Smith looked around the conference table at the various side conversations about The Paragons. "Regarding team membership, discuss specifics with Eddie privately. Submit your applications and I'll review them personally."
He waited for the murmurs to subside. "Beyond Eddie's proposal, does anyone have other business?"
Fox raised her hand. "Boss, I need to report a developing situation."
Smith's attention shifted to his CFO. "Go ahead."
Fox's expression was grim. "You previously authorized operations against telecom fraud and human trafficking networks in Southeast Asia. After our initial crackdown, we established Assassin Brotherhood chapters in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Seoul, Singapore, and other regional capitals."
She pulled up her tablet. "According to our latest intelligence, the criminal operations have resurged. They're more organized now. Deeper cover. Better protection. They've apparently found government officials to shield them in exchange for... services."
Her voice hardened. "Specifically, they're sourcing replacement organs for high-ranking officials in the region. Maintaining live 'organ banks'—kidnapped people kept healthy for emergency harvesting when their 'clients' need life-saving transplants."
Smith's jaw tightened.
"Friday," Fox called out, "display the intelligence files."
The AI's synthesized voice responded immediately. "Displaying."
The conference room's main screen activated, showing a cascade of information—video footage, photographs, intercepted communications, news reports, financial records. The evidence painted a comprehensive picture of industrial-scale human exploitation.
Fox stood and gestured to specific images. "Their activities have expanded beyond simple fraud. The harm they're causing is catastrophic. Not just to direct victims, but to entire families."
She clicked through case files. "People lose their life savings to these scams. Families are destroyed financially. We've documented multiple cases of victims committing suicide—jumping from buildings because they can't face the shame or debt."
The screen showed surveillance footage of cramped facilities where people worked under armed guard. Fox's voice remained professionally controlled, but anger simmered beneath. "Based on our intelligence analysis, these organizations operate at a scale and lethality that exceeds typical organized crime. Their body count and economic damage qualify them as terrorist organizations by any reasonable definition."
Wesley leaned forward, studying the displayed evidence with his tactical analyst's eye. "This goes far beyond telecom fraud. These are terrorist cells using fraud as their funding mechanism."
Heads nodded around the table. Even veterans of the supernatural underworld—vampires, werewolves, assassins who'd seen centuries of human cruelty—looked disturbed by the systematic nature of the operations.
Eddie Brock, who'd investigated corporate corruption and government conspiracy during his journalism career, appeared shaken. "How did it get this bad? I thought we'd already hit them?"
Smith's frown deepened. "We did conduct operations there. How did they rebuild to this scale? And how did we detect it this time?"
Fox displayed a new photograph—a middle-aged Hong Kong man, clearly distressed. "This man, Li Zhongzhi, approached our Bangkok Assassin Brotherhood chapter requesting assistance. His daughter disappeared in Thailand. While our local operatives investigated her case, they uncovered the larger network."
She pulled up a timeline. "This intelligence was compiled yesterday. Less than twenty-four hours old. The local chapter head reported directly to headquarters when he realized the scope."
Alexei's expression showed confusion and disgust. "I can't comprehend this many people going missing every year without massive international response."
Mr. X's voice carried cold fury. "Justice requires our direct action. Even if it means bloodshed."
Smith sat in silence for a moment, processing the information with the dual perspective of Fraternity leader and transmigrator who'd seen Earth's darker realities. The Fraternity had zero tolerance for certain crimes—child exploitation, human trafficking, mass victimization of innocents.
This qualified. Emphatically.
"The evidence is conclusive," Smith said finally, his tone carrying absolute certainty. "Under Fraternity rules, organizations of this nature must be eliminated completely."
His eyes swept the assembled leadership. "Not just the ringleaders. The accomplices. The enforcers. The facilities themselves. Everything associated with these operations will be erased."
Wesley straightened immediately. "Boss, assign this mission to us. The symbiotes have been... eager for targets whose deaths would genuinely improve the world."
John Wick spoke quietly, a rare occurrence. "Chief, I request permission to participate."
For John, who'd spent decades as an assassin killing for money, eliminating human traffickers and organ harvesters represented something approaching redemption. Purpose beyond contract fulfillment.
Eddie's hand shot up. "Boss, Venom and I are volunteering for this mission."
The symbiote apparently agreed enthusiastically, because Eddie nodded to himself.
Around the table, other voices joined. Selene. Michael Corvin. Cross. Even Fox looked ready to personally participate in the operational phase.
