Beast Tamer: I Can See Evolution Paths

Don't ask.

Even married couples might fly apart when disaster strikes. At best, he and Felix were just fair-weather buddies—dog-head brothers and unreliable friends. Why would he tie himself down and get dragged into the mess alongside Felix?

Absolutely not.

Devin decided to run as fast as possible.

"I know Professor Asher is a good person. I hope you can soon achieve satisfactory results in your research," Devin offered his heartfelt blessings.

Felix?

Who's that?

He didn't know him at all.

Felix glared at Devin, seemingly shocked that Devin would kick him while he was down at a time like this. Yet, Felix didn't reflect on how he had roped Devin into trouble in the first place.

Asher smiled.

Sigh.

He held grudges.

And wasn't this great?

Everyone's demands were met. Everyone had a bright future.

"You're already arranging credit before you've even achieved results?" Felix stood up abruptly, fuming. "Careful you don't end up with nothing but an empty basket!"

Asher didn't reply, only giving him a look.

Take a hint.

Figure it out on your own.

Argue with him? Asher found that exhausting.

The flat-headed brother: "..."

So furious he could spiral into the air and explode.

"You..." Asher didn't feel like speaking, but Harry frowned, ready to say something.

However, before Harry could utter a word, Felix cut him off.

"Teacher, there's no need to say more." The ever-aggrieved Felix stood abruptly, his face full of resentment and grievance. "I know in your eyes, Asher is perfect. And us? What are we? How could we ever compare?"

Perhaps realizing he had no good image in the teachers' eyes, Felix didn't even bother pretending anymore.

Harry's expression turned a bit awkward.

Maxine: "?"

Awkward?

Why would Harry feel awkward? Clearly, Felix should be the awkward one here.

"What are you raving about?" Maxine raised an eyebrow, her gentle tone vanishing as she unleashed her venom like her contracted beast.

"Well, at least you have some self-awareness," Maxine said, using the kindest tone to deliver the harshest blow. "Comparing yourself to little Professor Asher? What exactly do you have to compete with?"

"Is it your lack of sense you're proud of?"

"Or almost fleeing from the field worth learning?"

Felix's face turned beet red, shifting between green, purple, and red hues like a chaotic palette. His mouth opened and closed, but under Maxine's contemptuous gaze, he finally stormed out in rage.

With a loud "BANG," the door slammed, as if venting his final dissatisfaction.

But...

A derisive snort followed. Maxine crossed her arms and sneered disdainfully. "Slamming doors? That's all you've got? Why not stay and argue with me?"

"What's the matter? Feeling embarrassed? If I kept talking, it wouldn't just be about embarrassment anymore!"

Everyone else: "..."

Exactly.

Teacher Maxine's words were absolutely lethal...

Maxine: *Turns around, stares intently*

Everyone immediately resumed their serious expressions.

No thoughts.

They didn't think anything just now.

"Hmph." Maxine snorted again. "Teacher Harry, you need to toughen up, or your students will think you're easy to bully."

Harry sheepishly adjusted his glasses and laughed. "With you around, Teacher Maxine, that's more than enough."

As for becoming as fierce as Maxine... Harry found the thought overwhelming.

Felix's drama didn't leave a mark on Asher's mind.

Carrying the newly secured Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit, he returned to NY City at a leisurely pace via chartered flight.

When asked why, it was because neither beast had a contract or restraints, making most regular transportation methods unsuitable for inter-city travel.

Chartering a flight was the most convenient and fastest option.

The only downside? It cost Asher's wallet a fair bit.

Watching his once-bulging wallet deflate slightly, Asher cast a meaningful gaze at the Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit.

"You two better behave," Asher said with a gentle yet piercing gaze, watching them peck at the snacks on the small table like little birds. "Or don't blame me if I make you work off your debts!"

A heartless boss?

No, no.

This was merely a reasonable utilization of wild beasts.

Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit: *Holding their cookies, trembling.*

Meanwhile, Little Raven sat in Asher's lap, ignoring the duo entirely.

