The Cynthis Empire was abuzz with two major pieces of news today.

The first was that Marshal Ji Xiuyun, known for his trademark shaggy black hair that he had sported for decades, had shocked everyone by getting a buzzcut. The second, leaked from military sources, was a video featuring a cat.

In this age of vast interstellar networks, secrets were hard to keep. Even the most disciplined military organizations had their weak points.

The Marshal's new look was unveiled through official media channels. Far from diminishing his image, the close-cropped hair accentuated his sharp features, lending him an air of heightened masculinity and intensity. The handful of released photos sent his admirers into a frenzy, their hearts racing and pulses quickening at the sight.

In these tumultuous times, people often sought figures who exuded strength and security. This hunger for reassurance made the populace particularly susceptible to the allure of robust, commanding male figures. Marshal Ji Xiuyun, with his imposing presence and now even more striking appearance, fit this bill perfectly.

No sooner had the photos been released than they were inundated with a deluge of praise and adoration from fans of all genders.

However, it was the leaked combat footage of the cat that truly set the interstellar networks ablaze. The cat's physical prowess was nothing short of phenomenal.

Not only had it shattered the Marshal's undefeated record, but it had also managed to thoroughly trounce one of his top military commanders, tossing him around like a rag doll.

The cat's speed was almost imperceptible to the naked eye, its bite force tremendous, and its claws so sharp they seemed to glint with a cold light. In short, it was utterly, devastatingly cool.

The average citizen didn't care to delve into the reasons behind the Marshal's defeat. They were simply thrilled by the outcome. After all, an unbroken myth remains just that - a myth. It's in defeat and being surpassed that true progress is made. Their beloved Marshal would only grow stronger from this experience!

Sure, this cat called Yue'an might not compare in size to the large felines of ancient Earth. Yes, it might be classified as a mere "house cat" in the historical records. But so what?

Its small, adorable exterior belied its formidable strength. Wasn't this the very definition of "good things come in small packages"? This was beauty and power incarnate, a perfect blend of cuteness and lethality. This, ladies and gentlemen, was the epitome of gap moe!

A tiny bundle of explosive power! That adorable face must surely be a ploy to deceive its enemies. Perhaps it could even charm its way past predators with its cuteness. One appearance, multiple uses - the versatility was astounding!

"That's our Earth creatures for you - simply unbeatable!" netizens crowed proudly.

"And now this little powerhouse belongs to our Marshal!" The thought alone was enough to send them into raptures. It deserved a standing ovation!

The interstellar network users were beside themselves with joy, metaphorically licking their screens in adoration from every conceivable angle. They could hardly contain their excitement.

"More! We want more!" they clamored. "Give us news like this every day!"

"We may not be able to touch or keep one ourselves, but at least let us see more of it!" they pleaded. "Just looking at pictures of the cat on our holo-screens is enough to brighten our entire day!"

While the online world was in an uproar, the atmosphere offline was considerably more somber. Many who saw the Marshal's new hairstyle in person did so because today, Marshal Ji was due to appear in the Imperial Military Court.

The Marshal's court appearance concerned two cases. The first dealt with the recent spy incident that had led to the leak of military secrets and the Marshal's subsequent ambush and disappearance. The second involved allegations made by the Marshal's former deputy against the Imperial Research Department, requiring the highest-ranking officials from both sides to face off.

The first case was straightforward - the spy's death sentence was all but assured. It was merely a formality at this point. The second case, however, promised to be a drawn-out, contentious affair.

The Imperial Research Department had cultivated an excellent public image and had made numerous outstanding contributions in the field of biological sciences. While it was common knowledge that the Marshal had long been at odds with them, their stellar reputation made most people skeptical of the accusations leveled by someone convicted of treason.

Without concrete evidence, this would be a difficult case to win. Yet, Marshal Ji had chosen not to withdraw the lawsuit.

His reasoning was simple: his flagship, the Silver Blade, was still undergoing upgrades and redesigns, meaning he couldn't leave the Imperial Star any time soon. Since he had the opportunity to make life difficult for the Imperial Research Department, keeping them on edge for months with his every move, why not take advantage of it?

The Marshal was not just pleased about this; he was positively looking forward to it. His anticipation was so high it even overshadowed his annoyance at having to change his hairstyle.

Ji Xiuyun was generally broad-minded, but he could also be petty. He could accept well-reasoned, constructive criticism or suggestions with grace. But those who genuinely offended or angered him? He'd hold that grudge for a lifetime, deriving great pleasure from making their lives difficult.

He didn't believe in killing with one blow either - after all, a dull knife causes the most pain. Of course, the Imperial Research Department was the type he'd like to destroy in one fell swoop, but couldn't. So, whenever the opportunity arose, he'd do his best to make their lives miserable, just as they did to him whenever they got the chance.

As Ji Xiuyun observed the sour-faced Research Department Director entering the courtroom, his mood improved even further. He noticed the Director glancing his way and maintained an impassive expression, projecting an air of calm control.

