Chapter 69
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Catnip Shipment
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“This is the drug?”
He rubbed the dry leaves between his fingers with a rustle and sniffed the silvervine branch.
The scent of nepeta was familiar to Dane, but weaker than what they’d gotten from Liyya. Even to his sensitive nose, the silvervine just smelled like some herbal remedy—nothing particularly stimulating.
River spoke up.
“Silvervine’s used in cooking sometimes. I had no idea it acts like a drug on catmen.”
The branch manager added,
“It’s useless on other beastkin races. Seems it only works on catmen and felines.”
“Either way, if this is drug material, Galrack wouldn’t officially allow trade. Sounds like Creya Merchant House is smuggling it...”
“There are complicated circumstances inside Galrack, from what I hear. If you want in, your only option is to go with the shipment on a trading day.”
“There’s a specific trading day?”
“They only allow goods in on the dates they designate—and the next one’s in ten days.”
“That long?”
“Harvesting nepeta leaves takes that much time. They notify us to match their schedule.”
“Ah, so you’re short on trading goods right now?”
“We’ve got silvervine, but no nepeta leaves.”
Once the branch manager finished, Dane turned to River. She said,
“We’ve got four boxes. All dried for three days—they’re in about the same state as this now.”
“Then even if we hold some back for ourselves...”
“One box is plenty for us.”
Dane nodded and told the branch manager,
“We happen to have nepeta leaves. Let’s rush the trade with this. Can we head out now?”
* * *
Merchant house employees loaded the goods onto the boat as they prepared to depart.
The branch manager glanced at the sky and said,
“Since it’s not a designated day, you’ll need to be careful going in. If it gets dark before you dock, you’ll be spotted—so leave right away. You can hear about Galrack from the transport lead on the way there. Gespa!”
The man directing the loading hurried over at the branch manager’s call. He was sturdy and solid-looking, fitting his role.
“Drop these folks from Dane’s Butchery off when you reach Galrack. Explain the situation there on the way.”
“Got it.”
Gespa turned to Dane and said,
“After unloading, the boat heads back to Telung. You can ride it in on the official trading day.”
The boat was small, so they had to leave Dink and the carriage behind.
River and Priscilla earnestly asked Captain Cruise and mercenary captain Roland to look after Dink and the baby abaris ‘Bay’ before boarding.
Four merchant house employees rowed in rhythm. The boat glided along the Yukar River tributary.
As it pulled away, Priscilla kept staring back at the merchant ship, Bay clearly weighing on her mind.
Mercenary captain Roland awkwardly waved while cradling the flowerpot.
* * *
The boat flowed between sheer cliffs. Eyes scanning left and right gradually lifted higher and higher.
Sunlight hit the boat, then vanished, over and over. The tributary seemed to bend toward a dead-end wall, only to reveal a new channel moments later.
Bankers said,
“Now I get why you can only enter by boat.”
Gespa, standing at the stern gripping the tiller, replied,
“These cliffs run all the way around, encircling the country. Galrack’s technically on the mainland, but in a way, it’s an island.”
Dane suddenly recalled a deep-buried memory of a ‘cat island.’
A sleepy seaside village, people scattering food or dangling toys for the cats lounging everywhere.
It wasn’t uncommon for an abandoned, nameless isle to gain fame as a feline paradise and draw tourists. That’s how it was in his past life memories.
‘Doesn’t really go with the word ‘drugs.’’
Dane pointed at the crates and said,
“If they’re buying drugs, the trading partners aren’t exactly legit.”
A criminal outfit, most likely. That’s all he could think of. Gespa nodded.
“Right. The boss is a half-catman named Alcapone. The group’s called the Alcapone Family.”
Dane couldn’t help chuckling. It was a perfect name for a crime lord. He asked,
“Half-catman means mixed blood?”
“It’s more a species distinction than bloodline. Catmen divide into Origin and Half. Origins just walk on two legs—they’re basically cats.”
“Hmm.”
“Halves look human except for ears, tails, and sharp claws. Fur coverage is the giveaway. Of course, the Alcapone Family are all Halves, so no need to sort them out.”
“For reference, lizardmen don’t have that distinction. We’ve got more complicated growth stages instead, hahaha.”
Bankers chimed in slyly.
Dane gave a perfunctory laugh in thanks and looked back at Gespa.
“We were going for official hunting permits, but if this ties us to a crime group, things won’t be easy.”
“But at least this gets us into Galrack.”
Gespa shook his head and continued,
“There’s risk, sure, but this is the only way to make contact. Plus, with daylight now and catmen napping, it’s prime docking time. You’ll be introduced as HQ staff bringing a new sample. That’s as far as I can help—the rest is up to you.”
Gespa focused back on steering, and the butchers discussed among themselves.
“No choice but to pitch a new deal to the Alcapone Family. We’ll need some mutual interest, though.”
