Chapter 15: The Promise

"Young master, how will we manage without you..."

A group of maids clustered around, rushing toward Charles, and then sped past him to a young man with golden long hair and a slightly plump build who was opening the door of a luxury car.

Daniel?!

Seeing him, Charles was reminded of the previous night when Lily had pulled a plane cup out of his bathroom cabinet, and he felt a surge of anger.

Daniel seemed to notice Charles too and came over with a boastful look:

"Charles! You're here too? Let me open your eyes today and show you my top-notch pet!"

Daniel flicked his long hair with a flair, and a six-pointed star formation appeared on the ground in front of him. A dark brown turtle crawled out from the formation.

Charles glanced at Daniel's large turtle; several prompts appeared on his interface screen.

——[Rock Turtle]——

[Attribute]: Earth

[Level]: 2

[Quality]: Bronze Division

[Skills]: Petrified Skin, Rock Smash

[Mood]: Lazy

[Health]: Good

[Evolution]: 1 Path

[Description]: This is a juvenile rock turtle, slow-moving but with extremely strong defensive attributes. It has one evolutionary path that can continually enhance its resistance to impact.

Seeing Daniel's rock turtle, Charles nearly laughed out loud. Daniel had been acting so arrogant, and all he summoned was a large turtle?

However, after reviewing the rock turtle's data, Charles thought that the Smith family had a decent eye for quality. This rock turtle was of Bronze Division quality, Level 2, and even had an evolutionary path.

If Charles didn't have the system prompts, he would never be able to choose a pet of better quality than this one.

Seeing Daniel grinning beside him, Charles's resentment also faded significantly: "Why would you choose this as your pet?"

"Because it's tough and can take a beating!" Daniel laughed.

Then he activated the skill [Petrified Skin] and his body turned a deep brown, shimmering with a rock-like bizarre luster.

"My dad said, he doesn't expect me to become a great Beast Master; as long as I can come back alive, that's enough. We own a few estates and ranches, two mines, and also run a jewelry business in the city. He's getting older and finds it a bit hard to manage..."

Charles was speechless.

A few estates and ranches, two mines, a jewelry business in the city... If he had such an inheritance waiting for him, he'd also choose a big turtle and take it easy!

"Hey, isn't that Daniel?"

"Bringing out that big turtle of yours, don't embarrass yourself. It'll probably just hide its head in a fight, won't it?" An irritating voice came from behind.

Turning around, the speaker was none other than Robert, the spiky-haired guy from Isengard Beast Mastery High School.

The Taylor family and the Smith family, both involved in the jewelry business in the city, were not on good terms.

"Robert, say 'turtle' one more time, see if I don't knock your teeth out right now!" Daniel had been irked by Robert for a long time, and now, with his pet by his side, he had no reason to fear him.

Hearing this, Robert's temper flared, and he summoned his pet, the four-winged tiger: "Wanna fight? I'm right here!"

At that moment, the southern checkpoint was crowded, and the commotion quickly attracted a crowd of onlookers.

Seeing things getting out of hand, a middle-aged man stepped in to intervene. Charles recognized him; he seemed to be the vice president who had spoken at the Beast Master Awakening Ceremony, named Fletcher.

Recognizing both young men as scions of Isengard's noble families, the man knew neither side was easy to offend: "Ahem, gentlemen, let's calm down. The train is about to depart, everyone please gather your luggage and board."

"Charles, let's go. I can't be bothered with people like him." Daniel flipped Robert the middle finger and then pulled Charles toward a train near the checkpoint.

Watching their triumphant departure, Robert clenched his fists until they cracked: "Charles, Daniel, see how long you can keep up your pride!"

"That's the Ferocious Beast Mountains. What if you two die in an 'accident,' like a ferocious beast attack..."

"That wouldn't be surprising at all, would it?"

...

"Young master, come back alive, I'll be waiting at home..."

"Son, well done becoming a Beast Master. You're your father's pride..."

The train slowly started, heading south, and the crowd on the platform quickly disappeared from view.

Sitting by a window, Charles looked over the train. The entire train was made of fine steel, the windows were thick reinforced glass, and the exterior was lined with rows of steel blades.

