Chapter 12: Mouse and Snake
The air in the courtroom was thick with tension, not just from the legal drama, but from something else, something subtle and insidious. Adam, observing from the back row (he always found courtrooms to be excellent places for people-watching, especially when Wesen were involved), grimaced. "You know, Ciri, I always thought lawyers were snakes. Turns out, some of them are literally snakes. And they're still just as manipulative. Who knew?"
[ New Wesen Type Discovered: Mauseherz. Information added to Library. ]
[ New Wesen Type Discovered: Lausenschlange. Information added to Library. ]
[ Wesen Behavior: Manipulation, Social Hierarchy. Threat Level: Moderate. ]
They were tracking a Lausenschlange, a snake-like Wesen who was manipulating a timid Mauseherz (mouse-like Wesen) into taking the fall for a murder. The Mauseherz, a meek, nervous creature, was clearly out of his depth, a pawn in a larger, more sinister game.
"Honestly, the social dynamics of these Wesen are just fascinating," Adam mused, scrolling through the new Library entries. "It's like a really messed-up high school drama, but with more woging and less glitter. You've got the timid mouse, the manipulative snake… all that's missing is a mean girl Hexenbiest. Oh, wait." He chuckled.
Ciri, who had zero patience for manipulation, scoffed. "Why not simply confront them? This… deception. It is cowardly."
"Because, Ciri, some people prefer to play chess, not checkers. And some people prefer to be the puppet master, not the puppet. It's all about power dynamics. And frankly, it's a lot more entertaining to watch than a straight-up brawl. Though, I do enjoy a good brawl."
Their investigation led them to a series of subtle clues, whispers in the Wesen community, and a faint, almost imperceptible trail of fear emanating from the Mauseherz. Nick and Hank were already on the case, Nick struggling to understand the complex web of lies and manipulation.
"Alright, Ciri," Adam whispered, "here's the plan. We expose the snake. We protect the mouse. And then, acid. Lots of acid. For the snake, not the mouse. Unless the mouse turns out to be secretly evil. Then, maybe a little acid for the mouse too. Just in case."
They moved swiftly, Adam's enhanced senses easily cutting through the Lausenschlange's subtle manipulations. They found the Lausenschlange in a secluded office, gloating over his terrified Mauseherz victim.
"Hey, Slytherin!" Adam called out, stepping into the room. "Your social engineering skills are impressive, but your victim selection needs work. You picked the wrong mouse to mess with."
The Lausenschlange woged, its face contorting into a snake-like visage, scales shimmering. It hissed, trying to intimidate them. Adam merely blinked, unaffected. He'd even popped a Tawny Owl potion for enhanced stamina, just in case this snake decided to be particularly slippery. His eyes, for a brief, terrifying moment, turned completely black, reflecting the Lausenschlange's startled face.
The Lausenschlange, used to its victims cowering, stumbled back, a flicker of fear in its reptilian eyes. This wasn't right. This human… his eyes were the void. It was unnatural. It was terrifying.
Ciri, seizing the moment of hesitation, moved. Her silver sword was a blur, disarming the Lausenschlange with a precise flick of her wrist. Adam followed up with a powerful, non-lethal strike, knocking the Wesen unconscious.
"Well, that was easier than expected," Adam mused, pulling out his Acid of Dissolution. "Guess he wasn't expecting the 'black-eyed, sarcasm-slinging Witcher' approach." He then proceeded to dissolve the body. "See, Ciri? Less talk, more acid. That's efficiency."
[ Kill Count: 1 Wesen. Level Up! Current Level: 3. Kills to Level 4: 8. ]
"Still Level 3, but progress!" Adam exclaimed. "This is like a slow burn, but with more dissolving. And speaking of dissolving, I'm pretty sure I saw a Maurits in the news. Rat people. Next up, pest control, supernatural edition." He paused, then looked at Ciri. "Hey, you know, this whole 'social engineering' thing? It's like a really complicated con. You ever try to explain a con to someone who only understands 'hit them until they tell the truth'?"
Ciri stared at him, her brow furrowing. "Social… engineering? What is this 'social engineering' you speak of? Is it a new type of magic?"
Adam sighed dramatically. "Oh, Ciri. We have so much to discuss. It's a long, complicated conversation. Involving psychology, manipulation, and a lot of therapy. But for now, let's just say it's why some of these guys are such jerks." He grinned. "Now, about those rat people…"
Nick, meanwhile, with Monroe's help, learned about the complex social hierarchy of the Wesen world. He learned that not all Wesen were inherently evil, but that their actions were often driven by human emotions – fear, anger, revenge, and manipulation. He found the Mauseherz safe, and the Lausenschlange… gone. Another mysterious intervention. Nick felt a growing sense of unease. Who were these people? And why did they keep cleaning up his messes before he even got there?
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