“Unless the trade good’s meat, it’ll be tough, right? Hauling cat drugs, I’ve got no clue what to propose.”
Dane nodded at his comrades’ thoughts.
“This is a special case, yeah. Trading drugs sits wrong, too. We’ll find out what problems it’s causing in Galrack once we’re in, but we should brace for the worst—abandoning the hunt.”
As they mulled possibilities, the boat slowed, easing toward the cliffside.
The closer they got, the denser the mangrove thicket growing roots into the water.
Gespa said,
“Mangrove forest. Straight along the tributary leads to Galrack’s main docks, but we’re sneaking in, so rough path it is.”
For all his words, the boat wove gracefully between overhanging branches and roots without a bump. Impressive handling.
Beyond the labyrinthine watery forest path, a small dock came into view. Figures waited at the end for the approaching boat.
Some in double-breasted suits and bowlers, others just in overalls, all mixed together.
They watched the boat arrive—some yawned long and dozy, some flopped to the ground, a few bent into yoga-like stretches.
Catmen, their triangular ears perked fuzzily.
“Gespa! Why show up outside trading day? Grrowl.”
As the boat tied off, a bowler-hatted catman asked. A unique rumble rolled off his tongue at every word’s end, like it scraped his palate.
Without the flattened ears peeking from his hat, long whiskers framing his nose, and twitching tail, he’d pass for human.
His expression was half-asleep, eyes barely open. The other catmen looked weary and drained, too.
“Looking sleepy as ever, Lucino. HQ sent new goods—I brought a batch to try. Better quality than before; you’ll love it. Don’t get high opening it—deliver properly to the boss. Sign here on the receipt.”
Lucino, as called, scrawled on the papers Gespa handed over, glancing sidelong at the butchers.
“No matter how good, you can’t just ignore the schedule. Royalists are gunning for us. And you brought new humans—even an elf and a krukushu. Grrowl.”
“They came special from Creya HQ for this sample. Show ’em in.”
“You’re stirring up all kinds of danger, grrowl.”
Gespa pulled Lucino aside and slipped something into his pocket—a small bundle of nepeta leaves the butchers had set aside.
“That’s why I trusted you to come like this, Lucino.”
“Kind words plus a nice gift? Gets you what you want, grrowl.”
Lucino stroked his whiskers, rumbling contentedly.
* * *
Sunlight couldn’t pierce the thick canopy. The dense forest was night itself.
Like peering right through the dark woodland path, the crate-bearing catmen strode ahead unhesitatingly; the butchers followed by traces and silhouettes.
Curious how the butchers kept pace, the catmen occasionally glanced back with rumbles.
They crossed the jungle, crested another forest.
Buildings appeared out of nowhere as the sun dipped beyond the trees.
Suits with rapiers at hips stood vigilant around—catmen, alert and strict.
A far cry from the dozy dock crew. Just a glance showed physiques far beyond human limits.
Lucino and the crate carriers approached tall iron-barred gates.
Guards sniffed toward Lucino, then spotted the butchers behind and hands went to waists.
“From Creya Merchant House. Want to see the boss, grrowl.”
The gates swung open at that alone.
No body search, no weapon confiscation. The merchant house name alone earned immense trust.
Past the garden, the building the butchers entered with the catmen was a stark stone warehouse—door only, no windows.
Built purely for utility, no frills; faint oil lamps flickered here and there inside.
Enough light for catmen, apparently.
Only after their eyes adjusted did the butchers notice quite a few catmen within.
Lucino pulled a handkerchief to his nose and said,
“Up you get! Goods just arrived—roll ’em quick before they get humid, grrowl.”
Dozing catmen scrambled for masks and cloths to cover faces. No sniffing the stuff, clearly.
Lucino gestured, and crate carriers dumped nepeta leaves and silvervine branches onto the long table inside.
Catmen dove into work. Butchers might as well not exist.
“Well dried. Prime stuff, grrowl.”
An older catman at the bench said.
He and his crew began peeling silvervine bark thin, feeding it through rollers. Brown bark peeled off like paper sheets.
One catman flicked water over the rolled bark. To keep the dry strips from snapping.
“These nepeta leaves have great color. Real quality, grrowl.”
“Quick whiff? Grrowl.”
“Boss’ll love this batch! Grrowl.”
Catmen ground nepeta into powder clumps. Granny catmen rolled it expertly into silvervine bark.
‘So the cat drug’s cigars made like that...’
The butchers silently watched the process. Time passed.
As three crates neared full with cigars, the stone warehouse door rattled open.
A frame Bankers’ size filled the doorway. As he stepped in, cool evening air rushed past the vanished daytime heat.
Sharp glint in sleepy eyes.
Thin mustache dangling to his chest.
Face scarred deep from a rough life.
“Why new goods now? Grrowl.”
Low, rumbling voice.
He was the family boss, Alcapone.