Plague Doctor

Chapter 491: Very Luxurious Gift

“Hmm, not bad… delicious, delicious…” Inside the quiet booth, Lucky sat on the table and picked up another big thigh. The oil dribbled down his lips. There were guards outside the booth so no one would come disturb him and steal away his food. Wu Siyu who’d normally do that was not there. Lucky was quite full so he slowed down his speed. He chewed slowly and savored the flavor. Lucky closed his eyes to let the taste dance on his tongue, he relaxed fully. Even though this world was incredibly dangerous, he’d rather stay here than to be thrown back to Dreamlands to face the Ultar cats. This place was better, he’d eat chicken thigh every day until he felt like vomiting. They were cooked differently, like how the humans said it, he was living an emperor’s life.

Pat! Suddenly Lucky felt a heavy slam on the back of his head. His heart squeezed and his fur curled. This familiar whack…

“Stupid Zoog, fat Zoog, greedy Zoog!” Brusque and intense tapping came from behind him. Lucky naturally recognized this as his kin. He opened his eyes and turned back to look. As he expected, a large Zoog was already standing behind him, staring at him unkindly. “The tribe sent you here to observe the humans and what have you done, all you know is eat!” The evil Zoog tapped Lucky’s head while scolding him. Then he grabbed the chicken thigh from Lucky and stuffed it inside his mouth. In the same motion, he kicked Lucky down the table, claiming his rights to the rest of the chicken thighs on the table.

“You, you, you…” Lucky rolled on the ground several times. He instinctively wanted to leap back onto the table to fight but he was too heavy, he bounced against the ground but could not leap into the air…

“Why are you here?” Lucky finally asked defeatedly. He did not ask how the Zoog managed to slip past the heavy security. Then again, if the Zoogs could not break through the humans’ defenses, then they’d be long dead already. This was one of the reasons why the humans needed to form this alliance with them.

“The tribe leader sent me here!” The Zoog munched on the chicken thigh and tapped the table to say, “The information you gave last time has been transmitted to the elders. They have had a long discussion and came to the decision, it’s about time…” The Zoog bit on the thigh viciously. He choked slightly before swallowing, “It’s time for humans to pay us what they promised us! Also…” The tapping softened, this was the most confidential information among the Zoogs, there mustn’t be any leak in the news. When Lucky heard the news, his expression changed. His beady eyes narrowed with panic and fear…

“For real?” He tapped on his stomach with trembling paws. “The leader has decided that? The elders all agreed?”

“Yes,” The Zoog bit on the chicken, “Our tribes are all ready, this time it’ll be different… You! After I’m gone, you’ll find the humans and tell them this. They will depart from this world in 3 days, bring them to the Enchanted Forest and then…” The evil Zoog’s eyes burned with fire. His stuffed cheeks moved with each chew. The harshness in its eyes caused Lucky to cower silently. Soon, the evil Zoog swept up everything left on the table. He even consumed the bones. Not even a drop of sauce was left on the plate. He slammed on the table and dragged his large stomach to slither away from the vent. Lucky was frozen at his spot for quite some time before he shuffled his large body towards the door. The good times are finally over… If I had known, I would have eaten everything first.

Lucky poked his head out and was instantly discovered by the 2 guards. They asked him what he wanted. Lucky requested to be brought to where Gu Jun and Wu Siyu were. He had something important to tell them. Of course, he did not tap these out, instead he used a set of simple sign languages to share his thoughts. Lucky really did not understand why humans would think these gestures were more understandable than tapping. Soon, Lucky wrapped in a plushie costume was led by the guards down the corridor into another booth. Gu Jun and the other humans were still happily enjoying their food, they had no idea tragedy and death were coming their way.

When they saw him come in, they immediately stopped. Gu Jun asked and Wu Siyu translated, “Lucky, is anything wrong?”

“Our tribe leader has spoken.” Lucky tried to make himself look as imposing as possible. “The very luxurious gift that we need from humans is a favor. Once you complete this favor, then we’ll be the best allies.” After Gu Jun got the translation from Wu Siyu, his heart rose. Finally the chance was here?!

