My family runs an adventurer's guild.

—Although many cat lovers know from their experience that cats are mysterious creatures with both solid and liquid properties, capable of constantly transforming between the two states, even so, after being crushed into a "cat pancake," Roxanne was still utterly dead.

(Well, if we explain it in a less satirical way, the saying that "cats are liquid" is actually just a very subtle metaphor and description. Specifically, it means that a cat's body is very flexible, and even its bones can be twisted in an unbelievable way. Therefore, cats can often curl up into a ball, or do all sorts of things that humans simply cannot do, and enter very small gaps and spaces.)

Even worse, because Roxanne's cat body was formed from magic, it slowly turned into countless spots of light after her death and gradually dissipated.

However, in the eyes of the driver who caused the accident and the bystanders, the situation was...

"...God? Am I seeing things? This dead cat is disappearing?!"

"...This is absolutely a Nobel Prize-worthy discovery! Not only do cats have a dual nature, existing in both solid and liquid states, but they also vaporize after death?!"

"...Make way! Make way! Where's the vaporized cat? I want to film it!"

……

In no time, the "death scene" of the little female cat Roxanne became a sea of ​​people, with the clicking of cameras filling the air. Countless passersby excitedly took out their mobile phones, tablets, and video cameras to take pictures of Roxanne's dissipating "cat corpse," and even the police were no exception.

Seeing this terrible scene that seemed to be about to expose their secrets, the group of alien cats looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.

"...What should we do, little brother Phil? Can you come up with an idea?" The chubby black cat Kunka asked as he approached.

Now you realize you need to listen to me? What were you doing all this time, you disobedient bunch?

Phil gave him a disgruntled look, but still sighed and ordered, "...What else can we do? Of course, we have to get out of here! You guys have been dawdling along the way, and this place isn't far from the New York Sanctum. If we attract the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Mage's Guild, then we won't be able to leave!"

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To live in New York in the Marvel universe, you need a heart of steel.

Because for New Yorkers in the Marvel universe, their daily life is "constantly on the battlefield"—every month, every week, and even every day, a large number of superheroes in tight suits fight against all sorts of bizarre supervillains.

Thanks to cruel fate, they encounter a plethora of ever-evolving supervillains every year. From Electro, Sandman, and the Lizard, to the Hulk single-handedly sweeping through an entire street, to frequent robot riots, and the lingering presence of Hydra, sixty years after World War II. Add to that the superheroes who come to the rescue, who often act recklessly in the heat of battle. The result is that, through the combined efforts of good and evil, New York City residents live perpetually in a brutal battlefield, and even if they moved to Stalingrad during World War II, they could probably still survive.

Today, most New Yorkers who haven't been scared enough to abandon their homes and flee are probably already numb to the endless war around them.

In their daily lives, they often see Spider-Man in a tight suit swinging over their heads; Captain America punching a car into the air; Iron Man's parts clattering down from the sky; Hawkeye Barton's arrow piercing through their office; and strange flying machines trailing smoke as they fall towards Central Park... and a colleague or friend suddenly clutching their head and howling in pain, before slowly turning into a monster.

Even any hot dog vendor in Times Square has survived at least seventeen or eighteen terrorist attacks and has extensive experience dealing with poison gas bombs, suicide bombs, and robot massacres. His greasy bib might even have the autographs of Captain America and Iron Man.

Therefore, when faced with a common urban legend like "a dead cat vanishing into thin air," most New Yorkers simply ignore it, much like hearing about the opening of a new restaurant. And S.H.I.E.L.D., responsible for handling supernatural matters, doesn't even bat an eye at such a trivial matter.

In fact, S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently overwhelmed and on the verge of collapse due to a crisis they themselves have created. Forget about urban legends like "a dead cat vanishing into thin air." Even if someone carried out a terrorist attack in New York, they wouldn't have time to deal with it…

So Phil, with the remaining five alien cats, ran wildly through Manhattan for four blocks, only to find that no one seemed to be watching them, and they gradually stopped... More importantly, the five lazy alien cats beside him all said they couldn't run anymore.

"...Meow! So tired! So hungry! So thirsty!"

"...My legs are about to break, meow! Why can't we ride in cars like those humans?"

"...Where are we going next? Are we just going to wander around aimlessly in the streets? I want to see the palaces and temples here!"

"...Let's get something to eat first! Little Phil, do you have any local currency?"

……

Five cats, their fur and hair disheveled from car exhaust and street dust, surrounded Phil, meowing incessantly. Phil, who was also panting heavily, felt a headache coming on, but he couldn't retaliate.

After careful consideration, Phil realized that the New York tour she had organized was indeed severely unprepared. She hadn't even prepared a travel itinerary or route map beforehand, nor had she planned which attractions to visit, before rushing across the border.

Now, he's running around aimlessly again, completely disoriented, and he's even lost track of where he is in New York.

Well, it's not that Phil and his companions don't understand English—just like the Heroic Spirits in the Holy Grail War all understand Japanese, the seven cats who were brought to the Marvel universe also received an American English language pack that was automatically implanted into their minds.

