Draw back.

Dart and Maxwell, in that very moment, found themselves compelled to hasten their exit. It was highly likely that Silver had been left out there all on her lonesome, locked in a fierce skirmish with the mutated creatures. An assortment of concerns raced through Dart's mind as he sprinted toward the outdoors.

Whilst they were within the confines of shelter, Rocky, in all probability, may have made a dash for the open air. The precariousness of Silver's solitary state outside loomed large, with a multitude of perilous scenarios hanging in the balance.

Nevertheless, as they drew near to the threshold,  Silver herself was making her way inside. She bore the unmistakable signs of exhaustion, her forehead glistening with beads of sweat.

Upon witnessing her intact and unharmed, Dart emitted a protracted exhalation of relief. Maxwell, on the other hand, remained uncertain about the precise nature of the two individuals' relationship; all he could ascertain was that they served as partners in the profession of hunting.

"What happened? Were you able to kill the rat-like creature?" Maxwell inquired.

She gently shook her head, signaling a negative response. Her current fatigue rendered her unable to articulate her thoughts verbally. Maxwell found himself perplexed by her behavior. The act of speaking, in his view, should not require much effort or stress.

Meanwhile, a concerned expression crossed Dart's face as he observed her condition.

"You exerted excessive power from your weapons, but fortunately, the consequences aren't overly severe," Dart commented.

"Consequences?" Maxwell inquired, finding the term unfamiliar.

"I suppose you're unaware, but when using beast weapons, particularly those of higher tiers, there always follows a set of temporary repercussions. These drawbacks can vary significantly – from overwhelming exhaustion to temporary paralysis, and in some dire cases, even instant death," Dart elucidated, his eyes scanning Maxwell's clenched fist.

"Do you mean she'll remain mute indefinitely?" Maxwell questioned.

"No, certainly not. These drawbacks typically endure for a brief duration before the user returns to their normal state. In perhaps an hour or so, she should regain her usual abilities," Dart reassured.

Maxwell peeked at his clenched hand. Clearly, he pondered the potential drawbacks of his own weapon.

As if Dart had a direct line to Maxwell's thoughts, he interjected, "I understand you might wonder about your weapon's downsides, but remember, these drawbacks aren't always set in stone. What do I mean? Take Silver, for example. While she's currently mute, the next time a drawback surfaces, it might manifest as something entirely different."

"In essence, the drawbacks hinge mainly on how you wield the weapon."

Maxwell felt receptive to Dart's advice; after all, Dart was a seasoned beast hunter, likely more knowledgeable about beasts and their weapons, even if Maxwell scoured the internet for information.

Acknowledging this, Maxwell could do nothing but remain silent. Although he burned with curiosity about his weapon's potential drawbacks, he wasn't willing to experiment with them, not while there were still tasks at hand.

"So, what's our plan now? Should we dial up the ambulance and manage this situation?" Dart inquired of Maxwell.

"No, not yet... We must make contact with the mayor initially. The mayor must be informed about this incident before anyone else, as he will subsequently determine our subsequent actions," Maxwell articulated.

At that moment, Silver had something to say, but she soon realized she was unable to speak at the present moment, opting instead to remain silent. Together, they departed in the very black van they had arrived in.

---

"What is it that you're telling me?!" an elderly gentleman with hair cloaked in gray exclaimed, forcefully striking his fist against the table before him. This elderly figure was, in fact, the mayor, and standing in front of him were Maxwell, Dart, and Silver.

The trio had just provided the Mayor with an account of the recent events. While Silver and Dart maintained their silence, Maxwell couldn't resist the urge to clarify himself and provide the rationale behind why it appeared as if they had failed.

"The creatures, they possessed an unexpected level of strength, a strength beyond what we had initially anticipated," Maxwell elaborated.

"I won't accept these inadequate justifications. I entrusted you with a formidable beast weapon, a Tier Five weapon at that. How could you have possibly failed to subdue or apprehend a young lad who, I'm quite certain, hasn't fully harnessed his own abilities?"

Maxwell harbored displeasure at being singled out with the term "you," despite the fact that others had accompanied him. Yet, upon retrospect, he observed Dart and Silver, who simply stood by, observing him in silence.

