"...A Holy Emperor, huh," Old Man Leng's wife murmured to herself.

We were all currently gathered within the gadget shop - Old Man Leng himself was here as well, together with Flaria. The girls and I had just finished reporting what happened back to these two, and were now waiting for their response.

"Hm...my guess is that the Holy Emperor is from within' Fragment," Old Man Leng said.

"Then why is she out here?" Yu An Yan asked.

"Well, Fragment is more or less small compared to out 'ere. Some people just wanna have fun, y'know? Since they already passed the test, they can return to Fragment at any time, usin' a special item given to them when they pass."

"You're...awfully knowledgeable about how this works, for someone living outside of Fragment," I noted quietly.

"Well, my- ahem...our son lives inside Fragment, and we visit him from time to time," Old Man Leng replied, changing 'my' to 'our' after receiving a look from his wife.

"Why can't you just stay there permanently?" Feng Mian asked, confused. I had the same question.

"Well, ya see...the IMF doesn't allow that," Old Man Leng answered with a sigh. "Remember what I said about this place bein' a death arena where only the strongest can make it into Fragment? Yeah...just because ya make it in, doesn't mean yer family and friends can. The most the IMF will allow is annual visits. They're very strict 'bout this stuff."

"That's...cruel," Qing Yue mused, a look of disgust on her face.

"Yeah, well...it fits in line with their bullshit elitist philosophy just fine. It is what it is," Old Man Leng's wife replied. "In any case...you said your companion got 'kidnapped', essentially?"

I nodded. "...That woman was too fast...we were completely overpowered by her. I tried shooting, but she just turned into black mist and escaped."

"Understandable," Old Man Leng remarked. "That's a Level Three Shadow Element spell, called Umbral Mist. Bein' a Holy Emperor, it's no surprise she knows this spell. Don't blame this on yerself, pal. The power difference is just too huge."

"That being said...I still want to get Mei Gui back, somehow," I said determinedly.

"Oh...? Even after experiencing the might of a Holy Emperor yourself, you still want to fight her?" Old Man Leng's wife asked, slightly surprised by my proposal.

"That...compared to what Mei Gui has done for me, is nothing," I replied.

"Hm...very well. The information you have given me is pretty useful, so I'll help you out in return. We may not look it, but my husband and I are actually Ancestral Mages."

Uh...you do look it. Really, you do.

"Your help would be appreciated," I said, bowing slightly.

"Alrighty. Let's grab some food first - it's 'round time for lunch...10 PM. Then we can discuss our plan from there," Old Man Leng decided, and we all nodded in response.

*****

- A While Later, A Certain Chinese Food Diner -

"So - first things first - do ya have any clues as to where that woman took yer friend?" Old Man Leng asked, munching on some fried rice.

I nodded. "She said she would be using her as a test subject for her business partner - in other words, that mad scientist, in the lab below the movie theatre."

"Oh boy, I don't like the sounds of that," Old Man Leng's wife muttered.

"Yeah, me neither...which is why I want to save her as soon as possible," I replied.

"Well, we're going up against a Holy Emperor here...I doubt just us will be enough," Feng Mian noted.

"I agree. Which is why...we'll need reinforcements," Old Man Leng's wife added. "Any ideas as to who we could ask? I mean, my husband and I can probably find some people, but you can't count on that."

"Hm...well, we're new to The Fortress, and truth to be told, the only people we've really had any interaction with are you two," I said with a dejected sigh.

"Wait, Big Brother Xuan Kai," Qing Yue said, pulling on my sleeve. "Wasn't there...that catgirl? Y'know, the one who we first saved when we just entered this place?"

I fell into thought. "Oh yeah...there is her, but...she's already paid us back by helping out when we fought the Bloodthirsters. She's under no more obligation to help us again."

"Hm...catgirl, ya say?" Old Man Leng murmured to himself. "I think I know who ya may be talkin' 'bout."

"Oh? You know her?" I asked.

