Beast Tamer: I Can See Evolution Paths

June: "..."

June rolled her eyes at Harry.

'Father?'

One second he was comforting her, and the next, his mind was entirely occupied with Asher, wasn't it?

June sent out a message, and after waiting for a bit, she received a reply from Asher.

The previously upset June immediately sat upright.

She quickly initiated a voice call to Asher.

"You're not even on vacation; how was I supposed to reach you?" Faced with the aggressive and accusatory tone of June, Asher remained utterly unflustered.

With just a few words, he managed to dissipate June's anger.

June: "So Little Raven really evolved?"

Ivy curiously leaned closer to June.

Nearby, Harry also perked up his ears.

"That's right. Little Raven has been evolved for quite a while now."

"I heard that the evolved Little Raven is incredible." Ivy clung to June's arm, her tone brimming with curiosity. "The old Little Raven was already amazing. The evolved Little Raven... I can't even imagine."

'How powerful must it be now?'

"There's a chance to battle the Fire Fox Queen again." June said with confidence.

Asher chuckled softly. "Are you sure? The moment Vicky saw the evolved Little Raven, he surrendered on the spot."

The Fire Fox Queen? It wouldn't even stand a chance against Little Raven anymore.

However, upon hearing the name Fire Fox Queen, Little Raven's golden-red eyes instantly lit up.

'What?'

'Fight the fox?'

'The bird is in!'

'The bird doesn't mind!'

'Bullying the weak?'

'What does that have to do with the bird?'

'The bird simply wants to teach the fox a lesson!'

Asher: "..."

Asher pushed away Little Raven's fluffy head, which was eagerly inching closer.

Unrelenting, Little Raven leaned in again.

Annoyed, Asher directly wrapped an arm around Little Raven's neck and vigorously ruffled the tufts of fur sticking up on its head.

Meanwhile, June and Ivy, who hadn't heard about the surrender and only knew Vicky's dragon lizard lost to Asher's second contracted beast: "..."

Although they hadn't spent much time with Vicky, they were familiar enough with his overbearing personality.

Vicky, surrender?

How little confidence must he have in himself.

Was simply seeing the evolved Little Raven enough to feel utterly defeated?

The more they thought about it, the more curious June and Ivy became about the evolved Little Raven.

Unfortunately, there were no photos or videos from the battle that day. Otherwise, they wouldn't have to be wracking their brains to guess.

"Let's change the topic. What's your second contracted beast?",June decisively skipped over the battle discussion, pretending she hadn't just said anything.

If Vicky surrendered, it meant the Fire Fox Queen was likely no match for the evolved Little Raven.

No need to humiliate herself.

"Well... I'll send you a photo."

Describing the appearance of the Cat-Worm with words?

Looking at the Cat-Worm before him, Asher could only scream internally: 'Impossible! Absolutely impossible!'

The Cat-Worm's appearance was simply too abstract.

When June and Ivy saw the photo of the Cat-Worm, their faces mirrored the same confusion and doubt.

'What?'

'Is this truly a living, breathing, walking, and battle-ready beast?'

Attracted by June and Ivy's expressions, Harry also leaned over for a look, only to follow in their footsteps.

The Cat-Worm's noble visage... at first glance, it was abstract, but the more one looked, the more a strange sense of cuteness emerged.

And then, they began questioning their own aesthetics—what nerve misfired to make them find this thing's appearance adorable?

June opened her mouth, hesitated, and said nothing.

June was speechless.

On the other hand, Harry chuckled and said to Asher on the other end of the call, "Asher, your second contracted beast is quite interesting. Is it a newly discovered beast species?"

"Yes, the discovery of the Cat-Worm... uh, cat-dragon, Little Dragon, was purely coincidental." Asher stroked the Cat-Worm's scaly back, coughed twice, and continued.

"Cat-dragon? Did you name the species yourself? It's quite amusing." Harry adjusted his glasses and squinted at the photo of the upside-down Cat-Worm in Asher's arms, intrigued.

"From its appearance, it does resemble feline beasts, but those horns on its head are quite similar to the dragon horns of some dragon-type beasts. A hybrid of dragon and cat?"

