Reluctantly, they entered Underlevel C, beginning their search; not one of them pleased with their mission. Especially Brigitte, who covered herself with her open blue umbrella, making Ben ask her: “You're seriously using that!?”

Brigitte answered firmly: “If there's leaky pipes here, I will not be getting my make up ruined. Again.”

“How are you supposed to search for the creature holding an umbrella!?” Rob questioned.

“I'll manage.” Officer Latymer replied, unchanging in her demeanor.

The place was much like the Second Level, just worse in every respect. The humidity was higher, as were the leaks and the rust, only making their search all the more unpleasant.

As they went, Rob explained his plan: “I suggest we first simply make sure the creature is here, looking at every possible angle and hiding place, what we do next will depend on that. Once we know it's... basic anatomy, we can react accordingly!”

“Why don't we just use the Trappers?” asked Maroon, to which Brigitte replied with “We don't know how big it is and, for what little we know, it could just dodge it anyway.”.

But Maroon still had her doubts, asking “But... Breege, are we sure this isn't too risky?”, as she looked unsure at the path ahead, continuing with “How do we know this thing won't just kill us all before we can even react?”.

“Don't exaggerate, this won't be too difficult...” reassured the Nikean-in-pink.

Rob added to this, saying: “All it's done is eat some beggars, that's not impressive.”

Ben commented: “True, but... you shouldn't point it out like that.”

The officers explored the tunnels, moving slowly and observing the environment; it's floor, walls, and ceiling were all of a riveted and rusty metal similar to the Second Level's. The ceiling and floor sheets were grated, draining out the water that constantly dribbled from the walls' pipes. Only some parts actually had functioning lightbulbs, a dim orange glow illuminating the rusty halls.

“Well, how do we even now what to look for? Nobody's seen it, for all we know it's invisible!!!” commented Maroon.

“Well, actually.... people have seen it, sort of, so it's not invisible.” pointed out Ben.

“Oh, yeah...” conceded Maroon, embarrassed.

When they passed by a junction, Maroon noticed a nikean-shaped silhouette standing in the insersecting hallway.

Quickly, she tried to shine her light at it, but it had already left.

“D-D-Did anyone see....that!?” she asked her friends.

“See what!?” asked Brigitte.

“A fig-figure in the hall, just standing there!!!” Maroon explained.

“You sure you didn't see your own shadow or something?” asked Rob.

“I know what I saw!!!” replied Maroon, frowning.

“...Yes, I guess you're right... Let's go on ahead.” replied a somewhat persuaded Ben.

They moved on, together in the dark (knowing splitting up would be a bad idea), not seeing much in particular until they noticed some kind of dark 'slime' on the floor, alongside some bones.

“Uhhh, guys, are these..?” asked Ben.

“I... don't think this is just trash.” she noted, uneasy.

“Yes, these are Nikean bones...” Rob clarified.

A nervous Maroon said: “The creature has been eating...”

They followed the trail of slime, coming across the central control room. Here was the real spectacle.

More bones, scattered randomly across the room; some blood and at least two skulls.

“I guess we found the missing beggars.” said Rob, almost half-jokingly.

“Hmmff. Sad, really, they still smell better than when they're alive.” Brigitte said dismissively as she looked at a skull, continuing with “Regardless, we must hurry and find this thing now.”.

Maroon, looking around, stared at a network of pipes located in a small part adjacent to the control room. These pipes were covered in even more slime. It resembled glue, a sort of semi-transluscent dark-gray mucus, but one that stuck to the pipes up to the ceiling, like a glue 'infestation'.

Approaching the goo, Maroon got a closer look. She put her hand on a pipe, unintentionally touching the goo, which stuck to her glove. Disgusted, she pulled her hand out, accidentally hitting and shaking another pipe. All of the sudden, an object, stuck to the goo above her, fell to the ground. She quickly inspected the object and it was... the still-bloody skull of a nikean.

Disturbed by this, she looked away and then noticed something. Above, a ceiling panel was missing, the opening dripping with revolting dark-gray slime. Within it, she saw four orbs staring back at her, alongside the sound of deep, throaty breathing, clearer than ever. At this, she didn't have time to make out any shape or even panic before the figure quickly vanished. Not a second later, Maroon approached Rob; promptly grabbing his shoulder.

