The Psychopathic Beast Emperor

Far above, Aurora continued its peaceful evening. Citizens laughed, restaurants overflowed with customers, and musicians played in the streets completely unaware that beneath their feet, an entire organization had already begun changing shape, not because they were afraid, but because someone had forced them to acknowledge a new variable.

Team Bahamut.

And if the hunters continued progressing at their current pace, then Phase Two would begin much sooner than originally planned.

...

Morning arrived over the Kingdom of Solaria beneath a blanket of pale golden sunlight.

The capital city of Aurora slowly awakened to another day as merchants rolled open the shutters of their shops, children laughed on their way to academies, and the aroma of freshly baked bread drifted from bakeries into the bustling streets. Noble carriages rolled along paved roads while adventurers departed through the city gates in search of fortune.

To anyone looking from the outside, it was another peaceful day, but those who knew the truth couldn't appreciate the beauty around them.

Inside the temporary headquarters assigned by Prince Victor Gandhal, the atmosphere was anything but relaxed. A large map of Aurora covered nearly an entire wall.

The colored pins had multiplied overnight. Red, blue, yellow, and black. Every one represented something. Missing people, false leads, mana disturbances, witness testimonies, and possible escape routes.

The investigation had officially entered its second day. Prince Victor stood at the front of the room with folded arms.

"The objective remains unchanged." His calm voice immediately drew everyone's attention. "We investigate, we observe, and if an opportunity presents itself..."

He looked directly at Bahamut.

" We capture it."

Nobody objected. This wasn't a battlefield where reckless courage solved problems. Every clue mattered. Every mistake could cost another life. Victor pointed toward the western district.

"Team Bahamut. The western commercial wards remain under your jurisdiction."

Bahamut nodded. "We'll continue where we stopped yesterday."

The prince shifted his gaze.

"Sel. The northern district."

Sel answered calmly.

"Understood."

"Rakia. The eastern artisan quarter."

"The southern district remains with Sylvia and Ren."

The veiled Black Fang Prodigy silently inclined her head while Ren lazily sat upon her shoulder in his bunny form, chewing on a carrot that nobody remembered giving him.

Victor continued.

"The palace personnel assigned yesterday will accompany you again."

"If you need guards, transportation, access to restricted locations or noble districts, use them. They've been instructed to obey your requests."

Silence followed. Finally Victor looked around the room.

"I don't know what we're chasing, but whoever they are, they've stayed ahead of us for weeks."

His blue eyes narrowed.

"Today, let's change that."

...

Within half an hour, the four teams had departed once more. Aurora resumed swallowing them into its endless crowds. Bahamut's group moved through the western district dressed similarly to the previous day.

His disguise had become surprisingly convincing. Expensive black clothing, silver embroidery, and elegant gloves. His blindfold returned to cover his eyes.

To outsiders, he appeared to be a wealthy young master from another kingdom. Alana naturally resumed her self-appointed role as his maid despite every protest he'd made the previous evening.

She walked half a step behind him, carrying several neatly wrapped packages they hadn't even purchased. She insisted a noble young master couldn't walk around empty-handed.

Lily had taken the role of his overly protective bodyguard.

She carried a sheathed sword openly at her waist while continuously glaring at every male who looked toward Bahamut for longer than two seconds.

Exildra played the easiest role: his quiet personal attendant. She barely spoke, merely observing everything through the veil covering the lower half of her face.

Behind them, two royal personnel maintained a respectful distance, far enough not to attract attention, and close enough to intervene if necessary.

Hours passed, and nothing happened, or rather, nothing obvious happened. Bahamut's group visited markets, apothecaries, tailors, blacksmiths, food stalls, tool shops, bookstores... everywhere they asked subtle questions.

Had anyone seen suspicious people?

Did strangers arrive recently?

Had anyone disappeared?

The answers remained frustratingly ordinary.

"No."

"I don't remember."

"Business has been normal."

"We heard rumors but nothing more."

Even Bahamut found himself growing impatient.

"They're either incredibly careful, or we've been looking in the wrong direction. It's seriously confusing."

Exildra quietly answered.

"Professional organizations survive by becoming invisible."

Lily crossed her arms.

"I still think we're missing something obvious."

Alana tilted her head.

"What if they're watching us?"