"Dragon-type beasts are undeniably energetic... cough, cough, not strange, not strange."

Asher fell silent.

Should he admit he didn't understand a single word of what Harry said?

As a professor specializing in beast habitats and reproduction, Harry's thought process was truly... unique.

"Judging from its coloration alone, it seems to have poison attributes. And its overall characteristics... hmm... you didn't find this beast in the forbidden area of Bluestone, did you?" Harry suddenly changed the topic. "The scales, I mean. Based on their texture and sheen, they resemble those of beasts from the forbidden areas of Mune City or Bluestone City."

Asher's voice revealed surprise: "How can you tell? Can you really deduce the origin of an beast from a photo?"

A higher beastmaster academy professor—what terrifying skill.!

"No, no, no."

Hearing the amazement in Asher's tone, Harry couldn't help but smile smugly.

As a senior, he should be imparting knowledge to Asher and shocking him.

But ever since meeting Asher, their interactions never followed normal patterns.

Finally hearing Asher's tone of confusion and astonishment, Harry's sense of accomplishment soared.

Far more satisfying than teaching his students.

"You'll notice that the cat-dragon's scales have a unique sheen. This sheen is exclusive to beasts born in the forbidden areas of Mune and Bluestone."

"Based on the similarities between the forbidden zones of Mune City and Bluestone City, the Alliance believes this is due to their poisonous attributes and the fact that each year, for a certain period, they come into prolonged contact with Waving Verdant Grass. The beasts in these forbidden zones are also more formidable compared to other places."

Asher suddenly understood.

Waving Verdant Grass.

Now that it was mentioned, it all made sense to him.

"Can Waving Verdant Grass also influence the growth of beasts?"

"There's an internal theory about this, but it hasn't been fully confirmed..."

As they talked, Harry and Asher grew more and more animated in their conversation.

The person who had actually made the call, June, and initially called to question him: "?"

So her dad was outright ignoring his own daughter and treating Asher like his own son, huh?

As the conversation between Harry and Asher escalated, the stars in the eyes of June and Ivy were practically shining. Taking advantage of her dad being momentarily distracted, June quickly snatched the phone from his hand.

"…Evolution is also related." Harry, halfway through his sentence, suddenly found the phone missing. He turned to June.

Being stared at by her dad, June didn't panic. "This is my phone! I wasn't even done talking to Asher."

Harry: "…"

Sigh!

He got so carried away in the conversation that he forgot.

Leaving the phone call space to June, Ivy, and Asher, Harry fell into deep thought.

In just these few minutes of conversation, Harry had gained a new perspective on Asher.

In the past, he somewhat believed that Asher's success, even if not entirely reliant on luck, was still heavily rooted in talent.

But inspiration and talent—they both have their limits.

If Asher's inspiration and talent ever ran dry, what would he have left?

Asher: 'Plenty would be left.'

In this brief exchange, the two of them had jumped between several topics in just a few minutes. Not only could Asher keep up with Harry's train of thought every time, but he could also expand on it.

Harry finally realized—using the word "genius" to describe Asher wasn't just casual talk.

Those two words were a true reflection of who Asher was.

Harry's mind wandered to a non-teaching extracurricular activity he was working on. The team required one or two professors with quick analytical skills and expertise in researching pet beast evolution.

He had considered inviting Asher before but thought it might not be appropriate.

However, after this conversation, Harry completely changed his mind—'it has to be Asher! He is the perfect fit.'

"Alright then, next time we'll meet at the training grounds for a battle." June confidently told Asher on the other end of the phone. "Even if I can't beat Little Raven, it'll still be easy to defeat your newly contracted second pet!"

"I'm not like Vicky."

"I won't give up so easily."

Ivy nearly covered her face on the side.

Listen, listen!

This kind of flag setting—if it doesn't end in failure, it wouldn't be normal.

Seeing that June and Asher's chat was wrapping up, Harry cleared his throat and said, "Asher, I have an extracurricular activity I'd like to invite you to join. Are you interested?"

Asher: "Huh?"

'Extracurricular activity?'

