Chapter 7 The Apple of Power

I stared at the core of the Golden Apple, glistening in its final glory. My claws cradled it for a moment before I opened my mouth wide and devoured it in one decisive bite. The sweet, otherworldly taste burst across my tongue, and I couldn’t help but let out a manic laugh.

“Mwahahahaha~!”

Power coursed through me—a tingling, electric sensation that ran from my tail to my whiskers. My muscles felt taut, my mind sharp as a claw, and my vision clearer than it had ever been. This… this was better than I thought.

And then it happened.

A strange shimmer danced before my eyes, forming glowing words in the air:

[Kaiser System Activated]

I blinked. Once. Twice. This wasn’t a hallucination. It was real. The miraculous Golden Apple wasn’t just some magical fruit; it had awakened something extraordinary within me. A system.

The shimmering display shifted, revealing information in clean, glowing letters:

[Kaiser System]

* Unlock and enhance Kaiser-related skills, powers, and items.

* Spend Kaiser Points (KP)to reflect your ambitions.

* Earn KP through followers: 1 follower = 1 KP.

[Kaiser Shop]

* A rotating shop with 10 items available daily.

* Refreshes at 6:00 AM sharp.

I read it twice, my fur prickling with excitement. This wasn’t just a power—it was convenience wrapped in a miracle. It was almost as if the Golden Apple understood my ambition, my desire to rise above this cursed second life as a stray cat.

Of course, there was a catch. My current follower count? Just two. Lucky and Butler. Despite commanding a small army of cats, it seemed the system only recognized those truly loyal to me.

Still, this was a start. With this system, I could change my fate.

“Boss?” Daisy’s voice snapped me out of my reverie. She was panting slightly, her claws smeared with the quick-acting paralysis poison. Around us, the adventurers and thieves were strewn across the floor, twitching or completely unconscious. The Golden Apple’s core was no longer in sight—it was inside me now, feeding my growing strength.

“What now?” she asked, her green eyes glinting with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

I stretched, flexing my newfound energy. “Now? We take everything we can. Every last magic bag, every scroll, every trinket. Load it all up!”

Daisy didn’t hesitate. She barked orders to her squad, and they began rifling through the thieves’ stash. Meanwhile, I turned my attention inward, pulling up the Kaiser System again.

[Current KP: 2]

[Followers: 2]

Not much, but it was a start. I swiped my paw in the air instinctively, and the Kaiser Shop appeared before me:

1. Invisibility Cloak (3000KP)

2. Summon Feral Pigeons (1000KP)

3. Trapmaster’s Toolkit (2000KP)

4. Kaiser Crown - Basic (5000KP)

5. Night Vision Upgrade (2000KP)

6. Golden Apple Seed (10000KP)

7. Pheromone Spray - Distract Dogs (100KP)

8. Stealth Boots - Cat Size (3000KP)

9. Scroll of Feline Dominion (4000KP)

10. Emergency Healing Herb (1000KP)

I didn’t forget for a second—we were still in enemy territory. No matter how good the haul or how victorious we felt, one wrong move could flip the entire situation. The basement was cleared, the four Magic Bags stuffed with treasure, and the cats were already scrambling to escape. I snapped back to attention.

“It’s time to beat it! Spread the word and retreat!” I ordered.

“Copy that, boss,” Daisy responded quickly, her voice sharp with urgency.

I twitched an ear. “I told you to address me as Kaiser, right?” I called after her, but Daisy was already darting through the basement exit, as diligent and headstrong as ever. No respect for titles—yet. I’d let it slide this time.

I followed close behind, weaving between the fallen adventurers and thieves. Some were slumped against walls, paralyzed, their eyes twitching in confusion as if trying to process how a band of cats had outsmarted them. A few of the dogs were also sprawled out on the cold floor, snoring heavily, their jaws slack.

That vial of paralytic poison had worked wonders.