Everyone became silent. Bahamut stopped walking. His enhanced senses immediately expanded. He couldn't dismiss the feeling.

"We continue, but assume we're being observed."

The others nodded.

By midday, the western district had become increasingly crowded. Street performers gathered around plazas. Traveling merchants advertised exotic goods. Children chased each other between fountains. Musicians filled the air with cheerful melodies.

This was the perfect place to disappear. Bahamut silently watched people pass by, and one of his old habits from another life resurfaced naturally.

Who looked nervous? Who watched crowds instead of merchandise? Who moved against pedestrian flow? Who carried unnecessary weight? Who avoided eye contact?

His mind unconsciously categorized every individual, a skill that even surprised him. He still couldn't explain where it came from. Past lives perhaps, or the system, or maybe, he simply accepted the knowledge now.

Then, everything changed. It began with a scream. A woman suddenly rushed into the street.

"My son!"

"My son!"

She stumbled forward, nearly collapsing.

"Someone help!"

"The guards!"

"My son disappeared!"

The entire street froze. Nearby guards hurried toward her. People gathered almost instantly. Victor's personnel reacted first.

Bahamut's group followed immediately. The woman couldn't have been older than thirty. Her clothes were ordinary, nothing suggesting wealth. Her breathing came in panicked gasps.

"He was here! He was holding my hand! I only turned around because someone bumped into me!"

"When I looked back... He was gone!"

Lily frowned.

"How old?"

"Seven... My boy is seven..." Tears streamed down her face. "He couldn't have gone far!"

Bahamut crouched beside her.

"Calm yourself." His voice remained surprisingly gentle. "What happened exactly?"

The woman forced herself to breathe.

"I... I was buying fruit... Someone dropped baskets. Everyone moved... I looked away... When I turned back... he was gone."

'Didn't she say someone bumped into her earlier?'

"Did you hear anything?"

"No..."

"See anyone?"

She shook her head desperately.

"No..."

"No... I don't remember..."

Bahamut's expression changed.

"Memory interference."

Exildra nodded almost immediately.

"The same symptom."

The royal guards quickly sealed the marketplace. Nobody was allowed to leave. Unfortunately, Bahamut already knew it was pointless.

He walked toward the place where the child had disappeared, Super Senses activating. The bustling market slowly faded while the sounds sharpened, the scents separated, and the mana became visible.

'There!'

He found a faint ripple. It was almost invisible, like heat distortion. He crouched and touched the stone pavement.

Residual illusion mana. Fresh.

"They were here."

Alana knelt beside him. "Can you follow it?"

Bahamut closed his eyes. The mana trail extended several meters, then vanished, as though someone had deliberately erased it.

"Again."

Lily kicked the pavement. "Damn it! They're cleaning after themselves."

Exildra quietly looked around.

"No." She pointed toward a nearby wooden sign. "They wanted us to stop here."

Everyone turned.

At first, nothing appeared unusual, just another merchant's sign. Then Bahamut noticed it: a tiny carving, almost microscopic, hidden beneath the wood.

It was a flower with six petals surrounded by a circle.

Lily whispered. "Again."

Bahamut carefully touched the carving. Someone had left it intentionally. He slowly stood.

"They're communicating."

Exildra frowned.

"With us?"

"I don't know."

"But whoever left this wanted investigators to find it."

Silence followed.

The mother continued crying nearby while guards searched every alley. Bahamut stared at the flower symbol. Yesterday, one clue. Today, a different symbol with a different location and victim. It was too deliberate and precise.

His grey eyes narrowed under the blindfold.

"They're leading us somewhere."

Before anyone could respond, a royal messenger sprinted into the marketplace. His armor bore Prince Victor's crest, and he was panting heavily.

"Sir Bahamut!"

Bahamut turned. "What happened?"

The messenger swallowed hard.

"Another disappearance!"

Everyone froze.

"Where?"

"The eastern artisan district."

Rakia's sector. The messenger wasn't finished.

"And..." His expression became even paler.

"A third report... Southern district."

Ren and Sylvia's sector.

Three disappearances within minutes, and across three different parts of Aurora. The atmosphere around Bahamut changed instantly. His instincts screamed.

This wasn't coincidence. This wasn't opportunity. This was a declaration. The enemy had made the first move, and they were no longer content with hiding in the shadows.