Miss Flying Flower and Miss Wood Spirit's evolution problem is not something that can be solved in minutes.
Asher was fine—whether he returned to school sooner or later didn't matter much. As long as he made it back before the final exams and achieved an excellent score in the end, his attendance rate had no impact on him.
Abella's situation, however…
"I won't go back for now either," Abella saw what Asher wanted to say and spoke decisively.
"Sky-Shaking Bear still can't fully control its own strength," Abella's excuse—ah, no, reason—was also very solid, "Since I already owe you eight figures, I don't mind accidentally breaking a few more things here. But if Sky-Shaking Bear goes back to school and causes trouble…"
'Say no more, say no more.'
Asher still had a bit of conscience.
"But after evolution, Sky-Shaking Bear's strength has indeed become excessively powerful and hard to control perfectly. It still needs a more suitable place to train its strength," Asher spoke sincerely and began thinking of an environment that might be suitable.
The Forbidden Land could work.
The buffer zone of the Forbidden Land was actually a pretty good choice too.
Thinking this, Asher glanced at Abella.
'Look!'
'Isn't school still the best option?'
Abella: "…"
"Do you really have to make me say it out loud?", Abella frowned helplessly and waved her hand, "Fine, fine, I'll say it, alright!"
"I'm just… I'm just…"
The other four researchers nearby sneakily turned their gazes over.
'Just what…?'
'A love confession?'
Unbeknownst to Asher, the researchers had been having a great time the past few days, shipping everything they could.
"I'm just curious about what Miss Flying Flower and Miss Wood Spirit will evolve into!", Abella declared loudly.
Asher hadn't even responded yet when he heard a heavy "tsk—" from behind, filled with disappointment.
Asher's face was indifferent.
He didn't care at all what these people were disappointed about. He had a feeling it wasn't anything good for him, so he simply ignored those weird noises.
"Alright then, if you can get leave approved, stay. Otherwise, going back to school is more convenient," Respecting personal choice, Asher didn't interfere too much with others' decisions.
Abella made an "OK" gesture.
"Don't worry, I already spoke to the counselor, and there's no issue," With an evolved Sky-Shaking Bear, there was no need to come up with extra reasons—the bear itself was reason enough.
The counselor agreed without hesitation.
After dealing with these small matters—
Asher moved on to handling the next small matter—one that was crucial in Flying Flower and Wood Spirit's evolution process: getting the primal energy within them to balance perfectly.
No more, no less—their combined total had to be exactly 18 strands.
Currently, Miss Flying Flower had 21 strands, and Miss Wood Spirit had 20—both exceeding the normal 9-strand limit by 12 and 11, respectively.
This was different from the Violent Bear, whose single extra strand of primal energy had actually helped improve its potential and physique post-evolution.
Flying Flower and Wood Spirit had a delicate, mutually restrictive relationship—if one had even a fraction more energy than the other, neither could evolve or grow stronger.
At this point, Asher couldn't help but sigh.
This was truly the legendary "can't do anything right, but first place in dragging each other down" situation.
It wasn't Flying Flower and Wood Spirit's intention, but this was the reality.
"Come over, let me check your bodies," Asher pulled both hands out of his pockets and gestured for Flying Flower and Wood Spirit to come closer.
"Miya~"
"Leila?"
Before responding to Asher's motion, Flying Flower and Wood Spirit both tilted their heads in unison, glancing toward Lucy at a 45-degree angle.
"Go on, my little cuties, it'll be fine," Lucy couldn't resist stepping forward to ruffle the heads of her two beasts. The soft green hair and white-pink fluff felt incredibly pleasant to the touch.
As Flying Flower and Wood Spirit approached Asher, he also couldn't resist giving them a pat.
Smooth.
With a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Very fitting for wood-attribute beasts like them.
"Miss Flying Flower must secretly train extra on her own, doesn't she?", While stroking their fluffy heads openly and shamelessly enjoying the texture, Asher spoke with absolute certainty.
