Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Sapsari Seeks Praise
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'Now he even knows how to ask for praise. What a guy!'
Lee Jun raised his thumb to the Sapsal who was gazing up at him with sparkling eyes and shouted.
"Sapsari, you're incredible. You did awesome!"
That wasn't exactly what Sapsari had wanted, but so what?
Big Brother was grinning and praising him.
Sapsari beamed right back at Lee Jun.
***
"Sapsari, buddy. C'mere! Let's have a chew."
Go Gi-jin called out to Sapsari while shaking a dog treat.
Woof!
Sapsari let out a little bark and wagged his tail lazily as he trotted over to Go Gi-jin, planting his butt firmly on the floor.
Hehe.
His mouth curved all the way up to his ears, his eyes shining bright as he looked up at Go Gi-jin.
Go Gi-jin slipped the chew into Sapsari's mouth and said.
"Look at that grin—ain't he just lovin' it?"
"Absolutely adorable."
The actual reply came from Jang So-ra's lips.
Jang So-ra stepped up beside Sapsari and stroked his head.
Such a gentle touch.
Sapsari clearly loved it, closing his eyes and wagging his tail softly.
Leaning into Jang So-ra as she petted him with that big chew still in his mouth, Sapsari looked utterly serene.
"I had no idea Sapsari was this cute and full of charm."
"Ain't he though? Didn't know it myself."
Go Gi-jin nodded along with Jang So-ra's words and added.
"Now he even comes into my room and sleeps there."
His voice brimmed with pride. Lee Jun, sorting charts in the exam room, let out a quiet chuckle.
'He's got every right to brag. Just a little while ago, the poor thing freaked out at Gi-jin's touch.'
Sapsari had bounced back far quicker than Lee Jun expected.
No more shrinking away, and he was getting good at making his needs known.
Tap tap. Tap tap tap.
[One more would hit the spot.]
After wolfing down the first chew in no time, Sapsari nudged Go Gi-jin's leg to ask for another.
"You bet. Here's one more!"
Go Gi-jin got it instantly and popped a fresh chew into Sapsari's mouth.
[I want a snack too!]
Gray, who'd been dozing on the cat tower, piped up from his reclined position.
[I want the kind where savory juice bursts out when you chew.]
[I'm getting the one with the yummiest gravy!]
Shadow, sprawled out in the exact same pose one level below, mumbled it out, prompting Gray to declare he'd have the absolute tastiest flavor.
Jang So-ra, perched at the reception desk and watching Sapsari munch away, smiled as she pulled open a drawer and took out a bag of treats.
"Our little cuties are craving treats, huh."
It was the exact same treats Gray and Shadow had advertised.
The cats zipped over to Jang So-ra in a flash, as if they'd never been napping, and started meowing up a storm.
[That's right! Gimme two!]
[Me too, two for me.]
Lee Jun stepped out of the exam room and said to the pair.
"Manager Jang, you're something else. How'd you know they wanted those?"
"Come on, Director. Say stuff like that, and everybody's gonna laugh."
"She's right. Who else gets these furballs like Big Bro does?"
"Exactly."
"Haha, you think? You two understand them almost as well as I do."
Lee Jun eyed them in amazement when Sapsari suddenly perked up his tail and headed for the entrance.
[Someone's coming!]
There was a hint of wariness in his voice.
But Gray, mid-treat, brushed it off casually.
[Shadow's crew.]
[Yeah, my minions.]
[Oh yeah?]
Only then did Sapsari lower his tail and peer out the window.
Moments later, five cats appeared on the other side of the glass.
Five at a time for visits. The cats were still sticking to Lee Jun's rule.
Having overheard the trio's chat and knowing the cats were there, Lee Jun opened the door as they waited.
"Come on in, everyone."
[Hi, Woof Teacher!]
[How've you been?]
[Hehe, Teacher!]
The five cats trotted in and rubbed against Lee Jun's legs to show their affection.
In the old days, that would've been the end of it, but now their greetings had expanded.
After Lee Jun, the cats showered affection on Go Gi-jin and Jang So-ra too.
Rub.
They rubbed against their legs just like they'd done with Lee Jun, and the pair's smiles stretched ear to ear.
"Haha, what cuties!"
"You all been good? Want some of this?"
The cats alternated glances between the bag in Jang So-ra's hand and Shadow.
They ought to head straight to their boss since they were here to see him, but that savory aroma was too tempting to ignore.
It was a joy to let his minions enjoy the snack he'd loved.
Shadow gave a nod.
[Go ahead and eat.]
[Thank you.]
The cats dipped their heads to their boss before taking the treats Jang So-ra offered.
"Kids, I'll grab more treats for you, so why don't you play over there."
Lee Jun pointed to the empty hospitalization room—there were no admitted animals at the moment.
It was his way of giving the visiting cats space to chat comfortably.
[Let's go!]
With Shadow in the lead, the cats headed obediently to the room.
Glance.
They spared one quick look at where Sapsari stood, but that was all.
Having encountered all sorts of dogs at the animal hospital, the cats weren't startled or scared by Sapsari.
Lee Jun brought some snacks over to the cats and said.
"Eat just a bit—dinner's coming up soon."
[Got it. Heehee.]
[Thanks, we'll dig in.]
Lee Jun accepted their little bows and headed back out, at which point the cats dove into their real conversation.
[Here's the report.]
Milo, the new Bluebird territory leader, addressed Shadow.
[You're doing fine on your own—no need for reports.]
Shadow waved his front paws dismissively.
