The breeze carries a hint of salt, providing a refreshing sensation against my skin. It is the best place for some solace on the ship. The real best option would've been my home, but I couldn't disappear without raising suspicion.

However, my home lacks a picturesque natural view, at least for now.

Sitting atop the cargo ship, I have a decent view of the endless ocean. Although it is just water in all directions, the blue sky with fluffy clouds drifting by, accompanied by the soothing sound of the waves, creates a serene environment for meditation.

But I also maintain a vigilant watch over our surroundings, prepared for any potential anomalies.

Watch duty, in simple terms.

I could pick up the presence of Grimm, especially Nevermore flocks, and warn Ilia in case they appear so the people don't get hurt. I also keep a keen eye out for aquatic Grimm, which are more dangerous than their land counterparts, capable of capsizing the ship or causing significant damage to the hull.

Fortunately, nothing untoward had occurred so far.

We have been at sea for days, en route to Menagerie, without any issues or disturbances, which is a positive sign.

Additionally, I had received payment for capturing that Squig; just one credit, but a credit is a credit, a good start. My newbie protection is soon to expire, which means I would be fighting against other contractors and earning some substantial income.

Yet, my thoughts often wander to the little monster, still alive and kicking. It has become bound to me as a familiar and is now roaming the Sanus continent. I resolved to retrieve it at a later time and check how the stamp had affected the creature and test its new supposed loyalty.

Given that it is a Squig, overwhelming violence should put it in line.

But that is a matter of another time, as I still need to delve into the robotics encyclopedia.

In the past few days, I'd dedicated myself to continuous study, but the VR immersion sessions were far from perfect. They didn't download information directly into my brain to stay there forever. Instead, I still needed to review what I'd learned from those virtual sessions, or I'd risk forgetting it.

Despite my new natural talents, Pathfinder was right; there was still a long way to go before I could start crafting my own prosthetics. I also hadn't delved much into the city economics volumes which I bought from Dr. Doppler.

I knew I couldn't rush or cut corners because it could have serious consequences for my body. But I would get everything right, eventually.

In the meantime, I find myself writing down essential points and notes about proper cables and insulators in a small notebook. My arm model is quite outdated, with the cables exposed and vulnerable to attacks. However, the designer had foreseen this issue, providing strong shielding and insulators to prevent extensive damage.

But as I am about to continue writing, my pen suddenly halts on the paper. A knot forms at the back of my neck, and an overwhelming sensation of dread washes over me, sending shivers down my spine.

And that SHOULDN'T happen.

This hasnever happened before.

I didn't need any more signals to know that something was very, very wrong.

My notebook is quickly sent back into my pocket space as I stand up, my enhanced eyes scanning the surroundings in greater detail, searching for the source of the abnormal feeling that has gripped me.

Despite my thorough inspection, every direction I looked revealed nothing but the vast blue ocean with its waves crashing against the ship's hull. I couldn't discern any tangible threat or anomaly.

I couldn't determine how long I spent in fruitless observation, and eventually, I had to admit defeat.

My lips tighten into a thin line, my brow furrowing. If I couldn't find anything on my own, perhaps a second opinion is in order.

I swiftly dial Ilia's number, all the while maintaining my vigilance over the surroundings, even though it seems like a futile endeavor.

"Adam? Did something happen?" She answers after a few rings.

"I wanted to ask the same thing. Did you sense anything unusual?"

"Not really. Everyone is fine down here."

Her answer left me frowning. Being the only one detecting something strange could be both a blessing and a curse. It meant I am now alerted, but it also meant I couldn't find any confirmation or seek a second opinion to determine whether it was just an inexplicable feeling or something more sinister.

"Stay alert for now." I simply reply before closing the call.

I shift my full attention back to the sea, determined to find the source of that overwhelming dread. I scour the horizon for any signs of unusual occurrences, like the formation of larger waves or the emergence of foreboding black clouds.

