Lord Of Beasts

”A request already?” Kaela asked, one eyebrow rising with obvious interest.

Greg gave a small nod.

”Why else would I have called the two of you so urgently?” he replied evenly. ”This meeting was actually supposed to happen yesterday, but...” His eyes drifted towards Ethan. ”...somebody couldn’t get out of bed.”

Ethan didn’t even bother defending himself.

He simply grinned.

”What can we, the Enforcers, do for you?”

Ethan’s tone and body language made it clear that they weren’t subordinates that Greg could order around as he pleased.

If he wanted them to cooperate, he needed to treat them as exactly what they’d agreed to become, independent contractors. Giving orders would only sour the relationship before it had even begun.

”As a request,” Greg reiterated, ”we need your help in dealing with a group of rogue Titled that we’ve been monitoring throughout the state over the past month.”

With a swipe of his hand, a holographic display flickered into existence between them. A map appeared first, dotted with markers, before several photographs expanded around it.

”There are approximately ten confirmed members. Most are believed to be D Rank, with several C Ranks acting as the core of the group. We have no evidence suggesting anyone stronger than that is involved, though if there is...” His eyes shifted between Ethan and Kaela. ”...I doubt either of you will have any difficulty.”

Neither of them looked particularly concerned.

Greg continued.

”They’ve been relatively smart so far. Rather than attracting attention immediately, they’ve been targeting small businesses, jewellery stores, cash transport vans and independent warehouses. Nothing large enough to justify deploying high-ranking Titled.”

He enlarged another section of the map.

”That changes today.”

A large red marker appeared over a bank in downtown Brooklyn.

”According to our intelligence, they intend to rob the Metropolitan Reserve Bank during the lunch rush, so we must act soon.”

Another image appeared, showing crowds outside the building during peak business hours.

”They specifically chose that time because civilian traffic will be at its highest, expecting confusion and likely intending to take hostages. That, along with their special abilities, will make local law enforcement hesitate.”

Ethan’s smile slowly disappeared.

”Smart.”

Greg nodded.

”Unfortunately.”

He clasped his hands behind his back.

”As you can imagine, I can’t simply send in the police or the black suits either. They’d be walking into a massacre, and are stretched thin as it is. Even if they were sent, there would be unacceptable casualties on both sides.”

He paused for emphasis.

”So my request is simple: subdue them, and preferably, without killing any of them.”

He made another gesture towards the hologram.

”I can send over detailed profiles on every confirmed Titled involved, including their known abilities, likely formations and-”

”No need.”

Ethan interrupted before he’d even finished.

”Just send us the location, and we’ll handle the rest.”

Kaela grinned beside him.

”And once we’re finished, you can send your Black Suits to clean everything up.”

Greg looked from Ethan to Kaela.

Kaela already looked impatient, as though she wanted to leave immediately and start smashing through walls until she found the criminals. Ethan, meanwhile, somehow looked even more dangerous.

Not because he appeared eager to fight, but because he’d already skipped past the briefing and begun planning how to end it as efficiently as possible.

’What have I got myself into?’

He had been seen through entirely by Ethan, and went from planning to send them on a wild goose chase to accepting conditions that were hard even for him to meet.

Unfortunately, there was no taking it back now.

Greg exhaled quietly.

”The locations have already been transferred to both of your phones.”

”I’ll contact you again once the Enforcers’ headquarters and support infrastructure have been finalised. In the meantime, if either of you comes across any information regarding the new drug currently circulating among rogue Titled, inform me immediately.”

”My number has already been saved.”

As he said that, Greg instinctively glanced towards both of their wrists, but he wisely didn’t comment on their lack of smartwatches.

Ethan checked his phone before locking eyes with the director.

”You didn’t even tell us what the drug’s called.”

Greg nodded.

”There isn’t an official designation yet. The people manufacturing and distributing it have been referring to it by several names that have become interchangeable depending on the region.”

He brought up another holographic screen displaying various aliases.

”The most common names we’ve intercepted are Genesis, Primal, Wildfire, Surge, and Pulse, while there are numerous others.”

”Sounds like a bunch of stripper names,” Ethan mumbled.

”You’d definitely know,” Kaela joked.

Greg ignored their comments and continued, ”Each dose can have different effects and potencies, but the side effects are always consistent.”

He brought up a series of images depicting what that actually looked like.

”Yikes. That’s rough.”

Despite her words being those of concern, Kaela laughed.

Meanwhile, Ethan was intrigued, especially by the images of those whose limbs had transformed into those of beasts.

’It’s like a warped assimilation with beasts and even monsters.’

He smiled, though it didn’t last long as Greg dismissed the hologram and met his gaze.

”There is one final matter.”

”What is it?”

”Elara Veyne, the Blood Demon...”

The atmosphere instantly shifted, and the amused grin disappeared from Ethan’s face. His relaxed posture vanished, and his expression became completely unreadable.

Greg felt it immediately.

This wasn’t Absolute Suppression, but was simply Ethan’s intent and a warning hidden beneath complete composure. Even Kaela straightened ever so slightly, and she knew Ethan well enough to know that if Greg crossed a line...

Things could escalate very quickly.

The suited man realised that too and chose his next words very carefully.

”She is an exceptionally powerful A Rank. And now that her abilities seem to have stabilised, the Association believes her skills are best used elsewhere.”

He paused to check Ethan’s reaction.

”Honestly, after Titan, she may well be one of the strongest active Titled currently operating in the country. And so if you could avoid looping her into her unit so she can aid us elsewhere, that would be appreciated.”

Kaela frowned slightly.

’After me too,’ she thought to herself, but didn’t bother saying it aloud.

Ethan remained silent for several seconds.

Then he relaxed.

”I don’t care where she wants to work. And if she wants to keep clearing Gates, that’s her decision.”

His eyes never left Greg’s.

”But if you try any sly shit with her...”

His voice dropped.

”I don’t care if you’re the President or even Titan-”

He didn’t need to finish the sentence.

The threat lingered in the warehouse long after the words stopped.

Greg simply nodded once.

”Loud and clear.”

Satisfied that the message had been understood by both sides, he turned towards the exit. One of the waiting Black Suits immediately stepped forward to escort him outside. As he was leaving, Ethan spoke loudly enough for everyone present to hear.

”Couldn’t he have just phoned us instead of dragging us all the way out here?”

Greg didn’t react or turn back while Ethan dramatically shook his head.

”To think an idiot like that is partly running our country.”

That second comment made the man pause momentarily before continuing on his way, the warehouse doors quickly shutting behind him.

Kaela burst into laughter.

”I was thinking exactly the same thing.”

Moments later, the two of them climbed back onto their respective motorcycles. They’d been given their first assignment as Enforcers, and judging by the matching grins on their faces, neither of them could wait to get started...