Little Raven: o(^｀）o

'Heh!'

'Not even in the same league! No need to pay attention to them!'

'...And even if the Beast Master did want to capture them...',Little Raven glanced at the trembling Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit. Fine, it might agree eventually.

After all...

Even the scruffy-looking little subordinate, Cat-Worm, ended up being accepted under its leadership as the big sister.

Thinking this, Little Raven couldn't help but feel a wave of melancholy.

'Sigh!'

'Being a bird is so hard.'

'What would this household do without this bird?'

'The Beast Master surely won't survive!'

Asher, sensing Little Raven's thoughts through their bond, fell into silent contemplation.

Shifting his gaze to the Cat-Worm, Asher saw that, unlike the magnanimous Little Raven, the second pet was ever-vigilant.

Cat-Worm: *On alert*

Sitting right in front of Asher, it kept a hawk-like gaze on the Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit, leaving no chance for them to approach Asher.

Under its scrutiny, the pair gradually became desensitized to its intimidating glare.

Or perhaps they just had thick skins.

Even trembling, they continued gobbling up their snacks at a lightning-fast pace, resembling a whirlwind sweeping through the table.

———

A few hours later, Asher smoothly landed with the two unique beasts and headed straight to the NY City Beast Alliance's office, specifically the chairman's office.

"Uncle Robb, how's my lab setup going?" Asher asked, placing the Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit on the desk. "I'm ready to launch a research project."

President Robb was momentarily stunned, his gaze falling on the two creatures. Doubt clouded his expression.

"Wait... These two beasts are...?"

"Bean Flower," Asher pointed at the bean-sprout-like plant.

"Dream Soul Spirit," he said, pointing to the chibi ghost-like creature.

President Robb: "?"

Both were familiar names.

But weren't these creatures notoriously difficult?

"You're saying... you want to research the Bean Flower?" President Robb looked at the tiny plant with a conflicted expression. "And the Dream Soul Spirit has been missing for centuries. Where did you find it?"

Asher hadn't been very clear over the phone.

President Robb only vaguely understood that something was up.

Out of trust for Asher, he quickly helped handle the arrangements.

When Asher finally showed up in person with two beasts in tow, President Robb realized just how big of a deal this was.

President Robb had a headache.

President Robb rubbed his temples.

President Robb shot Asher a resentful glance.

Asher blinked innocently and looked up at the sky.

"You really are… sigh!" President Robb let out a long sigh. "It's not that I don't want to help you, but anything involving Bean Flower… This is going to be tough."

Asher instantly caught on to President Robb's meaning.

"Uncle Robb, I'm not trying to research a new evolutionary direction for Bean Flower."

"Huh?" Asher's words piqued President Robb's interest. He looked up, locking eyes with Asher, confusion written all over his face. "If you're not researching a new evolutionary path for Bean Flower, why make it your research topic?"

"To analyze its cultivation methods," Asher replied, his tone utterly matter-of-fact.

President Robb's face was full of exasperation.

He was clearly the president of the NY Beastmaster Alliance.

But somehow, in front of Asher, he always ended up reduced to a comedic relief role.

Asher smiled. "Not exactly. What I want to research is the combined evolution of Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit. Uncle Robb, do you get what I mean?"

Not just Bean Flower.

Not just Dream Soul Spirit.

And definitely not like Henry and Marie, who had decided to study the new evolutionary paths of two beasts simultaneously after noticing some shared traits between their Little Fire Fox and Scarlet Flame Hound.

Two parallel lines?

No.

It was mutual enhancement.

"Fusion evolution, combined evolution—that's my main research focus this time," Asher explained with a smile.

President Robb was dumbfounded.

President Robb REMAINED dumbfounded.

Why did Asher's words feel so incomprehensible to him?

President Robb trembled as he poured himself a cup of tea, then poured one for Asher as well. He held the delicate teacup, sipping lightly.

The fragrant, slightly bitter taste spread across his tongue, calming President Robb's chaotic thoughts.

"…You mean you've discovered… a new method of evolution?",President Robb asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Not a new evolutionary path for beasts.

