Mr. Rat of the Steam World

Chapter 85 Don't underestimate the bond between brothers...

Sunlight, fragmented by the dense canopy of trees, spilled onto the ground covered with decaying leaves, where a large calico cat lay listlessly on a fallen, dead tree trunk.

The sullen cat lazily licked its glossy paws. Having avenged its great grudge, it was enjoying a rare moment of leisure, but it couldn't help but think of its original owner.

I vaguely remember that back then I was called Mimi, and I was carefree every day...

suddenly!

A pig-like scream rang out in the distance, and the Sangbiao Cat suddenly sprang up from the dead tree.

"What the hell is going on?"

Before it could even see the charging rat brother clearly, the next moment, Sang Biao's amber pupils suddenly contracted into dangerous slits! The fur on his arched back stood on end, like a hedgehog that had exploded.

"Humans?" Sang Biao's sharp gaze swept past Lu Ran and precisely locked onto the edge of the woodland.

Anthony, a middle-aged gentleman dressed in a well-tailored outfit, though slightly damp with dew and bits of grass, walked calmly out of the shadows of the woods, his face still bearing that chillingly gentle smile.

Lu Ran hurriedly shouted, "Boss, can we beat them? If not, we'll run away together..."

Before Lu Ran could finish speaking, a three-colored shadow darted out.

"Damn it! You're bullying my little brother!"

Lu Ran suddenly stopped, somewhat taken aback.

"There's another cat?" Anthony was even more surprised.

Puff puff puff!

The ground writhed violently, and thick vines, intertwined with roots, rapidly emerged from the soil like living things, forming a half-person-high, gleaming shield of thorny wood before him!
however!
boom.

Sang Biao twisted his body in mid-air, then stomped heavily on the thorny wooden shield. Using the force of the recoil, his body flipped upwards with an incredible twisting motion. The moment he flipped over the thorny wooden shield, claws shot out from his fleshy paws.

chapped.

The gleaming claws tore through the air, aiming straight for Anthony's face!

“This power…” Anthony steadied himself and flicked his finger. The vines scattered from the broken wooden shield seemed to be given new life, transforming into countless ropes that coiled towards the Zang Biao in the air.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, a gray shadow shot out and suddenly rammed into his lower body.

"Damn it!"

Anthony could no longer maintain his composure and hurriedly pulled the rising vines and ropes toward Lu Ran, tilting his head back slightly.

Chi!
Sharp claws slashed across Anthony's face, instantly turning his vision crimson, followed by an indescribable, excruciating pain, as if his entire face had been torn apart.

What's even more upsetting is that the gray shadow that attacked his genitals turned out to be just an illusion, and the vines that tried to block it seemed like a joke.

"Wait!"

Anthony let out a painful shout, jerking back as he gasped for breath and stared at the cat and mouse with lingering fear.

Sang Biao and Lu Ran landed almost simultaneously.

The calico cat deftly bent its knees to absorb the force, its back taut into a bow, and its tail whipped through the air like a steel whip.

The little gray mouse used its momentum to roll twice and came to a steady stop beside Sang Biao. A few bits of grass stuck to its shiny gray fur, and its small chest heaved violently. The two figures, one tall and one short, were backed by the dappled light and shadow in the forest.

Lu Ran swung his two paws in a big circle: "Ah-da!"

The previously aggressive Sangbiao Cat paused, and subconsciously asked in a low voice, "What does Ada mean?"

Lu Ran was stunned for a moment, then blurted out, "It means we're not to be messed with."

Sang Biao suddenly realized.

next moment.

"Ah-da!" x2
Seeing that the cat and mouse were about to attack again, Anthony quickly raised his hand: "I feel like we can have a good talk. I didn't mean any harm this time."

Lu Ran paused, then glared at Anthony fiercely: "You call that harmless?"

Anthony said helplessly, "I've never had any ill will towards animals. The methods I used were just to catch you and make you behave. After all, before this, I thought you were just an ordinary gray rat with only intelligence." As he spoke, he looked around and quickly found a small blade of grass on the ground, crushed it, and applied it to the hideous wound on his face.

"However, it now seems that we can try to cooperate."

Sang Biao frowned: "What does this guy mean?"

Lu Ran casually said, "He said he backed down."

Anthony: "..."

The next moment, he slowly took out a seed tied around his neck and casually tossed it to the ground.

A sickening sound, like a giant straw being inserted into viscous liquid, suddenly rang out!

Immediately following, a purple vine as thick as a bucket burst forth from the ground at a speed visible to the naked eye!
Its growth rate is terrifyingly fast! The surrounding soil is overturned and bulged outwards as if it has been exploded. In just a few breaths, the vine has grown to nearly the height of a person, and the flower bud at the top quickly expands and splits open, revealing layers upon layers of densely packed, razor-sharp serrated petals inside!
Anthony took a deep breath, his gaze calm: "Can you now prove that I want to talk peacefully?"

Lu Ran glanced at the hideous man-eating flower, swallowed hard, and finally decided to re-translate it.

He said he wanted to have a proper talk, and I think I can give him a chance.

Sang Biao shook his trembling legs and quickly nodded: "I'll give you that face."

……

The man and the cat and mouse sat facing each other, and Anton looked at Sang Biao first.

"Your power belongs to our Abundance system, doesn't it?"

Then she looked at Lu Ran with a strange expression.

"As for you..."

Lu Ran quickly spoke up: "Serpent of Contracts, I've managed to get a bottle of magic potion."

"No wonder."

Anthony suddenly realized that the claw marks on his face had healed from the bone that was visible to the skin into four hideous scars of flesh.

"So you can gain power from potions?"

Lu Ran nodded without batting an eye: "Yes."

Anthony seemed to be deep in thought, then suddenly said, "In that case, how about we cooperate and help me steal a bottle of Bountiful Tier 3 potion?"

"Third level?"

Lu Ran was taken aback, but quickly realized what was happening.

"So you're a second-tier?"

“Hmm.” Anthony nodded, now that Lu Ran’s identity had changed. “As I told you before, I left the Abundance, so I can’t get the next potion for advancement, but I know someone who’s preparing for advancement soon, and he should have some newly acquired potions…”

Lu Ran looked at Anthony with a puzzled expression: "So you mean I have to risk my life to steal a potion for you from someone who's about as strong as you?"

Anthony calmly explained, "I am a fugitive from the Abundance, so it's inconvenient for me to show my face. Besides, I might not be his match in a direct attack, but you have a size advantage and are skilled in using deception magic."

Not to mention you've already taken the Invisible Hand potion and will be advancing in rank later. I can help you get a second-tier Invisible Hand potion.

Lu Ran opened his mouth, about to speak, but Anthony continued before he could.

"In addition, I'll also include a diffusion-grade relic that's just right for you."

In response to Lu Ran's question, Anthony explained that the scars on his face made him look rather ferocious and terrifying.

"This relic is called the Mimic's Stomach. Although it has some flaws, it should still be quite useful for you to have a portable cloth bag for storing things."

Lu Ran's attention wasn't on that; instead, he blurted out, "A mimic? Does such a thing really exist?"

A barely perceptible glint flashed in Anthony's eyes: "Perhaps the mimics in those adventure stories came first, and then this mimic's stomach appeared. Who knows..."

(End of this chapter)