The Mao Gang was running an underground supercat trade.
In fact, judging by the number of people at the auction, it was doing a really good job.
The men Zhao Yao had eavesdropped on were from Talon and Ivory, two of the most active non-government apostle factions in the country. Representatives from overseas groups were in attendance as well. His ears picked up conversations between apostles from absurd groups like the Karma Cult, Heaven Sect, and Storm Organisation. These were all cabals of dissidents that wanted nothing more but wreak havoc.
There was no way that the authorities would allow an auction for them to congregate. They obviously did not have as much control over the Mao Gang as they thought they did.
Zhao Yao was p.i.s.sed. He did not want these pesky factions to collect more supercats. He did not want them to grow any stronger. They would only stir s**t wherever they went and he would no doubt be called in to clear up the mess. They stood in the way of his simple, slacker lifestyle of running the cat cafe and playing computer games.
"These noobs are the worst," Zhao Yao thought, eyeing the people around him spitefully, "They get a small taste of power and think they can run the world with it. Can"t they just stay home and watch anime?"
He stopped brooding when a new mission appeared on the panel.
Sidequest: Sabotage the Auction
Objective: Stop the Mao Gang"s auction by seizing all the supercats they want to sell
Reward: 3,000 experience points
Punishment: None
The pinch between Zhao Yao"s eyebrows instantly relaxed. He nodded in agreement. This was the perfect opportunity to gain experience points while conserving the well-being of his countrymen.
He was determined to destroy this auction and squash the Mao Gang.
Diana sat up suddenly.
"It"s finally done," she said.
"Oh?" Zhao Yao said, his eyes darting to Lightning, "But I don"t think he"s woken."
Diana ambled towards the Pallas"s Cat and raised a dainty paw. She was about to stomp on his face when Lightning"s own paw shot forward to stop her.
When he opened his eyes, there seemed to be bolts of electricity in his pupils.
He turned to the ragdoll with a smug smile.
He chuckled, "Diana, I"m no longer the cat that you once knew. You will never be able to step on me again."
With just a small speck of strength, he managed to push her away. Diana had to take a few steps back to regain her balance. She glared at him.
"That was a dream, do you understand? Just a dream," she reasoned.
Lightning got onto his feet, his lips curled into the biggest smirk. He flashed his s.h.i.+ny claws at Diana.
"You are the one who does not understand. The Pallas"s Cat King has imparted to me his electric powers. I have been awakened as the Super Pallas"s Cat. I am the embodiment of physical perfection! If you don"t believe me…"
Lightning clenched his raised hand. When he opened it again, electric sparks cackled in his palm.
He let out a howl of laughter. "Do you see this? This is the true power of the Super Pallas"s Cat!"
Diana was taken aback. "What? Have you really become so powerful overnight?"
Zhao Yao, however, remained perfectly unconcerned.
"Alright, alright. Knock it off," he said, "Lightning, do you know where Red Packet is?"
The Pallas"s Cat jumped in fright and took three steps back. He had no clue that Zhao Yao had been right beside him. However, as soon as he looked down at the jolt of power he held in his paw, all feelings of dread dissolved.
"Zhao Yao, I"m no longer the cat that you once knew," he repeated, "I believe the Cat Nation has found its new king."
A thick, green vein bulged against the skin of Zhao Yao"s forehead.
"You"re an idiot," he said to the cat coldly, "Do you have a death wish?"
Lightning burst into raucous laughter.
"You don"t get it, do you?" he asked, enjoying the surge of electricity that coursed through his body, "You have no idea how strong I have become!"
The cat seemed to erupt into blinding flash of light. When it was gone, he was dozens of meters away. With another flash, he had moved to another spot further away. It looked like the electric charged propelled him forward at lightning speed.
"See that? I"m so fast that you can"t even see me move!"
In the next moment, the cat had appeared behind Zhao Yao.
"Too slow, Zhao Yao. Where are you look-,"
Bam!
Time stopped. Zhao Yao did not even glance at Lightning. He casually swung his arm backward, sending a punch his way.
When time started again, the Pallas"s Cat let out a howl of pain. He tumbled backward, his paws against his nose.
Zhao Yao flexed and extended his wrist. It felt perfectly fine after coming into contact with Lightning"s spiky fur.
"You sure look menacing now, but you"re still as harmless as before," he commented.
"How dare you hit my nose!" the cat cried, "Unforgivable! You"ve forced me into this! I have no choice but to unleash the power to destroy this Earth…"
Countless electric currents began to circle him, ensnaring him in an orb of blue lighting. Sparks were ignited within the orb, bouncing from one corner to another. They eventually congregated in Lightning"s paws, which released two blinding beams of light.
"Witness the unbridled power of the Pallas"s Cat -,"
Bam!
Time stopped again. When the seconds started ticking, Zhao Yao had appeared right before Lightning. He had one foot pressed against his head, shoving his face into the ground. He looked terribly cross.
"Listen here. You can generate as much light as you like, but it"s all just static. You can"t even make a tear in my shoes with it."
Bam!
Zhao Yao lifted his foot, then brought it down harder. "Now, tell me where Red Packet is."
"Sc.u.mbag!" Lightning yelled, quickly worming out from under Zhao Yao"s foot, "You"ve made me really, really mad now."
He let out a roar as he balled his paws into tight fists, his face raised towards the sky. The electric bolts that surrounded him grew brighter still. From a distance, it looked like a blue aura was radiating off him.
"He..," Diana stammered, clearly in shock, "He"s starting to grow hair!"
Zhao Yao narrowed his eyes. The once milky, smooth skin was gradually obscured by rapidly generated fur.
"See that? The electric currents have unlocked my potential! They have stimulated my growth!" Lightning called out, "I am the Super Pallas"s Cat!"
The blue light was blazing. Every hair that he had lost had been regrown in a matter of seconds. They were wafting in the air, fanned open like a peac.o.c.k"s tail, magnificent as a lion"s mane.
Zhao Yao was beginning to doubt his judgment, "Has this guy really been awakened?"
Lightning let rip another roar, but it quickly flailed into a pitiful cry of pain.
His hair, which had been floating weightlessly, now stood on their ends and resembled steel needles. He fell to the ground, looking very much like a hapless sea urchin.
Zhao Yao"s momentary doubt was cleared immediately.
"What"s wrong?" he asked the cat.
Lightning did not respond at first.
When he spoke, his words came out breathlessly, "Zhao...Zhao Yao...save...save me."
"Huh?"
Lightning trembled. "My...my b.u.t.t....a hair on my b.u.t.t has p.r.i.c.ked my...my crotch."
Zhao Yao took one look at the cat. A trail of blood had started to trickle down his b.u.m.
He shook his head, "Once again, you have proven your power to be completely useless."