The Cheshire Cat sat perched on the corner of the table, its eyes wide as it watched the argument erupt across the dining table.
It licked its gray fur with its barbed tongue, then raised its round little head, narrowed its eyes, and began to purr as though someone were gently scratching the top of its head. Within seconds, it returned to its usual leisurely state. The verbal sparring between the Witch and Athena apparently had not affected its plans to enjoy its salmon. When it saw Laura Croft quietly beckoning to it from beside the table, the fat cat leaped onto the archaeologist's lap with an agility no thirty-pound body should have possessed. It naturally rubbed its head against her chin, then turned its attention back to Bayonetta, Jeanne, and Athena, who were arguing in hushed voices.
Bayonetta had always believed that her old tricks from years ago would work, but how could Salomon not know what she was planning? Though he had left the dining room with Milia, the Cheshire Cat remained behind as his eyes and ears—although using a cat as a spy required immense concentration, since the Cheshire Cat was interested in everything. Left unchecked, the fat cat would jump onto the table and knock everything onto the floor. Laura Croft knew nothing about this. She merely sensed that the atmosphere at the table was unpleasant. After exchanging a glance with Wanda Maximoff, she planned to leave with the cat and give the three supernaturally charming women some space.
Or rather, witches.
However, the archaeologist discovered that the strange smiling cat seemed unwilling to remain in her arms. Even Wanda Maximoff could not explain why it had given up being petted to stay in the dining room. She could only assume that cats had an innate