The memory flashed in my mind as I leaped over an unconscious gnome: the Grand Alchemist’s lab. A glorious place. The man had been careless with his locks, and I had waltzed right in a few months back, swiping a stash of his experimental vials. At the time, I didn’t know exactly what I’d stolen, but I’d always been a firm believer in preparation. Who knew when a potion or poison could come in handy?

Apparently, tonight was the night.

The Grand Alchemist would probably tear his beard out if he knew his precious work had been used to incapacitate an entire manor full of adventurers, thieves, and guard dogs… by cats. Mwahaha. I couldn’t stop a smug grin from spreading across my face. Truly, I was a genius.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Daisy, status?” I hissed as we reached the upper floors.

“Squads B and C are already outside,” she called back over her shoulder, her tail whipping through the air. “A and D are clearing the last rooms. We’ll be out in less than a minute.”

“Good.” I skidded to a halt for just a second, pausing to glance down a hallway. Through a cracked door, I spotted two adventurers sprawled near an overturned table, their swords inches away from their limp hands. They wouldn’t be a problem. Still, I didn’t trust the paralysis to last forever.

I moved on, sticking close to the walls as the manor groaned and shook faintly. The spells outside were still raining down. Lucky and the others were definitely making good on my orders to use every scroll we had. The distraction had been more effective than I’d hoped.

Boom!

The building quivered under the force of another firebolt… or maybe fireball? Dust fell from the ceiling. I heard faint yelling outside.

“Lucky better not blow up the whole place,” I muttered. That lady had a tendency to get overzealous.

Ahead of me, Daisy kicked open a half-closed door and leapt through. I followed, landing silently beside her. This was one of the side exits we’d scouted earlier—our way out.

“Move!” I ordered.

The other cats poured out, streaking through the darkness like shadows. Daisy paused, looking back at me. “Kaiser, you coming?”

I didn’t respond right away. I could feel the weight of the Magic Bags against my back, swaying with every step. Four bags, four times the treasure, and most importantly… the heist f a lifetime. My tail flicked as I remembered its taste—the sweetness, the power, the promise of what was to come.

The Kaiser System was real. It had shown itself to me, its words etched into my mind. The thought of it gave me a jolt of exhilaration that no amount of treasure ever could.

This was only the beginning.

“Kaiser!” Daisy hissed, snapping me back to reality. I shook my head. No time to get lost in thought.

“I’m coming.” I darted through the door after her.

The night air hit me like a cold splash of water. Outside, the other squads were already scattering, disappearing into alleys and shadows like trained operatives. In the distance, I could see flashes of light—spells still being flung from Lucky and the others.

“Signal Lucky to fall back!” I called to Daisy.

She nodded, her eyes narrowing as she let out a series of sharp meows that echoed into the night. Moments later, the flashes of light stopped. The manor fell into eerie silence, broken only by the faint groans of the wind and distant shouting from confused thieves.

I grinned. “Mission accomplished.”

Daisy gave me a look. “And the Golden Apple? Did it… work?”

I smirked. “Oh, it worked.”

The power tingling in my limbs was proof enough. I could still feel it—like an ember waiting to become a wildfire. My future as Kaiser was no longer a dream. It was real.

“Let’s move,” I ordered. “Back to the hideout. We’ll count our spoils there.”

With that, we melted into the night, the stolen treasures clinking softly in our bags.

I stopped in a darkened alley, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon, and swung the bags down onto the ground with a satisfying thud. The cats gathered around, their eyes gleaming with curiosity and greed.

“Alright, listen up,” I said, holding my tail high like a banner. “We split these. All four will be distributed among the squads.” I paused, scanning the group. “Daisy, Demo, Scruffy, and Chunky—take a bag each. You’re in charge of carrying them back. Work in teams of three to avoid suspicion. I don’t want any of you getting caught with these treasures.”

A chorus of “Got it” and “Yes, Kaiser” echoed back at me. I passed the Magic Bags to the leaders, each one struggling slightly under the weight. Magic Bags might be enchanted, but they were still hefty when full of loot.

