Asher calculated the effects of the bloodline enhancement serum based on Griffith's explanation.
A single pet beast could use six doses.
For his four pet beasts, that would be twenty-four doses. Adding the two future contract pet beasts, the total came to thirty-six.
The combined rewards from the Eighth and Fourth Legion amounted to only twenty-six doses, leaving him ten doses short.
Asher: 'I need to think of a way to make up for those ten doses.'
But there was no rush.
After all, just from what he saw now, the sincerity shown by the Fourth Legion was more than enough.
"Alright," Asher agreed, "I'll take care of some things first and set out within the next two days."
["All the Beast Tamers of our Fourth Legion are eagerly awaiting your arrival,"] Hearing the expected response, Griffith's face showed a delighted expression.
After a few more polite exchanges, they ended the call.
Dominic, who had been dragged away by Miles, clung to the doorframe, sticking his head back in. He stared at Griffith with an eerie look and said, "Are our fourteen doses of serum… a bit too little?"
"Yes, a bit too little," Griffith followed up on Dominic's words.
Dominic: "..."
"The Eighth Legion only has one Rainbow Scaled Koi, but we have the Little Lion Beast and the Silver Fang Leopard. Fourteen doses are too few, understand?", Griffith shot Dominic a look.
"The main issue is that we're still uncertain about the evolution path Professor Asher has developed. We don't know what level of strength the Little Lion Beast and Silver Fang Leopard can achieve. Fourteen doses are just a balanced estimate."
"As long as either one of them reaches the same level as the Rainbow Scaled Koi's new evolution path, it will be worth it."
"If both of them can…"
At this moment, Griffith's gaze turned eerie as he stared at Dominic, "Then you'd better be prepared to bleed heavily."
Dominic looked like he was choking on his words, "…I'm the Legion leader! You're the Legion leader!"
"A bunch of money-burning troublemakers! Can't you save me some dowry money?"
Griffith and Miles: "Heh!"
Dominic accepted Griffith's reasoning while cursing under his breath as he walked away.
———
[Star City]
[Jade Dragon University]
"Wow—"
After six months in school, Felter had successfully become one of the candidates for the freshman chief of Jade Dragon University's Combat Department.
Unusually, instead of training, he was sprawled over a piece of exercise equipment, scrolling through his phone.
What? Training?
Hah! That's something you can do anytime.
Ever since losing to Asher, Felter had been keeping an eye on his news.
Then, he discovered…
The information about Asher was different from what he had imagined.
He had expected to hear things like:
Asher became the chief of the Combat Department at Bluewind University.
Asher's pet beasts grew even stronger.
Asher's pet beasts learned new skills.
Etc., etc.
But in reality, the news about Asher was:
Asher discovered a new evolution path for the Ancestral Dragon, turning it into a Dragon King.
Asher developed a new evolution path for the Violent Giant Bear, making it massive and incredibly powerful.
Asher's research into the Rainbow Scaled Koi's new evolution path was incidental, his main goal was solving the marine ecological crisis in Spirit City.
Upon seeing these headlines, Felter: "..."
How could one describe his expression? 'Embarrassed' was an understatement.
Of course.
There were also some even more shocking news reports—
Asher topped the Southern Soren Region Beast Tamer Combat Power Ranking.
The pet beasts he used were the same two he had brought to the Freshman Tournament.
"Eleven hundred thousand combat power…", Felter muttered as he stared at the leaked data he found through other channels.
Then, he glanced sideways at Dexter, another freshman chief candidate, who had silently appeared beside him.
For once, Felter did not start bickering with him.
"Tell me, how exactly does Asher do it?"
Over the past six months, Felter and Dexter had an unspoken rivalry, rarely appearing in the same place.
But since both of them had lost to Asher, their relationship hadn't turned completely hostile. They maintained a grudgingly friendly dynamic.
Since Felter had taken the initiative to speak today…
Dexter thought about it and didn't refuse. Regarding Asher, he also wanted to discuss with someone.
"He's amazing. At least, I can't do what he does."
"The War Blood Lion King's combat power barely reaches thirty to forty thousand."
Dexter had a clear understanding of his own abilities.
As a freshman, his pet beast's strength wasn't overwhelmingly high. It was still at Tier 4, not yet reaching Tier 5. Though his skills were well-practiced, he didn't have many. If he could achieve thirty to forty thousand combat power in his first year, that was already impressive.
After all, most first-year students couldn't even break ten thousand combat power.
