Chapter 11: The Good Shepherd and a New Kind of Justice
The air in Portland was a tapestry of scents, a mix of rain-soaked earth, the rich aroma of blooming roses, and the underlying metallic tang of a city always on the move. But for Nick, as he sipped his coffee, there was an added layer—a subtle, almost imperceptible hum that resonated in his blood, a residue of the Hexenbiest potion still working its magic in his veins. He sat across from Adam in their usual coffee shop haunt, the early morning light casting long shadows across the empty tables.
"Alright, let's talk about this 'Good Shepherd' thing," Nick said, pushing a file across the table. The paper was crisp, the details of the case stark and unyielding. "Pastor murdered in his church. The only witness is an Eisbiber. Seems… almost too simple."
Adam, a smirk playing on his lips, leaned back in his chair, a cup of his own dark roast steaming in his hands. He wore a simple black hoodie, but his presence was anything but simple. It was sharp, a little dangerous, and entirely in control. "Simple? Nick, my friend, when have our lives ever been simple? This isn't some mundane procedural where the bad guy confesses in the last five minutes. This is Grimm, where the guy with the cross might have fangs and a penchant for exploitation. It's a classic case of wolf in sheep's clothing, or in this case, a Blutbad in a pastor's collar."
"The Good Shepherd case. A canonical classic, but one ripe for a rewrite. This is the moment where I can really show them what we need to become. We can't just be reactive. We can't just be cops. We have to be proactive. We have to be a different kind of justice for the Wesen world. We have to be protectors. This case, with its exploitation and corruption, is the perfect stage. I need to make sure this doesn't just end with an arrest. It has to end with a new perspective, a new alliance, and a new kind of team."
Just then, the bell above the door chimed, and Monroe and Rosalee entered, their faces a mirror of concern. Monroe, ever the anxious one, nervously adjusted his spectacles. Rosalee, with her deep knowledge of the Wesen world, already had a bad feeling that was practically a physical presence.
"The Eisbiber are a peaceful community," Rosalee said, her voice soft and laced with worry as she slid into the booth next to Adam. "They're builders, craftsmen. They're kind. For one of them to be a witness to a murder… it's strange. They're so insular, they don't trust outsiders, especially Grimms."
Adam nodded, his eyes scanning the file, but his mind was already a dozen steps ahead. "Exactly. And that's our advantage. We don't go in as cops. We go in as friends, as allies. Monroe and Rosalee, you two are the bridge. You talk to them. You use your Wesen knowledge to gain their trust. Nick, you and I will stay in the background. We'll be the silent partners, the muscle if things go south."
Nick looked at him, a flicker of surprise and a hint of trepidation in his eyes. "You're suggesting we work outside of protocol? Adam, we have rules. We have a badge."
"Rules are for people who don't have to fight monsters, Nick," Adam said, his tone turning serious, the humor gone from his voice. "We don't have that luxury. We have to be smarter. We have to be more proactive. We have to be a different kind of justice—one that protects the innocent, even if they're Wesen. One that punishes the guilty, even if they're in a position of power and hiding behind a church."
Monroe and Rosalee, armed with Adam's plan and their own natural compassion, were able to gain the trust of the Eisbiber community. They learned the whole sordid story: the pastor, a powerful Blutbad, had been using his position to extort and exploit the peaceful Wesen, threatening to expose their nature to the world. The murdered man, they discovered, wasn't the pastor, but a young, brave Eisbiber who tried to stand up to him. The real murder was the Blutbad pastor himself, who had hidden the body and created the lie.
The team, now working together as a single, coordinated unit, moved in. They found the Blutbad pastor in his church, his face a sickening mask of false piety and smug confidence. As soon as he saw Nick, the facade crumbled, and he woged, his face a terrifying mix of wolf and man, a predator with blood on his hands. But this time, Nick wasn't scared. He was a Grimm, a protector. His eyes held a new, cold fire.
The Blutbad pastor charged, a growl tearing from his throat, but Adam was faster. He stepped in front of Nick, his face a mask of cold, controlled fury. The Aura of the First Grimm was in full effect, a powerful, commanding force that made the Blutbad pastor stop dead in his tracks. He was frozen in place, a look of pure, visceral terror on his face.
"You're a predator," Adam's voice was a low growl, a sound that seemed to vibrate through the very air. "A wolf in sheep's clothing. You exploited the weak. You hurt the innocent. You twisted faith for your own greed. And now… you're going to pay for it."
The Blutbad pastor, now completely docile, was taken into custody. But the case wasn't over. One of the Eisbiber, a young, a bit too reckless and powerful Wesen who had been secretly trying to get revenge on the pastor, confronted Adam. He was a vigilante, a Wesen who believed in justice, but not the kind that the cops offered. He was a symbol of the desperation Adam was trying to prevent.
Adam looked at him, a slow, understanding smile on his face. "You want justice? So do I. But my kind of justice doesn't involve killing people. It involves making them pay for their sins. You're a protector. You're a hero. But you're also a risk, a wildcard. You're operating in the shadows. I can help you. I can make you better. I can make you stronger. I can give you a purpose that doesn't involve living in fear."
The vigilante, a mix of defiance and curiosity on his face, looked at Adam. He felt the Aura of the First Grimm, and he was powerless to resist. He was mesmerized. He didn't understand the power, but he understood the intent behind it. Adam made a small incision, drawing a few drops of blood. As the blood hit his inventory, the vigilante screamed in pain, but the wound healed instantly. He was released, a new sense of purpose in his eyes.
[System] Wesen Defeated. Wesen Type: (Wesen Vigilante Type). Extracting... Alchemical Vial Created: (Wesen Vigilante Type) Potion.
Adam looked at the glowing vial in his inventory, a small, satisfied smile on his face. Another vial. Another step closer to his goal. He turned to Nick, Hank, Monroe, and Rosalee, his family. The team was growing stronger, more united, more powerful. The lines between right and wrong were blurring, but a new kind of justice was emerging, one that was proactive, protective, and entirely their own.
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