Chapter 6: A Hive of Trouble
Adam, now officially Level 2 and feeling far too pleased with himself, was meticulously organizing his System Inventory. "See, Ciri? This is what separates the amateurs from the pros. A well-organized inventory means you're never fumbling for the right acid when you need to make a body disappear. It's all about efficiency. And style." He gestured grandly at the mental screen, which, to anyone else, would have looked like he was staring blankly into space.
Ciri, perched on the arm of a ridiculously ornate armchair, was polishing her silver sword, the rhythmic rasp of stone on metal the only sound in the vast living room. "You speak of efficiency, yet you spent an hour trying to teach me what a 'meme' is. We have more pressing matters."
"Memes are cultural cornerstones, Ciri! They're how we cope with the existential dread of modern life. And speaking of existential dread, have you seen the news?" Adam tapped his phone, pulling up a headline: "Prominent Lawyer Found Dead, Covered in Bee Stings." "Mellifers, if my future-sight-slash-System-Library is correct. Bee people. Fascinatingly organized, almost disturbingly so. Like a corporate drone, but with more stingers and a hive mind."
[ New Wesen Type Discovered: Mellifer. Information added to Library. ]
[ Wesen Behavior: Hive-Mind, Revenge. Threat Level: Moderate. ]
"Revenge, huh?" Adam mused. "Always revenge. Can't these guys just get a hobby? Like, competitive knitting? Or extreme couponing?"
Their investigation, a blend of Adam's meta-knowledge and Ciri's sharp tracking skills, led them to a secluded part of town, near a seemingly abandoned warehouse. The air here vibrated with a low hum, and Adam's enhanced senses picked up the faint, sweet scent of honey mixed with something acrid.
"Alright, Mellifer hive," Adam whispered, peering through a cracked window. "Time to see what all the buzz is about."
Inside, a group of bee-like Wesen, their faces woged into insectoid forms, were gathered around a restrained woman. Adalind Schade. Adam recognized her from his "future knowledge" – Hexenbiest, lawyer, general pain in Nick's ass.
"Oh, look who it is," Adam muttered, a smirk playing on his lips. "The Hexenbiest herself. Guess she finally stung the wrong hive. Poetic, in a very sticky, venomous way."
Ciri's eyes narrowed. "She is a witch. Dangerous."
"Agreed. But these Mellifers are after her for a reason. She probably cursed one of them. Classic Hexenbiest move. So, do we let them have their fun, or do we intervene?" Adam pondered, tapping his chin. "On one hand, karma. On the other hand, a Hexenbiest in distress is a Hexenbiest in our debt. And frankly, I'm curious about their hive dynamics. It's like a social experiment, but with more buzzing."
Suddenly, Adam felt a faint, almost imperceptible tingle. A subtle shift in the air, a whisper of something designed to influence. Pheromones. The Mellifers were trying to disorient them. Adam merely blinked, his Witcher physiology shrugging it off. "Huh. Nice try, bees. But my Witcher immune system is practically a fortress. Not falling for cheap tricks. Unlike some humans who fall for 'love at first sniff' from a goat-man." He glanced at Ciri, who just gave him a blank stare. "Right, different chapter. Spoilers."
Adam decided on a subtle approach. He wanted to observe, to gather more data for his System, and to ensure Adalind didn't die too easily. He also wanted to see how Nick would handle this.
"Okay, Ciri," Adam whispered. "New plan. We don't directly interfere with the revenge plot. We just… ensure it doesn't get out of hand. And maybe subtly help Nick figure it out. Think of it as 'guided discovery.'"
They moved, a blur of motion, distracting the Mellifers just enough to allow Adalind a moment to struggle, to make her escape more challenging but ultimately successful. Adam, using his enhanced senses, also noticed a faint trail of something sticky and sweet leading away from the hive. He subtly nudged a discarded piece of paper with his foot, ensuring it landed exactly where Nick would find it.
Later, back at the mansion, Adam was in his Alchemy Lab, a new tab on his System interface. He'd purchased a blueprint for a Cat Potion – perfect for enhanced night vision. He carefully measured out the ingredients: Berbercane Fruit, Water Essence, and a healthy dose of Dwarven Spirit.
[ Alchemy Lab: Potion Brewing Successful: Cat Potion. Toxicity: Low. ]
"Behold, Ciri!" Adam announced, holding up the glowing vial. "My first successful brew! I'm like a mad scientist, but with better hair and less cackling. Though, I could work on the cackling." He uncorked the potion and drank it.
His eyes, for a terrifying moment, turned completely black, reflecting the dim light of the lab like twin pools of obsidian. He blinked, and they returned to normal. "Whoa. Still freaky. But hey, now I can see in the dark like a superhero. Or a really well-fed housecat."
Ciri watched, a flicker of something akin to awe in her eyes. "Your potions are… peculiar. But effective." She then added, a rare moment of introspection, "These Mellifers. Their organization. Their hive. It is… fascinating. So different from the monsters of my world. They are more… structured. Like a colony of ants, but with a purpose beyond mere survival."
"Yeah, well, social insects and their surprisingly complex vendettas," Adam agreed, already scrolling through his updated Library. "It's all part of the rich tapestry of the Grimm universe. And speaking of rich tapestries, I'm pretty sure I saw a Maurits in the news. Rat people. Next up, pest control, supernatural edition." He paused, then looked at Ciri. "Hey, you ever think about how much 'toxic masculinity' there is in some of these male Wesen? Like, the Blutbad serial killer, or these Mellifers and their revenge plot. It's like they're all trying to prove something with brute force or elaborate schemes."
Ciri blinked, her brow furrowing. "Toxic… masculinity? What is this 'toxic masculinity' you speak of? Is it a new type of monster?"
Adam sighed dramatically. "Oh, Ciri. We have so much to discuss. It's a long, complicated conversation. Involving patriarchy, societal expectations, and a lot of therapy. But for now, let's just say it's why some of these guys are such jerks." He grinned. "Now, about those rat people…"
Meanwhile, Nick, guided by the subtle clues left by Adam and his own Grimm instincts, managed to stop the Mellifers without resorting to lethal force, earning their grudging respect. He discovered Adalind's involvement, adding another layer to the already complex Wesen world. He still had no idea who the mysterious vigilantes were, but their efficiency was undeniable. And unsettling.