“I did not know that cats received a speech update,” said Oriole while blinking at the cat, who declared him its target. “What can I do for you, kitten?”
“Hehe, calling me kitten like this,” purred the cat coyly. “They should have warned me the target would be a sweet talker,” the cat whipped its tail back and forth as its paws took measured steps toward Oriole.
“Did someone send you here?” asked Oriole with confusion. “I don’t have any enemies except for the broken hearts I have left behind.”
“As much as I understand their heartbreak, I am sadly here for a different reason. I know about Arthur’s disguise, and I’m here to make a deal with his dearest companion.”
“…how do you know him?” his peaceful face crumbled at the revelation, and Oriole’s hand reached out toward his knuckledusters. “I cannot feel any hostility from you, but knowing that secret is…”
“Arthur is a member of Mistletoe, and to be specific, he is called Demon, although his mask is of a goblin. You should have made the association when we appeared in the Runic Apprentices Cup.”
Oriole remembers that incident, but Arthur never explained what happened then. Even Oriole did not know whether Arthur died or not, and when he linked the dots, he realized the cat’s identity.
“You are the fake Arthur,” said Oriole while squinting his eyes. “I knew Arthur can never be that dramatic.”
“You flatter me,” said the cat as it stood on its hind legs and reached toward a fanny bag. Its paws clawed a lollipop which it licked while leaning on Oriole’s boots. “It was my greatest show. I hope Arthur fakes another death.”
“Did Arthur send you?”
“Not quite right,” said the cat while waving its lollipop. “I heard that our boss and Arthur had a falling a couple of times recently. I don’t know the details, but I was told to cease contact with Arthur.”
“…telling me this does not serve your case.”
“You don’t understand,” said the cat with a sigh. “I love junior just as much as I love Mistletoe. However, it is sad that we are growing apart. This is the reason that I came here to meet you.”
“…it does make sense to tell me about this, then,” muttered Oriole. “Are you here to fix their relationship?”
“You are quite smart, Oriole!” said the cat with surprise as it licked the lollipop. “I don’t want my family to break apart. You know that feeling, right?”
“…you have done your investigations well,” said Oriole with a sigh. “I don’t know if Arthur wants this relationship fixed or not, though.”
“My junior is a frozen popsicle, so you have to taste it to know how sweet it is,” said the cat with a shrug after throwing the most suspicious statement known to humankind. “I know that both boss and junior would never compromise and work things out, so I have to fix things as their friend!”
“You are an intrusive friend, kitten,” said Oriole with a smile. “But maybe those who poke their noses into other people’s businesses keep the world moving.”
“I regret not meeting you earlier, Oriole. Although I doubt that I even had the chance since you rarely left the workshop,” said the cat with regret.
Despite its suspicious appearance in an underground cave, Oriole somehow trusted the cat. It did not seem hostile, nor did it try to deceive him into following it. However, it was still unknown whether helping the cat would backfire and harm his relationship with Arthur.
“What is the deal that you want to give me?”
“You are here to disable the space arrays, right?” asked the cat with a smile. “It is admirable how you were able to aid Arthur even though the two of you did not talk yet. I heard his conversation with the Runic Captain. Arthur said that his family was in danger.”
The revelation made Oriole’s blood freeze, as he knew that Arthur’s family was his reverse scale. As much as he feared for his friend, Oriole worried about the world that would have to face the creator’s wrath.
The scene of Arthur bringing down destruction onto everything that exists is still vivid in his mind. But, as much as he understood that Arthur did that for the sake of humankind, he also realized the amount of power a single man holds.
If there were a moment when the creator lost control, then everyone in this world would suffer. Oriole understood once again why Arthur had to sacrifice his emotions for power. However, some things still affected Arthur.
“Whoever threatened them will bleed,” muttered Oriole with worry. “It seems I have more reasons to disable those arrays,” he said while trying to rise, and the pain shot through his body.
“Woah, dude! Your organs are about to fall out!” said the cat as it staggered back. “Just lie down and hear my offer. I will disable the arrays for you!”
“…what is the catch, kitten?” asked Oriole as the pain stopped him from moving another inch. His regenerating body was still recovering, and he was tempted to hear the deal.
“Let me kidnap you,” said the cat while showing its canines. “I was tasked to find and kidnap the friend that Arthur cares about the most. Boss wants to guarantee his safety by taking a hostage. It is a low move, but a wise man lives the longest.”
“You a horrible subordinate for revealing this to your target.”
“I just know that you care about Arthur more than anyone else,” said the cat. “I want to mend their relationship, not make it worse. So, I want you to become a hostage and help me find ways to make the two friends again. In return, I will disable the space arrays.”
“…you are asking me to let an unknown man hold me hostage in return for letting Arthur meet his family?”
“I am not proud of this method. I just want someone Arthur trusts to be the safety net of their relationship. I will find a way to prove to the boss that Arthur is not an enemy, but I need you to stop Arthur from fighting the boss over this.”
“How about not kidnapping me?”
“Haha, the boss will kill me. I am risking my neck by proposing this deal because the boss will read my mind later on.”
‘Read his mind?’ Oriole raised his brows in surprise at that minor detail. An ability such as this was quite rare, and Arthur has mentioned it once before. That person was the king of the Yalveran Union.
If this cat’s boss had such an ability, it might have been the king or someone related to them. This revelation convinced Oriole of how dangerous this group might be.
“I understand,” nodded Oriole. “Disable the arrays, and I will follow you wherever you want.”
“I also want you to leave a message for Arthur and tell him that you left on your terms,” said the cat. “This way, Arthur will never seek boss. If Arthur truly wanted to harm the boss, he would use you as a hostage.”
“I understand,” said Oriole with a nod. “Please, let Arthur leave this city in time to save his family.”
The cat looked at him before taking a scroll from its pouch. Oriole recognized it as soon as he saw it, and he knew that this might be a deal that would harm his friendship with Arthur.
“This is a spiritual contract. We will agree on the terms, and whoever betrays them will face a backlash. In this way, none of us will go back on our words.”
“…you are taking this quite seriously for a furry being. What are the terms?”
“I will disable the arrays and guarantee your safety and dignity until Arthur attacks the boss. In return, you will follow me and make sure that Arthur does not know your whereabouts or situation and make him believe you are unharmed.”
“And what if Arthur truly tries to kill your boss?”
“Then the contract will be resolved, and the stronger one will win.”
“You are one odd cat,” sighed Oriole. “I am not sure.”
Oriole wanted Arthur to save his family. If anything happens to them, then Arthur would break beyond repair. However, for Oriole to willingly become a hostage of an enemy will also harm Arthur just the same.
However, it was not like Oriole was capable of running away at the moment. So, it was inevitable that he would become a hostage in these circumstances. The only difference is Arthur thinks that Oriole left on his own.
“What a maddening twist of fate we have stumbled across,” said Oriole with a bitter laugh. “I was so excited to create Ascent with him. Yet, what value does my desire have in this situation?” said Oriole while reaching out his hand. “I will sign the contract.”
“I want junior to be alright too, but everything changed when that person visited our boss,” said the cat with a sigh. “Let us forge this contract, runemaster. I sure hope that none of us have to break it.”
