Chapter 405

As Mei led Shen Gonglin towards the Elysian Realm, Mei suddenly thought of this question: This guy beside her is now the leader of Schicksal. He shouldn't be as unreliable as before, right?

"Of course, I'm currently busy thinking about plans to change the Valkyrie uniform. Now that we've changed bishops, we need a fresh start. This has been bothering me for a long time. Mei, come be my model when you have time. I need to design some new outfits... Also, when are you finally coming back to help? It didn't matter if you left for a while on the Hyperion, but now we're in charge of the entire Schicksal. Everyone, even a scrap of paper or a piece of broken glass, has a use. When are you coming back?"

Chapter Twelve Cats

At this point, Mei Shen Gonglin out her grievances to Mei. However, the truth was that she, as the Bishop of Schicksal, was more like a symbolic mascot, pushing all the work onto her subordinates. Whether it was Theresa, Durandal, or Rita, they were all very capable people, not to mention that there was also Amber, the secretary-general, assisting her. So Shen Gonglin was actually not much different from before, but she certainly couldn't say that in front of Mei.

You have to pretend you're very busy, otherwise she'll think you're a useless little thing.

A wad of scrap paper? A piece of broken glass? Mei's lips twitched slightly. Shen Gonglin's analogy was as speechless as ever. Was this how he saw her? But when it came to going back to help...

"Okay, I understand. I'll go back as soon as possible... After I finish what I need to do, I'll... go back."

Mei wants to go back too. She wants to be with Shen Gonglin all the time, so she's really considering it. But going back is a difficult decision for Mei. She beat Kiana up without any mercy when she left. Although she helped Kiana a little in the Domination Theater and when Kiana challenged Otto, it still feels a bit awkward to go back now. She needs to find a good opportunity to go back.

Shaking her head, Mei decided to put aside the matter for now and led Shen Gonglin into the Elysian Realm. However, everything around her surprised Mei, who stared wide-eyed. How could this place have become like this? The scene that had been so comforting had changed drastically. Dark purple things filled her eyes, and it felt as if she had been eroded by something. What was going on?

"Mei, this is... um? Elysia, you're here too?"

Shen Gonglin felt uneasy here as well, and he put on a guarded look. However, the pink figure running over from a distance made him relax a little. Elysia was here too, so she might know what had happened here.

"It's Elysia! Seriously, don't call me that in an unfriendly way... I've finally found you... I know what you want to ask me, but I don't know either. Elysian Realm has suddenly become chaotic, and even our shared feelings can't let us know each other's location. I didn't even sense you two coming over just now. In the end, it was thanks to this little thing that I was able to find you."

Speaking in her usual style, Elysia first corrected Shen Gonglin's mistake in addressing her with obvious displeasure, then explained the current situation. Finally, the girl fiddled with the small device in her hand and showed it off to the two of them, saying that she was so grateful for this thing, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to find them.

"Look, this is it... Hmm, what's it called again? The Eye of the Awakener? Or the anti-Kevin armament Model 24? Anyway, it's a device used to search for and locate Herrscher. I traded a Crystal Flower for it!"

Showing off their prized possessions like treasures, Shen Gonglin and Mei were once again speechless. Remember how they traded three Crystal Flower for that megaphone? And this seemingly important item wasn't even worth as much as that megaphone? And anti-Kevin armament, the twenty-fourth model? Let's double-check, Kevin really is the leader of the Flame-Chasers, right? Why are they focusing on him instead of dealing with the Honkai? This is already the twenty-fourth model; he's really pathetic.

"Elysia always brings good news, and I'm sure you two have already sensed it, right? Besides the amazing news that I've found you again, I have another piece of good news for you. Guess who I traded with?"

The chaotic surroundings didn't affect Elysia's mood. The girl was as narcissistic as ever, winking at Shen Gonglin. Elysia kept everyone in suspense, while Mei gave the answer directly. It was simple, wasn't it? In the Elysian Realm, besides the owner of that "convenience store," who else could she possibly trade such strange things with?

