A shrill and eerie scream pierced the air. Only a few lamps were lit in the plaza, casting a dim glow. Several girls looked frightened.
This... this sounds like a dog's bark!
Could it be the old lady's dog, Xiao Hei?
It sounds like it's injured. Let's go check.
Song Qianqian and the other girls, filled with doubt and conjecture, turned on their phone flashlights and walked towards the source of the sound. Manager Wang and the male consultant hurried after them.
Bai Ye followed behind them.
Judging from the sounds, it was indeed a puppy's cry, and it was the sound of instant death after suffering a fatal injury!
He was familiar with this sound associated with death, often hearing it during recent hunts in the Wo Jiao mountain range.
Could it be that dog traffickers had intruded?
His gaze swept across the open plaza. Besides a few potted plants and chairs, there was nothing else.
Frowning slightly, he activated his elementary spatial perception to observe and search.
Little puppy, where are you?
Xiao Hei! Come out! Grandma is looking for you!
Xiao Hei!!!
They reached the approximate location of the sound and searched thoroughly, even checking the potted plants, but could not find the puppy. Song Qianqian and the others were puzzled.
The sound came from around here, how can it be gone?
If someone calls out, the dog should react!
Meanwhile, Bai Ye's gaze fixed on a dark corner. He strode over.
Ahead, there was a drainage ditch covered by leaky iron grates.
*Squeak*
As Bai Ye approached, a pair of eyes in the ditch suddenly stared at him, with a faint red glow!
Bai Ye lowered his head, his gaze narrowing slightly.
Before him, in the drainage ditch, a giant rat, half a meter long, was gnawing on a black dog. The entire head of the dog had been eaten, and the ditch was a scene of bloody carnage.
Judging from the remaining body, this dog was the Teddy, Xiao Hei, that the old lady had said was lost.
Seeing Bai Ye, the giant rat merely looked up, let out a squeak, and continued to gnaw on the Teddy's corpse, completely fearless!
Was this rat an abnormally developed king rat? Or had something mutated here, similar to the Wo Jiao mountain range?
Brother Ye, did you find anything?
Brother Ye??
Seeing Bai Ye standing still, Song Qianqian and the assistant girl walked over curiously.
*Squeak*
The giant rat, disturbed by the voices, gnawed its way towards the sewer entrance, dragging the Teddy's corpse.
*Hmph!*
Bai Ye let out a soft hum, using his basic spatial abilities to lock onto the giant rat.
*Squeak squeak*
The giant rat immediately sensed danger and struggled desperately. However, its body was still lifted uncontrollably.
*Clang*
Several iron grates were knocked aside. The giant rat thrashed wildly in the air, emitting piercing shrieks. The Teddy, still in its mouth, fell to the ground.
Almost simultaneously, Bai Ye condensed a diamond-shaped ice spike in his hand and flung it with extreme speed, accurately piercing the giant rat's head and instantly ending its life, silencing its cries.
As the giant rat's body hit the ground, Song Qianqian and the other girl had just reached Bai Ye's back.
The phone lights shone, revealing the giant rat and the headless Teddy. A scream erupted.
Ahhh!!!
The assistant girl cried out in terror, feeling a wave of nausea. Song Qianqian covered her mouth with her delicate hand, her eyes fixed on the giant rat, a flicker of a strange light in her beautiful eyes.
What's wrong?
Qianqian, Xiao Hui, are you alright?
Manager Wang and the others quickly rushed over.
Upon seeing the scene, their expressions changed drastically, and the girls began to retch.
How can there be such a big rat?
Oh my god! Did this rat kill Xiao Hei? And... and eat Xiao Hei...
The girls' faces were pale, daring not to look at the corpses any longer.
Manager Wang stared at the large rat and the dog's body on the ground, his expression filled with anxiety. He was also somewhat fearful, but more worried that if this news spread, it would severely impact tomorrow's concert.
He took a few deep breaths.
Everyone, don't be too nervous. Although such large rats are rare, they do exist! African giant rats, American possums, and our own Chinese muskrat all grow to this size. There's no need to be alarmed.
Right, Ye?
Manager Wang was quite astute. But his way of speaking felt somewhat familiar.
Bai Ye looked at him, understanding his intention, and nodded with a faint smile.
Manager Wang is right. This is likely a very gluttonous rat, which is why it grew so large. As for this Teddy, Xiao Hei, it probably discovered the rat and boldly tried to capture it, but was killed instead. Rats are omnivores, so it's not strange for them to eat meat.
With Bai Ye and Manager Wang's explanations, the girls' expressions eased slightly.
So, how should we tell Grandma? Xiao Hei, oh dear...
The assistant girl, Xiao Hui, looking at Xiao Hei's body, couldn't finish her sentence and retched again.
Manager Wang said sternly, This matter cannot be leaked to the outside. Otherwise, if tomorrow's concert is affected, all our efforts might be in vain!
When we leave, we'll say the dog is lost and ran off somewhere else. I'll call the pest control team to sweep the venue later, and there won't be any more incidents like this. Everyone can rest assured.
Remember, for tomorrow's concert, this matter must not be revealed!
Xiao Yong, take everyone back. I'll stay here to handle things.
Alright, Manager Wang.
The male consultant nodded.
Brother Ye, Qianqian, let's go!
The assistants and managers understood the gravity of the situation and nodded in unison, following the male consultant, Xiao Yong, out.
Bai Ye glanced at the giant rat's corpse on the ground and turned to leave as well. Manager Wang would undoubtedly dispose of the two bodies secretly.
West Entrance.
The old lady was still waiting.
Little girl, young man, did you find my Xiao Hei?
Song Qianqian and Xiao Hui and the other female assistants shook their heads.
Grandma, we didn't find her. Xiao Hei probably went back home! Why don't you go back and check first?
The male consultant, Xiao Yong, had no choice but to lie. It was not feasible for the old lady to keep waiting there, and Xiao Hei would never return. Telling her about Xiao Hei's death would surely be more heartbreaking than her being lost!
The group returned to the parking lot.
Brother Ye, then... we've booked a room at the Moonlit Grand Hotel. If it's inconvenient for you to go back, why don't you come with us?
Song Qianqian asked, her face flushed.
No need.
Bai Ye shook his head, his gaze sweeping over her eyes.
Despite seeing the gruesome scene and the bizarre giant rat, this gentle girl, compared to the assistant, appeared much more composed and steady, despite her fear.
Then I'll see you tomorrow.
The concert starts punctually at eight o'clock. Remember to arrive early to prepare!
Okay!
After ten in the evening, everyone got into their cars and departed.
Bai Ye, however, made a detour and returned to the Oriental Plaza once more.
Using teleportation, he slipped into the venue and conducted a secret reconnaissance. He found no other giant rats lurking about.
Could it have been just an accidental occurrence of a single rat?
Bai Ye, filled with doubt, drove back to Lone Star Villa.
Meanwhile, on a street in the Pujiang District of Modu.
In a car by the roadside, a man and a woman were staring at two homeless people near a street trash can.
Sister Liang, we've been watching for days, and there's been no movement!
Could it be that we've revealed some clues, and those people know?
The woman remained silent, her gaze calm. The man beside her scratched his head and gave a sheepish smile.
The two of them were Officer Liang from the Pujiang Police Station and Zhang Yu, a police officer who was a fan of Bai Ye.
Recently, not only in Pujiang District but across Modu, homeless people have been frequently disappearing.
They suspected it might be the work of an organ trafficking ring.