Yu Chi and Feng Peiqian listened attentively. Uncle Dan immediately contacted the headquarters. Elder Tong said it didn’t matter that the envoy was present. Because this favor might need their help to complete. Since the channels to Dreamlands only appeared in Phecda World, the Mysterium World was not going to be able to do anything regarding Dreamlands without passing through Phecda.

Honestly, the fear Phecda had was that the Zoogs ultimately refused the alliance so this chance was quite exciting. Human civilization had been through many challenges, what was one more? Even though the favor might be hard, they would do their best to complete it. But as someone who knew Lucky the best, Wu Siyu could sense how fearful Lucky was. There were a few times where he failed to finish his sentences. He was clearly anxious.

“The favor that we need is…” Lucky gathered his courage and with everyone watching, he patted his round stomach, “For the humans to help us defeat the cats from Ulthar. Let them taste defeat so that we Zoogs will never need to send them tributes anymore!” Then Lucky shivered as if he could not believe he had said something so blasphemous.

This stunned Gu Jun. ‘Defeat the Cats at Ulthar?’

Inside the booth, Gu Jun was the only person who had been to Ulthar and met those cats. Ulthar was covered in cats, of various breeds. They were not normal cats, the Great Atal had confirmed that. He had no idea what kind of power those cats had, perhaps they were more powerful than the multi-colored cat Dirty-minded Yu had once morphed into. The Zoogs wanted to start a war and… wanted to sacrifice humans at the frontline? If the humans could hold down the cats, then the Zoogs would follow up; if the humans failed, then the Zoogs would retreat, leaving the mess for humans to clean up.

“Lucky, this is not just an extremely luxurious gift…” Gu Jun said darkly, “This is a very, extremely luxurious gift.”

Yu Chi, Feng Peiqian and the rest were confused. Even Uncle Dan and Cai Zixuan did not quite get it.

“Captain Gu, it’s just some cats, isn’t it?” But just as Yu Chi said that, something came to the man. “Cats… in ancient Egypt, cats are divine, they are closer to gods than humans… Cats, cats!” Yu Chi turned to Wu Siyu, “That’s right, Nyarlathotep wanted you to serve him in cat form. Could Nyarlathotep be a part of the Egyptian pantheon? Apep?!” Once Yu Chi got in this state, only the man could understand himself.

Apep, in Ancient Egypt was the manifestation of darkness, chaos and destruction. He appeared in the form of a cobra, he was the twin brother and nemesis of the Sun God, Amun Ra. Religion could change over time, could Apep be how the Egyptians understood and depicted Nyarlathotep? Yu Chi used some time before he could get everyone to understand him.

“Erm, the Ulthar cats….” Lucky stammered, “Are indeed powerful, it is why we Zoogs are bullied… But, in any case, this is what the tribes want. Humans have to help us defeat those cats or there is no alliance.” He had Wu Siyu hug him onto the table so that he could consume the food he had lost to that evil Zoog. “Also if you agree, you’ll depart in 3 days. There is now a new channel at Mo Bei that will lead to the forest near Ulthar. The channel is still new, it’ll be there for some time. You might even be able to use the same channel to return here.”

Gu Jun sunk into silence. This was too huge for him to decide, even if he could make the decision, he wouldn’t dare to give his promise so easily.

The cats at Ulthar were not easy opponents… The Great Atal had said that if you offended the cats at Ulthar, the whole town would rise against you. In fact, they might even face the wrath of the Great Atal.

“Erm…” Seeing how deep the frown on Gu Jun’s face was and how much Lucky was shivering, Wu Siyu knew this was complicated. But she did have a thought. After all, she had once been a cat. Compared to others, she knew cats better.

“Actually cats do not like violence.” She said, “With sunbathes and food, cats are too lazy to even go after rats. So why the need for violence? Can’t we just go and talk with them? Perhaps we can reach some kind of compromise?”

“Talk?” Lucky tapped himself sadly, “They will not sit down to talk, never! They will only toss you into the sky into some unknown space, so you’ll starve there… They’ll not talk with you…”

Yu Chi and Feng Peiqian were too clueless to give any ideas. Gu Jun though was moved by Wu Siyu’s comment. The cats would not talk to the Zoogs or himself but they might talk to Wu Siyu… He turned to Wu Siyu who was still eating. Because Dirty-minded Yu was unique.