Various small skirmishes that continue to occur have made the two settlements tense, ready to erupt into war at any moment.
Inside Shrew Villa, a graceful white Cat Person reclines at an angle on the chair with a slight frown.
The breed of this Cat Person is Linqing Lion Cat, with a blue left eye and a yellow right eye, a slender figure covered in smooth white fur.
She is the queen of Shrew Villa, named Ataya, honored as Chengde, symbolizing a throne achieved through sincerity and virtue.
Of course, such sayings are something even the kittens of Shrew Villa wouldn’t believe.
She was able to become the leader simply because she had the biggest fists.
Moreover, initially, Shrew Villa didn’t have any queens, at most there was a Manor Lord. But since the opposite side titled themselves the Pygmy Overlord, just being a Manor Lord felt undignified, hence the position of the queen came to be.
Now Ataya was in a predicament; repeated provocations from Pygmy Canyon have lowered relations to freezing point, with war on the verge of breaking out.
But Ataya doesn’t want to fight a war. Both sides have been neighbors for so many years, and Ataya knows the character and strength of the opposing leader very well. She understands that both villages have equivalent powers, and if a fight breaks out, both will suffer greatly.
Furthermore, both the cat and mouse tribes are under the protection of Mia Animal Kingdom, and perhaps the Animal Kingdom also wouldn’t tolerate them initiating war.
Most importantly, the Pygmy Overlord also doesn’t want to start a war.
She can sense an invisible hand intensifying the conflict between the two tribes, aiming to achieve certain objectives through it.
Recently, she’s been keeping an eye on the situation surrounding the villa and occasionally senses something covertly watching, although she can’t see the true form of that thing.
Moreover, inside the ancestral hall of Shrew Villa, a box left by forebears has been frequently making abnormal noises...
She may be rational, but other Cat People can’t understand her sentiments.
At this moment, they are enraged by the frictions between the two races, emotions compromised by anger, always ready for a deadly battle with those mice.
The Cat People aren’t receptive to reason. Any random gesture from the Pygmy Rats is viewed as an infringement of their rights, a disrespect. Some Cat People who delight in conspiracies are even spreading rumors about the Pygmy Rats.
For instance, saying the Pygmy Rat tribes were created by mad scientists, carrying contamination that makes Cat People unhealthy.
Or stating that the Pygmy Rat tribe is an evil race, planning on exterminating Cat People ever since moving here.
These rumors are nonsense, but in the current context, they have gained traction, and the leadership at the villa, attempting to speak reason, are suspected by Cat People of colluding with outside enemies.
Under such circumstances, Ataya can’t ease the tension. Once the discord accumulates to a certain extent, war will inevitably break out, even Ataya can’t stop it.
Just then, a calico kitten rushed into Ataya’s office, panting heavily, "Queen Chengde, something serious has happened!"
"Is it those rats attacking?" Ataya shivered.
"No, no." The little Cat Person panted a couple of times, "A human has arrived, carrying Lord Osno’s order."
Upon hearing Osno’s name, Ataya immediately became serious, stood up ready to go greet, knowing that the continued existence of Shrew Villa relies entirely on Emperor Weitu’s protection, and Osno is the spokesperson for Weitu here.
"Her Majesty the Queen, wait a moment, that human is very annoying." The calico kitten called out to Ataya.
Ataya’s face darkened, "Did he bully you?"
"No, no... I’m not sure how to explain, anyway, he’s just really annoying." The calico kitten thought for a moment, unable to find words to describe the person who had arrived.
Ataya temporarily put aside her doubt and quickly walked toward the guest house, her expression slightly unhappy.
She regards each cat in Shrew Villa as her children, so if this messenger is really bullying her subjects...
It seems she can’t do anything, after all, they are living under someone else’s roof.
As she walked, her mood grew increasingly downcast. Usually at this time, there would be Cat People sunbathing on the roadsides, rooftops, or walls, but this time she saw none.
Where have these Cat People gone, could this messenger truly have dire intentions?
Near the guest house, her face grew darker, and her whiskers quivered, sharp teeth prominently displayed. She heard sounds like fighting behind the wall, along with many Cat People incessantly murmuring!
She imagined many brutal scenes, but once she entered the gate, the scenario was entirely different from what she had imagined.
A man with somewhat small eyes was sitting smiling on a chair, with dozens of differently colored Cat People lying at his feet.
Of course, these Cat People weren’t beaten down but lazily lay at the man’s feet, eyes listless, holding a dark green sphere, occasionally licking it.
The sporadic murmuring noises were coming from the mouths of these indifferent Cat People.
There were also many Cat People watching, staring brightly at the man, with some even drooling.
Wen Wen held two catnip balls, rotating them continuously in his hands, the Cat People’s gazes following the movement of the catnip balls.
These Cat People wanted the catnip balls in Wen Wen’s hands, but Wen Wen’s conditions made them feel a bit ashamed, so they all watched, relying on willpower to resist the temptation of the catnip balls.
Actually, the Cat People of Shrew Villa, at least could be considered a wise species and have seen things like catnip before. In fact, inside the villa, catnip was a popular item, akin to cigarettes in the human world.
But the catnip balls Wen Wen took out weren’t ordinary goods, but an enhanced catnip created by the Hunters Association when dealing with the Tiger-like Tribes. Its allure to these Cat People was very strong.
Meanwhile, on the other side where Tao Qingqing was, the scene was entirely different, with hundreds of bats flying in mid-air. However, these bats weren’t used for combat but as cat toys.
More than twenty little cats of various colors raced after those little bats, and the fight sounds were coming from there.
Seeing this harmonious scene, Ataya smiled, "You must be Mr. Osno’s messenger, it’s the first time I’ve seen the little ones so close to a human."
Then she puzzledly looked at the calico kitten, "Why did you say he’s annoying?"
"Because, because he said if I wanted that sphere, I had to rub my head against his leg and let him pet my head and tickle me." The calico kitten said aggrievedly.
Wen Wen shrugged innocently, "I just like cats. When I encounter ordinary cats, I do the same. This isn’t illegal, right?"