Chapter 307 Stray Cats
After the conversation ended, Brian returned to his party. "It seems like I won't be able to reach them for now, but since they know of us, we'll be able to get them on our side. Liam, have you found any other cats that match the color and coat of the missing cat as described by the noble?"
Liam responded, "Yes, I have found several in the area. It won't be much trouble finding one that matches the noble's description."
Aleshia interrupted the two and asked, "Wait, are you suggesting that we take in a stray cat and replace the noble's cat with it? Wouldn't they notice that it's a different cat? After all, no two cats are the same, right?"
"Your guess is correct," Brian admitted before adding, "I had Liam look into how long the nobles have had the cat, and it turns out it has only been in their estate for a few weeks. This short period is not long enough for someone to become truly attached to or understand their pet. With these details in mind, I made this plan in case the engagement wasn't successful." Brian then turned away and added, "Also, a word of advice: it's good practice to have different strategies in place depending on whether things go according to plan or not."
After Brian answered Aleshia's question, Liam asked the group to follow him. After walking a short distance from the property, they entered an alley where a few cats were roaming. After checking the cats one by one and not finding his mark, Liam continued to the next location, checking several more places before eventually finding what he was looking for.
While Liam was inspecting the cats, Aleshia took the opportunity to pull up the quest detailing the missing cat. There was a description of the cat's coat and fur color, accompanied by a small, inked illustration. The cat had faint stripes running from its neck to its tail, which seamlessly blended into the overall coat.
As Aleshia admired the drawing, Liam made a noise and picked up a cat. He returned to his group, and the cat seemed docile, showing no signs of aggression. "Wow, I didn't know you could handle cats so easily!" Cecelia exclaimed. "Can I hold it? Can I pet it?" she asked eagerly.
"This cat is one of the more docile ones I've had the chance to meet. You can't hold it, but you can pet it. Before you do, let it smell you first, and use the back of your hand, as it's less threatening," Liam explained.
After giving Cecelia some instructions, she followed them carefully. She let the cat sniff her hand, and then it began to lean in. "Wow, it is so soft!" Cecelia said joyfully.
"Oh, please let me have a chance," Stella, who had been mostly silent the whole trip, requested.