Raven was utterly dumbfounded.

  Raven knew Lion had always been one to pretend to be righteous while being utterly shameless when it came to dirty tricks. But he never expected Lion to stoop this low—he actually reported them to the military police!

  Reported to the military police!!!

  *Damn you, Lion!*

  Raven nearly choked.

  If it weren’t for the fact that they never publicly revealed themselves and even used fake photos on the wanted posters, Raven would have been exposed right away.

  Thinking about it, Lion was far more cunning than him. He remembered that Lion’s name on the wanted poster was also fake!

  Unlike Raven, who stood tall and proud, not changing his name or alias, and named his pirate group ‘Raven Pirate Group’ without any fancy embellishments.

  *Trash Lion!*

  Raven watched as Lion nonchalantly accepted the plaque from the visitors and then tossed it aside once they left.

  The tired-looking bodyguard politely saw them off and returned, standing at the door.

  He looked down at the discarded plaque, his expression heavy with the weight of life, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

  *I’m tainted.*

  *I’m no longer that cool and mighty pirate.*

  The bodyguard pulled a cigarette from his pocket, holding it between his lips.

  Seeing someone else suffer, Raven felt a bit better.

  He clicked his tongue, "That's going to be a great joke if it gets out."

  "A joke?" Lion, stroking the cat, scoffed, "Stupid, this is clearly a brilliant plan to kill two birds with one stone."

  Raven was taken aback, then his eyes widened.

  Indeed, it was a clever move.

  Using this strategy elsewhere, one could raid an opponent’s base, then report it to the military police, ensuring the base couldn’t be reclaimed. Plus, getting paid by both sides—what bliss!

  Raven rubbed his hands excitedly, quickly opening a star map to find Asmodeus’s floating islands.

  Floating islands refer to planets scattered outside the core territories of major powers, isolated and unable to receive immediate assistance.

  Like islands adrift in a vast sea, far from the mainland.

  Raven looked at the scattered stars, smiling gently.

  *Watch me take you down, you damn fool!*

  Raven walked to the far end of the courtyard, enthusiastically making arrangements.

  These floating islands weren’t particularly useful to Raven. He hadn’t acted on them before because he lacked the manpower to defend them. But now, he could hand them over to the military police and extort them!

  *Huh.*

  As expected of a plan devised by Lion.

  So dirty.

  Raven felt a new world opening up before him!

  Would it hurt his reputation?

  *Pfft.*

  What a joke!

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  What reputation does a pirate need?

  The only reputable pirate standing at the door, watching Raven get hoodwinked by his boss, fell silent.

  *Lionheart doesn’t oppose you, letting you grow, but you’re still second best. You still don’t get why, do you?*

  The bodyguard sighed inwardly, picking up the plaque to throw it away.

  Fenix wasn’t paying attention to their cryptic conversation. His gaze followed the plaque the bodyguard carried, his mind fixated on the 1.3 million credit reward.

  Oh my God.

  One point three million.

  Fenix sniffled.

  If it weren’t for his special circumstances, those credits would have been his!

  One point three million!

  Tax-free, pure one point three million.

  What could one do with 1.3 million?

  Buy a decent multi-functional vehicle.

  Eat at food stalls until the end of time.

  Rent a prime shop in Marina City’s downtown for five years.

  Put it in the bank, earning at least 60,000 annually.

  Invest wisely, and it could double soon.

  Buy a house outright in Fenix’s hometown.

  If his parents had some savings, they could even afford a down payment on a garden villa!

  Sigh.

  He lost a garden villa.

  Fenix slumped, rubbing against Lion’s finger scratching his chin, his heart filled with sorrow.

  Forget it.

  If Fenix drifted around Marina City for a few more years, he might be able to scrape enough for a capsule apartment.

  Otherwise, save for a few years, buy a house back home to live with his parents.

  If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen; if not, let it go…

  *Waaaaaaa!!!*

  Fenix couldn’t help it, crying inwardly.

  One point three million!

  One point three million!

  Rounded up, it’s practically a billion!

  Fenix lost a billion!

  A whole billion!

  Fenix’s head rested on Lion’s finger, his entire being radiating despair.

  Lion lifted Fenix’s chin, "Feeling down?"

  "Mew." Fenix looked up, then down, pawing at his tail half-heartedly.

  Lion couldn’t fathom the kitten’s ever-changing mood.

  Remembering Fenix’s bargaining with Raven, he asked, "If he offered that much, would you leave with him?"

  Fenix was stunned, looking up at Lion, then guiltily looking away, eyes darting.

  Lion narrowed his eyes, pinching Fenix’s scruff through his clothes, "Hmm?"

  Caught by the scruff, Fenix typed earnestly, "Boss, people follow the money, water flows downhill."

  Lion pinched the kitten’s soft scruff, "I remember that’s not how it goes."

  Fenix typed, "Job freedom, resignation freedom, switching jobs freely, we..."

  Fenix suddenly deleted everything, typing frantically, "Boss! We haven’t signed a contract yet!"

  "You’re not in a state to sign contracts."

  Fenix paused, looking at his fluffy paws.

  *Grass.*

  True.

