Act - 43: "Sponsor of Hope"

The sky grew cloudy as Jaken, Ray, Tabaguchi, and I arrived at a big rundown facility. The building loomed before us, its walls cracked and paint peeling, a testament to years of neglect.

Suddenly, a bunch of kids stormed toward Ray, their faces lighting up with pure joy. "It's Big Brother Ray!" they shouted, enveloping him in hugs. Their laughter and excited chatter filled the air, a stark contrast to the dreary surroundings.

I sensed their initial excitement shift to unease as they noticed us. Their eyes widened, and they clung tighter to Ray. "Who are these scary men? Are they here to throw us out?" they asked, fear evident in their voices as they hid behind Ray, peeking out with wide, anxious eyes.

Ray quickly reassured them, his voice gentle and calm. "This is my boss," he said, pointing at me, "and these are my colleagues, Jaken and Tabaguchi."

I noticed their grimy faces and dirty clothes, a clear sign of their difficult living conditions. A small girl, her eyes full of curiosity and admiration, stepped forward. "Are you the nice guy that gave Big Brother Ray a job?" she asked, her smile shy but hopeful.

Feeling a bit embarrassed by the attention, I nodded. "Yes, that's me," I replied softly.

At that moment, a lady around my mother's age hurried over, her expression a mix of surprise and warmth. "Oh my goodness, Ray, you didn't tell us you would bring company," she said, trying to manage the excited children. Despite her efforts, the scene remained a delightful chaos, filled with innocent laughter and playful energy.

"I'm Maria, by the way."

As I introduced myself, her whole demeanor changed, looking overjoyed. "Dio, it's a pleasure to meet you! Valentine, Ezio, come out and greet our guests!"

Two kids reluctantly emerged, their expressions less enthusiastic. Valentine scowled while Ezio's face turned angry as he spotted us. "Are they here to throw us out again?" he demanded, his voice rising with frustration.

Before he could continue, Ray shot him a death stare and playfully knocked his knuckles against Ezio's head. "Behave, Ezio," Ray said firmly. "These are my Boss and colleagues."

Ezio rubbed his head, looking chastised. "Oh sorry, Mister Dio," he mumbled, his tone shifting to one of apology.

Valentine, still wary but less hostile, added, "We didn't mean to be rude. We've had some bad experiences."

I smiled, trying to ease their concerns. "It's okay. I understand. We're here to help."

Maria beamed at the exchange, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you for understanding, Dio. And you giving Ray a job means the world to us."

I smiled kindly at the kids, hoping to ease their lingering apprehension. "Hmm, what about we order some food and continue this inside?" I suggested, trying to lighten the mood.

Jaken chimed in with a playful tone, grinning at the children. "Anyone like hamburgers, cake, and ice cream? Dio is paying, so eat up today!"

The children's faces lit up with excitement at the mention of food. I pulled out my phone and called a food delivery service, ordering enough food for a football team.

As we headed inside the orphanage, the building's condition became even more apparent. The walls were faded and cracked, with patches of peeling paint and exposed brick. The floorboards creaked under our feet, and the windows, smudged and cloudy, let in only a dim light. Despite the rundown appearance, the place had a certain charm, with children's drawings taped to the walls and makeshift decorations adding splashes of color.

We made our way to a common area filled with mismatched furniture. The kids eagerly followed, their earlier fear replaced by anticipation. Maria guided us to a large, worn-out table in the center of the room. "It's not much but we'll set everything up here," she said warmly.

As we waited for the food to arrive, the children gathered around, their curiosity piqued. Ezio, now more relaxed, looked up at me and asked, "So, what kind of job did you give Ray?"

I smiled, appreciating his interest. "Ray is one of our salesman and have been helping us with a big project at our company. He's doing great worker, and we're lucky to have him."

The kids' eyes widened with admiration for Ray, who stood a little taller, pride evident in his posture.

"Wow, Big Brother Ray is so cool!" one of the younger children exclaimed.

Maria watched the interaction with a contented smile. "It's not often we have something to celebrate. Thank you for doing this and for Ray, Dio. It means a lot."

I nodded, feeling a deep sense of fulfillment. "No you really shouldn't be thanking me, Ray here have been helping me out a lot, so it is me that should thank you for raising him to be the man he is today, and we are lucky to have him at our company."

Just then, the doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the food. The children erupted in cheers, and we all pitched in to bring the feast inside. Soon, the table was laden with burgers, cake, ice cream, and all sorts of treats.

The kids dug in with gusto, their laughter and chatter filling the room. Jaken and Tabaguchi joined in the fun, making jokes and encouraging the children to eat their fill. The atmosphere was vibrant and joyful, a stark contrast to the facility's worn surroundings.

