"We have an important message, Madam Mayor!" Aestus shouted, louder than the guards, with his deep and commanding voice. "Silvi is in danger!"

The guards resumed shouting, but they were silenced by a gesture from the mayor. Orkan finally got a close look at the leader, noticing the details of her attire and features. Tapiti was an older woman, but not elderly. Her face was serious, but not stern, with deep gray eyes. She had short hair, slightly above her shoulders, smooth and a beautiful light brown color. Her ears were shorter than Spes's, with fur that matched the color of her hair. At that moment, they were slightly raised, attentively listening to what the Rogue had to say. She moved with firm and determined steps towards him. She wore a long gray cardigan that reached near her dark boots. Underneath, she had on tight blue pants and a white buttoned-up blouse.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked, sounding concerned. The entire hall fell silent, everyone paying attention to the conversation.

Orkan froze, starting to stutter, unable to respond. The presence of authorities and guards bothered him, hindering his thinking. Aestus, sensing his friend's difficulty, stepped forward and answered with a commanding voice:

"We were on a hunt to the North, on the hill. When we looked towards the mountains, we saw a very large group of Creatures moving together, heading towards the city."

"But Creatures don't engage in organized, coordinated attacks," Tapiti said, intertwining her fingers in front of her body.

"I had never seen anything like it before, ma'am," Aestus continued, his voice slightly less confident. "But that wasn't even the strangest part. There was a person in the front, as if leading the Creatures."

Tapiti raised one of her eyebrows, unable to comprehend or even imagine such a scene. Creatures, with very few exceptions, always attacked people. There was no way someone could tame or lead them. However, before she could conclude her thoughts, a deep and commanding voice echoed in the hall:

"I have the answer, Madam Mayor," Baruc calmly spoke, approaching. "The Creatures are being led by Hiner."

That name caused various reactions among everyone present in the hall. Many were frightened, covering their mouths with their hands. Several others interjected quietly, expressing fear. A few even laughed as if they had heard a tasteless joke. Hiner was the complete opposite of Baruc. While one was a revered world leader, the other was the embodiment of a nightmare, used by parents as a threat to misbehaving children. Hiner's appearances were sporadic but memorable. No one knew where he hid, how he managed to appear in different cities, and escape without leaving a trace.

"But he has never attacked Silvi," Tapiti said, remaining calm. "His attacks have always been concentrated in other locations. Small villages, groups of merchants, but mainly in Reganta. What does he gain from destroying Silvi?"

Baruc shook his head, adjusting his black overcoat and sleeves. He took the news seriously, seemingly impatient to explain the facts. However, he clarified the situation, speaking slowly and with excellent diction:

"The truth is that Hiner is unpredictable, acting without a definite schedule or a pattern of targets. He doesn't seem to have a specific goal or plan. What I can inform you is that he has been seen more frequently in recent times. Furthermore, our theories seem to be proven. He can now organize and control Creatures."

This time, the reactions were more uniform, with people becoming frightened and concerned. The damage Hiner could inflict with an army of Creatures would be immense. The city could be completely destroyed, and almost all the inhabitants killed. Tapiti remained silent, lost in thought. She crossed her right arm and supported her chin with her left hand. There wasn't much to ponder, so she quickly spoke up:

"We will defend ourselves. I want alarms activated throughout the city, summoning all those who are capable of fighting to the northern limit of the city."

"With all due respect, Madam Mayor," Baruc intervened, "but I believe you don't stand much chance in a battle against Hiner. Again, I don't mean to offend, but I am well aware of the extent of this man's power. He should not be underestimated. I have trained soldiers with me," he said, gesturing with his right arm as if showcasing a product. "I believe that, with some strategy, I can prevent the worst from happening."

Baruc appeared solemn and respectful, yet emphatic. Tapiti pondered for a while, with everyone around looking apprehensive, awaiting precise orders. She gave a slight nod, accepting the assistance of the great inventor. Even before she could issue new instructions, Baruc began dictating guidelines and strategies to his soldiers. Then, he turned to Tapiti and her staff, explaining how the guards and other residents should act. The large group quickly split into several smaller ones, each with their defined tasks, while Aestus and Orkan moved to a corner of the hall, observing the movement. The mayor appeared among the crowd, heading towards the two young men. She briefly thanked them for the information and then left, making her way to the back of the hall towards a large elevator.

"What are we going to do?" Aestus asked, confused.

"I thought it was obvious," Orkan replied, raising his hands to shoulder height. "We're going to help in the battle."