Everyone's a Catgirl! Ch. 338: She Wanted Cold Hard Cash (Patreon)

Tristan divulged the details of his discussions with Emberlynn during his stay at her estate. He and Melody remained undressed. Melody listened with rapt attention, pausing only for the occasional drink of water or crunch of a peanut. Her eyes watched him in the same way a cat did moments before pouncing on its unsuspecting victim, and he tried not to think much of it.

“This is a very serious proposal you’re making,” Melody said. She draped herself, face down, with her taut stomach across his thighs. The snack bowl moved with her, and she munched on another peanut. Strands of blonde hair fell over her narrow shoulder. “I hope you understand that.”

“I do,” Tristan said, nodding. He kept his back against the headboard, the silken sheets covering him up to his waist, his hands balled around his belly. “But something has to be done. You’re a smart woman. I think you can see where the current status quo leads.”

Melody rolled the remainder of the peanut around her tongue. Her gaze wandered to the full length mirror against the wall, veered to the lantern that hung above them, then finally back to Tristan. “Some would like it to continue as such.” Melody’s tail swayed in a hypnotic rhythm. “As Cailu’s direct treasurer, I have some sway, but my vote won’t be enough to convince all of Shulan.”

“I know. I’m not so naive as to believe that this issue is so easily solved.” He smiled, and the faintest hint of a blush adorned Melody’s cheeks. Her ears flicked forward. “The islands have suffered for quite some time, and Cailu made it clear that something needed to change.” He bowed his head slightly. “I would appreciate your help.”

Swallowing the remainder of her peanut, Melody sat up and positioned herself atop his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and slanted her head to one side. That look again. “Let’s talk about the particulars once we get to the Geisha.”

“You’re coming with?”

“I am. In the meantime…” Her stare traveled downward, then back up to his face. Her eyes were hungry. “How about a second round?”

Tristan smiled, though this time it was forced. He hoped Melody hadn’t noticed. Gripping her hips with both hands, he pressed his thumbs into the flesh around the bones and murmured, “Of course.”

—

Destiny rushed Tristan the moment he appeared at the Geisha with Melody in tow. She fretted over him as he searched out the others. Lara was busy discussing something with Yanni at a nearby table, and the two waved him down. Tristan took a spot at one end of the round table across from Lara and Yanni, with two empty seats on his side—one of which, Destiny promptly claimed.

“You were gone for a while,” Destiny said, clapping her hands together between her legs.

“There were matters to discuss,” Melody explained, her lips pulled into a thin line. She took the opposite seat next to Tristan, then lifted one long leg over the other.

Yanni tapped the tips of her fingers together, kept her back straight, then turned her head to Tristan. “If you are—”

“Welcome to the Geisha,” a woman interrupted behind Yanni. Yanni froze as if someone had stopped her clock, then slowly rested her hands on the table. “Are these guests your friends?”

“Yes,” Yanni said, nodding without looking at their waitress. “This is Tristan and Melody.”

“Welcome back, Melody. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Tristan. My name is Miyuki.” She touched a hand to her chest and bowed deeply. Her long, black hair fell forward like a pair of curtains, a gentle waft of her perfume tickling Tristan’s nostrils. She straightened her back and gestured to Tristan with an open palm. “What may I bring to your table?”

Tristan wasn’t hungry. Not in the slightest. Between lunch and the handfuls of peanuts and water, he was still satiated despite two rounds with Melody in as many hours. “What’s your best tea?”

“May I?” Yanni asked, her hand raised.

Tristan smiled. “Go ahead, Yanni.”

Yanni beamed and tapped her fingertips together. “Please bring Tristan a spiced amber and lemon tea.”

Miyuki smiled. “I shall do just that.” She gestured to Melody next. “And for you?”

Melody hummed and lolled her head to the side. “I will take some fried jumpers and a milk ginger tea.”

“Excellent choice. Anything else for our honored guests?” Tristan and the girls shook their heads and Miyuki bowed once more. “I shall return momentarily.”

As soon as she was gone, Melody spoke up. “How much of your plan do they know?” she asked Tristan.

“It wasn’t my plan alone,” Tristan said, shaking his head. “Destiny, Lara, and Yanni”—he pointed to them as he named them off—“have all done their part to help. You can speak freely here.”

“Then, you have told them everything,” Melody clarified. Tristan nodded. “That makes this easy. I will tell you what I told Tristan, then. While I am Cailu’s treasurer, even Cailu has to go through the proper channels to see the island restructured. There are two women whom you must appeal to: Kalaya and Teima.”

“What are their roles on San Island?”

Melody crossed her arms. “Kalaya manages the guard. Teima manages construction. Without their approvals, you may as well leave.”

Tristan frowned. “But I thought—”

“Forget what you thought,” she said, shifting her legs. “What I tell you is the truth. You have the approval of Cailu, Nyarlea’s most powerful Enchanter, and Shulan’s treasurer”—she brushed a length of her golden-blonde hair behind her shoulder—“so take solace in that. But know this.” She lifted one finger as if her arm had sprung from its resting place. “Kalaya will not accept pay cuts to the guard, and Teima abhors change.”

