Chapter 46 - 43

Qi Qi 46: 43.

Qi Qi “Good morning, Mr.

Fisher, you’re up a bit later than usual today.”

By the time Fisher came downstairs, Philone was already seated in the dining room reading the newspaper, with Nana by his side eating breakfast.

Unexpectedly, there was an additional little girl in the dining area, the werewolf girl Qi Qi, whom Philone had adopted.

Her brown short hair was crowned with two pointed ears standing upright as she held a cup slightly larger than her palm, drinking milk.

The biggest difference between the Werewolf Species and the Doggie Race lies in their ears and the amount of body hair.

Dog-men have curved ears and generally have a lot more hair, including on their heads, than werewolves.

Overall, werewolves have greater combat ability, whereas the learning capacity of the Doggie Race tends to be superior.

Qi Qi cautiously glanced at Fisher, then at Philone beside her, and finally took another sip of milk.

Philone raised the newspaper in his hand and said to Fisher,

“This is last week’s paper from Saint Nali, mentioning that the King plans to establish an environmental investigation committee to inspect those factories near Nali that emit black smoke and to purify the air, so as not to have that smoke blown into the Golden Palace every windy season.”

“That’s good, at least the city residents won’t have to worry about succumbing to lung disease one day.

Even the King can’t stand the clear skies over the Golden Palace being covered by coal gas…”

Fisher took his seat and thanked the Maid who passed him his breakfast.

Philone then set down the paper and sighed to Fisher,

“That’s true, according to the latest survey by Saint Nali University, sixty-four percent of the residents in Nali City are most concerned about the air they breathe for their health…

Sacrificing the interests of a minority of entrepreneurs for the health of the majority is a necessary measure…”

Before Philone could finish, the werewolf girl at his side had already put down her milk cup and tugged at Philone’s sleeve, pouting,

“Daddy, you didn’t answer my question just now…

Can’t I go to the outskirts of the city to meet her today?”

Philone tapped on the gas mask on his face, looking rather troubled, and said to Fisher,

“I’m sorry, Mr.

Fisher, this child has corresponded with a pen pal from a school outside the city and insists on meeting her today…”

He turned to Qi Qi and said,

“But Daddy has things to do today, and Nana also needs to take care of settling the demi-humans who recently came to live here.

Daddy can’t rest easy if I let a maid or a soldier take you out.”

Qi Qi puffed out her cheeks, crossing her arms adorably in front of her chest.

Despite looking quite miffed, the hint of moisture in the corner of her eyes made her all the more endearing.

“Daddy, you promised me…”

Seeing Qi Qi on the verge of tears, Philone helplessly embraced her.

Then, as if suddenly struck by an idea, he turned to Fisher and asked,

“Mr.

Fisher, do you have any plans today?”

“I was planning to go into town with Rafael and the others to buy some supplies.”

“Ah, that’s wonderful.” Philone stroked the girl’s head and clapped, saying, “Could you take Qi Qi with you, let her meet her pen pal from the outskirts of the city?

You know how the humans out there view them; I really can’t be at peace letting just anyone accompany her.”

Qi Qi, cradled in Philone’s arms and with tears in her eyes, cautiously observed Fisher, her ears twitching, filled with wariness.

Fisher glanced at her, then nodded in agreement,

“I’ll look after her.

It’s a good opportunity for her to keep Lar, that noisy little dragon, company…”

“Wu, Daddy, I don’t want that little dragon with me, she always steals my toys!

I hate her the most!”

Philone laughed heartily, patted her head, and then said,

“You shouldn’t talk that way about others.

Sharing toys with someone else won’t hurt, and by being generous, Qi Qi, you might gain yourself a nice friend too…

So that’s settled then, Mr.

Fisher, I’m entrusting Qi Qi to you for now.”

With the decision made, as Rafael came downstairs with Lar and the others, Philone briefly left for the laboratory, saying he needed to change the nutrient solution in his mask, leaving only Nana behind to instruct Qi Qi on what to be careful about in the outskirts of the city.

“Fisher!

Last night, Lar dreamt about Lord Raphael, I felt like I could hear her voice!”

Lar ran over and threw herself into Fisher’s arms.

As she spoke, everyone’s expressions shifted slightly.

Mier’s face reddened, Fasher and Kexier exchanged glances filled with inscrutable meaning, and Nana, holding a bewildered Qi Qi, pretended not to hear.

Only Rafa, gritting her teeth, reached out intending to teach that outspoken Lar a lesson on the problems that come with idle talk.

Fisher remained composed and simply said to Lar,

“That was a hallucination, you’re probably just missing Raphael too much.”

This remark earned disdainful glances from both Kexier and Fasher, the Dragon-men.

