"You looking for me?"
Zane raised an eyebrow, eyeing the little black cat behind Belle. This guy had been blocking him at the entrance of Sixth Street earlier—so it really was here to guide him?
He had thought it was just saying hi, so he hadn't paid it any mind when it left. But now it had come back looking for him.
"Meow—"
The black cat circled around Zane, rubbing against him before trotting off toward the front of the video store.
At the door, it paused and looked back at him, as if making sure he was following.
"Zane, looks like this little one really has something for you. Go on ahead,"
"We'll figure out a meeting place later."
Belle smiled as she spoke, noticing the black cat's constant gaze on Zane. Normally, the cat wasn't that friendly, but for some reason, it seemed to like him.
"Sure. Just let me know when it's set."
Zane nodded with a smile, then stepped out of the store. The black cat immediately took the lead, walking with light, brisk steps.
Seeing this, Zane figured—whatever it wanted, it didn't seem like anything bad.
The night deepened, starlight faintly scattered across the sky.
The moon goddess watched silently over New Eridu.
The black cat led Zane through a maze of alleys with practiced ease until they reached the familiar cat base.
"Mmm mmm! (It's the kind person!)"
A voice rang out. Under the moonlight, Zane recognized it was Bangboo, specifically Dennyboo.
"Meow~"
A soft, gentle meow reached his ears—much softer than the black cat's voice. Zane looked over and brightened slightly. He crouched down, speaking softly.
"Back this soon?"
It had only been a few days.
The little white cat clearly remembered Zane, the one who saved her, and snuggled up close.
"Look at her. Way better behaved than you."
Zane stroked the white cat's forehead, then looked up at the aloof black cat perched on a cardboard box nearby.
The black cat turned its head, lifted a paw to lick its fur—clearly unimpressed.
Just then, Zane caught a faint scraping sound. He blinked, then smiled faintly.
With his enhanced physique and sharpened senses, sneaking up on him was no easy feat...
Even without those, it didn't matter. The cat-eared shadow cast over his own gave it away.
Before the intruder could make a move, Zane twitched his fingers. Wisps of thin, white frost gathered before his face, floating gently.
From the outside, it looked like his face was sliced into fragments—unsettling and eerie.
He suddenly turned.
And came face-to-face with someone—eyes locked, just inches apart.
Next second—
"Meowaaah!"
The Nekomata, who had just crept up with a sly grin ready to spook Zane, was the one who got startled instead. Her eyes shot wide open, and she stumbled back in a panic.
Her balance wobbled. She flailed her arms and landed flat on her backside with a thud.
"You little sneak, trying to scare me?"
Zane waved a hand, and the frost dispersed. His expression was playful, tone teasing.
"Ugh, you're the worst, meow."
Nekomata stood up, rubbing her sore butt. Her two tails swayed behind her as she pointed a finger at Zane with exaggerated seriousness.
"Zane! One day, I swear I'll beat you!"
She was bitter about losing at something she prided herself on. If only she'd been a bit quieter...
Even now, she thought it was just her footsteps that gave her away—not the fact that she'd completely missed her own shadow.
"Go to sleep, Nekomata. In dreams, anything's possible."
Zane chuckled without backing down.
"Hmph."
Nekomata crossed her arms and turned her head away with a snort. Seeing Zane ignore her and go right back to playing with the white cat, she pouted.
"Zane, I stopped by the hospital this afternoon. The doctor said she's nearly healed, but her mood's been really low. It'd be best to take her home for some company."
"So I brought her back. And I just happened to find a cat café that was closing down—the place is still fully equipped."
"I was planning to move them in tonight, but doing it all alone is kinda tough... so I asked Xiao Hei to get you."
She smiled sheepishly, hands behind her back. It felt a bit awkward calling Zane so late.
But really, who else could she turn to?
"You took over a cat café?"
Zane raised an eyebrow. That was fast. Nekomata moved quickly when she wanted to.
"But... do you have the money for that?"
He looked her over, curious. Taking over a café and all its furnishings couldn't have been cheap.
"What's with that look, Zane? I'm Nekomata, boss of Janus District, remember?"
She placed her hands on her hips, tail held high.
"I don't spend much besides food, so of course I've got my own savings! A measly cat café's nothing—"
"How much do you have left?"
"Uh... well..."
Caught off guard, Nekomata's eyes darted around. Just as she was about to change the topic—
Gurgle gurgle~
Her stomach betrayed her.
"Alright, got it."
Zane sighed, then stood and stretched.
"Here. This is the funding I managed to pull together. Use it however you need."
He handed her the card Deck had given him earlier. Nekomata recognized it right away.
"Wait—this is your funding? How much is on it?"
Zane thought for a moment, then casually tossed the card to her.
"I withdrew a bit after I got back, but there should be... about two billion left."
Nekomata froze mid-reach, her expression blanking out. The card slipped from the air.
She snapped back to her senses just in time, lunging forward with one leg out for balance, catching the card between both palms.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she held it up with both hands and looked at Zane in disbelief.
"You said... how much?"
"Two billion."
"Huh?"
"HUH?!"
She looked at the card. Then at Zane. Then back again.
One blue mackerel was 1,000 Dennies. Ten made 10,000. A hundred was 100,000. Two billion...
One zero, two zeros, three zeros—this was nothing but blue mackerel...
More than she could eat in a lifetime...
Nekomata's brain short-circuited. If thoughts could take shape, Zane would've seen a ring of blue mackerel spinning in circles over her head.