Chapter 262 - Fighting Dragon

The girls slowly but surely adjusted back to their regular lives after the trip to the Bahamas. However, they were also incredibly busy after school. Alex was busy meeting new people and Scarlet was taking care of the Golden Frost's marketing activities.

Orita silently left the country but nobody knew. The Interpol was busy focusing on the Anastasia family but nobody paid attention to the lone China hotel heiress who was in town. CEO Zhu was scheduled to land in New York next week for the official press conference and Scarlet was still sulking at not being able to visit the warehouse before the press conference.

Edward, Elfie and Jasper were busy making their own arrangements because they didn't trust the a.d.u.l.ts to handle the matter smoothly. Dragon was also in town and called his contacts from Chinatown, bringing some men from Hong Kong as additional manpower.

"You look like a thug," Elfie commented and Dragon showed off his huge dragon tattoo on his right bicep.

"No, I look tough!" he said and Edward blinked. This flashy street thug was going to be Scarlet and Alex's extra guard? Was Elfie and Jasper for real now?

"I don't know if this is going to be a good idea. Scarlet and Alex are trained by Claire. They will be able to floor a thug like him in a minute. We're not playing children games and scuffles, we're guarding against armed assailants and professional assassins."

Triggered by Edward's belittling comment, Dragon jumped over the table in Jasper's meeting room to pin Edward.

On reflex, Edward responded to defend himself but Dragon was fast, too fast for his eyes to keep up. Within five seconds, Edward lost miserably and his hand was locked painfully behind his back. Dragon wasn't gentle, he used just enough force to not make it pop out of the socket but held Edward down firmly without even breaking a sweat. He breathed normally as if strolling in a park and not taking someone down.

"Children games and scuffles? I think not. There is a Chinese saying to never judge a man by their looks and the equivalent in America should be not to judge a book by its cover. Learn a thing or two from them before you talk and make a fool of yourself."

Hearing that Dragon was actually using big words, Jasper and Elfie applauded, looking very proud.

"Oh gosh! You've really grown up!" Elfie commented. "I remember how you used to be unable to remember multiplication tables. You're actually speaking in proverbs now, I'm so proud of you!"

Jasper nodded. "I'm so glad you passed the final examinations legitimately and didn't actually threaten the examiners to look the other way after they gave you the answer sheet to copy from!"

Hearing their teasing remarks and insincere praises mocking his intelligence, Dragon blushed.

"Shut up! I was stupid back then, I'm a lot smarter now. Rebecca said that I cannot marry her if I don't memorise my wedding vows right. Also, as a man, I cannot let my woman defend me. The pen is mightier than the sword in today's world. I had to learn how to slap people with words."

Dragon finally released Edward and Elfie smirked.

"What's four times four?"

"Eighteen?" the confused martial artist answered and both boys burst out in laughter. As expected, this was still the same musclehead they knew.

Embarrassed by his lack of mathematical skills, Dragon demanded them to be silenced but not even a noogie will make the laughter cease. Edward watched as Dragon roared in rage when the boys continued to tease him. Somehow, he felt slightly bad for judging him without knowing. He had to apologise later. Dragon was going to be putting his life on the line to keep the sisters safe and the least Edward could do was offer him respect. Maybe even a Math supplementary class.

After calming down and settling down, the boys got down to serious business. Edward and Jasper wrote down Alex and Scarlet's schedule for the coming week and Elfie pulled out Claire's arranged security details. Dragon looked them over and told them the men he had under his charge.

"Not everyone is trained for disarming armed assailants. If we're talking about good ones professionally trained to deal with assassination threats, I have only five men, excluding myself. Someone has to coordinate movements on both sides for each person. We cannot let the Wilde private security arrangements be moved, I'm sure the Interpool sent people to watch as well."

Edward agreed with everything Dragon said. Despite being a martial artist and stunt ctor, Dragon was actually good at high-risk security detail arrangement.

"Do you work for the government?" Edward couldn't help but ask. "Secret service and things like that," he clarified.

