"Ugh…?" Nick found himself strapped onto a wooden chair in a room illuminated by a single fireplace. As his vision ceased blurring, he sees a familiar bunny standing by the fireplace.

"Wow. Mrs. Big really needs to spice this room up a bit." The bunny spoke to himself.

"Mr. Savage…?"

The rabbit placed his glass of wine on a ledge on top of the fireplace and turned around.

"Afternoon, sleepyhead."

"Where… am I?"

"Welcome to the most luxurious place of Zootopia. Tying people in a chair isn't usually how we welcome guests, but you and Shepherd are exceptions. "

Nick looked around and did not find Shepherd or his mother in the ornate library. A few bookshelves and exquisite decorations were spread around the room while a luxurious red sofa stands in the middle, overlooking a wall mounted television.

"Where's Shep? And where's my mom?"

"Don't worry. They're being taken care of."

"Taken care of? Lay a single finger on my mom and I'll rip you to shreds, you dustball!"

Savage made a poker face and looked at Nick.

"You do realize you're tied up in that chair, right?"

"Goddammit…"

Savage sighed and walked towards Nick with his hands behind his back in a classy attitude.

"This sounds so sudden but I have a proposal to make. I don't wanna be your mom's guardian angel, so I'd like you to join my group so you can do that instead."

Nick, offended, spat on the rabbit. Savage narrowly avoided it but some of the spit got on the bottom of his blazer.

"Really? You just HAD to do that?" Jack screamed.

Jack cusped his right paw and lifted his arm. Right before Jack hits Nick, the wooden door opens and Jack immediately froze.

"Savage!" Nick turned around and saw a tiny rodent sitting in the paw of a black jaguar.

"Madame Vivienne. I-I'm so sorry." Jack lowered his fist and sat in the sofa, parallel to Nick.

The rodent ordered the jaguar to go towards Nick and she stood from her seat.

"Hello, child. Do you remember me?" The rodent smiled. She seems to have noticeably more wrinkles this time around, and it seems she dyed her hair into a dark, brown colour.

"That rodent from the scout ranger building…"

"Yes. It's good to s-"

"Where's my mother? And where's Shepherd?"

"Your mother and Shepherd are safe in our hands right now. We do not have a reason to try and harm them, so relax. I thought it's better we talk first before we let you see them again."

"Well… shit. Alright, I'll bite. Where's Shep?"

"Officer Frosthowler is currently in a different room in my mansion. He is currently being debriefed of the current situation in the city right now."

"Which is?"

"Jack? Care to explain this?"

"Yes, ma'am." Jack stood up and cleared his throat. "There's a possibility of a civil war on the horizon. I'm guessing you know what the Blood Fangs are?" Nick shook his head.

"Like us, they're a group. Only difference is that they'll do anything for power while we're just here for the money. I'm pretty sure you already met two of their members: The two ferrets that chased you. We're not them. So, welcome to the Big mafia."

"Big mafia? Welcome? Why the hell would I wanna join you? I'm trying to save my mother for god's sake."

"We rejected the notion but the ZPD asked us to take you under our mantle in the meantime."

"It's temporary. You're going to be free as soon as the Blood Fangs are gone, dead or alive."

"Why would I need protection anyways?"

"Well, you saw how I managed to open my car's arsenal back in the dealership. Thankfully, it's protected with titanium alloys."

"Why do they care for a gun display in your car?"

"Well, the arsenal contains a recipe that can make a horrible weapon worse. If it's in the wrong hands, it could wipe out the city – and everyone else you've loved – in an instant. Poof."

"Well, shit."

"We try to play clean, they don't. Those bastards won't stop at anything to take over this entire city."

"So why didn't you destroy it?!" Nick exclaimed.

"Well, it just so happened that I got the recipe from our weapons expert the same day I had to ditch the car."

"So why the hell do you need me?"

"Two reasons. First is that you saw how I opened the arsenal. It's better that the recipe is left inside that car at this moment over their hands since they somehow managed to retake my car again." Jack hung his head and laughed nervously.

"The second reason, my child, is that I see a great potential in you. It would be foolish of me to see it go to waste."

"Potential? For what?"

"My men have seen you slither around the city. They've noticed how quick yet silent you are. They know you can become one of my most valuable agents with the right training."

"If I accept, will my mom stay safe?"

"Anyone daring to hurt your mother will hurt and kill themselves instead."

"Fine. I'll do whatever it takes to keep my mom safe, but don't you dare lay a finger on her."

"I promise not to, my child. Savage, please take this young man to Frosthowler's room. Nick, you shall be enlightened of our situation over there."

"Yes, ma'am." Jack loosened the rope tying Nick to the chair and Nick massaged his wrists a little bit until Jack snapped his fingers to get the fox's attention. "Alright, follow me."

"Renato, place me down. I'd like to spend some time alone." Nick heard Mrs. Big as he left the dark and desolate room and into the blinding hallway.