Purrfect Romance

Lion looked down, playing with something in his hand.

With his superior vision as an awakened being, Ferran focused and realized it was a gun.

"..."

Oh no.

Ferran felt a chill run down his spine.

Who would have thought that sneaking a sniff could result in getting caught twice!

Lion lifted his head and glanced at the little kitten who was about to bid farewell to Ferran, flicking the safety catch of the gun lightly with his fingers.

Instantly, Ferran turned and ran, dashing all the way home and calling for his personal aircraft.

Leaving Marina City.

Leaving Cobalt Star!

Now, immediately, right away!

As long as there’s life, there’s hope!

Besides, the major contract between Lion and him was already signed, involving the entire pirate group, so there was no worry that Lion would renege.

Admitting defeat was not shameful; the most important thing was to avoid this wave of trouble!

The greater one's ambition, the more abundant the harvest.

If things failed this time, he could always try again!

Lion watched Ferran flee in panic, then after a while, he shifted his gaze to Fenix, who was trotting back with a small bag in his mouth.

Ferran should really thank Fenix.

Lion slowly put the gun back into its holster.

If it weren’t for Fenix, Ferran, who had the audacity to offend him once and come back for a second helping, would have been dealt with on the spot.

Lion felt that his temper had genuinely improved a lot.

But although his temper was better, the dog still needed a beating.

He looked at the small white bundle ambling around the courtyard with short legs, then headed downstairs and walked out through the side door.

Fenix, being a small cat, didn’t notice Lion standing high above, nor did he realize that Lion had left.

He jumped onto the sofa with the cookies given by Ferran, opened the box, and started munching on them while browsing movies on his terminal.

What a blissful life.

Chomping on cookies, Fenix sighed in his heart.

At this moment, the dorm chat group beeped incessantly.

Fenix tapped open the chat and saw a string of enthusiastic exclamation marks from Lancelot filling the screen.

Scrolling up while holding the cookie, Fenix found out that Lancelot had secured a management trainee position with Lion Corp.

Fenix, with the cookie in his mouth, typed, "Congratulations, Lancelot Bro!!!!!"

This wasn’t the time to ask Alfred, who had also applied to Lion Corp but hadn’t received a response yet.

Thinking for a moment, Fenix said, "Do you guys know that Lion will personally come to our school for recruitment tomorrow?"

Derek: "!! @Alfred"

Alfred: "Really? Tomorrow is Lion Corp's presentation, but the person in charge didn’t mention that Lion would come."

Fenix scratched his head: "It’s on his schedule."

Alfred: "Okay, thanks, Fenny!"

Taking the opportunity, Lancelot added, "How about we gather this weekend? To celebrate my securing the Lion Corp trainee position, I’ll treat you guys to a feast at Fresh Flavor Grand!"

Fresh Flavor Grand was a proper restaurant just outside the back gate of Marina City University.

Although its prices were lower compared to other restaurants, it was considered luxurious among the stalls and fast-food joints surrounding the university.

Usually, the cost for the four of them to eat at a street stall was 200 credits in total, whereas a meal at Fresh Flavor Grand would cost 200 credits per person.

It was a real splurge.

Lancelot: "@Fenix, Fenny, you’re coming too!"

Of course!

Fenix thought.

Who wouldn’t want to join Lancelot Bro for a feast!

It was rare to indulge and celebrate. After graduation, it would be uncertain when they could gather again.

Fenix swished his tail contentedly, about to type a response, but suddenly froze.

He looked down at his paws and then searched online about the situation of awakened beings during their awakening period.

Theoretically, after mastering the functions of the awakened form, one could switch between forms at will.

However, transforming back to human form during the awakening phase would cause awakening spasms.

— It’s because your awakened form is still growing, but the human body restricts it.

Fenix had experienced these spasms before awakening, which were bearable, but the issue was he didn’t know how to define mastering the functions of the awakened form.

Awakening schools probably taught this, but Fenix hadn’t attended one.

He sighed and, with his fluffy paws, typed, "I’m not sure if I’ll have time off."

Just as he sent the message, a loud noise echoed.

It sounded like something heavy falling, accompanied by a muffled explosion.

Fenix jumped, leaping off the sofa, and ran to the courtyard, where he saw a lion walking in through the side gate of the manor.

As Fenix rushed out, the lion noticed the kitten in the garden and turned towards him.

Fenix stared blankly at the giant lion, realizing it was Lion’s awakened form.

He had seen Lion’s awakened form before.

The lions shared by Athena users on forums often appeared agitated, swishing their tails restlessly and scratching the ground, resembling caged beasts about to go mad.

But this lion looked relaxed and content, like it had just finished a hearty meal after a successful hunt.

Without a trace of agitation, it could fall asleep peacefully if it yawned.

Fenix gazed enviously at the lion’s muscular body, its huge paws, and powerful frame.

If one could be a lion, who would want to be a small kitten!

Damn it!

So jealous!

Fenix felt as if a lemon tree had sprouted in his mouth, sour and bitter.

Lion approached Fenix, and his heightened sense of smell in his awakened state made the annoying dog scent on Fenix crystal clear.

Lion’s eyes darkened, and he raised a paw, pressing down on the kitten, which was barely larger than his paw.

Fenix kicked his four legs in fear, staring wide-eyed at Lion, noticing that Lion was not in a good mood.