“However, today you’ll need to come with me to get some supplies, and we also have to take Qi Qi to meet her friend…

Lar, keep an eye on Qi Qi and stay with her.”

With the Emblem still on Lar, Qi Qi’s safety was assured when she was with her.

Lar glanced at Qi Qi, who was warily looking at her from Nana’s arms, and smiled at Fisher,

“Great!

She and Lar are good friends, and she always lets Lar borrow her toys.

Lar really likes her!”

That was probably the case, Fisher thought, and he didn’t press the matter further.

He also couldn’t quite figure out why Philone would entrust him with taking Qi Qi out.

If the other party had malicious intentions, they wouldn’t have placed a child in his care, unless he wanted to use the child to set up some sort of scheme against him.

For instance, kidnapping the child midway and slandering him for the murder of a demi-human child…

All sorts of thoughts flickered through Fisher’s mind as he arranged the details of their outing, aiming to leave no loopholes.

“Remember to listen to Mr.

Fisher once we’re out.

This is Daddy’s emblem.

If anything happens, show it and tell them Daddy is Lord Philone.

If there’s trouble, he will definitely pursue it to the end…

Got it, Qi Qi?”

“Mm..

Got it, Miss Nana.”

Nana handed a deep blue emblem to Qi Qi, touched her ears, and repeatedly warned her.

Qi Qi lowered her head to grasp the emblem tightly and then nodded.

“It looks like you’re all ready.

The soldiers at the gate will let you out, and when you return, have Qi Qi show the emblem.”

Not long after, Philone returned.

He had changed his clothes and said so to Fisher.

As the City Lord, he had many other matters to attend to, so he didn’t go out with Fisher and the others and left first with Nana.

Fisher then took Qi Qi and the others to get his own carriage, which had been parked in the courtyard outside his residence for some time, while the servants took care of the horses.

After ensuring everything was ready and that no one had tampered with the locks on his carriage, Fisher instructed the Dragon-men to get on.

“Hello, my name is Lar.

Even though you haven’t spoken to me, I know your name is Qi Qi, right?”

“Thank you for lending me toys.

I have some too, but they’re not mine; Fisher gave them to me.

Do you want to see?”

Beside them, Lar chattered away as she approached the carriage, introducing the space magic within and picking up the hourglass Fisher had given her previously, in the room she had stayed in, to keep her quiet.

Now she wanted to lend it to Qi Qi to play with.

Wearing a little dark green dress and holding a gift wrapped in colorful paper, Qi Qi sat silently behind Fisher, occasionally glancing at Lar but remaining mute.

Kexier and Fasher sat on the stairwell, laughing at Lar,

“You dummy, she can’t understand you.

You don’t need to talk anymore; our heads are about to explode with all your noise!”

“Lar is not a dummy…

Even if she can’t understand Lar, she should still talk.

Is she a mute?

But Lar has heard her speak before.

Or is she only mute around Lar?”

Ignoring Lar, who had started making noise again, Fisher glanced back at Qi Qi and asked,

“Qi Qi, where is your pen pal?

We’ll go see your pen pal first.”

She lifted her head to look at Fisher, her ears on top of her head fluttering, and then she held up the gift in her hand,

“She…

She lives at 74 Second Street, named Angela.

She said it’s enough to call her name from downstairs.

And…

And I have a favor to ask of you, Mr.

Fisher…”

“What is it?”

She looked at Fisher in front, holding the reins, and then took a small sun hat from her embrace and put it on her head, covering her ears, glanced at the Dragon-man Ladies behind her, and said,

“Could you let them stay inside the carriage later on, and not let Angela see them?”

Only after she spoke did Fisher suddenly realize that Qi Qi had become much quieter after they went out.

It was as if she was afraid to open her mouth, for opening it would reveal the werewolf’s characteristic sharp teeth.

Her tail was covered by her long dress, and the ribbons under her hat were tied in a tight knot so it wouldn’t fall off.

“I…

I didn’t tell Angela I’m a demi-human.

I heard Nana and the other soldier Uncles say that humans outside look down on demi-humans, that’s why…”

“…Okay, but you better stay where I can see you.

What did you arrange to do with her?”

“We didn’t arrange to do anything, just wanted to meet…

but she said in the letter that there’s a good coffee shop beneath her house and that she would treat me to a drink when I get there.

I absolutely will stay within your sight, please.”

Fisher nodded.

They had already left the Inner City built by Philone for demi-humans, and were now heading towards the outside roads,

“For your safety, I have to stay by your side.

Their safety is equally important to me, so I can’t leave them.

So, we’ll enter the coffee shop with you.

But, we will pretend not to know you until she leaves.”

Qi Qi’s eyes lit up, and she beamed a bright smile at Fisher,

“Thank you, Mr.

Fisher.”