A month had passed while Puss worked on his skills and got used to his life as a cat and his Spanish accent.


    With a straight wooden branch as his sword, he danced gracefully with flexible yet fierce movements, stabbing an invisible opponent that only existed in his mind.


    With a final flourish, he stopped his training.


    Then, walking to the side of the tree, he stuck his wooden rapier into the ground, next to a double-edged wooden sword and a heavy wooden sword.


    During this month, Puss realized that the level of his talent didn''t represent his skill level—it was more about what the name implied: talent.


    He had gone from a beginner to a qualified swordsman—or at least he thought so—but even if he wasn''t, he was still much better than when he started. Yet, the talent level remained the same, only its progress increasing.


    [Host: Puss in Boots


    Age: One Month


    Status: 9 Lives Remaining


    Talents:


    - Mutant Cat (Gold): Level 1 (Progress: 0.6% → 15%)


    - Natural Swordsman (Gold): Level 1 (Progress: 0.7% → 15%)


    - Furry Lover (Silver): Level 0


    - Lucky Feline (Silver): Level 6]


    With this, he determined that the talent levels were only about his ability and speed to learn and grow, not his actual skill levels.


    And a gold-level talent was no joke—Puss had become very strong in this short month of training. With plenty of stolen milk to complete his nutrition, along with exercise, he quickly got into good shape. He was no longer that chubby little kitten; he had become leaner and more handsome.


    After storing away his "sword," he left the mountain and headed to the cafeteria—it was lunchtime.


    Imelda had been very worried about Puss over the past month. He hadn''t made any friends and was so persistent in his training, but she knew children had their own circumstances and goals, so she didn''t want to interfere. She only wanted them to grow up happy and healthy.


    Just as she had allowed Humpty Dumpty to chase his dreams, even though she worried about his loneliness.


    Puss had noticed all of this but simply kept it in his heart without taking any other action.


    As he approached the orphanage''s playground, he saw a scene that made his eyes narrow.


    "Hey, Breakfast, where are those beans you''re hiding? We''re hungry, bring them out."


    The three troublemakers Puss had faced on his first day were causing problems again, this time bullying the famous resident egg—Humpty Dumpty.


    "I-I ate them, I didn''t hide any beans. Let''s not fight, okay? Remember what Imelda says, Boy Blue? If you''re going to blow your top, you blow your horn instead, right?"


    He spoke timidly and raised the horn Boy Blue carried, trying to remind him with a forced smile.


    But what he got in return was a malicious grin.


    "Let''s spin him."


    Boy Blue said cruelly, grabbing Humpty and throwing him to the ground.


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    "AHH!"


    Humpty Dumpty let out a small scream of panic, but as he hit the ground, his oval shape made it impossible for him to get up. He could only struggle helplessly.


    "Please don''t spin me!"


    He pleaded, but they didn''t care and started rolling his oval body across the floor.


    "Do not spin me!" He begged again. "Not again!"


    And finally, he was about to vomit.


    "No! I''m gonna yolk!"


    Puss, who had just arrived and witnessed the scene, couldn''t hold back.


    ''This scene is almost exactly like the one in the movie… I don''t want to follow the same steps, but it feels like the world is actively pushing me toward them.''


    He reflected, but seeing the cruel bullying in front of him, he couldn''t help himself.


    "Hiss!"


    He hissed and quickly dashed forward on all four paws.


    The three boys froze at the sound, instantly recognizing who it belonged to. But before they could beg for mercy, a cat''s paw grew in their vision.


    Pow! Pow! Pow!


    Two paw strikes and a tail whip later, all three were on the ground, eyes rolled back.


    "Huh?!"


    Humpty Dumpty, who had suddenly stopped spinning, opened one eye in confusion.


    Seeing the three fallen boys and the small orange cat walking away, he understood everything.


    "Wow!"


    He exclaimed, filled with admiration, and quickly struggled to get up. By sheer luck, he found the right angle and managed to stand on his own.


    "Huff! Huff!"


    Panting from the effort, he didn''t take long to rest. Still out of breath, he ran after Puss.


    "Hey! Huff! Wait for me! Huff! Huff!"


    Running with all his might, he soon caught up to Puss, who was walking calmly.


    "Hey! Huff! Didn''t you hear me?"


    He walked beside the cat, still huffing from the effort, confused as to why he hadn''t waited for him.


    Puss glanced at him from the corner of his eye and then gave a slight nod.


    "Oh?"


    Seeing the nod, Humpty understood that Puss hadn''t waited for him on purpose and felt a little embarrassed.


    But then he remembered that the cat was a famous loner at the orphanage, just like him.


    ''He''s like me. No friends, no family, no place to call home.''


    Humpty thought as he looked at the small kitten''s lonely back.


    But this also awakened something inside him… a sense of… companionship?


    "Wait!"


    Seeing the cat walk away, he ran after him again.


    Puss didn''t care and kept walking at his own pace, entering the dining hall and grabbing his lunch.


    ''Oh, what a surprise, beans…''


    He joked to himself, disheartened. He was a bit tired of eating beans this month, but it seemed like the orphanage''s finances were in a delicate state.


    Not being ungrateful—after all, the orphanage had done a lot for him and all the children—he took his plate and sat in the corner.


    "Wow, you really are different!"


    A voice suddenly sounded, making Puss''s ears twitch.


    Soon, a plate of beans was placed on the table, and a humanoid egg sat beside him, speaking.


    "You were amazing back there, and on the day you arrived too. Boy Blue''s gang is the biggest group of troublemakers in the orphanage, but everyone knows they''re afraid of you. And you took them down in no time again today—I couldn''t even see when you attacked."


    He spoke excitedly, while Puss simply picked up a bean and tossed it into his mouth, chewing indifferently.


    Crunch! Crunch!


    Humpty froze for a moment at Puss''s indifference. But seeing that the cat wasn''t hissing at him like he did with the other children, he thought that was already a great sign.


    So, after opening his mouth several times, hesitating, he finally gathered a bit of courage and spoke his mind, his face slightly confused.


    "Look… I admire you, you know? Actually, I think everyone at the orphanage admires you… You could have as many friends as you wanted, and you could be the most popular kid… So why do you keep being alone?"


    He looked at Puss and asked, but received no answer. Lowering his head in confusion, he whispered softly.


    "Well, if it were me… I don''t think I''d choose to be alone."