At the same time—
Silas Moore moved in the opposite direction.
Not toward the fleeing waiter.
But toward—
The VIP platform.
Where Levi Wynn had been standing.
He pushed through the crowd.
Calm.
Precise.
Too late.
Levi was already gone.
Escorted.
A tall bodyguard at his side.
Moving fast—
Toward the upper-deck interior corridor.
No panic.
No confusion.
Only—
Control.
Silas stopped.
Didn't follow.
Didn't need to.
He already had the answer.
The explosion—
Was intentional.
A distraction.
Levi knew.
Maybe—
He planned it.
The waiter—
Was the key.
Aftermath
The chaos faded quickly.
Security regained control.
The "fire" was declared—
A false alarm.
Smoke device.
Announcements reassured the guests.
The carnival—
Ended early.
But beneath the surface—
The hunt had already shifted.
Reconstruction
Back in the suite—
Ironfang and Flash returned.
Silent.
Efficient.
Their collar cams replayed everything.
Chen Lin rebuilt the route.
"The waiter entered through staff access…"
"Kitchen logistics area…"
"Then switched uniforms."
Pause.
"Engine room."
Old Wu exhaled slowly.
"Just like we thought."
"That isolated chamber."
Chen Lin nodded.
"Marker signal spiked during the chaos."
"Then stabilized."
He tapped the map.
"Right here."
"P-07 hasn't moved."
"They reinforced security."
"That man…"
"Either checking it."
"Or preparing something."
Silas stared at the map.
Still.
Focused.
Then—
His paw moved.
Tap.
The chamber.
Drag.
A line.
Ventilation shaft.
Exit point—
An abandoned cargo hold.
He looked up.
Eyes sharp.
Decision made.
He Was Going In
"I'm going inside."
Lin Wan froze.
"No."
"Absolutely not."
"That place is locked down."
"Cameras. Guards. Sensors—"
Silas shook his head.
Tap.
Lingbi.
Tap.
Vent shaft.
Then—
A motion.
Infiltration.
He wasn't rushing in blindly.
Step one:
Scout.
Step two:
Confirm layout.
Step three:
Short-entry recon.
No combat.
No interference.
Just—
Truth.
Chen Lin stayed silent.
Old Wu leaned over the map.
Thinking.
Calculating.
"Ventilation shaft is tight."
"Too tight for a normal husky."
"But…"
He looked at Silas.
"…not for you."
"Lingbi scouts first."
"We need full intel."
"Guards. Cameras. Blind spots."
"And that container."
Lin Wan's voice trembled.
"…What if you're seen?"
Silas turned.
Looked at her.
Calm.
Steady.
Unshakable.
Then—
He raised a paw.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Scratched two words—
On the table.
Trust me.
Lin Wan's breath caught.
Her eyes reddened instantly.
She nodded.
Hard.
"…Okay."
Preparation
The plan was set.
Lingbi moved first.
Into the ducts.
Silent.
Invisible.
Meanwhile—
Silas prepared.
Equipment check.
Collar systems.
Joint mobility.
Breathing control.
Then—
Final drill.
A custom-built narrow tunnel.
Even tighter than before.
He entered.
Moved.
Adjusted.
Adapted.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Because this time—
Failure meant exposure.
And exposure—
Meant death.
Night Falls
The ocean calmed.
The cruise glowed.
A floating city.
Bright.
Alive.
But beneath—
Steel.
Darkness.
Silence.
War.
Insertion Point
Abandoned cargo hold.
Dust.
Old ropes.
Canvas sheets.
Heavy air.
Silas stood at the vent entrance.
Still.
Listening.
Then—
Signal.
Lingbi's feed.
Path clear Vent intact Access point above target
Details followed:
Two armed guardsTwo camerasMinor blind spotsReinforced chamber
And—
The container.
Centered.
Locked.
Connected.
Alive.
Silas closed his eyes briefly.
Then opened them.
Cold blue.
He took one last look—
At Lin Wan.
At Chen Lin.
No words.
No hesitation.
Then—
He moved.
Into the darkness.
The vent swallowed him whole.
Metal walls.
Tight space.
No light.
His body compressed.
Muscles aligned.
Every step—
Calculated.
Silent.
Guided by:
Lingbi's scent markersMicro-vibration signalsPure instinct
Forward.
Always forward.
Because now—
He wasn't running.
He wasn't reacting.
He was hunting.
And for the first time—
The hunter's fangs—
Had reached—
The heart of the nest.