Rob jumped in surprise, exclaiming “WHA...!?”, then asked, discreetly but angrily: “What is it!?”

She only responded: “I saw it.”.

Suddenly Maroon yelped as she felt something grab her leg. They both looked down almost immediately and saw an odd appendage, resembling a grotesque combination of a crab's pincer and an intestine, emerging from an open floor panel.

Just then, the appendage pulled her, trying to drag her into the opening. The creature was strong, enough that Maroon actually couldn't easily break from it's grip. 

She quickly drew her sword and swung at the grasping limb. The blade slashed the tentacle, bending and scraping the floor panels below. A high-pitched shriek could be heard coming from the opening on the floor. Rob just stared, trying to figure out what this creature really was.

“Maroon!!!” Brigitte said as she quickly rushed to help, with Ben alongside her. They, and Rob, noticed a crimson liquid pouring from the wounded appendage, which still held Maroon in it's grip.

“LET GO!!!” Maroon yelled as she quickly swung at the tentacle again, severing it completely. Another screech was heard as the injured intestine-tentacle withdrew back into the darkness below, leaving it's bloody pincer behind.

Getting up and away from the opening, she and the others just looked at the amputated claw. 

“Are you hurt, Maroon?” Brigitte asked. 

“I'm fine... just grossed out.” Maroon answered as she looked at her now bloodstained boot. 

Rob took notice: “It's blood is red... how?”

“What'cha mean, how?” asked Maroon in confusion.

“If this thing is of foreigner origin, why is it's blood red?” Rob explained.

“More red blood? Well... it's unusual, but not impossible.” pointed out Ben.

Brigitte thought for a moment about this, but then just shrugged, saying: 

“Nothing is ever 'usual' for us...”

“Regardless, it's now hurt. We should follow it's blood trail.” said Rob, holding the cut pincer. 

“Gyah!!! You're seriously touching that!?!?” Brigitte scolded, grossed out. 

 

Maroon ignored Brigitte's reaction and said: “I'm not chasing down that thing.” 

“We're here to neutralize this thing, not just hurt it.” responded a serious Brigitte. 

“Fascinating creature...” said Rob, looking down the same opening the pincer emerged from. 

“Rob, get outta there!!!” warned Maroon. 

“The blood trail just stops after a few meters. I don't see any other trace of it.” Rob explained.

“It stopped bleeding?” asked Ben.

“Doesn't matter, going down there is too risky.” objected Maroon.

“Are you really that scared?” asked Brigitte, scoffing.

“We don't know enough of this thing to play hide-and-seek with it, Breege.” noted Rob.

Brigitte just rolled her eyes and said: “Maroon just cut that thing off... it can't be too tough.”

“Hey!!!” protested Maroon, offended.

“Well, Breege, you want to chase it? Go ahead then.” Rob sarcastically said, gesturing down towards the ooze infested tunnel, which Brigitte looked at in disgust.

“...Fine. What else do you have in mind?” the Nikean-in-pink reluctantly accepted.

“Maybe we can lure it out?” suggested Rob.

“With what? Bait?” Ben asked.

Maroon commented with: “Sounds about as good as any plan.”

Rob wondered and asked: “It doesn't want raw meat or other stuff... Could we... use one of the beggars?”

“Well, it does have a taste for 'em!” said Maroon.

Rob nodded, then said: “Perhaps... we'd just need to convince one of them to come here...”

“There's no way I'm asking anything from a beggar.” Brigitte interrupted.

Rob then suggested: “Maybe we could just drag one and tie 'em up down here, to set up a trap...”

Maroon quickly looked at Rob, shaking her head. “I'm definitely not touching a beggar. You want me get infected by them?”

Rob responded: “You were already touched by that thing...”

“Hey!!! We're here to stop it killing anyone else, not help it!!!” Ben protested.

Rob reassured his friend with: “Relax, we just need to get that thing's attention. No one will get eaten.”

The dark-skinned nikean looked troubled at this and quickly thought of an alternate option.

“Perhaps we... can use the foreigner instead?” proposed Ben.

