“Because it’s serialized, a new volume is released periodically,” Huo Ting snapped back to attention by Chairman Michaels’ call, and added at the right moment.
“Serialized?”
“Well, that’s quite the coincidence. The reason I came to Central Star this time is to deal with something related to this author. Do you happen to have their contact information?”
Granny Delanchi stroked the book in her hand thoughtfully, casually explaining how her star pet had been captured by those star pirates and given to the author in question.
“I need to find them and bring my cat back.”
Before anyone could question the absurdity of her story, Secretary Hals subconsciously asked:
“So the lion that the security bureau has been searching for recently…are you saying it’s your pet? But isn’t it a lion, not some kind of cat?”
Granny Delanchi, however, burst into laughter.
“That’s because Xiao Mi has two forms after mutating. Normally, he prefers to roam around in his big lion form, but when he gets startled, he transforms into a little kitten.”
“But are you saying Xiao Mi ran away?”
Not expecting the situation to grow so complicated, Granny Delanchi closed the book in her hands and glanced at the documents Secretary Hals was holding.
“As a matter of fact, the lion was too large. At the time, the author directly sent it to the Central Star Zoo for foster care. However, that very night, the lion escaped, causing widespread panic on Central Star.”
“However, up to now, no one has found any trace of this star beast. But according to what you’ve said, Xiao Mi might have turned into its cat form?”
Secretary Hals explained the sequence of events, leaving everyone present slightly stunned.
“Huo Ting, how come I didn’t know the author of this book had such a story? Are those space pirate fans this fanatical now?”
Chairman Michaels was really shocked by the current trends among young people.
“It’s indeed very appealing, so it’s not surprising that it’s so popular,” Huo Ting said, glancing at the book in Granny Delanchi’s hands without denying it.
“That said, it’s imperative to find this star beast. If it’s left to roam freely, what if it reverts to its original form and harms someone?”
After pondering for a moment, Chairman Michaels decided this matter might require assistance from the military department.
“Hah? My Xiao Mi is no rampaging beast. He has a fear of large objects and usually won’t even come out when he sees people. I bet he’s hiding in some forest or deserted place. Besides, he loves eating vegetables.”
Granny Delanchi immediately expressed her dissatisfaction with Chairman Michaels’s assessment.
‘A giant beast with a fear of large objects…?’
Everyone present exchanged looks, their gazes at Granny Delanchi growing more and more incredulous. As expected, a unique owner raises a unique pet.
“But even if you can’t find him, I have my ways to locate him in due time. Goodbye, old friend.”
With that, Granny Delanchi decisively leapt out the window.
Startled, Secretary Hals and his subordinates widened their eyes and tried to stop her, only to realize the gem-encrusted cane in Granny Delanchi’s hand was actually a mechanical flying device.
As the rotating blades unfolded, Granny Delanchi, with her curls fluttering in the wind, flew away.
“Whoosh, whoosh~”
A tuft of dandelion fluff was nearly blown away but managed to bite onto her coat at the last second. Granny Delanchi held it in her arms as she departed.
“This woman, even at her age, still insists on being unconventional. She almost trampled all my flowers and plants!”
Chairman Michaels muttered as he adjusted the flowers and plants on his windowsill, which had nearly been crushed.
“Still, this matter does require attention. No one can guarantee whether something raised by Dranchi might turn out to be dangerous.”
“Chairman Michaels, is Granny Delanchi an old friend of yours and my father’s?”
Huo Ting watched Granny Delanchi disappear into the distance and asked curiously.
The subordinates around him also looked at Chairman Michaels with interest.
“Yes, from many years ago. But don’t underestimate her just because she seems a bit scatterbrained.”
As soon as Chairman Michaels finished speaking, everyone’s expressions became subtle.
Who would dare underestimate her? She already looked terrifying.
“She’s a special race,” Huo Ting said in a matter-of-fact tone, recalling the black scales that had appeared on Granny Delanchi’s hand in the final moments.
However, Huo Ting couldn’t help but think of the young resident in his study.
Could he be someone like Granny Delanchi?
“Indeed, she has dragon blood. Quite an ancient and unfamiliar term, right? That’s why she’s so fond of wearing shiny things.”
Pouring himself another cup of tea, Chairman Michaels spoke in a faint tone, but he successfully made everyone’s eyes widen.