But compared to Asher…
Felter muttered, "I have serious doubts that Asher wasn't even using his full strength when he fought us."
"Is that even a question?", Dexter gave him an unimpressed look, "That was obvious to anyone with eyes."
Felter: "..."
Rolling his eyes, he snapped, "How did I not realize you were this annoying before?"
Thinking about it, both of them had suffered crushing defeats at the hands of a non-combat major Beast Tamer specializing in pet evolution. That fact alone was a big enough blow to their egos.
And now, Dexter was telling him that Asher hadn't even used his full strength back then?
'Excuse me?'
'Aren't we supposed to be the so-called geniuses who got direct admission into Jade Dragon University?'
Oh.
Asher was just more of a genius than they were.
"I had originally thought that by sophomore or junior year, during the national youth Beast Tamer competition, I might have a chance to fight Asher again. But now…"
At this, Felter trailed off.
Dexter opened his mouth, then closed it.
Yeah.
He had originally thought the same thing.
But who could have imagined?
They had barely finished their first semester, hadn't even had time to reflect on their performance.
Then, another bombshell dropped: While they were still struggling through early morning lectures, preparing for finals, and fearing retakes, Asher had already been appointed as an Honorary Professor at Bluewind University.
When Felter and Dexter first heard the news, they were silent for a long time.
It was hard to put their emotions into words.
Even now, after winter break had ended…
Whenever they thought about it, they still felt, crushed.
Asher had made them, once hailed as prodigies and future champions, painfully aware of just how vast the gap was between them and a true son of destiny.
Like the difference between heaven and earth.
And that wasn't even an exaggeration.
———
At that moment, Asher received a reminder message from Dexter.
Asher: "..."
Nice.
Very nice.
Those last ten doses of serum? Already as good as his.
———
Asher received a reminder message from Griffith: "…"
'Alright.'
'Very good.'
'The remaining ten potions are all in the bag.'
Asher replied to Griffith with a message of thanks, then once again started packing up his things.
Iris, who was the closest to Asher, was the first to notice the movement coming from Asher's side, "Leaving again?"
Pushing up her glasses, Iris looked at Asher with some helplessness and said, "It feels like you don't even stay at school for a month in a year."
Asher: "... Ahem, that's a good question."
The scope of the school was simply too small.
For Asher, it was even somewhat insufficient.
As Asher gradually studied basic knowledge and learned more about this world, Bluewind University was no longer able to provide as much help as he had imagined.
"Alright, alright," Iris waved at Asher.
What Asher could think of, Iris could also think of.
Even more so, because she was an observer, Iris had thought about this issue earlier and thought about it more.
A genius like Asher was destined not to be bound in one place for long.
Moreover, Asher still had to nurture pet beasts.
Research pet beast evolution routes.
More than half a year ago.
Iris could still take Asher along to see the world, but now… Iris had no doubt that the circles Asher could reach were far bigger than those she could.
At the very least, the military was still a place Iris had no access to.
"Do well, I'll be waiting online for news about you."
Asher, who was still thinking about Iris's words: "…"
"Ahem, think of me in a good way," Iris gave Asher a look.
Asher opened his mouth.
Asher wanted to explain.
Asher chose to shut up.
Alright.
He also felt… he was probably not going to escape trending on social media this time either.
'Sigh!'
'I really have it tough!'
After simply packing up his luggage.
Asher didn't bring too many things; he wasn't heading into the deep mountains and forests. Anything he needed could be bought on the way.
Then…
Asher sent a group message to his friends.
[Going for further studies.]
[Do not disturb.]
The other five members of the Lucky Six group who received the message: "…"
["The way you phrased that… those who know would think you're going to the legion, those who don't might think you got arrested"], Qi Yue specifically called back to complain to Asher.
["By the way, there's a bit over a month left until Ivy officially competes. You'll be back in time, right?"]
Asher: "Don't worry, even if I don't want to come back in a month, I'd have to."
A month…
It was late February now, and if Asher remembered correctly, didn't he have some kind of award ceremony in April?
Asher couldn't recall for a moment.
[Dia's Beast Evolution Professor Award]
A big eyeball popped up on the phone screen, with a line of text floating past, helping Asher remember the schedule he had forgotten.
Asher suddenly understood.
'Oh, oh, oh—'
'That really is a thing.'
'Almost forgot!'
"So that's how it is, I'll definitely make it in time."
Hearing Asher's confident words, Qi Yue was finally satisfied, ["Keep it up! Don't ruin the good reputation you've built!"]
"You should have some confidence in me, right?", Asher said with a laugh.
