Chapter 95: The Wicked Cat Plots a Naughty Scheme, Only for a Simple-Minded Dinosaur to Foil It
"Cheers!"
The roaring chorus of voices echoed into the dark sky. A massive bonfire crackled at the center of the clearing, its towering, warm orange flames effortlessly pushing back the creeping chill and isolation of the digital night. Dozens of Digimon clustered around the hearth, their faces illuminated by the dancing light as they tore into a lavish feast.
"Delicious! It is so good!" An Agumon practically vibrated with joy. He hoisted a massive, sizzling slab of meat—easily larger than his own head—and inhaled the rich, savory aroma. Grease dripped down his claws. "I never knew standard meat drops could taste like this! So many spices, so many textures! Mizuki is a miracle worker!"
"You said it," another Digimon chimed in between massive bites. "He is strong, he is kind, he has got that whole gentle-but-deadly thing going on... and he cooks like a five-star chef!"
Murmurs of enthusiastic agreement rippled through the crowd.
"I am so jealous of Big Sister Belle. She gets to stay by Mizuki's side all the time."
"Right? Living the dream."
Nodding along to the gossip, the first Agumon finally opened his jaws wide, ready to sink his teeth into his prized slab of meat. His jaws snapped shut on empty air. He blinked. The heavy weight in his claws had vanished.
Standing right beside him was a Tyrannomon, chewing loudly with a look of pure, unadulterated bliss. The large dinosaur swallowed the stolen prize in one gulp, shooting the bewildered Agumon a highly provocative, mocking grin.
Agumon's eyes bulged. "Hey! There is a literal mountain of food over there! Why did you snatch mine, Tyrannomon?!"
"Why?" Tyrannomon picked his teeth with a claw, his tone dripping with smug satisfaction. "A banquet is a battlefield, little guy. Do you not understand the rules of the wild?" He scanned the crowd, already looking for his next victim. "Besides, food you grab yourself never tastes quite as sweet as the food you steal straight from someone else's hands."
"You absolute menace! Naturally evil Tyrannomon, I will roast you myself—" Agumon summoned a spark of flame to his mouth, ready to brawl.
"What a loud, restless bunch of idiots..."
Watching the chaotic scuffle unfold from a short distance away, BlackGatomon sat with her tail twitching in deep irritation. Having devolved from her Ultimate form, LadyDevimon, to conserve energy, her current diminutive size did nothing to lessen the dark, haughty aura she projected. She let out a long, dramatic sigh.
"Mizuki is sitting right over there. Could they at least pretend to have some manners?"
"What does it matter? Mizuki does not mind a little noise, does he?"
A heavy, slurred voice interrupted her brooding. A seemingly simple-minded Agumon wobbled over, leaning heavily into her personal space. "Come have a drink with me, LadyDevimon."
He held up a large, sloshing wooden mug. "I gotta hand it to that monkey... Etemon really hoarded the good stuff in his warehouse."
This particular Agumon was none other than MetalGreymon, having compressed his massive data back into a Rookie form to join the festivities. He took a sloppy gulp, wiping his mouth with the back of his claw. "Top-tier booze paired with Mizuki's cooking... man, my life is completely fulfilled."
BlackGatomon stared at the sloshing cup shoved toward her face. Her whiskers twitched. She pondered the situation for a long, silent moment before delicately accepting the drink from his clumsy paws. Naturally, being a refined and elegant lady of darkness, she maintained her impeccable manners.
She leaned in close to the Agumon's ear. A sweet, saccharine smile curved her lips. Then, in a voice as soft and gentle as a velvet garrote, she whispered.
"I am going to murder you."
Agumon froze. A chill ran straight down his spine, as if a funeral dirge had suddenly started playing in his head. His eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. He opened his mouth to ask what he had possibly done wrong, but BlackGatomon was already walking away, her graceful, swaying silhouette disappearing into the evening breeze.
"What... what is her problem?" Agumon muttered, his small, reptilian eyes filled with deep, drunken confusion.