"Pardofelis... she's back?"

"That's right! Mei, you're so smart. But sometimes girls are more likable when they pretend to be a little silly. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so don't miss it. I've already opened the way to the store for you, so hurry up, or... she might have to go out again."

Pointing in the direction she had come from, Elysia said with a smile, "There are lots of fun things over there with Pardofelis, and she herself is a very fun person. I'm sure Shen Gonglin and she will get along very well."

"Alright, I'll go back and wait for you two now. Honestly, how did Elysian Realm become like this? I'm going to find Klein and give her a good scolding. As the Elysian Realm administrator of Paradise, this is where she should be responsible."

After saying all this, Elysia waved to the two of them and disappeared again. Thinking about what she had just said, Shen Gonglin couldn't help but feel sorry for the little girl. She was the only one working hard, but she was being complained about by the most unruly person. It was truly heartbreaking to hear.

Shen Gonglin had no idea that he... and Elysia were actually in similar positions.

"Alright, let's go and see that Pardofelis. Maybe we can get information about Raven over there."

Taking a deep breath, Mei led Shen Gonglin through the door, and the space became bright again. It seemed that everything was normal here, unlike the uncomfortable feeling from before. Not far away, Mei saw Pardofelis's little cart shop. However, there had never been anyone here before, but now, a girl was lying on the counter of that little cart. Was she Pardofelis?

"Shen Gonglin, let's go over there... huh?"

Before Mei could finish speaking, Mei Shen Gonglin beside her suddenly dashed off. Seeing Shen Gonglin's figure disappear into the distance, Mei thought he had discovered something amiss. But then he charged toward the girl who was leaning on the counter, and after a chaotic commotion, Shen Gonglin carried the girl and crashed into the small shop. What was going on?

However, the excited Shen Gonglin had no time to explain. He was panting heavily with excitement. Catgirl, this is a real catgirl!

Chapter Thirteen: The Real Catgirl

Hiss, hiss... Shen Gonglin excited! This was a real catgirl! This wasn't one of those fake catgirls wearing a cat hood and having a tail stuck somewhere. This was real! Those fluffy ears and that fluffy, moving tail Shen Gonglin had finally found the real deal after all this time!

Pounce on the Shen Gonglin and rub her cheeks against her. Silver coins jingled and scattered all around. Shen Gonglin grabbed the catgirl's ears and rubbed them hard. It felt so good. Only the real thing could give you this feeling.

Shen Gonglin actually likes cats quite a bit, and of course, her favorite things are touching cat ears and pulling cat tails. She had been wearing Kiana's cat-themed hoodie before, not because she liked wearing women's clothing, but because she genuinely liked the outfit. Now that a real catgirl was right in front of her, how could Shen Gonglin not be excited?

"Ugh, who are you... No, don't touch me... Don't touch my tail! Is anyone there? Is anyone there? Can someone come and save me?"

In the midst of the chaos, the catgirl finally realized what was happening. She was counting her money when suddenly a pervert appeared and started bullying her. The catgirl tried to push away Shen Gonglin, but Shen Gonglin, who was engrossed in petting the cat, wasn't about to let her go. In the end, Mei came over, grabbed Shen Gonglin. This guy was too arrogant. He dared to hug her without knowing the situation. It made Mei want to put on some cat ears and see what was going on.

"I'm sorry, Pardofelis... I'll keep a close eye on him. I'm really sorry for the trouble I caused you earlier."

Pulling Shen Gonglin Jingu along, Mei apologized to the Flame-Chasers in front of her. Although she had never met him before, she was certain that he was the owner of this Elysian Realm Shop and one of the thirteen Flame-Chasers, Pardofelis ... No wonder Elysia said that Shen Gonglin would be very happy to see Pardofelis.

