Purrfect Romance

In one's lifetime, there are always a few moments that make you desperately wish for a time machine when you recall them.

For example, Raven.

Like right now.

Raven looked down at his foot stuck in the door, took a deep breath, and tried to pull it out once more.

But his foot remained firmly lodged, not budging an inch.

"..."

Damn it.

Raven felt suffocated.

What kind of experience was it to be caught in such an embarrassing situation by a longtime rival?

It was average.

Basically, the kind of experience where you feel like killing someone.

Lion, relaxed and composed, had heard a loud meow through the door moments ago, sounding strong and healthy. So he stepped back and simply watched the scene unfold.

"What are you looking at?"

I'll dismantle your base when I get back!

Raven was furious.

In such a temporary base, maintenance was infrequent. Typically, only the local members would clean and maintain it before arriving. Even if it was a temporary base, the real entrance behind layers of disguise was usually bulletproof steel. Although it might look like an ordinary wooden door on the surface, underneath it was layers of bulletproof steel.

However, it seemed someone had tampered with the door, and the steel might have been of poor quality. Raven's kick hit the sweet spot, and now his foot was stuck between the steel plates, unable to move.

It wasn't unheard of.

Social news often reported cases where children got their heads stuck in iron railings and couldn't get out.

Lion mocked him mercilessly, "Seems like you're paying your maintenance staff too low a wage."

Otherwise, they wouldn't steal the steel.

Bulletproof steel was expensive on the black market.

Lion watched the rabbit's performance for a while, then finally lost patience. He shot the lock off the door, holstered his gun, and pushed the door open without caring that Raven's foot was still stuck.

???

Shit!

Raven, dragged along by the door, turned to glare at Lion with a murderous expression.

Fenix lay on the soft cushion, watching the door open. At the moment it did, he leaped off the cushion, dashing out like a bolt of white lightning before the two men could react.

Lion, who had just stepped in, saw Fenix charging towards him and raised an eyebrow.

Fenix was stunned for a moment, then cried out as if seeing a long-lost family member, "Meowao!" He leaped onto Lion with all his might.

Ahhhh!!!

Boss!!!

QAQ

Lion caught the kitten like a small cannonball, holding him close.

Fenix clung to Lion's clothes, sniffing and meowing pitifully.

"Meow! Meowao! Miow!"

Though they didn't understand each other, Lion could hear the kitten's distress in his cries.

He carefully examined Fenix, finding nothing wrong except some dirt on his fur.

Lion wasn't surprised.

Fenix was on the whitelist of those robots, and the current spaceships were explosion-proof with new energy engines. Additionally, Raven's subordinates were experts at fleeing, ensuring Fenix's chances of injury were virtually zero.

But despite the confidence, appearances must be maintained.

How else would he squeeze money out of Raven?

Lion pinched Fenix's paws, "Are you hurt?"

"Meow!"

Not really.

Fenix looked up at Lion, puffing out his chest proudly.

Fenix was lucky.

Every time, he managed to dodge potential injuries perfectly!

Darting through gunfire, as if no one was there!

Who else could be so cool?

There's no other explanation; he's just awesome!

As expected of me.

Lion: "..."

You don't have to be so honest; it makes it harder to extort the rabbit.

Lion looked down at Fenix, sighing inwardly.

Well, as long as the cat is safe.

Just as he was about to leave with Fenix, he noticed Fenix's eyes light up, and then the kitten lay down in his palm, meowing softly.

Lion didn't expect Fenix to suddenly join the act.

He paused, frowning, "Where are you hurt?"

Fenix's face was full of weakness, and he raised his paw to touch his heart.

Heartache!

Scared out of my wits!

Even lost a few strands of fur!

The victim suffered a tremendous blow; the perpetrator must be brought to justice! They must pay compensation! They must be severely punished!

"Meowao!"

Compensation!

That's the key point!

Lion and Fenix were on the same wavelength, turning to look at Raven.

Fenix followed Lion's gaze and realized there was someone else present.

Seeing Raven, Fenix froze for a moment, then bristled and bared his teeth.

Fenix flipped over, climbing up Lion's hand, complaining, "Meow! Meowao! Meow!"

It's him!

It's Raven!

The mastermind behind my kidnapping!

Why are you with him, Boss?

Did you fall for his trick?

Don't be fooled by his innocent appearance, even though his awakened form is a weak bunny; he's actually a space pirate!

"Meowao!"

Do you know what nickname the Athenas gave him?

Brother!

Kangaroo!

Fighting King!

And Steel Garurabbit!

Lion didn't understand such complex cat language.

He gently pressed Fenix back down, making him continue acting "weak."

Fenix suddenly remembered he was still performing.

The kitten collapsed bonelessly, falling at a push, his face showing weakness, hanging from Lion's hand, paws wrapped around his wrist, mewing pitifully.

This is a setup.

Raven, witnessing everything, sincerely felt the kitten's acting skills were lacking.

Fenix and Lion didn't care about acting skills; as long as the message was clear.

After all, Raven needed something from Lion.

Lion gave Raven a "figure it out yourself" look, then calmly left with Fenix in tow.

Raven clicked his tongue, looking at his foot still stuck in the door, then at his subordinates.

Realizing they had made a mistake, they shrank back, standing quietly like chickens.

