Ray tuned into the conversations around him: those who'd arrived after the enormous draconic figure had already disappeared seemed skeptical of the situation - but he and the police officers who'd arrived first to the scene gave each other worried looks, as if they were alone privy to the reality of the situation given what they'd seen...
Ray watched as two officers attempted to arrest Byron, and Azumi intervened; he was too conflicted to take a side on the matter, and so he just trusted that Azumi had a plan.
At this point many of the civilians who'd arrived in time to see the legendary-looking beast firsthand were spreading the word throughout the crowd, and people were becoming very uneasy...
"I-I swear! it must've been Palkia! What else could be that MASSIVE, and appear and disappear in the blink of an eye?"
"T-then, is what that man was saying true?"
"B-but, I thought the creation trio was just a myth..."
Uneasy whispers were spreading like wildfire, and the police - despite somewhat believing the rumours themselves, as witnesses - felt obligated to try and ease the situation.
"ATTENTION!" shouted the officer in charge. "I know that we've witnessed something overwhelming here, but we need to keep our heads on straight! I-it's true that there was something - something large and otherworldly in this crater when we first arrived... b-but we can't just jump to conclusions!" The officer seemed to be trying to reassure herself as much as she was trying to reassure the civilians...
"W-we don't know the validity of this mysterious man's claims - but rest assured the Canalave police department will begin its investigation immediately! With Byron safely in the custody of the international police, we'll take it upon ourselves to commence the investigation on his house - and we'll inform the public of our findings immediately! C'mon, team: let's go!" The officer beckoned to her subordinates and a convoy of police began making their way back to the city, towards Byron's house...
Lucian walked up to Ray:
"I think we should go with them" he said. "The last thing I want is for you to think that I'm a political opportunist... but ever since our encounter with team Galactic on Iron Island I haven't been able to shake the suspicion that Byron may somehow be involved with them. This has nothing to do with the fact that he's my ideological opponent... but I think it's clear that this avenue of investigation demands to be explored."
"Don't worry: I know you'd never try to take advantage of a situation like this..." Ray responded solemnly, and he, Lucian, and June followed behind the police officers.
* * *
Meanwhile, the street preacher from outside the bar was watching Maker, Eli, and Renz from afar... Once the three of them were finally together, he emerged from the shadow in which he was standing and addressed them with a harsh whisper and an unsettling smile.
"You there! I know those looks... you're searching for the truth, you want answers... well I can give them to you! Follow me! with haste!" Just like that the man returned to the shadow in which he was standing, lifted the cover off of a manhole, and disappeared into the sewers at an alarming speed...