Chapter Fourteen: A Bet with the Black Mouse

Shingu Makoto, a journalist dispatched from a certain magazine shortly after his return to Japan, was known for his libertine nature and fondness for women, often maintaining romantic relationships with multiple women simultaneously. However, upon being discovered, he would often receive a good beating, but he seemed to enjoy it nonetheless.

As a friend of Junfu, Shingu Makoto quickly made himself comfortable in the Cat's Eye Café and offered a different perspective on Junfu's criticism of the Black Mouse.

"The name 'Black Mouse' doesn't sound too appealing. Personally, I think 'Gentleman Thief' suits him better."

"Why beautify a thief?" Junfu was puzzled by this.

Junfu didn't understand the reason behind it, but Liyalin knew it all too well. This Shingu Makoto was actually the Black Mouse himself, claiming to be a gentleman thief. Did this scruffy-looking fellow really fit the bill?

As Liyalin chuckled to himself, Shingu unexpectedly got into an argument with the just-returned Aiai, debating who was stronger between Cat's Eye and the Black Mouse. Was squabbling over something like this meaningful?

The argument escalated to the point where they almost came to blows. But just then, Shingu's eyes gleamed with cunning as he muttered something near Aiai's ear, proposing a bet.

"What? No way! This can't be happening!" Upon hearing Shingu's proposition, Aiai shook her head frantically, her small brain working overtime.

"If you're too scared to bet, it means you think Cat's Eye will lose." Shingu smirked mischievously.

"Uh-oh." Aiai was speechless. Seeing this, Shingu smugly left the Cat's Eye Café.

"What were you betting with that guy, Aiai?" Liqueur was adept at reading people's expressions, and she saw through Shingu from the moment he entered. He was definitely not a good person, and she hoped to never deal with such a character.

"Well..." Aiai hesitated. Should she reveal the bet?

"Please don't tell me it's to help that guy pursue your older sister or second sister. Otherwise, I'll have to spank your little bottom." Liyalin joked.

"Oh! Liyalin, you..." Aiai exclaimed in surprise. This made both Liqueur and Aiai turn their attention to her. Could it be true? Was that really the bet?

"Do you really bet with him?" Liqueur grabbed Aiai's shoulders excitedly. This girl was really too worrying.

"But this concerns Cat's Eye's reputation." Aiai murmured.

"It shouldn't be a big deal. As long as we win, right?" This time, Liqueur raised her hand weakly, not believing that the Black Mouse could outsmart her three sisters and big brother.

"Liqueur is right. Our next target has been set—the painting 'Lotus Flowers in Full Bloom' at next week's art exhibition. There are so many artworks at the exhibition, it's unlikely for us to bump into each other." Liqueur pondered for a moment before revealing the next target.

"That's not necessarily true. If I were to say, the Black Mouse's target is precisely this 'Lotus Flowers in Full Bloom'." Liyalin smiled faintly. In such situations, predicting the plot in advance was indeed the way to go.

"Y'alright, Liyalin? What do you know?" Everyone's eyes turned to Liyalin. After all, Liyalin had surprised them more than once before.

"Little Aiai, do you know why Shingu Makoto was so confident in making that bet with you?" Liyalin didn't directly explain the reason but looked at Aiai with a teasing expression.

"Well..." Aiai was at a loss for words. Why was Shingu so confident? Was there a trap in this?

"Don't play coy, Liyalin. Get to the point." Liqueur wanted to know the truth, and she grabbed Liyalin's arm, starting to act coquettishly.

"Hehe, listen up, and don't be too surprised. This Shingu Makoto is actually the master thief, the Black Mouse. So, little Aiai, you silly girl, be more vigilant in the future and don't help others count their money after they've tricked you." Liyalin's words shocked everyone present. That Shingu was the Black Mouse? Wasn't that too much of a coincidence?

"I see. That makes sense now." Although surprised, Liqueur quickly calmed down and nodded in understanding. No wonder that Shingu was full of villainy; it turned out he wasn't a good person at all.

"So what should we do now? The bet has been made, and if the Black Mouse succeeds, he'll make me help him set up a date with my second sister." Aiai looked around anxiously, hoping for some advice.

"You little troublemaker, I bet you want to get your bottom spanked!" Although Liyalin had mentally prepared for this, he was still quite annoyed as he pinched Aiai's cheek. While he couldn't really spank her, pinching her face was a good way to vent his frustration.

"Count me in for my share, even if it means getting spanked!" Despite being angry at Aiai for betting herself without consent, Liqueur was also very upset. But even if Liqueur said so, Liyalin couldn't really spank Aiai's bottom. Although it seemed that the hand feeling there would be very good.

"Alright, enough fooling around. Let's think about what to do next together." Finally, Liqueur took charge and suggested calmly. With limited knowledge about the Black Mouse, how could they teach him a lesson?

"This guy is an interesting toy. Let's teach him a lesson first and then give him a little trouble while we're at it." Rubbing his chin, Liyalin's eyes flashed with a cold light. Even though he wore glasses, the chilling feeling he gave off could still be felt, making everyone shudder. Although Liyalin usually looked like a good person, when a good person got angry, it was scarier than anything else.

Side Mission 4: Steal "Lotus Flowers in Full Bloom" before the Black Mouse acts and give the Black Mouse a painful lesson. Mission Reward: 500 game points, opens the treasure shop.

Very good, Liyalin was quite fond of this mission. It was almost like getting something for nothing, and it also increased Liyalin's motivation. It was truly a win-win situation.

"So, Liyalin, what do you mean?" Just as Liyalin was checking the mission details, Liqueur started asking questions again.