'What kind of extracurricular activity?'

Seeing that there was indeed something serious to discuss between Harry and Asher, June handed the phone back to her dad.

'Fine.'

Anyway, she had already set up a fight with Asher.

Just wait for the next holiday—there'd be time to battle Asher again before the college entrance exams.

June was already thinking about how she could improve the Fire Fox Queen's strength in a short period.

She spoke confidently over the phone.

But in reality, June was well aware of her own strength. Due to the pet beast's potential and power, most of her matches with Vicky ended in a fifty-fifty draw.

Vicky's Dragon Lizard couldn't even beat Asher's second pet...

Winning against Asher definitely wouldn't be easy.

Hard work!

She had to work harder starting now.

Only then would she have a chance to defeat Asher's second pet.

It was fine if the Fire Fox Queen couldn't match Little Raven, but it couldn't lose to that sanity-draining Cat Dragon, right?

"Ivy, let's work hard together!" June was fired up, her whole body seemingly ignited with burning flames. She grabbed Ivy's hands excitedly, but Ivy's expression appeared somewhat hesitant.

"But I feel like I'm not very talented in battles..." Ivy said softly.

This wasn't a new realization.

In fact, from the moment she contracted the Honeybug, Ivy hadn't considered becoming a powerful Beastmaster.

With the Honey Bug, as long as it stayed by her side, she felt content.

June was stunned for a moment but then smiled brightly. "Hmph~ I figured that out a long time ago!"

"It's okay if you're not good at battles. You don't have to be a top-tier Beastmaster. There are so many other paths you can choose."

Ivy nodded gently.

Other paths... She'd have to think carefully about them.

On the other side, the conversation between Asher and Harry continued.

"Teacher Harry, can you explain this extracurricular activity in more detail?"

Harry thought for a moment. "Here's the thing—the Alliance and the nation have never stopped exploring the forbidden zones. You know that, right?"

Asher nodded.

Of course.

"Aside from private exploration teams and official squads, there are also advanced technological methods serving as scouts, such as miniature pinhole imaging devices, camouflaged land, air, and aquatic camera systems, and so on."

"However, the beasts in the forbidden zones are ferocious. The paths for these devices are random and unpredictable. Sometimes, they accidentally get caught in wild battles between beasts and end up as scrap."

This situation was all too common.

Navigating the forbidden zones with technology wasn't easy. At best, these devices provided warnings or served as guides for subsequent exploration teams.

But fully exploring the forbidden zones with technology? Impossible.

"Recently, in footage transmitted back by the latest miniature detection device from Bluestone City, we spotted an extremely rare beast."

Asher perked up.

'What kind of beast?'

It sounded intriguing.

"Sunshine Sunflower."

Asher froze. If he remembered correctly...

Asher froze for a moment... If he remembered correctly, this beast...

"In the twelve hundred years of coexistence between humans and beasts, this species has appeared only once, during a massive beast tide a thousand years ago."

"At that time, beastmasters had already learned to command their contracted beasts, fighting against the ferocious beasts that came surging in."

"Through brutal counterattacks that traded injury for injury, the human army was on the verge of victory. But those beasts that were defeated and lying on the ground regained their vitality in the nourishment of sunlight and rain."

"That beast tide was the most catastrophic encounter between humans and beasts from outside the Forbidden Zones. In the end, our ancestors, relying on their indomitable will and desperate resistance, continuously sent beastmasters to the front lines. Through relay battles, they managed to kill the key beasts on the opposing side and finally secured a grim and tragic victory."

It was this.

This beast tide, as Harry said, was the bloodiest battle humans had faced after gaining the power to resist and contract with beasts.

Just a little more, and thirteen towns would have been completely wiped out.

The human army employed a strategy of rotational warfare, with one group after another sacrificing themselves to discover the secret behind the beasts' seemingly endless energy, stamina, and health.

... Victory was hard-earned.

"The records in books document this beast tide, but they don't mention the source of that sunlight and rain... so?" Combining Harry's mention of this beast's name with this story, Asher didn't even need to question further.

The truth seemed to unfold completely before him.