For a while, my gaze moved in various directions, trying to detect any abnormalities. Just as my concern grew, I noticed larger waves slowly forming. My hand instinctively moves closer to the hilt of my sword.

While I am fairly confident in facing a sea serpent, I know I need to be prepared for the diverse array of new Grimm species, each with its unique dangers.

However, my worries are put to rest when a colossal whale leaps out of the water and then gracefully disappears back into the ocean, causing ripples to spread across the water's surface.

I let out a sigh of relief as I watched the whale's tail splash water all around before vanishing into the deep.

It seems I had been overly paranoid for no reason, perhaps just succumbing to those inexplicable feelings that sometimes crept in. Nevertheless, caution isn't a bad trait, especially in a world where man-eating monsters seemed to rule.

With a sense of reassurance, I return my vision to its normal state and relax, sitting back on the floor. I summon my notebook back to resume my studies and note-taking.

Another important fact about proper cable organization found its place in my notes.

However, just as I am about to write, something freezes me in place, causing me to drop my pen along with my stomach.

Because it was the same fucking feeling of dread.

Unlike the first time, I don't get up from my sitting position. Instead, I casually pick up the pen from the floor and pretend to be engrossed in writing something, all the while keeping a close watch on my surroundings. I slightly move and turn my head, attempting to gain a better view. I also enhanced my vision again, as it's somewhat challenging to get a panoramic view of the ocean from my current position. Maybe later on, I'd be able to improve more of my body. If I could enhance my limbs, surely, I could enhance other parts as well.

However, that train of thought comes to an abrupt halt the second my improved sight catches a dark silhouette in the distance, causing my blood to run cold.
Because it hadn't been there moments ago.

Yet, thanks to my defenses, I don't panic or act impulsively. I remain seated on the floor, head bent as if nothing is happening, just a guy deeply engrossed in his studies.

I zoom in as much as I can on the silhouette and quickly feel a knot forming in my throat. Another shiver runs down my spine as I indirectly make eye contact with a short head that emerged from the ocean. And it fucking has a disturbingly humanoid appearance.

Despite the relatively short length of that head with its horns, it was large, considering that I zoomed in on its features. Four red eyes stare at the ship, each one blinking separately. What makes it even more menacing is what I think are elongated fins on the sides of that eerie head, with the rest of those long fins submerged beneath the water.

Yet, thatthing didn't launch a direct assault on us or attempt to approach the ship. It remains there, watching us from a safe distance and swiftly hiding whenever I try to catch a glimpse of it. Any other Grimm would have recklessly charged us by now.

And yet there it stays, showing an attitude that is against everything known about Grimm's nature.

Grimms that haven't evolved to become Behemoths.

Because it is known that Behemoths developed a level of sentience.

That's why they are extremely dangerous, yet they all remain hidden or very far from settlements as if they want to avoid conflict. However, there had been reports of Behemoths attacking settlements, razing them to the ground.

But that was besides the point, a fucking Behemoth has taken interest on us for some reason and I have no idea if it is going to do something or just watch us from afar. What actually scares me is that it is more than capable of breaking the ship in half to force on an even worse situation.

I needed to make a call.

"Yes?"

"Go somewhere private, now." It was important to keep everyone in the dark about what was happening.

From her end, I could hear her speaking with the people inside, along with the steps leading to her finding a private spot outside.

"Done." She finally replies.

I close my eyes before revealing the precarious truth.

"There is a Behemoth watching us."

"What?!"

"Just now, it's keeping its distance, observing us from the southwest."

"What are we going to do?! We cannot fight that monster!"

"Nothing, it is just watching us if we continue doing the same then maybe it will go away after losing interest. Remember that behemoths are intelligent and do not follow their instinct like the rest of Grimm." I give her a quick reminder of what we are dealing with.

"You are right, freaking out won't do us any good. It might even attract more Grimm."

