"Sorry, Uncle Biznes, Tom is not for sale under any circumstances," Zhang Da Ye said, handing him a tissue to wipe his face. "I'll compensate for your clothes, but please don't bring up buying Tom again."
He wasn't angry. No matter how clever Tom was, to outsiders he was just a cat. A piano-playing cat might seem like a business opportunity—whether selling to nobles or promoting as a celebrity animal—but Zhang Da Ye knew better. Asking about the price was normal, and clarifying the boundaries was enough.
As for whether a Celestial Dragon might cause trouble, it was unlikely. There were plenty of intelligent animals on this sea, like the sea otter under Old Sha's command who could sketch.
"No problem, it's just clothes," Biznes replied politely, dabbing his face with a handkerchief. After a moment, he asked, "Are you sure? I guarantee I won't harm it, and I can offer this amount."
Zhang Da Ye had no interest in guessing the number he indicated. Speaking more firmly than before, he said, "Consider Tom as family. It's not about money."
"I see. I was presumptuous, I apologize," Biznes said, not pressing further, but instead apologizing for his behavior.
Biznes paid politely and left. Despite his stained collar, he maintained his composure. Watching him leave, Zhang Da Ye said, "Artoria, I think I'm developing persecutory delusions."
"What happened?" Artoria asked, willing to sacrifice a little snack time to check on him.
"I thought that uncle would try coercion if persuasion failed. He's a big merchant; he might have eighty sailors and guards under him. Normally, being rejected and having a face-full of tomato would justify losing temper. But he stayed so calm."
Artoria put down her teacup and said, "I'm here."
Zhang Da Ye nodded, "Yes, so I wasn't worried at all. I just wondered if anyone else would target Tom and try to seize him."
Looking him in the eyes, Artoria repeated, "I'm here."
Zhang Da Ye quietly refilled her tea, thinking, wow, her boyfriend skills are off the charts. If I were a girl, I'd fall for her.
Leaving the tavern, Biznes returned to his merchant ship. His assistant reported, "Boss, news of the three siblings came back."
Biznes asked, "How did it go?"
The assistant said, "They were subdued instantly. The blonde girl is the tavern's guard; she used only a broom. The tavern owner had a gun, and even the cat carried a pistol. The island rumors are largely true."
Biznes was puzzled: "Why would such skilled people work as guards in a small tavern? Any leads on their origins? Does the tavern have powerful backing?"
The assistant shook his head: "No trace. The girl appeared suddenly before the tavern opened. The young owner and his cat arrived over a month ago after a shipwreck. They stayed with the Goodman family for a month, captured the 8-million-bounty sword Sword, and used the reward to buy the tavern. They're familiar with local workers but have no influential connections."
These weren't secrets; anyone could piece it together by chatting with locals. The Sword capture stood out, but most other reports were factual.
Biznes stroked his mustache. "I didn't expect it would be so troublesome just to get a cat."
"Boss, why not act directly? It's only a small tavern, and even if they're skilled, there are only two people," the assistant asked.
Biznes shook his head: "Someone capable of handling an 8-million-bounty criminal isn't simple. The sea has countless strong individuals who can face hundreds alone. That girl radiates danger, so we avoid obvious risks. We're merchants—we buy things with money."
"But they won't sell," the assistant noted, realizing the logic.
"They won't sell, but others might," Biznes said with a smile.
The assistant hesitated: "Is there a second cat like this?"
"If sellers lack stock, they'll find it themselves. How they source it is none of our business," Biznes replied, eyeing him. "Any more questions, ask them quickly, then get to work."
"Yes, boss. I just don't understand. There are many smart animals, even furry species as intelligent as humans. Is it really worth such effort for one clever cat?"
"That's because you only know it plays the piano. You don't know how well—it's top-tier. Acquiring it guarantees enormous profit!" Biznes's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Zhang Da Ye, of course, had no idea how accurate his intuition was. The polite, charming man was secretly scheming to steal his cat. On the surface, he seemed friendly, but behind the smile, he was decisively calculating—a textbook example of someone like Biznes.
Unaware of this, Zhang Da Ye was busy comforting Tom, who clung to his leg, pleading not to be abandoned. Tom even piled up his private snacks, offering them in exchange for staying with him. Zhang Da Ye soothed him with oaths and reassurances, finally calming him down.
Fortunately, Tom was resilient and soon ran off to compete with Artoria in a donut-eating contest. The ultimate winner was the pastry shop owner, whose face bloomed into a smile as Zhang Da Ye entered for the third time today.
"Considering Tom's bad mood, I'll let him indulge a bit," Zhang Da Ye told himself, though it hurt—today's efforts felt wasted.
"A little money isn't worth more than Tom's happiness!" he tried to reason, yet it still pained him.
Thinking rationally, he convinced himself that letting the pastry shop owner profit would increase local spending, which might eventually attract more tavern customers. "I'm not really losing… right?"
Unable to resist, he joined the contest too—after all, such opportunities didn't come every day, and there were ways to make money.
Tom had drifted through life, regretting never meeting a worthy master. Only votes could support him, for nothing else could be taken from behind.