the three foxes

part five

### Chapter Five

**(Note: Thoughts of the characters are written inside ".....")**

James Stone, of medium height, with long golden hair and blue eyes, was sitting in a large room with classical furniture. Beside him sat his brother, Daniel, tall with short black hair and blue eyes. James cautiously scanned the room to ensure there were no cameras or listening devices, but he found nothing.

**Daniel, with fear and tension:** Why did that man bring us here, and why isn't anyone answering our questions?

**James, with compassion:** Haven't you gotten used to this? This isn't the first time a parent has taken us to their home to save one of their children from us.

**Daniel, with anxiety:** Yes, but they brought us to London.

**James, seriously:** Actually, that makes me feel worried. Did you do anything without informing me?

**Daniel, trying to justify himself:** No.

**James:** Then, no matter what they ask you, tell the truth and don't lie about anything.

**Daniel:** Even if they ask about what we were doing at school?

**James:** Is there any evidence on your mobile phone?

**Daniel, with a trembling voice:** No.

**James:** Then do what I told you four months ago. If they have no evidence, deny everything. If they have evidence, tell them I ordered you to do it, and I'll handle it with the adults.

**James (thinking):** "If the pictures and videos are related to them, the risk doesn't exceed 30%."

**Daniel, trying to express his fears:** But...

Before Daniel could finish, Hans entered the room and asked James to come with him. James entered Arthur's office.

**James (thinking):** "I was sure the families I targeted weren't rich or powerful. Something is wrong."

Arthur asked James to sit in front of his desk, while Hans stood silently beside the desk.

**Arthur (thinking):** "My God, how much he looks like his father. It's as if I'm looking at my son William at the same age."

Silence filled the room. Arthur didn't know how to start the conversation; the problem wasn't his grandson. He had many grandchildren, but the issue was that he had to execute his grandson for a sin he didn't commit. As for James, he had gotten used to silence to gather information and avoid saying anything wrong.

**Arthur began to speak:** Your name is James William Stone, is that correct?

**James, cautiously:** Correct, and can you introduce yourself to me?

**Arthur, seriously:** No.

**James (thinking):** "What's this old man's problem? I'm not comfortable with this. Risk level 40%."

After a period of silence, Arthur grew tired of thinking and decided to treat James as one of his pure-blooded grandchildren. This wasn't James's fault, after all; it was his son William's fault. But he knew the family wouldn't stay silent and wouldn't forgive the children, and the execution order was inevitable. The hardest part was telling his grandson about his father's execution, but he decided to tell him that his father had gone on a business trip.

Arthur thought about teasing his grandson and cornering him, as he did with his other grandchildren when they did something wrong.

Arthur opened his desk drawer, which contained everything Hans had brought, took out the document containing the photos and video discs, and emptied its contents in front of James.

James was greatly surprised and stared at the contents of the file for a long time.

Arthur smiled slightly, feeling a small victory and a bit of relief, but he didn't know that James was thinking about something else entirely.

**James (thinking):** "If they managed to get these pictures, they must have cracked Daniel's laptop and extracted all the photos and videos. How could they do that? Risk level 60%."

**James, trying to understand the situation:** I'm sorry, sir, if any of the children in the pictures are your grandchildren, but please bring my father. He can explain everything to you.

**Arthur, with a serious tone:** Actually, I have no connection to anyone in the pictures, but my grandchildren are the ones who did the filming and threatening.

**James (thinking):** "Are his grandchildren part of the gang I formed? What's wrong with this old man not knowing about himself? Damn, I've run out of patience."

**James, with a worried tone:** Can you at least tell me who you are so I know who your grandchildren are?

**Arthur, calmly:** My name is Arthur Blackwell, and your father is William Arthur Blackwell. I am your grandfather, my boy.

**James (with astonishment and surprise, his pupils dilating and fear creeping into his body):** Damn, damn, risk level 100%.