I'm on the Ark, and I start out as Gretchen.

"Wait, could this be a scheme by that master thief, offering these people benefits in exchange for their cover-up or even protection..."

"It's unclear whether that person's actions were intended in that way, but it's clear that reality is moving in that direction." After hearing Swire's mutterings, Hoshiguma gently shook his head and said.

“Besides that, I also strongly suspect that [this person] might be part of a gang or have accomplices.” As he said this, Hoshiguma’s expression couldn’t help but become strange.

It's understandable that she was suspicious; the main issue was that the amount of supplies this suspect delivered to the people in the slums this time was a bit excessive...

If previously the frequency of the operations meant the suspects only delivered clothing and small amounts of food each time, then last night… the suspects, as if afraid there wouldn't be a next time, delivered a large quantity of substantial food items, including but not limited to flour and rice…

If the quantity of items delivered was small, or the delivery area was limited, Hoshiguma might be able to understand. But this time, not only were the items numerous and heavy, but the delivery area was also very wide...

And while performing the above actions, that person was also able to do so silently, avoiding being seen by anyone...

This led the Guard Bureau to suspect not only that someone in the slums was covering for the thefts, but also that these thefts were committed by a gang... or at least with accomplices. Otherwise, it would truly be superhuman for one person to do it alone...

"What details were discovered?"

Hoshiguma's sudden words piqued Swire's curiosity.

"Take a look for yourself. These photos were taken in the slums today." This time, Hoshiguma didn't explain anything further. She simply took out a few photos from the files and showed them to Swire.

"Let me see...?"

After seeing the contents of the photo clearly, a question mark slowly appeared above Swire's head. After a moment, she said in a somewhat incredulous tone:

"Don't tell me that everyone else received items of this quality."

"Although we haven't confirmed too many companies, unfortunately, it should be roughly the same..."

"???"

"This...you...?"

Upon hearing this, Swire pointed to the heavy-looking grain in the photo, opened her mouth several times, but couldn't utter a complete sentence. Finally, she managed to squeeze out:

"That person delivered such a heavy item, and our people didn't even notice??"

P.S.: There will be another chapter later.

Chapter 22 The Cat's Little Melancholy

"?~"

Just as Swire had finished talking to Hoshiguma about the situation and was about to return to her seat to start working, her phone vibrated in her pocket, stopping her in her tracks.

Then, so as not to disturb others, she grabbed her phone, turned around, and left the office to answer the call.

Although she hadn't answered the phone or even checked the caller ID on her phone, Swire already knew who was contacting her and what they wanted to talk about.

"Hey."

"It's me, Miss Beatrice. I've completed the task you asked me to do. Would you like to come back and check it yourself?"

After the call was connected, it was indeed as Swire had predicted; it was something she had proactively contacted and instructed to do.

"No need, I trust you can handle this. Also, just open it when you leave." Swire replied calmly, listening to the respectful voice on the other end.

"Yes, then I won't disturb you any longer, Miss."

"Ah."

After hanging up the phone, Shi Huai

Ya looked up at the window, a dark glint flashing in her eyes.

Although she is currently focusing more on the affairs and work of the Guard Bureau, it doesn't mean she doesn't care about her family. Swire, she always manages to handle both.

------------------

slums —

After having a meal at noon today, Pado brought canned food and, for the first time in a long time, openly visited the slums during the day to conduct a brief investigation.

After all, ever since the last incident, the cat hasn't come over at night for a long time to avoid being waited for or something like that, let alone during the day like today.

After spending some time gathering information and learning about the recent situation in the slums, Pado was feeling rather uneasy.

Then she wasn't in a hurry to leave. Instead, she found a small teahouse by the roadside, ordered a cup of tea, and sat down.

"..."

At this moment, Pado was staring blankly at the tea that was rippling slightly in the wind, her little expression showing a hint of resentment.

Because the cat realized once again that being a human is hard, and being a good human is even harder... Sure enough, she still wanted to be a carefree cat who could fill her stomach.

As for why she suddenly thought this way, it's because Pado has learned about the attitude and behavior of the poor people she once helped towards the Royal Guard officers today...

Well, if it's just about protecting oneself and giving oneself some cover, then cats can understand and accept it to some extent.

However, it is clear that many people have crossed the line...

Even with her thick skin, Pado couldn't help but frown when she thought about the vile words and malicious plans she had overheard in the marketplace that day.

To be honest, Maomao doesn't consider herself a saint. Her motivation for delivering things to the slums was partly kindness and partly selfishness, but overall she was trying her best to help and had a clear conscience.

Even when those she had helped wanted more and became dependent on her, Pado didn't mind and continued to help them as much as possible...

However, she really hates people who, under the guise of protecting her, actually use their own interests to spread malice and attack innocent people.