After briefly informing a few friends.
It was time for Asher's research institute.
There was a new person.
Not a big deal.
After observing for nearly a week, this young master named Pierce was actually quite efficient in his work. He even helped Chase and Sarah shorten their verification time a bit.
And in just these few days.
Pierce's identity in the eyes of the other four researchers at the institute had finally transformed from "that damn rich kid" into "their good colleague."
Pierce himself had no awareness of this shift in attitude.
Asher knew what kind of people Chase, Sarah, and the other two researchers were: honest folks who didn't act.
So it really wasn't Chase and the others pretending for Pierce.
It was simply that Pierce was that oblivious.
Asher couldn't help but sigh, 'So this is what they call a fool's luck!'
["Professor Asher! Professor Asher!"], The only person who liked to call him that in such a stacked way was Pierce.
Finally receiving a call from Asher, Pierce squeezed between Chase and Sarah, the couple who usually handled calls. On the other side of the video screen, Asher looked at the three people.
At a glance.
It almost looked like a family of three.
Dad, Mom, and their big kid.
["Is there anything you need us to do next?"], Pierce's big, clear eyes sparkled as he eagerly rubbed his hands together.
Asher: "…"
"Not for now."
The cold words left Asher's mouth, and Pierce's enthusiastic expression instantly crumbled.
Asher hadn't even reacted yet.
But he was already facing the sullen stares of Chase and Sarah.
Asher stared back without a hint of guilt.
He was the boss.
OK?
After spending enough time with Pierce, Chase and Sarah, who had developed a bit of parental affection, suddenly snapped back to reality.
Calm down.
Their whole little family still depended on Asher to put food on the table.
They couldn't offend the big boss.
["Professor Asher, did you call to give us instructions?"], Chase coughed into his fist, hiding his awkward expression, and quickly changed the subject.
This topic was unsafe.
It had to end.
Asher: "Yes, while I'm away, just manage the research institute like before and sort out past research results."
"Uh… separate the ones on Violent Giant Bear, Miss Flying Flower, and Miss Wood Spirit. Those are more special."
"And also…"
Asher thought for a moment before adding, "Keep an eye on the marine beasts in Spirit City."
Chase and Sarah: "?"
The two were stunned for a moment.
Then they quickly understood.
Spirit City…
Professor Asher had just been there not long ago and solved its special marine environmental problem, right?
["Got it. You want to follow up on how things develop?"], Chase asked, not doubting Asher's intentions at all, even providing a reasonable explanation for him.
Because this was the first time Professor Asher had handled an issue outside his field of expertise.
So he cared about the follow-up.
But since he was busy, he could only entrust them with the task.
Thinking this, Chase's chest swelled with pride. He thumped his chest and vowed, ["Leave it to us, Professor Asher!"]
Asher: "…"
He found Chase's enthusiasm baffling.
But it didn't matter.
Keeping an eye on Spirit City was, of course, because of the mythical energy lingering in the air and the energy continuously spreading in the seawater.
Asher wanted to know what further changes might occur in Spirit City.
With Angel around, Asher could instantly access any news spreading online.
But information from other channels was trickier.
Asher thought about it.
He decided to leave it to the research institute's team.
Chase and the others readily agreed.
After hanging up the video call, Asher pondered, 'Everything that needed handling is almost done. Time to get moving.'
"Sigh!", Thinking of this, Asher let out a long sigh, "I really have a life of endless toil!"
Either on the way to another place or on the way to yet another place.
But compared to being stuck in the research institute doing experiments all day, Asher actually preferred this kind of life.
Running around everywhere.
It could be considered a method of training pet beasts too.
———
A towering, massive building, with layer upon layer stacked up, seemingly a hundred stories high, stood silently in place. Its exterior shimmered like rippling crystal, and its overall shape resembled the legendary wizard towers, dazzling under the sunlight.
The very top of the building was extremely sharp.
But atop this sharpest peak, there was a round, flat, oddly shaped object resembling a strange alien UFO.
This gave the entire structure an eerie touch.
It looked as if, with the slightest mishap.
That large round disk at the top might just topple over.
And this strange yet bizarre building was the renowned Imperial Spire.
Spire.
Literally, a spire.
With such a building that looked like a mage tower, calling themselves the Spire was perfectly reasonable.
Inside the Imperial Spire, people of different appearances, skin colors, and languages moved about freely, yet were able to communicate smoothly.
"Dr. Veyl."
"Dr. Veyl, long time no see. You're out of seclusion?"