Dragon blood was an extremely rare interstellar bloodline.
“However, races with such unique bloodlines are difficult to find these days for various reasons.”
“Some it’s because they lack aggression and competitiveness, while others are just the opposite. For example, Delanchi comes from a bloodline so powerful that they struggle to reproduce.’
As Chairman Michaels explained, he suddenly noticed that Huo Ting seemed distracted again.
In fact, Huo Ting had started pondering about the resident in his study.
What could his reason be?
Occasionally picky with food.
Affinity for water.
Not a large body size.
Recalling the moment he had caught him from falling, Huo Ting couldn’t help but think of his incredibly lightweight, almost like he had no mass at all.
Yet his abilities were undeniably rare.
“By the way, it suddenly occurred to me…you’re still recovering from mental radiation. You should go home and rest early,” Chairman Michaels said after a moment of reflection, finding a perfect excuse for Huo Ting’s unusual state.
He began to feel like he had been a bit inconsiderate, he actually asked Huo Ting to come to the military department while on medical leave.
But as Secretary Hals prepared to leave, he glanced at Chairman Michaels and hesitated to mention that his boss had been acting strange for quite some time now.
But as Huo Ting’s speculations about the resident in his study became more and more specific along the way, when he saw the latest note outside the door, he found himself stunned.
In some ways, it seemed to overturn all his prior speculations.
—I’d like some cat treats. Since I couldn’t fully help you this time, can I ask for ten first?
“…”
‘What kind of race with an affinity for water would want to eat cat treats?’
“Cat treats!? Are you planning to get a cat?”
Secretary Hals was stunned upon hearing this.
He couldn’t reconcile the idea of his boss with the words “raising a cat”.
In fact, Huo Ting himself was curious about the answer to that question.
Especially since the scale he had retrieved still lay quietly in the box.
“Such pet snacks are easy to find online. Just order some and have them directly delivered here.”
On hearing the topic, Qiao Ni, who was bringing breakfast, was quite intrigued.
After all, a long time ago, Young Master Huo Yan was always clamoring to keep a cat, but at some point, he stopped mentioning it altogether.
Unexpectedly, now it was Young Master Huo Ting who was planning to raise a cat?
But there was no sign of a cat anywhere.
With her clearly superior online shopping experience, Qiao Ni made a suggestion that made Huo Ting realize a blind spot he hadn’t considered.
So the next day, when Yu Mian impatiently opened the package on the desk, he found that it indeed contained cat treats.
And not just one kind…it came with multiple flavors, almost like buying a family pack.
“Meow~”
Outside the window, the cat saw Yu Mian holding the cat treats and approaching it, and it curiously glanced at him and sniffed the air.
“It’s eating it!”
Yu Mian held his breath as he watched the little guy walk in step by step, then licking the treat and meowing happily.
By the time it finished the whole pack, its eyes were sparkling, and it began circling Yu Mian, letting out soft “meow-meow” sounds.
“I’ve caught it!”
After feeding it a second pack, Yu Mian swiftly grabbed the furry creature and placed it on the chair.
“The fur around its neck is really unique, and its little paws are so chubby.”
As he carefully examined the cat, Yu Mian couldn’t help but think that interstellar cats looked rather unique.
The little system watching this scene felt like something was off, though it couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.
On the other side, Huo Ting had been waiting for several days, yet no new little notes appeared in the study.
The pair of white plush slippers he had left was accepted by the other party and was now neatly placed on the shoe rack, lined up next to the noticeably larger backup slippers, standing out as the only light-colored pair.
Huo Ting looked at the note from before, which read, [And if it works, I’d like to ask you for a favor. [Please]], and was convinced that the resident had something important to request of him.
‘Had he forgotten?’
Meanwhile, aside from playing with the cat, Yu Mian was busy writing the extra side stories for “Eternal Night Rose” and saving drafts for later volumes of “Rebirth Of The Interstellar Soldier King”. He suddenly noticed a strange new note left by Huo Ting.
—That favor you mentioned? – Huo
“Haven’t I already asked him to buy the cat treats? What other favor could there be?”
Yu Mian was a bit puzzled.
[Uh, I have no idea either. Maybe you should ask him?]
The little system was just as confused.
—But I’ve already received the cat treats. And thank you for the slippers, they fit perfectly.