I turned to Ray and Maria, adopting a serious tone. "I've done some research on this plot. It looks like you guys have had it rough since the government cut the funding." I paused, watching their faces grow tense. "Ray mentioned they made you sign an absurd lease. Even with Ray's new paycheck, you won't last long. You're also three months behind on rent."

Maria's face paled, and Ray clenched his fists, his eyes filled with frustration. "It's true," Maria admitted, her voice trembling. "I trusted a realtor who tricked me into signing the document without reading it properly."

Ray's anger simmered beneath his calm exterior. "It's not your fault, Maria. It's those greedy scammers."

Jaken and Tabaguchi exchanged glances, their concern evident. "Dio, you have to he-," Jaken began, but Maria interrupted, tears streaming down her face. "It was my fault," she cried, "I should have been more careful."

Ray's expression softened, though his anger was still palpable. "Maria, it's not your fault. We'll figure this out."

I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of their struggles. As I looked at Ray and Maria, their faces etched with exhaustion and hope, I knew I had to act. Yes, part of this decision was about enhancing our company's image, showcasing our commitment to social responsibility. But deeper than that, I saw an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

"I'll help you out," I said firmly, locking eyes with Ray and Maria. My mind raced with plans. I envisioned transforming this struggling orphanage into a thriving private school. It wasn't just about charity; it was about investing in potential, in nurturing young minds who could one day contribute significantly to our company. My ultimate plan was clear—to hire the best educators in each field, to mentor and educate these children into a future generation of brilliant professionals who would, in turn, join our ranks.

"I want to be a sponsor for the orphanage," I continued, my voice steady with determination. "I want to turn it into a place where these kids can excel academically and personally."

Maria and Ray looked at me, shocked. Maria's eyes widened in disbelief. "That sounds wonderful, but I've already signed the contract."

"Don't worry about that," I reassured her. "What do you guys say to 1 million kroner as the first term?"

Their faces lit up with a glimmer of hope. Maria's tears flowed freely, but this time they were tears of relief. "Are you serious?" she asked, her voice shaky.

"Very serious," I replied with a smile. "We can make this place better for everyone."

Ray's stern expression softened into one of gratitude. "Thank you, Dio. This means more than you can imagine."

Maria managed a tearful smile. "You have no idea how much this will help us. Thank you."

I smiled warmly, feeling the weight of the moment. "You're welcome. We'll make sure those kids have a bright future."

Ray and Maria exchanged glances with each other, their expressions shifting from worry to a tentative hopefulness, as if silently reassuring each other that everything was going to be okay now. Their eyes reflected a mixture of gratitude and cautious optimism, knowing that this unexpected lifeline could potentially change the course of their lives and the children they cared for.

Then I looked at the time; it was now 12 AM. "Well," I said, breaking the silence, "we'll discuss the details after dealing with the contract. Ray, can you follow us outside?"

Ray nodded and followed us out. Jaken and Tabaguchi exchanged glances and nodded, understanding my unspoken plan.

Outside, the cool night air felt refreshing after the tense conversation inside. Jaken and Tabaguchi stood by, waiting for my next move.

"Ray," I asked, turning to him with a smirk, "you don't perhaps know the name of that realtor, do you?"

Ray's eyes narrowed as he caught on to my intent. "Yeah, his name is Lars Mørk," he replied, the disdain clear in his voice.

Jaken grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Do you know his address, perhaps?" he asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Ray nodded again, his expression darkening. "Yeah, it's 13 Falsk Gate, Oslo."

"Perfect," I said, my smirk widening. "We'll take it from here."

Ray's gratitude was evident, but so was the anger simmering beneath his calm exterior. "Thank you, Dio, Jaken, Tabaguchi. I don't know how you'll fix this, but knowing Dio, it will work out. This means a lot."

I smiled and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't mention it, Ray. I'll see you on Monday, bright and early. If you're really thankful, kill those numbers on Monday." I winked as we walked down the stairs and out to the road, a plan set in motion.

As we walked away, Jaken and Tabaguchi fell into step beside me, their determination matching my own. We had a plan, and now we had a name and an address. Lars Mørk wouldn't know what about to pull up on him.

Dio Stat's Info:

Lvl: 14

Skill Count: 2 (Key selling point analyze) (Analyze)

Strength:35

Agility:24

Intelligence:23

Endurance:21

Charm:23

Dio influence, power & riches:

Money - 5million kroner. 

Associate - 7

Asset - 0

Digital Asset - 250 BTC

Goons - 10

Car - 1

Guard - 0

Employers -25

Company - 1