"It wasn't too bothersome, and having my ears touched was actually quite nice. I was just a little startled... Hmm, how did you know my name? Let me think... Red horn, you're the customer Sister Elysia mentioned, right? She greeted me. Welcome, welcome, don't be shy, just call me Pardofelis, or Pardofelis, whichever sounds best to you. Feel free to pick anything from the shelves, we guarantee authenticity, ten times the price back, no returns or exchanges."

After tidying up her hair, which had been messed up by Shen Gonglin, Pardofelis, who seemed to have a good personality and didn't seem to mind Shen Gonglin's earlier offense, sat up and gave the two of them a big smile. With such obvious features, she must be the person Elysia was talking about, and this boy must be the one from the legend.

Having learned their identities, Pardofelis happily began promoting the treasures on her shelf to Mei. However, Mei was no longer the obedient girl she used to be. Now, she could accurately find loopholes in the other person's words. The phrases "tenfold compensation for fakes" and "no returns or exchanges" shouldn't be put together, right?

He seems to be a shrewd businessman.

"Hmm, wait a minute, let me think... Oh right, you must be Raiden Mei, right? You must be her, right? And you, you're Shen Gonglin?"

With a rather unconventional way of thinking, the catgirl nimbly leaped to the two of them. She looked them over, wanting to make a final confirmation, and Mei nodded, acknowledging her and Shen Gonglin's identities, as there was no need to hide them.

"Wow! It's actually you! Sister Elysia has told me so many stories about you guys! A successor with horns on her head, who became everyone's favorite not long after arriving. Then, for the sake of peace in the Elysian Realm, she beat up Mobius... Mobius is Dr. Mobius, that's what I like to call her. You're amazing! When Mobius gets serious, even if there were a hundred, no, two hundred of me, I couldn't beat her! And Shen Gonglin, Sister Elysia told me to call him brother-in-law from now on... cough cough cough, no, no, Sister Elysia told me not to say this..."

Seemingly possessing a talkative nature, Pardofelis happily nestled beside Mei, her eyes shining as she watched the two of them. Mei, however, keenly noticed what Pardofelis had just said, "What brother-in-law? Why call Shen Gonglin brother-in-law?" Unfortunately, before Mei deeper, Pardofelis quickly changed the subject. With this kind of personality, one might say that everyone in the Elysian Realm has a very unique personality.

"So, Mei- nee, Shen Gonglin, what are you looking to buy today? Perfect timing, I just got a new batch of goods from Vill-V- nee's workshop. I guarantee in the name of the Elysian Realm that they're all really fun things."

Pardofelis was promoting her goods, but unfortunately Mei didn't have any shopping needs at the moment. Putting aside what she had been thinking about, Mei spoke directly.

"I want to ask about someone, Elysia said you can help me."

Raven has been missing for a while. After all, she's the only person I can get along with in World Serpent, and we've even fought side by side. So finding her is really important. If Gray Serpent is missing... Mei won't care whether he lives or dies.

"Oh, intelligence business? No problem! Tell me, whose gossip do you want to know?"

Pardofelis not only sells goods, but also deals in information. The girl picked up the silver coins that had been scattered on the ground one by one. How many did she count? She forgot. Oh well, no matter how many there were, they were all hers. As for Mei's problem, she could come to Pardofelis if she needed anything. This was a common understanding in the Elysian Realm.

"Raven".

"Uh... who?"

Mei uttered the name, but it sounded completely unfamiliar to Pardofelis. The girl tilted her head and looked at Mei with confusion. This was indeed the first time she had heard this name. Did such a person really exist?

"Hmm... She's about this tall, with short hair, wearing all black, and has red claws on her hands. Her legs look very long, but that's just because of her outfit. In reality, she's probably about my height. She has a great figure... also because she's wearing a combat bodysuit. In reality, she's probably about my height... maybe just a little bit bigger. That's about it."

Mei described Raven's features, glanced at Shen Gonglin, and then added more details: Raven's appearance was similar to hers because of her clothing and appearance. Shen Gonglin needed to know this.