Harry smiled. "You are indeed sharp."

"The name of this beast was omitted from the books partly to avoid mythologizing it, and partly because our ancestors ultimately never found the creature's species."

"It's as if it sprang out of the ground and then vanished into thin air."

"For a thousand years, no one has ever seen this type of beast again."

"Until recently—"

Asher: "You think the beast seen in the footage from the Forbidden Zone near Bluestone City is this so-called 'Sunshine Sunflower'?"

Harry nodded.

"Yes."

"Exactly."

"Are you certain?" Asher's tone carried a hint of doubt.

Not that he didn't trust Harry or suspected him of lying.

Not at all.

It was just that... "If the Sunshine Sunflower was truly discovered in the Forbidden Zone near Bluestone City, the higher-ups wouldn't stay idle, right?"

Even though he had never seen the Sunshine Sunflower in person and didn't know its exact abilities, plenty of key information could be inferred from that beast tide a thousand years ago.

A rare beast capable of using sunlight and rain to simultaneously restore the energy, stamina, and health of tens of thousands of others... If it were confirmed to exist, the state and the alliance would undoubtedly take immediate action.

First, they'd ensure this beast wouldn't fall into anyone else's hands.

And prevent another beast tide similar to the one a millennium ago.

"Haha..." Listening to Asher's analysis, Harry gave a slightly awkward laugh.

At that moment, Harry was most grateful that Asher couldn't see his expression. Otherwise, it'd be too embarrassing.

Harry adjusted his glasses. "Well... okay, okay, you're making sense. We aren't entirely sure if it's really the Sunshine Sunflower. Judging by its appearance, it could also be a Big-Faced Sunflower."

Oh.

Asher displayed a deadpan expression through the phone screen.

The Big-Faced Sunflower was an beast with poison and wood attributes. It evolved from the Bean Flower, and its attack method involved spitting seeds.

But the seeds it spat out weren't ordinary seeds—they were sticky, stinky, and resembled some kind of strange-smelling toxic substance.

Not particularly powerful, but exceptionally insulting.

Many ordinary beastmasters loved contracting one just for the chaos.

Don't ask.

If you had a grudge against someone, releasing a Big-Faced Sunflower was a surefire way to dominate the scene.

"So... What is the relationship between the Sunshine Sunflower and the Big-Faced Sunflower?"

"Do they just look a bit alike?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, they're similar at first glance."

"Though I've never seen a Sunshine Sunflower myself, our ancestors documented it quite clearly in their books. It's said they initially mistook it for a mutated Big-Faced Sunflower. But upon further research, they realized something was off."

"Both Sunshine Sunflowers and Big-Faced Sunflowers resemble sunflowers from nature. However, the Big-Faced Sunflower, being a poison attribute creature, is surrounded by a faint purple toxic haze on its petals and buds. If you get close, it emits an unbearable stench."

This was also the basis for its attack method.

"But the Sunshine Sunflower they killed back then was entirely different."

"Its appearance was closer to that of a natural sunflower. It had no toxins and instead emitted a warm, sun-like aura."

"Unfortunately, before our ancestors could study it closely, the Sunshine Sunflower's body disintegrated into light and completely vanished. Otherwise, we might've discovered its species long ago."

Hearing this, Asher pondered for a moment before saying, "Is it possible that the Sunshine Sunflower and the Big-Faced Sunflower are alternate evolutionary forms of the Bean Flower?"

Upon hearing Asher's conjecture, Harry's expression didn't show the slightest hint of shock.

"A good guess. People made the same speculation a thousand years ago."

"And for the past century, researchers have been investigating new evolutionary paths for the Bean Flower. But..."

The results spoke for themselves.

They couldn't find anything.

No matter how many people speculated about the connection between the Sunshine Sunflower and the Big-Faced Sunflower based on their similarities, the lack of a new evolutionary path for the Bean Flower meant they couldn't confirm it.

Thus, the Sunshine Sunflower remained classified as an independent beast.

"Want to go check it out together?"

A wild, rare, healing Sunshine Sunflower.

Who could refuse?

Asher certainly couldn't.

He immediately agreed.