The problem is that, due to the huge difference in height, even when standing on the side of a road in the city, a cat's field of vision is much narrower than a human's.

On a clear day, a human can typically see up to four kilometers to the horizon. The habit of walking upright gives this species a wider field of vision. Even within a city where layers of buildings and trees obstruct the view, distant landmarks are still clearly visible. For example, anyone in Shanghai's Puxi district, regardless of their familiarity with the area, will eventually reach the Bund if they keep walking towards the Oriental Pearl Tower. Similarly, someone in Paris, France, will eventually reach the Arc de Triomphe if they keep walking towards the Eiffel Tower.

But if it were the height of a cat, their maximum field of vision when lying on the ground would probably only be able to barely see across the street.

Chapter 95, My Teammates Are All Useless Cats (16000 words)

Therefore, from a cat's perspective, it's difficult to observe distant landmarks; being able to clearly see signs and door numbers is already the limit.

Even though she could recognize the signs and house numbers of the nearby shops, Phil still couldn't connect this information with the map of New York in her mind, nor could she figure out where she was on the map.

After all, he didn't have a built-in brain GPS that could guide Phil along the way at any time.

Therefore, if we want this trip to New York to continue, it is urgent to determine our location as soon as possible.

Otherwise, you wouldn't know how to get to the various attractions in New York and would just wander around the metropolis like a headless fly.

Of course, before that, we need to make sure everyone has enough to eat—even if we're traveling on a budget in New York, we can't let everyone starve!

This isn't some kind of "Burn calories!" dieting and fasting tour!

In fact, no matter what world you're in, cats have always considered being fat to be beautiful, okay?!

So Phil looked around and led them around to the door of a nearby Japanese restaurant, but instead of going in, they went around to the back door of the restaurant. In fact, because there were staff watching the entrance, the six cats couldn't get in at all.

Then they smelled a familiar fishy odor: like most small restaurants, this place had a back door that connected to the kitchen.

Phil first tried pushing the door, only to find it locked and unable to open. Then, he jumped onto the windowsill and tried again, delighted to find the window unlocked. He then nimbly darted into the Japanese restaurant's kitchen, making almost no noise.

A moment later, with a small fish in his mouth, he returned through the window the way he came, and lightly hopped back to his companions.

"...There are a lot of fish in the kitchen, both raw and cooked, as well as dried fish and shrimp, all left out and unattended."

While eating her fish, Phil said to her envious feline companions, "...You guys should jump through that window and steal some fish from the kitchen! Remember to be quiet! If any humans come in, just cast a Charm spell and you should be able to escape..."

He originally thought the arrangement was quite appropriate—not only had the location for storing the ingredients and the route to enter been found, but he had also personally gone in to test it out. Unexpectedly, the five cats all looked hesitant, making excuses and contradicting Phil.

"...That's easy for you to say. This kitchen windowsill is so high, how are we supposed to jump up there, meow?"

"...Little Phil, there's something wrong with your thinking! Why did you steal fish? Couldn't you just buy us things to eat?"

"...Use charm spell on humans when you encounter them while stealing fish? Are you kidding meow? I don't know any magic, meow!"

"...I don't know magic either, meow! It seems like Phil is the only one here who knows magic, right?"

"...So please, since you're so capable, do us the favor and steal a lunch for us! One fresh fish of this size is enough for each of us..."

……

Listening to the chaotic and incoherent chatter of the Totoro Town's feline neighbors, Phil was so angry that he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

What?! He's so bad at fighting that he can't even jump onto the windowsill?

You have the nerve to ask me, a cat, to steal five fish to fill your stomachs?

They even accused me of being a thief? That I broke the law?

Do you even realize you're on an adventure in another world?!

They can't even jump onto the windowsill, let alone sneak into a restaurant kitchen through a window to steal fish?

How can such a stupid cat be an adventurer?

In traditional adventurer parties, if there is a cat-person (cat-eared girl), aren't they usually thieves?

How shameful! You useless cats should just leave the clan immediately!

Uh, wait a minute, it seems like there really isn't a single genuine adventurer in this New York tour group, including myself...

Phile counted everyone's professions on her fingers—Gilda was a tailor's apprentice in Totoro Town, Lazel was a baker, old man Kunka was a retired town hall official, she herself was a receptionist at the Adventurers' Guild, and Roxanne, the little female cat who had just died in a car accident, helped out at her family's shop… Phile wasn't very familiar with the remaining two cats, but after asking around, she discovered that one was a shoemaker and the other was an unemployed person wandering around town…

In other words, among the remaining six cats, not a single one belongs to the adventure and combat profession. There are no cat thieves at all... or rather, even if they were cats, without the necessary training, they couldn't possibly possess thieving skills.

Moreover, among all the cats, only Phili, or rather, only one cat, truly knows how to use magic.

In other words, am I leading a real tour group now? Oh my god!

Just as Phil was wallowing in self-pity, it seemed that lunchtime was approaching, and customers began to arrive one after another. The kitchen of the Japanese restaurant started to get lively, with all sorts of noises coming from it, and the number of people coming in and out of the kitchen increased rapidly... It became very difficult to sneak in and steal fish again.

