Considering how important the occupation section was, I decided to recheck everyone's status window.
My gaze drifted lazily from one figure to the next. Lines of information surfaced, filling my vision.
As expected, much of the information was unfamiliar to me.
---
...
Occupation: ..., Member of the Sacred Bound, ...
...
Occupation: Member of the Celestial Order, ...
...
Occupation: Member of the Red Crown, ...
...
Occupation: Member of the Silent Sentinel, ...
---
Since none of these occupations meant much to me, I chose to simply keep them in the back of my mind.
But then, one occupation caught my attention. It belonged to one of the guards standing on Sophia's right side.
---
...
Occupation: ..., Spy (United Republic of Aur), ...
...
---
My cat ears twitched.
'...Is that what I think it is?'
I stared a second longer, then blinked once, as if the text might change if I gave it time.
It didn't.
'I didn't know my status window could show something like that.'
A new problem immediately arose.
'What am I supposed to do with this information?'
If I truly wanted to be just a regular house cat, I would have to pretend this never happened.
But then again, the whole reason I chose to be a cat was to avoid conflict, and right in front of me stood someone who could 'create' it.
I knew how this usually went. In my old world, most spies were not sent merely to gather intelligence but also incite civil conflict by spreading misinformation and propaganda.
My tail swayed slowly against the table.
'I guess I have to report it after all.'
I didn't like the idea, but I despise conflict even more. If I wanted a peaceful place to nap in the long run, this was a necessary investment.
But then, not even a second later, a counter-thought hit me, and my ears flattened slightly.
'Wait.'
Sure, I could 'try' to report it. The incident with Naphael had given me an assurance in my ability to communicate with others, even if I still struggled to understand their language. However, as I considered this option, the absurdity of the scenario was overwhelming.
'A talking cat accusing one of the emperor's trusted guards of being a spy?' Yeah, I'd end up in the dumpster.
From the edge of my vision, I noticed Valeslina was watching me again. It was the same intense, possessive gaze she had given me ever since we first met.
'Surely she wouldn't let anything bad happen to me, right?'
I made my decision.
'Alright. Let's do this.'
If things went wrong, I'd let her deal with the fallout.
***
Sophia sat with a bright smile, her earlier worry having vanished. After receiving recognition from the Grand Tamer, she felt absolute confidence that her father would finally believe in her.
'That's right. This time, for sure.'
She began to imagine her father fully acknowledging her, his eyes glowing with the warm gaze he used to reserve for her.
The emperor announced to everyone in the room, "Sophia, your tamed beast contract has been confirmed. Congratulations on becoming a Nine-Stroke Beast Tamer!"
The room erupted into monotone applause. All eyes were on the cat seated comfortably on the table, but no one present showed any genuine sign of celebration on their face. Most of the guards' faces remained unreadable, a consequence of their training as an Imperial Guard special unit. Internally, many had failed to even register the event, while others had already concluded that the entire spectacle must be a hallucination. A few who belonged to other factions began meticulously gathering information to report back to their organizations.
Amidst all these reactions, Sophia's was the brightest. Her heart soared with joy as she accepted everyone's applause.
The emperor continued, "However, this achievement will remain confidential until next year's Harvest Banquet. Sophia, for now, you will receive formal recognition in the form of a black certificate bearing the insignia of the imperial family, as well as the insignia of the current Grand Title holders serving the empire."
Sophia's thoughts slipped out as she mumbled, "Grand Titles...?"
"Yes," the emperor confirmed. "The Grand Tamer, the Grand Phantasm, the Grand Messenger, and finally, the Grand Magus."
The mention of the Grand Magus caused Sophia's eyes to widen in surprise.
"That concludes today's meeting. However..."
The emperor suddenly stood, and a large, intricate magic circle materialized on the floor. In an instant, the room was engulfed by a dense barrier, locking everyone inside.
Sophia's eyes widened in shock. "Eh?"
She quickly scanned her surroundings. Every guard had drawn their weapons; each was a mana-infused gun of varying shape and size, and all were aimed at a specific point.
"What's happening?" she whispered.
She followed the line of sight of the guards. At the edge of the room, one of the guards held her mother captive, pressing an intricately designed silver-covered knife deeply against her throat.
"Why is Mother there?" Sophia gasped, stunned by horror and confusion. Her mother, who had been sitting beside her just moments ago, was now held hostage.
Amidst the rising tension, the emperor's voice cut through the air, sharp and filled with cold anger.
"So," he said, eyes narrowing, "it is a spy."