Dragon raised a brow. "We are cleaners and contractors for specific jobs but I don't work for them. Think of us as professional freelancers. I help them in return for rights to operate my side business."

Jasper was confused when Elfie shook his head. "Fight clubs. You don't talk about it."

Dragon grinned. "Don't tell my future wife. I will quit that life when I have children but for now, I want to achieve greater heights. This body can still be stronger but you cannot find many strong men to fight with on the job."

Impressed, Edward finally noticed the strange wounds on Dragon's arm that he covered up really well with tattoos. He simply assumed that they were earned during a stunt accident but looking at it closer, some of those cuts were really deep and clean as if someone had professionally cut him at an angle too coincidental to be a fall.

This man might be the right person for the job. He wanted him in the raid team instead of the guard team.

"Can your men handle the ground situation?" Edward asked and Elfie looked up.

"I want you on the raid team," Edward explained and Elfie hissed.

"Stop that! I told you we're not doing raids! You're no longer part of the Interpol! You have no rights to interfere, don't do this. I have to report you to the higher-ups if I know anything."

Edward gave Elfie a cold glare. "Fine. It won't stop me from doing what I need to do. I have until the end of the month to turn in my pass. While I'm still holding onto it, it still has legitimate uses. The a.d.u.l.ts don't know what they're dealing with, I do. Leah is in New York, I'm simply taking care of business from the angle that they always fail to look at. You and I both know how missions normally end up without me on the ground. Prevention is better than cure, I'll bear the consequences. Just don't get in my way."

Elfie pulled at his hair, frustrated and Jasper looked conflicted. Although his working partners didn't tell him a lot, he knew that they were working on confidential information that borderline the legal and illegal side of the law. As a neutral party who didn't know the full story, Jasper thought that Edward had a point. It was better to be safe than sorry. However, he also knew Elfie's concern.

"Why don't we leave this to Dragon instead. He can investigate on behalf and you don't need to risk getting into trouble. Edward, you should stay with Scarlet. Unlike Alex, Scarlet doesn't have that many security details when she is at Golden Frost's office. The building isn't assassin-proof. You should also stop her from meeting CEO Zhu in private to prevent giving Leah an excuse for calling her out."

Edward listened to Jasper's suggestion and with a little urging from Elfie, he gave in. "Deal. However, I want everything about Leah to be investigated. CEO Zhu too. The link between Anastasia and CEO Zhu is Leah, she's not innocent in this deal."

Dragon studied the profiles of the targets he had to investigate and accepted the job.

"Alright, since I'm doing you a favour, I expect it to be paid in full. Jasper, I'm sending you the expenses for my wedding. Elfie, you're in charge of finding out the engagement ring that Rebecca wants. I need to buy that thing in secret and propose to her by the end of the year. I've waited too long to graduate, I'm not waiting any longer to marry her. Lately, there have been too many flies hovering around her thinking that they have a chance."

Elfie agreed and Jasper nodded, promising to also take care of Dragon's engagement party expenses if he did well as a bonus. The martial artist took the files and left. Edward was unusually silent so Jasper decided to call it a day. The poor ex-agent must have a lot on his mind now. Not too long ago, Edward had a meeting with Wilmer. Now, he had to sit back and do nothing because of his early retirement. If he was Edward, he would be equally frustrated.

"Go home and rest, Edward. Scarlet enjoys broccoli pancakes and roasted chicken with herbs. It's a long day for her," Jasper smiled.

Edward got the hint and packed up before leaving. He looked like a lost puppy and Elfie didn't say anything until he was sure Edward had left for real.

"It's not going to be easy for him."

Jasper agreed. "I would offer him a job with Kiwi Cat but I don't think this is what he wants to do."

They sat in silence and thought deeply about their future. Once Anastasia was caught and justice was served, what were they going to do? They could laugh at Edward's situation now but very soon, all three of them would be in a similar boat.

Growing up was a scary thing.