Chapter 88: Beach Harvest

The documentary filming cycle wasn’t short, and each director had a different angle, but most chose to start with the contestants’ daily work routines.

The camera crew had followed the little cat around busily during the harvest for several days and finally caught him during his free time today.

【Oh my god, Baby’s finally going out to play? This was way too hard-earned. How is he busier than me, a corporate drone? (heartache)】

【Don’t even get me started. Where’s the pampered little prince everyone online talks about? He heads to work at dawn every day, and when he gets back at night, he still has homework to do. How is he so sensible? Huh? Look at my college kid son who just sleeps and games all vacation—I’m giving him a loving dad slap and a few big slaps upside the head.】

The Delphians felt even more heartbroken for their own Highness, but there was no helping it—the little guy’s personality was already set. His early experiences ensured he wouldn’t be someone who chased leisure; he was a busy little sun, and all they could do was keep giving him feedback, praising him, letting him realize how wonderful his existence was.

The sea was vast with gulls crying, sunlight sparkling on the waves.

The camera crew received word early in the morning that the little cat was heading out to beachcomb for crabs today, and they were permitted to follow and film. It was the first time in the half-month since arriving in this star system that they set foot on Delphi’s home planet. Standing on this world almost entirely covered by ocean, their expressions held a moment of bewilderment.

Unlike the Federation’s many habitable stars with skies full of flyers and bustling ground traffic, this place was quiet and serene. Castles, towers, and arches in a very classical architectural style—the whole city looked blue and white. The sand underfoot was fine and soft, a natural feel utterly different from the artificial stuff on some famous tourist planet. There was no commercialized vibe here; their group stepping in felt like noise invading a paradise.

“His Highness has arrived. You can live-stream the filming, but please don’t approach for interviews. Today is His Highness’s play day—he won’t cooperate with your work,” the guide told the crew.

“Got it. Don’t worry.”

Just as they spoke, the live stream camera focused on a spot. A car pulled up on the winding coastal highway, and a robot got out, towing a cat.

Li Ao carried a small bucket, his paw held by Silver Wing, face full of excitement: “I’m not wearing shoes, okay?”

“No need. You’ll have to wash thoroughly when you get back anyway.” The robot let go of him. “You go pick first—see if any crabs have come ashore. I’ll get the picnic gear down.”

“Okay.” Without his paw being held, Li Ao dropped to all fours and walked, bucket in his mouth, ton-ton-tonning toward the beach. He was short, so the bucket was practically dragging on the ground, but good quality meant it didn’t wear a hole.

【Baby, wuwuwu, your belly got dirty.】

【Nonsense, that’s our Cat King Cult Leader’s fur color! It’s not that his belly touched the ground and got stained black!】

No matter how stubbornly the Cat King followers defended their leader’s dignity, he himself didn’t care. So what if Fierce Cat was fierce but short-legged? He set the bucket aside, faced the sea amid the waves, lifted his face, and recited a poem: “Ah, sea, it’s all water. Ah, cat, come catch crabs.”

【…Good poem.】

【Brilliant, applause everyone, clap-clap (seal slapping belly)】

【I have a question? Kitty said catch crabs? But looking around, there’s nothing. Where are the crabs?】

Star Network viewers scrutinized the beach through the live stream, confirming not even a hair in sight. But before they could worry the little cat had made a futile trip, a wave crashed in, tumbling with countless snapping and clawing crabs.

【??? Did I see that right? Isn’t that blue orchid crab? The kind that’s impossible to catch even in deep-sea fishing, just washed up like this? Huh?】

【And what’s that? (dumbfounded) That’s a king crab? Don’t those only live in extreme cold deep seas?】

Delphi’s planet consciousness couldn’t speak; it just kept washing crabs ashore. The azure blue orchid crabs frantically clawed with their legs to burrow back into the sea. If they had thoughts, they’d probably be cursing: You’re so lofty, huh? Big deal. Use my life to deliver a gift.