"Yes, stay there and keep doing whatever you were doing. They must remain ignorant of what is happening."

Even if the Behemoth itself didn't pose an immediate threat, I couldn't say the same for other Grimm species, potentially large enough to inflict serious damage on our ship.

"What if…"

"I will fight it." I cut her off. "If it comes to that, I'll face it head-on." I'd need to target any potential weak points and incapacitate it, not kill it, but give us enough time to disengage safely.
Ilia remained silent for a while before ending the call, leaving me with a heavy sigh.

She is likely struggling with anxiety and no one to calm her down.

Returning my focus to the vigilant Behemoth's head, I couldn't help but wonder if the creature's full size is comparable to our vessel.

I rub the back of my neck, trying to ease some growing tension, once again my modifiers playing against me. A large monster, which shows intelligence and can even think before acting.

Monster Hunter.

Something I barely knew about besides big monsters and big weapons, that is all I know. Perhaps the Behemoths are a similar match from Monster Hunter. Next time I should grab a Monster encyclopedia for research and pray they are similar in as many aspects as possible, like weaknesses.

Putting that thought aside, the silver lining is that our ship is heading in the opposite direction, increasing the distance between us and the aquatic monster that has shown no sign of swimming closer.

My gaze remains locked onto it for what felt like an eternity until the creature's head finally submerged into the ocean, disappearing from sight.

I don't avert my gaze from that spot; I continue watching as long as I can. Only after a considerable amount of time had passed, I let out a long sigh of relief, feeling somewhat certain that the Grimm had departed.

My shoulders slump, and I allow my body to fall to the floor, finally succumbing to the weight of the tension that had been bearing down on me. I'd earned a brief respite for enduring the whole ordeal. Perhaps I should make my way back to my room and catch a well-deserved nap; I certainly needed one after this.

We still have two more days before reaching Menagerie, and I could only hope that this encounter with the Behemoth would be the sole highlight of our voyage.

The more I learned, the more I understood, and it felt like a miracle that my arm had remained fully functional for as long as it had. Each new chapter I delved into brought a fresh set of problems to light in my prosthetic.

I could list a few, like the lack of lubrication, faulty cables, material decay, and rusty components. Whenever everyone was occupied and looking the other way, I retreated to the workshop to start fixing, or at least mitigating, the damage. But I knew these were only temporary solutions. Now, more than ever, I grasped the importance of replacing parts with better ones.

The more I replaced, the more I lost... or maybe not?

Wait, wasn't this the paradox of Theseus?

I shake my head to clear my thoughts. I'd consider it when the time came. For now, I don't want to complicate things further.

As Menagerie island appears on the horizon and we draw closer, the entire crew couldn't help but notice. Although a sense of positivity fills the air, doubts still linger. I couldn't blame them; opportunities are scarce. However, at the very least, they are safe, and that counts for something.

Observing the crowd gathering below, I couldn't help but notice that Ilia isn't among them. She has been tirelessly working to keep everyone's spirits up, and it seems she has learned quite a bit from them. Her social skills are evident, which explains why she was such an excellent infiltrator. While I know I could purchase Communication Talents from the company to be more like her, my immediate needs are more on the practical side.
If she isn't with our fellow kinsmen, then the next logical step for her, given our proximity to home, is to establish contact.

And there is only one place on the ship where she can connect with Menagerie's frequency.

I make my way to a nearby ladder, sliding down to the floor, and then head towards the control room where I expect to find my friend. My assumptions are confirmed soon after I enter the room and spot her. She is wearing a headset, fully focused on a computer, with a speaker nearby.

"Did you manage to make contact?" I raise my voice to get her attention.

She perks up, turning to me and removing her headset. "I did, and they're already preparing the port to receive us," she says, her voice filled with relief and settling back in her chair. "We're really back home."

I chose to remain silent for a moment, letting her savor the small happiness a bit longer before addressing a more critical question.

