LUCEM
Chapter VI

“Marbi, where will we go after this is all over?” I asked to arrange dinner.

“First will be a trip to the island, if James is not interested in the city of Ahem.” Marbella answered by showing her smile.

“Omong is empty, humans just don't like mice, and humans always have a way to get rid of everything they don't like. So, Ahem is definitely not a city for rats.” Tukasku.

Marbella just smiled thinly.

“How about our payment, Marbi?”

“Paid full ahead. Mr. Jhonatan fully trusts us.” Marbella took the plate to fill.

“ Enjoy your meal.” Marbella threw out the plate she just filled.

***

At night we enter the city of Ahem. I didn't feel good enough this time, I don't know why. By this time Jiso and all the rats had spread into the vital pouches that had been determined.

The atmosphere of Ahem city square is tense, even though we have not really started it.

"I've never seen a rat catcher so busy but still have nice clean boots" said Marbella, now in her cat's magic form. Looking at the young men passing by carrying a dog with a rope and a hammer in his hand.

"But it's not as weird as the rats that are here" he continued, in a lowered voice, as if he was raising money.

“What's weird about those rats?” my many.

"Some of them have very strange tails" Marbella said . And the idea of hunting rats with dogs and not cats, it is no less strange.”

“They are patrolling to secure every possibility, Marbi.”

I looked around the square. The bread queue was still quite long, and it made me uneasy. And so is the steam. Small bursts gushed out from the grilles and hole covers everywhere, as if an entire city had been built on a kettle. Also, I have a different feeling that someone is watching us.

"I think we should find Jiso and go" I said.

“No, it smells like a city with opportunities,” says Marbella “Something is going on, and when something happens, it means someone gets rich, and when someone gets rich, it means that someone gets rich, I don't understand why it shouldn't be us.”

“Yes, but we don't want those guys to kill Jiso and the others!” timpal. “Marbi, my feelings are not good.”

"They won't get caught" Marbella assured.

“I hope not!”

“I mean our rats can think more than most humans, okay? Hah, even an ordinary mouse can defeat a human. Humans think that just because they're bigger, they're better-wait, I'll shut up, someone's watching us ..”

A man carrying a large bag stopped on his way out of town hall and looked at Marbella with good interest. Then he looked at me and said, “Good appraiser, right? I'll bet you, big cat like that. Is he yours, son?”

"Say yes" Marbella whispered.

“Sort of, yes,” I replied.

He touched Marbella's fine feather. “I'll give you five Sickles for him,” said the man.

"Begging for ten," Marbella sizzled.

"He's not for sale" I replied.

“Idiot!” Marbella snores.

"Seven Sickles, then," said the man again.

“You're new here, right? You have a lot of money, right? The man stuck his head closer.

“Enough.” I raised my hand as a sign.

The man pulled his body fast, snorting violently. He stepped away. Marbella wriggled out of my arms, and landed lightly on the rocky path.

“I wish I could speak in a stomach voice. That's where you open and shut your mouth and I'm talking" Marbella said.

“Why didn't you sell me? I can be back in ten minutes! I heard about a guy who made a lot of money selling pigeons post, and he only had one!”

“You're really greedy and slippery, Cat.” is my chuckle.

"Don't you think there's something wrong with a town where people will pay over ten Sickles for a piece of bread?" I said, "And pay half for a rat hunter?"

"Originally they have enough money to pay a rat controller like you, Mars" Marbella said. “A little lucky there's been a rat outbreak here, eh? Quick, clap my head, there's a girl watching us.”

I'm looking. There was a girl watching us. People passed by in the street, and some of them walked between me and the girl, but she stood still and just looked at me. And Marbella, she pulled out her hooked nails into my coat, this cat was on alert.

He looked like the kind of person who asked questions. And her hair was too red and her nose was a little speckled. She was wearing a long black dress with a black lace fringe.

“You're new, aren't you? Coming here looking for a job, maybe getting fired from your last job, I guess. Maybe it's because you fell asleep, and things got ruined. Maybe that's what happened. Or you ran away because your master beat you with a big stick, though, 'he added, when another idea came to his mind,' you probably deserved it for being lazy. And then you might steal the cat, knowing how much people will pay the cat here. And you must have gone mad from hunger because you were talking to a cat and everyone knows that cats cannot talk.”

"Can't say a word" said Marbella.

"And maybe you're that mysterious boy" The girl stopped and looked at Marbella in confusion. He arched his back and said 'pufftpufft, ' which is cat language for 'fish biscuits!'

“Did the cat just say something?” he demands answers.

"I think everyone knows that cats can't talk" I replied.

“Ah, but maybe you're an apprentice with a witch,” said the girl. “Yes, sounds right. Enough for now. You're an apprentice to a witch, but you fell asleep and let the bubbling cauldron of green matter boil over and she threatened to turn you into, a, a- '

“ Dwarves,” says Marbella, help.

“— dwarfs, and you stole his magical cat because you hate him so much and-is that a dwarf? Did the cat just say ‘dwarves'?”

“Don't look at me!' I said with my hands up. “I'm just sitting here!”

"Well, then you bring the cat here because you know there's a severe famine and that's why you're going to sell it and that guy's going to give you ten Sickles, you know, if you hold on to it."

"Ten Sickle is too much even for a good appraiser" I replied.

“Traitors? Low price. He has no interest in catching rats!” said the red-haired girl. “Everyone is hungry here! It takes at least twice a day to feed the cat!”

“What? You guys eat cats here?” Marbella shuddered, her tail expanding like a brush.

The girl bowed towards Marbella with a terrible grin, like Marbella always wore when she won an argument with James.

The girl shoved Marbella's nose with a finger. “Because of you!” she said. “You have a very simple trick! I think you two better come with me, don't you? Or I'll scream. And people listen to me when I shout!”

“Sorry Miss, I'm busy. There's work I have to do. Get out of here and keep your mouth shut, or you'll end up in seclusion for those who are considered psychologically unhealthy.” My bluff.

“I'm watching you guys.” he said as he passed.

I took a deep breath. Tonight will be long.