“Ah, crab, don’t run!” The little cat who’d been reciting poetry snapped to, his four legs splashing fast through sand and water to chase one down. Another wave surged, leaving the crab nowhere to retreat; it raised its sharp pincer in defense. But all struggles were futile before Cat King. Li Ao lunged a paw and smacked it senseless—dazed, unable to raise its pincer, scooped up by Fierce Cat by the back and tossed into the bucket.

Victorious in his first battle, Cat King grew in confidence, tail raised higher than a fishtail, charging toward a distant huge black crab.

Unlike the dainty orchid crab, this one’s shell was forty centimeters across, not counting its over-one-meter leg span—an unreachable length for a short-legged cat.

【No way, too big, can’t catch that one. Your Highness, let’s pick another!! Look, there are snow crabs over there—go for that! Don’t go over there aaaah, I’m scared you’ll get pinched!】

The size difference was too vast; not only were viewers worried, the crew’s hearts were in their throats. They eyed the robot still hauling picnic gear from the shore, tempted to rush over and yell: Do something! How can you let such a tiny guy catch a crab that huge?! They wanted to shout a warning too, but remembered the guide’s repeated instructions: Don’t disturb little Highness. They grew anxious, sweat beading on their foreheads.

The little cat was so delicate, so small—sure to get hurt by that big crab! Those pincers had enough force to snap a cat leg!

Hannah, too worried to care, kicked off her heels to dash onto the beach and stop him—only for the next second, before countless viewers, the little cat hefted a rock and precisely smashed the king crab’s head.

【…I suddenly remember, four years ago, little cat smashed a xenoid variant with a rock (eyes closed)】

【What exactly are we even worried about? …This is Dawn League’s fifth place. We should worry about ourselves…】

【Complicated feelings—this means my combat power isn’t even as good as a cat with five-centimeter legs?】

【Upstairs! We said His Highness’s legs are now seven centimeters. No five centimeters—don’t spread rumors!!】

The difference between humans and animals is that humans use tools. Li Ao dusted his paws, proudly sauntered to the big crab’s side, and prodded it with a foot. The big crab was clearly dazed but recovered after three or four seconds, snapping its pincer to attack. Li Ao nimbly leaped away, bounded a few steps, and landed on the crab’s back, riding it as it charged wildly.

He was ferocious, smacking with paws while riding—Meowzilla’s two paws could crack the ground, let alone a crab with slightly longer legs. The king crab finally croaked, and Li Ao grabbed a leg, dragging it backward with effort.

【This crab’s too big, gotta be twenty jin at least. Highness can’t lift it hahaha.】

【Just saying, Baby, can’t you get the robot to help carry it?】

Stubborn kitty always handled things himself if he could. Panting hard like a little calf straining, he dragged the crab heavier than himself to the shore, planted a foot on it, and proudly lifted his face to the robot setting up cookware: “I’m super awesome! Right?”

【Right—! Let Auntie kiss the stinky little braggart cat!】

【How bold! Daring to flirt with His Majesty! (death stare)】

Normally, praising the cat was little monster’s job, but with little monster absent, the robot reluctantly praised: “Pretty awesome.”

Praised, the little cat flicked his butt and charged back into battle. For especially tough ones, he’d hug and slam them into the sand. Super fierce! The netizens who’d worried now gulped.

【Fierce… Fierce Cat roars. Don’t provoke, don’t provoke.】

Li Ao was thrilled; it had been ages since he’d relaxed like this. After crabs, he gathered shells and dug razor clams. Spotting a razor king trace, he lowered his head, paws raised, waited a moment—then pounced with a whoosh. Front paws dug madly, mud and sand staining his snowy white chest black, then grabbed the shell and raised it high, eyes sparkling as he shouted toward a spot: “Daddy, Daddy, look! I caught it!”

Daddy? Little cat’s daddy—that’s Isiris, right? The crew froze; the camera followed the little cat’s gaze.

