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Chapter 37 - Chapter 10: The Abduction

rustled through the large trees. The tranquility of the morning was enhanced by the soft sounds of nature and the distant shimmer of the pool, with the vigilant presidential guards standing watch. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the rustle of newspaper pages created a peaceful ambiance as they savored their time together.

As they savored each other's company, their peaceful moment was interrupted by the sight of Bianca running towards them, breathless and clearly distressed. Her usually composed demeanor was replaced by panic.

"Is there something you need to tell us?" Riko asked her stepdaughter, her concern evident as she put down her coffee cup.

"Mako and Kyoko have been kidnapped," Bianca blurted out, her voice tinged with panic. "I've been trying to reach them for the past week, and their husbands are also missing."

Riko's face paled, the shock of the news hitting her hard. "What the hell happened to them?" she wondered aloud, her mind racing with fear and uncertainty.

"Could they have been kidnapped?" Bianca suggested, her worry palpable as she wrung her hands nervously.

Karl, trying to maintain a sense of calm, interjected, "I don't know. Let's just wait for news from the police in Italy and Japan. They should be able to provide more information." His voice was steady, but the tension in his eyes betrayed his concern.

-----

Two weeks had passed with no news about Kyoko and Mako. The tension in the palace was palpable. Karl and Riko spent most of their days in the living room, anxiously awaiting reports about their children's whereabouts. Soldiers moved in and out, keeping a vigilant watch over the presidential couple. One of them rushed into the room, breaking the uneasy silence.

"Mr. President, Mr. Aldaba wants to see you. He's severely injured," the aide whispered urgently.

Karl and Riko immediately hurried to the clinic where Aldaba was being treated. They found him lying on a bed, his face bruised and battered.

"What happened? Where is Rina?" Karl demanded, his voice edged with desperation.

"A man came and threw me from afar," Aldaba gasped, wincing in pain. "Then he grabbed Rina and sped away."

Before Karl could ask more, Aldaba passed out from his injuries. Karl muttered under his breath, "Rina's boyfriend is so weak. Just imagine him messing up my daughter and then failing to protect her. Anyway, who could have such superhuman strength?"

"Emi and Riho do," Riko replied. "But I don't think Emi would do this to us. If she did, she'd be risking her life. And Riho... she doesn't have the guts."

"Riko, what are we going to do?" Karl asked, his voice full of worry.

Before Riko could respond, another aide burst into the room. "Sir, our guards were defeated and Sir Muro, Marla, and Charee were taken by unknown assailants."

Panic surged through Karl and Riko. They rushed to the suites where Rafael, Jiena, and Jessica were confined. They burst through the door of one of the rooms, startling Jessica, who was studying at her desk. Karl, deeply anxious, enveloped his youngest daughter in a tight embrace, tears streaming down his face.

"Thank God, nothing happened to you," he murmured, relief mixing with his fear.

Jessica, bewildered by her father's sudden display of emotion, looked up at him in confusion. Rafael, Sachiko, and Jiena quickly emerged from their rooms to investigate the commotion.

"What's going on?" Jiena asked, turning to her stepmother for answers.

Riko, her face etched with worry, struggled to find the right words. "There have been attacks. People are being taken. We need to figure out what's happening and how to protect all of you."

The family gathered closer, the weight of the crisis sinking in. The safety of their loved ones hung in the balance, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead pressed heavily upon them.

"I want all of you to stick with us while we search for your siblings," Riko instructed the twins. Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside in the palace gardens. Rushing out, they found the guards unconscious and saw Bianca and Jasmine struggling to break free from a hooded and robed figure. Without hesitation, Jiena and Rafael leaped into action, attempting to kick the assailant, but were swiftly punched away.

Riko and Karl grabbed their jetpacks and took off in pursuit as the mysterious figure, also using a jetpack, abducted Bianca and Jasmine. The chase led them to a bridge where Riko, with precise aim, threw a knife that slit the man's left shoulder, causing him to drop something. In retaliation, the assailant fired a laser, hitting the couple's jetpacks and forcing them to crash land.