While he couldn't ascertain whether Silver's silence was due to some limitation, Dart's expression grated on his nerves the most. Dart's lips seemed to twitch ever so slightly, as if he were wearing a sly smirk.

Meanwhile, the Mayor, an elderly man already burdened by stress, could only sigh. His voice couldn't bear the strain of yelling for an extended period. Strangely, despite his desire for retirement, he continued to cling to his position for reasons unknown.

"The Dell household," the mayor murmured with a troubled tone. 'They have posed a substantial challenge to my authority ever since one of their kin also vied for the election. With their absence from the equation, it does bring a measure of relief to me, yet I wonder about the public perception. This situation could be exploited against me from various angles,' the mayor pondered, his thoughts racing with strategies.

Dell happened to be Rocky's last name. Their family enjoyed considerable affluence, some even argue that it exceeded the expectations for a city with a three-star rating. For some inexplicable reason, they chose to establish roots in a less prestigious city, when they could have easily settled in a four-star or even a five-star urban enclave.

The crux of the matter was that during their time in the city, one of their own sought the coveted role of mayor. Leveraging their wealth, they had managed to garner considerable support from the populace, presenting the current mayor with a formidable adversary.

Now that they had been eliminated from contention, the mayor felt a renewed confidence in his ability to outmaneuver the other candidates. However, this seemingly good news also harbored a dark side, for it hinged on his strategic acumen.

"The annihilation of the Dell family's influence must remain shrouded in secrecy, along with the identity of those responsible for their demise," the mayor asserted.

If he managed to hide the Dell family's demise from the public eye, at least until the election was over, he was confident it couldn't be used against him.

Regarding how their demise could harm his reputation, other candidates might start spreading the rumor that he caused it. Even if he tried to prove himself, the fact that he couldn't ensure enough security in the city raised another red flag.

Maxwell understood why the mayor wanted to keep the Dell family's news under wraps. However, the challenge was how to achieve it. The Dell family was no ordinary group. Their presence attracted attention wherever they went, so making them disappear without anyone noticing seemed nearly impossible.

When Maxwell inquired about this, the mayor responded curtly, "Just gather some folks to clean up the mess and keep searching for that boy. We can't risk him roaming freely and causing chaos." After those words, the mayor left the hall and entered his chamber.

"Darn it... Why won't he retire already? The stress isn't worth it at his age," Dart muttered as soon as the mayor was out of sight.

"Oh, now you're able to speak, you timid individual," Maxwell remarked as he slowly rose from his seat with the intention of departing. "I'm somewhat uncertain about where to initiate," he admitted, pressing his hand against his temple as a throbbing headache began to manifest.

"It might be wise to commence by addressing the clutter," Dart suggested.

"What do you imply by 'you'?" Maxwell inquired, his hand balling into a fist.

"Observe me... Do I strike you as a janitor?" Dart retorted. "Furthermore, none of these matters concern me; my sole purpose here is the elimination of that troublesome boy, nothing else," Dart clarified his role.

Maxwell could do nothing but clench his teeth and pound his foot against the ground.

"Rather than inquiring about cleaning up this disorder, perhaps we should discuss our strategy for locating that boy," Dart suggested, extending the sentence further.

It was at this point that Silver stepped forward, retrieving a crumpled piece of paper and displaying it to the group. "He dropped this while attempting to escape," she informed them.

"Ohhhh... It appears your voice has returned," Dart remarked, grinning. His expression swiftly turned grave as he accepted the paper from Silver's grasp.

He commenced scrutinizing the paper, noticing a list with two names checked off.

Maxwell also approached to examine the paper.

"Is this a roster of names?" Dart questioned.

"Wait... I believe I comprehend what this is. It's a compilation of his targets," Maxwell deduced, taking the paper from Dart and scrutinizing it thoroughly. Numerous names adorned the list, including his own, which didn't surprise him. However, one particular name had captured his attention.

Among the names on the list of Rocky's intended targets, Maxwell discovered a name he had recently become acquainted with.

"Hoodie," he murmured.

*****

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