"We'll leave tomorrow. Pack your things tonight, and we'll head out together in the morning."

———

After hanging up, Asher sat on his sofa, contemplating the matter.

A healing Sunshine Sunflower... The very thought intrigued him.

Without hesitation, Asher began packing his belongings.

Halfway through, a knock sounded at the door.

Asher opened it, finding Chase and Sarah, a married couple, standing there.

"Huh?" Seeing Asher packing his bags as if preparing for a trip, the couple froze: "Professor Ash, are you planning to leave for a while?"

"And what about the laboratory you were setting up…"

Sarah asked methodically, a trace of urgency creeping into her tone, as if afraid that the hard-won job would slip through their fingers.

Yes.

The day after Asher returned from the Eleventh High School, Chase and Sarah had come to visit him.

After learning about their experience and skill levels, Asher decisively added the couple to his laboratory.

Solid professional knowledge.

Grounded and diligent.

Hardworking.

Honest and straightforward.

They lacked exceptional initiative, but any task assigned by a professor would be completed on time—this was Asher's dream team of "tool people".

When Chase and Sarah heard that Asher had hired them, they were visibly shocked.

They even proactively admitted potential issues they might have.

On one hand, they were worried Asher might not understand the realities of the field.

On the other, they didn't want to finally enter a lab only to be ousted again later for other reasons.

Both of them couldn't afford another blow like that.

But to their surprise, after hearing their concerns, Asher's face showed a faintly confident smile: "That's it?"

"As long as you confirm that these issues aren't your fault, I don't mind." Asher smiled and said, "My lab is still in its infancy."

"You should have noticed from my requirements for setting up the lab—I think differently from most people."

Chase and Sarah: "…"

No kidding!

The two of them had been on the verge of being completely kicked out of the field for the past six months.

If not for a last-ditch effort, they wouldn't even have approached Asher.

But Asher agreed so decisively.

So decisively that the couple themselves didn't know how to react—it felt like… a dream?

"My criteria for setting up a lab aren't the only thing that's different. My requirements for research staff are also unique."

"I won't hire people just looking to coast, but I also don't need geniuses or quick-witted researchers seeking to expand their resumes through one or two group projects."

"Because I can't keep them."

"These people need a platform to showcase their talents."

"They seek opportunities to elevate their status through one or two successful projects."

Tool people? They'd never stay put as loyal workers in Asher's lab.

For such inherently flighty talents, Asher decisively passed.

"In this respect, you two perfectly meet my needs." Asher smiled faintly.

Chase and Sarah were even more dumbfounded.

Who would have thought?

One day, their "mediocrity" would turn into an advantage.

The couple was both shocked and overjoyed, yet found it hard to believe.

What they didn't know was that, in Asher's view, anyone who could persevere in this field for so many years might not be a genius, but they certainly weren't truly mediocre. Anchors like them were an indispensable part of every industry.

After signing their employment contracts with Asher, the couple finally let out a sigh of relief.

They really had a job in this field again.

From that moment on, they no longer doubted Asher's eccentricity.

To them, Asher became a benefactor they were determined to work diligently for.

And yet…

Several days passed, and they hadn't started any new projects.

The problem was, Asher was still paying their salaries.

Being honest folks, they decided to visit Asher to clarify things… only to see him seemingly about to leave on a trip.

"Ah, you're here." Asher glanced at the couple, invited them to sit down, and continued packing. "If you hadn't come, I would've sent you a message."

Hearing this, Chase gulped, clasping his hands tightly as his body tensed up on the sofa.

'A message?'

'About what?'

'Could it be… the lab is being canceled?'

You couldn't blame the couple for thinking that way.

After all, several days had passed, and there was no sign of the lab taking shape, nor were there new hires.

They felt insecure, genuinely anxious.

"I'm heading to the Forbidden Zone in Bluestone City to participate in an extracurricular activity," Asher explained briefly, telling them about Harry's invitation.

After all, they were his employees—there was no need to hide it.

"As for how long I'll be gone… I'm not sure." Asher stuffed clothes and food into his bag. Watching him, the round little Cat Worm appeared restless, repeatedly trying to squeeze its chubby body into Asher's backpack.