"Oh, Dr. Veyl, you must have achieved very satisfying results."
"Dr. Veyl, would you be interested in testing our latest Mythical Bloodline Concentration Detector? We've discovered some rather interesting activity in your country's direction."
"Oh no, Dr. Veyl wouldn't waste his time on such trivial matters with you Science Division folks."
"Dr. Veyl, care for some afternoon tea?"
The moment a forty-something man appeared inside the Imperial Spire, elegant, refined, wearing a pair of non-prescription glasses, and exuding a gentle smile, greetings poured in from all around.
The man called Dr. Veyl smiled and nodded at each person, declining their invitations one by one with the gentlest voice, so polite that rejection didn't even feel like rejection.
Finally.
He stopped before a metallic wall.
He reached out and pressed somewhere unknown.
The originally seamless, gapless metallic surface slowly shifted, opening up into a doorway.
He stepped inside.
In less than a second, the metallic door shut tight again, returning to its seamless state.
"Dr. Veyl, you are quite popular."
Inside the research lab, a woman slightly younger than Dr. Veyl was already seated, waiting for him.
Seeing Dr. Veyl, she teased.
"It's just that they haven't seen me for a long time. Seeing me all of a sudden makes them a bit excited. They'll calm down in a few days," Dr. Veyl smiled faintly, unconcerned.
"Hand over the intel you've gathered," As he spoke, Dr. Veyl extended his hand toward the woman before him.
The woman, Dr. Veyl's collaborator, pouted slightly, her expression one of mild displeasure.
But she obediently handed over a thick stack of documents and a USB drive.
"This contains all the changes in various countries' pet beast evolution industries over the past year while you were in seclusion. The updates aren't particularly timely, as you know."
"Each country keeps its research locked down. Everything I managed to gather is inevitably delayed."
"But at least these are things you haven't seen before."
Dr. Veyl flipped through the documents while listening.
'Boring.'
'Repetitive.'
'Just ordinary research.'
'If this is all, I might as well have stayed in seclusion... huh?'
When he turned to a particular document, one in his native language, Dr. Veyl's rapid page-flipping suddenly stopped.
"The evolution of the Honeybug...", Dr. Veyl's fingers traced the edge of the paper absentmindedly. His previously disinterested expression gradually turned into one of excitement.
Looking at the detailed description of the Honeybug's evolution—
Beside it was a photo of Iris from an academic conference.
Dr. Veyl read with keen interest.
The woman beside him: "?"
She silently typed out a question mark in her mind.
"Oh, Dr. Veyl, what's caught your attention in this research?", The woman was puzzled, but when she saw Iris's breathtakingly beautiful photo in the document, her puzzlement gave way to a mix of understanding and jealousy.
'Got it.'
'A woman from Dr. Veyl's homeland.'
'Could it be that Dr. Veyl is experiencing a romantic awakening?'
For some reason, the moment she linked that phrase to the man before her, she instinctively shuddered.
A visceral rejection.
Probably because... Dr. Veyl had a naturally cold, ascetic face that made it impossible to associate him with anything related to sex.
"Retract that gaze. I don't like it," Dr. Veyl said without even looking up, yet precisely guessing what the woman was thinking.
For Dr. Veyl, everything has been great after joining the Imperial Spire.
The only downside was... there was always a group of people trying to climb into his bed.
Men, women.
Higher-ups, subordinates.
No distinction between age, gender, or rank, utterly terrifying.
"This Honeybug evolution report is interesting. Very interesting," Dr. Veyl stated seriously.
The woman: "?"
"I still don't get it."
"It's just a Honeybug."
"That common, everywhere-in-the-forest, terrifyingly abundant, but ironically more scared of people, so much so that a slight scare leaves a pile of dead bugs on the ground, beast?"
At this, the woman paused, "Oh, my bad. Calling them 'beasts' is almost an insult to actual beasts."
"But its evolved form is at least somewhat presentable."
The woman spoke with complete honesty.
Because Honeybugs were simply too common.
In some well-preserved natural environments, they even became pests.
Every day, sanitation robots cleaned up mountains of Honeybug corpses.
Processing these into cheap pet beast food? There were still too many.
Fortunately, after the news spread from Soren that Honeybugs could evolve and their evolved form had decent combat power, public disdain toward them lessened somewhat.
But not by much.
Because Honeybugs were still too cheap and easy to obtain.
They failed to reflect the noble status of a Beast Tamer.
Dr. Veyl, hearing this: "..."