"What do they want?" Riko asked, panting as she got up. Karl picked up the dropped item, examining it closely.

"Is that the badge of the Shedinja Faction?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"I should be the one to ask that question," Karl replied, staring at the double-headed eagle badge. "You annihilated them a long time ago."

"I did, and I'm sure of it. Even Emi knew it," Riko insisted as they made their way back to the palace, hoping Rafael, Jiena, and Jessica had found a safe place to hide.

As they stepped through the palace gates, they were horrified to see two men holding the unconscious bodies of Rafael and Jiena, while another man restrained Sachiko and Jessica.

"Oh no, you don't," Karl muttered fiercely. He and Riko leaped forward, attacking the captors with their whips. One of the goons quickly took out an electroshock device and clipped one of the whips, sending a jolt of electricity through the presidential couple, knocking them to the ground.

"No!" Karl cried out in anguish as he watched the captors escape with their children. The feeling of helplessness consumed him as the assailants vanished into the distance, leaving behind a scene of chaos and despair.

----

The next morning, Karl sat at his desk while Riko stared out the window. The silence between them was thick with worry and contemplation. Who could be behind the abduction of their children? As they pondered, Charlie entered the room and respectfully acknowledged the president.

Karl glanced at his vice president and sighed deeply. "Charlie, we've known each other for too long. No need for formalities."

Charlie, sensing the gravity of the situation, asked, "What can I do to help during this crisis?"

Riko approached him with determination. "You need to stay here and assist Jamie. You'll be signing papers on behalf of Karl."

"Why? What's going on? Why are you two leaving? There are the Presidential guards to help," a confused Charlie inquired.

Riko's expression hardened. "The people who took our children are from the Shedinja faction. Suzy and Kosaka are already raiding their hideouts, but our immediate concern is that they're holding all of our kids hostage."

Karl looked at Charlie with earnest eyes. "Charlie, I trust you. Please take this request as a personal favor. The Presidential Security Group is incapacitated, and I don't want the half a million personnel of the armed forces to suffer the same fate."

Charlie nodded, understanding the weight of the responsibility being placed on him. "If that's what you want, I'll stay here," he promised.

Karl and Riko left the presidential study, their minds already racing with plans to rescue their children. Charlie watched them go, feeling the heavy burden of the role he had to play in their absence.

-----

Karl and Riko wasted no time in searching for the Shedinja Group's hideout. They decided to act alone, without bodyguards or armies, to avoid drawing attention. As they strolled through their village, they noticed a woman standing in the road, holding a sword.

Karl's heart began to race, and he started sweating profusely. He quickly took out his phone and dialed a number from his contacts.

"Hello," answered the man on the other end.

"Ricardo, I need your help," Karl said urgently. "My kids were kidnapped by some man from the Shedinja."

"Oww? Isn't that the fault of your wife?" Ricardo responded sarcastically.

"I know, but I need help," Karl pleaded.

"Call Riria, Akiko, and Julio. I'll be there as fast as I can," Ricardo assured him.

Suddenly, Riko's voice broke through the conversation. "Karl, help!" she cried out. Karl turned to see her being restrained by a man, her body chained and unable to move. It was a surprise attack.

"No!" Karl shouted in fury. He pulled out his hidden blade and lunged at the captor, but was met with a powerful force that knocked him into the grass.

"I'm taking this woman," the hooded man said, before flying away with Riko using a jetpack.

Karl struggled to his feet, watching helplessly as Riko disappeared into the sky. His mind raced with thoughts of how to save his wife and children. Desperation filled him, but he knew he had to remain focused. He grabbed his phone again and started dialing the numbers Ricardo had mentioned, knowing that he couldn't do this alone.

In a different part of the village, Ricardo was already gathering Riria, Akiko, and Julio. They each received a call from Karl, who quickly explained the dire situation. Without hesitation, they agreed to meet and devise a plan to rescue Riko and the children.