But a direct innovation in the methods used to assist their evolution.

Like when Asher had introduced the concept of "affection points."

"Affection points" weren't exactly a revolutionary method but more of a convenient, practical tool for researchers of pet evolution. Whether or not they could actually make use of it was another story.

But "fusion evolution, combined evolution"… This was Asher creating an entirely new toolset from scratch.

President Robb was stunned.

Asher understood President Robb's implication and saw the shock in his eyes. He couldn't help but smile wryly. "Uncle Robb… Your imagination is really something!"

"I really haven't thought that far ahead."

Revolutionize the field?

Absolutely not!

He wasn't that bored or idle.

Asher explained that he simply happened to discover this evolutionary relationship between Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit. He just wanted to confirm it and then publish the results. Was there anything wrong with that?

Not at all.

After hearing Asher's explanation, President Robb didn't relax. Instead, his expression became even more complicated and speechless.

What could he say?

He had thought this kid wanted to build a rocket, surpassing the best of humanity, but Asher told him he was just doing something on a whim with no grand ambitions?

President Robb wasn't sure anymore.

Did he want Asher to be an ambitious, driven genius?

Or a laid-back, seemingly idle prodigy who casually achieved groundbreaking results?

Either way, both versions of Asher were giving his aging heart quite a workout.

Why make things difficult for himself?

In the end, Asher was from NY City. The more discoveries and achievements Asher made, the more resources and attention NY City could gain. This was a good thing for the city and even the province's development.

He should just be happy about it.

"Dream Soul Spirit…" President Robb shifted the topic. "It really is Dream Soul Spirit."

President Robb circled the Dream Soul Spirit twice, examining its bouncy, gelatinous form, which looked like it had been pulled straight from a book illustration. Even at his age, President Robb couldn't resist poking the Dream Soul Spirit out of curiosity.

Dream Soul Spirit: O.O

The Dream Soul Spirit jerked back, its tail going completely rigid.

"There's actually some special connection between Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit? Incredible. Are you sure you want to research this topic?" President Robb retracted his finger, cleared his throat, and feigned seriousness.

"Let me warn you: because of Bean Flower's peculiarities, plus the stark contrast in their attributes, this is going to be a challenge."

"If you want to proceed with this topic and establish a project to study it, it's not impossible."

"But funding will be minimal," President Robb added, getting to the crux of the matter. "Very minimal."

The alliance and the government were generous with funding pet evolution and cultivation research.

But the money needed to make sense and show results.

Bean Flower… was a notorious nightmare for countless professors studying pet evolution. It had reached the point where anyone proposing to research Bean Flower was immediately suspected of trying to scam research funds.

As for Dream Soul Spirit, it had vanished from human records for eight or nine centuries.

Proposing to study just Dream Soul Spirit might get a decent amount of funding.

But putting two seemingly unrelated beasts together? The fact that President Robb was even considering it showed his immense trust in Asher.

Otherwise, Asher wouldn't even get to mention "combined evolution" without being outright rejected.

"How much are we talking about?" Asher hesitated slightly.

Minimal funding… Would ten or twenty million be enough?

He didn't know how many researchers he'd hire, but salaries had to be paid, right?

Intern researchers could earn anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands per month, depending on their experience.

Then there was the bonus after completing the project… Oh, that wasn't an issue.

If the project succeeded, the alliance would allocate additional rewards.

Okay.

If he hired ten researchers, he could probably manage for a month, right?

As long as he found suitable beastmasters for Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit, Asher was confident he could figure out their unique evolutionary method within a month.

Seeing Asher's determined expression, President Robb rolled his eyes dramatically. "Lowest tier—one million. Not a penny more."

"And if you burn through that without delivering tangible results, you're barred from applying for new projects for a year."

"Think it over carefully."

President Robb made it sound as serious as possible.

One million.

It sounded like a lot.

But for a research project?

It was a drop in the ocean.

Buying resources, materials, conducting endless experiments and comparisons—every step cost money.