Atop the sea cliff, a golden male lion lay quietly. Sea wind ruffled his golden mane; his golden beast pupils inspired an urge in humans not to look directly.

Little cat ran down the cliff with the clam, mouth agape showing pink tongue like a puppy. Left foot tripped right—about to fall—

Wings of pure white suddenly sprouted from the lion’s back; he leaped down, landing instantly to catch the cat.

Li Ao dropped the clam, stood on hind legs hugging the lion’s leg, grinning goofily. Isiris lowered his head, gently nuzzling his face: “Keep playing. I’ll stay with you.”

“I wanna catch shrimpies for Xixi to eat!” He dashed excitedly into the waves, yelling at the sea: “De De Fei, De De Fei, I want shrimpies.”

The surging giant waves came crashing in, with massive sprays rising several stories high. People watched in stunned silence as the dangerous crest bent down the moment it neared the little cat, tossing a huge lobster onto the shore.

【(Closed eyes)(Open eyes)(Rub eyes hard) This is, what kind of special underwater capture device is this? Huh?】

【I’ve only seen a scene like this in some cartoon (drooling in a daze). That cartoon was something like Ocean-something Fate…】

This really was a fairy tale, or so Hannah thought. And when the little cat came running over with a lobster in its mouth and set it down in front of them, the fairy tale came true.

“This is for you guys~.” He was covered in filth, yet the camera crew felt like he was glowing: “1, 2, 3…” He counted the people: “Wait a sec, I’ll go catch a few more for you.”

Creator God above. The director crossed himself over his chest. Let me tell You, foolish humanity has been fed by a cat. He was so cute, so hardworking, so brave. He was the one and only light in the world. May You bless him, dote on him, and grant him even more favor.

Li Ao was like a puppy that had gone swimming in the sea, his fur matted and clinging to his body in wet clumps. He was catching fish—fish were hard to catch. When he ran into a puffed-up pufferfish, he got startled himself, stood up straight, and waved his paws to scare it off.

The robot was starting a fire. Isiris, who had reverted to human form, watched for a bit before claiming a spot and beginning to prep the crabs that the cat had knocked out. The snow-white crab meat was precisely extracted, glistening as it dropped into the sizzling hot pan with a hiss. Remembering that the little cat liked sweet things, the man’s long, elegant fingers picked up the sugar jar and carefully sprinkled some in.

The robot nearby said nothing, simply steaming its crabs and whipping up a dipping sauce before calling out to the drowned rat-and-cat duo in the distance: “Li Ao, come eat.”

The little cat poked his head out of the water, a fish in his mouth. He hopped over, tossed the still-struggling fish into the bucket, then eagerly stood on tiptoes to peek at the plates of the man and the machine. Without hesitation, he dashed straight to Isiris’s spot.

Isiris plated the meat. The slightly charred white flesh was coated in a crisp caramelized shell from the Maillard reaction—it looked absolutely delicious.

Li Ao grinned wide, happily hopping onto the table and sticking out his tongue as he waited for his plate.

“Eat up.” With Isiris’s command, Fierce Cat lowered his head and shoveled in a big mouthful.

Chew chew chew… something felt off? The joy on the little cat’s face turned to bewilderment. He forced down the meat in his mouth with difficulty, reached a paw to poke at the plate, then remembered his paws were dirty and stopped. Hesitantly, he took another nibble… The bewilderment turned to distress. He lifted his head, sneaking a glance at Isiris. His water-soaked, plumper rear shifted to the right, and he sidled over crab-style to the robot’s spot. With a guilty conscience, he lowered his head and quickly took a bite. Mm, this was the right flavor.

He’d abandoned the salty-sweet caramelized crab meat in favor of steamed with dipping sauce.

Heh—still gotta be me who gets the short-legged cat. All those fancy frills—what’s the point if it doesn’t taste good? The robot haughtily lifted its head, clashed two knives together, then went back to prepping other ingredients.