Fenix was stunned.

Fenix was shocked!

???

What happened?

You seemed fine just a moment ago!

"Miao!"

Fenix flailed his paws, trying to escape from under the lion’s paw.

But compared to a lion, a kitten’s strength was negligible.

He scratched the ground for a while, digging a layer of soil, yet couldn’t budge Lion’s paw at all.

He turned his head and saw Lion’s face close by, seemingly about to open its mouth.

Fenix panicked, "Miao! Miao wu!!"

Damn!

Stay away, cats aren’t tasty!

Fenix is so small, he won’t even fill your teeth gaps!

Please, spare this poor kitten!

Fenix was scared stiff.

He struggled even harder and then felt the weight on his back lighten, followed by a roll caused by Lion’s tongue.

Fenix froze, looking up at Lion.

He remembered reading in a post by an awakened kitten user that one social behavior of cats was that the higher-ranking ones groom the lower-ranking ones.

…Wonder if lions do the same?

Fenix hesitated for a moment before being licked flat by Lion.

Damn it.

No way.

This lick feels like it could knock me out!

Lion, with its rough tongue, licked the kitten from head to tail, held between his paws.

Fenix couldn’t stand steadily, looking around anxiously. After another lick that knocked him over, he finally stumbled onto Lion’s paw and, with his tiny paws, pressed on Lion’s nose.

"Miao! Miao miao! Miao miao miao!"

Stop! Enough! Cut it out!

Lion paused, letting out a low growl from his throat.

Fenix was silent for two seconds.

Uh-oh.

Overestimated myself.

We don’t understand each other!

And I didn’t bring my terminal when I came out…

Fenix turned to go back for his terminal but was pinned down by Lion’s paw again.

Then, he was licked for a full five minutes.

Fenix felt as if he had lost layers of fur.

He hadn’t finished molting yet, and Lion didn’t seem to mind getting hairballs.

Fenix grumbled silently.

Finally, when the scent of the stupid dog was gone, Lion stopped.

Taking advantage of not needing to maintain decorum in his awakened state, he buried his nose in Fenix for a deep inhale.

Then, with satisfaction, he picked up the stunned kitten and headed indoors.

Lion went to his room to change clothes, while Fenix, placed on the sofa, questioned his feline existence.

Is this what normal kittens go through every day?

It’s so tough!

Fenix was deeply shaken.

He staggered to his feet, hooking his paw around the terminal nearby, and entered the bathroom.

Anyway, first things first, take a bath!

Fenix, despite his dislike for water, submerged himself in the sink, wetting his fur thoroughly, and then quickly jumped out, instructing the robot butler to dry him.

Lion, after changing clothes, came out of the room in a considerably good mood.

But upon seeing the teething biscuits on the table, his expression softened slightly, and he mercilessly threw the box into the trash bin.

Fenix couldn’t care less about the pitiful cat biscuits anymore.

After being dried by the robot butler, he cautiously glanced at Lion.

The boss didn’t seem to think anything was amiss with what he just did.

It seemed grooming was common among awakened beings.

Fenix’s worldview was shaken.

Lion, disapproving of the fingers that touched the biscuits, turned to Fenix and said, "Don’t hang out with Ferran."

Fenix, with his dried fur, twitched, hearing Lion’s words, paused, and slowly typed a question mark.

"He’s too stupid," Lion said, "and weak."

Fenix: …

He’s a gentle golden retriever, naturally not the fighting type.

Wait.

Did Lion find trouble with Ferran?

Fenix remained calm, pulling up the typing interface on his terminal, asking, "Boss, I heard a big noise just now."

Lion said, "It was just a spar with Ferran."

Fenix: …???

A spar?

With that kind of noise, I suspect you both engaged in combat!

Is Ferran still alive?

Lion looked at Fenix, "What’s wrong?"

Fenix paused.

He realized Lion didn’t seem to like Ferran.

Although Ferran didn’t look like it, he appeared to be a serious corporate tycoon, but he was actually a pervert who would sneak a sniff of a kitten’s belly!

Yet, they seemed fine during business dealings.

Fenix was puzzled.

But it made sense considering Lion’s unpredictable nature.

After all, someone who was often in a frenzied state would have different logic from normal people.

Oh.

Not that Lion is crazy.

…………

……

Just saying, Lion might be a bit off.

Fenix abandoned trying to understand Lion’s thoughts, wisely switching topics away from Ferran, and asked, "Boss, I wonder what it means to fully master the functions of the awakened form?"

Lion turned to look at him, "Do you want to transform back to human form?"

Fenix nodded, typing, "I want to see my roommates and pack my luggage since I left in a hurry."

"You need systematic training—agility, hunting, endurance, swimming, stealth…many things you can’t do here," Lion said, "I have facilities at the awakened hotel in BluBay."

Hearing this, Fenix looked at Lion with eager eyes, his face filled with longing.

Lion stroked his chin, "I promised to take you there before."

Fenix was moved to tears.

Wah!

My boss is a true saint!

"Let’s leave tomorrow afternoon," Lion checked his schedule, "At home, we can start preliminary adaptation training for hunting and agility."

Fenix nodded gratefully, then watched Lion take out a…feather wand from the box of cat toys.

Lion waved the feather wand, causing the tied feathers to flutter.

Lion, with utmost seriousness, said, "Come on."

Fenix: ?

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