Abella glanced curiously at the delicate, greenhouse-flower-like Miss Flying Flower, then at the slightly more mature and stable-looking Miss Wood Spirit.
'So… out of these two, the real overachiever is actually the dainty Miss Flying Flower?'
Abella was surprised.
Lucy was surprised too.
"Professor Asher, you have a sharp eye," She gave Asher a thumbs-up.
'Sharp, my as*,' Asher snorted lightly. He wasn't going to admit he saw it through his cheat-skill talent.
In just one night, Flying Flower's stats had improved a tiny bit beyond yesterday's data.
It was just a tiny bit, but over time, those tiny bits would add up.
The gap between Flying Flower and Wood Spirit would widen.
For these two, whose evolution required them to progress at exactly the same rate, this wasn't good.
"Slow down a little, no rush," Asher patted Flying Flower's head again, his voice gentle, "So, Flying Flower, why are you secretly training harder?"
"Miya~"
'To protect the beastmaster!'
'To protect Wood Spirit.'
Flying Flower answered without hesitation.
"Mi~ Miya~"
'Got it~'
'Won't train secretly anymore~'
'Will train with Wood Spirit!'
'Early sleep!'
'Early rise!'
'Early training!'
'Train until we drop!'
Asher: "…"
Miss Wood Spirit: "…"
Wood Spirit's big green-and-pink eyes filled with disbelief.
Wood Spirit: 'What the heck? What kind of overachiever is my bestie?'
'Doesn't it ever get tired?'
'Nope, nope, not happening.'
'Wood Spirit can't keep up!'
Flying Flower: *stares—*
Wood Spirit averted her gaze, guilt showing on her plant-like face.
Flying Flower turned and kept staring.
The two beasts ended up playing an unintentional game of circling each other.
Asher almost didn't react in time to what was happening.
Lucy, however, waved dismissively, looking unfazed, "It's fine, they're always like this."
"I always thought their personalities were complementary—one impatient, the other slow and unbothered," She chuckled as she reminisced, watching Flying Flower and Wood Spirit.
"It was always like this."
"Flying Flower looks delicate, and everyone assumes I spoiled her. But then I pull out Wood Spirit…"
"Boom. Instant speechlessness."
Hands spread, totally giving up.
Looks really did have their advantages sometimes.
Like with Flying Flower and Wood Spirit.
Hearing this, Asher couldn't help but smile as his gaze swept over the two beasts.
"Once they evolve, it'll be fine," He spoke while starting to absorb their excess primal energy.
Unlike last time—
Where the Violent Bear's wound was bound by primal energy and couldn't heal without fusion—
Flying Flower and Wood Spirit's unique condition allowed them to easily absorb far more primal energy than their bodies could hold.
But absorbing didn't mean they could merge it.
As Asher absorbed, he clearly felt something surging toward his own body.
One strand, two strands… He absorbed slowly, in full control, ready to stop at any moment.
Very quickly.
Asher noticed that his mental sea was starting to swell, feeling like it had reached its limit, yet it did not prevent him from continuing to absorb.
Thinking for a moment, Asher did not stop absorbing.
'Continue...'
Asher was also curious about what would happen if he kept absorbing... He didn't feel any discomfort, nor was there any life-threatening danger, meaning it was within the range of what he could attempt.
His mental sea did not surge into raging waves like last time.
But the silvery-white, thread-like substance kept increasing… more and more… His mental sea gradually became full and swollen.
At a certain moment—
Asher seemed to hear a crisp cracking sound in his mind, like something breaking apart. Yet, when he carefully examined it, he found nothing.
'Hmm…?'
'No, that isn't right.'
He had discovered something.
The mental sea stretched infinitely.
Like a real ocean.
There was no end in sight, only boundless vastness, filled with a powerful presence.
Asher could feel that something was being nurtured within his mental sea… No, that wasn't quite right. It wasn't the feeling of a living being, but rather…
It was as if he himself had transformed into a beast.
Something of great importance to him was gestating within his mental sea.
'Yes!'
'That is exactly the feeling!'