A heavy claw clamped down on his shoulder. Monochromon—who had devolved from the terrifying Ultimate, SkullGreymon—stood beside him, shaking his armored head. "You really need to stop bothering her."
Before the bewildered Agumon could process that advice, two more Agumon—both devolved from Megadramon—flanked him. They grabbed his arms and began dragging him back toward the buffet tables.
"Yeah, yeah, listen to him, Boss! Let's just go eat!"
"Look at these Four-Joy Meatballs! They are huge! So round and juicy!"
"Wait, hold on!" Agumon dug his heels into the dirt as he was hauled away. "I still do not get it! Why did she say she was going to kill me? I gave her premium booze! Hey, MetalGreymon! You are the smart one, help me analyze this!"
A few paces away, BlackAgumon—the compressed Rookie form of the Virus-attribute MetalGreymon—completely ignored the shouting. He sat by himself, methodically shoveling massive handfuls of food into his mouth. His dark eyes sparkled with quiet intensity.
'This is amazing...'he thought, chewing rapidly.'That spicy skewer is also amazing... Everything Mizuki makes is a masterpiece.'
While the dinosaur Digimon busied themselves with their chaotic gluttony, BlackGatomon approached the quieter side of the camp. Mizuki and Belle sat together, enjoying the warmth of the fire. BlackGatomon approached with a smooth, practiced elegance, holding two glasses of Etemon's finest wine.
"Mizuki," she purred softly, her tone dripping with honeyed sincerity. "I know I have said this many times already, but I truly want to express my deepest gratitude to you." She offered him one of the glasses. "Thank you for everything you have done for us. This drink is a toast, from all of us to you."
Mizuki blinked. He stared at the dark, rich liquid sloshing in the glass. A rare, slightly awkward smile broke through his usual calm composure.
Before he could politely decline, Belle chimed in, stepping smoothly between them.
"BlackGatomon, Mizuki definitely appreciates the sentiment," Belle said, her voice bright and cheerful. "But unfortunately, he isn't an adult yet. Human rules say he cannot drink alcohol." She raised her own cup, swirling a brightly colored liquid. "And it is the same for me! We are sticking to fruit juice tonight."
"Oh? Is that so?" BlackGatomon's ears drooped. Her eyes widened in a display of perfectly calculated, adorable disappointment.
Seeing her crestfallen expression, Mizuki offered an apologetic smile. He reached over and picked up a wooden cup filled with fresh juice. "I cannot accept the wine, but I will gladly toast with this. The sentiment is what matters."
BlackGatomon kept her polite smile fixed in place, but internally, she was clicking her tongue.
'If it is not alcohol, the entire plan is ruined...'she grumbled in her thoughts.'I needed him completely intoxicated so I could...'
"Hmm?" Mizuki tilted his head, noticing her sudden, intense silence. "Did you say something?"
Snapped out of her plotting by his curious gaze, BlackGatomon gave a slight start. She immediately smoothed her features into a mask of innocent nonchalance.
"It is nothing at all!" she chirped brightly. "Juice is perfectly fine!"
She raised her glass, ready to clink it against Mizuki's cup. But before the rims could touch, a heavy, stumbling figure crashed the intimate moment without a shred of warning.
"Hey, wait a minute..." slurred a very familiar, very drunk voice.
The Agumon—the one who had devolved from MetalGreymon—leaned heavily against a nearby rock, squinting at the dark feline. "I say, LadyDevimon... you wouldn't happen to be trying to get Mizuki blackout drunk so you can do weird things to him while he is passed out, would you?"
The air froze.
BlackGatomon's glass stopped dead in mid-air. Her polite smile instantly shattered, replaced by an aura of pure, murderous intent directed entirely at the brutally honest dinosaur.
A few feet behind the drunk Agumon, Monochromon stood frozen in a half-lunge, having clearly failed to grab his friend in time. The armored Digimon slowly raised a heavy claw and dragged it down his face in deep exasperation.
'This idiot...'Monochromon thought, mourning his comrade's imminent demise.'He is completely hopeless. How did I never realize he was this stupid before?'
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