"Did you tell them about me?"

The smile quickly vanishes from her face, replaced by a serious expression. "No, I… I just said that you are just a skilled fighter rescued from a gang."

"Just that?" I press, feeling the need for a more elaborate explanation.

But she shakes her head. "I also said that you want to keep your identity and everything hidden because of your time at the gangsters' hands. They mutilated your body so badly that it is deformed in every sense."
That bit of information will have to do. Tragedy and sympathy are a good way to deflect questions.

"It will have to do for now." I reply, and without further ado, I turn and head straight to the captain's cabin, leaving her to keep us in contact with Menagerie.

As I enter my bedroom, I find the long, ugly coat and the obnoxiously colorful biker helmet piled on the bed. It is a quick change of clothes, and I assume my wannabe gangster persona once more. To the world, I am just another victim who had endured the horrors of the gang's cruelty and now sought revenge.

Thanks to my Covert talent, I could blend in and remain unnoticed, even if my disguise is at a basic level. Ilia will have to take the spotlight and credit for everything to keep me in the shadows.

With my identity now concealed, I return to the control room. However, I encounter Ilia waiting outside, which puzzles me. She points behind me, prompting me to turn around.

Two smaller vessels are rapidly approaching our ship.

I zoomed in on them, and they are unmistakably from the White Fang, their distinctive black and white robes giving them away.

I turn back to Ilia, who wears a worried expression. "If they ask about me, I'm Blaze, a monkey faunus with damaged vocal cords, a mute."

"Do we really need to keep it a secret? We're home now. You should reveal yourself. Your return would be a tremendous morale boost for everyone." She suggests, her lips purse in concern.

I blink.

She isn't entirely wrong; my return would indeed be a grand reveal and a much-needed morale boost for everyone. However, there are matters to address before I can rejoin the public.

"Not until I speak with Sienna first and set things straight," I clarify.

Her eyes widened at my words. "Adam, you don't mean..."

I quickly shake my head, dispelling any worries she might have. "No, nothing drastic or any intention to bring her harm."

A very long talk with Sienna Khan, and she will leave that room only, and only, if she agrees with what I had to say.

Ilia lets out a sigh of relief and turns her attention back to the approaching boats, and I do the same. From my vantage point, I can see the White Fang crew more clearly. Each one of them is armed, carrying either guns or melee weapons such as spears or swords.

One significant difference is that none of them wear Grimm masks., because there isn't a need to do so. And Ghira taught me…us very well.

I shake my head to banish those resurfacing ugly thoughts.

Ilia only wears a plain white mask, a necessity to conceal her identity as she frequently infiltrates human cities and groups.

Soon enough, all the boats reach the ship's exterior ladders but use hooks to secure them in place before the crew start climbing aboard. In a matter of minutes, they are all on board, and they either begin exploring or securing the ship, following orders from their leader.

As for me, I walk over to a wall and lean my back against it, crossing my arms and hanging my head low. Maintaining a low profile is essential as the leader of the squad approaches. The leader should only speak to my childhood friend, who remains in front, adopting a more serious attitude and stance.

As predicted, the leader came closer with three soldiers on each side, each carrying a rifle, which appeared to be of Vale design. The leader herself has a mecha-shift spear strapped to her back.

Once she is close enough, she stands at full attention and offers her superior officer a formal salute. "First Sergeant Laffa."

"At ease, soldier." Ilia gestures for the squad to stand down. "There are thirty-four civilians on board. I'll need help to manage and maintaining order. We also require assistance unloading and storing all the containers filled with essential supplies."

The now-identified Sergeant Laffa nods and issues orders to her squad. "You heard her. Move out!"

The small squad quickly salutes and disperses, following the newly given orders to join the others who are already working.

However, Laffa's attention shifts to me, making me click my tongue in annoyance. "Who is that guy?" she asks, her tone laced with suspicion as she points at me with an accusatory finger.