  He lifted his right paw, examining the pink, soft pads.

  Fenix stared at them for a while, then smacked his paw in frustration.

  What use is cuteness if you can’t even sign a contract?

  Useless thing!

  Fenix angrily put his paw down, then extended it towards Lion.

  "?"

  "Boss, my paws need trimming."

  Lion checked the paw, agreeing it needed trimming.

  Long fur could cause slips, injuries, and hinder heat dissipation from the pads.

  Lion got scissors from a drawer and trimmed Fenix’s paws.

  Raven finished initial arrangements, dismissed his subordinates, and sat down, feeling he forgot something.

  But couldn’t remember what.

  He walked back, seeing a table full of spicy rabbit heads and various rabbit dishes, red and fiery.

  Raven: "..."

  Lion’s heart is barely bigger than a needle.

  But it’s unnecessary.

  Because I don’t mind eating rabbits, actually enjoy them.

  Raven sat down, grabbing a rabbit head, noticing Lion meticulously trimming the kitten’s paws.

  The kitten sat obediently, head tilted, paw raised, cooperating with Lion.

  Lion carefully trimmed the excess fur, rubbed the paw, then said, "Other paw."

  The kitten “meowed,” retracting one paw and raising the other.

  Raven suddenly found the rabbit head less appetizing.

  He tried to hold back, but couldn’t, "When did you become so patient?"

  Lion chuckled, "Sounds like we’re close."

  Raven: ?

  True.

  Lionheart’s leader was enigmatic, rarely seen by anyone.

  Raven only met Lion six years into battling Lionheart, during their first collaboration, via video call.

  Then, Raven learned Lion was quite temperamental—though he suppressed it during the call.

  But most of their communication was text-based, brief and impatient.

  This calm, almost gentle demeanor was new to Raven.

  His gaze shifted between Fenix and Lion, chewing a rabbit head, "Kitten, want to switch to me? I’ll consider your terms."

  Fenix paused, typing with one paw, "Does your company provide pension and insurance?"

  Raven froze.

  Lion chuckled.

  He washed his hands, ruffling Fenix eating boiled rabbit.

  Fenix looked up.

  Lion tapped the terminal on his neck, "Wealth account."

  Fenix typed a question mark.

  Lion: "Reward for your idea."

  Fenix jolted, eyes wide.

  *Oh my God!*

  *Thanks, kind and upright boss!*

  Fenix shed grateful tears, quickly sharing his Wealth account.

  Raven jolted, dropping the rabbit head.

  He stared at Fenix.

  *What?*

  *You came up with the reporting idea?*

  *Can’t tell this cute kitten is dirtier than Lion!*

  No wonder Lion cares so much—he’s kindred spirits with the kitten.

  Raven picked another rabbit head, watching Fenix roll with the terminal, feeling a bit envious.

  How does Lion always find such useful subordinates!

  Fenix clutched the terminal, still disbelieving the balance.

  He refreshed the page repeatedly, confirming the reality.

  *Grass.*

  Fenix felt light-headed.

  He transferred 300,000 back to Lion, then added 1,500.

  Lion paused eating.

  Fenix wagged his tail, "Returning nutrition supplements, bed, toys, rent. Thanks for your generosity, boss. Did I miss anything?"

  Fenix didn’t know how much Lion spent on him.

  Lion: "I don’t need the money."

  Fenix: "I know, but I can’t take it for free."

  Lion reminded him, "You owe a suit. Plan to report more bases?"

  Fenix: ...

  Boss, no need to be so real.

  Fenix was learning sewing, but conditions weren’t ideal!

  When conditions improve!

  Then I’ll buy some fabric to practice.

  Yes!

  Exactly!

  Fenix reinvigorated himself.

  With over a million, practicing on a hundred meters of fabric was feasible!

  After practice, Fenix could make that expensive suit!

  Handmade clothing was pricey, especially stylish ones!

  Fenix thought this plan sounded promising.

  He opened the terminal, searching for fashion design and sewing content, preparing for future wealth.

  Opportunities favor the prepared!

  More preparation means more chances!

  Fenix typed excitedly.

  But before hitting search, a breaking news alert popped up.

  He glanced at it, recognizing a familiar name.

  *Fernando Group CEO Ferran arrested on Cobalt Star this afternoon. Military police suspect connection with notorious pirate group “Raven,” awaiting cooperation.*

  Fenix jolted.

  What did Ferran do this time?

  He clicked the video, projecting it.

  The first scene was familiar—the abandoned warehouse he left hours ago, Ferran leading three engineers to inspect the damaged spaceship.

  Before they could open toolboxes, they were caught by the military police.

  The projection was public, Raven saw it too.

  He smacked his forehead, realizing he forgot to warn Ferran about the compromised base.

  Lion glanced at Raven.

  Raven pretended nothing happened, sipping tea.

  Fenix watched Ferran in the projection.

  Ferran looked utterly bewildered, just like when Fenix ate chocolate during his awakening period and was interviewed by media.

  Pitiful, weak, helpless, and confused.

  Author's note:

  Golden Retriever: Face full of happiness.jpg

  Translation and title added.