Chapter 33: Carno People, Strange Monster

Krana Town.

[1] Krana Town.

Today, another group of outsiders arrived here.

[2]Today, another group of outsiders arrived here.

They were all large, muscular men, their waists bulging with concealed weapons; after entering, they headed straight for a hotel—the very place where Louis and his companions had stayed.

[3]They were all burly men, their waists bulging with weapons; after entering, they headed straight for a hotel—the very place Louis and others had stayed.

After obtaining the customer information from the owner.

[4]After obtaining the landlord’s description of the guest.

The scarred leader quickly led everyone to the next location: the church school.

[5]The leader, a man with a massive scar across his face, swiftly led them all to the next location—the church school.

“The monster’s last known locations are these places—split up and investigate thoroughly. Find out who little Louis interacted with and what he did. If necessary, bring them in!”

[6]“The monster was last seen at these places. Split up and investigate: who did little Louis interact with? What did he do? If necessary, bring them in!”

Just half an hour later.

[7]Just half an hour later.

The big men regathered here, but two of them were dragging a trembling mother and daughter, “They’re connected to little Louis.”

[8]The big men regrouped here, two of them holding a trembling mother and daughter. “They’re connected to little Louis.”

“Take them. Move on. Next.”

[9]“Take them. Move on. Next.”

As the leader pulled out a device, the red dot on it began to move—but it was returning?

[10]As he spoke, the leader pulled out a device; the red dot on it began to move—but it was returning?

Wait, this direction is…

[11]Wait, this direction is…

“Of course—they settled in Orlando. Good thing we left some people there; with Anderson, we won’t miss them.”

[12]“Of course—they settled in Orlando. Good thing we left some people there. With Anderson there, we won’t miss them.”

The group got into cars, VROOM VROOM VROOM!!!

[13]The group got into cars—vroom, vroom, vroom!!!

With furious engines roaring, the convoy sped away.

[14]With furious engines roaring, they became a convoy and sped off.

The vanished mother and daughter were only reported to the police by locals, but the sheriff was still in Crystal Town handling Jason’s corpse and couldn’t return.

[15]As for the vanished mother and daughter, the locals dared only to call the police—but the sheriff was still in Crystal Town handling Jason’s corpse and couldn’t return.

……

[16]……

Orlando City, downtown.

[17]Orlando City, downtown.

Louis, staying at home, was pondering why his family members had appeared here.

[18]Louis, at home, was pondering why his family had appeared here.

Have I been exposed?

[19]Had he been exposed?

Whether or not I’ve been exposed, I now must consider one question: do these people coming for me harbor ill intent?

[20]Whether exposed or not, he now had to consider one question: did these people come with ill intent?

That mysterious kidnapping has left Louis unable to fully trust his family.

[21]That unexplained kidnapping had left Louis unable to fully trust his family.

But…

[22]But…

Knock knock knock.

[23]Knock, knock, knock.

A knock sounded at the door.

[24]A knock came at the door.

Angela, who had just wiped the coffee table, was puzzled—was it the bill collector? Why not just slip it in the mailbox?

[25]Angela, who had just wiped the coffee table, frowned. A bill collector? Just slip it in the mailbox.

“Coming!”

[26]“Coming!”

Click!

[27]Click!

A group of black-clad big men surged inside, their black gun handles prominently visible; the lead white man wore sunglasses and glanced around.

[28]A group of black-clad big men surged in, their black gun butts conspicuously visible; their leader, a white giant wearing sunglasses, glanced around.

After a moment’s hesitation, he looked at Angela, “Hello, has Louis returned?”

[29]After a moment’s hesitation, he looked at Angela. “Hello, has Louis returned?”

？？？

[30]???

Louis?

[31]Louis?

At that moment, David came downstairs and froze in shock, “Who are you?! What do you want? This is downtown!”

[32]At that moment, David came downstairs, startled by the sight. “Who are you?! What do you want? This is downtown!”

His voice was loud—as if issuing a warning.

[33]His voice was loud—as if giving a warning.

The man in sunglasses frowned; he really wanted to be brutal—pull a gun and intimidate them outright, why waste words? But if the reports from the past two days were true, this man was essentially little Louis’s adoptive father—he couldn’t act that way.