As Asher packed, he repeatedly pulled the Cat Worm out and set it aside.

But the Cat Worm would sneak back in the moment Asher wasn't paying attention.

This tug-of-war continued until Asher's face showed a helpless expression.

"You're supposed to be a dragon, not a cat," Asher muttered as he once again removed the Cat Worm from his bag.

This time, instead of setting it aside, he placed it directly in front of Little Raven.

Little Raven, who was sitting like a brooding hen with eyes closed: "?"

The bird opened its golden-red eyes, staring pointedly at Asher.

'Care to explain?'

'Bird was resting!'

Asher coughed lightly: "Ahem! You're supposed to be the boss of this household—keep your little sister in line."

Little Raven shot a sharp, disapproving glare at the Cat Worm.

Her intent to "knife" a certain pet was unmistakable.

Catworm: QWO

The Catworm instantly quieted down.

Finally, Asher could calmly pack his luggage and, at the same time, give some instructions to Chase and Sarah.

"Brother Chase and Sister Sarah, you both have experience. I've already told you the kind of researchers I want to recruit. If you're still unsure, just use your own standards as a guideline."

"As for the location of the laboratory..." Asher glanced at his phone. "You don't need to worry about that. Uncle Robb has already chosen a spot. The lab is under construction, and once we've got most of the researchers, they can join in."

Looking at Chase and Sarah, the couple before him, Asher couldn't help but think—if only his lab were filled with useful tools like them... he'd probably wake up laughing in his dreams at night.

Marvelous!

Absolutely marvelous!

The couple, who had been turned into a benchmark by Asher, both showed slightly embarrassed smiles.

After spending so many years in the industry, neither of them ever thought they'd one day become a standard of reference.

It was all because Professor Asher valued them so highly.

Thinking of this, the couple felt reinvigorated.

"Professor Ash, rest assured. We will strictly screen candidates and ensure that no unqualified individuals are hired."

Even among those who work earnestly, there are levels of diligence.

Under Asher's continuous praise, Chase and Sarah had already completely regarded him as their benefactor and talent scout.

For Asher, they would work harder to ensure he didn't suffer any setbacks.

But…

"Professor Ash, about the Sunshine Sunflower and Big-Face Sunflower you mentioned… I'm not too familiar, but I do know about something else." Chase frowned slightly. "Actually, years ago—especially about twenty years back—many professors launched research projects on the Bean Flower, but they all ended without results."

"For the past few years, while there hasn't been an official policy from the state or the alliance, proposing a new evolutionary path for the Bean Flower… such projects rarely pass approval."

Chase himself had worked in two labs researching the Bean Flower after graduating.

Both didn't last even a year before resource allocation was cut off.

No results, no progress.

Stuck at a standstill.

No matter how many resources were invested, it was like pouring water into a bottomless pit.

Eventually, no one chose to research the Bean Flower's new evolution path anymore.

Without funding, what was the point of selecting it?

"If you're interested in the Bean Flower and want to explore its new evolution path…" As he spoke, Chase's frown deepened. "...I suggest you reconsider carefully."

It's a deep pit.

Step into it, and you'll be forced to retreat in embarrassment.

This topic's reputation was absolutely terrible.

For someone like Asher, a rising star in NY City's pet beast evolution research scene, it would be especially detrimental.

Since his debut, Asher had never experienced failure.

He always produced outstanding results.

As long as Asher stayed on track, even if he didn't become a legend like Professor Damien, he'd at least become a well-known authority on pet beast evolution in South China.

Precisely because of this, in Chase's eyes, every step Asher took needed careful consideration—there was no room for error.

Asher understood Chase's concern and smiled.

He knew Chase was looking out for him, but… "Right now, I'm simply curious about the Sunshine Sunflower, a beast that exists only in legend. As for the Bean Flower, I'm not particularly interested yet."

"But if I truly believe that the Bean Flower can evolve into the Sunshine Sunflower… perhaps I might really start studying it."

'And so what if that fails?'

'If I want to research it, I'll research it.'

