Chapter 16: The Master Trickster, Asher

Asher was dumbfounded, completely thrown off by June's cryptic statement.

Then, he finally caught her drift.

"Take a look at my Little Fire Fox," June said, lifting up the small fox. Her beautiful eyes narrowed as she stared intently at Asher. "Do you see any special traits? You know, like maybe it could evolve, just like Ivy's honeybug?"

Now understanding her intentions, Asher let out a sigh of relief, turning his gaze to the fox in her arms.

And then… he froze.

'Wait a minute… this is a Little Fire Fox?'

If June hadn't said anything, he might not have even recognized it.

Little Fire Fox, a high-tier beast, was known for its adorably small body—its bushy tail took up almost two-thirds of its size, making it look like a tiny fox plush toy. It was highly sought after on the market because of its cute appearance and versatile evolution paths.

After all, who could resist a pet that could evolve into a Charm Fox, Flame Fox, Lightning Fox, or even a Mystic Fox?

Each of these evolved forms had unique powers and appearances, and the Little Fire Fox's potential value would skyrocket as it grew.

But the fox in front of him, which June claimed was a Little Fire Fox, was definitely not tiny anymore.

It was about the size of a small dog, with its signature fluffy tail still taking up two-thirds of its body. Most Flame Foxes had a fiery red coat, often patterned with markings that hinted at their potential for further evolution.

When well-trained, Little Fire Foxes could eventually evolve into a high-tier beast, the Flame Spirit Fox.

So, it was no surprise that Little Fire Foxes fetched high prices on the market. Owning one was something only the wealthy could afford, given that even an unevolved one could easily cost millions.

Asher glanced again at this particular fox, his expression turning curious.

'What exactly have this fox been through to end up in such a state?'

For a brief moment, his hand hovered over the emergency button.

He was beginning to suspect he was dealing with some sort of elaborate scam or… pet abuse.

June snapped, "What's with that look?"

"No, no! Don't misunderstand, Asher," Ivy hurriedly explained, alarmed. "This really is a Little Fire Fox."

Asher let out a breath, removing his hand from the button and giving June an apologetic smile. "My apologies, that was a misunderstanding."

"So, Miss June, are you here for treatment for Little Fire Fox's fur issues?"

June: "..."

Little Fire Fox: (╥╯^╰╥)

"It's not a fur issue," June clarified, hugging her whimpering Little Fire Fox, "It was just an accident during a battle."

Not being thrown offrail by Asher's question, she continued probing, "So, you're saying my Little Fire Fox shows no signs of evolution?"

Asher hesitated, scratching his head as if struggling with how to respond.

"Miss June… why do you think I could… help your Little Fire Fox evolve?"

'Is this girl somehow know my… special talent?'

Asher's mind was racing, running over every interaction he'd had, wondering if he'd ever let anything slip.

June just shrugged, eyes gleaming with confidence. "Call it… intuition."

This left Asher momentarily speechless.

'Intuition? Is she serious?'

Yet, the look in June's eyes showed she wasn't kidding.

She truly believed it.

Asher: "..."

Internally, he felt a mix of emotions.

What should he even call this—luck of a blind guess?

But things grew even more complicated when he activated his Insight skill to examine the fox and a familiar panel popped up.

[Beast: Little Fire Fox

Attribute: Fire

Type: Mid-tier, Low-grade Beast

Level: Tier 2, High Level

Skills: Flame Bite, Fire Attack

Evolution Paths: Flame Spirit Fox, Fire Queen Fox

Evolution Requirements Not Met

Status: My beautiful fur… my precious, pretty fur, all gone. Wuwuwuwu...]

Tempted? He absolutely was.

This was the perfect opportunity—a pet with fire abilities, just waiting to be… borrowed.

But looking at June's confident expression, the way she clearly believed in his evolution powers, he hesitated.

He needed a fire-element pet to learn new skills, sure, but did he really want to risk having this feisty young lady latching onto him?

No, that sounded like a nightmare waiting to happen.

'Unless…'

No, no. He shook his head.

'Better to turn her down,' Taking on a challenge was one thing, but getting entangled with someone like June?

'Hard pass'

"I'm not as amazing as you think, Miss June," Asher said with a polite smile, his refusal clear. "I'm just a regular guy, trying to get by as a Pre-licensed Beast Master."

June pursed her lips, running a hand through the Little Fire Fox's tangled fur, unwilling to let go of the idea just yet.

"But you must know something about Ivy's honeybug evolution." she insisted.

"Maybe a little…" Asher admitted, much to the shock of Ivy and June.

'Wait, wasn't he just going to claim it was all luck?'

But Asher had a reason for admitting this.

Although he wasn't eager to assist this rich young lady, he still needed a source of fire skills.

Helping one pet evolve might be a fluke, but doing it again? People would start asking questions.

It wouldn't hurt to have a plausible cover.

Clearing his throat, he began his well-practiced story, "I'm starting my final year of high school soon, which means I'll be preparing for the college entrance exams. As a Pre-licensed Beast Master from a less-than-wealthy background, I've had to plan carefully for my future."

He spoke as if every word had been deeply considered, with a touch of helplessness that sounded all too real.

"My choices of career and specialization in college matter a lot to me," he continued. "The fields of Beast Evolution Studies and Pet Care are my top choices. Evolution Studies is a stable career with strong state support, and Pet Care is a rapidly growing industry thanks to pet competitions and beauty contests."

"Since I'm already a Pre-licensed Beast Master, I lean toward Evolution Studies, so I've been reading up on it a lot." He'd even gotten notes from Professor Iris—technically, he wasn't lying.

His explanation left Ivy and June stunned.

'Wait, really?'

Neither of them had thought so far ahead. As the daughters of well-to-do families, they figured they'd just pick a college major when the time came.

And here he was, with a clear plan and even the necessary background reading?

Asher looked at their astonished faces with a gentle smile. "Ivy's honeybug was special, so I just had a hunch that maybe… she could evolve."

"That's all it was, a simple thought. Not really something I'd call 'doing' anything."

He spread his hands open in a harmless gesture, giving them an open, honest look.

What?

Dodging the question? Evading the truth?

He would never.

Besides, next time he helped a pet evolve, he'd just say it was thanks to all that early reading.

June mulled it over, nodding hesitantly.

'Hmm… that does make sense.'

"Shall we have Little Fire Fox's fur looked at?" Asher asked, skillfully changing the topic. "She looks quite upset about her appearance. A grooming shop should be able to neaten things up."

With that, he successfully showed the two now-dazed young ladies out the door, gently steering them toward a grooming shop.

Only after they reached the shop and sat down did June suddenly snap out of her daze.

"Wait… no! I've been tricked."

"He… he—!" June stomped her foot, too flustered to form a coherent sentence.

But she was certain Asher had pulled a fast one on her. "He was totally messing with us."

"But… what he said made sense?" Ivy said innocently, her wide, doe-like eyes blinking in confusion.

June shot her an exasperated look.

"You're hopeless. You'd probably thank him even if he sold you off."

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