"It's simple. On the night of the mission, we can do this: once everything is settled, let the Black Mouse take the fall and give him a little trouble."Shingu Makoto, a journalist dispatched from a certain magazine shortly after his return to Japan, was known for his libertine nature and fondness for women, often maintaining romantic relationships with multiple women simultaneously. However, upon being discovered, he would often receive a good beating, but he seemed to enjoy it nonetheless.

As a friend of Junfu, Shingu Makoto quickly made himself comfortable in the Cat's Eye Café and offered a different perspective on Junfu's criticism of the Black Mouse.

"The name 'Black Mouse' doesn't sound too appealing. Personally, I think 'Gentleman Thief' suits him better."

"Why beautify a thief?" Junfu was puzzled by this.

Junfu didn't understand the reason behind it, but Liyalin knew it all too well. This Shingu Makoto was actually the Black Mouse himself, claiming to be a gentleman thief. Did this scruffy-looking fellow really fit the bill?

As Liyalin chuckled to himself, Shingu unexpectedly got into an argument with the just-returned Aiai, debating who was stronger between Cat's Eye and the Black Mouse. Was squabbling over something like this meaningful?

The argument escalated to the point where they almost came to blows. But just then, Shingu's eyes gleamed with cunning as he muttered something near Aiai's ear, proposing a bet.

"What? No way! This can't be happening!" Upon hearing Shingu's proposition, Aiai shook her head frantically, her small brain working overtime.

"If you're too scared to bet, it means you think Cat's Eye will lose." Shingu smirked mischievously.

"Uh-oh." Aiai was speechless. Seeing this, Shingu smugly left the Cat's Eye Café.

"What were you betting with that guy, Aiai?" Liqueur was adept at reading people's expressions, and she saw through Shingu from the moment he entered. He was definitely not a good person, and she hoped to never deal with such a character.

"Well..." Aiai hesitated. Should she reveal the bet?

"Please don't tell me it's to help that guy pursue your older sister or second sister. Otherwise, I'll have to spank your little bottom." Liyalin joked.

"Oh! Liyalin, you..." Aiai exclaimed in surprise. This made both Liqueur and Aiai turn their attention to her. Could it be true? Was that really the bet?

"Do you really bet with him?" Liqueur grabbed Aiai's shoulders excitedly. This girl was really too worrying.

"But this concerns Cat's Eye's reputation." Aiai murmured.

"It shouldn't be a big deal. As long as we win, right?" This time, Liqueur raised her hand weakly, not believing that the Black Mouse could outsmart her three sisters and big brother.

"Liqueur is right. Our next target has been set—the painting 'Lotus Flowers in Full Bloom' at next week's art exhibition. There are so many artworks at the exhibition, it's unlikely for us to bump into each other." Liqueur pondered for a moment before revealing the next target.

"That's not necessarily true. If I were to say, the Black Mouse's target is precisely this 'Lotus Flowers in Full Bloom'." Liyalin smiled faintly. In such situations, predicting the plot in advance was indeed the way to go.

"Y'alright, Liyalin? What do you know?" Everyone's eyes turned to Liyalin. After all, Liyalin had surprised them more than once before.

"Little Aiai, do you know why Shingu Makoto was so confident in making that bet with you?" Liyalin didn't directly explain the reason but looked at Aiai with a teasing expression.

"Well..." Aiai was at a loss for words. Why was Shingu so confident? Was there a trap in this?

"Don't play coy, Liyalin. Get to the point." Liqueur wanted to know the truth, and she grabbed Liyalin's arm, starting to act coquettishly.

"Hehe, listen up, and don't be too surprised. This Shingu Makoto is actually the master thief, the Black Mouse. So, little Aiai, you silly girl, be more vigilant in the future and don't help others count their money after they've tricked you." Liyalin's words shocked everyone present. That Shingu was the Black Mouse? Wasn't that too much of a coincidence?

"I see. That makes sense now." Although surprised, Liqueur quickly calmed down and nodded in understanding. No wonder that Shingu was full of villainy; it turned out he wasn't a good person at all.

"So what should we do now? The bet has been made, and if the Black Mouse succeeds, he'll make me help him set up a date with my second sister." Aiai looked around anxiously, hoping for some advice.

"You little troublemaker, I bet you want to get your bottom spanked!" Although Liyalin had mentally prepared for this, he was still quite annoyed as he pinched Aiai's cheek. While he couldn't really spank her, pinching her face was a good way to vent his frustration.

"Count me in for my share, even if it means getting spanked!" Despite being angry at Aiai for betting herself without consent, Liqueur was also very upset. But even if Liqueur said so, Liyalin couldn't really spank Aiai's bottom. Although it seemed that the hand feeling there would be very good.

"Alright, enough fooling around. Let's think about what to do next together." Finally, Liqueur took charge and suggested calmly. With limited knowledge about the Black Mouse, how could they teach him a lesson?

"This guy is an interesting toy. Let's teach him a lesson first and then give him a little trouble while we're at it." Rubbing his chin, Liyalin's eyes flashed with a cold light. Even though he wore glasses, the chilling feeling he gave off could still be felt, making everyone shudder. Although Liyalin usually looked like a good person, when a good person got angry, it was scarier than anything else.

Side Mission 4: Steal "Lotus Flowers in Full Bloom" before the Black Mouse acts and give the Black Mouse a painful lesson. Mission Reward: 500 game points, opens the treasure shop.

Very good, Liyalin was quite fond of this mission. It was almost like getting something for nothing, and it also increased Liyalin's motivation. It was truly a win-win situation.

"So, Liyalin, what do you mean?" Just as Liyalin was checking the mission details, Liqueur started asking questions again.

"It's simple. On the night of the mission, we can do this: once everything is settled, let the Black Mouse take the fall and give him a little trouble."