The Paw of Order

A faint wind brushed through the trees, carrying the scent of damp leaves.

Morning light glimmered between the towers, and beyond the oaks and ginkgos, the glass of the old Tōkyō Tochōsha shimmered like a distant mirror.

Purimura looked out of place as she crossed the wide park.

She remembered when this had been Shinjuku Gyoen, a place where people laughed, children played, and cherry blossoms danced along the paths in spring.

Now golden lounge chairs and marble fountains stood where children once played, guarded by sand cats in black sunglasses, reserved only for the high-ranking few.

They called it the Garden of Nine.

To her, it was nothing more than another obstacle between her and her employer.

The long trench coat hid most of her frame, but not the subtle motion of muscle beneath, nor the impatient twitch of her tail under the fabric.

In her left paw she carried a slim briefcase, old, worn, but meticulously cared for.

When she reached the western edge of the park, the shadow of the towers loomed before her, twin spires reaching for the sky.

Above the entrance gleamed the new seal of government authority:

九命府 – The Office of Nine Lives.

Before it stood two monumental golden statues of cats.

One raised its paw toward the heavens, a shimmer of visible magic radiating from its claws.

The other sat in silent meditation, gaze fixed eastward, as though contemplating the fate of the world.

Purimura paused, straightened the round glasses that had slipped low on her short, broad nose, and smoothed the fur along her cheek. Then she lifted her collar and climbed the steps to the entrance.

A black-suited guard greeted her with a bow as she extended her paw.

“Good morning, Inspector,” he said politely, scanning the bracelet around her wrist.

“Good morning, and thank you for your service, Nyanjiro-san,” she replied with practiced calm.

The bracelet glowed, and the guard’s device displayed the familiar credentials:

Purimura Tadamori – プリムラ 忠森

Nekotheurgic Signature:

• Species: Manul Neko (Otocolobus manul)

• Genetic Resonance: Frost

• Rank: IV – Domei (怒命)

Verification complete. Access granted.

Nyanjiro bowed again. “I wish you a productive day, Inspector.”

Purimura nodded curtly and stepped inside.

The concrete hallways of the old building were gone. Instead, veins of light pulsed beneath the marble floors, alive with the rhythm of magic.

Spherical drones with cat ears drifted silently through the corridors, following every movement.

She sighed as she entered the elevator.

No buttons, no sound, only a soft vibration as the scanner read her bracelet, then a rising hum as the lift shot upward.

In the mirrored walls she saw her own reflection: gray fur, tired yellow eyes with narrow pupils.

The cold stare of a bureaucat who had long ago learned to obey.

Forty-seventh floor. Council of Nine Lives - North Tower.

When the voice faded, the elevator doors slid open to a quiet antechamber.

A Persian cat in a white robe waited behind a broad desk and bowed.

“Inspector Tadamori-sama. The Council is expecting you.”

At the press of a button, the heavy double doors opened.

The hall beyond was vast, a domed chamber of black marble laced with veins of gold.

Gigantic paintings adorned the walls, depicting the glorious moments of feline history in baroque splendor.

No footsteps echoed as Purimura approached the center since her paws moved silently even on stone.

She set down the briefcase and bowed deeply.

When she looked up, most of the council seats were empty.

Only four of the nine Arch-Felines were present, their gazes fixed on her with quiet curiosity.

Across from her sat General Nekotora (猫虎), the massive Maine Coon with the battle-scarred face.

To his left, Lady Meibyō (明猫), a sleek Korat with emerald eyes.

Beside her, half-hidden in shadow, the black-furred Yabyō (夜猫).

And on the right, Archmage Byōma (猫摩), a stately Birman tomcat.

Purimura’s voice was calm when she began.

“Your Eminences, the investigation at the site has been completed.”

Byōma barely looked up from the glowing glyphs circling his claw.

“And?”

“There were clear traces of magic,” she said, “but none matching any known structure of Nekotheurgy, just as we suspected.”

Nekotora’s scar tightened as he bared a fang.

“Then what? Are you suggesting a human did this?”

“Impossible,” Byōma cut in, cold and precise. “Humans cannot wield magic. It’s far more likely the instability of a derailed Inmei, a failed ascension attempt.”

But Purimura shook her head.

“There was no falsehood in the Retsumei’s testimony. We verified it under truth magic. She spoke honestly.”

Lady Meibyō opened her eyes fully, her voice soft yet razor-sharp.

“And the human woman? What do we know about her?”

Purimura’s ears twitched.

“From the surveillance footage, we determined she arrived together with a man from Mishima. And…”

She hesitated.

“And what?” Lady Meibyō pressed.

“It’s just…” Purimura’s gaze moved from one council member to the next. “With respect, I recommend informing Nekogami immediately. Everything points to these two humans as the source of the magic.”

The Arch-Felines exchanged skeptical glances.

Nekotora growled low, claws digging into the armrest.

“You’re here to report, Domei, not to advise the Council.”

Purimura bowed her head. “Of course. My apologies, Nekotora-sama.”

Just as I thought.

Their reaction only confirmed what she already suspected.

“Inspector Tadamori,” Nekotora said. “Continue the investigation. Quietly. Determine if there’s any truth to this story, and deliver any evidence you may find only to us.”

They want to bury it.

“As you command, Nekotora-sama,” she replied calmly, bowing once more.

And Nekotora’s the one pulling the strings.

“That will be all,” he concluded. “Submit the full report to the antechamber.”

She nodded and turned to leave.

In the corridor, the morning sun bathed the glass of the North Tower in gold and crimson.

For a moment she stopped before the vast window, lit a cigarette with the lighter from her coat, and stared out.

Below, Tokyo sprawled endlessly, vast, gleaming, and yet strangely hollow beneath its perfection.

She touched the glass with one paw and exhaled the smoke slowly.

“Where are you hiding…” she murmured, eyes fixed on the city that once belonged to humankind.

Beep beep.

SECURITY VIOLATION: SMOKING IS PROHIBITED IN THIS FACILITY.

Beep beep.

SECURITY VIOLATION: PLEASE CEASE ALL SMOKE PRODUCTION IMMEDIATELY.

A spherical drone buzzed near her face, red light blinking in warning.

Purimura only sighed, flicked the cigarette against the metal, and slipped her paws back into her coat pockets.

The elevator doors slid shut, and the car began its silent descent.

With it went the only cat who could sense, that the wind in the city of neon lights was about to change.