"Merfolk were merely weak, not stupid."
The Great Fox stopped pretending to sleep and raised her head to look at the two kittens, her voice crisp and pleasant. "—A foolish race would not have survived to this day, much less maintained such a large preserve at First University. Besides, that was an experienced old diviner. Clearly, it saw your potential and chose silence. Compared with the calculable compensation before it, the intangible debt you owed them was obviously more valuable."
The Black Gemstone Cat immediately hesitated.
"Should I take the initiative and stuff money into their hands?" It did not want to leave any trouble for its future self. Many major troubles in the world began as such inconspicuous loose ends.
"There's no need."
Four fluffy tails swayed lightly through the air, expressing their owner's attitude. "If they don't speak up, no amount of money you give them will help. After all, what you destroyed was their Spirit Offering. It could have a price, or it could be priceless. If you don't compensate them voluntarily, you might still be able to play dumb later. But if you take the initiative to make it up to them, given the merfolks' bad nature, who knows how they might pester you in the future."
The White Jade Cat nodded vigorously, deeply agreeing with the Great Fox.
The Black Gemstone Cat shot her a sidelong glance.
"—I only just realized it. When did you become independent?" it abruptly asked, changing the subject so sharply that both the Great Fox and the White Jade Cat froze.
"What?" The White Jade Cat blinked, utterly bewildered.
The Black Gemstone Cat raised a paw and gestured at the distance between the Cat Fruit Tree and the teaching building. "When your main body is awake, you can still move