Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The entire shopping mall was closed with the exception of the cat café. Every shop entrance was covered with support frames and white cloth and the sound of drilling and hammering was heard occasionally.
Fish Ball was astonished to see more than a hundred supercats gathering in front of cat café. He noticed that they were familiar faces belonging to bosses of Cat Street and small regional cat kings.
Fish Ball walked beside a white cat and asked, “Brother, what is happening? Why are there so many cats here?”
The white cat glanced at him and replied casually, “Don’t you know? Sister Dust Ball arranged for a meeting with the street bosses to discuss the selling of catmint in Jianghai.”
“Ah?” Fish Ball was shocked because he didn’t expect Dust Ball to arrange for such a large scale meeting. Wasn’t she concerned she might be discovered?
The police siren sounded and the supercats became nervous. Some cats roared loudly and some cats brandished their claws while the fur of some cats stood on ends as they gazed in the direction of the siren.
These catmint sellers were Cat Street shopkeepers or small regional cat kings who were very good tax evaders and thus were extremely wary of the police.
Seeing the arrival of the police car, a fuming cat shouted, “D*mn, are you fooling us Dust Ball? Are you calling the cops to betray us?”
“She is double-crossing us! We are not afraid. Let’s fight it out with her.”
“Let us unite. Even humans have to think thrice before acting against us. It is time to show them who are the masters of Jianghai!”
“Are you stupid? Everyone was stunned by this question for a while and then pretended not to hear as they fixed their gazes on the cops.
While the supercats were fuming, Red Packet rushed out of the cat café and meowed, “Greetings bosses and leaders, please hold your horses. These cops were called by Sister Dust Ball to maintain order here. Don’t worry. It is alright.”
The crowd was pacified by Red Packet, however, they still eyed the cops suspiciously.
“Calling the cops to maintain order?”
“Is Sister Dust Ball such a big shot now?”
“Humph, all of Jianghai is prohibited from selling catmint with the except of Dust Ball catmint. Perhaps she was adopted by the lousy government officials and is now being cuddled shamelessly.”
While the crowd was gossiping, the cops lined the side and faced them. A cop nodded and announced, “Greetings everyone, we are here to maintain law and order. Don’t be bothered by us.”
The supercats sized up the cop that made the announcement. They were piqued by the sudden rise in power and influence of Dust Ball.
Red Packet ushered the cats to the basement parking lot, which was cordoned off for this event. When they reached the deepest end of the parking lot, they saw Dust Ball in a western suit and dark shades, standing on top of a box, surrounded by supercats from the catmint section.
Red Packet ran up to her and said, “Sister Dust Ball, all the cats are here.”
Dust Ball nodded, observed the arriving cats and said, “Greetings everyone, I’m sorry that it was hard for you to have come from afar.”
“It is not hard for us, Sister Dust Ball,” An orange cat said with sarcasm. “A cat suddenly gained favor and caused Jianghai to turn upside down. The rules for the past two years were overridden. How can we not turn up for this event, Sister Dust Ball?”
Seeing other supercats cheering the orange cat, Red Packet sneered, “Foul-mouthed orange cat, what do you mean?”
“Everyone understands what I meant.” The orange cat sniggered and said, “The government is jealous of our catmint market and is depriving us of our profits. It is catmint prohibition today and perhaps cat food prohibition tomorrow.”
Dust Ball waved her hand and stopped other supercats from answering him. She said grimly, “Foul-mouthed orange cat, speak directly to me instead of resorting to sarcasm. Yes, I am the sole supplier of catmint in all of Jianghai, however, if you think that I am doing it for money, then you are very wrong.”
Dust Ball stepped out and fell down from the box.
“D*mn, I can’t see anything with these shades.”
Dust Ball removed the dark shades and revealed her yellow pupils. “All the respected cats here are my seniors so I am not in the position to speak as a leader.
Just think for a moment. Before the catmint prohibition, who was supplying the most catmint in Jianghai? Was it me, Dust Ball? It is the humans who supplied the most catmint and earned the most money.
With the catmint prohibition, we are now masters of our own fate. Do you wish to return to the old system? I can vouch to the Heavens that the monopoly I have is not for myself. It is for all the cats to have catmint and share its profit in the future.
The alley cats do not have to beg for food on the streets and the brothers under the cat kings do not have to fight each other to death over a few dollars.
Seeing the dazed crowd, Dust Ball continued, “From today onwards, the entire Jianghai will only consume my Dust Ball Catmint. The purchase cost will be two thirds of the original price. The cut in price is considered my gift to all my seniors.”
Dust Ball signaled behind her back and said, “Open the boxes… examine the goods!”
More than a hundred boxes were opened and the contents emptied.
The catmint were exposed to the crowd and the air was filled with a strong stimulating fragrance.
Looking at the huge amount of catmint, everyone was filled with greed.
Dust Ball waved her hand and Red Packet, Cannon, and the rest of the catmint section bared their teeth and claws.
Dust Ball said, “If you agree to share the profits, you may take stocks and leave. Go back home happily and enjoy canned food with your siblings. If you do not agree, I will be here to thrash out the issues.”
The cats turned silent as Dust Ball raised up her paw and asked, “Who agrees? Who disagrees?”
A black cat raised up his paw and said, “Sister Dust Ball, I, Blackie, do not submit to anyone except you. Whoever hinders us from earning profits, we the Black Leopards will retaliate.”
Another white cat stood up and said, “We are all selling catmint for a livelihood. Now we are able to earn our living peacefully. Who needs violence? Doesn’t everyone agree?”
The cats meowed in unison. “Yes, yes.”
“The younger generation is doing better than us seniors.”
“Sister Dust Ball, we shall follow your lead from now on.”
Dust Ball gazed at the cats with satisfaction. She looked at the foul-mouthed orange cat and asked, “What do you say now?”
The orange cat shrugged his shoulders, tilted his head and said, “Since everyone is agreeing, I have no objections, Sister Dust Ball.”
Dust Ball heaved in relief at the mass participation. She whispered privately to Zhao Yao, “Zhao Yao, Zhao Yao, what do I do next?”
“Don’t be flustered, let me check.” Zhao Yao was watching the Young And Dangerous video on his cell phone when he said, “Distribute the goods on a cash on delivery basis.”
Seeing the cats queue up to obtain the goods, Zhao Yao nodded in satisfaction and thought, “The supercats are pacified so the remaining normal shops have to conform to the catmint prohibition. This will require Uncle Ho’s help to gradually implement.”
Moments later, Zhao Yao received a message from the King of Death.
“Are the time and location confirmed?”