[Just tell me how things are going. No one's getting sick from the rain anymore, thanks to the new houses, right?]
Shadow checked if any of his subordinates had fallen ill from getting wet.
[That's right. No more worries about the rain. Thanks to Woof Teacher, everyone's doing great.]
[The cushions are amazing. Heehee, I fall asleep so fast now.]
One of the little kittens in the group giggled as she spoke.
[Good to hear. No one's sick?]
[Nope, everyone's fine.]
[Come straight here anytime if someone is.]
[Will do.]
[Food situation good?]
[You bet. Delicious meals morning and night.]
[Excellent.]
Well-fed and well-rested. That was all that mattered.
Shadow was mulling that over when he suddenly spoke up.
[No one's trespassing in the territory?]
He'd said no reports needed, but he still fretted over his territory family's safety.
[None. Oh, but...]
[What?]
[Well...]
Milo hemmed and hawed before clamming up.
[What's so hard to say?]
[They say Yellow leader's messing up.]
The answer came from the kitten.
Milo promptly bapped the kitten with his paw.
[Shh, that's not something to blurt out!]
[No, go on—tell me.]
[It's not confirmed. Just something we overheard while passing by...]
Rumors always had a reason behind them.
It could be true, or it could be a scheme.
[Out with it.]
Meeting Shadow's big round eyes, Milo let out a short sigh and spoke.
***
Glance.
Gray, lounging on his cushion and gnawing away at a fish toy, turned his head toward Shadow's gaze.
Shadow smoothly looked away, like he hadn't been staring at all.
Gray's eyes narrowed as he watched Shadow.
Shadow had been glancing his way ever since getting home, which felt off.
'No way. He's been staring nonstop since his minions left.'
That meant he'd heard something from them.
[Spit it out.]
[Spit what out?]
[Bluebird territory got trouble?]
Gray rose from his prone position.
[Who's the punk? Let's go!]
[What're you talking about?]
Thinking Bluebird was under threat, Gray's eyes lit up.
[We gotta protect Bluebird!]
[Count me in.]
Sapsari, who'd been resting quietly nearby, chimed in.
[Ahem, it ain't like what y'all think.]
[It's fine. Your problem's our problem.]
[Yeah. Just say the word—I'll clean 'em up.]
[It ain't that kind of problem. Bluebird's doing fine.]
[Then what's the issue?]
[Well...]
Shadow worked his mouth. Now Gray got why Milo had hesitated.
'Gray needs to know.'
Shadow took a deep breath and spoke.
[There's some talk going around about Yellow leader.]
[What kinda talk?]
[Stuff questioning Yellow's leadership skills.]
[No chance. Yellow's a top-notch leader.]
Gray showed full confidence in the successor he'd chosen.
[I know that.]
[Where's this coming from?]
[Guess some kids in our territory overheard it. Don't have the details.]
[Gotcha.]
Not once had the Evergreen crew ever griped about Yellow.
That alone proved how well he ran the place.
For such talk to pop up out of nowhere, there were two possibilities.
A faction gunning for Evergreen territory.
Or someone scheming to boot Yellow from leadership.
Gray knew all about those dirty tactics.
Badmouthing the leader behind his back, stirring up discontent.
But on the flip side, he also thought.
Yellow had backed him up for ages, so he figured he knew everything.
'Time to check Yellow's management firsthand.'
If anything was lacking, he could teach him.
The next day, Gray laid out the situation to Lee Jun.
Shadow spilled what he'd heard from his minions too.
[So I'm gonna keep an eye on Yellow!]
Lee Jun felt uneasy.
Gray was a super famous cat, after all.
And trouble could brew.
But there was no stopping Gray.
He knew how much Gray cherished his Evergreen comrades.
Hadn't he hopped on a plane and flown far away just to make sure they ate well?
Sure, they'd ended up having a blast themselves, but still.
Lee Jun couldn't bring himself to say "no."
But sending him off unchecked didn't make sense either.
"Then here's what we'll do."
[I'm listening.]
"Take this with you."
Lee Jun fastened a collar around Gray's neck.
[What's this?]
"It'll let me track your location."
[No clue what you mean.]
"If you wear it, this'll show me where you are and the path you've taken."
Lee Jun pointed to his phone.
[Oh yeah?]
"If you take too long to come back, I can come find you."
[...]
Gray blinked.
'Big Bro's gonna come looking for me.'
No matter where he was or what happened, Big Bro could find him. It made Gray feel secure.
[Thanks!]
"It might be a hassle, but whatever you do, don't take it off."
[I'm going too.]
Shadow, who'd been watching from the side, stepped forward.
"You too?"
[Yup.]
[All good. Thanks!]
[Us two together? Unbeatable.]
Shadow was concerned about potential sabotage from other territories' cats.
"Fine, you two go together."
Better than going solo.
Lee Jun fitted GPS trackers on both of them.
And he made them promise.
"Be back before dinner. Got it?"
[You got it!]
"Watch out for cars!"
[Will do. We'll stick to what Big Bro said.]
At that moment, Sapsari rose to his feet.
[Me too.]
"You're staying put."
[Why can't I?]
"People will freak if they see you."
[Cats freak too!]
[Stay here.]
All three spoke at once, leaving Sapsari disappointed.
[Guard Big Bro from here.]
[Who's gonna watch Big Bro's back if you go?]
[You're on butler duty for now.]
[Countin' on ya.]
Sapsari had already heard from the cats that safely protecting Big Bro was the butler's job.
Sapsari set his face in determination and barked loudly.
"Butler Sapsari will do his utmost to protect Big Bro!"