'Just a little more.'
Just a little more, and the thing within his mental sea would break out of its shell… However—
He could no longer absorb energy.
Asher snapped back to reality and took a closer look—he nearly broke out in a cold sweat.
The primal energy within Miss Flying Flower and Miss Wood Spirit had already condensed into nine strands.
If he absorbed any more, their upcoming evolution would fail.
Even though Asher was eager to hatch the thing forming in his mental sea as soon as possible, that did not mean he would achieve his goal at the cost of harming Miss Flying Flower and Miss Wood Spirit.
He still had that much professional integrity.
"Cough! Cough!", Asher forcibly suppressed the urge to continue absorbing energy. His body obediently followed his will and stopped absorbing. He then stroked Miss Flying Flower and Miss Wood Spirit's hair twice, skillfully concealing the slight guilt in his heart.
It was an accident.
He had it under control now.
There wouldn't be any further issues.
Next, it was time for training, increasing their favorability and synergy values, and then using resources.
"Miss Flying Flower and Miss Wood Spirit's conditions are quite good. The main thing you need to watch out for is—during this period, you can't let either of them secretly compete alone. If they're going to compete, they should do it together, understand?", Asher said, giving Miss Flying Flower a look.
That's right.
He was talking about her.
Competing in secret was a good thing, but it depended on the circumstances.
And right now was not the right time.
Miss Flying Flower showed a slightly aggrieved expression but eventually nodded seriously.
"Miya~"
[T/N: Miya is not a name but the sound Flying Flower makes. Same as 'Leila' sound made by Wood Spirit]
'Alright~'
'Then I won't work hard for now~'
However! A determined light flickered in Miss Flying Flower's tender green eyes—
Once they finished evolving, she would make up for all the time lost. For all the years she had fallen behind.
Miss Wood Spirit, standing beside her and sensing her best friend's true thoughts: "…"
—_—
'Why is it so difficult for me to just relax?'
Thinking about the future, Miss Wood Spirit felt… just a tiny bit hopeless.
What was the greatest malice in this world?
It wasn't that she was a lazy slob with no ambition.
That was just a lifestyle choice.
Everyone had the right to choose how they wanted to live.
The greatest malice was—
When you were a lazy slob, yet right beside you was a relentless overachiever, making you look like dead weight in comparison.
In the past, due to their unknown status—oh, now she knew it was because they were twins—they had to improve together, sharing honor and disgrace.
But now, without that binding connection… Miss Wood Spirit shivered three times.
She didn't dare think about it.
She really didn't dare think about it.
"Alright, don't worry, I can handle that," Lucy readily agreed.
Asher nodded, then shifted his gaze to the researchers who were eavesdropping nearby, "So? Have you finished writing the application? I was just about to call President Robb."
Chase and his group: "!"
Crap!
They got too caught up in the gossip and almost forgot about it.
"Half an hour! No, no, give us twenty minutes. We'll have it done in no time."
Keyboards, take off!
The four of them divided the work, and after a flurry of typing and clicking, a freshly completed application for a new evolution research project was ready.
Asher glanced through it briefly. The format and content were basically fine—it was just a templated application form anyway. He directly sent it to the NY City Beast Taming Alliance's external email, then immediately made a phone call.
Submitting it through the formal process was one thing.
If there was a perfectly legitimate shortcut available, not taking it would be foolish.
———
[Star City]
The moment President Robb's phone rang, the entire floor's attention turned to him.
President Robb: *Feeling like a needle in a haystack*
His body stiffened.
He didn't dare move a muscle.
The elderly man sitting beside him—gray-haired, white-bearded, his eyes gently closed, exuding a particularly kind and amiable appearance—precisely waved his hand in President Robb's direction, "Answer it. Don't keep our little professor waiting."
When mentioning Asher, the elder chose a familiar yet respectful title.
President Robb nodded, picked up the phone… and silently switched to speaker mode.
It wasn't that he wanted to throw Asher under the bus.
It was just that the attention focused on him was too overwhelming.
