At night, the ghetto district was another world. The sky was gloomy, and the few streetlights flickered like a broken heart. The scent of burning rubber, rubbish, and cigarettes filled the air. Music blared from every nook and cranny, mingling with werewolf howls, chimera roars, and banshee screeches.

The structures were old and dilapidated, with broken windows and graffiti on the walls. Trash, broken glass, and abandoned cars cluttered the streets. People on the streets were a mix of monsters, criminals, and outcasts, not your typical citizenry.

The ghetto district's enterprises were also not your usual establishments. There were taverns, nightclubs, and brothels, all catering to society's darker side. Some featured blinking neon signs, while others were buried in the shadows, waiting for the appropriate consumer.

Overall, most people avoided the ghetto district because it was dangerous around every turn. But it was a location Roger, Katina, Labda, and Cilla had to explore in order to discover their culprit and solve the crime.

Roger and the Cerberus women dressed in street clothing to blend in with the monstrous slum district's rough and tumble neighborhood. Roger wore a black hoodie and pants to avoid drawing attention to himself.

The Cerberus donned matching street clothes to avoid being noticed. The three-headed woman wore a hoodie with three holes at the top for their heads to peak through, as well as jeans that had been altered to fit their legs. It was weird and unsettling to see the three-headed woman dressed as a human, but it was important for their purpose to remain hidden.

The Manticore's Den was a darkly lighted pub in the monster ghetto's center. Outside, the sound of boisterous laughter and clinking glasses could be heard. Above the entryway, a neon sign flashed with the image of a snarling manticore with razor-sharp teeth and a deadly tail. As Roger, Katina, Labda, and Cilla reached the entrance, they noticed a long line of tough-looking monsters.

The structure itself was a massive brick structure with barred windows and an entry wrought-iron gate. Two stone pillars flanked the door, each topped with a figure of a snarling manticore. Sweat, smoke, and alcohol odors floated from within.

The music of the pub hit them like a wave as they walked through the entrance. Only a few weak lamps and neon lights provided illumination in the interior. The bar was packed with monsters of all kinds, from werewolves to vampires, trolls to ogres, and everything in between. A band was performing in the corner on a little stage, and the dance floor was full with gyrating animals. The pub was divided into sections, each with its own distinct style and customers.

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Roger, Katina, Labda, and Cilla took a deep breath and made their way through the crowd in search of Tatiana, the bar's manticore owner.

Roger, Katina, Labda, and Cilla approached the bar counter, where the centaur bartender was wiping a glass with a rag. They approached him and inquired about Tatiana. Roger could tell the bartender wasn't going to cooperate easy when he gave them a dubious look.

"We need to talk to Tatiana," Roger remarked as he waved his badge.

The centaur groaned and pointed to a back door in the bar. "She's in the basement, but I doubt you'll get very far with her." She's preoccupied."

They moved toward the door without saying anything further. They could hear combat, metal on metal clashing, and werewolves snarling as they descended the stairs.

When they got to the bottom of the steps, they were met with a chaotic scene. Tatiana was battling a pack of werewolves near the beer storehouse. The werewolves snarled and clawed at Tatiana, but she held her own, using her tail to sting them and her claws to cut at their faces.

She was a female humanoid manticore with remarkable characteristics. She was around six feet tall and curvaceous, with long, curly red hair that fell down her back. Her face was a cross between a human and a lion, with piercing, predatory eyes that glinted in the weak cellar light. Her lower torso was coated in beautiful golden fur that shimmered in the light, like that of a big lion. Her wings were leathery and robust, folded closely against her back like those of a bat.

She was clearly in the middle of working in a simple white t-shirt and a brown apron over her trousers when the werewolf gang disturbed her. Tatiana battled with fluid grace, her clawed hands and muscular limbs moving with lethal accuracy despite the surrounding turmoil.

When Roger and the Cerberus realized what was going on, they jumped into action. Katina, Labda, and Cilla went straight for the werewolves, while Roger backed Tatiana up and dealt with any werewolves who tried to get past him.

The fighting was fierce, but they worked well together, taking out werewolf after werewolf. Tatiana's tail stinger proved to be a lethal weapon, dispatching several of the attackers.

The werewolves left after a few minutes of fighting, understanding they were outmatched. Tatiana let out a triumphant roar, and the three of them, soaked in sweat and blood, caught their breath.

"Thank you for your assistance," Tatiana remarked, smiling. "I've owed you one."

"Why did those werewolves attack you in the basement?" Cilla inquired.

Tatiana sighed and wiped sweat from her brow. "They wanted protection money," she said. "Because I refused to pay, they became violent."

"That's messed up," Roger added with a shake of his head.

"I know, but unfortunately, that's how things work around here," Tatiana shrugged. "It's difficult to run a business in this neighborhood without drawing the attention of the wrong people."

Katina agreed with a nod. "We comprehend. We're just delighted we could assist you."

Tatiana thanked the Cerberus officers with a thankful grin. "Thank you so much. You truly saved my skin. "Is there anything I can do to assist you?"

"We're actually looking for a guy named Zombie Donnie," Labda clarified. "We were hoping you might know where to find him."

Tatiana's forehead furrowed in thought. "Zombie Donnie? Yes, I'm aware of him. He generally hangs around near the junkyard in a warehouse. It's a dangerous area, so use caution."

"We will," Roger promised. "Many thanks for your assistance, Tatiana."

"Anytime," Tatiana said, nodding. "Just keep an eye on your backs out there."