Chapter Fourteen: Let's Make a Deal

"A better figure than Mei? Black clothes, red claws? Are there people like that in the Elysian Realm? But don't worry, Mei, it's okay, hehe... Mei, you may not know this, but my specialty is finding things. Whether it's a person or an object, whatever you want to find, as long as the reward is enough, I'll definitely get it for you!"

The cat-like girl scratched her head. She wasn't quite sure what Mei had described, but that didn't matter. Finding things was her specialty anyway. However, if Mei wanted her help, she would have to pay a little something in return, just a tiny bit.

"Hehe, it's very simple... Shen Gonglin and Mei, I want to be friends with you. It's a bit embarrassing to say, but Elysian Realm has been a bit chaotic lately, and it's dangerous to run around. And of all times, I lost my Canned Food. Without it, I can't survive on my own. Mei, since you're also looking for someone, how about... we walk together for a while, okay?"

Pardofelis clasped her hands together and pleaded with Mei and Shen Gonglin. She had no choice; she had to find the Canned Food, but what if she encountered danger alone? Mei someone who could easily defeat even Mobius; she wouldn't be afraid to follow her.

"Please. It's the same whether you look for one or two people, so why not travel together? I'll lead the way, and you'll keep me safe. That way, I'll avoid a near-death experience, and you'll save yourself a penny of unnecessary money. Why not?"

Pardofelis said very seriously, but Mei didn't quite understand. It wasn't that the request was difficult to fulfill; it would be best if Pardofelis could come along to search. But wasn't this request a bit too simple? If she came with her, she would of course be responsible for protecting her. She didn't seem to be very good at fighting. Was it really that easy?

"It's that simple?"

"It's that simple! When doing business, you can't be short-sighted; you have to have a long-term vision. Besides, when I wasn't around, Mei- nee took good care of the shop. And... and you all have such a good relationship with Sister Elysia, so consider this a way of giving back to your acquaintances and regular customers."

The girl brushed her bangs back, waved her hand dismissively. Life is but Dream Weaver, we come and go in a hurry, so why not live more freely? It's just a dream anyway, what's wrong with being a little bolder?

The cat girl smiled as she looked at Mei, and Mei received something from her—the mark of the Dream Weaver ... Pardofelis, perhaps.

"Alright, Mei, stop daydreaming, we should get going. And Shen Gonglin, why are you staring at my tail? Want to pet it? If you agree to make a small deal with me, I won't mind letting you pet it."

The deal was struck, Pardofelis happily skipped to Shen Gonglin's side. The three continued to explore the depths of the Elysian Realm. Pardofelis noticed Shen Gonglin's gaze fixed on her tail. The girl's eyes lit up, and she quietly moved closer to Shen Gonglin. For merchants, trading had become an everyday occurrence.

"Hmm, what kind of deal?"

Pardofelis's words made Shen Gonglin raise an eyebrow. He had to admit that this deal really struck a chord with him. He had only touched Pardofelis's ears earlier, and hadn't even touched her tail yet. Now that he had such an opportunity, Shen Gonglin certainly didn't want to let it go.

"Hehe, it's very simple... I see that you and Mei have a good relationship. Can you convince her to let me touch her horns? I heard from Sister Elysia that she really wants to touch Mei's horns, which makes me want to touch them too. How about it? If you can convince Mei to let me touch her horns, I'll let you touch my tail. How about that? You won't lose out, right?"

Continuing deeper into the Elysian Realm, they encountered obstacles along the way as usual. Mei was fighting ahead, while Pardofelis approached Shen Gonglin and discussed the deal with him. Watching Mei fight, Pardofelis was amazed; she was really skilled, no wonder she could defeat Mobius. She realized that if she wanted to get close to Mei, she could only try to find a way through Shen Gonglin.

