Chapter 13: The Organ Grinder
The stench hit Adam first: a sickening cocktail of antiseptic, stale blood, and something else, something metallic and utterly inhuman. He grimaced. "You know, Ciri, I always thought black markets dealt in, like, designer handbags and knock-off watches. Turns out, it's human organs. And Wesen organs. Because, of course, it is. Humanity always finds a way to be utterly disgusting, even in a world of monsters."
[ Wesen Criminal Organization Detected: Organ Market. Threat Level: High. Priority: Dismantle. ]
They were tracking a black market operation dealing in Wesen organs, a gruesome trade that preyed on the vulnerable. The latest victims were two abducted teenagers, their lives hanging in the balance.
"Honestly, organ harvesting? That's a new low, even for this universe," Adam muttered, his usual sarcasm tinged with genuine disgust. "It's like a really bad horror movie, but with more actual gore. And less jump scares. Though, I could probably add some jump scares if I wanted to."
Ciri's face was set in a grim line, her eyes cold. "Exploiting the innocent for profit. This is abhorrent. Such creatures deserve no mercy."
"Agreed," Adam said, his voice unusually serious. "No mercy for these guys. This is a 'burn it all down' kind of mission. And by 'burn it all down,' I mean 'dissolve it all with acid.' Much cleaner."
Their investigation, a grim trail of missing persons and whispers in the criminal underworld, led them to a secluded, heavily guarded warehouse. Nick and Hank were already on the scene, horrified by the discovery of the black market.
"Alright, Ciri," Adam whispered, his voice low and dangerous. "No subtle interventions here. We go in, we dismantle the operation. We save the kids. And then, acid. Lots of acid. For everyone involved. No survivors. Metaphorically. Unless they're really annoying. Then literally."
They moved like a storm, a whirlwind of righteous fury. Adam, using his Witcher durability, shrugged off a flurry of blows from the armed guards, his movements precise and lethal. He popped a Thunderbolt potion. His eyes, for a terrifying moment, turned completely black, reflecting the dim warehouse lights like twin pools of obsidian. He moved with enhanced speed and strength, delivering brutal, non-lethal strikes that incapacitated the criminals.
The criminals, hardened and ruthless, suddenly froze. Their eyes, wide with terror, stared at Adam's black eyes. This was not a human. This was something else. Something ancient and terrifying. Something that looked like a human, but whose eyes were the void itself. The primal fear was overwhelming. They whimpered, their weapons clattering to the ground.
Ciri, meanwhile, was a force of nature, her silver sword a blur, disarming and subduing the more aggressive criminals with lethal precision. She moved with a grim determination, her disdain for their actions evident in every fluid movement.
"Well, that was satisfying," Adam panted, his eyes flickering back to normal. "Nothing like a good old-fashioned organ grinder to get the blood pumping. And speaking of blood, let's make sure there's none left after we're done." He then produced the Acid of Dissolution. "Alright, clean-up crew. Let's make these guys disappear. Poof! No evidence, no fuss. Just like magic."
[ Kill Count: 5 Human Equivalents. Level Up! Current Level: 4. Kills to Level 5: 16. ]
"Boom! Level 4!" Adam exclaimed, pumping his fist. "This is like a raid boss, but with more ethical dilemmas. And speaking of ethical dilemmas, you know, this whole 'supply and demand' thing? It's fascinating. Even in a black market for human organs, the principles still apply. It's like capitalism, but with more… dismemberment."
Ciri, who was already meticulously wiping her sword clean, looked at him, a faint, almost imperceptible shake of her head. "You are… strange. To find such things… fascinating."
"It's my brand, Ciri. Embrace the chaos. And the economics. Now, let's go check on those kids. And then, maybe a celebratory pizza. Or, you know, a very large, very strong drink."
Nick, meanwhile, was horrified by the discovery of the black market. He'd seen a lot in his career, but this was a new level of depravity. He was grateful for the mysterious intervention that had saved the teenagers, but he was also deeply unnerved by the brutality and efficiency of the vigilantes. They were effective, yes, but their methods were… extreme. He still had no idea who they were, but he knew one thing: they were a force to be reckoned with. For better or worse.
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