It’S A Cat, Adopted By A Wolf Family? [EN]: Chapter 141

The letter detailed how Ethan had used Jerian’s severed finger to locate his hideout.

Thanks to Nero and the knights in the Cat Territory proceeding with utmost caution, Jerian seemed unaware that his hideout had been exposed.

[I request a reply regarding how to proceed.]

Nero concluded the letter succinctly, then added a postscript on the last page.

[I would appreciate it if you could also convey my regards to our Kitty and ask how she is doing.]

It seemed he assumed that Jackal, not I, would open the letter, given the gravity of the matter.

‘Nero is wondering how I am doing.’

Even though we exchanged letters during the process of delivering the stone containing Sigma’s testimony.

When Mom, Dad, and my brother were alive, they always wondered what I was doing, what I was thinking about when I was alone.

‘Is it because he’s a relative that he always thinks of me?’

I was grateful that he thought of me despite being busy, so I decided to send my letter along when Jackal replied.

“Brothers, when you reply to this letter, please send my letter with it.”

“That’s not difficult.”

“Only if you give me 24 malangs [currency in this world] as a handling fee.”

“I will. I also want to tell Nero-nim about the official adoption schedule.”

“…….”

At my words, my brothers exchanged glances for a moment. They looked somewhat worried.

“Um, Kitty. If Nero opposes it, does the official adoption become nullified?”

“No, Malangson? Tell the brothers no.”

The golden eyes stared intently at me. It felt a little different from Ethan’s wolf obsession.

“Could it be that Nero-nim would oppose it?”

“You never know.”

“Maybe he doesn’t like us, or he wants to live with Malangson…….”

“Don’t worry. Not all Suins [animal-human hybrids] in the world want to live with me.”

The two wolves were somewhat dumbfounded.

“We know more than five people, Kitty.”

“Malangson doesn’t know she’s popular. Nero also wants to keep you close but can’t, so he’s asking how you are doing.”

“Hmm.”

I thought for a moment and then replied.

“Nero-nim is old and my relative, so if he wants to live with me, I think I should consider the official adoption a little more.”

“…….”

The two wolves’ complexions immediately turned sour.

My dad used to make this face when he put a hard-earned fish in the net, only to find a hole in the net later.

I still vividly remember him lifting the empty net and muttering in vain, ‘I definitely caught it, but where did it go?’

The two lowered their wolf ears, which they had taken out at some point.

“Kitty…… Just know that the frail brothers can’t live without Kitty.”

“That’s right. We’re not bold enough to burn the thesis.”

“But that was Sigma’s thesis, wasn’t it?”

“After spending a whole week writing a graduation thesis at the Central Training Center, you become unable to damage any thesis in the world.”

“My brothers are so weak, Malangson.”

Trying to stimulate my protective instincts when they are a head taller than me.

“If my brothers ever need to burn a thesis, I’ll quickly strike the match for you.”

I offered them a consolation that wasn’t really a consolation, and then asked Barniel for tea because I had something to discuss with my brothers.

The two wolves, who had been feigning sobs to get the official adoption confirmed, quickly quieted down when the tea came out.

Slurp―

Sitting side by side and drinking tea reminded me of the old days when we practiced tea time.

‘To regain that peace, I need to finish the Jerian matter quickly.’

I stirred the tea with plenty of milk and sugar and opened my mouth.

“Even if we know Jerian’s whereabouts, we can’t just rush in right now.”

“But Kitty, you wanted to get revenge quickly.”

“We don’t know how many cats who follow Jerian are left.”

Even if Sigma’s video confessing that all of Jerian’s achievements were fabricated was spread in the Cat Territory, there would still be cat Suins who follow Jerian.

‘Jerian would have already seen the video and would be preventing his subordinates from contacting the outside.’

He’s always been a wicked cat who can’t stand seeing his position shaken, now or then.

The problem was how many there were.

The hideout that Nero had identified was slightly larger than the detached palace of the Gridwolf mansion.

It was said that the interior could be even larger because it was a building built deep underground after hiding the entrance.

‘Besides, Jerian has the real Blue Moon [a source of power or influence].’

If his subordinates showed hesitation against the wolves, he would drive them mad with the madness of the Blue Moon. The cat Suins, who had lost their minds, would obviously rush at the wolf knights, who were twice their size.

“……If we rush in now, many cats will die.”

Of course, I don’t think they are innocent.

I still remember the faces of the men who threw my mom and me outside the fence under Jerian’s orders.

The reason those men followed Jerian’s orders wasn’t because they were too stupid to judge that the orders were wrong.