Ah... Shen Gonglin was in a dilemma. He knew that Mei's horns felt nice to touch, and the two horns on a beautiful girl's head just made people want to touch them. Shen Gonglin had grabbed Mei's horns when Mei was arguing, so he could understand Pardofelis's curiosity about Mei. The cat tail also really appealed to Shen Gonglin. But if he agreed, would Mei be in a difficult position?

There's really nothing we can do about it.

"Pardofelis, are you two just going to stand here and watch?"

Even during the battle, Mei was keeping an eye on Shen Gonglin and Pardofelis behind her. When she saw the girl whispering to Shen Gonglin, Mei became suspicious. What were they talking about? Unable to contain herself, Mei could only say, "Don't say strange things to Shen Gonglin when I'm not around! I'm so worried!"

As for Shen Gonglin... Mei doesn't want Shen Gonglin to do things she can handle herself. She needs to let him know how powerful she is now. Kiana is now the Herrscher of Flamescion, and Mei also needs to let Shen Gonglin know that she is not weak either.

"Oh dear, Mei, I'm just a shop owner, I'm really not good at fighting, good luck."

Having no interest in the battle, Pardofelis just wanted to slack off with Shen Gonglin in the back. Seeing Shen Gonglin's troubled look, she knew there was a chance. However, this couldn't be overheard by the person involved, so Pardofelis obediently shut her mouth and winked at Shen Gonglin, making it even more difficult for Shen Gonglin to stick a note on her.

As expected of a businessman, he knows her weakness. Looking at the girl's tail wagging in front of her, Shen Gonglin felt as if it was teasing her heart. She couldn't take it anymore.

"Deal made, but not now. We have to wait for an opportunity."

In the end, Shen Gonglin couldn't suppress his desires and whispered his agreement to Pardofelis's deal. The girl immediately smiled knowingly, knowing that Shen Gonglin would definitely agree.

"Okay, I know it's not the right time now. Tell me when you feel it's appropriate. But for now, I can let you touch me, but don't be too rough."

As a shrewd businesswoman, Pardofelis wasn't afraid that Shen Gonglin would renege on her debts. The girl wagged her tail and approached Shen Gonglin, saying, "Touch me, touch me all you want."

Chapter Fifteen Handle

"Didn't I tell you not to use too much force...? Shen Gonglin, you're being way too reckless..."

Feeling completely drained, Miss Pardofelis lay on the ground, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at Shen Gonglin. At that moment, Rin Shen Gonglin was still holding her precious tail in his hand. The tail, which had been neatly combed, now looked messy. Rin Shen Gonglin loved cats, but what he loved most was pulling a cat's tail. The feeling of stroking all the cat's fur backwards made Pardofelis feel terrible.

Did I lose out a bit in this deal?

"What were you two doing while I was fighting so hard?"

The cat-like girl tried to resist, but with her tail being pinched, she was as powerless as a Saiyan whose weakness had been exploited. Just then, Mei finally returned. The dashing girl had deliberately shown off during the battle, wanting Shen Gonglin to know how powerful she was now and that she was no longer the helpless girl she used to be. But when she arrived, she found that Shen Gonglin's attention was not on her at all.

Mei was speechless. Mei Shen Gonglin had this ability to easily become friends with others. He said it was because he had the ability to "be loved". This ability was too unfair. Looking at Pardofelis now... she felt like a cat that had smelled catnip.

"Mei, save me! This guy is not normal... Shouldn't a normal person gently pet a cute cat? But this guy, I don't even dare to let him see Canned Food. Please save me!"

Pardofelis quickly turned to Mei for help. Although Mei suspected that Phyllis might be enjoying it, the girl still decisively separated the two. Is this girl really Flame-Chasers? How come she doesn't have any of the intimidating power that Flame-Chasers should have? Mei felt that if left alone, Shen Gonglin could easily exhaust her.

"Alright, stop fooling around, Pardofelis. You said you were looking for someone too, but who... is that person?"