Even low-grade resources, when purchased in bulk, could easily exhaust that million.

And if it all amounted to nothing… President Robb wanted to grab Asher by the shoulders and shake some sense into him.

Then…

"Alright, one million it is." Asher responded calmly, though he was practically grinning inside.

'Haha!'

This was easier than he had expected.

One million?

For Asher, that was the most well-funded project he'd ever undertaken.

Retreat?

Why retreat?

Charge forward full steam ahead.

President Robb: "…"

"Fine, do as you please." President Robb waved him off, shaking his head with the weary air of someone who'd seen it all. "Ah, young people… I get it. Stubborn as mules, always headstrong until they hit a wall."

What use was just talking about it?

Only when Asher truly hit that wall—head cracked, blood flowing, stuck in a dead-end with no way out—would he realize that things weren't as simple as he imagined.

Doing research wasn't something that could be achieved with just imagination and talent.

"I'll give you an extra five million as an advance for your next project budget." President Robb spoke helplessly.

A moment ago, he had been talking harshly, as if he wouldn't show an ounce of leniency.

But upon second thought, considering how much the Beast Tamer Alliance in NY City had benefited from Asher this past year... President Robb's heart softened instantly.

The thought of Asher's project team barely scraping by with a measly one million, unable to afford better resources or even apply for them, left President Robb feeling guilty.

He decided to go through other channels to apply for more funding for Asher.

Sigh!

What could he do? This was their homegrown genius, after all. A little indulgence wouldn't hurt.

Hearing this, Asher smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Robb, but there's really no need. Let's follow the process. One million is enough."

More than enough.

If asking for too little wouldn't make things awkward for others in the field, Asher would've happily asked President Robb to cut it in half.

Forget it, forget it.

For the sake of his peers, he decided not to set that kind of precedent.

Asher: 'I'm such a considerate person!'

"You brat..." President Robb glanced at Asher, shaking his head. "Fine, I won't try to persuade you. But I'll keep that five million ready for you. If your budget runs short, come talk to me."

President Robb was already pondering how to legally channel that five million into Asher's research project.

Asher immediately saw through President Robb's thoughts and couldn't help but smile wryly.

'Alright, alright.'

This was truly a heavy burden of "love."

But Asher didn't refuse. He figured it wouldn't matter as long as he didn't end up using it.

For him, one million was truly sufficient—more than enough.

After installing specially-made nanochips into Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit, their movements and energy fluctuations would be accurately recorded until they were contracted by a Beast Tamer.

If any anomalies occurred, the nanochips would release potent cellular toxins...

"This might work for Bean Flower, but for Dream Soul Spirit..." Asher felt the urge to complain.

It clearly looked like a floating ghost. That the nanochip could be injected into Dream Soul Spirit's soul-like body and manifest as a tiny black dot without falling out amazed Asher.

Seriously?

What kind of miraculous black technology was this?

"Considering there's documentation of Dream Soul Spirit, preparations were made for encountering ghost-attribute beasts during the creation of these chips," President Robb explained nonchalantly. "We can't wait until ghost-attribute creatures are taking over the world to figure out how to deal with them, right?"

For unknown attributes, there was no choice.

But for known ones, plans had to be made.

While it wasn't about being prepared from A to Z, at least three to five plans had to exist.

It was a fear of insufficient equipment deeply ingrained in the bones of their people.

Asher gave a thumbs up.

'Amazing, my country!'

With the chips in place, Asher could finally take these two beasts to his lab.

He promptly contacted Chase and Sarah.

"Hello."

"Professor Asher?"

Hearing the familiar yet slightly estranged voice, Chase couldn't hold back his joyful sobs.

Asher: "?"

What's going on?

What did he say to make Chase so emotional?

"You've finally returned!" Chase exclaimed excitedly over the phone, but his tone and expression quickly turned uneasy. "Uh... Professor, about the recruitment..."

"Not going well," Asher stated confidently.

Chase: "!"

"Your tone gave it away." Asher chuckled.

Having a basic understanding of Chase's character and way of handling things, Asher could guess the situation.

