Side Story Ch 4: Return to the Underworld
Legosi and Bill stood at the entrance to the black market and all the memories of the day they came to this awful place returned. Legosi looked to the side and remembered the adult goat that offered him his finger. Bill stood next to him and looked down at the same spot the wolf was staring at. Rather than remembering the goat whose finger he ate however, he instead remembered how both Kai and Legosi argued with him and how they tried to convince him not to go through with his dark deed.
The two looked at each other. After their eyes met Bill looked down as his ears folded back. It was clear that the tiger was thinking about what happened that night and wondered if he should have listened to them.
Legosi looked down, took a deep breath, then grabbed Bill's hand. He then looked forward and started walking, dragging the tiger along with him. He guided Bill to a hidden ally located to the side of the entrance. This was a secret passageway that Gohin had shown him so he could avoid the market completely. It did have the scents from the market, but it wasn't nearly as prominent.
They quickly arrived at Gohin's doorstep and already their senses were starting to get overwhelmed. Luckily, Legosi knew about the spray that Gohin kept near the door that would hinder the smell of meat. He grabbed the spray, used it on himself and Bill, then knocked on the door.
The door opened and a very large and muscular panda smoking a cigar opened the door. "I was wondering when you would get here pup," he said in an intimidating voice. "Mind telling me what took you so long, or who your new friend is?"
Bill was understandably too shocked and intimated to speak, so Legosi was left to introduce them to each other and explain the situation. Gohin then invited them up to their office so they could talk.
"So that's the whole story," Legosi explained. "We started our own investigation to find out who killed our friend and we found this bottle cap that has no scent."
"Here, let me see that," the panda responded.
"So… you think you might know what it's for?" Bill asked as Legosi handed over the bottle cap.
"I think so," Gohin responded. "I've definitely seen it before. Hang on a moment."
The panda stood up from his chair and walked over to the file cabinet. He pulled out several documents and medicine bottles.
"Here it is," he said as he walked back over to his guests.
He laid out a file for them that depicted several carnivores and the structure of their muscles. He then placed a bottle that had the same cap right beside it.
"What we have here is a special medicine specifically made for extremely large carnivores. This medicine is designed to reduce the amount of muscles that they can grow and they are forced to take it by the government. This is another way that they try to keep the peace between carnivores and herbivores," Gohin explained.
"Why would they do that?" Legosi asked as he looked through the file. "I mean there are plenty of muscular herbivores and it's not like carnivores are banned from working out. Just look at you, me and Bill. We're pretty big, granted I only got my muscles after working for you, but there are other wolves who are pretty well built. I just don't see a reason for it."
Gohin put his hands together. "Now see that right there is the difference. While we have to work for our strength and muscles, there are animals that get them automatically because of their genetics and can't control it. This is what this medication is for. By taking it these large breed animals will be in a better position to control their strength and not hurt anyone, accidental or otherwise."
The panda put his hands down and reached for the bottle.
"Of course the same is said for herbivores. There are herbivores who grow too muscular as well and they need to take something too. Herbivores like elephants and rhinos who grow bigger and stronger than most carnivores. As such, they are forced to take a similar drug as a way to make it seem like carnivores aren't getting the short end of the stick like they really are. But that's all political stuff and you didn't come here for that. You came here for this."
"This one is the one for carnivores so whoever owns the bottle is definitely a large breed predator and if he stopped taking it you guys might be in way over your head," Gohin explained.
"The effects only work as long as the animal constantly takes it. If not, then the muscles start growing soon after and the side effects that come from stopping the medication so suddenly will cause them to become aggressive."
"So… what are you saying?" Legosi asked. "You mean to tell me that we're already in danger?"
Gohin smirked. "Heh, guess you're not as much of a dumbass as I thought. You pretty much hit the nail on the head."
The panda put the bottle down and looked at his guests. "No matter what your next move is, the guy you're looking for may already be ready to skin you alive."
"Now hold on a second," Bill interrupted. "We don't really know if the guy we're looking for is the same guy who's taking those pills. Plus we don't know if whoever this cap belongs to did stop taking them."
"He's right," Legosi said calmly. "When we found that, it was covered in dust. It's possible that the animal just lost it or threw it out because he finished the medication. It honestly looked months old and we haven't seen any changes in our classmates."
Gohin brought a hand up to his chin. "If that's really the case then I'm sure you're safe, for now at least. Still, that doesn't mean you should let your guard down."
The two younger carnivores looked at each other, then turned back to the panda and nodded in agreement.
"Alright, we'll be careful," Legosi responded as he stood up. "Thanks for your help."
Bill stood up. "Yea, thanks man."
The two students said goodbye and left the office. They exited the building when Gohin suddenly came running out.
"Hold it!" Gohin shouted.