Looking at Shen Gonglin Mei felt a sense of disorientation, as if she had returned to the feeling of being a kindergarten teacher in St. Freya. After experiencing so much, Mei felt that everyone had changed, but only Shen Gonglin remained the same. This was the best thing for Mei. The girl shook her head. Now was not the time to reminisce about the past. They had been searching for so long, but neither Raven nor Pardofelis were able to find the person they were looking for. Was this guy really good at finding things?

"Huh? Didn't I tell you, Mei, it's Canned Food? Honestly, you promised to watch the shop for me, and then you just disappeared... It's so worrying. By the way, Mei, are you allergic to cat hair?"

Pardofelis groomed her tail, Shen Gonglin had messed up earlier. Only a shiny, smooth tail is a good tail. Looking at her fluffy tail, Pardofelis suddenly blurted out this sentence. Mei in confusion. She hadn't explained the Canned Food issue yet, so how did the topic suddenly jump to her allergy to cat fur?

"No allergies, what's wrong?"

"Oh, that's good. It's just that my tail has started shedding again recently. Sakura is allergic to cat fur, so I usually don't dare to go near her... Hmm? Wait a minute! Mei, I can feel the Canned Food nearby, over here... Come with me quickly!"

The girl casually mentioned these seemingly unimportant things, but where in this world are there so many important things? In this life, it's best to be carefree. However, this casual Pardofelis suddenly became startled again. "Hmm, I can feel it, I really can feel it, the Canned Food is nearby!"

Using her special senses, Pardofelis ran quickly forward, while Mei, pulling Shen Gonglin, hurried after her. Although they still didn't know where Raven was, at least they could achieve one goal...

"Shen Gonglin, how did you feel when you touched Pardofelis's tail just now? I mean, compared to my horns, which side felt better?"

During their journey, Mei whispered the question, and Shen Gonglin gave her a very satisfactory answer.

"Of course Mei, your horn is better. Not only does it feel better, but it can also be used as a handle. Petting Pardofelis's tail is just for fun. If we're talking about feel, then Mei is definitely the Mei."

...Although she was praised, why doesn't Mei feel happy at all? Shen Gonglin seems a bit too arrogant.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Elysian Realm, Mei and Shen Gonglin, the senior they were searching for, were panting and looking at the creature sitting on the high platform ahead. Did this thing even know the way? They had been following it for so long, but Raven felt like it had been going in circles. It must have been here more than ten times already.

Thinking about it, it does seem a bit silly of me to have trusted a cat to lead the way. Speaking of cats, shouldn't we use "one" to describe it?

Mei wasn't around, and Raven, bored at the time, decided to help Klein explore Elysian Realm. That's when she encountered this cat, and after following it around aimlessly, she ended up in a strange place. Now that she's out, she can't find her way back. Raven strongly suspects that the cat is leading her around randomly, but when Raven looks at the cat with such a suspicious gaze, the cat suddenly puts on a very aggrieved expression. Honestly, it's like it's all her fault.

"Don't look so wronged... like I'm bullying you. You're just like that guy. He's terrible with directions, but he likes to lead others. I really believed you guys... I wonder how that guy is doing now."

Looking at the silly cat in front of her, Raven thought of someone again. Whenever she thought of him, Raven couldn't help but let her thoughts wander. She used to want to be a mercenary without feelings, but by some twist of fate, she ended up having that ambiguous relationship with Shen Gonglin. And the most crucial thing is that she doesn't feel disgusted by him now, which is quite terrifying. Should she get a cat in the future...? Well, having Shen Gonglin at home is enough. She doesn't need anything else.

Or perhaps another Red Dragon?

Chapter Sixteen: Teasing the Cat? Being Teasing by the Cat

Just as Raven was lost in thought, the cat in front of her meowed and ran behind her. Raven quickly chased after it. Although the cat's way of leading wasn't too far off, she couldn't just let it run around unattended. This Elysian Realm was still very dangerous, and anything could kill the cat.

"Wait a minute... Huh? Shen Gonglin Jingu, Mei, what are you doing here?"