Chapter 123: A Man Should Pet Cats
Chapter 123: A Man Should Pet Cats
Fang Cheng found the most expensive-looking luxury car parked near the entrance. Using blood creation, he formed a key to unlock the doors and trunk, then threw Asaka Seiko’s corpse inside.
Sato Mai climbed into the backseat first and tugged her brother in after her. She whispered, “Brother, how are Mom and Dad? Are they worried sick about me?”
Sato Hayato’s face tightened. “We’ll discuss this at home,” he said stiffly. “I’m exhausted.”
“Oh.”
Though confused, Sato Mai didn’t push further.
After all three settled in the car, Fang Cheng retrieved his undamaged phone from the backpack. He dialed Takeda Masumi to report.
“You’re claiming you single-handedly fought hundreds of Blissful Faith cultists, disrupted their divine descent ceremony, and killed their Archbishop?”
Takeda Masumi’s voice crackled with irritation through the receiver. “It’s noon and I haven’t even eaten lunch! Are you sleep-deprived and hallucinating? Slap yourself awake right now!”
Heh. He’d also destroyed an evil god projection, survived an evil god’s test, and taken out Isis’s doppelganger.
But Fang Cheng preferred keeping unnecessary boasts to himself.
While Takeda Masumi recognized Fang Cheng’s capabilities, she struggled to grasp his true limits. Her initial assumption was playful exaggeration.
Their mutual understanding of each other’s humor boundaries made confirmation crucial. After double-checking, Takeda Masumi’s tone shifted dramatically following a prolonged silence.
“This mess is too big. Even with my connections, covering this up won’t be easy.”
An evil god projection had required Kanzaki Rin to enlist Kamikawa Takumi’s help. Now they faced an entire cult plus an Archbishop. Takeda Masumi’s Countermeasures Department contacts would struggle to conceal Fang Cheng’s identity as demanded.
“Should we abandon the situation then?”
Fang Cheng felt mild regret. Though meaningless to him, any Countermeasures Department member would view this as career-making merit.
Kanzaki Rin would likely leap three feet in excitement and race over immediately if she learned about this windfall.
“Let me attempt damage control,” Takeda Masumi finally said. “You’ve really handed me a disaster here.”
“Thanks. When this wraps up, I’ll cover your meals and housing for a month. Consider me your personal servant.”
“Go screw yourself!”
After the obligatory curse, she added, “If this actually yields results, I should be thanking you.”
She’d merely handle cleanup duty yet reap rewards. No wonder Kanzaki Rin advanced so quickly with Fang Cheng doing heavy lifting behind the scenes.
“Any monetary rewards involved?”
“You’ll get your cut.”
Fang Cheng ended the call cheerfully. Working with Takeda Masumi always proved satisfying – especially when compensation awaited.
However, he had to treat her to dinner, so it didn’t feel like much of a gain after all.
He settled into the driver’s seat and started the car with his blood-forged key, driving out of Yamatsumachi.
A group of Saintesses still hid in the gym, but Fang Cheng had no intention to take them. He’d wait for Takeda Masumi to send handlers.
Asaka Akihime sat blank-eyed in the passenger seat, staring through the window.
Though Fang Cheng had questions, he held back out of respect for her grieving over her mother’s death.
The car exited Yamatsumachi and soon spotted the sports car still parked at the crossroads.
Surprisingly, Tsukikage Chuxia hadn’t left yet – decent loyalty for a cat.
Parking nearby, Fang Cheng left three companions in the car and approached.
No one seemed inside until he peered through the window – a chubby white cat sprawled in the driver’s seat.
Its immaculate white fur resembled a ragdoll’s, though the breed was unclear.
The fat cat lay belly-up, mouth agape in sleep, surrounded by scattered catnip.
The guy had gotten himself completely zonked on kitty drugs.
Fang Cheng opened the door and slapped the pillowy belly, producing dull thuds. “Wake up!”
The cat remained liquid-like and motionless.
Fang Cheng suddenly began vigorously rubbing its belly.
No tough guy could resist an exposed cat belly.
Not that he cared about its girl form – Tsukikage Chuxia’s lack of shockwave powers held zero interest.
Truth was, he’d always wanted a cat.
Seeing this defenseless fluffball, he dove in with enthusiasm.
His skilled fingers soon had the cat purring, paws kneading his hand, tail whipping about.
After ten minutes, the cat suddenly opened eyes meeting his gaze.
It spoke: “What’re you doing, meow?”
“Petting you.”
“You didn’t ask, meow!”
“Since when do cats get veto rights?”
Tsukikage Chuxia’s Tail slapped his face – like being tackled by some random petting-obsessed dude.
With the cat awake, Fang Cheng stopped.
As he withdrew his hand, a plump paw pinned it.
“Keep going, meow!”
“Obeying cats? That’s beneath me.”
Fang Cheng pulled free, denying instant gratification.
“Typical human! Gets his kicks then bolts!”
The fat cat stretched dramatically in the driver’s seat, fur fluffing as it morphed into a supermodel-grade girl.
Fang Cheng eyed her sudden outfit. “Shouldn’t transformations be naked?”
Now human-shaped, Tsukikage Chuxia stretched again. “Done with your business?”
Fang Cheng produced the holy grail, golden rod, and vajra. “You buy gold?”
Her eyes locked on the split grail. “Blissful Faith’s holy cup? And the Archbishop’s golden stick!”
She hefted them expertly. “We pay well. Others would’ve brought Blissful Faith to your door.”
Fang Cheng offered the vajra. “This?”
“Ugh! Stinky monk junk. Scrap metal price.”
“But it’s pure gold!”
“Gold-plated at best. Inside’s cheap metal – probably iron.”
Fang Cheng tsked. Even rich monks scammed people? Buddha must be blushing.
He pocketed the vajra. Better a toy than bad deal.