"What's u-"
Before Bill could finish his sentence Gohin grabbed both him and Legosi by their shirts and pulled them inside. He then immediately shut the door and ducked down by the entrance while covering the younger carnivores' mouths. He took a peek out the window and from the corner of his eye he saw a group of lions passing by.
As he watched them walk away from the building he let go of the two high school students and spoke. "Alright, we should be safe now."
"What the fuck man?" Bill asked in an angry tone. "Why'd you pull us in like that and cover our mouths?"
The panda shook his head. "Sorry about that, but I had to make sure they didn't see you."
"Who?" Legosi asked, trying to recompose himself after the scare.
"The shishigumi," Gohin answered.
"I think I've heard about them," Bill said as he looked out the window. "I don't really know much except that they are a group of lions and that the police tend to look the other way when they're doing their business."
"Your right about that kid, but there's more to it than that," the adult carnivore answered.
"They are one of the four major criminal organizations here in the black market. I mean it when I say you do NOT want to get involved with them." Gohin closed the shades. "They've done just about every kind of illegal action you can think of, from animal trafficking to smuggling drugs. They have no problem with murder and they've basically built their empire on predation. It honestly makes sense why the police don't want to get involved with them."
Legosi shook his head. "But isn't it their job to get involved? I mean if it's too much for them then why not call for help like the 'Beastar'? I'm sure he could do something about them."
Gohin let out a sigh.
"Listen pup, I've already explained to you that things are a lot more complicated than you think so I won't bother telling you again. As for the 'Beastar', we've already discussed him too and how much of a head case he is. If he had his way, every single carnivore, innocent or otherwise, would be wiped off the face of the planet. As much as I can't stand those damn cats, they're actually the lesser of two evils in this mess."
Bill raised a brow. "What the hell are you talking about man? Everyone knows that the 'Beastar' is the symbol of peace between the carnivores and the herbivores.
Legosi and Gohin looked at each other. They were so busy figuring things out that they forgot that Bill didn't know the truth about the current 'Beastar' or his methods.
They sat the tiger down and explained what the current 'Beastar' was really like, but that wasn't all they explained. Legosi told Bill about what happened the night they first came to this accursed place. The wolf told Bill everything from him getting overwhelmed by the smell of meat and blood and attacking Kai, to the kind of work that Gohin did.
"Holy fuck!" Bill said with a shocked expression on his face. "So… you guys are telling me that the current 'Beastar' is nothing but a hypocrite who gets his rocks off beating the crap out of carnivores and that carnivores go crazy if they eat meat?"
Legosi and Gohin nodded in response.
"Crap!" So then… what's gonna happen to me?"
Gohin put a hand on Bill's shoulder. "It's alright kid. You only had meat once and it sounds like you haven't had any relapses since then. As long as you control yourself and don't give in to your desires you should be fine."
The panda reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. "Here, if you ever start getting anxious or anything come see me alright."
Bill nodded as he took the card and put it in his pocket. "Thanks, I will."
Gohin then looked outside to make sure it was safe for the students to leave.
"Alright, it looks like they left. You guys should be alright so long as you don't stop for anything."
The panda opened the door. "Listen, don't stop running until you're out of the area. Don't get stopped by anyone you understand? Just keep running no matter what."
The two younger carnivores gave the doctor a strong nod and sprinted out the door, leaving the panda to watch them as they raced out of the alleyway.
They continued running through the various alleyways, ignoring the tempting scents until the black market exit was in their sights.
"We're almost there!" Legosi called out.
"Yea, just keep moving!" Bill replied.
They were just about home free when a familiar scent hit Legosi's nose, causing the wolf to stop in his tracks.
"Hey, what's up, why'd you stop?" Bill shouted as he ran past his partner.
Legosi didn't answer, instead he closed his eyes and took a deep inhale. He used what he learned from Gohin to blockout the scents of the black market so he could focus on the scent he wanted. This technique was invaluable for his work so it was the first thing Gohin taught him. He sniffed the air and his eyes shot open.
"What's wrong?" Bill asked as he walked over to the shocked wolf.
Legosi refused to answer once again. He just looked back at the market street and stared.
Bill tried to put a hand on Legosi to check if he was ok, but before he could the wolf ran straight back into the black market.
"HEY!" Bill shouted as he chased after the wolf.
The tiger ran through the back streets until he finally caught up to Legosi who was just standing there in the open, completely frozen on the spot.
"What the fuck man, why did you run off like that" he growled.
Legosi pointed forward, causing Bill to look straight.
"What the!" the tiger shouted as he was taken by surprise to what Legosi found. "Is that who I think it is?"
The two carnivores just stood there, looking at a certain red deer walking the black market streets like it's a normal day.
"It is," Legosi answered. "Louis senpai!"