A middle-aged couple, along with a girl who appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen and a boy of about ten, came into Logan's view outside. The adults carried large bags, while the boy's hands were empty, likely a family scavenging for supplies. As they neared the jewelry store, they hesitated, considering whether to enter.
Logan's voice broke the silence.
"Someone's already here. If you need a place to rest, find somewhere else."
Hearing this, the couple started to turn away, but the boy stopped in his tracks, glaring at Logan.
"This place yours? I'll go wherever I want!" His face twisted with indignation, as though the world owed him something. Kicking at the broken glass, he made to enter the store.
"Cooper, don't cause trouble," the girl pleaded, grabbing his arm. But her words only seemed to set him off. He shook her off angrily, cursing as he stomped inside.
"I'll do what I want! Who are you to tell me where to go? This isn't his store!"
Cooper marched toward Logan but froze when he spotted Max Knight. The sight of the dog gave him pause, though his eyes quickly drifted to the beef patties Logan and Max were eating. His hunger was obvious.
At that moment, the rest of the family entered the store. The couple, who had planned to call Cooper back, were now staring at the food as well. Although it had only been a few days without electricity, the lack of hot, cooked meals—especially meat—had been a torturous deprivation.
The middle-aged woman broke the silence.
"Young man, feeding such good meat to a dog is such a waste," she said, her eyes glued to the patty near Max Knight's mouth.
Max Knight growled menacingly, his eyes narrowing at her. The woman recoiled in fear, hiding behind her husband.
The man swallowed hard, his gaze flicking between Logan and the food.
"Maybe…you should keep that dog on a leash. What if it bites someone? It would be safer if you tied it up."
Logan's voice was ice-cold.
"If you're afraid, leave. You've already interrupted our meal."
The man's face darkened with displeasure, but Max Knight's imposing presence kept him silent.
Then, Cooper chimed in, "Mom, I want a beef patty!"
The woman shot Logan a pleading look, tugging at her son.
"I'll make some for you at home. Let's go."
"We don't have any at home! There's nothing to eat! I want it now!" Cooper whined, stomping his feet and tugging at his mother's clothes.
"I'm not leaving without one!"
Annoyed, Logan glared at the boy, and a flicker of murderous intent flashed in his eyes. Cooper fell silent, trembling.
The woman, desperate, spoke again.
"Young man, could we trade for three—no, just two beef patties? My son hasn't had meat in days."
Logan glanced at the bag she carried. It was filled with summer clothes, curtains, and carpets—nothing useful to him.
"No."
"Then maybe just one…" she trailed off, but Logan remained unmoved.
Max Knight, eyeing the boy's chubby face and round belly, tilted his head as if questioning the woman's claims.
Seeing Logan's refusal, the middle-aged man snapped,
"He'd rather feed his dog than help us! Let's go!"
The family started to leave, but Logan ignored them, tossing another beef patty to Max Knight. But before the dog could take it, his ears perked up, and his head whipped toward the street. Something had caught his attention.
Following Max Knight's gaze, Logan looked outside just as Cooper broke free from his mother and lunged for the patty meant for the dog.
"Give me that!"
Logan's expression darkened, and in a flash, Max Knight pounced, sinking his teeth into Cooper's hand.
"Ahhh!" Two screams echoed through the air—one from Cooper and another from his mother, who rushed to cradle her unconscious son.
Max Knight spat out the boy's hand, disgusted by the taste. Outside, faint sounds of chaos drifted from the street.
Logan stood to investigate.
"Stop!" The middle-aged man's voice was filled with fury.
"Your dog bit off my son's hand! You think you can just leave?!"
Without turning back, Logan replied,
"He tried to steal. He's lucky my dog didn't kill him."
Patting Max Knight's head, Logan added,
"Next time someone tries to steal, kill them."
Max Knight obediently nodded, casting a glance at the boy as if wondering whether to finish him off right then and there.
"You monster! It's bad enough you're feeding food to a dog, but you don't care about human lives!"
The man continued ranting, but he made no move to approach Logan or his dog. His fear was palpable.
Just then, the sound of screaming filled the air outside, followed by panicked footsteps.
"Help! Somebody help!"
A group of people came sprinting down the street, chased by a massive tabby cat, the size of a lynx, its black and brown fur bristling. The beast's glowing eyes were filled with malice, and its speed was terrifying. Claws slashed through flesh with deadly precision, and anyone caught in its path was reduced to shreds.
The creature moved with predatory ease, its powerful leaps allowing it to toy with the fleeing crowd as if they were mice. After killing another victim, it jumped ahead of the pack, watching its terrified prey with a mocking glint in its eyes.
As the cat neared the jewelry store, Logan's Cornucopia interface flashed a message:
[Detected: Tier-1 Source Beast within 100 meters]
Another source beast had appeared!