Smith raised both hands, requesting silence. The room quieted immediately.
"Has Li Zhongzhi's daughter been located yet?" Smith asked.
Fox shook her head. "Not as of this briefing. The investigation is less than a day old."
Smith nodded slowly, pieces aligning in his mind. "We're taking full ownership of Li Zhongzhi's case. His daughter will be found."
His tone grew harder, acquiring the edge that made even supernatural beings pay careful attention. "Simultaneously, we're establishing a permanent zero-tolerance policy for human organ trafficking, human smuggling, and fraud operations of this scale."
Smith leaned forward, both hands flat on the conference table. "Since they've resurfaced after our initial strike, we'll implement recurring elimination missions. Regular sweeps denying them time and space to rebuild. This becomes an ongoing operational priority."
He looked at Fox. "The Assassin Brotherhood will offer rewards for verified intelligence on these operations. Anyone providing actionable information on trafficking rings, fraud facilities, or organ harvesting will receive compensation. We investigate immediately, destroy confirmed targets without delay."
Fox made notes, already planning the intelligence network expansion.
Smith's attention shifted to specific personnel. "Wesley, John Wick, Eddie Brock, Selene—the four of you will form the primary response team. Selene, you're mission commander."
Selene's expression showed cold satisfaction.
"Your first objective: depart for Thailand immediately after this meeting," Smith continued. "Contact Li Zhongzhi. Find his daughter using every resource at your disposal."
He met Selene's eyes directly. "If necessary, use your vampire abilities. Memory extraction through blood consumption. I'm authorizing it specifically for this mission. Shorten the search timeline by any means required."
Selene nodded. Reading memories through blood was invasive, but against criminals who trafficked humans? She'd do it gladly.
"After recovering Li Zhongzhi's daughter," Smith said, his tone becoming even colder, "mobilize every Assassin Brotherhood asset in Southeast Asia. You're going to Myanmar. You're going to locate these fraud compounds."
His jaw set. "And you're going to destroy them completely."
He looked specifically at Selene. "Deploy vampire teams for intelligence gathering. Use blood memory to screen captured personnel. Anyone who was coerced—forced to participate under threat of death, genuine desire to escape, minimal actual harm caused—those individuals receive one chance at redemption."
His expression hardened. "But anyone who joined voluntarily? Anyone who actively participated in kidnapping, torture, organ harvesting, or victim exploitation? Anyone who profited knowingly from human suffering?"
Smith's voice dropped to absolute zero. "Treat them as terrorists. No mercy. No trials. Immediate termination."
The four designated operatives responded in perfect unison: "Yes, Chief. We'll complete the mission."
Smith could see the cold determination in their eyes. Wesley's tactical precision. John Wick's lethal focus. Eddie and Venom's righteous anger. Selene's ancient predator instincts aimed at genuinely deserving targets.
"Additional authorization," Smith added. "You're cleared for maximum collateral action. If these compounds are in populated areas and evacuation isn't feasible, minimize civilian casualties but prioritize mission completion. The facilities themselves must be destroyed completely—burned to foundations, structures demolished, no possibility of reoccupation."
He paused. "Document everything. Video evidence, photographs, recovered records. We'll need comprehensive proof for any international response."
Though Smith privately doubted governments would respond effectively. These operations existed because of official corruption and apathy. The Fraternity would handle it directly.
"One more thing," Smith said. "After Myanmar, expand the operation. Cambodia. Laos. Thailand. Anywhere these networks operate in Southeast Asia."
He looked around the table. "We're not just hitting one facility. We're eradicating the entire infrastructure. Make it clear that this region is under Fraternity protection. Human trafficking and organ harvesting end now."
Fox spoke quietly. "Boss, this will likely trigger government responses. These operations have official protection."
Smith's smile carried no warmth. "Then corrupt officials will learn what happens when they profit from human suffering. If they escalate, we escalate harder."
He stood, signaling the meeting's conclusion. "The four-person team departs immediately. Everyone else, support them with intelligence and resources. This is a Fraternity priority."
The designated operatives rose and filed out, already discussing logistics and approach vectors.
Smith remained behind, considering the implications. He'd been so focused on cosmic threats—Chitauri invasions, Infinity Stones, Thanos—that Earth's conventional horrors had fallen off his radar.
That ended now.
The Fraternity would protect people. From aliens, from supernatural threats, and from the human predators who viewed their fellow humans as livestock.
All threats would be addressed. With extreme prejudice.
[This is the plot of the movie Paradox]
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