The First Legion Commander, acting as his secretary, passed him a thick stack of documents right on cue. The Marshal accepted them, making a show of slightly waving the substantial pile in the Director's direction.

This stack of papers, seemingly full of crucial evidence against the Research Department, gave the impression that "I have the evidence, which is why I'm pushing for this trial to take you down." Given that their opponent was the ever-hostile Ji Xiuyun, the Research Director's face turned ashen.

The Marshal shifted his gaze away and leisurely opened the documents. The pages were densely packed with text, but in reality, they were just cat-care tips pulled from the Information Security Department's database on ancient Earth.

Only the Marshal, his Commander, heaven, and earth knew the truth. The Research Director across from them remained blissfully unaware.

As they waited for the proceedings to begin, Ji Xiuyun would flip through a couple of pages, then look up at the Research Director sitting opposite him. His expression remained cold and emotionless, as if he were examining an inanimate object.

This act, seemingly confirming that he indeed held some critical evidence, left the Research Director squirming in his seat, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

He had been present during Ji Xiuyun's incident years ago - the Research Department's first major setback had come at Ji Xiuyun's hands. If he truly had some damning evidence now, there was no doubt he'd use it to utterly destroy them. In that case, none of the Research Department's top brass would be spared.

Ji Xiuyun languidly turned another page of cat-care tips. To the man across from him, the sound of turning pages was as ominous as the cocking of a gun.

Observing his opponent's face drain of color, the Marshal gently tapped the table. His mood, soured earlier by having to change his hairstyle due to his cat's static electricity, brightened considerably.

"You dare to plot against me and my cat?" he thought. "I'll scare you half to death!"

Meanwhile, blissfully unaware of his newfound status as a prized possession in some people's eyes, Yue'an had just devoured over thirty spirit stones in one sitting.

He wanted to continue, but after glancing at the remaining stones, he simply licked his paws clean. Cats always dislike seeing their food bowls empty - it makes them feel insecure. So he left the last dozen or so stones, hopping out of the box containing them, and tried to sense the spiritual energy now flowing within him.

The energy he had painstakingly accumulated over many years on that desolate planet didn't even come close to matching what he'd gained from consuming these thirty-odd spirit stones today.

Yue'an was a cat with a strong sense of crisis. He was accustomed to conserving spiritual energy for emergencies. But he was also a young cat, lacking the emotional control of the older, more experienced members of his kind. For instance, he had gotten carried away during his fight with Ji Xiuyun, impulsively using up all the energy he had accumulated over the years in one go.

Although, truth be told, the vast majority of that energy had actually come from the dozen or so spirit stones Ji Xiuyun had "offered" him over those few days.

Now, after devouring more than thirty stones, he had not only restored his previous levels but even surpassed them.

Yue'an sat up, his front paws resting on the edge of the spirit stone box. He peered inside, eyeing the remaining dozen or so stones. Despite his feline instincts urging him to devour them all, he managed to resist, leaving some reserves for later. The cat patted his little belly, satisfied with his self-control.

Unable to completely ignore his scratching urges, Yue'an used the box's walls as an impromptu scratching post, leaving them tattered and worn. With a flick of his tail, he retracted his claws, mission accomplished.

Balancing the disc-shaped holo-computer atop his head with remarkable skill, Yue'an descended the stairs on his four stubby legs. The cat tree downstairs remained unexplored territory - the stingy Marshal, still sulking from his unexpected haircut, had not only left the protective barrier around the treats intact but had also added several more quiz modules before leaving.

Yue'an could have easily destroyed the barrier, but he saw no need. The reward-based learning system was surprisingly effective, at least for him. With snacks as motivation, he found himself quite eager to tackle the tasks at hand.

The small cat spent the entire morning diligently studying, completing "900 Common Cynthis Phrases" that Ji Xiuyun had assigned. He also finished all the quizzes on the barrier's control panel, earning himself a bounty of treats.

The cream-colored ball of fluff dove headfirst into the large treat bag, his tail swishing back and forth outside. As he polished off the last candy, Yue'an backed up, only to lose his footing. In a comical tumble, cat, bag, and holo-computer rolled off the sofa together.

Momentarily disoriented, Yue'an found himself completely enveloped in the sweet-smelling packaging. After a few seconds, he poked his head out, ears perked up alertly. Glancing around to ensure no one had witnessed his embarrassing fall and confirming the absence of any cameras, he licked his nose and casually extracted himself from the bag.

With the snacks devoured and the first book memorized, Yue'an set about tidying up. He gathered the scattered treat wrappers in his mouth, depositing them in the trash can. Then, gripping the garbage bag between his teeth, he dragged it towards the door. Yue'an was, after all, a cat who appreciated cleanliness.

Perched atop the circular platform of the cat tree, Yue'an shook out his fur and began grooming, licking away crumbs and lingering scents from his paws and coat. For the more stubborn spots, he summoned a thin stream of water with a wave of his paw, giving himself a thorough cleaning.

