I Can Control Resources

"Additional report: The number of feral cats is estimated to be over ten thousand!"

"..."

One after another, voices kept reporting in.

In the command center, all eyes fell on a seated Major General. What was happening today was something that hadn’t been seen in decades.

"They sabotaged the city gate’s main computer control room, forced the gate open, and are now attempting to flee. This is an organized, premeditated escape!"

"But the culprits are a bunch of feral cats?"

"Why would these feral cats want to escape the city?"

"Does it matter why they’re escaping? The issue right now is that the city gate system has been destroyed. Even though these feral cats haven’t attacked the army, they *have* attacked the gate system. Are we supposed to just watch them swagger out of the city?"

"General, give the order. These are definitely not ordinary cats. They could be..."

"A different race?!"

"Impossible! How could a different race infiltrate our City of Hope in such large numbers? There are over ten thousand of them! These are clearly just the City of Hope’s own stray cats!"

"General, the gate is in crisis! We can’t wait any longer!"

SWOOSH!

The middle-aged Major General stood up, his brow still furrowed. Duty told him he needed to take immediate defensive measures.

But the problem was, the targets were truly just a bunch of cats.

Most importantly, the cats weren’t acting aggressively toward the army. Their objective was exceptionally clear: open the city gate and leave!

"General!"

"Order: The entire City Defense Army will erect a protective electric net at the city gate! Immediately clear the computer control room and begin emergency repairs on the main terminal! If the cats are repelled, all troops are to hold their fire. If these cats display extraordinary aggression... then... then... kill!" The middle-aged Major General finally gave the command.

"Yes, sir!"

"Order issued!"

"Order issued!"

"City Defense Army, erect the protective electric net!"

"..."

As the orders went out, units in various positions finally sprang into action.

First, all the feral cats around the main computer control room were forcibly cleared away. The price was over a dozen cats shot, left to lie in pools of blood.

Next, at the city gate, a group of soldiers in anti-radiation combat armor stepped forward, raising a tall protective net.

Blue sparks of electricity crackled and danced across the net.

"MEOW MEOW MEOW!"

"MROWW!!"

"Meeeow..."

The feral cats slammed into the electric net, only to be thrown back. They tumbled across the ground, letting out yowls of frustration and anger.

Clearly, they were preparing to attack.

But soon, a few cats stepped forward. They yowled at the angry ones, their cries sounding almost like commands.

The enraged cats instantly backed down.

They crouched on the ground, like children who had done something wrong.

The other feral cats stopped moving and slowly took a step back, creating an eerie standoff with the human army.

The entire scene was utterly unbelievable to the watching City Defense Army.

"This is insane!"

"These cats... they’re really being led!"

"Look at those few cats over there. They have to be the leaders!"

The City Defense Army couldn’t believe their eyes.

But just then, the leader cats emerged from the pack. They exchanged a look and walked right up to the electric net.

SLASH!

In a flash of movement, the lead cats tore through the wire electric net with their claws.

The City Defense Army was speechless.

’That’s a steel-wire net!’

’An electrified one, at that!’

These cats...

’They tore through it like it was paper?’

"MROWW!!" The lead cats let out a challenging cry, then waved a paw forward. The meaning was unmistakable: time to advance!

"MEOW MEOW MEOW!"

"MROWW!!"

"..."

The other feral cats were ecstatic.

One by one, they darted forward, starting to pour through the gap in the electric net and rush toward the city gate.

"Captain, what do we do? The cats attacked the electric net..."

"Command’s orders: if the cats attack, we open fire!"

"But they haven’t attacked *us*..."

"Those are Command’s orders! Execute them!"

"Yes, sir!"

The soldiers dropped the torn net. They raised their firearms and aimed their muzzles in unison at the horde of feral cats still surging toward the gate.

RAT-TAT-TAT!

RAT-TAT!

Gunfire erupted.

Feral cats fell to the ground one after another.

Bright red blood streamed from their bodies as they convulsed on the ground. Their gazes were fixed on the city gate, their eyes filled with yearning and defiance.

"NO!!!" From a rooftop, Gao Xiaomeng watched it all unfold and let out a furious roar. Without a moment’s hesitation, she charged down.

In mid-air, she transformed into her silver cat form.

But wherever she passed, all the feral cats bowed their heads.

Even the cats who had been shot and lay in pools of blood struggled to rise and pay their respects to their queen, like loyal subjects.

"MROWW!!!" Gao Xiaomeng let out a yowl and lunged straight at the City Defense Army, unleashing a wave of powerful energy that sent the soldiers blocking the gate flying.

BOOM!

BOOM!

The soldiers of the City Defense Army slammed into the city walls.

They raised their heads to look at the silver cat standing before the gate.

"The Cat King!"

"It’s the Cat King!"

"Quickly, open fire!"

RAT-TAT-TAT!

Bullets struck Gao Xiaomeng but pinged off her body as if hitting a steel plate, then clattered uselessly to the ground.

"Let me handle this!" Just then, a Captain leaped into the air. He gripped a giant alloy axe and brought it down toward Gao Xiaomeng’s head in a tiger-like pounce.

"Mrow!" Gao Xiaomeng raised a single paw.

And the Captain went flying.

He shot backward like a cannonball, slamming into a thick wall with a thunderous CRASH. He was embedded so deeply it looked like he couldn’t be pried loose.

"Captain Li, a Tier Four Late Stage warrior, was sent flying by a single paw? Does that mean this Cat King has reached Tier Five? No... she must be at least Tier Six or higher!"

"A Tier Six Cat King?"

"That wave of energy just now... you really think that was only Tier Six?"

"You mean..."

"A High-Tier Cat King?!"

The soldiers of the City Defense Army were stunned.

Meanwhile, the feral cats that had been cowering on the ground began to meow excitedly, then once again bolted toward the open city gate.

"Meow meow!"

"Meow!"

The feral cats were overjoyed.

The feral cats that had been following close behind Gao Xiaomeng now reappeared, but this time they stood in front of her, forming a protective screen.

"We only want to leave the city. Step aside, and there will be no trouble," Gao Xiaomeng said, her deep blue eyes gazing at the countless soldiers of the City Defense Army watching her.

"The Cat King can talk?!"

"It *is* one of a different race!"

"These cats really *are* members of a different race!"

"Quick, kill them!"

The soldiers of the City Defense Army were terrified.

"Open fire!"

RAT-TAT-TAT!

Gunfire erupted once more.

Dozens more feral cats fell, adding to the pools of blood.

"A High-Tier Cat King, is it?" Just then, five figures approached from the distance. The insignia on their shoulders indicated ranks of at least Lieutenant Colonel.

Among them were even two Major Generals.

"Then let’s make sure this Cat King stays here," one of the Major Generals said.

"Be careful. We’ve never discovered a high-tier member of the Cat Race before. We absolutely cannot let this Cat King escape. Command’s orders are to capture it alive, if possible."

"Understood. The lab needs it."

After their brief exchange, the group began to charge toward Gao Xiaomeng.

"Meow meow meow!" One of the Cat Race guarding Gao Xiaomeng saw this and began to cry out urgently. The meaning was clear: it was telling Gao Xiaomeng to run.