"His name is Blaze," Ilia answers fast, looking at me over her shoulder and sighing. "He helped me hijack the ship."

She pauses for a moment and chews on her cheek before adding. "Don't try to talk to him or ask him anything. He's on edge because he was a victim of a gang, and… and he lost everything."
"Wait, so that means..." The sergeant's eyes widened as she looked at me with a horrified expression.

"Yes, everything." My friend confirms her wrong assumptions.

Laffa let out a heavy sigh, scratching her head while looking at me with deep-seated pity for my false predicament. She reaches into her chest pocket and pulls something out. "Give him this token, so nobody will give him trouble. He's been through enough."

Ilia nods as she takes the token from her hands.

The first sergeant gives one last salute before leaving to join the rest of her squad and assume command.

Ilia takes another look at the token in her hand before approaching me. "What are we going to do now?" She asks as she hands me the token of safety.

Taking the metallic object shaped like the White Fang logo, I swiftly affixed it to my chest using the attached pin, ensuring everyone could see it. "You should go with them and gather as much information as possible. I have to go somewhere first."

Her head jerks in surprise. "Are you sure you want to go?"

I release another sigh, the weight of my decision settling on my shoulders. I rub the back of my neck in an attempt to ease the tension and fail. "Yes, I need to speak with her and confront everything."

Ilia attempts to speak, but no words emerge. Her mouth opens and closes a couple of times before she finally nods. "Alright, I understand. Just be careful."

I offer a faint smile, even though she can't see it. "I will."

With that said, I make my way towards the other side of the ship. However, the freighter came to a sudden halt, prompting me to look back and realize that we had already reached Menagerie port. Right on cue, the waiting crowd erupts into loud cheers and applauses.

A part of me yearns to stay, bask in the glory, and enjoy a hero's welcome. But I had already made up my mind, so I dispel those intrusive thoughts.

"Go on, you deserve all the credit," I say to the new hero before walking away, leaving her behind.

I won't look back, but I know she is descending the ship as the people cheered even louder. Their enthusiasm halted my steps, and against my better judgment, I turned around, watching the scene unfold over the ship's railing.

The new hero stands at the center of attention, basking in the praise, while the White Fang soldiers maintain order around her. From my position, I can see the genuine happiness on her face as she greets everyone. A larger soldier even approaches, lifting her onto his shoulder so that everyone could catch a glimpse of their awaited hero.

I feel genuinely happy for her. I truly do.

Yet…

With everyone's focus on her, I discover the perfect opportunity to slip away unnoticed. It was a chance I didn't waste, and I ran in the opposite direction from the rapidly growing crowd.

Upon reaching the other side of the ship, I peer down and see the sandy ground awaiting me, with no ladders in sight. The only option is to take the leap, and I did just that. I land on the sand, causing a small eruption of grains of sand that cling to my clothes.

I quickly adjust my attire and brush off the visible sand before setting off on foot toward my sole destination. However, as soon as I left the beach behind and entered the city, my steps significantly slowed. And the stark reality of Kuo Kanna unfolds before my eyes.

The immediate comparison that comes to mind was those images of underdeveloped countries, much like the photos that depicted poverty-stricken areas, shantytowns, and towns designed to evoke pity and encourage donations. At least, that's how I remembered it from the past. But witnessing it in person, accepting it as a stark reality, made the situation much more...

Real.

The reality on the ground clashed with my earlier perceptions. I used to think of Kuo Kanna as a pleasant coastal town, a charming summer destination, despite what writers had claimed about it being a struggling nation. Now, I am faced with the true essence of an underdeveloped and struggling kingdom.

The houses are small, if one could even call the amalgamations of metal and wood "houses" to begin with. The streets lack any infrastructure, consisting of nothing more than hardened dirt attempting to serve as roads. Houses are haphazardly piled atop one another, often composed of a mishmash of materials. Even those constructed solely from wood are devoid of design, displaying their shoddy construction, which is indicative of a lack of proper education.

