Seeing the obviously vigilant expressions of the staff, I feel like it won't do to let this stalemate continue, so I look at Ciri for help.
[Ciri]Sigh...
She sighs and snaps her fingers at Mojito. After that, Mojito grabs the ground with its two front paws and stretches its torso vigorously, making a textbook cat pose, before standing up.
The two staff members take a big step back in front, whereas I stay where I am and look carefully at the "big cat" in front of me.
When Mojito moves, its beautiful and smooth muscle lines show us its strength. To be honest, it's impossible to not be afraid, especially since I have never been in such close contact with Mojito before, but... I really want to pet it to find out how this black panther's fur feels.
After Mojito stands, instead of paying attention to the staff in the distance, it walks over to me and lowers its head, resting its furry head against the back of my hand, and rubs its head back and forth a few times while making a low growling noise.
I turn my hand around and carefully pet its head. Its fur is slightly firm to the touch and isn't as soft as I expected.
After seeing our interactions, the female staff can't resist coming up to us.
[Female Staff]I... Can I pet it too?
After getting Ciri's consent, she reaches out to Mojito.
But Mojito seems to like me more and hides its head behind me, refusing to interact with her.
Fortunately, the female staff is happy even though she didn't get to pet Mojito.
[Female Staff]This is my first time interacting with a real panther in my life. I didn't expect them to be such gentle creatures. As I thought, all species of cats are true friends of humans.
Ciri and I exchange a glance and tacitly decide not to disillusion her.
[Female Staff]I think it will be fine to let it inside if the owners watch it carefully. What do you think?
[Male Staff]I guess it's... okay.
[Male Staff]You two... Did you three make an appointment in advance before coming to Countless Springs today? ...I see. In that case, please follow me, and remember to keep an eye on it.
[player]Relax! I promise that everything will be okay.
While we follow the staff into Countless Springs, I quietly ask Ciri a question.
[player]Why didn't Mojito let the staff touch it?
[Ciri]Letting two people touch it at the same time is beyond Mojito's scope of services. It's not a kitten at a cat café.
They both make money by acting cute, so it's a surprise to learn there is a chain of contempt!!!
Kurone Toujou is already waiting for us in the pavilion in the middle of the lake by the time we get inside Countless Springs. She is sitting behind a screen painted with birds singing in a bamboo forest. I can't see her appearance clearly, and all I can see are some indistinct shadows swaying with the breeze blowing through the pavilion.
Ciri doesn't act like a stranger in front of her. She skips the formalities and starts asking questions from the very beginning.
[Ciri]I've come to ask you about the situation that day when you picked up the red-crowned crane. The more details you can give me the better.
[Kurone Toujou]You're as impatient as ever, hehe. However, it's been a few days now, so please give me some time to think about what happened.
[Kurone Toujou]It was around 10 PM that night when I met the red-crowned crane, and I was just coming back from the East Wind dojo... I think someone was chasing it at that time, and it no longer had the strength to get back up again after it fell to the ground in front of me.
[Kurone Toujou]It was when I picked it up that I noticed the serious injuries on its wings and legs.
[Ciri]Were you the only one there at that time?
[Kurone Toujou]Yes, I didn't have anyone accompany me because East Wind dojo isn't far from Countless Springs... Of course, I didn't dare to rashly confront the people chasing after it at that time, so I took it and hid in a nearby 24-hour convenience store.
[Ciri]Didn't those people search the convenience store?
[Kurone Toujou]Maybe they thought the red-crowned crane wouldn't go inside a convenience store by itself... Anyway, they didn't search that place at that time.
[Ciri]Did you see who they were?
[Kurone Toujou]Through the glass at night, I think I could vaguely see... a group of people who were dressed like thugs and had weapons with them.
Upon hearing this, Ciri suddenly punches the pillar next to her and gives me a fright.
[Ciri]They tricked us.
I instantly understand what she is saying. Ciri thinks that the thug Shijukara we met the other day must have been talking about this red-crowned crane. He was probably lying when he said he was looking for a man called red-crowned crane.
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