As the group assembled, they shared information and brainstormed strategies. Ricardo, a skilled tactician, took the lead. "We need to act fast. The longer we wait, the more danger they're in."

Julio, the archbishop of Manila and Karl's brother, added, "I'll reach out to some discreet allies who can provide us with intel on the Shedinja Group's movements."

Riria and Akiko, both experienced in combat and espionage, nodded in agreement. "We'll prepare our equipment and be ready to move at a moment's notice," Riria said.

Meanwhile, Karl made his way back to the meeting point, determination etched on his face. He knew that with the combined skills and resources of his family, they had a fighting chance to save their loved ones.

As they regrouped, Ricardo outlined the plan. "We'll use a multi-pronged approach. Julio will gather intelligence, Riria and Akiko will infiltrate the group's known hideouts, and Karl and I will handle direct confrontations if necessary."

Karl nodded, feeling a renewed sense of hope. "Thank you all for coming to our aid. Let's bring our family back."

With their plan in place, the team set out on their mission. They moved swiftly and silently, each step bringing them closer to the showdown with the Shedinja Group. The stakes were high, but they were driven by love and the unwavering determination to reunite their family.

------

After his divorce from Illuminada, the mother of Karl, Ricardo, and Julio, Tarcisio Marino remarried Anju Inaba, a Japanese national who worked as an artist at the Louvre. Anju was five feet four inches tall, with long brown braided hair and lovely eyes. While Illuminada lacked traditional beauty but had a dominant and ambitious nature that captivated Tarcisio, Anju was a stark contrast. She was caring and thoughtful, especially towards her three stepsons.

Tarcisio and Anju were blessed with two daughters, Riria and Akiko.

Riria Marino, now thirty-nine years old, is the CEO of a trading company affiliated with Marino Holdings. She inherited her mother's almond-shaped eyes, bow-shaped lips, and slim figure. Riria is relatively shy, much like her parents, preferring a quieter and more reserved demeanor.

Akiko Marino, thirty-three years old, works as a news anchor for a local TV station in Tokyo. She shares similar features with her older sister but has round eyes reminiscent of Rina. Unlike Riria, Akiko is brimming with confidence and is unafraid to interact with those around her.

Both sisters are currently based in Tokyo, where they live together and look after their mother, Anju, who resides in a retirement home. Despite their different personalities, the bond between the sisters is strong, and they both take their familial responsibilities seriously, ensuring their mother receives the care and attention she needs.

-----

At the Marino compound, the first generation of the Marino siblings sat on a couch, meditating and strategizing.

"Do you have any idea where they were taken?" Riria asked, breaking the silence.

Karl, holding a GPS tracker, kept his eyes fixed on the device, waiting for any sign of a signal. "I'm not sure," he admitted, his voice tinged with worry. "Did they wear anything to be tracked by the GPS?" asked Ricardo, leaning forward with a look of concern.

"I hope they did," Karl sighed, the weight of uncertainty heavy on his shoulders.

Suddenly, the device lit up red and started to beep. The room filled with a sense of relief. Ricardo quickly grabbed a pen and paper to plot the location while Riria and Akiko headed to the arsenal, retrieving submachine guns and grenades. They dressed up for battle, with Karl and Roger following suit.

An hour later, the four of them emerged from their rooms, fully armed and equipped for the mission ahead. They glanced at Julio, who was still wearing his tropical cassock.

"You don't want to join us?" Riria asked, eyebrow raised.

"I will just pray for your safety," Julio replied, his voice calm and resolute.

Ricardo chuckled, patting his brother's shoulder. "God doesn't work that way," he said, a smirk on his face.

"Just ask for forgiveness afterward," Akiko added, adjusting her gear.

Riria raised her hand to quiet them. "Let the Cardinal pray for our safety. We must not waste any time," she said, her voice firm and commanding.

"Let's go," Karl said, leading the way towards their vehicle. The siblings followed, determination etched on their faces as they prepared to rescue their loved ones.