‘……If they hadn’t followed the orders, they would have lost their jobs, and then they would have thought that someone precious would get hurt.’

So, they were able to be cold to me and my mom, who weren’t precious to them.

Thanks to thinking about that matter hundreds of times, I was able to make a relatively calm decision.

“Of course, those who followed Jerian have caused a lot of harm to other cats. But I can’t just kill them all just because they followed Jerian.”

“Kitty…….”

“I’ll spare them for now and make them pay for their sins. If there are people who unfairly became Jerian’s henchmen, I’ll take appropriate measures.”

“…….”

“If I kill everyone, I’ll be no different from Jerian.”

It wasn’t a very satisfying decision.

In my heart, I wanted to take the lives of everyone who cooperated with Jerian in causing this mess as payment for their sins.

But if I was blinded by revenge and acted the same way as Jerian, my family in heaven would be very sad.

“I’m different from Jerian. I can’t exterminate Suins who may be precious to someone just because I don’t like them.”

Malang―

I took Theo and Deon’s hands, one in each of mine, and asked.

“So, instead of rushing in right away, please think about approaching it with a little more time.”

The two were silent for a moment, looking at their hands held by me.

I knew that it wasn’t a very welcome sound from Theo and Deon’s point of view.

Because it would be much simpler and less work to ambush as soon as we secured the information. In the current situation, an ambush was a much more effective strategy.

“Please.”

When I said it again, the two brothers chuckled and clasped my hands.

“Kitty, you don’t have to ask.”

“Yes?”

“We’ll do whatever you want.”

The answer I wanted came out too easily, so I was rather doubtful.

“Why…… are you willing to do that for me?”

“Well, you chose it.”

“Family is about believing in and supporting whatever choice you make.”

Looking at the two who answered as if it were natural, I felt a prickling sensation in my nose. I tightened my trembling lower lip to avoid crying.

A thought I had always had popped out of my mouth after a long time.

“You two are really wonderful brothers.”

* * *

Theo, Deon, and Kitty quickly finished their tea time and headed to Jackal and Caris.

The Gridwolf couple also promised not to raid Jerian’s hideout. From the start, Caris and Jackal didn’t have the courage to oppose Kitty’s judgment.

‘We haven’t even stamped the official adoption papers yet, and if Kitty’s mind changes…….’

‘Even if Nero opposes the adoption, we need to design it so that Kitty wants it.’

The two skillfully hid the wolf’s unique obsession.

“Instead, explain how you will approach Jerian if you don’t raid him.”

Caris said, offering salmon jerky. Kitty devoured one salmon jerky in an instant and replied.

“I’m thinking of sending a spy to Jerian.”

“A spy?”

“Yes. Do you remember Seville, the leopard we captured before?”

Jackal and Caris nodded. Seville was the leader of the elite leopards who had been imprisoned together when Sigma was captured from the Bear Territory.

Among the elite leopards, he was particularly memorable because of his fierce eyes and strong presence.

“But baby, will the leopard listen to us?”

“I’m going to persuade him. I’m sure I can get his cooperation if I let him hear Sigma’s confession.”

Kitty recalled showing Polly’s mirror to Seville.

When Seville learned that the head of Leopheid had sacrificed the leopards for Jerian’s achievements, despair and anger were revealed on his face at the same time.

‘The face of someone who resented himself for being loyal to Delta without knowing the truth.’

Kitty, who had worked hard under Jerian without knowing what Jerian, who had been jealous of Icarus, might do, also knew that sense of betrayal well.

“According to Sigma’s statement, most of the elite leopards lost their families to Leopheid.”

“Well, he must have a sense of rejection towards Jerian, who was cooperating with Delta.”

“Yes. So I’m thinking of sending them to Jerian’s hideout. It’s not known to the public that Gridwolf captured the elite leopards, so Jerian will be fooled.”

After Delta and Sigma died, loyal elite leopards decided to help Jerian to carry on their master’s will.

If the story was made up in that way, Jerian, who was desperate for one more supporter, would have no choice but to believe it.

‘Even if he notices something strange, he won’t have the strength to chase away the fearsome leopards.’

He will save as much troops as possible in case the wolves attack.

“Then, at that time, we put secret weapons in Seville and the leopards’ bags. If it succeeds, the cats won’t even be able to resist properly.”

“Secret weapons?”

Jackal asked back.

Kitty gave a slight hint.

“Among the things in Gridwolf, it’s what I like the most.”

Then Jackal, showing that he understood, replied.

“Kitty, I’m sorry to say this, but I’m too big to fit in a bag. It’s the same even if I transform into an animal.”

“…….”