton or two in their closet. Givens isn’t an exception."

  "True," Ashcroft agreed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But it takes a special kind of operator to stay hidden for so long. Makes you wonder who he's proteg or who’s proteg him."

  Diego chuckled, sensing the intrigue bubblih the surface. "Indeed. Makes you wonder what he's really up to."

  Ashcroft took a long puff of his cigar, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Maybe he's just good at pying the game. Or maybe he's got friends in high pces."

  "Or both," Diego added, letting the versation drift into a fortable silence as the music swelled in the background. The hints and nudges had pnted seeds of curiosity and suspi. Diego khat in their circles, it wouldn't take long for those seeds to bear fruit.

  As the night progressed, Diego tio flit from versation to versation, gathering ss of information with practiced ease. The rid powerful were always eager to talk, especially when plied with the right mix of fttery and i.

  Diego made a mental note, his instincts telling him that this line of inquiry might yield valuable results. He tio navigate the room, each versation adding another piece to the puzzle.

  By the end of the night, Diego had enough fragments to form a clearer picture. He slipped out of the nightclub just before dawn, his mind already processing the wealth of information he had gathered. He dialed Nero's number, waiting for his friend to pick up.

  "Diego?" Nero's voice was sharp and alert despite the early hour.

  "I've got something," Diego said, his voice low. "A lot of whispers about Givens. He's not as as he appears. Property acquisitions, possible es to other shady figures. We o dig deeper."

  "Good work," Nero replied, his tone approving. "Bring everything to the meeting afternoon. We'll figure out our move."

  Diego hung up, a satisfied smile pying on his lips. He had done his part, and now it was time to let Nero and the others strategize.

  In his house, Donald was seated in front of his puter, a list of names gring back at him. Sofia had provided the list after meticulously filtering through hundreds of fake websites. Her hard work had paid off, isoting the real numbers from the fraudulent ohe names on the list were doctors, nurses, and caregivers, all of whom had succumbed to greed. Sofia suspected that among them, one or two might be ected to Givens' operation and might have had tact with the trafficked children. Rich ers wanted assurances of their purchases' health, and sihose children couldn’t be taken tur hospitals, these corrupt doctors stepped in.

  Donald adjusted his position, feeling the usual pain in his leg, and began to make the calls. He knew he had to py his part vingly. With eaumber, he crafted a different story, ensuring no patterns could be traced ba.

  He dialed the first he phing twice before it icked up.

  "Dr. Evan Sanders here," a gruff voiswered.

  "Hi, Dr. Sanders," Donald began, his voice steady. "I got your number from a friend. Heard you might be able to help someone looking for quick cash?"

  "Who’s asking?" The doctor’s tone was guarded, suspi evident.

  "Call me Don," he replied smoothly. "Let's just say I'm in a bit of a bind and need some fast money. My friend Xander mentioned you might have some... opportunities?"

  Dr. Sanders paused before responding, "Xander, huh? Haven't heard from him in a while. What exactly are you looking for?"

  "Anything that pays well and quickly," Donald said, iing a hint of desperation into his voice. "I'm not picky. Xander mentioned you might have some unventional ways to earn."

  Sanders chuckled darkly, "Unventional, indeed. Meet me at St. Mary's parking lot tonight at eleven. We'll talk more then."

  Donald thanked him and hung up, immediately dialing the number on his list.

  "Dr. Avery here," a female voiswered after a few rings.

  "Hi, Dr. Avery," Donald began, his tone calm. "I got your number from a mutual friend, Logan. He said you might have some work for someone needing quick cash."

  Dr. Avery's tone softened slightly, "Logan, Logan, oh that bastard? Alright, Don, what kind of work are you looking for?"

  "Anything that pays well. I’m in a bit of a tight spot and need money fast," Donald expined, keeping his story sistent.

  There was a brief silence before Dr. Avery replied, "I might have something. e by my iorrow at noon. We'll discuss it in person."

  Donald agreed, making a mental note of the appoi. He moved on to the number.

  "Dr. Novak speaking," a gruff voiswered.

  "Dr. Novak, good afternoon," Donald started. "My name's Don. A friend, Man, suggested I reach out to you about some quick cash opportunities."

  "Man, never heard of it?" Novak's voice was skeptical. "What makes you think I'd have a work for you?"

  "Maioned you sometimes need ara set of hands for... off-the-books tasks. I'm in a tough spot and need money fast," Donald replied, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

  Dr. Novak sighed, "Fine. Meet me at the docks tonight at ten. We'll see if you're up to the task."

  Donald thanked him and moved on to the tact.

  "Dr. Patel here," a calm, professional voiswered.

  "Good afternoon, Dr. Patel," Donald said. "My name's Don. A mutual acquaintance, Cra, gave me your number. She mentioned you might have some opportunities for quick cash."

  Dr. Patel was silent for a moment before replying, "You got the wrong number."

  Donald cursed as the call ended. He khese doctors were involved in something shady, but it was necessary to dig deeper. Sadly the st one was too cautious.

  Donald rubbed his leg, the persistent ache gnawing at him. He picked up his phone and dialed Nero’s number, waiting for the familiar voice to answer. "I mao set up appois with most of them," he said as soon as Nero picked up. "A few were skeptical, and none of them detailed what their jobs actually involve. I'll have to meet eae in person."

  ook a moment before responding, his tone cautious. "Take Maria with you. She use the Ring of Mist to disguise your face, hide your limp, and make herself invisible. And be careful."

  Donald couldn’t help but chuckle. "Trust you to e up with a pn like that. Maria's illusions are top-notch."

  Nero’s voice was cautionary. "Her illusions are good, but don't uimate these people. They’re dangerous."

  "I know," Donald replied, his tone serious. "I'll be careful. Maria and I will ha."

  As the hours passed, Donald and Maria visited the various doctors, eater revealing more about the shadowy work they were up against. Using the Ring of Mist, Maria skillfully cealed their identities, allowing them to gather information without drawing suspi.

  At St. Mary's parking lot, Donald met Dr. Sanders, who eyed him warily before nodding in approval. "You’ve got the look of someone in need," Sanders said gruffly. "Follow me."

  In the ic, Dr. Avery listeo Donald’s story, her eyes narrowing with i. "I might have a job for you," she said slowly. "But it’s risky."

  At the docks, Dr. Novak was more straightforward. "Show me you handle yourself, and there’s work for you."

  By the end of the day, they had gathered enough information to return to Nero, each piece of the puzzle fitting together to reveal a grim picture of the child traffig operation.

  --

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