'After all, I'm a man with cheats.'

"Maintaining curiosity about all beasts in this world and not being confined by existing rules and frameworks—this is the best approach for my future development," Asher said confidently.

His words left Chase stunned.

Sarah, however, immediately grasped Asher's meaning.

She tugged at her husband's sleeve, signaling him to stop talking.

"Professor Ash, we'll follow your lead," Sarah promised.

Asher nodded.

Very good.

Chase was overly earnest to a fault.

Probably because Asher paid their salaries, provided them with jobs, and was younger, Chase instinctively wanted to offer advice from an elder's perspective.

Fortunately, Sarah realized that Asher didn't need it.

In terms of age, Asher was indeed younger and seemed more like someone who needed guidance.

But Asher was a Level 5 researcher—the youngest one in NY City.

On the other hand, the couple had been working for over twenty years and were still interns. In the future, they'd rely on Asher's support just to barely become Level 5 researchers themselves.

So when it came to pet beast evolution research and project matters, they were better off not interfering.

Their role was to assist Asher wherever possible.

With his wife's reminder, Chase finally understood.

A look of shame appeared on his face.

Asher didn't mind much.

Chase and Sarah weren't bad people; they had no malicious intent to replace him. With a bit of training, they could become capable assistants.

As for the occasional ideological clash, Asher could tolerate it.

Given time, such issues would naturally resolve themselves.

———

After sorting out the lab arrangements, Asher and Harry boarded a plane to Bluestone City together.

"Asher, I'll take you to meet my colleagues first." Harry adjusted his glasses, looking a bit embarrassed. "Uh… two of them have somewhat difficult personalities. Don't get upset with them, okay?"

"They're not bad people; it's just that they don't know you, so…"

Hearing Harry's hesitant explanation, Asher immediately understood.

"They think I got in through connections?" Asher smiled. "Or maybe they think my reputation doesn't match my abilities?"

Harry: "…"

'Sigh!'

Harry's awkward expression and two soft coughs revealed everything.

Not being a scheming person, Harry couldn't hide his thoughts when called out, and finally, he nodded.

Asher chuckled. "It's fine. My specialty is earning others' admiration through my abilities."

He spoke with such confidence, as if it was natural.

Harry was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.

"Cough, cough, you're absolutely right. You are indeed very skilled at winning people over with your real strength."

Whether it was Harry himself, his wife Jane, or Henry and

Marie, they all admired Asher's true capabilities after getting to know him.

Asher's insights and achievements consistently shattered the barriers of his young age, leaving others amazed.

Harry's small concerns vanished entirely with Asher's confident words.

———

After landing, Harry took Asher straight to a hotel near Bluestone City's restricted area, where the rest of the team was waiting.

Arriving at the designated floor via elevator, Asher immediately sensed two unfriendly gazes.

He wasn't intimidated.

Since Harry had warned him in advance, he was prepared.

"Looks like almost everyone's here!" Harry quickly scanned the group and found only two members were missing.

Stepping aside, he introduced Asher, who stood beside him.

"Let me introduce you—this is Asher, a young pet beast evolution researcher from NY, whom I specially invited for this extracurricular activity."

"I'm sure you've heard his name."

"Of course." A woman in her forties, with a warm smile, spoke gently, "He's very well-known. Professor Ash, I hope we'll have a pleasant journey together during this activity."

Before Asher could respond, a discordant voice interrupted.

"Hmph!"

"Fame-chaser!"

[After so long, we have a new novel guys. Congrats 🎉 🎉 🎉

Title— God Eater Sequence: The Devourer

Synopsis—

In a post-apocalyptic world where light of day has been devoured into extinction, there exists sequence ability awakners who fight against divine scourges and keep the last stand of humaity alive. But for ordinary people, survival means clinging to the strong—or being trampled underfoot.

Qin Siyang, once just another struggling survivor, awakens the Devouing Sequence—a power that allows him to devour divine remnants and grow stronger without limits. From scavenging in the shadows to standing at the top, he will carve his own path in this brutal world.

A feast of gods has begun. And Qin Siyang? He's starving.]

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