The white ball of fluff basked in the sunlight, the edges of his form illuminated by the brilliant rays, creating an almost ethereal glow. The platform offered a perfect view of both the floor-to-ceiling windows and the grandfather clock opposite.

Checking the time, Yue'an patted his little tummy, recalling last night's Cynthis cuisine. His sapphire eyes darted around before landing on the holo-computer he had inadvertently knocked to the floor earlier.

The book he had studied that morning included the word "takeout." Yue'an remembered approving several copyright applications and earning money from his previous livestream. Ji Xiuyun had assured him that this money was his to use.

The clever little cat hopped down from the tree and scampered over to the holo-computer. Following the instructions from the book, he extended a fluffy paw and tapped the device a couple of times, locating the power button. With a soft press of his padded paw, the computer sprang to life.

Unable to find any app icons with "takeout" in the name, Yue'an realized that the Marshal probably never ordered in. Now able to understand most common words, he discovered that Ji Xiuyun's holo-computer was filled with apps related to news, battle records, virtual military simulations, and historical archives.

Yue'an mentally sighed at the overwhelming military-centric and austere style. No wonder the Marshal had taken him to the cafeteria. It was perfectly in character for Ji Xiuyun.

Eventually, Yue'an's gaze settled on a green icon at the bottom of the screen. He now understood that this app called "Jinjiang" was a powerful platform. With a neural interface helmet or bio-pod, one could enter a virtual community through this platform. Almost everyone had an account, and it was often referred to as a "second society."

Even without specialized equipment, one could perform various operations through the holo-computer interface, such as publishing works, livestreaming, online trading, documenting daily life, and... ordering takeout.

Overwhelmed by the artistic and complex dish names, Yue'an opted for simplicity: he sorted by price and popularity, selecting an entire page of the most expensive, best-selling items.

Unbeknownst to Yue'an, while the funds were indeed deducted from his platform earnings, the holo-computer's spending activity was linked to Ji Xiuyun's account, triggering a notification.

At that moment, in the courtroom, Marshal Ji felt his remote wristband vibrate. Glancing down, he saw that 360,000 credits had been instantly deducted from his account. The reason? Takeout.

Ji Xiuyun's mind reeled. In just one morning, his cat had not only learned to use the computer but also how to order food?

Oblivious to the Marshal's confusion, Yue'an checked his backend balance after placing the order, noticing a significant increase. Based on his previous calculations of spirit stone prices, he could now afford about twenty-five stones.

Ecstatic, Yue'an rolled around on the plush carpet. However, his joy was short-lived as he remembered devouring over thirty stones just that morning. He froze mid-roll, front paws curled to his chest, staring at the ceiling in disbelief.

"Am I really such a glutton?" he wondered. "Twenty-five stones won't even last a day! What kind of cat doesn't keep reserves? I might as well be a salted fish!"

Yue'an knew he couldn't expect Ji Xiuyun to supply him with unlimited spirit stones. From yesterday's mecha battles, he understood that each mecha required at least one main energy compartment and two backup compartments, each holding a minimum of two spirit stones for power.

With so many soldiers under his command, the Marshal's promise of fifty stones a month was likely coming from his personal reserves. Yue'an couldn't possibly ask him to dip into military supplies!

While a mine owner's personal stash was undoubtedly substantial, Ji Xiuyun was, after all, a military leader. What if an emergency arose? Besides, they had agreed on fifty stones, and Yue'an prided himself on being an honest and friendly cat.

The small ball of fur rolled around on the carpet, front paws clutching his head in distress. Finally, he looked up, ears twitching, and gazed at the screen that had appeared on the holo-computer.

Meanwhile, netizens were still in a frenzy over the 50-minute video, flooding the Marshal's sole social media account with pleas to "release the cat" for some quality adoration time. Some were even sneakily accessing the Cynthis Empire's network from foreign territories, seamlessly blending into the chorus of eager fans.

Suddenly, the holographic projection above the central plaza of the largest virtual shopping center - the Citizen's Plaza - turned black. The background music abruptly stopped, and puzzled shoppers halted in their tracks.

After a brief moment of darkness, a fluffy little head appeared in the center of the plaza. It peered curiously at the camera, drawing so close that every detail of its soft white fur, pink nose, and the tips of its pearly fangs were clearly visible.

Confused by the situation, the cat let out a soft "meow," its voice so tender and sweet that it made hearts flutter.

Tilting its head, the cat seemed to notice something off-screen. With a graceful leap, it jumped onto a nearby table laden with an array of foods and a holo-computer. The device was displaying the very same scene of the small fluffball landing on the table.

Seemingly having confirmed something, the little one faced the camera, cocked its head, and let out an adorable "meow."

Both the plaza-goers and those browsing the Marshal's social media page through their holo-computers held their breath. In the ensuing silence, a collective realization dawned.

Then, all at once, a massive wave of excited screams erupted.

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!! It's the cat!!!!!!"