'Great.'
'Another day of being speechless abroad.'
Dr. Veyl couldn't help but marvel.
There was a reason why Soren became the world's leading nation.
A complete Beast Tamer support and education system.
Researching affordable evolution paths for ordinary Beast Tamers in recent years.
A mindset that prioritized strength above all.
'Unlike abroad...'
Dr. Veyl shook his head, ceasing that train of thought.
"No."
"What interests me isn't that."
His gaze rested on the words "trust," "affection", ephemeral, intangible factors he had never considered.
Such an uncontrollable variable... actually allowed a species he had deemed hopeless to evolve?
And evolve into something quite strong?
Dr. Veyl thought for a moment and searched "Iris" online.
A simple, ordinary profile.
He could see her name but not her research details, Soren's internal and external networks operated differently.
Dr. Veyl rubbed his chin.
'Something about this feels... off.'
As if—
This evolution path for the Honeybug shouldn't have been discovered by someone like her.
"Find a way to get the contents of her academic conference," Dr. Veyl, after three seconds of thought, unhesitatingly assigned this tricky task to the woman.
The woman: "..."
"You really are making things difficult for me. You know how tightly Soren controls information about their pet beast professors," The woman spread her hands as she spoke, "After all, they don't want the good seedlings they've painstakingly cultivated to suddenly be targeted and inexplicably poached..."
Dr. Veyl stared at the woman expressionlessly.
The woman raised her hands, "Alright, alright, I'll think of a way, I'll think of a way."
Saying this, the woman stood up, ready to leave.
After taking only two steps, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Dr. Veyl, "By the way, Dr. Veyl, how is your research from a year ago? Our collaboration..."
"Don't worry. Although it's not completely successful yet, it's already 40% complete. The chances of full success are very high," Dr. Veyl spoke calmly.
Upon hearing this, the woman nodded in satisfaction and did not press further.
Dr. Veyl's status was there.
Moreover.
After leaving Soren, Dr. Veyl had nowhere to go except the Imperial Spire. The woman wasn't worried at all about being deceived.
After the woman left.
The research lab finally returned to a quiet state.
Dr. Veyl closed his eyes and rested for a minute, then stood up and quickly checked the entire lab. After confirming that he found no surveillance, monitoring devices, or any strange things, he finally, truly relaxed this time.
"The Imperial Spire... thinking of itself as the god of this world is one thing, but actually dreaming of controlling the entire world?"
"Heh!", Dr. Veyl let out a sneering laugh.
Opening his eyes.
Dr. Veyl began writing a new round of plans, objective: drain the Imperial Spire's funds and divert its attention.
Oh!
And Soren... its development over the past few years has indeed been impressive.
Dr. Veyl stroked his chin.
To show his loyalty to the Imperial Spire, should he consider poaching a few more talents from Soren?
Think about it.
Make a choice.
———
Lightyear Dragon Rider Express...
Asher was unwilling to take it.
"Even though I have the money, that doesn't mean I have to spend it," Asher said righteously.
Then...
Once on the road, Asher regretted it.
He really hadn't expected it.
The journey from Radiant City to Ridgevale City could actually be this long.
It was simply too far.
So far that just the transfers alone required six connections.
At this moment, Asher truly experienced, after the world expanded overall, just how vast Soren's grassland region had become.
The already large geographical area.
After the world expanded overall, this region became even larger.
The range was even more extensive.
For Asher to travel from one end of Soren to the other... this process truly made Asher experience the greatest pain since coming to this world.
When Asher walked out of Ridgevale City's airport and met Miles's gaze, Miles's eyes carried a trace of confusion and shock, 'Wait?'
'No way?'
'Professor Asher... does he look a bit off?'
To avoid mistaking Asher.
Miles had dragged the entire team... mainly Dominic and Griffith, to thoroughly study Asher's academic conference.
Then deeply memorized Asher's spirited, youthful, and promising face.
But when compared to the young man in front of them, who at first glance looked like he'd been drained of all vitality by a spirit... no matter how you looked at it, they didn't seem like the same person.
"Don't say it," Asher waved his hand and took a deep breath, "The transfers along the way..."
Miles: "!"
"Ah!", Miles smacked himself on the head, "This situation! I totally forgot about that!"
[T/N: Hey everyone!😆 I have published another fanfic named 'Naruto: Transmigrated With AFK System!'. I'd love your support on that one too—check it out, drop some power stones, and let me know what you think! Your feedback keeps me motivated to keep writing. Thanks for being awesome!😘]
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