"Members of the Alcatraz Organización consider the Vetrovs to be their archnemeses," Iris interjected.
Lu Zihao sneered but didn't refute her words.
Jin Liwei looked at the siblings before continuing to read his wife's investigation results.
"Alcatraz had always been trying to surpass the Vetrovs in the past several decades," Iris continued saying. "The Vetrovs' largest business was on the production and sale of illegal firearms. Wherever there was war, there would surely be firearms manufactured by the Vetrovs. Of course, the illegal firearms were mostly sold to the rebel armies and not to governments."
"Those damned governments always stole our weapons to study and reproduce," Lu Zihao said. "Fucking thieves! They don't have the ability to hire and pay people with high IQ so they steal Vetrov technology and then claim it as their own. They always put on a big show about how advanced and sophisticated their technology is but the real truth is that most of what they have are stolen from us!
"They have always condemned the Vetrovs to be the most evil criminals in the whole world and yet look at them stealing resources everywhere, killing countless innocent people they call 'inevitable casualties' during wars, and secretly silencing whistleblowers who were brave enough to call them out on their bullshit to the public.
"At least we, the Vetrovs, have always been direct and honest on how we are indeed criminals. Then compare us to all those government dogs who preach morals to their citizens during the day and then act like the worst criminals during the night. Damned hypocrites!"
Iris lowered her gaze, not saying anything. Jin Liwei sensed his wife's turbulent emotions after listening to her brother's tirade. He placed his arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer to him.
"You okay?" he asked in a whisper.
She gave her a soft smile and nodded. Then she leaned her head on his chest.
Lu Zihao stood up from his seat. The couple watched as he paced in front of the wide windows while rubbing the Smoking Devil between his fingers.
Iris continued explaining the Alcatraz Organización to her husband while they waited for her brother to cool off his head by the windows.
"Unlike the Vetrovs' monopoly in the illegal firearms production and trade, the Alcatraz have built the majority of their power from illegal drugs. They have successfully transformed several countries into narco-states, most of them in Latin America. However, their tentacles are pervading Asia as well. Illegal drugs are very profitable. This made the Alcatraz possess great political control in their narco-states. Their presence is actually more blatant than the Vetrovs who prefer to remain in the shadows."
A loud snort of derision sounded from in front of the windows. Lu Zihao tossed the Smoking Devil up in air. Its jewels sparkled under the lights before the smoking pipe fell into its owner's waiting hand.
"They're a bunch of wannabe emperors who have no class," he spat, not bothering to conceal his disgust at all.
Iris and Jin Liwei stopped talking. They waited for Lu Zihao to calm down enough to resume the meeting. Finally, he returned to his seat and tapped the investigation results.
"How accurate are these?" he asked.
Iris replied, "I would say about 95% accurate."
Lu Zihao frowned. "Only?"
She sighed. "Yes, only."
His frown deepened.
"The Alcatraz Organización is now the number one criminal organization after the Vetrovs' downfall. I'm positive that they had a hand in what happened back then. I'm also certain that they weren't the only culprits. There were police and soldiers when they annihilated us that night."
"I know," Lu Zihao whispered. His voice was soft yet his expression was hard and savage. "I know it very well."
Iris sighed. "They must have swallowed a great portion of Vetrov resources including top-secret technology. I will need more time for my own technology to infiltrate and overcome theirs if you want 100% accuracy."
Jin Liwei frowned and threw his brother-in-law a look full of warning.
"No need," Lu Zihao told his sister. "95% from you is enough. I'll take over from here."
He stood up. "Little devil, send your mother's investigation results to me."
"Uncle Zihao, please stop calling Bacon a little devil. It's not classy. I already told you this many times but you ignore me every time. It hurts Bacon's feelings. I have the glorious name that Mother gave me—Jin Bacon. So please use it. Thank you very much."
"Heh."
"And Bacon will be charging Uncle Zihao for emotional distress," the black cat AI added. As usual.
"Little devil," Lu Zihao muttered under his breath after rolling his eyes.
The meeting ended.
Lu Zihao left to do what he needed to do with the investigation results on Tian Kong.
Iris and Jin Liwei returned to the nursery room to see their twins. Huang Yuyan and Grandpa Lu had already put the babies to sleep. The two reluctantly left to rest after the couple took over in watching the babies.
Jin Liwei couldn't stop his curiosity about the Alcatraz Organización.
"If they're really involved in some way with Tian Kong, does this mean that they have already infiltrated this country?" he asked. "Do they plan on transforming our country into another narco-state?"
"My investigations haven't reached that far yet to confirm whether they're really directly involved with Tian Kong. As for turning this country into a narco-state, I can't say for sure but it's a possibility. It won't be easy though unless they manage to gain a big and powerful tool to achieve whatever goal they have. And I don't think that someone like Tian Kong fits their criteria."
"Big and powerful tool," Jin Liwei murmured.
She nodded. "Yes. Something like having one of their people in important positions in the government who can then influence other powerful and influential people into converting to their side."
Jin Liwei continued thinking. "Is it only in the government?"
"Not really." She shrugged. "There are other possible methods."
"Other possible methods…hmmm. How about big and powerful companies?"
She gave him an approving smile. "My husband is smart."
His mouth curved up at her praise before returning to a serious expression. "Does Jin Corporation fit the criteria of a big and powerful tool?"
"Of course," she said.
Then she froze.
They looked at each other with wide eyes.