He couldn't handle it.
President Robb decided to let Asher bear this immense love himself.
On the other end of the call—
Asher quickly explained his new research project application and the large amount of resources he needed.
It was a lot.
Some of it had already exceeded what a Level 3 researcher could normally apply for.
"My last evolution project was quite successful. This time, I need to request a bit more resources. It should be fine to make an exception, right?", Asher said.
President Robb opened his mouth, hesitating to speak… 'Ah, well… This isn't exactly a big issue.'
President Robb glanced at the people who were quietly inching closer to him and thought to himself—
Even if he said no, the people at the Alliance Headquarters would probably fight to fill in the gaps and provide all the materials, just to ensure Asher's success.
On the other end, Asher, hearing no response from President Robb, asked, "Is it not possible? Then I'll let Miss Lucy know so she can prepare the resources herself."
Asher spoke indifferently.
If he could get the resources, great.
If not, Lucy could supply them herself.
Most beast tamers wouldn't agree to such terms.
But Lucy's situation was an exception.
She was the one who wanted to resolve the special issue between Miss Flying Flower and Miss Wood Spirit, so it was perfectly normal for her to provide the resources.
"No, no, no! No problem! I just got distracted for a moment. That's all," President Robb jolted awake, quickly responding, "I was just a little surprised—you've been quite diligent lately."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh—
Everyone at the Alliance Headquarters perked up their ears.
President Robb pretended not to notice anything and asked the question they all cared about the most, "So, have you recently realized the wonders and mysteries of researching pet evolution and decided to fully dedicate yourself to it?"
President Robb's voice wasn't much different from usual, even carrying a bit of just-the-right amount of teasing.
The surrounding staff nodded wildly.
The big shots' eyes were filled with eager anticipation.
'Yes, yes, yes.'
'Good question.'
'Hurry up and ask Asher what he really thinks!'
'If he's finally decided to devote himself wholeheartedly to pet evolution research, that would be absolutely fantastic!'
'The God-Making Plan could be launched immediately!'
'But if…'
"Huh?" On the other end of the phone, Asher let out a short, slightly surprised sound. The hearts of the eavesdropping crowd skipped a beat and momentarily froze.
"Uncle Robb… You know my thoughts," Asher's voice carried an inexplicable calmness, "For me, researching pet evolution is just a way to relax and pass time. Besides, it's too lacking in ambition and challenge for me."
Every word Asher said was so light and casual, so calm and unperturbed.
And precisely because of that, the eavesdropping crowd's eyes widened in shock, nearly bursting with blood vessels. Countless exclamations of "holy sh*t" and other suppressed sounds stuck in their throats.
Versailles!
This was the power of top-tier Versailles*!
[T/N: Versailles refers to a Chinese internet slang term for humblebragging—pretending to complain about something luxurious to show off.]
It was too shocking!
They wanted to say Asher was just talking big… but honestly, they couldn't.
Because Asher's results were solid, undeniable.
They could only swallow their tears and silently accept this ultimate Versailles moment.
However—
Asher had no idea how they felt and continued speaking nonchalantly, "I just happened to discover something new recently and got some fresh inspiration."
The Alliance staff exchanged glances, seeing the same thought in each other's eyes—
Phantom Mist.
It had to be that!
"It's pretty interesting. A lot more engaging than just researching new evolution paths for pets. So, I ended up opening two new research projects along the way," Asher said, "But for me, it's not very challenging either."
"If Miss Lucy hadn't actively sought me out, I'd have already gone back to school. But since I agreed to study her special case first, I'll stick to that."
"It shouldn't take too long—ten days? Half a month? That should be enough."
"Once that's done, it'll be just in time for final exams at school."
Each sentence Asher spoke was calmer than the last, each one dealing a greater blow.
The headquarters floor, once filled with anticipation and energy, was now left with only the quiet sound of breathing.
Some people even stopped breathing altogether.
Why, you ask?
What else could it be?
They just couldn't understand—how could such an illogical person exist in this world?
