Chapter 386 - Dredd The Black Lion

Shortly after Cecil and Jimmy got out of their vehicle, they were once again made to pass through another body inspection right away upon entering the mansion. They were checked for weapons and anything that could be used as a potential weapon.

Once they were good, Cecil headed inside casually. On the other hand, Jimmy instinctively raised his guard up. The location of the mansion, although near the city, was well hidden by civilization. Even if Cecil decided to shoot him down right at this moment, no one would hear the gunshot as they were entering a mansion which seemed to exist in some other world.

'He wouldn't just kill me, right?' Jimmy wondered, glancing at Cecil's back nervously. 'Right, he still needs me.' He convinced himself, nodding lightly as he looked around once again.

The mansion was well cleaned, not a speck of dust could be seen lying on the shining furniture. Yet,aside from its cleanliness, the whole mansion was heavily guarded, as if the person living here was a royalty.

One could tell because they were searched thoroughly. The guards didn't even bat an eye as they roughly groped all over them. 'Just who is the person living here?' Jimmy thought. 'That even Cecil didn't mind the insulting process with his position?' Yet, no matter how curious Jimmy was, he could feel his heart race as they walked in a certain direction.

*GROWL* 

Just then, Jimmy jolted as he walked, hearing the loud and terrifying growl of something. In an instant, Jimmy looked around where Cecil had stopped. There, not far from their side, stood a young man with a big cat to his side.

"Ah!" Jimmy squealed, his knees shook as his eyes fixated on the big cat glowering at him. "So… so huge…" He muttered through his trembling lips. 

Instinctively, Jimmy took a step back while the black lion with its shaggy silver mane walked ever so slowly towards them. "Stop moving!" Jimmy heard Cecil order, causing Jimmy's feet to come to a halt on the marbled floor.. 

"Don't worry, Mr. Feng. Dredd doesn't bite." The man comforted, giving them a polite smile while the black lion named Dredd approached their guests. "He just becomes sensitive when the Young Master has guests." He added, nodding in reassurance. 

However, Jimmy didn't feel reassured. As the huge rare black lion approached, he realized how huge it was. Doesn't bite? Well, it looks like he wouldn't just bite anyone but rip a person apart, savoring its flesh if he gets a chance. 

"Ha ha…" Still, although at the back of his head the only thought in Jimmy's head was to run, yet his knees were too terrified to take another step back. 

*Grr…* Dredd first approached Cecil, walking around him, as if studying the person and deciding where to start ripping his flesh apart. 

Cecil didn't budge a muscle, gulping down a mouthful of saliva. As he felt the big cat species that was to be the king of the jungle dominating the wilds being fostered in this mansion, Cecil couldn't hide his nervousness before its regality. 

This wasn't his first time seeing the majestic beast, but he couldn't help but tremble before its piercingly sharp orange-brown eyes. Dredd's eyes as it scrutinized him just seemed like he was uncovering a person's very soul.

It roared lowly, before taking slow steps with his huge paws towards Jimmy. However, the more it came close, the faster the latter's heart raced. "No, no, no, please…" His voice shook along with his entire being.

"Jim, just don't move!" Annoyed at how his subordinate was panicking, Cecil ordered. However, Jimmy was too consumed by his fear that he began taking a step back. "Jim!" Cecil shouted, but it was too late as Jimmy began sprinting away.

"Ahhhh! Please, noo! Help!" Out of fear, Jimmy ran as fast as he could. Alas, his action was nothing but foolish as it triggered the huge lion's animal instinct.

*ROAR* 

It roared. Dredd's feet picked up its pace every so slowly, running after the retreating man. Its steps were heavy, causing Jimmy's heart to pound louder. "Ah!" Before he knew it, Jimmy was pinned down, chest flat on the marbled floor; his chin crashed against it, causing him to bite his tongue.

Yet, the weight of Dredd's paw was enough to restrain him from struggling which he didn't do. Jimmy just closed his eyes, praying for his dear rotten life to be spared. Upon the next roar, Jimmy shivered as he awaited for its sharp teeth to rip his neck apart in one go. He just prayed it would be over quickly!

"Dredd," Just after the second roar resonated across the spacious lobby of the mansion, a calm yet commanding voice reached everyone's ear. Dredd stopped, closing his already opened mouth and lifted his paws up from Jimmy's back.

Without further ado, the rare and terrifying lion strode towards the person who had just arrived. As soon as Dredd reached his feet, its tail wagged from side to side as if it was a normal pet seeking affection from its owner. 

"Good boy," His hand petted its shaggy silver mane.

Jimmy, who nearly lost his wits, slowly opened his eyes. Still on the floor, his gaze slowly moved upward. There, he saw the lion and a person's leather shoes, slowly moving his gaze up before his eyes widened upon seeing how young the man was, now busy petting the beast which had almost eaten him alive.

"Paul, don't spoil Dredd by giving him fresh meat." The man muttered while the huge lion turned instantly from being the prideful breast to just an oversized cat who loved its master's caress.

"My apologies, young master. Mister Feng couldn't understand simple instructions." Paul, bowed his head as a sign of deep apologies for not stopping his master's pet. Yet, half of his words pushed the blame to Jimmy heartlessly -- as if it was his fault for not listening and succumbing to his own survival instinct. 

Somehow, someway, Paul had a point. If only Jimmy listened to his boss Cecil, if only he didn't move, Dredd wouldn't try to eat him. Unfortunately, he didn't. Thus, Dredd's instinct was to drag him back even if it means having his one leg as his snack.

Meanwhile, Cecil snapped from his trance as he had earlier thought that his most useful puppet would be done for. "Young Master Xi!" When he realized that the person he came for was now standing not far away from him with his rare pet, Dredd, beside him, Cecil's knees suddenly crashed on the floor as he bowed. "Please forgive my subordinate! It's his first time coming here, he didn't know the rules!" 

For someone like Cecil to beg and kowtow in front of someone, Jimmy was dumbfounded as his stunned eyes fixated on the young man his boss had addressed as young master Xi. "XI Matthew…?" Confused, traumatized, and mindblown, Jimmy Feng muttered under his breath.

"My apologies for my assistant's behavior, Master Feng." Matthew offered a meek smile, which made Paul take another deep bow even though Jimmy was too stupefied to turn his head in his direction. 

"We have rules in this house and he sometimes gets…" Matthew paused, pondering the right term which could be used to define something that triggered his assistant to be ruthless. "....annoyed, when the order is disrupted."