The Lost Cat commission had been posted by a mysterious new legendary adventurer, so naturally it stirred up a lot of curiosity at the Adventurers' Guild.
The pay was dirt cheap, but the task itself? Dead simple. No extra effort required—spot a stray on the street, scoop it up, and you're done. With odds like that, tons of adventurers clicked "accept" just for the chance to make a few coins on the side.
Hey, scraps of meat are still meat. And most adventurers were broke.
Because of that, strays kept getting dropped off at the pet shop all morning.
As manager, Rosaria personally handled the handoffs, taking the cats in, patching them up, purifying them, and scrubbing them clean. At first she was awkward, but after enough repetitions she moved through the routine with steady ease.
By noon, everyone decided to revisit that restaurant they'd tried the night before—it had been surprisingly good.
Xia Zhi called Noelle and asked her to bring Eula along.
But Noelle's answer threw him off.
"Miss Eula didn't come in today?"
"That's right, Mr. Xia. She told me yesterday she'd be at the Dragon Pharmacy again this morning, but then sent me a message—something came up, and she's really sorry, but she can't make it. Asked me to find a replacement."
"Was it Reconnaissance Company business?"
"I don't think so. I actually saw one of the company members buying medicine here earlier."
"…Alright. Then come join us for lunch yourself."
"Of course."
Xia Zhi hung up, brows furrowed.
Rosaria sat nearby, feeding dried lake fish to the shop cats. The call had been short, and with their seats so close, she'd heard every word.
She didn't look at him, just kept her head down, voice deliberately casual. "Boss, so Eula's not coming to lunch?"
Xia Zhi shook his head. "Nope. Sounds like she's busy. Didn't even go to the pharmacy today."
Rosaria murmured an acknowledgement, but something sharp flickered in her eyes.
She remembered last night in the baths, warning Eula that members of her family were up to no good. Eula hadn't taken her completely seriously—her face had just soured.
Now she'd skipped work? Odds were high she was already digging into her family's dealings with the Fatui.
Hmph. At least she wasn't an idiot.
Rosaria smoothed her expression back to cold indifference.
Xia Zhi, who'd roleplayed Little White around her before, knew her temperament well enough. She was aloof by default, not the type to care whether Eula joined them for a meal. She should have been more worried about whether the cats were fed.
And yet she'd asked. Quietly. Like she was trying to hide it.
Interesting.
Xia Zhi, amused, switched into his god's-eye perspective to watch her face more closely. Sure enough, her expression had shifted—curiosity sharpened when Eula's name came up.
Given her double life as an executioner, whose duty was extracting the truth from threats to Mondstadt, plus Ningguang's intel this morning about the Lawrence family cozying up to the Fatui…
Yeah. This was getting fun.
Rosaria caught his soft laugh and finally glanced up. "What's funny, boss?"
"Nothing. Just thought of something good. Hurry and finish feeding them—we should get going."
"…Alright."
Her gaze lingered on him a beat longer than usual. She had to admit: her generous boss had a damn good smile.
The afternoon was more of the same. Adventurers came and went, strays in tow.
By closing time, the shop had over fifty cats crammed inside.
If tomorrow's pace kept up, they'd hit the hundred-cat quota for the guild commission in no time.
After dinner, everyone suggested their usual walk.
Rosaria declined. Too many cats. Someone had to stay behind, and she was planning to sleep here instead of returning to the church dorms.
Xia Zhi thanked her, promised a bonus at the end of the month. They hadn't expected such a flood of cats in a single day—no way they could hire fast enough. He'd post a job notice tomorrow, using Dragon Pharmacy's pay scale. Applicants would line up for sure.
And since they were opening a cat-themed bar, they'd need more than waitstaff—they'd need a bartender. Diona could handle the interviews for that.
Qiqi spoke up. "Master, I'll stay tonight too."
"Hm?"
"There are too many cats. Rosaria might not manage alone. Cats are most active at night. She's worked all day—she should sleep. I don't need to. I'm a zombie."
"…Fair point."
"And strays are still wild. Crammed together, they'll fight. I have my whistle. I can calm them."
"Alright. Thank you, then."
"It's no trouble, Master."
Such a thoughtful student.
Xia Zhi patted her head. Qiqi's eyes drifted shut at the warmth. Still the warmest hand.
When the others left, the shop quieted to just Rosaria and Qiqi.
