Chapter 471

"Clang!"

Accompanied by the booming sound of an iron tray hitting the table, a small piece of shattered pudding jumped up, nimbly vaulted over the small mountain of stewed beef, and fell into the soup bowl by Leon's side with a splash.

???

Leon, who was eating happily, paused, looked up in surprise, and saw a familiar face full of anger in the empty seat opposite him.

That spendthrift policewoman from this morning?

No... are you sick in the head? There are so many empty seats, why are you coming to join the fun opposite me, your "enemy"? Are we that close?

"Miss Yisha."

Considering the other party's identity as a secret police officer and not wanting to cause trouble, Leon put down his fork, pointed politely to an empty seat not far away, and said as politely as possible:

"I still prefer to eat lunch alone, so if it's convenient for you, could you go over there..."

"No!"

Looking at this bastard who had treated her like a fool this morning and now snatched her lunch, the policewoman couldn't help but glare at Leon while taking off her scarf and placing it on the table, gritting her teeth and saying hatefully:

"I'm sitting right here today! If you don't like it, you can leave!"

"Very well, then I'll change places. I also hope you can keep your promise and stay right here, don't move!"

To the policewoman's somewhat stunned expression, Leon grinned with a fake smile, then leisurely left with his tray, sat in the seat next to it, and incidentally forked a piece of soft, stewed beef shoulder, filling his mouth with it with a face full of happiness.

It's really good. Although some people in the Police Department are very annoying, the standard of the cafeteria is truly top-notch! Especially this home-style stewed beef; although it's not a luxurious dish, the chef must have put in a lot of hard work.

The beef was clearly pan-fried once before being put into the pot, and the tender meat quality was well preserved. The ratio of the sauce was also clearly considered, at a level that was just right—neither too absorbed to affect the flavor, nor lacking in sufficient flavor penetration.

And with just a light press of Leon's teeth, the sauce specially prepared with white pepper, bay leaves, and cloves was squeezed out from the soft beef fibers. That sauce, carrying a full meaty aroma and a slightly spicy breath, combined with the soft and smooth texture of the beef, conquered his tongue almost instantly.

In the late autumn when fingers would be chilled by the cold wind, being able to have such a mouthful of soft, slightly spicy beef when hungry was truly a great happiness for a busy worker.

I can't take it anymore!

Looking up at Leon's intoxicated expression and the delicious sauce on the corner of his mouth, then looking down at the fried pork chop on her own tray, which had gone cold because it had been sitting for too long, the policewoman, who had been unlucky all day, had eyes that turned red.

I have never seen a rebel as arrogant as you!

After sneaking into the Police Department by luck, it would be one thing if you didn't hide cautiously, but you actually brazenly mooch off our Police Department's cafeteria, and you even eat the stewed beef specifically saved for me right in front of me with an intoxicated face! You are simply...

Ah! Damn it! You're actually smacking your lips!

"Clang!"

The sound of an iron tray hitting the table rang out again. After being severely devastated by Leon's happy eating, the policewoman directly abandoned her promise of "I'm sitting right here," took her tray, and sat opposite Leon again, glaring at him fiercely.

Decided! She must use the most evil expression of her life to say to him gloomily:

You don't think no one knows what you did four days ago, do you?

Anyway, according to the director, the bureau can neither arrest this bastard nor is it prepared to pass false information to him. This clue has already been completely abandoned, so it might as well be used to scare him!

It can warn him to restrain his behavior, and let him know that we secret police are not just sitting around! It would be best if he could discover he's been exposed and get out on his own!

"You..."

Just as the red-eyed policewoman slammed the table and prepared to risk being fired for violating the discipline of the Secret Investigation Bureau to make this damn bastard's life miserable, she saw the bastard opposite her glare over first, questioning coldly:

"Why are you wasting food?"

"Ah?"

What are you "ah-ing" about?

Looking at the rice pudding that was shattered and scattered all over the table, Leon, whose food expenses for the past three years had been less than two copper wheels a day and who had even picked bread crusts from trash cans with scavengers when he was really hungry, suddenly felt his mood turn sour.

