Wanted: Purrfect Cat Guy 69 Unconvinced

Contrary to how she imagined things would turn out, everyone was actually paying attention even Tarou. Mina was doubting whether the mouse was faking it or not as the creature nodded vehemently. 

"Boss! I had no idea, you are.. are you a G.o.d or something?" Tarou's admiration was clear from his enthusiastic squeaks and Mina almost lost her footing when she heard what the mouse had to say. 

Mina could only shake her head. Tarou sure did say extreme things but she couldn't help but smile inside, choosing this mouse as a disciple was indeed a good choice. 

"Hmpf!" The chirpy sound clearly showed how disapproval. Accompanied by the sound of a flapping feather, it didn't take Mina along time to figure out that Serket was about to unleash her toxic tongue. 

"How can we even verify what this cat is trying to claim?" Serket looked at Mina's direction before opening her beak.  

"We know nothing about this — Although this soul is inside Devin's sh.e.l.l, it may be someone else trying to lure us."  

There was nothing but silence in the table.

Mina knew that Serket had a point.

She was a stranger to them and everything she said made sense, at least to Mina's rational self. Unfortunately, while she was trying to mull over all those things in her head, her animal instincts took over. Before she knew what was happening, she had one paw aimed at the bird's head.

It was too late to stop. 

The parrot was caught off guard and tried to evade the paw by lifting its wings to cover its face.

Mina panicked. It was as if her paw had a mind of its own and as much as she wanted to be the rational person she knew she was, her body was making her appear like a rabid animal. 

Serket backed away while giving her the eye but Mina's world suddenly shifted when someone grabbed her away from Serket. 

"Take this!"

Mina was too busy trying not to panic at the sudden tug and she barely heard the small squeak. 

"Squawk!"

"How dare you mess up with Boss!"

When Mina settled down, the scene at the table was still chaotic. Serket trying to fend off something clinging on her leg. Tarou was dead set on attacking the bird and Mina looked anxiously at the scenario.  

Was this how she was acting earlier? 

Mina couldn't help but pity Serket who was fending off Tarou desperately.

Her underling was loyal to a fault. Not that she was complaining but she cringed while imagining the pain. 

I'm so sorry Serket.

In desperation, the parrot used its wings and appeared to be using a lot of energy to fling something and a mouse trying to get hold of the bird's feathers rolled out. 

"Tarou!"

Mina meowed in alarm when Serket finally removed Tarou's paws on her feathers. The burst of strength caught the mouse off guard. With horror, Mina stared as the little mouse rolled towards the edge of the table and was about to fall off.

Due to some miracle, Tarou stopped the motion and got up with a renewed desire to attack Serket. Now prepared, Serket was also poised to attack the mouse this time.

Mina could only slap her face with a paw. This meeting has been turning into a riot.

Why can't they talk like rational peo-- creatures

Tarou would probably sustain more injuries with all the excitement was worried about her underling. 

"Tell the mouse to behave himself."

The words were said in a voice only Mina could hear but she was shocked at what the man said.

"Your mouse friend will only listen to you."

How dare he order me around?

But wait --Is this man recognizing my authority too?

Mina tried to sneak a glance at the general's expression but he had the same stoic look he always had. 

On second thought...

"Tarou," Mina meowed loud enough for her underling to hear. "You are still injured, don't get too excited." 

By some miracle, all the trace of aggression left Tarou. With sparkling and teary eyes, she looked at Mina in disbelief. 

"Boss! You...you care about me."

Mina felt something warm on top of her head. 

Was this person petting her?

"Good job."

Hearing the words unexpectedly made Mina feel proud and she looked at the general with eyes full of admiration and happiness.

'Good boy!'

Mina caught on the sarcastic comment from the collar and snapped out of her daze. She was supposed to be a cat, why was she acting like some lap dog. Argh! 

And this collar knew it!

'Stop dawdling and talk about Network business.'

The reminder was so firm that Mina felt a bit scared of the collar. After all, this thing was wrapped around her throat!

"I am uhm ...Devin's executive a.s.sistant of some sort. Offsite coordination is below my pay grade but since you guys have been incompetent, I had to do the dirty work myself."

Mina tried to explain her role in a series of meows but she was also trying to send another message to Serket. 

You parrot are beneath me!

"Hmpf!"

Mina didn't miss Serket's reaction. 

"Argh!" 

The squawk appeared to be a prelude to another session of bird versus cat. Fortunately, grandfather stepped in and spoke.

"Now, now. Let's talk about this as civil people"

Serket was quick to retort at the older man's words.

"That's not a person, that's a stinky feline."

"You're a hairy bird! You..."

Mina felt a sudden rush of current in her body that paralyzed her being. She couldn't even say another word.

Serket who has her wings spread wide open also appeared to have been restrained by an invisible force and appeared like a docile bird perched on the table waiting for some nutritious treats.

The sudden transformation caught Mina off guard but she felt alarmed herself. It was like being caught in a nightmare where she could hear see and feel everything but was unable to move or talk no matter how she struggled.

'Calm down!'

The collar streamed a series of thoughts in her head. 'That's a warning.'

'Did Serket felt the same surge of energy too?'

The collar was silent but from the looks of it, she was not the only one who was reprimanded.