An orange tabby crouched, eyes locked on the fat little snowfinch perched on Qiqi's shoulder. It leapt—
—and got snatched midair by the scruff. Qiqi held it eye-level. "No misbehaving."
The cat mewled pathetically until she set it down.
Moments later, a black cat tried the same thing, this time blocked by Rosaria's hand.
It kept happening. To strays, a plump snowfinch was the ultimate snack. Instinct overrode manners.
Rosaria tossed the black cat aside, scooped up Little White, and asked flatly, "Why do you even keep a snowfinch as a pet?"
"Master gave it to me."
"Oh."
"And I like snowfinchs."
"…Oh."
Two cryo girls talking. The conversation couldn't have been stiffer.
More cats tried lunging, until Qiqi finally sighed, wrapped her snowfinch in a translucent aura shield, and set it down. The cats pounced again and again, bouncing off until they learned better.
Night deepened.
Rosaria tucked her phone away and told Qiqi, "I need to step out. Won't be long. Watch them for me."
Qiqi nodded serenely. "Okay."
At the counter, Rosaria pulled a crystal ball from her hidden drawer and slipped it into her pocket. Without storage magic, she had to carry it herself.
She headed for the door.
A familiar meow stopped her.
Little White padded after her, luminous eyes full of attachment.
She hesitated, then bent down, scooped him up, and held him against her chest as she stepped into the night.
Somewhere outside Mondstadt, Fatui grunts stood guard at a ruin.
Inside a hidden passage, two figures met.
"This dump offends every noble sensibility. But it'll do."
"Let's skip the whining. Did you bring the Mondstadt defense plans?"
"Of course. Right here."
"…Why is it so ugly? The lines are crooked. And what's with these boxes and circles?"
"You dare? I spent forever sketching those! And they're not circles—they're the Knights of Favonius patrol marks!"
"…Fine. Crude, but legible. Can you swear this info is solid?"
"Absolutely. And don't forget our deal. The Lawrence banner will fly atop the Knights' headquarters. The building itself—and the city's rule—returns to our family."
"A win-win arrangement. No need to quibble. We'll make use of this. But for diplomacy's sake, don't expose us."
"Relax. Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know. No one else. When I stand on the Knights' rooftop denouncing their weakness, the citizens will bow again to Lawrence rule! Ha! It all comes back! All of it!"
The passage shuddered with a sharp, grating scrape—like a greatsword dragging across stone.
Schubert and Sergei whipped around. "Who's there?!"
Torchlight revealed a pale, imperious face.
"Eula!? Why are you here?"
"Because I followed you."
"You followed me?!"
"I saw you sneaking off alone at night. Looked suspicious. I was worried for your safety."
Schubert brightened. "Perfect timing! With your help, our plan will be flawless!"
Eula's voice went flat. "Plan? What plan, Uncle?"
"To restore the family's glory, of course!"
"Glory? Heh… I'll pass."
"You! You carry Lawrence blood! You should obey our will!"
"Since when have I ever obeyed?"
"You—traitorous wretch!"
"If anyone should be angry, it's me. You endanger Mondstadt, and in cleaning up your mess I'll be forced into more grudges. You've only made my work harder."
"You dare lecture me? You dare—? How did this family produce—"
Schubert's voice cracked, hysteria rising.
Eula's tone sharpened. "A true noble stays poised and polite. You've lost both, Uncle."
Meanwhile Sergei's eyes darted. While they argued, he bolted deeper into the tunnel, clutching the plans.
Eula snarled, swung her claymore, and charged after him.
A scream split the air.
She frowned, quickening her pace.
At the end of the passage, Sergei writhed on the ground, bloodied.
Rosaria stood above him, twirling a dagger, blade still red. Little White perched by her boots, calm as ever.
Eula's eyes hardened. "You said you wouldn't interfere."
Rosaria's reply was just as cold. "I said I wouldn't meddle in your family's business. He's Fatui. Not family."
Eula bent down, scooping up the paper Sergei had dropped. Patrol routes, Knight insignia—her uncle's handiwork. She tore it to shreds without hesitation.
Rosaria didn't comment, only lowered her gaze to Sergei. "Spit out everything you know."
"I'll never betray the Tsaritsa!"
"…Stubborn."
She ground her heel into his arm. He screamed.
Kneeling, she pressed his limp hand to the crystal ball.
"What's your name?"
"Ser…gei…"
"Tch. That's better."
Expressionless, Eula watched.
At her feet, the white cat watched too.