Chapter 35: Reunion
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"I'll be watching closely," President Robb said with a smile. He neither confirmed nor denied his belief in it but added after a pause, "Don't worry. Before your hypothesis is verified, I won't tell anyone about it."
As he spoke, President Robb winked at Asher.
Asher wasn't aware of the exact research topics on extraordinary creatures pursued by beast evolution professors in other provinces, but he had a general understanding of what the professors in NY City were working on.
The couple Henry and Marie were reportedly studying new evolution paths for the Littile Fire Fox and the Blazing Flame Hound, and it seemed their research was nearing a breakthrough.
If they found out that Asher was attempting to evolve that Fire Fox... how they would view his actions was anyone's guess.
President Robb's reassurance eased Asher's mind.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with President Robb and agreeing to inspect the ore deposit in the Forbidden Zone the following day, Asher left the Beastmaster Alliance.
When he saw the sunlight outside, a weight finally lifted from his chest.
Though the process had been a little bumpy, Asher knew he'd made the right gamble and successfully earned President Robb's initial trust.
What he needed to do next was confirm the usage of the ore deposit and push June to continue training the Littile Fire Fox.
But before all that...
Asher released Little Raven.
After being cooped up in the Beast Space for several hours, Little Raven immediately hopped onto Asher's shoulder, frolicking around excitedly.
Although the Beast Space allowed beast companions to rest, most creatures, except during necessary periods of rest, disliked staying in the space.
Little Raven was especially like this.
Compared to other Beastmasters, Asher had more reason to be on edge. Little Raven could freely enter and exit his Beast Space in the Mental Sea, and if Little Raven got upset, she might just come out on her own.
That Little Raven had stayed in the Beast Space for nearly two hours today was all thanks to Asher's relentless persuasion from the previous night.
"Alright, alright. Don't act like you've finally been let out after being locked up for ages," Asher said with a chuckle, reaching out to nudge Little Raven's round body. "People might think I've been mistreating you."
Little Raven rubbed against his outstretched finger and stared at him with her big, beady eyes, unblinking.
Asher:' ...Darn it', His nonexistent conscience throbbed.
"How about I buy you some snacks?" Asher, unable to resist her adorable gaze, waved the white flag.
Little Raven: (^▽^)
Asher consoled himself: This wasn't indulgence without principles—it was just that now that he had a new source of income, he couldn't let Little Raven live a frugal life with him anymore.
Investing in beast companions was just another way to invest in the future.
———
The next day, Asher woke up early, with faint dark circles under his eyes.
The reason? Asher couldn't fall asleep the night before, tossing and turning, eventually getting up in the middle of the night to try another ten-pull in the gacha. And he couldn't resist...
The result of that ten-pull? Nine empty draws and a single white-grade item: Advanced Herbal Compendium.
Asher was speechless. And even more sleepless.
Even when he managed to close his eyes, he'd suddenly snap them open, scolding himself internally for his foolish late-night impulse.
The moonless night had practically screamed "bad luck," hadn't it?
He consoled himself by thinking it was just to set up a lucky streak for his next pull—guaranteed to get a skill for the Fire Fox Queen.
After eating a larger-than-usual breakfast, Asher shouldered his pre-packed bag, opened a ride-hailing app on his phone, and prepared to head to the outskirts of the Forbidden Zone to rendezvous with the exploration team arranged by President Robb.
Little Raven stood energetically on his shoulder, her shiny black eyes seemingly glowing with excitement for the day's activities.
"You can come with me, but no running off on your own," Asher said, turning to Little Raven and establishing some ground rules.
Little Raven tilted her head, her little tuft of hair bobbing as she shot him a disgruntled look.
As if to say, 'Don't you trust me?'
Asher: '...Not entirely.'
"I trust you, I trust you," Asher replied with a helpless smile. "If I don't trust my Little Raven, who else would I trust?"
Satisfied, Little Raven withdrew her intense gaze.
Since Asher had set out a bit early, he had to wait a while before a driver accepted the ride. Despite this, he still arrived at the Forbidden Zone's outskirts over forty minutes ahead of the scheduled time.
Then, Asher was left utterly awestruck by the sight before him.
No amount of information from the internet, written descriptions, or second-hand accounts could compare to seeing it with his own eyes.
Stretching for thousands of meters with no visible beginning or end, the dark green-black walls made of an unknown material resembled a massive, impenetrable fortress. Beastmasters with armored rhinos patrolled the top, visible only faintly from below.
From his readings, Asher knew that these walls were built to prevent wild and untamable beasts from wreaking havoc in the city. The Beastmasters stationed here were all fifth rank or higher, officially employed, well-paid, and tasked with grueling work.
The moment an attack or damage to a section of the wall was detected, they had to act immediately to eliminate the threat.
If they couldn't resist the attack, they were to hold the line at all costs, buying time for stronger Beastmasters to arrive.
During certain critical periods, the walls even served as barriers against beast tides... though the last recorded beast tide attack had been over five centuries ago. For a long time, no more than ten beasts had ever gathered to assault the walls.
Inside the walls, the scene was a lively bustle of makeshift stalls. Asher took it all in at a glance—the area was anything but quiet.
The aroma of food, the bitter and tangy scent of herbs, the metallic tang of blood...
These smells intertwined, carried by the wind, creating a unique blend of raw vitality and primal energy. It was enough to stir one's blood, evoking a primal desire to return to the wild.
Little Raven, too, was seeing such a scene for the first time.
Her feathers, which had been smooth and sleek, puffed up instantly in reaction to the lingering energy and bloodlust from the dismembered extraordinary creatures brought back inside the walls. Perched on Asher's shoulder, she now resembled a perfectly round black ball.
Many passersby gave Asher curious glances.
Without sparing them a look, Asher walked straight to the city gate, immediately spotting the person in the photo President Robb had given him.
It was a middle-aged man, fit and muscular—unlike the desk-bound President Robb. His armor-clad arms revealed lean, powerful muscles beneath. About 1.8 meters tall, he stood beside a massive bird nearly his own height.
The bird, covered in sharp blue-green feathers that looked like weapons, had piercing, bronze-colored eyes and a black beak that exuded a deadly aura.
"Hello," Asher greeted as their gazes met. "I'm Asher. I'll be relying on you to take me inside today."
The man, Benjamin, instantly recalled his conversation with President Robb the day before.
The discovery of an ore deposit in the Forbidden Zone had already spread among the veteran exploration teams operating there. Most were waiting for an official announcement to confirm the news.
But before that could happen, Benjamin had received a commission from President Robb, the president of the Beastmaster Alliance, to investigate the deposit's specifics.
A lucrative deal and access to firsthand information—how could Benjamin refuse?
But after finalizing the details, President Robb had added an extra condition: the team had to bring someone else along.
No special treatment was required; they just had to ensure the person went in and came out safely.
Benjamin had wanted to refuse outright. Exploration missions and escort tasks were two entirely different things. Was President Robb trying to get two jobs done for the price of one?
"I'll pay extra," President Robb's three light words had shut down Benjamin's protests before they could leave his mouth.
Trying to exploit them for free? No way.
Adding money? Everything was negotiable.
As for who this extra person was—it didn't matter. Maybe President Robb just didn't trust them completely and wanted someone to keep an eye on things.
Fine. They'd treat this person like a VIP and get on with it.
But seeing how ridiculously young Asher was, obviously neither a professor, an expert, nor a spy, Benjamin couldn't help but second-guess his assumptions.
'Could it be... President Robb is sending his son along to gain some experience?'
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