Brigitte was lost in thought. “Ehhh, I don't know...”

“...Not a bad idea, really.” Maroon supported Ben's idea.

“Well, at least it wouldn't involve beggars... but still, there's no way this place's HQ would allow that... It's not our choice to make.” Brigitte contested.

“Well, uhhm... what do you think, Rob?” Ben asked his friend.

Rob thought for a moment and said: “I think... we can try to convince the Department here, he's a foreigner after all, they would allow it if it helps get rid of this issue. They said we are 'acquainted with difficult cases', didn't they? We could say 'we have a plan to solve your little problem, but we need your permission first' or something the like.”

“But... what if he dies? We would get in trouble!!!” protested the Nikean-in-pink.

“If that happens...” Maroon wondered for a second, then said “Couldn't we just say that this thing... grabbed and killed him on it's own?”.

“Not that bad an idea, but I'm sure we can avoid that...” noted Rob.

“What!? No way... I'm not risking getting fired... or worse.” Brigitte voiced her thoughts.

“Hey, hey!!! I never said anything about getting him killed!!! Still, there's no way we can go with what Maroon said, we aren't frauds here. If he dies we'll get reproached for sure.” Ben clarified.

“It won't matter, that thing will not get to him... we'll make sure.” said Rob decidedly.

But Brigitte wasn't fully convinced: “Are you guys forgetting we don't have the jurisdiction to do this? That would all fall on them.”

“Yes, but they have us here to get rid of this issue don't they? They know we are 'perfectly qualified'. Let's just explain our plan.” added Rob.

“Ehhh, not sure we should risk it.” Brigitte replied, still unsure.

Maroon pointed out: “It's better than dealing with beggars.”

“Ugh... fine. But if we do this... he'll only be used to attract the creature... so we can attack it before it attacks him

Maroon tried to ask “What about if we-”

“It's settled then. We just follow the plan...” the ever-curious one settled the question.

The four Officers then communicated with EastMak's higher-ups, bringing up their plan to draw out and eliminate the Issue. The higher-ups discussed the idea among themselves and eventually agreed, but in one condition.

“Y-Ya wanna use me as bait!?” asked Forge, incredulous. 

“Come on, foreigner, we merely need you to be a distrac-” Rob attempted to explain, as he was interrupted.

“S-Serosly? Wh-Why woul' I even help ya?” the Man in the Jacket continued his protest. 

“It's just a big varmint, it won't be too dangerous...” lied Maroon, with Ben raising an eyebrow at this.

“S-So ya can catch this thin' a-an' then lock me up 'gain? Hard pass.” the Man in the Jacket refused again, crossing his arms.

But the thoughtful Rob already had an idea: “Well... listen, foreigner... if you help us deal with this issue, there is a small possibility you'll be given amnesty...”

This got Forge's attention: “Am... Amnesty? Y-Ya mean... I'd be let go?”

“It's not impossible.” claimed Rob.

A disapproving Ben was about to say something but decided against it, noticing Brigitte remained silent as well. Evidently, this was their plan. Meanwhile, Maroon just looked on indifferently.

“A-Ar' you... for real?” the Man in the Jacket asked, hopeful.

“I make no promises, but if you say no, you can stay here all you want...” answered Rob.

Thinking about this, Forge decided: “...I-In that case... su-sure, I guess?”

“Very good!!!” replied Rob.

Having done this, he was taken (in a Trapper-Wrap) to a certain area near Underlevel C and left tied to a chair.

“H-Hey!? Y-Ya didn' say I woul' be left li-lik' this!!!!” protested Forge.

“Foreigner... we can't risk you running away... You're still under custody.” pointed out Rob.

“Bu-But what if this thin' attacks me!?” the Man in the Jacket asked.

“Don't worry, it isn't that dangerous, you'll be fine...” lied Maroon.

Ben tried to calm him: “Don't worry... uhhhm... we won't let it hurt you... right Rob?”

“Sure!!!” answered Rob, who turned away and mumbled “If it all goes well...”.

Two beggars passed through, not failing to notice the  view of four officers talking to a strange, agitated and blue-looking man tied to a chair. They looked at each other, shrugged and continued on their way.