Charlot's recent achievements were truly extraordinary. Venie Arsenault was very eager to know just how much potential this Mecklenburg gentleman truly possessed.
The speed, performance, and results of learning Cat Spirit Magic could reveal many things—such as spirituality, comprehension, and innate talent.
Furthermore, although the Cat Detective Agency was Strasbourg's prominent detective agency, it was still primarily focused on female-oriented services. Seventy percent of its employees were women, which often left them in relatively weaker positions. The agency wasn’t known for its combat prowess. Venie Arsenault had long been working to pull in external reinforcements, so that in times of crisis, they could summon powerful combatants.
Although Charlot was still a low-ranked Transcendent, his potential was limitless. Venie wanted to invest in him early.
The third reason was more complex—she always felt that Charlot was hiding many secrets...
Charlot had previously confronted Evil Gods twice. His spirituality was already comparable to high-ranked Transcendents, and learning entry-level magic was an effortless task for him. Soon, with the aid of the Three Cat Hand Seals, his spirituality heightened, and he sensed the unborn lives of three Clever Cat cubs.
Following the ceremonial rites of Cat Spirit Magic, Charlot soothed the three Clever Cat cubs. It didn’t take long before he sensed their reliance on him. They opened their spiritual shields, allowing Charlot to explore their tender minds freely.
After a brief communication with the three Clever Cat cubs, Charlot withdrew from the Spirit Channeling spell.
When he opened his eyes, the three Clever Cat cubs were indeed more affectionate toward him. They could even faintly understand some simple instructions.
On the Old Continent, Spirit Channeling was divided into hundreds of schools.
The Cat Spirit Magic, passed down by the Elven God, was an orthodox art. Though this school’s Spirit Channeling was merely entry-level magic, it possessed qualities that neither Evil God magic nor ordinary spells had. It included a layer of protection: any cat under Spirit Channeling would gain the caster's protection, rejecting any subsequent attempts by others to use Spirit Channeling on them.
Charlot’s success on his first try delighted him. He said to Venie Arsenault, “Cat Spirit Magic truly is an adorable form of magic.”
Venie Arsenault smiled, but in her heart, she was utterly astonished. Charlot had mastered Spirit Channeling with the ease of a casual stroll. Such talent and comprehension were nearly on par with the Empire's most renowned prodigies.
“He could cast Spirit Channeling successfully on his first try. His spirituality is comparable to mid-ranked Transcendents, or perhaps even higher. His comprehension and natural talent are exceptionally rare. I had already overestimated Mr. Mecklenburg... but even so, I underestimated him.”
“He’s far more talented than I imagined.”
Although Charlot had exited Spirit Channeling, he could still vaguely sense the emotions of the three Clever Cat cubs. They were hungry. Smiling faintly, Charlot brought out some goat milk. The three little cats immediately began lapping it up adorably.
After playing with the cats for a while, Venie Arsenault tempted Charlot to try the Cat Transformation Spell. Charlot didn’t refuse and gladly gave it a shot. About half an hour later, his spirituality quivered slightly, and a Clever Cat sigil composed of countless pure white runes appeared on his forehead. Charlot's entire body abruptly shrank, transforming into a young Clever Cat.
Clever Cats were born with faint spiritual power. Out of every few thousand Clever Cats, one might, through some unknown opportunity, condense a weak spirituality. Such a cat could be sold at an incredibly high price as a premium spiritual pet.
If discovered by practitioners of Cat Spirit Magic, these spiritually gifted Clever Cats could potentially, under the blessing of Spirit Channeling, embark on the path of Transcendence.
As Charlot transformed into a Clever Cat, he suddenly understood why Venie Arsenault had been encouraging him to learn Cat Spirit Magic. In his feline form, his spirituality had advanced another level.
“In this cat form, I can’t use Blood Glory!”
“The Blood Vortex is gone too.”
“All my abilities…”
“No! Eye of Insight is still there.”
“Why is Eye of Insight the only one left?”
Spiritual energy surged through Charlot’s entire body, gathering at his forehead, where it formed a faint golden stripe that made him look adorably silly yet endearing.
“Wait, Swiftstep Technique is also still usable!”
“It’s just... different somehow.”
Charlot leapt with all his might, his small body soaring gracefully into the air. He landed soundlessly on the roof, took another nimble step, and effortlessly jumped to the corner of the room. The entire process was smooth as flowing water, without making the slightest noise.
In his Clever Cat form, the Swiftstep Technique was even lighter and faster, with vastly enhanced jumping ability.
Venie Arsenault exclaimed in shock. She hadn’t expected Charlot to master the Cat Transformation Spell even more easily than Spirit Channeling. Moreover, the moment he transformed into a Clever Cat, he had immediately ascended into Transcendence.
It was worth noting that when Venie had learned Cat Spirit Magic, her feline form only ascended a month after mastering the Cat Transformation Spell. At that time, she herself had just advanced to Transcendence. Unlike Charlot, who was already at Rank Four.
Of course, Venie had no idea that Charlot had just advanced another rank and was now Rank Five.
Even so, Venie Arsenault realized that this Mr. Mecklenburg’s foundation was far from ordinary and that he must be concealing monumental secrets.
She refrained from further probing. After Charlot had gleefully leapt around the room in his cat form and transformed back into human form, Venie prepared to leave.
Charlot tried to persuade her to stay for dinner, but Venie declined.
Venie Arsenault had arrived by carriage. As Charlot escorted her out, he spotted the same calico fat cat he had seen previously. The lazy cat had been lounging on the carriage roof, but upon seeing Charlot, it suddenly perked up, leapt off the carriage, and circled Charlot a few times, meowing softly before following its owner back onto the carriage.
Venie Arsenault smiled as she hugged her spiritual pet. After waving farewell to Charlot, she sat quietly in her carriage. For a long time, she brooded in silence. Then, in a low voice, she murmured to herself, “Mr. Mecklenburg will become a great figure one day.”
...
Charlot, excited to have mastered both Spirit Channeling and the Cat Transformation Spell, spent the rest of the evening repeatedly practicing these two spells, playing with them tirelessly. The next morning, he woke up late.
Just as he got up, Mrs. Nancy brought breakfast to his room and placed a black-sealed envelope on the table.
Charlot was momentarily stunned. In the Fars Empire, only obituaries for friends and relatives used black envelopes. Opening it, Charlot sighed softly. It was the obituary for Mrs. Pascal, the receptionist at Kilmainham Prison.
Recalling the news Mrs. Nancy had brought back the previous day, Charlot was now almost certain that Mrs. Pascal had been killed by Magru Trell. Such timing could not be coincidental.
After a moment’s hesitation, Charlot said to Mrs. Nancy, “In three days, a friend of mine will be holding a funeral. I won’t be able to attend. Please go on my behalf and deliver one flor as a funeral gift.”