[34]The sunglasses man frowned. He truly wanted to act violently—pull a gun, intimidate them outright—why waste words? But if the reports from the past two days were true, this man was essentially little Louis’s adoptive father. He couldn’t do it.

“Mr. David Grossman, we are little Louis’s uncles. We’ve heard he’s here—we’ve been searching for him a long time. We hope you’ll cooperate, otherwise…”

[35]“Mr. David Grossman, we are little Louis’s uncles. We’ve heard he’s here. We’ve searched for him a long time. We hope you’ll cooperate. Otherwise…”

David, standing at the staircase, couldn’t tell if they were telling the truth—after all, they didn’t look like good people!

[36]David, standing at the staircase, couldn’t tell if they were telling the truth—after all, they didn’t look like good people!

Just as he was torn between choices…

[37]Just as he was torn.

“Uncle Anderson, if you could, I’d appreciate it if you showed more respect to Uncle David.”

[38]“Uncle Anderson, if you can, I hope you’ll show more respect to Uncle David.”

Louis stepped out of his room wearing a small black suit.

[39]Louis stepped out of the room, wearing a small black suit.

The moment Anderson saw Louis, a faint smile appeared on his lips, “Alright, my mistake, Mr. Grossman—I apologize.”

[40]The moment Anderson saw Louis, a faint smile touched his lips. “Alright, my mistake, Mr. David. I apologize.”

Anderson.

[41]Anderson.

One of the family’s top enforcers, brother to Andre, the muscle, a veteran who had killed before; in his youth, he killed over a hundred men in gang wars.

[42]One of the family’s top enforcers, brother to Andre, the muscle. Ex-soldier, killer. In his youth, he killed over a hundred men in gang wars.

Also the adopted son of Grandfather Karl; his presence here can be interpreted as Karl’s will—worthy of some trust.

[43]Also an adopted son of Grandfather Karl. His presence here, to some extent, signaled Karl’s will—he could be trusted.

In the foyer.

[44]In the foyer.

David and the others went upstairs, leaving only Anderson and Louis to talk.

[45]David and the others went upstairs, leaving only Anderson and Louis to speak.

Anderson didn’t treat Louis like a child, thanks to the genius persona Louis had unconsciously built before recovering his memories.

[46]Anderson didn’t treat Louis as a mere child—thanks to the genius persona Louis had unconsciously crafted before his memories awakened.

Through conversation, Louis shared what he could, and learned what had happened since his departure.

[47]Through conversation, Louis shared what he could, and learned what had happened since his departure.

Karl flew into a rage, had Louis’s father beaten and hung, and dispatched countless men to search—but found nothing.

[48]Karl flew into a rage, hanged and beat his father, then sent out countless men to search—but found nothing.

Even a few months ago, we placed our hopes on a medium, but after the somewhat famous Ellis medium arrived, she only said she couldn't see anything and then refused to say anything further.

[49] Even months ago, he turned to a medium—renowned Illes—who arrived, said only “I can’t see anything,” and refused to speak again.

Attempts were also made with Gypsy fortune-tellers and Voodoo priests, but the gang’s resources were limited; most were frauds, eventually chopped up and thrown into the sea.

[50]Gypsy witches, Voodoo priests—they were all sought out. But the gang’s resources were limited; most were frauds. In the end, they were chopped up and thrown into the sea.

With no other options, Grandfather Karl shifted focus to the gang itself, launching internal and external investigations—after all, this matter clearly wasn’t simple.

[51]With no other choice, Grandfather Karl shifted focus to the gangs, launching internal and external investigations—this matter was clearly no ordinary affair.

Until recently, perhaps having uncovered something—or for other reasons—several Mexican drug cartels suddenly attacked the family; forced to act, Grandfather Karl deployed some other methods…

[52]Until recently, perhaps due to some discovery—or other reasons—several Mexican drug gangs launched attacks on the family. Forced to act, Grandfather Karl employed other means…

As he finished speaking…

[53]He had just finished speaking.

Bang! Whizz!

[54]Bang! Whizz!

The sound of shattering glass and a rushing wind echoed together.