"Not her specifically, no...but her clan, yes. Ya see, all demihumans within Fragment have their own clan," Old Man Leng explained. "She belongs to the Neko Clan...but one thing bothers me...they have always been a clan that sticks together and doesn't interact with outsiders fer the most part. Why is this girl out here runnin' wild?"

"That girl's part of a clan? But her living conditions..." Feng Mian murmured.

Riiiiiight. She lives in a...doghouse? As a catgirl. I'm pretty sure this 'Neko Clan' or whatever is able to afford a proper living space for its clan members.

"Looks like we'll have to find out from her ourselves," I said with a sigh. "Obsidia, can you track her down based on her scent? You remember it, right?"

Obsidia nodded. "This is the one thing phoenixes can do, and yet because the poor little birdie was not with us on our mission, she has no idea what our target smells like. How tragic."

"H-Hey! That's not my fault! Master was the one who forced me to stay behind!" Flaria protested.

I rolled my eyes. "Guys, calm down. Stop bickering every chance you get. After we're done eating, let's head out."

*****

"I believe...this is close to her home...I don't remember the exact location, but this should be close enough for you, Obsidia," I said, then turned to Obsidia. Only the two of us were here on this expedition - the rest of us stayed behind to devise a more detailed plan on how we'll infiltrate the facility.

"Do you smell her scent?" I asked.

"Yes...it is quite potent, in fact. Follow me," she replied confidently, then began walking, rounding the corner.

I followed, and eventually, after a few minutes, we arrived at her 'dog (cat) house'. I could see a long and furry tail sticking out - she was clearly there.

But if I remember correctly...don't demihumans have a strong sense of smell? How has she not noticed that we're here? Wait...is she...sleeping?

I signaled for Obsidia to tread lightly. As we got closer, I could hear faint snores.

Yep. She's sleeping alright. But...I don't know when she'll be waking up. Sorry, but I'm going to have to disturb you from your sleep by force.

Thinking this, I gave her tail a tug.

"Kyaaa-!" she yelped, snapping out of dreamland. "W-W-W-What the hell was thyat fur?!"

"Sorry..." I muttered guiltily. "We kinda need your help."

"Hm? Nya...you're that human!" the catgirl exclaimed, pointing at my face. "Didn't we already gyet even? Shoo, I'm tryna take a nyap!"

Okay...time to be shameless.

"Nah, we're nowhere near even," I said defiantly. "I saved your life. And truth to be told, we could've gotten out of that building just fine without your Space Magic. And well, we were doing fine against that gang before you got there, so...you didn't pay us back at all."

"W-Wha-?! Hyow can you say that?!" the catgirl exclaimed, astonished with my shamelessness.

Ugh...endure it...!

"Now, before you reject anything, hear me out," I said, cutting her off. "My companion...was recently taken away from me by someone. I want your help getting her back."

"Who...?" the catgirl asked, tilting her head.

"Do you remember the girl who wielded a sword? She's the one who got taken away," I said, casting my eyes downwards.

"Oh..." she fell into thought. After a while, she continued. "Fine! I'll hyelp you, but only if I get a reward out of it!"

Oh god, what is she going to demand...?! Ugh...it's fine...no matter what she asks for, it can't be valued more than Mei Gui.

"...What do you want for your reward?" I asked nervously.

"Food fur one year!"

I blinked.

"Huh?" Obsidia and I said at the same time.

"What? Can't afford it? Meow...sorry thyen, but I'm nyot helping."

"Uh, no...it's just...I was expecting a bigger demand, that's all," I replied.

Food for one year...shouldn't be that hard to acquire, with the help of Old Man Leng and his wife.

"Hm? Meow! Then...food for two years!" the catgirl exclaimed, excitement dazzling in her bright pink eyes.

I sighed. "...Sure. Want me to throw in a suitable living environment while you're at it?"

"Mm...yes! That would be purrfect!" the catgirl yelled, smiling happily.

"Well then, come on. There's a few people you should meet - some of them you may know already though," I said, turning around. "And...there's also some questions we would like to ask you once we get back to our temporary headquarters."

"Meow~kay!"