Charles hadn't looked closely at the locomotive before, but from its bulky, bumper-like construction, the armor there was definitely thicker.

Rather than a train, it was more like a moving steel fortress.

Every so often, ferocious beasts leapt out of the forests towards the train, quickly splattering blood, as if adding a vivid red undertone to the journey through the Ferocious Beast Mountains.

From the front of the train, Vice President Fletcher's deep voice captured the attention of everyone inside: "Being on this train, I assume you all take pride in becoming powerful Beast Masters."

"Beast Masters and ordinary people will walk two entirely different paths, filled with hardship and great peril. This two-month trial in the Ferocious Beast Mountains will be your proving ground. Those who excel will earn admission to the three major academies of the Imperial Capital..."

Hearing 'the three major academies of the Imperial Capital,' every Beast Master's face lit up with aspiration.

Aredale Academy, Nova Academy, and Cyber Academy—these institutions gather the elite of all Genosha, where any teacher is a Beast Master respected throughout the land.

Graduating from any of the three major academies in the Imperial Capital could lead to being sought after by Genosha's royalty, noble families, and various powers, promising a limitless future. Moreover, for those wishing to expand beyond Genosha, these academies also serve as an excellent springboard of resources.

Indeed, becoming a student at one of the Imperial Capital's three major academies is the dream of every Beast Master in Genosha!

Listening to Fletcher's introduction over the train's speaker, Daniel's eyes sparkled with excitement: "My goodness, these academies of the Imperial Capital are that prestigious, huh? Hearing this makes me not even want to go back home to inherit the family fortune!"

Not just Daniel, but every Beast Master from Isengard on the train shared the same thought: they must excel in this trial in the Ferocious Beast Mountains to secure a spot at one of the Imperial Capital's three academies.

Seeing Daniel's excitement, Charles wanted to say something but hesitated, fearing he might dampen his friend's confidence.

This year alone, just from Isengard Beast Mastery High School No. 1, there were hundreds of new Beast Masters. With thousands of young Beast Masters aged 18-25 participating in the trials, the Imperial Capital's three academies would only select six from Isengard.

The acceptance rate was less than 0.6%...

"Here, this is your trial scorecard." Daniel jogged over and handed Charles a chip he had just received.

"What is this?" Charles asked, puzzled.

"It's for scoring points. As long as you hunt ferocious beasts, this chip will automatically update and upload your score." After inserting the chip into his phone, Daniel patted Charles on the shoulder, "Don't worry, my rock turtle is quite powerful. If you're short on points, I can let you take down some of the beasts I defeat."

Charles's face twitched.

Daniel's kindness was appreciated, but when it came to sharing points... Charles thought it best to first consider Daniel's own needs!

...

The journey on the train was calm and boring.

As they neared the Ferocious Beast Mountains, the vegetation along the tracks grew denser, and attacks by ferocious beasts on the train became more frequent. Like moths to a flame, they charged at the train only to be gruesomely crushed, splattering the outside of the train with blood.

Three days later, as Charles was dozing off in his seat, a disturbance suddenly rippled through the calm carriage.

"Excuse me, is Charles from Beast Mastery High School here?" A crisp female voice rang out, tinkling through the stale air of the carriage like a bell and pulling at the heartstrings.

"Who is that girl? She doesn't seem to be from our Beast Mastery High School, but she's beautiful!"

"Don't you know Grace? The daughter of the city lord, the beauty from the neighboring noble high school who tops our city's exams every year!"

"So it's her! What's she doing in our carriage? Looks like she's here for Charles?"

Nudged by Daniel, Charles yawned, just opening his eyes to see a formidable young woman standing before him.

She had smooth, dark green hair and was dressed simply in a white mid-length T-shirt and white shoes, but her cool demeanor couldn't be masked.

Especially her long, slender legs extending from her shorts, which were incredibly eye-catching.

Her arrival almost drew the attention of all the boys in the carriage, and even some girls couldn't help but steal glances.

Grace looked towards Charles, her voice ethereal:

"Charles, I hope you haven't forgotten the promise you made to me."