This cannot and will NOT go on anymore.

I will lift my home out of poverty, I will lift the entire kingdom out of its rags. It will be self- sufficient and improve everyone's lives. Yet I know that even with the encyclopedias worth of knowledge, I already know it will be a long arduous task to achieve all of those objectives.

But I have to start somewhere, focusing on the most basic necessities, such as food and water.

Rubbing my neck, I felt the weight of responsibility growing heavier. These small changes would be a good beginning, at the very least.

Thankfully, the streets are deserted as everyone has congregated at the poorly constructed port to celebrate Ilia's grand hero's welcome.

Not wanting to draw unnecessary attention or arouse curiosity, I pick up my pace and dash across the empty streets. Soon, I leave the desolate area behind and find myself on a somewhat improved street. This one, however, is marginally better than the first district, and I could even spot a larger building at the end of the main street.

I stand in place for a moment, looking at the chieftain's house.

Belladonna's home.

And mine.

I don't think more and walk straight to my old home, and much to my unpleasant surprise, the house is already showing signs of decay, salt forming on the walls or the pain peeling off. But ignoring those details, it is the same house.

And without noticing, my feet took me in front of the wooden doors.

Shaking my head, I take another look at my surroundings and the place is empty, which is also strange because there used to be at least two guards stationed at home. Unless no one is home.
Yet I would never know if I didn't take the first step and knock on the door.

I extend my right hand, trying to reach for the brass ring to knock the door but stop before I could grab it as the weight in my shoulder becomes too much that my arms drop making me feel frustrated with myself.

Summoning my resolve, I take one step closer to the door and try again. My right hand finally grasps the brass ring, and with a deep breath, I lift it high enough to produce a series of loud, echoing knocks.

Three slow but strong knocks

Only then I release the ring and take a step back, waiting for someone to answer the door.

And wait.

And wait.

I know it hasn't been much time, as my HUD also displays the time, but every passing minute felt like an eternity. I was tempted to knock again, just to ensure I had been heard. However, those thoughts subsided the moment I picked up on faint, yet distinguishable, footsteps that grow louder with each approaching step.

My entire body goes rigid as I hear the door being unlocked, the hinges sliding open, and then the large door creaking open. From the narrow gap, a single golden eye peers out, cautiously looking at me.

Soon, the door swung fully open, revealing a mature woman, Kali Belladonna. Her ears perk up as she takes a closer look at me, scanning me from head to toe and raising a questioning eyebrow.
"Can I help you?" she asks, crossing her arms and wearing a displeased expression. "If not, I'll have to ask you to leave. I'm not receiving any visitors."

Despite her words, I couldn't help but notice that she hadn't been taking good care of herself. Her appearance is disheveled, with tousled hair and a weary expression. More telling, though, are her eyes, bloodshot and puffy… crying.

Crying for me?

At this point, words are utterly inadequate, and a welling surge of emotions spur me into action. My hands move with deliberate slowness, gradually reaching for the clasps securing my helmet.

My seemingly innocent gesture triggered a cascade of emotions from Kali. She takes a cautious step back, her hands instinctively gravitating towards something at her waist, possibly a concealed weapon.

Her attempt to deter me has no sway over my determination, and I continue with my action, each movement an exercise in controlled anticipation. I finally reveal my face as I take off the helmet.

As the cool breeze brushes against my exposed skin, carrying with it the scent of the familiar surroundings, I inhale deeply, savoring the moment and exhale, letting everything bottled inside me to finally go out.

However, all of these pales in comparison to Kali's reaction. A loud gasp, sharp and piercing, escaped her lips. She freezes in place, and her weapons clatter to the ground. Her hands go to her mouth and her eyes wide in disbelief.