According to Cat's investigation, in today's riot caused by the poor, one or two guards suffered minor injuries due to being caught off guard...

Although those who caused the trouble were eventually taken to the police station, she was still somewhat speechless and angry.

"Looks like I need to find a way to teach these people a lesson... I don't want to get myself into trouble because of this." After thinking about how to handle the situation for a while, Pado lay on the table and muttered unhappily.

After careful consideration, the cat has decided to give these radicals a warning.

Not only that, she plans to be even more selective in choosing who to help; she doesn't want to overlook those who truly need help and end up raising a bunch of "monsters"...

"Meow~"

Noticing that its companion Paddo was unhappy, the canned food, which was sitting on the table, stretched out its chubby, furry paw and patted Paddo's forehead as if to comfort it.

----------------

After spending some more time in the slums and recovering from her initial gloom, Pado left with the canned food.

This afternoon, Cat felt that her young heart had been greatly impacted, so she decided to go to Swire's house before she got off work to cleanse her wounded heart.

Of course, having learned her lesson from being trapped under the bed last time, even though there wasn't much time left to buy supplies today, Pado still went to the Guard Bureau to check on the situation before visiting Swire's house.

Although she could have escaped in that situation, she would not want to go through it again if she could!

……

Because it was getting late, Pado decided to make things quick this time. After confirming that someone was indeed at work, she headed straight for her destination without hesitation.

"Hmm, the usual canned food, you know..."

"Meow~"

After arriving at a dead corner outside Swire's yard, Paddo pointed to the high wall in front of her, originally intending to let the canned food standing on her shoulder go in and explore first.

However, before she could finish speaking, the fat cat had already impatiently and skillfully leaped over the wall and slipped inside...

"Canned food, you... you're really eager and quite experienced!"

Afterwards, Paddo checked the can to make sure no one was in the villa before nimbly climbing inside. As she landed, she even had a moment to gently tug at the brim of her hat.

After glancing around briefly and finding no danger, Pado gently turned the key in her hand and walked towards the villa, then skillfully opened the door.

As usual, after going inside, the cat carefully and quickly closed the door to avoid alerting anyone outside.

However, due to her excessive skill and repeated successes, Pado had become somewhat "lax" and failed to notice the small cameras in various corners of the courtyard that reflected a barely perceptible light in the setting sun.

……

Upon entering Swire's villa, Paddo made no hesitation or pause, heading straight for someone's storage room.

After all, it's here to enter

I've been selling these for so long, and there's really nothing that the cats are interested in anymore, but for the sake of the mission... I still have to try my best.

P.S.: I don't want to stay up late either, but my brain just gets slower and slower as the night goes on. Anyway, time for bed. I'll try to adjust my sleep schedule again tomorrow; I've been having a lot of minor health issues lately.

Chapter 23 The Angry Little Tiger

Although Paddo noticed the cleaning marks after entering the house, she hadn't paid much attention to it before because a similar situation had occurred, until...

"..."

Pado gazed at the spotless, neatly arranged storage room before her, lost in thought.

Honestly, the reason why the cat used to like coming to the storage room was because it wasn't very tidy, and there were always some forgotten little items lying around in the corners.

But now... this place is so clean and tidy that she has absolutely no desire for it anymore...

"Something feels off here today... Is it because it's been cleaned too thoroughly?"

When Pado came to her senses and faced the clean room, she not only had no thoughts, but it also stirred up a strange feeling that had been suppressed and covered by the sense of familiarity since she entered the courtyard.

"Never mind, just grab one at random, let's hurry up and go, canned food."

Given her consistently good luck, after quickly leaving the storage room, Paddo chose to follow her faint intuition and called out to the canned goods wandering around the room.

"Meow~"

Upon hearing the call, the canned food stopped running around and quickly turned around to run to Pado's side, following her.

Deciding to leave quickly, Pado didn't continue browsing. She simply walked quickly to the cabinet where Swire stored cat food and canned cat food, and took a can from an inconspicuous corner.

"Hmm... consider it a little surprise and compensation."

Pado glanced at the expensive imported cat food can in her hand, then stroked her chin, hesitating for a moment.

Then, as if he had made up his mind, he reluctantly took out two small items from his own space and placed them in the hidden spot where he had just taken the cat food can.

As for why it was placed in a hidden location, it was obviously because the cat didn't want Swire to find it so soon. As far as she knew, the house was only cleaned and tidied up once every so often.

By the time she organizes things again and the items are discovered, she'll probably have already finished her task.

After finishing all this, Pado wasted no more time. She quickly finished up the mess, made sure everything was alright, and then made her escape.

……

The moment Pato skillfully and deftly left Swire's yard, the faint, strange feeling in her heart vanished as if it had never existed.

"..."