The Boss I Picked Up All Fell In Love With Me - Chapter 62

 

Arc 2 Part 26

Even though it was a fake cat, the Phoenix couldn't help but let out a purring sound.

The feeling of being touched was too comfortable for its psyche. Even though the effect had been significantly attenuated while using the spirit jade, its psychic sensitivity seemed to multiply tenfold at the mere thought of who was caressing the jade.

Only when it heard a few "chirp-chirp-chirp" sounds did it stop, indifferently lowering its tail.

Oh, almost forgot that there was an annoying subordinate that needed to be dealt with.

Might as well throw him back quickly.

Phoenix glanced sideways then squinted at Suzaku's posture: "…"

The sight of a plump bird holding its chest like a scandalized maiden was... truly infuriating.

Phoenix was dissatisfied with his subordinate's casual image. Being fat was one thing, but constantly performing strange actions would completely damage their office's reputation.

With these serious thoughts, Phoenix elegantly walked up to Suzaku and slapped him with a paw.

Caught off guard by the swipe, Suzaku spun on the spot: "Chirp chirp chirp chirp-"

Help, his bird's innocence was about to be lost!

Only when Suzaku stopped embracing his ample bosom with his short wings did Phoenix contemptuously pick him up again.

This time, Phoenix did not waste any time. It directly ripped a hole in space, took a few steps across the boundary, and arrived at the black, off-limits door of the Judgment Office. He threw Suzaku onto the ground and turned around.

With a swift flick of his tail, the entire cat was swallowed by the darkness and disappeared into the rift of space once more.

Only Suzaku was left lying quietly on the ground, his thin twig-like legs raised upward, looking somewhat bewildered.

Although the Judgment Office managed earthly affairs, it was quite exclusive. Usually, it was hidden behind a magical barrier, unseen by human eyes.

Everyone who tried to find it would get lost in the space folded by the barrier.

Only the staff of the Judgment Office was granted permission to pass through the barrier.

But even the staff had to be verified before they could enter. It wasn't as easy as the black cat who could move without any hindrance.

In this situation, either the black cat's authority was high enough--

This guess had just popped up in Suzaku's mind when it was immediately extinguished.

Impossible. When Phoenix sleeps, hundred of years pass. The only one in the entire Judgment Office with higher authority was Qing Luan.

Suzaku was quite familiar with Qing Luan. If it were Qingluan, he would definitely recognize him!

The only remaining possibility was that the black cat's power was strong enough to ignore the barrier's force.

That must be an incredibly powerful beast!

Sticking out his legs for too long made them feel somewhat cramped. Suzaku rolled around on the ground, pulling his feet back into his stomach, and continued his thoughts.

Yes! As a divine beast, acting as an evil-spirit-detecting radar, he endured humiliation and worked hard throughout his miserable experience as a captive. He had finally found a key clue with his keen sense!

All of that spiritual power was fake!

The appearance was probably fabricated too.

He had seen through the true face of that evil black cat! It was clearly a demon!

Putting him so boldly before the door of the Judgment Office must mean it was harboring some unspeakable secret!

He mustn't act rashly!

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With a "thud," Qing Luan, who was checking about the documents, heard a strange noise at the entrance.

He raised his head in puzzlement and followed the sound to the entrance of the Judgment Office.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw a fiery-red furball squatting at the doorway, wearing a serious bird-like face, seemingly lost in thought, and occasionally nodding.

Qing Luan was astounded, and after a long while, he finally asked uncertainly: "Suzaku?"

Although the aura was unmistakable, the Suzaku in his memory wasn't this... plump!

Qing Luan had been feeling very unsettled lately.

One reason was Suzaku.

This colleague, who had worried him for a long time, despite his severe injuries which forced him to save his spiritual powers and turn into a small plump ball, did not have any major problems.

But there was one thing that always bothered Qing Luan — it seemed to him like Suzaku's mind... was a bit abnormal.