Of course, even if sneaking into the kitchen was difficult, there were plenty of discarded seafood scraps in the trash cans in the back alley, which the local stray cats seemed to enjoy... However, the cat-people citizens of Totoro Town weren't so easily appeased. They only glanced at the trash cans before becoming furious, declaring that they weren't beggars and couldn't possibly eat them, demanding that Frie find a way to prepare a decent meal for them...

Okay, to be honest, even Phil herself wouldn't want to eat rotten fish heads and apples from the trash can.

But no matter what, you still need to fill your stomach.

However, it's impossible to pay for food honestly. They don't have a single dollar in their pockets. So where are these cats supposed to get dollars?

Next, using magic to violently rob someone is also inappropriate. After all, this is not the ordinary real world, but the Marvel world full of extraordinary people, and it is New York City with surveillance cameras everywhere and hidden masters in the community.

Even if it's just an ordinary Japanese restaurant, there's no guarantee that it doesn't harbor a bunch of fierce ninjas brimming with chakra.

It would be a terrible waste to get beaten up in the street by some "folk hero" just for a meal.

After much thought, it seems that only by fully utilizing the feline's natural advantages of being "short, round, soft, and warm" and relying on being incredibly cute can they fill their stomachs...

"...Alright! I'll take you to get a decent meal, but you have to follow my instructions, meow..."

Chapter 96, Cats Make a Living by Being Cute (Bonus Chapter Completed)

Outside a Japanese restaurant in Manhattan's East Village, New York City.

A stylish working woman had just stepped out of the store with her takeout food when she noticed a group of adorable little animals outside.

"...Meow! Meow!"

Six cats of different colors had gathered outside the restaurant, meowing and fawning at her expectantly.

"……cat?"

Looking at these adorable kittens, the office worker was momentarily stunned. She blinked and then squatted down.

"...The owner of this shop...doesn't seem to own any cats?"

It has to be said, these cats are quite adorable. As soon as the woman squatted down, they wagged their tails and came closer, rubbing against her trouser legs.

Those big, watery cat eyes were enough to melt the heart of this working woman.

—Oh my…why are there such cute animals in the world?

The woman reached out and scratched the chin of an orange cat, which obediently squinted its eyes, gently rubbed against her hand, and let out a soft meow...

Then, the moment of witnessing a miracle will arrive!

"...[All-Race Charm]!"

In an instant, the already excited office lady's eyes lit up with hearts, feeling that the adorable little beast in front of her was her lover from a past life, and every cry seemed to be dipped in honey... So she immediately opened the food box she was carrying and placed it in front of the orange cat.

"...Come here, little kitty! Big sister has some grilled fish here! Come and eat!"

Meanwhile, the other diners coming and going, entering and leaving the restaurant, were also staring at these fearless kittens with wide eyes—oh my, how can these cats be so cute? How can there be such adorable animals in the world? I just can't resist, I really want to cuddle them…

A moment later, all sorts of grilled fish, sashimi, dried fish, and cat food were placed in front of the six cats. Meanwhile, all sorts of people, from little girls to mature women, young boys to middle-aged women and strange uncles, gathered outside the shop, enjoying the pleasure of petting, cuddling, and playing with the cats.

※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※

Unfortunately, this "cuteness extravaganza" by the cats didn't last long.

After eating until they were half full, the six cats outside the Japanese restaurant quickly regained their aloof demeanor, ignoring the enthusiastic pleas of their owners to stay. Instead, they picked up the remaining grilled fish and dried fish and turned back into a dark alleyway away from the main road.

As soon as they were out of human sight, they found a clean spot, put down the food they were holding in their mouths, and then started complaining all at once.

"...I never thought that at this age, I'd still be petted by a young girl. All my shame and integrity in this life are going to vanish in the wind, meow!"

"...You're actually doing alright, Cuenka. Human girls have less strength, so it's more comfortable to be petted. But I was lifted up and petted by a muscular, sweaty old man. He's going to pluck all the fur off my back, meow!"

"...Hey, so what if you guys get petted? There was some perverted dark-skinned uncle poking their balls! I'm not gay, meow!"

……

"...Alright, alright! Why do you all complain so much? There's so much delicious food, can't you shut your mouths?"

Phili flicked her tail impatiently, "...You guys eat here slowly! I'll climb up to the roof and check our current location!"

Having said that, he left behind the five cats who were still nagging and complaining, and began climbing the ten-story apartment building next door by himself.

—In Chinese cities, it is often not so easy for a stray cat to climb from the street to the roof: if it tries to climb the stairs inside the apartment building, it will be chased away by the building manager with a broom; if it tries to climb the wall from the outside, it may not be able to find a foothold to climb on.

Even cats are helpless when faced with a smooth, vertical wall!

Don't assume cats are immune to falls—who knows how many unfortunate fat cats have met their end at their own apartment windowsills...

In the United States, most older apartment buildings usually have external fire escape staircases on their exterior walls. These are made of iron frames and perforated metal plates, and look a bit like scaffolding. Spider-Man and Deadpool often sit on them to rest.