"The White Plumes are a secretive group," Gizo continued, pacing as she spoke. "And they're definitely not part of any 'good guy' club. They operate underground, outside of the law, and their goals are... questionable at best."
Maxwell furrowed his brow. "What do they want? Why are they targeting me?"
Gizo crossed her arms, her impatience clear. "They want power, control—the same old story. But as for why they're after you? That bracelet you're wearing is a powerful artifact, and they're always after anything that can give them an edge. They don't care who they hurt or what they have to destroy to get it."
Hito growled softly, his tension palpable. "I knew they were trouble, but this is worse than I thought."
Gizo raised an eyebrow. "You think it's just about you?" She turned to Maxwell, her expression hardening. "They aren't only targeting you."
Maxwell blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"
Gizo let out a small, humorless laugh. "Even if they are a group, there's a fracture in their ranks. Some of them don't even work together. There are factions within the Plumes, each with their own agenda. Some of them are interested in you, sure, but others... well, they might be after something—or someone—else. And that makes things unpredictable."
Akuro frowned. "That means more enemies, more chaos."
Gizo nodded. "Exactly. The White Plumes are dangerous not just because of their power but because of their instability. You never know who's pulling the strings—or why."
Maxwell let out a frustrated sigh. "So, I'm caught in the middle of this mess?"
"Not just you," Gizo replied. "The Whole City."
Akuro sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "This is way worse than I thought…"
Maxwell, still processing everything, glanced at Gizo. "How did you manage to get all this info?"
Gizo smirked, her eyes narrowing. "I have my ways," she said, her tone cryptic. "Unfortunately, those ways brought me a lot of trouble."
Hito crossed his arms, his eyes locking onto her. "What kind of trouble?"
Gizo shrugged. "The kind that follows you around when you dig too deep. I've had to shake off some of the White Plumes' lower ranks more than once. They're persistent, but sloppy. They think they know everything about everyone, but they have no clue who they're messing with."
Maxwell frowned. "So you're in danger too?"
Gizo let out a small chuckle. "Danger is an old friend. But right now, we've got a bigger problem—keeping you alive and figuring out why this artifact of yours is so important to them." She glanced back at the group. "If they're divided, that could work in our favor. But it also means more enemies, more unpredictability."
Akuro's expression darkened as he processed her words. "We need to be ready for anything. If the Plumes are this scattered, any of their factions could make a move at any time."
Gizo nodded. "Exactly. You need to keep your guard up. This isn't going to be a straightforward fight. Expect betrayal, backstabbing, and chaos."
Maxwell blinked at Gizo's bluntness. "Why are you helping us?"
Gizo rolled her eyes. "Trust me, if I left you alone with those two cretins, you'd be dead by now." She glanced at Hito and Akuro, who didn't seem particularly phased by the insult, though Hito growled softly in irritation.
Akuro, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, eyed her curiously. "So it's pity, then?"
Gizo smirked. "Call it what you want. I'm not exactly a fan of the Plumes, and the last thing I need is them getting their hands on more power." She turned back to Maxwell, her gaze sharp. "You've got something valuable, and I don't want to see it fall into the wrong hands. Plus, watching you fumble around with it is kind of entertaining."
Maxwell frowned, slightly offended. "Gee, thanks."
Gizo waved her hand dismissively. "Look, I'm not doing this out of the kindness of my heart. I have my own reasons. Let's just say I prefer to keep things balanced in this messed-up world. If that means babysitting you and your shiny bracelet, then so be it."
Akuro straightened up. "Fine. But if you're going to be part of this, we need to know we can trust you."
Gizo tilted her head, giving him a cold, calculating look. "Trust is a two-way street. But for now, our interests align. That should be enough."
Hito, still wary, grunted. "For now."
Maxwell shifted uneasily. "So... what should we do now?"
Gizo tapped her chin, thinking for a moment before speaking. "We need to go back to the park, late at night. Something's brewing there, and if we're lucky, we might catch it before it escalates."
Hito growled, his tail flicking in agitation. "That sounds dangerous. What if the rangers catch him? They already have their eyes on us."
Gizo raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Do you have a better idea, big guy? Because if so, I'd love to hear it."
Hito's ears flattened, frustration visible on his face, but he said nothing. Akuro placed a hand on Hito's shoulder, calming him. "She's right. We don't have many options. If something's going to happen there, we need to be ready."
Maxwell, feeling the tension in the air, looked around. "I don't want to get anyone in trouble, but we need answers."
Gizo nodded, her eyes narrowing. "Exactly. And sometimes, getting answers means walking into danger. We just have to be smart about it."
Hito let out a deep sigh. "Fine. But if anything goes wrong, we're pulling out fast. I don't trust those rangers, and I definitely don't trust this situation."
Gizo smirked. "Deal."