He was always mumbling some bizarre and indecipherable things. Whenever Qing Luan asked about it, Suzaku would shield himself with his small wings, unwilling to divulge anything.

It was all very mysterious.

Upon learning that the Phoenix had resurfaced, Suzaku jumped up and insisted on meeting Phoenix.

But with Phoenix's current state, overflowing with evil energy... how could he dare to let Suzaku go?

Suzaku was inherently resistant to evil. While others might not detect anything, Suzaku would definitely feel the evil energy around Phoenix.

The fact that Phoenix coexisted with the evil energy of heaven and earth was an extremely sensitive topic. Once it became known to the outside world, it would inevitably lead to calamity.

Suzaku, being righteous and easily agitated, if involved could worsen the situation even more, especially if manipulated by someone.

So, in recent days, Qing Luan was very wary of Suzaku, always keeping him under close surveillance.

Suzaku was squatting on his table, pecking discontentedly at the corner of the desk with his sharp beak. "I really have important matters to discuss with Phoenix! Let me go!" he demanded.

Qing Luan rolled a pine nut to him and gently refused, "The lord is sick and hasn’t received any guests for a long time."

"You say that every time!"

Enraged, Suzaku pecked the pine nut into pieces, then angrily devoured them clean. His beak was relentlessly clattering, "He's sick every day! If people didn't know any better, they'd think he's incubating eggs!"

Qing Luan: "..."

Qing Luan placed the second pine nut on Suzaku's head with a falsely amiable expression, "... don't say nonsense."

He was a gentle character and wouldn't get mad because Suzaku made a fuss.

But when it came to the Phoenix, it was a different matter.

Realizing he had said something wrong, Suzaku shook off the pine nut from his head resentfully, pecked it into two halves, and ate it while holding it in his beak.

He saw Qing Luan staring at the table with downcast eyes, thinking Qing Luan was still upset about earlier, and he shifted uncomfortably.

But no matter what, he would never have guessed that at this moment, not only was Qing Luan not angry, he was harbouring a huge, absurd idea in his mind.

If only... If only Phoenix could truly incubate eggs.

After all, amongst the heaven and earth, there remained only this one Phoenix. If a young Phoenix could be born, it would be undoubtedly perfect.

However, on closer examination, this idea he harboured seemed rather hopeless.

Not to mention whether the Phoenix formed from thought can breed offspring like its ancestors, the Phoenix itself held a weary attitude towards everything in the world.

At times, he even felt that the Phoenix was harboring a death wish. Perhaps, due to a momentary lapse in judgment earlier on, the Phoenix might have been devoured by the evil energy instead of suppressing it.

Such a Phoenix probably had no thoughts of finding a mate.

Qing Luan rubbed his brows, telling himself not to think too much.

After eating the second pine nut, Suzaku tapped the table with his beak, indicating he wanted a third.

Qing Luan casually picked one up from the nearby plate of pine nuts, and halfway through handing it to Suzaku, his movement momentarily paused. The pine nut in his hand eventually fell, hitting Suzaku on his head with a crisp "dong" sound.

Suzaku jerked his head up: ???

But what did the little bird do wrong this time!

Qing Luan retrieved the pine nut that had rolled to the edge of the table; his eyes filled with a faint trace of astonishment.

There it was again.

That feeling of being watched.

Ever since Suzaku's arrival, he constantly felt as if a pair of eyes were staring at him from the shadows.

He tried countless times to trace the source of that gaze, but it was extremely discreet. He couldn't even catch a hint of where it came from, and each time he ended up empty-handed.

Although it didn't seem malevolent, being watched like this was always unnerving.

At this thought, Qing Luan clenched his fingers and the pine nut instantly turned to dust in his hand.

Suzaku, who leaned forward to pick up the pine nut but ended up with a face full of dust: ???

Why did he get hit and still not get to eat the nut?

What on earth did this little bird do wrong today!

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Author's Note:

Suzaku: Where is my dignity?

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