The heavens practically spoon-fed him success, and he just chewed on it twice before deciding it was too bland and spitting it out to reprocess it himself—if Asher were here in person, they would've grabbed him by the collar and yelled,"Eat! Just eat it already!"
Gratefully swallow the meal the heavens have given you!
Asher: *spits*
"Alright, alright, I get it. I was just casually asking," President Robb looked at the people around him, all on the verge of coughing up blood. He couldn't help but "tsk tsk" internally—just watching them, he could feel their sheer despair.
After a few more brief exchanges, Asher had other things to do and ended the call. President Robb put away his phone and turned to look at the Alliance members.
"You've all heard Asher's most honest thoughts now, haven't you?", President Robb spread his hands, looking completely unconcerned, "I've said it before—his interest in pet evolution research is limited to whatever he finds intriguing."
"I've always believed that's exactly why Asher can maintain a constant flow of inspiration and motivation," Half of President Robb's words were genuine, and the other half stemmed from goodwill toward Asher.
Phantom Mist and the God-Making Plan.
President Robb had only realized today that there were many things within the Alliance that even he, as a regional branch leader, wasn't aware of.
But since he had reached this age, President Robb wasn't particularly concerned about such things.
What he was concerned about was Asher.
Asher was a genius from NY City. His presence brought benefits to the city and had already contributed significantly.
Perhaps at first, President Robb interacted with Asher out of self-interest.
But over time, the benefits Asher brought, his raw talent, and the way he called him "Uncle Robb" had gradually made President Robb see him with genuine affection—like his own child.
President Robb wanted Asher to follow the path most suited to him, like researching pet evolution.
But he also didn't mind if Asher put more effort into training pets and becoming a top-tier Beast Tamer.
Talent belonged to Asher, and he had the right to decide how to use it.
Now that the Alliance Headquarters was paying extraordinary attention to Asher, far beyond the norm…
For now, the Alliance was still reasonable and cooperative.
But President Robb wasn't sure if, one day, Headquarters would get too eager and do something drastic—like capturing Asher.
Then using confinement to force him into things he didn't want to do.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, President Robb's gaze became unfocused.
"We wouldn't do that," An elderly voice spoke beside him—the President of the Beast Tamer Alliance Headquarters, the highest authority in the Alliance, Elder Cavendish. He let out a soft sigh, his tone carrying both humor and helplessness.
President Robb: "…?"
Jolted awake, President Robb instantly straightened up.
"I-I-I…!"
'I didn't say anything!'
'Why did that answer sound like it was responding directly to my thoughts?'
President Robb's expression flickered with shock and apprehension.
Elder Cavendish merely smiled.
President Robb's mind whirled as he scrutinized the elderly man before him. Staring at his closed eyes, an unsettling realization dawned on him. He sucked in a sharp breath, his expression growing more alarmed.
Glancing left and right, President Robb leaned in and whispered, "Could this be… the legendary Heart-Listening Art?"
Cough! Cough!
Just a joke.
His voice was barely audible, ensuring that only Elder Cavendish could hear.
Heart-Listening Art.
"Listening" as in hearing.
Similar to mind-reading, but different.
"Reading" involves seeing and analyzing microexpressions, a scientific, analytical approach.
"Listening" involves hearing—it's a rare ability awakened by only a select few, honed through intense training.
Their ears were far more sensitive than any other organ.
When they focused on a person—
They could hear the blood flowing through their veins, discern lies from truth, and, by enhancing their abilities, even catch the strongest thoughts resonating in their target's mind.
Thus, it was called "Heart-Listening Art."
Elder Cavendish continued smiling.
President Robb: "…"
'Great.'
Just based on Elder Cavendish's attitude—not refusing, not denying—President Robb knew he had guessed right.
President Robb: "!"
Shocked.
Excited.
What had he done to deserve this?
To make this esteemed elder use Heart-Listening Art specifically on him?
President Robb almost felt embarrassed.
Using the Heart-Listening Art wasn't without its limitations and restrictions. Willpower, mental strength—various factors affected how much psychic power could be used for reading thoughts.
