Chapter 11: The Royal Family's First Move
The scent of roasted coffee beans usually brought Adam a sense of calm, a familiar anchor in his increasingly chaotic existence. But this morning, even the rich aroma of his own blend couldn't entirely mask the faint, metallic tang of unease that clung to the air. He was behind the counter, wiping it down with a practiced hand, when Kathleen entered, her usual stoic demeanor slightly more rigid than usual.
"Trouble?" Adam asked, not needing to look up to know the answer. Kathleen had a way of radiating 'imminent danger' that was almost as potent as his own aura.
"Whispers," she confirmed, her voice low. "The Royal Family. They are… agitated. Adalind's defeat, the discovery of the first key's treasure… it has not gone unnoticed. They are sending agents. To investigate. To find you."
Adam sighed. "Of course they are. You can't just dismantle a Hexenbiest's power and swipe ancient artifacts without someone throwing a tantrum. Renard, I'm guessing, is having a particularly bad hair day."
Renard. Adam knew the Captain was a Royal, a Zauberbiest, and currently playing a very delicate game. He was undoubtedly feeling the pressure from his family, especially now that Adam had started messing with their carefully laid plans.
"They will be subtle at first," Kathleen continued, her eyes scanning the empty coffee shop, as if expecting a Royal agent to woge from behind the espresso machine. "But their intentions will be clear. They seek to understand the new Grimm. To assess the threat."
"Well, they're about to get a very thorough assessment," Adam muttered, a glint in his eye. "And a very unpleasant surprise. Speaking of unpleasant, I've got a feeling our next case is going to involve some… dental issues."
He was right. Nick called an hour later, his voice weary. "Adam, we've got a new one. A brutal attack. The victim's face… it's like something tried to rip it off. And the bite marks… they're not human. Or animal, not really."
Adam knew instantly. Mauvais Dentes. Again. But this time, it's the Season 2 version. More dangerous, more aggressive. "Mauvais Dentes, Nick. Bad Teeth. They're like hyenas, but worse. And they're usually after something specific. Not just blood, but… trophies."
Hank, who was with Nick, chimed in, his voice laced with disbelief. "Trophies? What kind of trophies?"
"Teeth," Adam said, a grimace on his face. "They're obsessed with teeth. They believe they gain power by collecting them. And this particular one… he's a real piece of work. Highly aggressive. Probably sent by someone who wants to cause chaos. Or maybe just likes a good dental plan."
This could be the Royal Family's first subtle move, Adam mused. Send in a dangerous Wesen, stir up trouble, see how the new Grimm reacts. Test the waters.
"I know where he's likely to strike next," Adam continued, his mind already piecing together the canon events. "He targets people who've wronged him, or those he perceives as weak. And he likes to operate in dark, secluded areas. Abandoned warehouses, construction sites. Places where he can corner his prey."
They tracked the Mauvais Dentes to a derelict factory on the industrial waterfront. The air was thick with the smell of rust and damp concrete, and a faint, acrid scent that Adam now recognized as the signature of the Mauvais Dentes.
"He's in there," Kathleen whispered, her eyes narrowed, picking up subtle movements in the shadows. "Powerful. And very fast."
They moved in. Nick and Hank covered the main entrance, while Adam and Kathleen slipped in through a broken window, moving with practiced stealth. The factory was a labyrinth of rusted machinery and crumbling walls, perfect for an ambush.
They found the Mauvais Dentes in the main assembly hall, its woged form a horrifying blend of human and hyena, its jaws dripping with saliva, its eyes gleaming with a savage hunger. It was cornering a terrified homeless man, clearly its next victim.
"Hey, ugly!" Adam yelled, his voice echoing through the cavernous space. "Looking for a dentist? Because I know a guy. He's got a very painful drill."
The Mauvais Dentes snarled, turning its attention to Adam, its predatory gaze shifting to one of furious aggression. It lunged, a blur of muscle and teeth.
Adam and Kathleen moved as one. Kathleen met the charge with a powerful kick, deflecting the Mauvais Dentes's initial attack. Adam followed up with a series of rapid, precise strikes, targeting the Wesen's joints and pressure points. The Mauvais Dentes roared in frustration, its thick hide deflecting some of their blows, but the combined force of two Grimms, both enhanced by System vials and rigorous training, was overwhelming.
The Mauvais Dentes was strong, but it was also predictable. It relied on brute force and intimidation. Adam and Kathleen, however, were strategists, dancers of death. They wove around its attacks, striking where it was weakest, wearing it down with relentless precision.
Finally, with a grunt of effort, Adam delivered a powerful uppercut that sent the Mauvais Dentes reeling. Kathleen followed with a devastating knee to its midsection, forcing the Wesen to collapse, woging back to human form, unconscious.
[System] Wesen Defeated. Wesen Type: Mauvais Dentes. Extracting... Alchemical Vial Created: Mauvais Dentes Potion.
[System] The Mauvais Dentes Potion grants enhanced physical strength and durability.
A new vial, a murky brown, materialized in Adam's hand. He pocketed it, a satisfied smirk on his face.
Nick and Hank, having rushed in, stared at the unconscious Wesen. "That was… fast," Nick said, his eyes wide. "You guys are getting seriously good at this."
"It's the synergy, Nick," Adam said, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. "And the fact that we're basically a walking, talking, Wesen-busting machine. This Mauvais Dentes Potion, by the way, is excellent for physical strength and durability. We might need to start a team regimen. Imagine, all of us, super strong. We could probably move mountains. Or at least, really heavy furniture."
Captain Renard, Adam thought, a silent message directed at the Zauberbiest he knew was watching. This is just a preview. You haven't seen anything yet.
Meanwhile, across town, Captain Renard stood in his opulent, yet sterile, apartment, a phone pressed to his ear. His face was a mask of frustration, his jaw tight. "So, the Mauvais Dentes was neutralized? So quickly? And by whom?"
The voice on the other end, cold and precise, replied, "The new Grimm, Captain. He and his… associate. They are far more effective than anticipated. And they seem to possess knowledge beyond their station."
Renard slammed the phone down, the sound echoing in the silent room. "Knowledge beyond their station," he muttered, pacing. "First Adalind, now this. Who is this Adam Stiels? And what exactly is he planning?"
This new Grimm is a complication, Renard thought, a flicker of genuine concern in his eyes. A very dangerous complication. He's disrupting everything. And I need to know why.
Click here to dive deeper: [patreon.com/TheFinex5] for more than 20 webnovels