The fullness and warmth from the specially formulated nutritional paste gradually spread through Lin Mo's limbs. Lying in his own soft, comfortable little nest, he felt as if he were soaking in a hot spring, every pore relaxing.
The shock, fear, scramble for food, and humiliation of the day seemed to fade, at least for the moment, in the face of such luxurious comfort.
Wang Keke played with him for a while, brushed his fur with an elegant comb, then chattered away at him about all sorts of things. Mostly, she told him which parts of the house were off-limits, that he had to behave and grow up strong, and the like. At last, her female bodyguard urged her to go rest.
That left Lin Mo alone in the enormous room... as a tiger.
The luxurious crystal chandelier had been turned off, leaving only a few softly glowing wall lamps to outline the room in a hazy light. Outside the window lay the distinctive nightscape of the Northeast Base City, with its faintly biting chill. The occasional sweep of a searchlight across the sky was a reminder that the world was far from peaceful.
With his belly full and his energy starting to return, the restless heart of his human soul began to stir again.
I can't just spend my life as a pet, eating my fill and waiting to die. Lin Mo rose from the soft cushion and cautiously stretched. His bones gave a faint crackle. He felt much stronger than he had during the day. He was still small, but at least he could move around without difficulty.
I need to get familiar with this "home" as soon as possible. Know yourself and your enemy, and you'll survive longer.
He decided to conduct a limited nighttime exploration.
His goals were to get a basic sense of the layout of the floor where Wang Keke's room was, especially any possible escape routes (hopefully, he wouldn't need them), and to pinpoint the hidden guard posts and dangerous areas he could sense.
He padded forward on his little Tiger Claws, his paw pads making no sound as they touched the floor. First, he slipped over to the door and pricked up his ears to listen for any sounds outside. There was only silence. The door was closed, but he noticed a gap beneath it that wasn't very narrow.
Right. There's the advantage of being a tiger cub!
He controlled his breathing and lowered his body. Like a puddle of liquid, he slipped easily through the gap beneath the door.
Thick carpeting covered the corridor, absorbing his footsteps perfectly. On either side stood cold metal walls, fitted with instrument panels he couldn't make sense of that gave off a faint blue glow. The air smelled clean, with a mixture of disinfectant and energy.
Keeping to the shadows along the wall, he crept forward. His amber eyes were like the most precise cameras in the dim light, capturing every detail.
At the first fork, he sensed a faint, barely perceptible fluctuation at the far end of the corridor to his left. It carried the scent of blood and steel. Though weak, it felt like a warning. Probably some kind of hidden sentry or safe room. Better not go near it. He promptly chose the right-hand path.
There were several rooms on either side of the right-hand corridor, all with their doors shut tight. He tried pawing at one, but it didn't budge. He memorized their locations and continued on.
At a corner, he caught sight of the estate grounds through a huge floor-to-ceiling window. Patrols passed at regular intervals, accompanied by domesticated, dog-like monsters with savage eyes. Automated defense turrets atop the perimeter wall slowly rotated as they scanned the area.
This place is heavily guarded... Lin Mo grumbled to himself. Looks like I'll have to think long and hard before trying to sneak out for food—and to Devour and evolve.
He didn't dare go too far. He got a rough sense that the floor was laid out in a square loop, with Wang Keke's room in a relatively safe spot on the inside and all sorts of visible and hidden guards and defenses around the perimeter.
Just as he was about to head back the way he came and end his little adventure, an extraordinarily subtle sensation suddenly descended.
It was as if an invisible wave of water swept gently but inexorably through the entire space, brushing over his body. It carried no malice—in fact, it felt almost warm—but it sensed everything with perfect clarity: the carpet fibers, the material of the walls, the dust floating in the air... and him, crouched in the shadows by the corner in a Stealth pose!
A mental scan?!
Lin Mo's fur stood on end! It was Wang Keke!
He barely hesitated. The instant the wave of mental energy touched him, before it could fully lock onto his state as "awake and moving," every muscle in his body relaxed. His four legs went limp, and he flopped onto the carpet with a soft thump. His little head tipped to the side, and the very tip of his tongue even poked out.
His breathing grew extremely slow and even. His chest rose and fell faintly, making him look as if he were sleeping soundly—perhaps even drooling while having a sweet dream.
Perfect, flawless... instant pretend sleep!
The gentle mental energy lingered over his "collapsed" form for about two seconds, as if puzzled. It lightly brushed over the little lumps on his back, then tickled his chin (on a mental level), before finally receding like the tide and vanishing without a trace.
Silence returned to the corridor, broken only by Lin Mo's "steady" breathing.
A full minute passed before Lin Mo dared to open one eye just a crack and cautiously look around.
It's gone...
He let out a silent sigh of relief, while wariness surged within him.
That girl's mental energy is so sharp? She can't even sleep without scanning the area around her? Good thing I reacted fast!
He didn't dare linger any longer. Maintaining a dazed, "sleepwalking" air, he swayed to his feet and staggered toward the gap beneath his bedroom door, still pretending. He slipped back through with practiced ease, then climbed into his soft nest again. The whole thing looked like the mindless nighttime wanderings of a young animal returning to its den.
Once back in his nest, he truly relaxed, though his thoughts were still in turmoil.
Wang Keke's mental energy was stronger and sharper than he had expected. That meant he would have to be even more careful when moving around near her. Any act of "cleverness" beyond what an ordinary tiger cub could manage might arouse her suspicion.
Still, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
At least it proved that his young mistress had great potential. With her, resources wouldn't be an issue, and his safety was relatively assured. As long as he kept things within bounds, he could enjoy the resources while secretly growing stronger.
Looks like I'll have to play the part of a cub who's "a little clever" but still mostly "innocent and clueless." Lin Mo licked his paw, a sly glint flashing in his amber eyes. In front of her, I should ham it up a little and act silly every now and then.
He curled up and tucked his head into his tail.
The path of Devour and evolution was long and arduous. And in this wealthy mansion, even just lying low would take plenty of effort and acting skill.
First, sleep. Tomorrow, he could keep going... drink milk, act cute, and secretly grow stronger!
Before you continue