A new predator. Part 3.

Dart, an elderly gentleman with a weathered appearance, served as a mentor and a fatherly figure to the silver-haired lady. Maxwell conducted some research on both individuals, uncovering details about their identities and the nature of their relationship.

However, the initial information available was limited, consisting only of their names and basic background. Anything beyond that remained shrouded in secrecy, even from someone as inquisitive as Maxwell.

Upon hearing his name uttered by Maxwell, Dart remarked, "It appears you've been meddling where you shouldn't have, perhaps your neglect played a role in some subsequent events." Unbeknownst to Dart, his observation was quite accurate.

This was primarily because Maxwell had coordinated the entire police squad, resulting in none of them arriving promptly when called upon.

Maxwell clenched his teeth, resisting the urge to retort to Dart's statement. He recognized the truth in the man's words. While he had orchestrated the mobilization of all police forces against the new extraordinary threat, he had inadvertently left the city exposed to potential dangers.

The situation revolves around Maxwell's utter lack of remorse for his actions, firmly rooted in his belief that capturing someone extraordinary would have potentially safeguarded more lives in the days to come. His singular remorse, however, emerges from his inability to achieve this particular feat.

Failing to apprehend this extraordinary individual cast a heavy shadow on the significance of his sacrifices, rendering them devoid of any value. Suppressing his pride, he summoned a deep breath, attempting to regain composure.

In a curious twist of events, Maxwell found himself inclining towards blaming the hunters for the unsettling events unfolding within the city. It struck him as peculiar that ever since the arrival of these two individuals in the city, his once enjoyable occupation had morphed into a challenging and thorny endeavor.

Maxwell extended his arm, transferring the tablet into Dart's possession. With a warm smile, he prompted, "Perhaps you've graced us with your presence for a purpose. Why not contribute by sharing your insights on this matter?" He relished the dramatic shift in Dart's facial expression as their eyes met.

Dart briefly glanced at the tablet before returning his gaze to Maxwell. However, his attention soon gravitated back to the tablet, evidently captivated by something he had discovered.

He promptly took it from Maxwell's hand, initiating the video playback. Maxwell, observing closely, sought to gauge the elderly man's response.

What astonished him, however, was that the man, who typically concealed his emotions behind his aged countenance, couldn't manage to do so on this occasion. The tablet quivered in his grip, displaying unmistakable shock and horror on his face.

Merely by observing, it appeared as if he might drop it at any given moment while the video unfolded. "Could this be the cause of all this chaos?" he inquired, relinquishing the tablet to Maxwell, who reclaimed it without diverting his gaze from the old man's expression.

"As you can discern from the video... Do you possess any inkling as to the nature of that entity?" Maxwell inquired.

Meeting Maxwell's gaze, Dart shook his head and turned away from him. "No... This is the first time I've encountered such a phenomenon," he admitted.

"Ah, you might say so, but your body language, in fact, speaks a different story. Just why, I wonder, won't you share any information?" Maxwell, his teeth gnashing in anger, questioned.

Turning back to face Maxwell, Dart's face displayed a deep furrow of seriousness. "I will offer you a single piece of advice: do not venture too deeply into that creature without a proper beast weapon; otherwise, there's a risk of losing all your men to some untamed beast." After Dart expressed this, he began walking towards the door, and the silver-haired lady followed closely behind him, leaving Maxwell fuming with little to no understanding of their cryptic words.

"What was that even supposed to mean?" Maxwell asked himself in frustration, his anger simmering.

Meanwhile, as the two beast hunters reached the outdoors and headed towards their bike, the silver lady, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, voiced the question that had been troubling her for some time.

"If I may inquire, what exactly was that creature in the video? What kind of creature was it?" she asked. Certainly, even though Dart might have professed ignorance about the beasts, Silver was fully aware that this wasn't the truth. The reaction he displayed earlier was unlike anything she had seen from him, and it didn't resemble the response of someone who was clueless.

Stopping beside their bike, Dart sighed as he glanced over at Silver. "This city is becoming more dangerous than I had initially expected. At first, I believed it was our fault that things had turned out this way, but it appears that there is more to this situation than we are aware of."

"Do you recall what you witnessed in that video? We referred to it as the 'beast parasites.' It is a peculiar parasite discovered in certain creatures, and this specific one has mutagenic effects," he explained.

"So, you're suggesting that the boy in that video is infected with the parasite?" Silver asked, grasping the concept.

"That appears to be the case, and with this mutant parasite, the city could descend into chaos at any given moment. Just imagine a scenario where all the animals—dogs, cats, mice, chicks, and many others in this city—suddenly mutate and become beasts," Dart elaborated.

"It's like something out of an apocalyptic movie. The issue is that Maxwell still doesn't comprehend the magnitude of the danger surrounding us. He's treating the case as if it were a mere robbery, unaware of the grave peril involved," Dart explained further.

"If that's the case, then why didn't you inform him about the potential danger?" Silver inquired.

"Because, you see, there are ways in which we can also exploit this situation to our advantage. I've been meticulously planning our departure from this city and back into the wilderness. However, since this incident unfolded just before we were set to depart, I've made the decision to stay back," Dart explained.

Silver was taken aback by this revelation. "You can go ahead without me if you wish," Dart offered to Silver.

"No... I'm staying as long as you are," she replied firmly, shaking her head in disapproval.

"That's good. Now, let's go have a conversation with an influential individual before we determine our subsequent course of action," Dart suggested.

"Who is this influential figure we're meeting?" Silver inquired as she mounted her bike.

"You'll find out once we arrive," Dart replied. 'At least he deserves to know what's happening in his city,' Dart thought to himself.

---

Meanwhile, Maxwell continued his investigation into the murder case. A search team had been dispatched to locate Rocky, while preparations were underway to alert the entire city, cautioning them to stay away. In the midst of these preparations, Maxwell received an important call, temporarily halting all their efforts as he promptly answered it.

Driving in his police car, he made his way to the expansive white manor, which was heavily fortified with tight security. Yet, for Maxwell, circumventing these obstacles was as effortless as snapping a toothpick. Astonishingly, the security personnel did not impede his progress, allowing him to stroll into the grandiose residence without hindrance.

All alone, Maxwell skillfully traversed the extensive house, eventually arriving at an oval-shaped room dominated by a central oval table. However, upon entering the room, his attention was drawn to the city's mayor, an elderly, somewhat portly man in his late fifties, with specks of gray hair peppering his head.

Nevertheless, what truly seized Maxwell's focus were the other individuals seated around the table, waving at him enthusiastically.

"You...!" Maxwell exclaimed, pointing at Dart, his astonishment evident.

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