And when he frowned and looked up, just wanting to say a few words like "don't waste food" and "of the things you spilled on the table, at least fifty percent of the people in the capital can't even get a bite to eat," he caught a glimpse of the clothes the policewoman was wearing.

According to the regulations of the Kingdom's Police Department, except for officers on duty or in service positions, the Police Department does not usually require uniforms. Although the style of the policewoman's casual clothes was simple, looking at the fine embroidery on the collar and the fabric that could be smoothed out no matter how she moved and wouldn't show a single wrinkle, one could tell at a glance that it was worth a fortune.

So... what use would it be for me to say these things to her?

After lowering his head again to look at his own old coat, checking the elbows that had been rubbed thin, and the cotton core exposed after the lining of the collar had been worn through, Leon couldn't help but laugh at himself, gave up the idea of reasoning with the other party, and after glancing at her indifferently, lowered his head again.

"Forget it, pretend I didn't say anything."

"..."

Looking at Leon, who had lowered his head again to eat and was no longer willing to look at her, the policewoman, who had just been full of anger, was now stunned in her seat, at a loss for what to do.

Because of long-term malnutrition, Leon's frame had always been thin, and there was almost no meat on his cheeks, which made his eyes look exceptionally large and exceptionally spirited.

Just as the red-haired director said, although Leon didn't speak much and had few expressions, one could tell at a glance that he was actually a person with very rich inner emotions, relying on these eyes that seemed to speak.

And at this moment, the policewoman was severely shocked by the coldness revealed in those eyes that kept people at a distance.

It wasn't disgust, it wasn't dislike, it wasn't anger, and it certainly wasn't hatred, but the purest indifference, without any other emotions mixed in.

Summer insects cannot talk about ice.

Although it was impossible for her to have heard this sentence, at this moment, the policewoman clearly read a similar meaning from the glance Leon gave her. It was the ultimate indifference of clearly realizing the huge difference between the two sides and simply not even bothering to communicate.

He is... he is...

Really not knowing how to describe that look, after coming back to her senses from the bewilderment, feeling the gazes that followed the sound, listening to the whispers in the restaurant, and looking at Leon, who was still eating the stewed beef with an indifferent face, the policewoman's face turned bright red as if by magic!

"You bastard!"

I'll let you eat!

Accompanied by the harsh friction of the chair sliding on the floor, the policewoman stood up from the chair with a thud, then lifted one side of the tray with both hands, dumped everything onto Leon's tray with a clatter, and then, under the gaze of countless surprised eyes, bit her lip, lowered her head, and ran out of the restaurant all the way.

???

No... are you sick?!

Not knowing how much psychological shock that one look of his had caused the proud policewoman, looking at the tray that had become a mess, Leon's anger also flared up.

But although that policewoman's brain wasn't very good, her physical fitness was truly impeccable. By the time Leon reacted from the shock and stood up to chase after her, she had already used her two long legs to run until not even a shadow was left. "..."

Sigh... don't be the same as a fool! Don't be the same as a fool! Don't be the same as a fool!

Looking at the unfinished food on the tray, Leon silently recited this several times in his heart, then sat back down with a dark face and started eating the things that hadn't mixed together, even picking up a piece of the rice pudding that had spilled on the table to taste it.

It has to be said that this dessert, which was very popular among policewomen, tasted really good, and a lot of thought was put into making it. One had to mix eggs, milk, white sugar, raisins, etc., into the rice and steam it until the sugar melted and the rice grains became soft, mixing it into a pudding state, before a complete rice pudding could be made.

Even though it was a bit cold now, the dish was still as smooth as ever, and that refreshing sweet aroma went all the way to his heart along the esophagus.

After tasting the fried pork chop and apple pie and finding them equally excellent, Leon, whose appetite was satisfied, finally suppressed the anger in his heart and nodded with satisfaction.

Not bad. Although that policewoman had a problem with her brain, her taste in food was not bad. Next time, he could order a portion like this too.

And what Leon, who was eating happily, didn't notice was that on the table where the two had their first confrontation, there was still a hand-woven scarf with the word "Yisha" embroidered on it.

As for the policewoman who had just flipped the tray and ran away, she had already returned to the cafeteria entrance, staring blankly at Leon picking up the pudding on the table, watching him pick up the cutlery with eyes full of appreciation, and eating everything mixed in a ball on the tray bite by bite.

