Jinzhou Cat Hero

That night.

In the guest room where Tide Sis was staying.

As the magistrate's honored guest, Tide Sis had been given accommodations that were nothing short of exquisite and luxurious.

Even the bed was quite large.

Large enough to have room to spare even if Ling An returned to his original Crownless form.

Ling An lay on his back on the bed, looking utterly done with life.

An absurd thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Why did everyone else who transmigrated become an overpowered protagonist with a harem spanning another world?

But me, Ling An...

He glanced at Tide Sis, who was sleeping soundly, pressed right up against him.

Why did it feel like I'd become part of someone else's harem?

Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.

Had Tide Sis and I gotten our scripts mixed up?

Could I please have mine back...

Still, for all his grumbling, Ling An honestly rather enjoyed it.

He turned slightly onto his side, gazing at Tide Sis's sleeping profile.

Soft black hair lay loosely across her delicate face, which needed no embellishment.

The sight stirred something in Ling An's heart.

Tide Sis had already changed out of her black combat outfit into a set of snug pajamas.

They gave her a slightly dopey, adorable air.

Her pajama neckline hung slightly open. Clearly, she had no guard up around Ling An whatsoever.

Perhaps that was the confidence of an overpowered protagonist.

As for the so-called punishment...

Ling An recalled what had happened an hour earlier-

"Transform!" Tide Sis pointed at cat-form Ling An, who had been tossed onto the bed.

Faced with such an unreasonable demand, how could the proud, spinelessly obedient Ling An possibly refuse?

He gave a cold snort and returned to his original form.

What followed was half an hour of comprehensive admiration, from every angle, without a single blind spot.

Every so often, she even reached out to touch him or give him a tap.

If he had to put a label on Tide Sis's behavior, it was probably like a geek carefully appreciating a figurine in her collection.

Perhaps even more intense than that?

Then things had ended up like this, with her treating Ling An entirely like a body pillow.

Ling An could more or less understand why Tide Sis hadn't defeated him in the Tacet Field and absorbed him as an Echo.

Ling An understood-

Crownless is Crownless... Crownless can't become a body pillow. Once he becomes a body pillow, you can never look him straight in the eyes and honestly say, "I'm going to kill you," again... If he becomes a body pillow, all you can do is curl up together under the covers at night and burrow into a warm bed of desire and love... So Crownless can only be a body pillow... Oh, no... I mean... So a body pillow can only be Crownless... Sorry... I mean... Crownless...

What could he do? He had an appearance that no one could look at without falling for him.

Ling An closed his eyes.

Knock, knock!

A knock came from outside the door.

"Rover, Rover!" It was Chixia's voice.

With a whoosh, Ling An turned back into a cat.

Tide Sis opened the door, and Chixia squeezed through the gap, her face full of urgency.

"Rover, it's urgent!" Chixia was out of breath.

"What's wrong?" Tide Sis asked, puzzled.

"Can I borrow Ling An for a bit?" Chixia asked in a rush.

Ling An said, "Meow?"

Borrow me for a bit?

What kind of phrasing was that?

"Here's the thing. A gang of cat thieves has shown up in Jinzhou lately, and loads of people have had their cats stolen. As a patroller, it's my duty to bring them to justice!" Chixia clenched both fists, her face brimming with righteousness.

"So?"

"So I figured Ling An's a cat too, and a really powerful one at that. Even the Frostland Tortoises are scared of him. Maybe he can help us find some clues!" Chixia declared confidently.

"Gasp-"

Ling An and Tide Sis both sucked in a breath.

With that train of thought, they didn't know whether to marvel at her bizarre ingenuity or simply say that this was just what they expected from Chixia.

After a moment's thought, Tide Sis looked at Ling An, amusement surfacing in her golden eyes. "Then you shouldn't be asking me. You should ask him."

Tide Sis pointed at Ling An.

"Him?" Chixia froze. "But isn't Ling An your..."

Tide Sis shook her head, cutting Chixia off. "No, he doesn't belong to anyone. He's his own person, an independent individual. So I think you should ask what he wants instead of asking me."

Hearing Tide Sis's words, Ling An couldn't help feeling a little touched.

So this was what Tide Sis really thought.

In her heart, she had never treated Ling An as some kind of accessory.

Of course, there was also the possibility that she was currently in her post-indulgence moment of clarity...

Chixia bent down to look at Ling An. "Ling An, will you help me?"

Without another word, Ling An leaped onto her shoulder.

Now that he had come to Jinzhou and gotten to know so many people...

He had long since drawn a clear line in his heart between himself and the ordinary Tacet Discords out in the wild.

Right now, earning a little goodwill was exactly what he needed.

"Hehe, let's go!" As though she had won some great victory, Chixia marched off proudly with Ling An, heading straight for their destination.

"Good luck." Tide Sis smiled softly, her eyes full of encouragement.

Ling An gave an appreciative meow. As a mighty Rumbling Tide-Class Tacet Discord, finding a missing cat would surely be a piece of cake...

Then, before long, Ling An was losing his mind.

Seriously, you expect me to find them just like this?

Under the moonlight, Ling An stared in disbelief at Chixia, who had brought him to the entrance of Shifang Pharmacy.

"You can do it, Ling An! It's all up to you!" Chixia put Ling An down so he could begin his search.

Ling An stood rooted to the spot.

He felt insulted.

He was a Tacet Discord, and even after transforming, he was still a cat...

Not a dog!

Had I really underestimated just how oblivious Chixia could be?

"Huh? Why aren't you moving? Can't you pick up the scent? But the latest missing cats disappeared around here." Chixia rubbed her chin in thought.

Ling An wanted nothing to do with her.

He sprang up onto Shifang Pharmacy's counter.

"Don't get in the way of their business, Ling An." Chixia hurriedly picked him up.

Unfazed, Ling An meowed at Koko, the clerk at Shifang Pharmacy.

He had made the hint obvious enough.

Fortunately, Chixia wasn't stupid. She immediately caught on and asked Koko, "Miss Koko, did you see anyone suspicious around here today?"

Koko smiled gently. "Oh, it's Ma Xiaofang. Speaking of suspicious people..."

"Wait, don't call me Ma Xiaofang!" Chixia protested indignantly.

"Sorry, I forgot." An apologetic look crossed Koko's face as she continued, "Most people who come to the pharmacy are regular customers, but around noon, there was a man who looked rather shifty. I don't know if he's the person you're looking for!"

Chixia's eyes immediately lit up, and she nodded like a chick pecking at grain. "Yes, it could be him! Do you remember anything about him?"

"I do! He was dressed all in black, with a hood that hid his face."

"Great, thank you, Miss Koko! I'll keep looking around here, then." Having gotten a useful lead, Chixia thanked her repeatedly.

"Ling An, let's go!" She eagerly prepared to start searching.

Ling An meowed toward the city gate.

"Huh?" Noticing Ling An's resistance, Chixia sounded puzzled. "Are you trying to tell me they're outside the city?"

Ling An nodded helplessly.

Since these were cat thieves operating on a large scale, they had to have a base.

Cats made noise and cried out when they resisted, especially when so many had been stolen.

Since no one nearby had complained, their base had to be outside the city.

Then all they needed to do was ask the gate guards whether they had seen a man dressed in black leave the city today.

Sure enough, Chixia caught on with just a hint.

She happily lifted Ling An up and planted a firm kiss on his forehead.

"Ling An, I knew I was right about you! You're a genius among cats. I hereby name you the Jinzhou Cat Hero!"

Under the moonlight, Chixia held Ling An aloft, her face wreathed in smiles.