While the people belonging to the Cardenez group were thanking the Howlers for their help, Kai was on his phone, informing Gary about how things had progressed on their end, and his plan in regards to what they should to next. Once done, he gave off a polite bow and started to head back toward the car.
Tyler, seeing this, took this as his cue to open the door for the Howlers.
"Wait, where are you going now?" Will asked nervously. Now that he had seen for himself how capable, and deadly the Howlers’ members actually were, he was unable to talk with as harshly as he had done in the past. "I mean, shouldn't we head inside and discuss what to do next? I doubt the Scatterbugs will sit back and do nothing. Perhaps we should invite your leader here as well."
Will was putting on his biggest smile as he suggested this, trying to look friendly, but one could tell that the lawyer lacked experience in faking sincerity.
"There’s no need for us to stay here any longer." Kai explained as he turned around. "After today, other gangs will no longer dare to attack you out in the open. If I were you, I would make use of this interlude to convince your workforce to return. I don’t know how much setback you’ve suffered, but no factory is able to work without its workers."
"As long as I’m alive, I will make sure that our companies won’t’t have to close down." Harry said, stepping forward, an answer that prompted a smile on the fox masked fellow.
"Good. In the meantime, we’ll be ready for the Scatterbugs’ response." Kai added. "However, after my earlier message, it won't be you they’ll be after. I also doubt that they’ll send someone else to do their dirty work after we’ve stepped over their reputation like this, all the more reason we should hurry back to Slough.
"The plan is simple. After we successfully manage to defend their next attack on us, we will counterattack them with our full force. The entire force of the Howlers will move into Notsburg and show them why they shouldn’t have messed with us.
“Hopefully, the Cardenez group, the Freaks, as well as their powerful allies, will come to join us in that attack." When he said that final sentence, Kai was looking towards Numba and his friends. For some reason they felt quite happy to be included in that plan, no matter how suicidal it might sound. It was almost as if someone who seemed above then was acknowledging them.
Before anyone had a chance to say anything about his plan, though, Kai and the others entered their vehicle and Tyler was off, heading back to Slough.
As suggested, Harry called down all the employees who had come to work these past few days, and had stayed with them. The businessman thanked them all profusely, reassuring them that not only had they successfully protected the factory, but that after today’s performance there was unlikely to be another attack in the future.
He also didn't shy away mentioning who it was that helped protect them. Although the Howlers weren't a name that those outside of Slough would recognise, Harry wanted them to get them the recognition they deserved. In the future, when they would become a household name, many would argue that this was the start of the gang’s real journey to the top.
Harry could foresee that as long as the Howlers could best the Scatterbugs, other companies would come to them, just as he had done in the past, only that they would gladly offer up half of their business, just for the opportunity to work with them.
The day was getting late and eventually Harry and the others returned to the company's headquarters.
The large, wide building that was only a single floor rather than the typical multi story building other companies would have.
"Wow!" Ian excalined as he walked through the halls and could see ancient vases and paintings that would catch for a small fortune in the hallway. "Why didn’t you mention that your family was super rich? The way you talked about being from a Tier-3 town like mine and Izzy’s, I thought that you might be slightly better off, but this is on another level!"
"It’s not like any of this belongs to me." Numba shrugged. "Even if I might inherit it all one day, what’s the point of that much money without the power to protect it? The Scatterbugs hired two gangs and nearly managed to take us out entirely without having to lift a finder."
It was expected, since Numba’s family more so ran the entire city similar to a gang due to their wealth, that they were like this. The three of them had decided that they would stay under Numba's care until his matter was resolved, no matter how long it took. Harry Cardenez had no problems with Ian’s friends accompanying them, especially since he had been told about how they had helped out his men.
As they were taking a tour around the place, Will suddenly arrived in front of them through the large hall.
"I apologise for my interrupting, but I was asked to accompany Numba to his father. I hope you don’t mind waiting for him." Will requested with his dreaded smile again. It was almost as if he was practising to be a nicer person.
Currently Harry, Will and lastly Numba were in his office.
'I went against my father's order. Is he going to punish me for this?' Numba wondered. Worst case scenario, he might get disowned from the family and return to being an orphan once more. If this was to happen, though, he would be fine with it, not regretting his choice at the time.
"We won't talk about what happened in the past. I’m sure you’re already reflecting on your actions, so let’s focus about what to do going forward. Our next step might decide our future path, and as my heir, it is not only your right to be part of that decision, it is your duty."
The words spoken from his adoptive father were the nicest words he had ever heard coming from the old man’s mouth. Were Harry that type of father, he would have hugged him right now.
"I wish for you to head to Slough. As the fox mask said earlier the Scatterbugs are most likely to attack them to enact revenge. Seeing as they have only become involved in this entire mess due to partnering up with us, it seems wrong for us to just look from the sidelines.
“I don’t know how much help you being there might actually offer, Numba, but I truly wish for them to regard us as equal partners. As such, it is my wish for you to help them fight back against the Scatterbugs. I have to admit that I feel guilty asking you of this because this is something I can not do myself but I saw your strength today.
"Ultimately, the decision is your."
Without taking a moment to weighing the pros and cons, Numba stated his mind. "I will head to Slough and help fend off the Scatterbugs."
With nothing else to be said, the Altered bowed down to his father and left the room, not before seeing the biggest smile on his father's face, both of them were proud of each other. The teenager found the others resting in one of the many large relaxing living rooms which had a projector that displayed a large cinema like screen and a kitchen in the back.
His two friends seemed to have not wasted any time making themselves at home as they sat back on the sofa helping themselves to a large tray of carefully prepared food.
"Hey everyone, I have some news…"
"I’ll come along." Izzy decided as soon as Numba was finished explaining everything. "Slough is where Gary is from, right? We originally came to stop him, we agreed to go together. I understand you want to go to the Howlers and thank Gary personally, but I have a lot of things to thank him for as well!"
"Yeah, and remember we are an alliance. It's only right that we go slap Gary on the back of his head for not leaving us." Ian added after gulping down the piece of food. "So let's all go together."
Numba, who hadn't expected to make friends with anyone at the academy, surely felt like he had a strong group around him.
"Alright, let's head to Slough, we will see the Howlers and meet up with Gary!"
****
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