"Hiccup..."

Carrying the cat food and pet toys bought from the department store, Leon, who was eating until he hiccuped, ran all the way and finally arrived home before three o'clock in the afternoon.

As someone who didn't have a very large appetite, Leon first encountered the cafeteria auntie's loving big spoon, then met the brain-damaged policewoman's double serving, and in the end, he truly relied on his extraordinary willpower to barely finish this painful yet happy meal.

Sitting down and panting for a while while holding his bloated and painful stomach, he looked up at the time and found that it was still a while before three-thirty. Leon couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, then struggled to get up and set things up.

According to the information given by 【Materialism】, at three-thirty, the witch's cat would come to knock on the door. Although it didn't seem like there would be any danger, considering it was related to an anomaly, Leon found an excuse to coax his three younger siblings away in advance and cleared out the house.

Tin mouse, cat scratching board, salted fish doll, cat fishing rod, small ball with a bell inside...

After placing the cat toys he bought all over the room and preparing two large bowls—one filled with half a bowl of clear water and the other filled with cat food—Leon couldn't help but nod with satisfaction. Just as he was about to sit down and rest for a while, he realized he had forgotten to buy a litter box.

After searching the empty house and finding no suitable container, Leon had no choice but to take out the basin he used to wash his face and go outside to fetch some sand.

All set!

As long as the one knocking on the door later is really a cat and not some large feline, it will definitely be satisfied with his hospitality!

While Leon waited confidently, time soon reached three-thirty, and the door to Leon's house was knocked on right on time.

"Knock, knock-knock."

"Coming!"

Hearing the knocking, Leon took a deep breath and walked over nervously to open the door. Fortunately, outside the door was not some large feline, but a small, short-legged cat with short claws and a body of fluffy long hair.

"Meow~"

Accompanied by a cat meow with a hint of a milky tone, as if greeting him, the gray and white cat nodded politely at Leon, then rubbed its claws on the small bag on its back, grabbed a card, and handed it over.

【Hello, I am Mango, the pet of the witch who made an agreement with your Cleaning Bureau】

Staring into Leon's eyes to confirm he was literate and had finished reading the words on the card, the cat named Mango took out another card before he could speak.

【Don't ask me why I'm not a black cat. Other witches keep black cats because they like wearing black clothes, and cat hair on the clothes is not easily discovered】

"..."

Uh... although I just wanted to say hello to you, I do indeed want to ask about this...

After nodding to show he understood, Leon smiled kindly and said:

"So, your owner likes wearing gray or white clothes?"

"Meow~"

Shaking its head to indicate that was wrong, although it looked very cute, the hair between its eyebrows formed a small "chuan" character, and the cat, born with a small angry face, took out a third card and handed it over.

【My owner likes playing flying ball, and hair on her body will be blown away, so she doesn't care】

"Oh, oh, so that's how it is..."

After chatting awkwardly through cards for a few sentences, looking at this cat at the door whose IQ was clearly not low, and thinking about the things he had prepared, Leon couldn't help but scratch the back of his head in embarrassment.

Say... it doesn't seem like an ordinary cat. Can it take a fancy to the things I prepared?

Looking back at the two large bowls on the table and the basin filled with sand on the ground, Leon, who was a bit unsure, moved his throat and asked tentatively:

"That... can I ask first, how should I entertain you?"

Hearing Leon's words, the cat first pulled on the cloth at its collar, unfolded a small pink scarf embroidered with a few rabbits, then turned its head to rummage through the small bag on its back, took out a fourth card, and handed it over.

【My requirements are not high, just the same as before will do】

Oh, oh! It's good that the requirements are not high!

Leon, who finished reading the card, felt relieved, but before he could let the cat into the room, he saw the fifth card handed over.

【In terms of food, the appetizer only needs boiled soft carrots and peas, and then just serve some tuna salad; the main course is not picky, half a portion of saury sashimi and cucumber rolls will do...】

"..."

【Also, I traveled a long way to get here, and now I want to use the bathroom. Can you take me to the toilet first?】

"..."

【Human? What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?】

"..."

(End of chapter)