The Billionaire Twins Need A New Mommy!-Chapter 693: Woman and Child

"Vito, huh?"

Hugo rested his arm behind his head, balancing his chair as he hummed.

"So, in other words... Vito used to be your boss?" he turned his head, his eyes falling on Lola.

Lola shrugged in her seat. "He’s the one who got me into all sorts of stuff. Haji knows him too — wait, you know him too?"

"First Sister, didn’t I tell you I’m now a freelance, uh... something?" Hugo cleared his throat. "Since Mint and I resigned from our jobs, we’ve been working on some cases when asked for help. And in some of those cases... that name always shows up. He’s quite well-connected, but the problem is, he’s not always directly involved."

He huffed. "So there isn’t any reason for me to go after him directly, not when he’s already on Interpol’s watchlist. I’m sure those guys will catch him one day."

Lola’s lips parted, then closed as she nodded in understanding. It wasn’t news to her that Vito was a wanted criminal. That man had been a criminal even before forming his organization. It was just that he was fortunate and often escaped raids or ambushes.

She always wished he would get caught, but she knew better than to snitch and work with the police. That would only put a target on her back. She had finally gained her freedom, and she wouldn’t waste it on the mere thought that getting him arrested was the right move. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"This drug is lethal, according to the reports, and taking one is enough to kill you," Atlas said, holding a small container with a neat label and the pill inside. "It’s the same drug."

"Same drug?" Lola repeated, watching her husband lift his gaze to her.

"Years ago, Mint was investigating an expensive drug being sold on the underground market. A drug that, once ingested, guaranteed death. However, this drug is special because it doesn’t kill instantly. Only when the drug dissolves completely does its effect show," he explained, only for Hugo to add:

"Not to mention, this drug doesn’t leave any traces," Hugo said matter-of-factly. "That’s why the effect takes time. By the time the victim dies, the drug is already out of their system. Our uncle had that drug to poison our grandpa, but good thing he has a change of heart!"

"And Vito is the one distributing that drug, huh?" Lola concluded. "I didn’t hear of that when I was there."

"Because back then, it was Nathalie who was distributing such drugs."

"What?" Her brows knitted. "Nathalie, as in Nathalie Zorken? The one who wanted to claim the Zorken family and the Order? The same one who took most of the Order’s researchers hostage on this very island?"

"Yep!" Hugo nodded. "That one."

"This drug actually originated from the Order," Atlas clarified, leaning back with a deep breath. "And the one who created the first pill was... Scarlet’s dad. Her sister refined what’s already working."

Silence fell as the lines on Lola’s face deepened. She darted her eyes between the brothers.

Lola was aware of the incident in the Order and how Atlas claimed leadership. In Zoren’s stead, Atlas sacrificed his freedom so his little sister wouldn’t have to live that kind of life. She also understood how dangerous the battle had been and how Nathalie was taken down.

She knew not everyone survived that night, including Scarlet’s family. Hence, Scarlet’s unbending drive to grow stronger and keep the Order from falling.

"I know all of that..." she trailed off. "...except this part."

Surely, Ransom’s report was stronger than coffee — she didn’t feel sleepy at all anymore.

"She developed the drug for quicker assassination processes and a higher chance of survival," Atlas explained calmly. "From what I know, it was because Scarlet worked in the field, and assassination was the mission she most often carried out."

"Unfortunately, even though the drug was never mass-produced and was classified, its formulation somehow reached Nathalie’s hands," he added in a knowing tone. "I also believe this drug was the reason Nathalie ended those who knew the drug first."

"Who stole it and gave it to Nathalie?"

"First Brother caught the person who stole the formula, but he ended up taking his own life," Hugo answered. "I helped with the cleanup when First Brother started here, so... yeah, I know that much."

Lola leaned forward, resting her arms on the table, deep in thought. "And yet, even without the original creator of the drug, and even with Nathalie dead, Vito still managed to distribute the same drug?"

"If I’m right, Nathalie probably sold the formulation before she died," Atlas guessed. "It wouldn’t be the first time she used leverage like that to build her army."

After all, Nathalie Zorken had done everything to take down the Zorken family and the Order. Since she couldn’t have it, she wanted to destroy it. Pride and greed drove her madness, wanting to prove she didn’t need the Order to rule.

"The problem is, this drug disappeared after Nathalie died," Hugo chimed in, raising a finger. "And since Mint hasn’t been notified about it, I’m sure it was recently reproduced or traded in deeper secrecy, with very few people involved."

"The question is... why just now?" Hugo added, rocking his head.

Then Lola whispered, "No."

"Hmm?"

"Hugo, that’s not the real question." Slowly, Lola lifted her eyes and met both Hugo’s and Atlas’s. Atlas seemed to have already caught on, but she said it anyway. "The real question is, why is it in Ravah? Particularly, in Ashkar?"

There were many places Vito could operate, and his trading in Ravah wasn’t surprising. Heck, Lola herself had given Vito leverage to enter Ravah’s market and trade routes.

But considering what had happened in Ravah and the mystery in Ashkar, there was no way Vito didn’t know something.

"We’ll start with him," Atlas finally announced, earning their attention. Slowly, he raised another small container with a pill inside. "But first, I might need Penny because of this."

"What is that?" Hugo asked.

"It’s not the same pill as the first one. Actually, these three pills are different. One is the lethal drug that originated from the Order. The other two... one is a strong anesthetic that can knock someone out almost instantly, and the other is an antidote for it."

He set the container down. "Hugo, remember that time on Pierson Island?"

"Huh? That place where the group of scammers used it as their base for illegal gambling?"

"Yes," Atlas nodded. "Back then, Penny was drugged. Based on her description, it matches the effect of this drug and that antidote."

He paused, eyes sharpening. "It might have something to do with that woman and child who did that to Penny."