If Chase was uneasy and guilt-ridden, it was likely because he felt he had failed to accomplish the task Asher had entrusted to him.

"Yes... We only managed to recruit two people..." Chase said quietly, lowering his head. "Although they're a bit younger than me... both were kicked out of their original labs and couldn't find other project teams to join..."

"What about their character and professional skills?" Asher asked.

"Character is fine, and their skills are passable."

Asher nodded.

'Got it.'

"Alright, two it is. Adding you and your wife makes four people. That's enough for my new project." Asher said calmly.

The process of Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit's fusion evolution wasn't as challenging as imagined. It didn't require a lot of flexible, divergent experiments—just a step-by-step approach to follow through.

On the other end of the call, Chase's eyes widened. "W-Wait! Professor Asher, you've already decided on a new project?"

"Mm." Asher responded simply.

"Don't worry. Just follow my instructions when the time comes. I'll assign tasks for everyone."

Hearing this, Chase felt somewhat reassured, though he couldn't shake the lingering anxiety.

Wasn't this too soon?

Wasn't it better to wait a bit longer or recruit more people?

When he had worked in other labs, there were always eight to ten researchers, all brainstorming evolutionary routes together. With only four relatively average researchers now...

Could they really start a project?

Was it really okay not to wait?

Is This Project Really Starting?

Are we sure we don't want to wait a bit longer?

Are we sure we don't want to hire a couple more people?

Maybe one or two more reliable and outstanding talents…

'Oh wait, Professor Asher doesn't need outstanding talents.'

When recruiting, it seemed so convenient for him.

But when the research was actually about to begin… panic, sheer panic.

His heart was racing, just like when he first graduated and joined his first project team. He felt like a complete newbie, getting everything wrong.

"All the arrangements are done. I'm heading to the lab now," Asher said and hung up the phone without waiting for Chase, who wanted to say more.

Well… he could always try convincing him in person.

What Chase didn't expect, though, was—

As soon as they met, Asher presented them with a grand surprise.

"W-Wait!" Chase's eyes widened as he stared at the two beasts Asher had brought along, his jaw almost dislocating from how wide his mouth was open.

"AHHHHHHH—"

Chase screamed. "You're researching Bean Flowers!"

Chase was in shock.

Chase couldn't believe it.

Didn't Asher say before he left that he absolutely had no intention of researching Bean Flowers?

Beside him, Sarah wore a hesitant expression as if he wanted to speak but didn't know where to start.

The two new research interns in their thirties looked at the Bean Flower and the other beast—which seemed familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time—with expressions of mild regret.

Hmm… They were beginning to doubt whether joining this lab out of desperation was a huge mistake.

Bean Flowers… Anyone with a bit of common sense in this field knew better than to mess with such beasts, right?

Even a slight association with them could ruin one's reputation in the industry.

Asher smiled, clearly catching the doubtful expressions on everyone's faces—especially the life-questioning gazes of the two new hires.

"Don't worry. I'm not researching new evolution paths for Bean Flowers," Asher's words immediately calmed their nerves a little.

Then he added, "My research topic this time is the combined evolution of Bean Flowers and Dream Soul Spirits."

Chase, Sarah, and the other two researchers: "?"

This is all about keeping the heart racing.

'Are we on some kind of emotional roller coaster here?'

Asher smiled. "Don't be afraid, don't worry. I'll take care of everything. Just follow my lead."

"What you need to do next is…"

———

[Eleventh High School]

"Huh?" Vicky noticed a flyer on his desk as soon as he entered the classroom. Picking it up, he examined it closely.

"Looking for Beast Tamer collaborators? Requires the ability to contract two specified beasts?" Vicky shook the flyer, ready to scoff at such an outrageous advertisement when he noticed the signature at the bottom: "My big bro!"

Others in the class noticed too, and the room buzzed with whispered discussions.

"It's Asher!"

"Should we go?"

"Haha, I'd love to, but I barely meditate as it is… Forget contracting two beasts, I can't even handle contracting one more."

