The video was one in a series meticulously filmed and edited by Song Wan.
In the footage, Overlord displayed an alertness, agility, and "intelligence" that far surpassed that of an ordinary house cat.
This leopard cat, following Song Wanâs verbal commands, hand gestures, or the lure of treats, completed a series of astonishing feats.
For instance, he swiped open the ajar refrigerator door with his paw and pulled out a small carton of yogurt.
Or he would leap onto a bookshelf and precisely nudge a specific book with his paw.
He even dashed through a deliberately arranged "obstacle course" with incredible agility and grace, drawing gasps of amazement from onlookers.
But the most amazing part was a little clip at the end of the videoâ
Song Wan deliberately hid the TV remote under a sofa cushion and said to Overlord, "Overlord, the remote is missing. Can you help Mommy find it?"
Overlord first tilted his head as he listened, then hopped onto the sofa, sniffed around, and actually used his paws to push the cushion aside, pulling out the small remote control.
He then carried the remote in his mouth, strutted proudly over to Song Wan, set it down, and stared into the camera with his jade-green eyes.
The caption read: "Was such a trivial matter really worth bothering this Master Cat?"
The video was clearly shot and smoothly edited, with lighthearted music and Song Wanâs perfectly timed voice-over narration, all of which showcased Overlordâs "extraordinary" performance to the fullest.
In particular, Overlordâs magnificent, leopard-like coat, his disdainful gaze, and the unconcealable "smugness" after completing a command instantly captured the hearts of countless netizens.
The comments section explodedâ
"Has this cat become a spirit?!?"
"If not a spirit, then a monster! That reaction speed, that comprehension... If my husky were half as smart, Iâd wake up laughing from my dreams."
"Bengal Leopard Cats are smart, but this one is way too smart, right? Feels like itâs been professionally trained."
"OP, how did you train him? Tutorial please! Iâm begging you!"
"Look at this cat, and then look at the pig on my bed that does nothing but eat and sleep... Iâm crying."
"That gaze, that aura... I wouldnât believe you if you told me he wasnât a little leopard!"
"The commands in the video are so complex. Does he really understand them? Or is he just being lured by treats?"
"Lured or not, that execution and cooperation are insane! My cat doesnât even respond when I call its name..."
"Saving my spot before this blows up! Iâll bet you fifty cents this cat is going to be famous!"
"OP, update soon! I want to see more of Overlordâs daily life!"
...
As the video was shared by several major pet influencers, its popularity continued to climb. The name "Overlord" and its "spirit-like" performance quickly went viral online.
The number of followers on Song Wanâs short video account began to skyrocket. Her comments and private messages were flooded with rabid fans begging for updates, asking for training methods, and even inquiring if Overlord was available for breeding.
This proud and clever leopard cat had, by its own "merit," become an internet sensation!
...
The "Liudong Study Group" chat screen.
Messages were refreshing rapidly.
[Gao Zhenyue: 760,000! 760,000 followers! Overlord is really famous! Itâs only been a few days.]
[Ye Haibing: He was already famous, okay? Didnât he just make it onto the trending list for the pet category yesterday?]
[Song Wan: O(â©_â©)O haha~ Itâs mainly thanks to everyoneâs help with planning, and Yang Qiâs âspecial training.â Once this wave of traffic stabilizes and we make a little money, Iâll definitely treat everyone to a big feast!]
[Qian Yu: The feast can wait. The key right now is to stabilize.]
[Gao Zhenyue: The class monitor is right. We need to take the high-end route! Once our follower count breaks a million and we have stable data, it wonât be too late to pick and choose reliable major brands to partner with.]
[Ye Haibing: Exactly. Overlord is our âfaceâ right now. We have to protect his image.]
...
Yang Qi watched the enthusiastic discussion in the group chat, a slight smile appearing on his face.
âThat little guy, Overlord. I didnât expect him to actually make a name for himself online.â
After a momentâs thought, he typed out a line and sent it.
[Yang Qi: I just refreshed. Heâs at 800,000 followers now. Itâs growing really fast. @Song Wan, have any companies approached you about collaborations yet?]
[Song Wan: We have, three of them! One for cat food, one for a cat tree, and another for pet toys. But none of the offers are very high. I feel like theyâre trying to sign us to a long-term contract for a low price while weâre still new.]
[Yang Qi: Letâs wait then. The traffic is still on the rise. No rush to cash in.]
[Ye Haibing: I just had an idea. How about we get Overlord to do the âSeaweed Danceâ?]
[Gao Zhenyue: /horrified/ Dude, have a heart!]
[Qian Yu: The Bunny Dance is more like it! /doge/]
[...]
Another lively discussion erupted in the group.
Yang Qi found it amusing. Just as he was about to chat a bit more, the conference room door was pushed open.
Seeing this, Yang Qi wiped the smile from his face, put down his phone, and stood up from his seat.
At this moment, he wasnât at the familiar Zoo, but in a small conference room inside the municipal drug enforcement detachmentâs office building.
The previous night, Li Hongqi had suddenly called. His tone was more solemn than usual, and he had asked Yang Qi to make time to come to the municipal drug enforcement detachment around ten this morning, without fail.
Yang Qi knew as soon as he heard it that the police needed his help againâor rather, the help of his "Guardian Beasts."
Only this time, it was a leap from the sub-bureauâs criminal investigation unit directly to the municipal drug enforcement detachment. The level was higher, and the nature of the case was clearly far more sensitive.
A total of four people walked into the conference room.
All were in police uniforms, radiating a capable air. The man in the lead was around fifty, with a sturdy build and a square face. The most striking feature was a faint scar on his temple, which, rather than detracting from his authority, added a ruggedness that spoke of harsh experience.
At that moment, the officer wore a warm smile, his bright eyes fixed on Yang Qi.
"Advisor Yang."
Li Hongqi, who had followed them in, stepped forward and pointed to the scarred middle-aged man. "This," he introduced, "is our municipal drug enforcement detachmentâs Wang Mengguo, Deputy Captain Wang."
"Advisor Yang, hello!"
Before Yang Qi could speak, Wang Mengguo had already stepped forward, extending a large, strong hand to firmly grip Yang Qiâs. The pressure was just right, conveying a soldier-like crispness and efficiency.
"Iâve long heard Captain Li and the others speak of you. Itâs true what they say, seeing is believing. You truly are young and promising, a remarkable talent. Your recent exploits have been the talk of our entire department. Incredible!"
His praise was direct and sincere, his eyes filled with admiration.
Clearly, he was already well-acquainted with Yang Qiâs "exploits."
"Hello, Wang Detachment. Youâre too kind. Captain Li and the others are the real heroes. I just help out a little on the side," Yang Qi replied humbly, his attitude neither servile nor overbearing.
"Haha, Advisor Yang, youâre too modest. What you do is no small favor."
Wang Mengguo laughed heartily, released his hand, and introduced the two men behind him, both elite members of the drug enforcement detachment.
After a few more pleasantries, they each took a seat at the conference table.
Wang Mengguoâs smile vanished. He leaned forward slightly, clasped his hands on the table, and looked directly at Yang Qi, getting straight to the point.
"Advisor Yang, weâve asked you here today because we have a difficult request. We might need you, and your âpolice dogsâ and âpolice cats,â to do us a favor."