[55]The sound of shattering glass and whistling wind rose together.

Turning around, they saw a creature the size of a large dog, its body supported by a bony frame covered in pale skin, with long, retractable claws, a small head with sharp fangs, membrane-like wings at its joints, and a tail ending in a sharp spine—it sniffed the air and rapidly approached Louis.

[56]He turned—and saw a creature the size of a large dog, its body a pale skin stretched over a bony frame, with long, retractable claws, a small head, sharp fangs, membrane wings at its joints, and a tail of a sharp, spiked spine. It sniffed the air, swiftly approaching Louis.

Louis’s pupils contracted—he instinctively prepared to spit out steel needles—when Anderson suddenly laughed, “That’s Dad’s little trick.”

[57]Louis’s pupils contracted—he instinctively prepared to spit steel needles—but Anderson suddenly laughed. “That’s Father’s little trick.”

The creature halted, barked at Louis, then barked at Anderson.

[58]The creature halted, barked at Louis, then barked at Anderson.

Its bark sounded like a cat or insect, but sharper and strangely eerie.

[59]Its bark resembled a cat’s or insect’s—but sharper, strangely unnatural.

Anderson pulled out a bag of beef and fed it to the creature; watching the blood drip onto the floor as it tore into the meat, Louis fell silent.

[60]Anderson pulled out a bag of beef and fed it to the creature. Watching the blood drip from its gnawing onto the floor, Louis fell silent.

What is this thing?

[61]What is this thing?

"Don't be afraid, this thing is about the size of a big dog, just a bit fiercer—it's very useful for finding people, killing enemies, and all you need to do daily is feed it some meat, popcorn, and let it watch TV."

[62]“Don’t be afraid. It’s like a big dog, just a bit fiercer. Very useful—for tracking, killing. Feed it meat, popcorn, let it watch TV. That’s all.”

“It’s here—Andre and the others should be arriving soon.” Anderson smiled as he kept feeding the creature.

[63]“It’s here. Andre and the others should be arriving soon.” Anderson smiled as he kept feeding the meat.

“So you found me because of this?”

[64]“So you found me because of this?”

“Pretty much. Besides, we’ve also traced the trafficking organization’s leads—but they’re backed by a massive syndicate we can’t touch, so we’ve been eliminating their lower-level operatives.”

[65]“Pretty much. Besides, we’ve already traced the trafficking ring—but they’re backed by a massive syndicate. We can’t touch them, so we’re just eliminating the lower-level troublemakers.”

A moment of silence passed.

[66]A moment of silence followed.

“What does Grandfather have planned for me?”

[67]“What does Grandfather have planned for me?”

Louis didn’t ask about the creature or the syndicate.

[68]Louis did not ask about the creature or the syndicate.

“Dad said that if we found you, we should first assess how you’re doing—don’t bring you back to the family yet. He wants me to find you a safe place, since things are a complete mess there and need serious cleaning up.”

[69]“Father said, if we find you and see how you’re doing, don’t bring you home yet. I’m to find you a safe place. Things are a mess there—need to clean it up first.”

“If we didn’t find you, then return home—the little monster’s strength is quite impressive.”

[70]“If we don’t find you, return home. The little monster’s strength is quite impressive.”

“Alright, I understand. But I need some things here—I need the family’s support.”

[71]“Alright, I understand. But I need some things here. I need the family’s support.”

Anderson scratched his head, “Of course. I’ll leave you my number, and I’ll leave some men behind to ensure your safety—don’t worry, they’re absolutely trustworthy members.”

[72]Anderson scratched his head. “Of course. I’ll leave you a phone number. I’ll leave some men with you—guarantee your safety. Don’t worry, they’re absolutely trustworthy.”

And your father’s number—call him. He misses you very much.”

[73]And your father’s number—call him. He misses you.”

Anderson didn’t ask at all what Louis needed.

[74]Anderson asked nothing about what Louis needed.

“Alright, I miss Grandfather too.”

[75]“Good. I miss Grandfather too.”

Louis nodded, his young face utterly devoid of childishness.

[76]Louis nodded, his young face utterly devoid of childishness.

(End of Chapter)

[77](End of Chapter)