Chapter 500 - Find The Missing Piece

"Oy! Are you crazy?!" On the other hand, Owen was more distressed as she barely saved her arm from being torn! "This is not the time to be impressed!" Aghast, he added as he facepalmed. 

"Supervise… yeah, he said that." Owen muttered under his breath, sighing heavily as he wouldn't be able to do anything if Dredd got her. 

Dredd might be a tame lion before Matthew. However, even Paul needed to be cautious around it. After all, a beast would always be a beast. No matter how they treat it as harmless, they couldn't truly bring their guard down just because it's the master's pet.

"Hey, do you think I'm delicious too?" Yet, despite the distressed Owen, Zoey ignored him as all her focus was on Dredd. "Hehe. My charisma is truly something -- you're like your dad, you know?" Zoey radiated with pride, rubbing her chin lightly as a smug grin resurfaced across her lips.

For some reason, Dredd let out another low growl. However, it sounded more softer as he chewed the small piece of meat and rested his chin on the back of his paws. Zoey's eyes lit up once again as she noticed the difference in its demeanor because of her last remarks.

"I see… you treat him like your dad, huh?" She nodded her head in understanding, knitting her brows together. "What? But, aren't you a little old… woah!" Just as Zoey was about to state a 'fact', Dredd suddenly growled which startled her and made her hop a few steps back.

"Okay, okay! I know, I'm sorry if I offended you!" Zoey raised her hands to her shoulder level, calming the offended lion. "Jeez… short tempered, just like someone I know." She muttered, swallowing a mouthful of saliva as Dredd and Matthew's temperament was too similar; both were scary, to make it simple.

"Hmm…" Since Dredd calmed down a little after she apologized, Zoey pursed her lips in a thin line as she squatted down. Her eyes fixated on the sharp lion's eyes, thinking how she could make him eat his snacks and tame it at the same time.

After all, Zoey realized the real purpose of this 'training' already. That was to tame this seemingly untameable beast. If not for Matthew, Zoey wouldn't dare come close to it. However, since it was here and only listened to Matthew, she wanted to try and see if she could befriend Matthew's first child.

"Aren't you hungry?" Zoey asked in a low tone, but Dredd wasn't answering which made her frown. "Of course, you are." She sighed, shaking her head sideways. "Of course, even if you're hungry, you wouldn't eat something that is offered by a stranger, right? You're really smart, it makes my hair rise up." Zoey added, getting the gist of the lion's reluctance to eat the meat she was giving him.

Although it ate the piece of meat she tossed inside his mouth, it was too small it would dissolve before reaching its throat. "I bet even if it's poisoned, it wouldn't be enough to kill you. That's why you're confident, huh?" She muttered in the same tone, blinking her eyes ever so slowly as she stared at it for a very long time.

After minutes of silence, an idea struck her mind which caused the side of her lips to stretch into a smile. "Hey, do you know I was also called black before?" As if talking to a real human who could respond, Zoey began her storytelling with a smile.

While Zoey was telling Dredd a long and interesting story, Owen knitted his brows. He tried to eavesdrop on what she was spouting to Dredd but to no avail. All her words came as muffled sounds as if a bee was buzzing around.

"What is she doing?" He wondered, tilting his head to the side. His eyes then slowly shifted towards Dredd. To his surprise, the latter seemed like it was listening?!

Owen's eyes widened in disbelief. His mouth gaped open as his jaw dropped. "What the…" Words clogged his throat as it seemed like whatever nonsense she was spouting kept Dredd interested. 

Everyone knew that Dredd was rather smart and seemed to understand a person's heart. Thus, even if the most cunning person could go past them, no one could go past Dredd. He would show its dislike on the person and intimidate them -- worse, eat them. 

Fortunately, men like Cecil were already known as someone they couldn't trust. Matthew also knew that. Thus, he would only let Dredd play with them from time to time but he wouldn't let Dredd make them its meal as they still have a purpose to fulfill.

"Don't tell that to anyone, alright?" After a while, Zoey's story-tellling finally came to an end. "This will be our little secret although there are a few people who know about it." She winked, the grin of her lips growing wider.

"If you want to hear more, you should eat. Should I eat it first just to prove it's not poisoned?" She tilted her head to the side, moving her gaze towards the plate full of raw meat. "But, I don't really like eating raw… should I cook something for the two of us? I don't mind since we're both cats." Zoey giggled, proud at the thought of letting Dredd have a taste of her cooking.

However, the sudden recollection of today's breakfast broke her bubble. Her entire smug expression froze as it eventually transitioned to dismay.

"Eh… that's a bad idea. How about I practice first and when I've honed my skills, I'll let you judge it? What do you say?" Zoey shook her head sideways, admitting her wrongs which would surely make Ivan flip if he heard her right now. After all, even if her cooking was terrible in the past, Zoey wouldn't admit it and blame their taste buds.

It was only today that she admitted it -- not just once, but twice! First, to Matthew and now to Dredd! The world must be ending!

*****

Meanwhile….

"So, what can you say about the chip?" Matthew asked, staring at his monitor screen that was connected to several people. His eyes weren't blinking, resting his jaw on the back of his hand.

���This… young master…" From the other end of the line, a man's awed voice came through.

"I see… go through it further and see if it's complete and working." Without further ado, Matthew ended the line and leaned his back against the swivel chair.

"By the way, I've sent you the number to contact me. Though… I respond whenever I feel like it." Those were Inigo's last words before he completely went away. Matthew gazed at his phone. There, an unregistered number left him a miscal the second Inigo said his piece.

'What does he really want?" Matthew whispered, tilting his head back as he closed his eyes. There were just too many questions he had for the man but none of them were answered. Even if Matthew rack his brains, he couldn't put the pieces together properly as there's always one misfit that could match Zoey and Inigo's statements.

"Why… he keeps everything vague…? He whispered once again, his eyes glinting with puzzlement as there were too many pieces that didn't fit together.