"Damn it." He cursed, "What are you waiting for? Come help!"

The subordinates approached timidly, only to be smacked twice on the head.

"Cause trouble! Cause trouble! Always causing trouble!"

One of the subordinates rubbed his head, "It's just a cat."

"It's an Awakener," Raven rolled his eyes, then changed the subject, "Kill the guy responsible for maintenance here."

"Yes, boss." The subordinate freed Raven's foot, hesitating for a moment before asking, "Boss, should we raise a cat at headquarters?"

Their base was filled with rabbits.

Raven paused, then smiled brightly and innocently, "Do you have a problem with rabbits?"

Easy to raise, easy to pet, and if they get fat, you can eat them. Their fur can be sold for clothing.

They're a treasure trove!

Can a cat do that?

Can a cat measure up?

Raven thought of the kitten that charged into Lion's arms like a cannonball and clicked his tongue.

No cat could match Lion's cat.

Unless they stole Lion's cat, raising a cat in the base was out of the question.

"Contact Ferran," Raven finally stood on both feet, "Tell him to send someone to fix the spaceship."

The subordinates looked downcast, watching Raven leave, a bit stunned.

"Boss, where are you going?"

"To stay at Lion's place," Raven smiled elegantly, "Because you two are so incompetent, I have to go and get set up."

The subordinates shrank back, not daring to speak. One went to deal with the maintenance person, the other contacted Ferran, fleeing as fast as possible.

...

Lion took Fenix to the car. On the way back, Fenix sat on Lion's lap, passionately complaining.

"Meow! Meowao!"

Boss, did you know?

One of the reasons Athena rejected Raven is that he spends 366 days a year out of 365 days obsessed with adult content!

"Meow! Meowao!"

Boss, did you know?

Another reason Athena rejected Raven is that his Awakened form is like a mini kangaroo!

"Miow!"

Boss, did you know?

Another reason Athena rejected Raven is that he looks too innocent, like a little brother!

Fenix ranted on about "Reasons Why Raven Can't Find a Wife," which to Lion sounded like soft, sweet meows.

Lion handed Fenix his terminal.

The meowing stopped abruptly.

Fenix held the terminal, momentarily speechless.

He couldn't actually type what he just said to Lion.

Sigh.

Not being able to share these secrets is Fenix's greatest regret.

Fenix thought for a moment and typed: 「Boss, did you call the police?」

"Call the police?" Lion was taken aback; that option had never crossed his mind.

Fenix also doubted Lion would call the police.

A former pirate king wouldn't resort to calling the police.

But Boss, you're not a pirate anymore.

We're law-abiding citizens now!

In situations like this, we should call the police!

Law-abiding citizen Fenix typed earnestly: 「Call the police, trespassing, attempted kidnapping...」

Fenix paused mid-sentence: 「Boss, what's your relationship with the person who came with you?」

Lion blinked, "Business cooperation."

Business cooperation.

It was normal for a reformed pirate king to have dealings with a current pirate king.

But Fenix could pretend he didn't know!

Fenix: 「Was he here to help with the rescue too?」

Lion thought for a moment and nodded.

It could be put that way.

Damn it!

No way!

Raven's subordinates kidnapped Fenix!

Fenix was angry.

Damn Raven, tricking my boss!

Disgraceful!

Lion glanced down at Fenix, who started biting his tail fiercely, and said, "But you're right."

Lion narrowed his eyes, stroking the kitten's chin, watching the kitten visibly melt into a puddle of milk, then pinching his paw.

"I'll call the police."

Lion instructed the bodyguard in the front seat.

The bodyguard froze.

???

???

Are you serious?

The bodyguard was full of questions.

When have we ever called the police?

We've always clashed with the police!

We're still on their blacklist!

Boss!

Come to your senses!

If word gets out, what will happen to Lionheart?

"Boss..."

Listening to a cat's advice isn't wise!

Lion lifted an eyelid, "Hmm?"

Seeing his boss unperturbed, the bodyguard sighed deeply before reluctantly saying, "...Okay."

Fenix didn't understand the bodyguard's inner turmoil.

He purred contentedly, tail twitching.

Then he typed: 「Wait, forget calling, report it. I heard there's a reward of up to 1.8 million for reporting!」

Lion nodded, "Alright."

He looked at the bodyguard again.

After much hesitation, the bodyguard tearfully called the police.

...

Raven didn't have the honor of being let in through the front door this time.

But it didn't matter; he was skilled at climbing walls.

Raven climbed over the wall, avoiding the robots' patrols, checked the time, and found he could still catch dinner at Lion's place.

Brilliant!

Raven walked happily toward the residential area of the hotel, glancing at his terminal, which kept beeping. His subordinates had reported the temporary base being raided.

The subordinate suspected the maintenance person who hadn't been caught had betrayed them, reporting them to the police.

Just a temporary base.

Raven casually marked the message as read. Stepping into the residential area, he saw Lion's usual bodyguard sitting gloomily at the entrance, smoking.

The makeshift ashtray was a large, bright red banner.

Raven was taken aback and looked closely.

The banner read:

Presented to Mr. Lion of Lion Corp. Clean Energy Group:

Upright and Moral

Heroic and Conscientious

From Marina City BluBay Police Department

The bodyguard took a deep drag on his cigarette, looking ten years older.