If it’s not one thing, then it’s another. Tristan felt the immediate desire to snap back, then quickly buried the emotion. He let what Melody said land on him. Emberlynn had taught him, whether she was aware of it or not, how dangerous emotions were in business discussions. It was only during Tristan’s most impassioned speeches that Emberlynn poked holes through him with ease. Say the wrong thing or snap at the wrong person, and he may as well stab himself in the throat.

“Who do you think would be easier to convince?” Tristan asked.

Melody clicked her tongue. “I would speak with Teima first. She may oversee the very people who put roofs over our heads, but Kalaya and her guard are very proud people. They have seen many battles and lost many friends and sisters.”

“They don’t want to fight forever, do they?” Lara barely said above a mumble. She rolled her eyes, then whispered, “Yes, that’s what I said.”

Melody frowned. “They…” Her attention was firmly attached to Lara, then, as if she remembered why she was here, she shook her head. “They believe that what they’re doing is right. Though I rarely speak with her if it doesn’t concern Bells. In the end, I’m not the one you need to convince.”

“Kalaya’s the captain, then?” Tristan asked.

“High Captain, as she likes to be called. It’s not a real rank, but no one’s brave enough to contest her on account of how dangerous she is.”

Tristan nodded. Melody’s approach made sense. If Kalaya was as difficult to convince as she claimed, then they would need numbers to sway her. Law and order transpired here very differently from how they had in Venicia, and if San Island’s guard was losing catgirls as quickly as Shi Island was, then they would need all the voices they could get.

“That leaves me with one more concern,” Tristan said. Melody nodded to him to continue. “Why does the Guild Hall hand out such meagre rewards?”

Melody didn’t respond.

Suddenly she clams up? What gives?

Tristan opened his mouth.

“The exorbitant costs to manage the building,” Melody explained. Tristan frowned. “When Quests are placed on the board, a cut of it goes to the Guild Hall for fees and convenience. These fees primarily cover worker pay and building maintenance.”

“What is the average payout to adventurers?” Tristan asked.

“Thirty Bells.”

Lara sputtered, then seeing the looks on everyone’s faces, she mumbled, “Sorry.”

“How is the cut determined?” Tristan said as he leaned back in his chair.

“A direct percentage,” Melody said after a pause. Then she added, “with additional fees depending on the estimated risks.”

“Not to sound morbid.” Destiny scooted her chair closer to Tristan so that their arms were touching. Tristan rubbed elbows with her. “But why does the Guild Hall care what the risk is?”

“From how Kalaya described it, corpses give the Defiled food, [Energy], resources. They grow more powerful with each life they take, so the guard works to reduce the number of killed to as few as possible. The easiest way to dissuade adventurers from such Quests is by adding fees,” Melody said. “Kalaya is insistent on her group handling any Encroacher or Defiled threats in Cailu’s absence. After the last attack involving the tigers, they’ve grown more… cautious.”

“What attack was this?” Destiny asked.

Yanni raised her hand, and Tristan flicked his head toward her. She offered Tristan the gentlest of smiles, then addressed Destiny. “I heard it from Mistress Emberlynn one evening. A swarm of tigers and a Defiled that possessed them attacked Shulan. Dozens of tigers. Many were killed. If not for the efforts of Cailu, then it could have been much worse.”

“Are you implying that the Defiled may somehow gain control of the deceased?” Tristan asked. He recalled his fight with the girl who had raised an undead army back on Shi Island. But they had never been able to confirm any details about her. He rubbed the section of his palm that had been hit by [Mark for Death].

Melody shook her head. “No. Kalaya simply believes that weaker catgirls are useful to the Defiled somehow. As the tiger attack demonstrated, Defiled can take control of lesser Encroachers and bewitch catgirls to do their bidding under the right circumstances. I know of at least a few who lost their lives because they were Enchanted by the Defiled to walk to their deaths.”

“We can’t possibly account for every single situation, though,” Tristan argued, shaking his head. “Assuming every Defiled has this ability will get us nowhere. We’ll remain paralyzed, cowering in our homes while the strong few take care of the rest. The adventurers need to be paid a fair wage to put more Bells back into Shulan.”

“Then you will have to speak with Kalaya.” Melody said. After a pause, she added, “She’s insistent on the guard maintaining control over dangerous scenarios.”

That didn’t make any sense. If there was so much danger, even if it did come at the cost of more catgirls, why discourage adventurers from taking care of Quests and Defiled? Something didn’t feel right. He struggled to put his finger on why, but Melody seemed almost… reluctant to share this information.

“Let’s not worry about that for now,” Destiny said, nudging his shoulder. “Why don’t we speak with Teima first, as Melody suggested? I’m sure we’ll sound more convincing if we have another person to back up your claims.”

Tristan blinked and nodded. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.”

Miyuki arrived with their orders moments later. Tristan enjoyed the tea Yanni had ordered for him, and she watched as he downed every drop. Melody dug into her fried jumpers, which looked a lot like fried shrimp, and Destiny and Lara enjoyed refills over small talk. The companionable warmth Tristan had become accustomed to blanketed him and soothed his concerns. Melody’s stern demeanor had lightened up somewhat, and she seemed to get along well enough with Lara and Yanni.

Destiny remained fastened to Tristan’s side, offering him the occasional smile when he needed it. But even so, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something about Melody was wrong.

So very wrong.