A Cat Doesn't Serve Two Masters, Understand?

"You should've said so!"

Mu You breathed a sigh of relief. Being able to communicate directly made things much easier.

"I'm not actually that Night Watchman, but I later inherited everything he left behind. I also learned about you from his diary, so I came here specifically to find you..."

After a moment's thought, Mu You decided to explain his reasons outright.

This cat had identified him as a Fool at a glance, so it probably had some ability to detect lies. Rather than beat around the bush, he might as well lay his cards on the table. He needed something from this cat, but he believed it needed his help even more right now.

"What, meow? You mean you're a Fool, but you can contact the Star Spirit World?" The American Shorthair stared at Mu You in shock.

"More or less. Anyway, I have a way to operate in that world."

Mu You didn't know how to explain the existence of the game "Fool" off the top of his head. The Star Spirit World didn't have things like phones or mobile games.

"That's great! Hurry and help me contact my master, meow! Tell her to bring me back to the Star Spirit World. I don't want to stay in this awful place anymore!" Delighted, the American Shorthair stopped struggling and crouched at the front of the cage, looking at Mu You expectantly.

"Of course I can help you find your master, but you'll have to agree to one thing, too," Mu You said.

"What?"

"Until we find your master and she brings you back to the Star Spirit World, you have to stay with me. I'll provide food and a safe place to live, but you'll also need to help me out with things within your abilities," Mu You said.

"Stay at your house? Are you trying to make me your pet, meow?"

The American Shorthair stared at Mu You in disbelief, then snapped, "Are you kidding? We Familiars of the Star Spirit World have our dignity! A cat doesn't serve two masters, understand? I already have a master, and there's absolutely no way I'll accept anyone else as one. Stop dreaming!"

Mu You pursed his lips. He hadn't expected this cat to be so loyal.

"I'm not asking you to accept me as your master. You can see me as a master, a friend, or a partner. I don't mind. But after hiding in this factory for over ten days, you should've realized by now that this isn't your Star Spirit World. It's a world ruled by us Fools! You're just lucky I found you first. Since I mean you no harm, you can talk to me as an equal like this. If someone else finds you, you'll be in serious trouble. Abuse and imprisonment would be getting off lightly. You might even be taken to some laboratory to be dissected for research..."

Mu You deliberately focused on the worst possibilities.

Sure enough, after just a few sentences, the American Shorthair grew frightened and began licking its fur restlessly inside the cage. The more it thought about it, the more uneasy it became. Slicing a cat up for research? These Fools really were vicious!

"A-all right. Since you're being so sincere, I suppose I'll reluctantly be your pet for a while... But let's get this straight first: I'm not a combat-type Familiar. I won't do anything dangerous!"

"Heh. Even if you wanted to do something dangerous, you wouldn't get the chance."

Seeing the cat relent, Mu You smiled. What he mainly needed was its knowledge and experience of the magical world. He had never expected it to help with combat in the first place.

"Then let me out first, meow!"

"I can let you out, but if you run away again afterward, I won't trust you anymore." After saying this to the American Shorthair, Mu You stepped forward and opened the cage.

The American Shorthair hurried out of the cage and into the open space, only then breathing a sigh of relief.

It didn't run away. Instead, it stretched, lifting its tail high, lowering its body, and reaching its front paws as far forward as possible in a cat's lazy stretch.

Mu You knew that cats only did this in front of people they trusted fairly well. It seemed that, after he had explained the stakes, it had indeed let go of its hostility toward him.

After loosening up, the American Shorthair sat on the ground, licking a front paw as it looked at Mu You and called, "Got anything to eat, meow? Hurry and give me some food. I've been hungry for days, meow!"

"I didn't bring any food. It's all at home. Come home with me first."

Mu You took off his backpack, unzipped it, and gestured for the cat to climb inside.

"Meow? You even have spatial equipment?"

The American Shorthair gave Mu You a surprised look, but asked no further questions and nimbly hopped inside. Its voice drifted out of the bag. "I'm going to sleep. Remember to wake me when we get home, meow."

"You're pretty carefree..."

The corner of Mu You's mouth twitched. Was this really the same cat that had been hissing and clawing at him just moments ago? That change had been way too fast!

Still, it was a good thing the cat wasn't causing trouble.

Mu You zipped up the backpack, walked over to where he had fired the arrow, picked up the tranquilizer syringe left on the ground, and prepared to leave.

Only then did Lin Hai and the young cameraman get past the obstruction on the first floor and reach the third.

Seeing the figure lying on the floor, they hurried over to check on him. They breathed a sigh of relief when they found he was merely unconscious.

Then they turned their heads and saw Mu You in the distance, walking toward them along the corridor.

"Why haven't you left yet?" Mu You looked at them in puzzlement, then glanced at the unconscious young man on the floor and sighed. "Hurry and take him out of here. Don't go wandering around in the middle of the night again."

Lin Hai ignored his advice and asked excitedly, "Master, where did that ghost go? Have you already caught it?"

"I've subdued the 'ghost.' Anyway, there's nothing left for you to film here. Get going." Mu You nodded.

But barely had he finished speaking when police sirens sounded from the street outside. He immediately frowned at Lin Hai. "Did you call the police?"

Lin Hai hurriedly waved his hands. "No, it wasn't me. It was the viewers in the livestream. You shot through our camera earlier, and the stream suddenly cut out. They probably thought I was in danger, so..."

Mu You's brows furrowed slightly. After a moment's thought, he patted Lin Hai on the shoulder. "I shot your equipment, but I also saved your friend's life, so let's call it even. If anyone asks you about this later, don't tell them about me. Can you do that?"

Mu You had originally intended to use threats and incentives to force the two of them to keep his secret.

Unexpectedly, after hearing him out, Lin Hai looked as though his suspicions had been confirmed and said confidently, "Master, say no more. I understand. Experts who live apart from the world like you don't want to reveal yourselves, right? Don't worry. Even if someone beats us to death, we'll keep your secret!"

Mu You looked at Lin Hai with great satisfaction. A promising student!

"All right, then. Let's never meet again."

Mu You patted him on the shoulder and vaulted over the railing.

"Wait, Master?"

Lin Hai had wanted to say something else, but Mu You had jumped down in the blink of an eye. He hurriedly called to the young cameraman beside him, "Quick, downstairs!"

Supporting the unconscious young man between them, they rushed downstairs, only to find that Mu You had already vanished without a trace.

"He really is an expert!"

"He's incredible!"

"Too bad we didn't get it on camera..."

The two stood together, marveling over what had happened.

Just then, Lin Hai's phone rang. He picked it up and saw that his older sister was calling!

Lin Hai hurriedly answered. Before she could speak, he launched into an animated account. "Sis? Listen, I just met a real superhuman! He could teleport, hit a target from a hundred paces, and even use lightness skills. He could jump three feet into the air..."

Beside him, the young cameraman looked at Lin Hai with contempt. What happened to keeping the guy's secret?