The golden-haired Monarch furrowed his brow slightly, picking up his knife and fork to taste his own cooking. His appetite was faint; unless something was exceptionally tasty or unpalatably bad, it was all the same to him. Food was just food—energy provision and nothing more.

…It really wasn’t that great. Isiris gave a wry smile, figuring he’d found something he wasn’t good at.

The little cat devoured his meal but didn’t forget Lion Daddy. He pushed a plate toward Isiris and patted the table with his paw: “Xixi, you eat this one! I’ll catch more after you finish!” With a kick of his hind legs, he sent the caramel crab meat flying to the corner—no eating that.

Isiris’s steely heart melted like it had been soaked in sugar syrup. His fingers gently combed through the little guy’s messy face fur as he softly said, “Alright.”

【His Majesty Isiris is just too handsome. (blushing, wiping drool) How can there be such a perfect face?】

【Who’s the one who called him a tyrant? Just seeing the way he looks at the little cat has me swooning.】

【Don’t swoon—watch a few of his slaughter videos and you’ll snap out of it (flings link).】

The man in the footage was a god of slaughter, cutting down man or Buddha alike. Even when the mother of a Doom disease patient knelt and begged on her head, he still swung his sword, decapitating and walking away. Though everyone knew that Doom patient was beyond saving and ending his life was the optimal choice, his golden pupils remained utterly cold, devoid of any emotion—it chilled people to the bone.

As more and more Delphians came over with food to join the meal, the viewers gradually snapped out of those bloody video clips, staring dazedly at the lively, down-to-earth scene before them.

Many adults had kids in tow—not nobles or officials, just ordinary folk streaming onto the beach one after another to join the outdoor barbecue. And that brutal Monarch from before? He casually held the filthy cat, accepting food handed over by his subjects. He seemed so aloof, yet not entirely aloof.

Countless interstellar viewers muttered to themselves, inexplicably blushing as they thought—this man was just too charismatic. The supreme ruler’s extreme coldness juxtaposed with his tender gaze toward the little cat, that contrast woven into one person… Even if they’d never be the one receiving that pity, it was hard not to feel ripples in their hearts.

Li Ao’s mouth couldn’t keep up. He gorged himself at someone’s grilled oyster stall until his belly was round, then waddled back on all fours like a lobster, shaking his head to say he couldn’t eat another bite. He let out a string of burps and picked up a rock along the coast.

“Wow, Queque—” He’d found a really pretty stone. Excitedly holding it up, he ran to the Imperial Captain of the Guard, who was handling lobsters: “This is for you~.”

The black-haired beauty looked up. His purple eyes lit on the purple crystal, and he smiled gently: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Those splendid purple eyes reflected an endless starry black void. Fitt sat on the swivel sofa, turning to hear his subordinate’s report: “Sir, the film crew wants to sample footage of you in combat.”

His bewitchingly beautiful eyes curved. Fitt snapped his fan shut and tapped it lightly against his palm: “Of course. Location… let’s pick the fallen zone.”

“Sir.” The man in knight’s garb with a high ponytail advised softly: “The fallen zone is too dangerous. How about a safer frontline area instead?”

“You think I can’t handle it?” He was smiling, but his gaze was gloomy as a serpent. The foolish knight could only fixate on his stunning looks, face flushing as he added: “No, I believe in your strength, it’s just…”

“That’s enough. Just give the order.” Fitt propped up the side of his face boredly: “It’s been a while since I’ve had some fun anyway—time to loosen up. Oh right, I heard Regalis has a little one supporting in the fallen zone too?”

“Yes.” Another subordinate quickly replied: “It’s the Empire’s new crown prince, Ryan Regalis. We know very little about him—this is his first public appearance. Apparently, he’s already nineteen.”

“Nineteen…” Fitt recalled intel from a certain someone, a spark of interest rippling in his purple eyes: “I’m curious to see just what kind of cub it is that Isiris values so much.”

Hopefully as fun as that little cat.