Chapter 4: The Trailer's Secrets and a Reluctant Guide
The air in Portland seemed to hum with a new, unsettling energy. For Nick Burkhardt, it was the sound of his world shattering. For Adama Stiels, it was the sweet symphony of canon unfolding, albeit with a few extra beats of his own chaotic rhythm. He knew exactly what Nick was about to stumble upon, and the sheer, overwhelming nature of it.
[CANON EVENT: Aunt Marie's Airstream Trailer Discovered. Grimm Lore Database Access Point. Host may remotely access contents.]
Adam grinned. "Alright, Nick's about to get his mind blown by the ultimate family heirloom. Forget grandma's antique china, this is grandma's monster-hunting arsenal. Talk about a glow-up." He and Wanda had discreetly positioned themselves a few blocks from where he knew the trailer was located, observing the police activity from a safe distance.
Wanda, ever the observant one, tilted her head. "I feel… a very old magic from that direction. Like a collection of whispers, centuries old."
"That's the Grimm family's greatest hits, right there," Adam confirmed, pulling out his phone and pretending to text, while mentally sifting through the newly acquired Library data. "All those journals, the weapons, the potions… it's like a supernatural Wikipedia, but with more pointy bits. And Nick, bless his oblivious heart, is about to drown in it."
They watched as Nick, looking utterly bewildered, emerged from a wooded area, his face a mask of disbelief. He was carrying something small, metallic. Adam's internal System pinged again.
[ARTIFACT DETECTED: First of Seven Keys. Significance: High. Connected to Royal Families conspiracy.]
"And there it is. The first key. Little shiny piece of a global conspiracy," Adam mused, a sardonic smile playing on his lips. "Seriously, what is it with ancient, powerful families and their obsession with hidden artifacts? You'd think they'd learn to just use, like, a Google Drive for their evil plans. Much less dramatic."
He glanced at Wanda. "See that? That little trinket? That's going to cause so much trouble. Royal Families, secret societies, global domination… it's like National Treasure, but with more actual monsters and less Nic Cage."
Wanda, however, was still focused on the trailer. "The magic… it's strong. And old. It feels… like a library."
"Well, it was a library," Adam corrected, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Now it's just a very empty, slightly lighter trailer. My Library System absorbed all the Grimm-owned books and artifacts in Portland. Think of it as a magical vacuum cleaner for ancient lore. Now I own a library. A really big one. And it's invisible to everyone but me, unless I want it to be seen. Which, for a trailer, is a pretty good trick."
He chuckled. "Imagine the look on Nick's face when he realizes his family's entire legacy just… vanished. Or, you know, got digitized into my brain. Probably less dramatic than a magic key, but still. A real 'what the heck just happened' moment."
The police investigation into the Blutbad serial killer continued, and Adam, with his meta-knowledge, knew the clock was ticking. He mentally accessed the Library's vast archives, pulling up detailed information on Blutbad behavior.
"Alright, System, pull up everything on Blutbad psychology. Primal instincts, hunting patterns, what makes them tick… or, you know, kill," Adam mentally commanded. Pages, diagrams, and historical accounts flashed through his mind, a dizzying array of information. "Fascinating. So, they're basically overgrown, angsty wolves with impulse control issues. Good to know. Probably shouldn't offer them a chew toy."
He turned to Wanda. "So, the killer is a Blutbad. They're basically werewolves, but they're not all bad. Some are reformed, like Monroe, who Nick's about to meet. Others… well, others are just really bad at anger management. It's like a really messed up episode of Animal Planet, but the animals can turn into people. And then turn back. It's very confusing for the average human."
Wanda nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "So, they are not always monsters, even when they look like them."
"Exactly. It's all about nuance, my friend. Which, in this world, is a luxury most people don't have," Adam said, then his mental alert system flared again, a new, irritating buzz.
[ALERT: Hexenbiest activity detected. Location: Downtown Law Office. Threat Level: Low (early stages of scheme).]
"Oh, for crying out loud. Adalind's already at it," Adam groaned. "Seriously, doesn't she have anything better to do than cause trouble? Like, I don't know, take up knitting? Or competitive bird watching? No, it's always 'let's scheme against the Grimm' with her." He knew this was the beginning of Adalind's long, convoluted campaign against Nick, orchestrated by Renard. The Library System had a "Hexenbiest Management" function, which basically meant he was supposed to keep them from taking over Portland's magical places. "Looks like I've got a new job description: Hexenbiest babysitter. Joy."
He considered the implications. Adalind was a Hexenbiest, a magical creature, and she was already causing trouble. The Library had resources for dealing with them, for managing their "trouble." He could use this. He could subtly interfere, make her life a little harder, and maybe, just maybe, prevent some of the future headaches she was destined to cause.
"Alright, Wanda," Adam said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Looks like we've got a two-for-one special today: a serial killer werewolf, and a scheming witch. Just another Tuesday in Portland. Ready to make some chaos?"
Wanda, who was slowly starting to grasp the sheer absurdity of their situation, managed a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Chaos… I am familiar with chaos."
"Excellent. Then you'll fit right in," Adam replied, already planning his next subtle move, a mental note to check the Library's "Hexenbiest Weaknesses" section. He was a Grimm, a Host, and now, apparently, a strategic mastermind in a world that was rapidly becoming his own personal, very dangerous, video game. And he was going to play it to win.