Chapter 96 - TO THE DESERT

"You, kitty, there are no mice in the desert. Are you sure you can handle it? You are a city cat, aren't you?" Arthur asked her.

His sudden question startled Veronica. 'What mouse? I don't want a mouse!' She shook her head vigorously.

Arthur chuckled at her reaction. "Do you not like mice? What kind of cat are you? Oh right, your kind is a natural enemy to mice. But, cats eat mice though. Why don't you give it a try?"

In reply, Veronica shook her head once again. Even if she died, she wouldn't eat a mouse.

Arthur mentioned, "You must be from a rich family. Your owner put on a fancy collar on you. Why did you leave them? Hmm?"

Veronica didn't have to look at the collar on her neck. It was the green gem necklace she had regularly worn. After talking to Leticia, she slipped into her room and grabbed her locket before leaving the castle. Then, she asked Felix to make it into a cat collar. With that gem, Felix made her a decent collar.

"Meow," Veronica shook her head and rubbed her head on his stomach affectionately. 'How long do I have to act like a cat? I can't take this anymore,' she thought. She cried without shedding tears.

"Oh? You like me more than your owner? What an ungrateful cat you are," Arthur mocked her.

Veronica wanted to pounce on him and scratch him with her sharp nails. 'This guy. I will tear him off once I become human. He is the ungrateful one. He knew I was missing and yet set out on a journey across the desert. Hmph!'

A few days later, they reached their destination. There were some small tents that looked like makeshift houses. That was where the desert tribe lived.

As soon as they reached a considerably closer distance, Veronica saw several women cooking in a huge pot near one of the largest tents. The women saw Arthur as one of them shouted after noticing them walk closer, "Look, it's Arthur!"

Everyone dropped whatever they were doing and immediately came to greet him.

"Arthur, is that you?"

"How are you, Arthur?"

"Didn't you just leave just two months ago? Why did you come back so quickly?

"What now? I just got here and you want me to leave already?" Arthur's tone was surprisingly pleasant. The corner of his lips lifted slightly as he joked.

"…" Veronica looked at him with her round eyes. It was the first time she had ever seen him being so carefree. Whenever she was with him, he would always don either a serious or a flirty demeanor. Well, not all the time but most of the time.

Even during the journey, he didn't talk much. It was like something was weighing on his mind. Now that she saw how carefree and relaxed he looked around those tribal people, she subconsciously became relaxed as well.

Someone noticed her and said, "Oh, you brought a pet this time. Did you want to gift it to us?"

'Eek! Giving to them? No way! I won't leave Arthur's side!' Veronica flinched and hugged Arthur's arm tightly.

"Oh my! Look at the kitten. It's so smitten with you."

"It's because it's a female. All kinds of women fall for him."

"Arthur is such a sinner."

The women giggled as they teased him.

"Yes, this kitty is my girlfriend. Be careful around her," as Arthur spoke, he hoisted her close to his mouth and brushed his lips over her head. He didn't miss the chance to joke as well.

Veronica blushed. Her face grew hotter. 'Is he insane? What is he talking about?' She rebuked him in her mind. No matter how many times she scolded him, her heart kept racing.

An elderly woman reprimanded him, "Enough! Don't be naughty with an animal. Look at the cat. Poor kitty froze after you kissed her."

"She is attached to me. Can't you see?" Arthur shrugged. He didn't seem to be offended at all.

"You have come a long way, Arthur." An elderly came out of his tent and walked toward them. He had a stern expression on his face but his eyes had a generous look. Even so, he looked dignified. "You must have something important to talk about."

Arthur respectfully bowed to him, the leader of the desert tribe, and responded, "Can't I just come to meet the people who raised me? How heartless do you think I am?"

Veronica was surprised. 'So, Arthur is from the desert tribe! Is this why he could get his hands on those tribal clothes so easily when we were going to the enemy camp?'

"It looks like your pet understood your words. Its facial expression changed," the elderly man commented. His sharp eyes were observing her.

Veronica was startled. 'I should be more careful,' she thought.

"Yes, I have been training her all this time. She got better," Arthur rubbed her soft head.

"Meow!" Veronica gleefully showed what a perfect cat she was.

"Hmm," the elderly man hummed and tilted his head. "Come inside."

"I will prepare some meal for you and the kitty," the elderly woman said.

Arthur entered the tent along with the elderly man and Veronica. He placed her on the ground and sat down as well.

"Speak your will," the leader of the desert tribe demanded.

"I want to know the reason why Synetia and Riverhill are fighting for control over the desert," Arthur directly went to business. He did not want to beat around the bush.

Veronica was looking around the room. She paused when she heard his words. 'So, that's why he is here,' she thought.

"That's because they are greedy," the leader of the desert tribe bluntly answered.

Arthur didn't buy his answer. He stated, "I know something very valuable is with you. Somehow they found out about it. And now, they want to get it from you."

The leader was still firm with his answer, "There is only golden dust here, nothing more."

"I'm not a child waiting to hear fairy tales, grandfather," Arthur didn't let him go either. "I need to know the root of everything. I have to protect you all."