Voss stopped and slowly turned around. Tony's arrogant gaze locked on him, sharp and disdainful, as though he were staring down at an ungrateful beggar.
"I've changed my mind," Tony said with a sneer. "Twenty million dollars. That's the last of my patience."
The restaurant erupted in shock. Twenty million? That was an astronomical sum. Phones came out everywhere, guests rushing to record the confrontation, terrified they'd miss a historic moment.
Aqua's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Twenty million? Voss, how many dresses could I buy with that?" she whispered.
"Twenty thousand," Voss muttered without turning his head. His eyes stayed fixed on Tony. "And my answer's still the same—Tom isn't for sale."
Tony's expression darkened completely. No one in New York's elite had ever dared to defy him this many times in a row.
The air in the restaurant was heavy, like it could explode at any moment.
"Do you even know what it means to refuse me?" Tony's voice was low, threatening. "In New York, nobody talks to me like this."
"Then today," Voss replied calmly, "you've met the first."
Tom padded to Voss's side, his eyes narrowing at Tony. There was no fear in those feline eyes—only a quiet, regal defiance.
Jerry hopped down from Voss's shoulder to stand firmly beside Tom, his tiny body upright and proud.
Aqua's chest tightened as she watched. Voss was stubborn and often pushed her around, but at this moment, seeing him stand so firmly with Tom and Jerry made something stir inside her—a respect she'd never admit aloud.
"Tony, that's enough," Pepper finally broke in, tugging urgently on his arm. "Look around."
Only then did Tony notice the glowing screens aimed at him. Nearly every guest was filming. A few had even gone live.
"Damn it," Tony muttered under his breath.
"If you keep this up, reporters will be swarming this place in minutes," Pepper whispered sharply. "Do you really want tomorrow's headlines to scream 'Stark Industries Heir Throws Tantrum in Restaurant'?"
Tony's jaw clenched. The last thing he wanted was a scandal dragging down Stark Industries' stock price.
"This isn't over," Tony said coldly, pointing a finger at Voss. "Pray we don't cross paths again."
"Tony!" Pepper snapped, dragging at his arm.
But he shook her off and stalked toward the exit.
Pepper lingered for just a second, giving Voss an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry about all this."
"It's alright," Voss replied with a polite nod. "I understand."
Then she hurried after Tony, the two disappearing through the restaurant doors.
Instantly, the room buzzed with whispers.
"Did you see that? He turned down Tony Stark!""Twenty million dollars—for a cat! That guy's insane!""No… he did the right thing. A friend isn't something you sell."
Voss exhaled slowly, wiping at the cold sweat on his brow. For a second, he'd been sure Tony would explode on the spot. A man with Stark's resources could easily make him disappear from New York overnight.
"Mr. Voss, are you alright?" Franz hurried over, his face pale. "I truly didn't expect anything like this to happen."
"It's not your fault," Voss assured him with a wave. "Tony Stark eats wherever he wants. Nobody can control that."
Tom climbed back onto the piano bench, his tail flicking. Though rattled, he composed himself quickly. A true performer. His paws struck the keys once more, and a gentle melody spread across the room, calming the guests.
The storm was already fading.
Aqua leaned close and whispered, "Don't you regret it? Twenty million dollars!"
"Regret what?" Voss shot back. "Selling a friend?"
"But… but twenty million!" Aqua's eyes were still glittering. "Do you know how many beautiful dresses—"
Voss rolled his eyes. "You brainless goddess, friends aren't for sale."
"Of course not!" Aqua waved her hands quickly. "I just meant… Tony Stark is terrifying."
She wasn't wrong. The sheer authority Tony carried in his presence had been overwhelming—even she could feel it. It was the pressure of someone used to being above everyone else.
"Scary or not," Voss said, watching Tom play, "some lines can't be crossed. Tom and Jerry aren't pets. They're family."
Jerry's eyes shimmered with emotion. He scrambled back up onto Voss's shoulder and patted his cheek gently with one paw.
Tom's playing grew more expressive, every note resonating like a quiet thank-you.
"Family…" Aqua repeated softly. The word felt strange on her tongue. In the Celestial Realm, she'd had believers and subordinates, but never this warmth—never this kind of bond. Voss's stubborn loyalty filled her with something unfamiliar.
Then she frowned suddenly. "Wait, Voss. What if that Tony guy really comes after us?"
Voss was silent for a moment. He was worried. Tony's reach in New York was immense. If Stark really wanted revenge, there were endless ways.
"When the soldiers come, we'll meet them head-on. If floods come, we'll build the dam," Voss said finally. "Worst case, we pack up and move to another city."
"Move?" Aqua gasped. "But what about Tom's job?"
"There'll be other jobs," Voss replied simply. "Tom's too talented to worry about that. And if not, we can always go back to street performances. He'll manage."
Tom's performance stretched on for two hours, from classical masterpieces to lively modern pieces. The applause was thunderous. The earlier fight was nothing but a fading memory.
"Absolutely brilliant!" an elderly woman cheered. "That was the finest piano performance I've ever heard!"
"A genius, that cat's a genius!" another guest agreed.
Franz approached Voss again, smiling with relief. "Mr. Voss, Tom outdid himself tonight. The guests are thrilled."
"Thank you," Voss said, though unease still lingered. Tony's parting words—This isn't over—kept replaying in his mind.
When the last note ended, Tom stood and bowed with dignity. The room thundered with applause.
"Tom is amazing!" Aqua said, genuinely excited. "Even this goddess was moved!"
Jerry hopped onto Tom's shoulder, patting him proudly on the cheek.
"Alright, it's late. We should head back," Voss said, checking his watch. It was almost half past ten.
Tom changed out of his tuxedo and returned to his usual form, though he still carried the elegance of the night's performance.
"Mr. Franz, we'll be heading out," Voss said.
"Take care, Mr. Voss. See you tomorrow, Mr. Tom." Franz waved warmly.
The four of them stepped into the New York night. Neon lights glowed, cars rushed by, and the city hummed with life.
"The nights in this world are so beautiful," Aqua said, staring up at the glowing sky. "It's livelier than the Celestial Realm."
"Is the Celestial Realm lonely, then?" Voss asked absently.
"Not lonely, just… stiff. Too many rituals, too much prayer. It's not fun like this," Aqua admitted.
Ahead of them, Tom and Jerry walked side by side, clearly deep in conversation. Jerry gestured wildly while Tom nodded here and there.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Aqua asked curiously.
"Probably tonight's performance," Voss guessed. "Jerry must be showering Tom with praise."
But before they could laugh, several familiar figures appeared up the street.
Voss's heart dropped. "Oh, hell no…" He froze on instinct.
It was them—the same punks Tom and Jerry had humiliated in the alley days ago. The bald leader, the tall skinny one, the heavyset one. Every single one of them.