Chapter 182: Mint Kitten

“She’s already here?”

“Of course she is~ Catnip’s not only got sharp ears, her legs are quick too.”

As Scarlet Night spoke, she leaned even closer against Perletti, her gaze drifting once more toward Josuna with unmistakable smugness in her eyes.

See?

No matter how important you used to be to big sister, I’m the most important person to her now.

“Then let’s go. No need to keep her waiting.”

Naturally, Perletti noticed Scarlet Night’s little provocations.

But she did not expose them.

She merely turned around, signaling for Scarlet Night to lead the way.

Josuna blankly watched the two leaving side by side.

It felt as though an invisible hand had seized her heart, squeezing until it ached painfully.

In the end, she could only slam her injured fist heavily against the ground, using the pain to suppress the overwhelming unwillingness surging within her.

On the way to the Church of Gluttony’s stronghold, Perletti suddenly stopped.

She flicked Scarlet Night lightly on the forehead with her finger.

“Oww~”

“You really wanted to show off that badly?”

Perletti’s tone carried no obvious emotion.

“Hehe, but big sister didn’t push me away in front of her either~”

Scarlet Night blinked innocently, smiling like a cunning little fox that had successfully gotten what it wanted.

“That means Scarlet Night is more important to you than that human.”

“Don’t do that again next time.”

Perletti’s voice remained calm.

But Scarlet Night knew every subtle change in her tone.

That—

Was the warning sign before Perletti truly became angry.

“Mmm… sorry, big sister.”

Scarlet Night immediately stopped joking around and obediently lowered her head to apologize.

Her speed was astonishingly fast.

Within only a few minutes, she had already brought Perletti back to the stronghold.

Before entering the main hall, Perletti noticed that the medical ward contained not only injured human soldiers, but also many beastfolk.

They wore standardized armor.

Clearly, they were not noble-owned slaves, but actual trained warriors.

The Church of Gluttony has already allied with the beastfolk?

Scarlet Night frowned.

After seeing the notices posted on the walls, her pupils abruptly shrank.

Just as that thought crossed Perletti’s mind, a lively figure approached.

“Master’s back, nya~”

It was a catfolk girl.

A tight light-green outfit outlined her petite figure, while her bare feet looked delicate and pale.

Her short matcha-colored hair was tied into two braided tails behind her head.

She looked exquisitely cute, almost doll-like, and when she smiled, two tiny fangs peeked out.

With nimble steps, she walked toward Perletti.

Placing a hand over her chest, she performed a beastfolk greeting.

“Beastfolk Princess, Nasisa Burke, welcomes Master, nya~”

“Mint— Nasisa, when did you arrive?”

Perletti nearly blurted out the nickname in her heart.

After all, the girl before her perfectly embodied the phrase mint kitty.

Small and adorable—

Like a short-legged kitten that still had not fully grown.

“Nyaa~ Master can call me whatever she likes, nya~”

Nasisa tilted her head, cat ears twitching lightly.

“As for when I arrived, I brought my troops from Galileo the moment the siege began. I originally thought the battle for the capital would drag on for quite a while, but the Church of Gluttony flattened everything in only eight days. Truly terrifying combat strength, nya.”

“You actually came here for the beastfolk slaves, didn’t you?”

Perletti directly exposed her intentions.

Nasisa’s smile remained unchanged, though her cat tail lightly swayed behind her.

She had indeed been seen through.

The reason she waited here for Perletti was simply to use Perletti’s influence to gain more advantages from Ino.

In other words—

She wanted to bring all of the former Empire’s beastfolk slaves back home.

Thanks to the Church of Gluttony’s assistance over the past few years, the beastfolk had finally managed to enjoy several peaceful years.

But every beastfolk understood one thing clearly.

Mere stability was nowhere near enough.

The beastfolk were still the same beastfolk.

They were only surviving because they depended upon the Church of Gluttony.

But what about the future?

All along the journey here, Nasisa had been uneasy.

If the Church of Gluttony eventually treated beastfolk as slaves just like the Empire had…

Then the beastfolk would truly never have any chance of rising again.

“As expected of Master. You saw through me immediately, nya.”

“Big sister, this catnip girl talks so fake. She sounds like sugary green tea.”

Scarlet Night muttered beside Perletti in a voice deliberately loud enough for Nasisa to hear.

“Eh~ That’s just how I normally speak, nya. Don’t wrongfully accuse me~”

Nasisa puffed out her cheeks in an aggrieved manner.

When Perletti finally found Ino, she was standing beside Lirna in front of a strategic map, quietly discussing postwar governance plans.

After all, the former Empire’s territory was enormous.

There were still surviving nobles entrenched throughout various regions.

All of that would become troublesome.

“Perletti, you’re back.”

Ino raised her head.

Her gaze swept toward Nasisa as though she had already expected this.

“And you brought a little cat with you.”

“Miss Ino’s eyes really are sharp. My little schemes are practically paper walls in front of you, nya.”

Nasisa smiled brightly, though her tail had subtly stiffened.

“Then I won’t waste time speaking in circles. I’ve never liked dragging things out.”

Ino crossed her arms.

Her tone was calm, but carried unquestionable pressure.

“You want to take your people back. Fine.”

“And your previous proposal regarding trade between our races—I can agree to that too.”

“But I have one condition.”

She paused briefly.

“All beastfolk slaves formerly belonging to the Empire must be redeemed by the beastfolk themselves.”

The smile on Nasisa’s face faded slightly.

Several hundred thousand slaves.

Even the minimum redemption cost would be an astronomical amount for the current beastfolk nation.

This human woman truly was difficult to deal with.

Every step was calculated with absolute precision.

But as queen, Nasisa absolutely could not return empty-handed.

This was not only about her people’s future.

It also concerned her authority and public support among the beastfolk.

If she returned with nothing, what awaited her would be far more than simple criticism.

“Miss Ino choosing to name this price at a time like this…”

Nasisa maintained her smile, though tension seeped into her voice.

“Should I interpret this as taking advantage of a disaster, nya?”

“What do you mean ‘taking advantage’?”

Scarlet Night immediately complained from the side.

“We lost so many people conquering the Empire. We can’t just hand them all over to you for free.”

“I understand the beastfolk’s current economy can’t repay such a debt.”

“And I also understand how desperately you wish for your people to return home.”

Ino stepped forward slightly, subtly blocking Scarlet Night and signaling for her to stop speaking.

“So, I will allow all beastfolk to immediately return to their homeland.”

“But in exchange—”

“The beastfolk must repay the debt through labor.”

“The work conditions will not be harsh. After all, we will become neighboring nations in the future. Peaceful coexistence should begin with practical cooperation.”

“What do you think?”

Nasisa’s ears slowly flattened backward.

She fully understood Ino’s implication.

Accept the terms and take your people home.

Refuse, and leave empty-handed.

She lifted her eyes toward Perletti.

For a fleeting instant, a trace of helpless appeal flashed through them—

But it quickly disappeared beneath the dignity expected of a queen.

This was a negotiation between races.

She could not rely solely on personal affection.

Besides, the very fact that Ino was willing to release them first and settle the debt later was already likely done out of consideration for Perletti.

“…We can discuss the detailed terms further.”

In the end, Nasisa softly exhaled.

Her tail slowly drooped downward—

A sign of compromise.

“A wise decision.”

A faint smile curved across Ino’s lips as she turned toward the map.

“Then next, let’s discuss the scope of the work…”