When Arthur left 17 North Garden Street, he carried not only the "Cat Bed" made from century-old catnip, but also two bags of dried fish.
Both were free.
The two bags of dried fish, in particular, had earned Pendragon's approval.
Between leaving the house and returning to 2 Kirk Street, Pendragon had already wolfed down half a bag of dried fish.
Meanwhile, Arthur stroked his "Cat Bed" as he considered the promise Mrs. Amanda had just made-
Two Major Arcana Rank members of the [Black Cat Followers] would join his new [Black Cat Followers] and swear allegiance to him.
And he?
He would have to honor his promise of "tenfold, a hundredfold, a thousandfold."
Arthur had not refused.
Even before preparing for overseas trade, Arthur had quietly begun his coastal trade operations.
Tax exemptions in three territories?
Nowhere near enough!
He wanted more!
So Arthur certainly would not object to having such a "legitimate reason."
In fact, he wanted more of them.
Still, these matters naturally required a perfect plan.
And a perfect plan required time.
Mrs. Amanda had not pressed him on that point.
Arthur expressed considerable gratitude for her generosity. At the same time, he was privately surprised that the [Black Cat Followers] still possessed such formidable strength despite having gone into hiding.
After learning that the Cat Cave's "Ascension Ladder" had been severed by "God's Lock," and receiving the unexpected secret messages left by the leaders of the black, tabby, and calico factions, Arthur had privately assessed the [Black Cat Followers]' current strength.
In his assessment, there could not have been many Major Arcana Rank members among the [Black Cat Followers]' top combatants.
One or two at most.
But when Mrs. Amanda so casually offered to have two Major Arcana Rank members of the old [Black Cat