"See? No effort in daily training, and now you regret it. It's Asher! Whatever beasts he's researching must be amazing, right? If we could contract one…"

"Not necessarily. The flyer doesn't say what creatures they are. What if they're so weak he doesn't dare reveal them?"

"That's possible. You'd better be prepared for the risks."

"If you meet the requirements, just go. No one's forcing you to assist if you don't want to." Vicky slammed the desk, silencing the envious and sarcastic remarks. "You're just making yourselves look bad with all this whining. A bunch of clowns!"

The whisperers: "…"

Ouch. That hit too close to home.

Everyone instantly shut up.

"Heh, I'll go join the fun!" Vicky said cheerfully as he sat down,"Too bad I'm just a bit short of qualifying."

Ronnie, sitting nearby, looked at him incredulously. "You've opened your second contract slot already?"

'So soon?'

Vicky raised his chin proudly.

'Of course!'

Thanks to consistently practicing the training method Asher had taught him, Vicky had barely taken a break.

That's his big bro, his idol, his mentor! How could he not cherish the method Asher shared?

Unexpectedly, through relentless training, his second beast contract slot had naturally opened.

He was thrilled.

Ronnie: "…"

Clenching the flyer, Ronnie crumpled it in frustration.

"Even so, you only have one contract slot. You don't meet the requirements," Ronnie said angrily.

"Heh~ Can't I just go for fun?" Vicky replied with an infuriating grin. "Besides, opportunities favor the prepared. What if I get lucky?"

Ronnie stormed off in frustration.

He really shouldn't have tried talking to Vicky.

But that smug look of Vicky's… It was impossible to ignore.

———

[Ninth High School]

June and Ivy also saw the flyer.

"Wow~ So Asher has already established his own lab and started conducting research?" June said, looking at the flyer with a surprised expression.

She put her arm around Ivy's shoulder. "Wanna go check it out together?"

"But… we don't meet the requirements, right?" Ivy pointed to the line that read "requires the ability to contract two specified beasts" and sighed. "Even though we both unlocked our second contract slot recently, the third one…"

No chance.

Unlocking a second contract slot in high school was already their limit.

"Let's just take a look! If Asher dares to send flyers to schools, why shouldn't we go?" June waved her hand dismissively. "Doesn't he know how rare it is for high schoolers to have three contract slots and actually use them to contract two or three beasts?"

"If he's gambling on luck, we can too!"

Ivy: "…"

"Hey? Makes sense!" Some nearby classmates, overhearing the conversation, joined in. "I've also unlocked my second slot but haven't decided on a beast yet. Maybe I'll get some inspiration!"

June gestured an "OK" with her fingers. "Let's go together! Show Asher what we mean by 'if he dares to post, we dare to show up!'"

"Hahaha!"

The room erupted into laughter, and the students who had unlocked their second slots but hadn't contracted beasts yet all decided to tag along.

They weren't aiming to be chosen—they just wanted to learn something and gather intel.

If Asher really managed to develop a new evolution path, wouldn't they be the first to hear about it and potentially snag a beast?

"Hahaha!"

Laughter filled the surroundings instantly.

———

[NY City's Rookie Training Ground]

"What's this? A flyer? No, why would someone ask a Beast Master to send flyers to our rookie training ground... shouldn't they send it to the official training grounds instead? How many geniuses do we have here who can contract two beasts in one go?"

"Exactly, isn't this a joke? I reasonably suspect that kid from the official training grounds lost and is doing this to humiliate us on purpose."

"Send it back! We must send it back!"

"Wait, wait, wait! Don't get so agitated. Take a look at the signatory unit."

'Damn it—it's the Demon King!'

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! It's really the Demon King!"

"Uh... so what do we do? Are we supposed to send it back too?"

"Send it back? Are you kidding me? This is our rookie training ground's Demon King. Quick, does anyone here have the ability to contract two beasts? We have to show up for the Demon King!"

"...Only unlocked the second pet slot."

"+1..."

"Same here, same here. We're all in the same boat."

