Noah understood it. Each accomplice would have been briefed on their role and position, with their stories carefully crafted to avoid obvious contradictions while supporting the overall narrative of Smith's guilt.

"With no evidence on Dad's side and multiple witnesses against him, he was completely screwed," Ethan said, his voice heavy with defeat. "The insurance companies immediately shifted the blame entirely to him. His rates are going to skyrocket, and he's being held liable for all the damages and medical costs."

"Medical costs?" Noah asked, though he suspected he already knew where this was heading.

"That's where it gets even worse," Ethan replied. "The woman started claiming she was experiencing severe neck and back pain from the accident. She went to a medical clinic that diagnosed her with serious soft tissue damage requiring extensive treatment. The medical bills have already reached forty thousand dollars and are climbing rapidly."

The medical fraud component was the most lucrative part of the scam. Soft tissue injuries were difficult to verify or disprove, allowing corrupt medical professionals to justify expensive treatments and procedures while splitting the insurance payouts with the criminal organisation.

"Dad tried to fight the witness testimony, but his lawyer said it would be nearly impossible to prove that four independent people were all lying," Ethan explained. "Without video evidence or additional witnesses on his side, it's essentially his word against multiple corroborating accounts."

"And that's when they made their demands?" Noah prompted, his voice carrying a cold edge that suggested he was already formulating a response to the situation.

"Exactly. Today, Dad received a letter from the woman claiming that she would drop all charges and medical claims for one hundred thousand dollars," Ethan explained, his voice tight with frustration.

The direct approach confirmed Noah's suspicions about the professional nature of the operation. Rather than continuing to milk the insurance system indefinitely, the criminals were moving toward a quick cash resolution that would eliminate their exposure while maximizing their immediate profits.

"They also want the hundred thousand in cash," Ethan added, emphasising the final detail that made the criminal nature of the demand absolutely clear. "No checks, no bank transfers, no digital payments. Just unmarked bills in a briefcase, like something out of a movie."

The cash requirement was a standard procedure for extortion schemes. It prevented any electronic trail that could be traced back to the criminals while ensuring they received payment that couldn't be reversed or cancelled after the fact.

Noah's expression hardened as he processed the full scope of what these criminals had done to his family. They had targeted an honest man, orchestrated an elaborate fraud to frame him for a crime he didn't commit, and were now demanding a substantial ransom for his freedom. The nature of their approach suggested they had done this many times before to other victims.

With a calm tone, Noah said. "Alright, set up a meeting with this woman in two days to discuss dropping the charges. I will be there."

Ethan's surprise was evident in his voice. "Noah, you can't seriously be thinking about confronting these people directly...right? They're clearly part of an organised criminal network. What if they do something to us?"

"I'm not planning to confront them," Noah replied, though his tone suggested his intentions weren't entirely peaceful. "I'm planning to resolve this situation permanently. But I need to understand exactly who we're dealing with and how their operation works before I can determine the best approach."

The truth was that Noah's capabilities made him far more dangerous than these criminals could possibly imagine. His adept-rank magical abilities, combined with his items, meant he could handle almost any physical threat they might pose. More importantly, his growing wealth and resources provided alternative solutions that didn't exist for ordinary victims.

"You have the money to pay them, don't you?" Ethan asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer. "I know your business has been doing incredibly well lately."

"The money isn't the issue," Noah confirmed. "But paying extortion only encourages these criminals to continue targeting other families. We need to stop this permanently, not just make it go away temporarily."

Ethan fell silent for a moment, processing the implications of Noah's words. "What exactly are you planning to do? Because if you're thinking about taking the law into your own hands..."

"I'm thinking about protecting our family and making sure these people never hurt anyone else," Noah replied firmly. "Sometimes the legal system isn't equipped to handle organised criminals who specialise in exploiting its weaknesses. But that doesn't mean they should be allowed to continue operating."

These criminals had made a fundamental mistake by targeting people Noah cared about, and they were about to discover that their victims were far from powerless.

"Set up the meeting, tell them your family is prepared to discuss their terms, but that any agreement needs to be negotiated in person. I want to see exactly who we're dealing with before we decide how to proceed."

Ethan hesitated for a long moment before agreeing. "Okay, but promise me you won't do anything that could make this situation worse for yourself or father. He's already worried about the potential legal consequences."

"Trust me," Noah said with quiet confidence. "After our meeting, your father won't have to worry about these people ever again."

With that done, Noah hung up the phone after telling Ethan not to worry about it.

While Noah could most certainly make these criminals vanish from the face of the earth using his enhanced abilities, he wasn't that type of person. Despite everything he had been through—the financial struggles, watching his father suffer, and now seeing his family threatened—it wasn't so easy to consider taking the life of another human being, even if they were clearly in the wrong.

The thought had crossed his mind, of course. His magical abilities could eliminate the threat permanently and invisibly, ensuring these criminals never hurt another innocent family. But crossing that line represented a fundamental change in who he was as a person, and Noah wasn't ready to make that transformation lightly.

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