“Scatter,” I ordered, “and make sure no one tails you. If you see anyone suspicious, lose them in the alleys.”

The cats didn’t need telling twice. In an instant, they split into their respective squads and disappeared into the darkness, vanishing like smoke into the city’s labyrinthine streets. I lingered with Daisy a moment longer, ensuring the last group was clear.

“We were promised food with this heist, correct?” Daisy asked, her tone casual but pointed.

I let out a low chuckle, swishing my tail. “Yeah, yeah. Be patient. We’ll have a feast after this. I don’t break promises.”

Satisfied, she bounded off with her team, the bag slung between them like a prize.

Lucky and I took a more careful route back to the hideout. A few quick turns, a leap over a crumbling wall, and a stroll through some quiet alleys brought us to our secret base—a crumbling building tucked between two larger structures, nearly invisible unless you knew what to look for.

The moment I stepped inside, I noticed something odd. The place was… cleaner. Suspiciously clean. I narrowed my eyes and flicked my gaze at Lucky, who had a smug expression on her face.

“You cleaned?” I asked, incredulous.

Lucky shrugged, dragging one of the Magic Bags behind her. “Figured we’d have company. Didn’t want anyone saying the hideout looked like a rat’s nest.”

She wasn’t wrong. The usual piles of broken furniture, dust, and junk were gone, leaving a surprisingly tidy floor and enough space for the bags. Still, it didn’t matter. After tonight, this place was compromised. I wasn’t stupid—word would spread about a gang of cats pulling off a heist like this.

We’d need to move.

On the rooftop, the squad leaders were already waiting. Daisy sat primly, grooming her paw. Demo was lounging lazily against a brick ledge, while Scruffy paced back and forth, too jittery to sit still. Chunky, on the other hand, was lying flat on his back, his chest heaving as he caught his breath.

“You look like you ran a marathon,” I quipped, eyeing Chunky.

Chunky rolled onto his side, his tail flicking lazily. “You try carrying a Magic Bag with this build. It’s harder than it looks.”

Lucky snickered from behind me, and I couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle myself. Chunky might not have the speed or grace of the others, but when it came to strength, no one could beat him. But then again, Chunky was fairly good with his parkour skills, so maybe it was a matter of endurance.

“It’s a success,” Lucky announced, cutting through the banter. “So what now, Kaiser?”

I grinned, savoring the moment. “As promised, we’re going to have a feast. Anyone here know a good place where we can party without anyone interrupting us?”

Demo lifted his head lazily, his ears twitching. “There’s a campground by the riverside. Just a few alleyways from here. It’s quiet, and no one goes there at night.”

Scruffy perked up. “I know that place. It’s open, lots of space, and there’s a stream nearby.”

Perfect.

“Good,” I said, flicking my tail decisively. “Then that’s where we’ll go. Bring the bags and whatever food we’ve stashed here. Tonight, we celebrate.”

Chunky groaned as he pulled himself to his paws. “I swear, if I have to carry another bag, I’m eating half the feast myself.”

“Quit complaining,” Demo teased. “You’re built for this.”

The hideout buzzed with energy as the cats prepared to move. Lucky dragged her bag toward the exit while Scruffy and Daisy barked orders to their teams. Chunky grumbled under his breath but still hoisted his Magic Bag without complaint, his broad frame making it look almost easy.

I stood back for a moment, watching them work. My gang. My followers. They trusted me to lead them, and I had delivered. The Golden Apple was mine, the heist a success, and now I had something no other cat—or creature—had: the Kaiser System.

But for tonight, it wasn’t about schemes or ambition. It was about victory.

“Let’s go,” I said, my voice cutting through the chatter. “The riverside awaits.”

The cats cheered softly—quiet enough not to draw attention, but loud enough to let their excitement ring out. With the bags and supplies in tow, we slipped out into the night, a shadowy procession of victorious thieves.

Tonight, we would feast. Tomorrow… the world would learn the name Kaiser.