"I...I'm back," I manage to say, and in an instant, my adoptive mother closes the distance between us, wrapping me in a tight, warm embrace. Her arms acting as a safety net, like it always has been.

Defenses and barriers crumble before her, and I allowed myself to be vulnerable, something I haven't done in a long time. A lump in my throat, and my vision blur behind the blindfold as I return her affection, tears escaping, mingling with hers. In that precious moment, the weight on my shoulders, the scars of my journey, all fade away in the warm, loving hug of the family I had missed so dearly.

-Ilia Amitola-

Even though she would have liked to stay at the celebration, it was best to leave before things got too… wild. People tended to do crazy things when they were was not only the sensible thing to do but also a necessity. She needed to make her way to the Main Headquarters, or at least with a detachment of soldiers who would escort her there since the ship needed to be garrisoned for safety.

As they marched across the bustling streets, she was showered with praises and loud ovations. She couldn't deny that she enjoyed the attention, which put a smile on her face.

It was a bit strange that Sienna hadn't met them at the port. Later, she learned that Sienna was caught up in important, unexpected talks. It was rare for her not to inform them about such meetings, and that raised some suspicion.

Something was definitely amiss, though Ilia couldn't put her finger on it. She needed to ask a few questions to get a better picture.

"Could someone bring me up to speed on recent events? I've been out of the loop for quite a while," she asked the nearest battle sister.

Her battle-sister wore a grim expression. "We lost the Atlas cell over a week ago, and the Mistral front is hanging by a thread."

Ilia was already aware of this, but she was relieved to hear that Mistral hadn't fallen just yet.

"Thanks to your arrival with supplies and the new reinforcements, we can turn the situation around in Mistral!" Another member chimed in with a more optimistic tone.

That statement caught her full attention. She turned to the man who had spoken. "Reinforcements?"

She was surprised because there weren't many faunus groups left to provide assistance after Ghira united them all under the White Fang banner. It was indeed a surprise to hear that the Mistral front received reinforcements.

"Yeah, Lady Khan has been negotiating with a couple of new groups, and they're powerful. They're on a hunter level," he replied.

Ilia furrowed her brows as she pondered this new group, especially their strength being on par with hunters. Such a formidable group should have been well known by now, given the White Fang's constant recruitment efforts.
And it was hard to think of anyone willing to join a sinking ship, because as hard as it was to accept, after Adam's… death. Everything was falling apart and fast. She feared the absolute worst before he came back.

"They're a nomadic tribe from Mistral, and their aid has kept the front from falling," another faunus added with a faint smile. "They emerged from the jungles and swiftly cut down our enemies."

"A nomadic clan?" Ilia pondered aloud, more like a rhetorical question.

While it provided some insight, it still wasn't enough information for her to deduce their identity. She mentally noted the key details: a strong warring tribe, nomadic in nature, hailing from Mistral's jungles.

As she thought, the puzzle pieces began to fall into place. She suddenly remembered one group that matched these criteria, a group that had been completely isolated from the outside world.

And then it hit her like a ton of bricks, causing her to freeze in her tracks.

Her blood ran cold, and she felt as though a bucket of ice water had been poured over her.

Carnivores

Lady Khan had enlisted the help of Carnivores.

They were the only group that Ghira had made a point to exile and even attempted to exterminate from the White Fang's original ranks, but fled as soon as they found out.

Frantically, she looked around, her escorts absorbed in their conversation and the road. She saw a small window of opportunity and swiftly shifted her skin color to blend in with the background. She managed to slip away from the group unnoticed.

It took a moment for her absence to register with the squad escorting her. They began to call out her name and broke formation to search for her, but she couldn't care less at that point.

She attempted to contact Adam, but after numerous agonizing attempts, she had to accept that he wasn't picking up.

That left her with no choice but to go after him personally and warn him of the grave danger that Menagerie now faced.

Why?

Because Carnivores were faunus who preyed on humans.

Fucking Cannibals within their ranks.

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