-------

Time was running out for the Marino siblings. The children were starving and weakening in their prison cell. Karl and Ricardo sneaked around the back of the building where their children were held hostage, while Riria and Akiko, along with some soldiers, were on standby in case the operation went awry. Silently, Karl and Ricardo garrotted the guards at the back entrance before moving towards the main area. They crept behind boxes, edging closer to the room where Riko and the rest of the children were imprisoned. Suddenly, a large piece of wood broke under Roger's foot.

"Oh, shit," Karl muttered as the sound alerted nearby guards, who quickly moved to block their way. With no other option, the two attacked side by side, swiftly defeating the guards. Ricardo assembled a bomb in front of the large door while Karl exchanged fire with the enemy.

"You know what, this is the hardest mission I've had since I first wiped them out," Karl said. The two burst inside, trying to reach Riko and the children, but gunfire forced them to stop.

"Well, isn't this nice, the siblings are here," a man in his fifties sneered. "The admiral and the president."

"Tommy!" Ricardo exclaimed. "If I knew you were behind this, I would've killed you a long time ago!"

"I should've hunted you down when I had the chance," Karl responded, aiming his submachine gun at Tommy.

"The best part of this reunion is that all of you, including Karl, will die here," Tommy grinned. He leaped at the siblings and struck them, knocking them back. Riria and Akiko appeared from nowhere, retaliating by kicking Tommy on both sides.

"Dad, uncles, and aunties, you can do it!" the Marino children cheered, struggling to find ways to escape from their dilapidated prison cell, but without success.

Tommy quickly knocked down Riria and Akiko, then continued to attack Karl and Ricardo, who kept evading and countering his blows. It was a fierce battle of daggers and swords. Riria leaped and struck Tommy from behind while Akiko attacked from below, stabbing him in the stomach. However, Tommy retaliated by hitting Akiko hard on the back and stabbing Riria in the stomach, forcing them both to spit blood. He then jumped high and slammed Karl and Roger into the wall.

"You see, the four of you can't beat me," Tommy boasted, stomping on Karl's head.

Tommy laughed, spitting on Ricardo's face. Suddenly, a shovel struck his head, knocking him out.

"Nobody messes with my siblings," Julio declared, standing over the unconscious Tommy.

Karl, Ricardo, Riria, and Akiko were astonished to see their brother, whom they always saw as a holy man, standing victorious.

"I always pray to God, but He doesn't work that way. Sometimes, you've got to take action and ask for forgiveness later!" Julio exclaimed. Jamie, Charlie, and Arjan rushed in, opening the prison bars and releasing the Marino children.

Riria and Akiko helped Karl to his feet, and the siblings rushed to their father's side, embracing him tightly.

"Where is your mother?" Karl asked, scanning the surroundings. There were no traces of Riko. Without hesitation, he approached Tommy and grabbed his hair.

"Where is my wife?" he demanded.

"You will never find your wife," Tommy replied, laughing maniacally.

"Jamie, give me the truth serum," Karl ordered. Jamie handed him a potion.

"Now open wide," Karl said, forcing Tommy to drink the serum.

"They took her to a mountainous area..." Tommy confessed, "A mountainous area in San Basilio."

"Why did they take her there?" Julio asked.

"They wanted to torture her and use her as a hostage in exchange for the diamond and the loot," Tommy revealed. "Fernando promised me a cut of the action."

"And why did you kidnap my children and my nephews and nieces?" a furious Riria demanded.

"Because the six of you didn't leave me with the fortune I deserve as Illuminada's husband!" Tommy spat.

"You don't deserve any fortune," Akiko retorted. "You murdered Illuminada Marino and took her money. That's an open secret."

"At least justice has been served for Mummy," Julio remarked.

Tommy was taken into police custody. However, the Marino siblings and their children were still clueless about where exactly Riko was and why she had been abducted. The search for her continued, with the weight of uncertainty still heavy on their hearts.