"So are we not going to show up and embarrass ourselves?"

"What embarrassment! This is about showing support. Everyone who unlocked their second contract slot but hasn't yet contracted a pet beast, come with me. I'll lead the team—we're doing this to back up the Demon King!"

Amid the passionate and fervent discussions, they quickly organized a team to show up.

Never mind whether they could actually get chosen.

Face—that had to be given.

———

[NY City's Crescent Club Team]

"Brother Drake, Little Terence, someone's here looking for you!" The club's receptionist shouted loudly to the back. "They said a Professor Asher sent something for you."

Drake: "?"

Terence: "!"

Since it happened to be the holidays, Little Terence, who was at the club, sharply turned his head to look at the burly Brother Drake.

"Uh... could it be for you?" Drake hesitated, looking at Little Terence. "Did you skip class again?"

Little Terence shook his head frantically. "No, no, no! I attended all my basic courses this year. It's not about me. It must not be about me. Didn't they say it's for both of us?"

Little Terence firmly refused to take the blame.

Because during the New Year, he had encountered Asher and lost to him. Add to that the psychological blow and the message Asher left behind... Little Terence naturally couldn't break his club contract. But he also hadn't completely abandoned his school courses like before.

Instead, he painfully shuttled back and forth between the two.

Little Terence was miserable, but he stuck with it.

This was the path he chose. There was no room for regret.

So… "Let's go out together!" Little Terence said resolutely.

Drake rolled his eyes, his muscular arm slapping down on Little Terence's shoulder. "You punk! I'm your coach!"

"That's non-negotiable!"

If you ask why—Asher had left a psychological shadow on Little Terence… a deep one.

Just a tiny bit!

After some tugging and pulling, the two finally came out and received a flyer from a bespectacled man who looked like he worked in research, around his thirties.

Drake and Little Terence: "?"

After seeing the promotional content on the flyer, the two shared the same confused expression. "What's this?"

They looked at the middle-aged man in front of them.

Micheal, a recently unemployed researcher now hired for this job, wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Uh… Professor Asher asked me to deliver this to you. He said if you're interested, you might want to consider it."

"If the research succeeds, the power the contracted beasts will possess definitely won't disappoint you."

Hearing this, Drake glanced again at the brief words on the flyer, pondered for a while, and thought about all the heated gossip about Asher he had seen recently…

"Got it. Thanks for delivering this!" Drake smiled brightly, expressing his gratitude.

As members of the club… they had the courage to take a gamble.

If Asher could develop an evolutionary route comparable to the Fire Fox Queen's… wouldn't they hit the jackpot?

They'd go! They had to go!

———

"You kid… your brain works really well." When President Robb learned about what Asher was up to, his face showed a mix of surprise and joy.

Goodness.

With this move… among so many people, surely there would be someone capable of contracting Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit, right?

And the best part was that Asher didn't incur any extra costs.

It was just a few flyers.

Then, using his own reputation, he got everything rolling.

It was impressive, to say the least.

"However… the places you distributed the flyers to, kid, don't seem to have any high-level talents," President Robb pointed out sharply. "Schools and training grounds are mostly filled with rookies. At best, they can contract a second pet. Those who can contract a third pet? Almost none."

"The only place with some potential is the last club."

"What were you thinking, kid?"

Faced with President Robb's inquiry, Asher smiled faintly. "Well… let's just say I'm giving it a try. I have two ideas, but I'm not sure about them."

"Besides, with more people involved, even if someone tries to raise the price, I'll have the leverage to negotiate."

Just as President Robb said, the last club was Asher's real target.

But… if he only invited people from the club or some other unfamiliar groups, the advantage wouldn't be in his hands.

Bean Flower and Dream Soul Spirit didn't have much appeal individually.

Let alone as a combined contract.

Before the experiment succeeded, no one could guarantee they'd fully achieve a fused evolution.

What if they couldn't?

Then it would all fall apart.

At that point, Asher would have to beg those who met the requirements, and he might even have to give up a lot of benefits just to get them to agree.

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