Moreover, frequently probing into someone's mind required increasing amounts of psychic power to dig deeper into their subconscious thoughts.
President Robb didn't know if Elder Cavendish was still listening in on his thoughts, but the corners of the elder's mouth curved upward a little more.
"Yes, I do know what you're thinking," Elder Cavendish's voice was calm, carrying an inexplicable rhythm, "But what I said is also true—we will not do anything to Professor Asher."
"We will respect Professor Asher's own wishes, provide him with the best possible environment for growth, and offer him all the support he needs, patiently awaiting his development."
"This is a win-win situation."
Pulling up seedlings to help them grow.
Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
They wouldn't do anything that foolish.
What Elder Cavendish didn't say was that the government and nation had long prepared for the possibility that even after a hundred, five hundred, or even a thousand years, they might never encounter such a person. They could only rely on human wisdom to push progress forward little by little with each passing century, laying the most solid foundation for future researchers.
But unexpectedly—
Heaven had not forsaken Soren.
In their time, such a person had truly appeared.
A person whose brilliance could dim the stars, dazzling like the rising sun.
And this person, Asher, was only eighteen years old this year.
His character was still forming, but his future was boundless.
If they could plan for a century or even a millennium, then why couldn't they simply wait ten or twenty years for Asher?
As long as Asher didn't squander his talent.
Whether he chose to become an outstanding Beast Tamer or—well, if he just wanted to work at a dock and eat fries—cough, that was fine too.
Life, after all, was meant to be experienced.
They could wait. Wait until the day Asher willingly devoted himself fully to the study of pet evolution.
As long as Asher didn't abandon or give up on the research of pet evolution…
With his talent, surely he could unravel the mysteries of the Phantom Mist, right?
Maybe, just maybe, in the process, Asher would even touch upon the threshold of god-making?
At this thought, Elder Cavendish shook his head, brushing aside those unreliable notions.
"Getting old… I'm starting to have wild fantasies," Elder Cavendish coughed twice, his voice tinged with a bit of self-mockery.
Sigh.
Anyway, that was the gist of it.
President Robb didn't know what Elder Cavendish was thinking, but upon hearing the words "This is a win-win," he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
'Phew—thank goodness!'
'That brat Asher can continue living freely and recklessly.'
President Robb paused.
Wait… Maybe he should try to rein in Asher a little when they got back. At least make sure he didn't go too wild.
Asher: "?"
Wild?
Sorry!
He refused to acknowledge that.
———
Asher rubbed his nose, scrunching up his face, "My nose feels itchy, like I'm about to sneeze."
But the sneeze wouldn't come out.
That was the worst part.
The most uncomfortable stage of a sneeze was feeling it coming but never actually sneezing. The nose tingled, and in severe cases, even the eyes watered.
"Could I be allergic to cat fur?", He glanced at Cat-Worm.
Cat-Worm bristled in anger, its scales standing on end.
"Meow!"
'Dragon!'
'A dragon!'
'Dragons have no fur!'
"So…" Asher's gaze shifted to Little Raven.
Little Raven: "…"
Without hesitation, Little Raven smacked Asher's face with a wing.
Not too hard.
"Alright, alright, my fault, okay?", Asher apologized to Little Raven.
He thought that would be the end of it.
But to his surprise—
One day passed. Two days… Five whole days passed.
And Little Raven was still giving him the cold shoulder.
Not the kind where it ran away from home.
Not the kind where it refused to interact with him at all.
Feeding?
It ate just fine.
Coaxing?
Fully accepted.
Gifts?
All taken and hoarded in its nest.
Sleeping?
Of course, still lying on Asher.
But Asher could feel it.
Something was off between him and Little Raven.
Something just wasn't right.
"So, what exactly do you want from me?", Abella listened to Asher describe the situation and looked utterly speechless, "Thanks, but Violent Bear never throws tantrums at me. Whenever there's a problem, we just fight it out."
As she spoke, a troubled look appeared on her face, "Ugh, I'm worried about something now."
"You see, Violent Bear evolved into Sky-Shaking Bear, which should be great news. But what if we have a falling out in the future?", Abella lifted her head, then lifted it higher, then even higher—yet still couldn't fully see Sky-Shaking Bear's face.
Fifty meters tall.
At this point, forget about fighting Sky-Shaking Bear. If it moved just a little too much, she might get accidentally swept away.
Abella: *Half the joy in life, gone in an instant!*
"Maybe this is a sign from the heavens telling me it's time to contract a new pet?", Abella mused, rubbing her chin. Without waiting for Asher's answer, she made up her mind, "I think if I work a little harder, my fourth contract slot will unlock soon. Then I can go back and contract a Machamp Bear."
Asher: "…"
Wrong person to ask.
Abella's mind was filled with nothing but fighting Violent Bears.
Asher quickly switched targets and turned to Lucy—perfect.
Before Lucy could even speak, Asher realized—wrong person again.
"Huh? A pet throwing a tantrum?", Lucy blinked her large, affectionate-yet-apathetic amber eyes and said seriously, "You're asking the wrong person. My pets are all super well-behaved. We get along perfectly!"
"Coax them? How? I don't know!!"
Asher: "…"
Julian: "…"
The middle-aged man and the young man exchanged looks, reading the same thought in each other's eyes: Seriously?
Yep.
Lucy was dead serious.
She genuinely believed that.
"Ahem, so it's your pet, Little Raven, that's giving you the cold shoulder?", Out of humanitarian sympathy—and maybe a bit of unspeakable camaraderie—Julian pressed a fist to his lips and coughed twice before asking.
Asher nodded.
Julian: "What did you do?"
Asher recounted what had happened.
As Julian listened, his expression grew increasingly… complicated.
"Well…", Julian hesitated, glancing at Asher, who was genuinely confused. In the end, he decided to be honest.
"Honestly, it sounds less like you're coaxing a pet and more like you're coaxing a sulking girlfriend."
Asher: "…"
"Perverted," Asher shot Julian a disdainful look, "I'm clearly coaxing my precious daughter. Get rid of those weird thoughts!"
Julian rolled his eyes, "A proper mother-child relationship is what Lucy has with her little dragon, okay?"
Asher: "Respect species diversity and family structures, got a problem with that?"
Neither could convince the other, and their temporary camaraderie crumbled in an instant.
Asher glanced around at the remaining people he could ask… Oh, his four research assistants who had recently taken a liking to gossip.
Forget it.
Asher decisively abandoned the idea of seeking external help and chose self-reliance.
But when he turned to Cat-Worm and Little White Snake for help, he was shocked to discover—they had already sided with Little Raven.
Mentioning Little Raven made both Cat-Worm and Little White Snake shoot him a meaningful look before silently turning their backs.
If he asked again?
They'd run away.
Cat-Worm & Little White Snake: 'Absolutely not getting involved!'
Asher: "…"
"This matter really seems somewhat off," At first, it was just a feeling, but at this moment, Asher truly realized the seriousness of the problem.
Setting the little white snake aside for now—it was still young and easily influenced.
But was Cat-Worm really the type to be so obedient, not stir up trouble, not take the opportunity to mock, or even attempt to climb the ranks?
Asher hadn't forgotten the past battles between Little Raven and Cat-Worm for dominance.
Yet this time, not only did Cat-Worm not kick Little Raven while it was down, but it was also fully cooperating with its actions.
Not knowing what kind of shady deal Little Raven and Cat-Worm had secretly struck, Asher was already starting to get a headache in advance.
There's a saying—when kids are quiet, they're definitely up to no good.
This is an eternal, undeniable truth.
Asher's heart skipped a beat.
What kind of trouble were these three little creatures stirring up behind his back?
Or… had they already succeeded, and were just keeping it from him?
The more Asher thought about it, the more his head hurt.
He couldn't just sit around any longe.
Action!
He had to take action immediately.
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