"It's good to have confidence, being confident is great."
Old Hank turned his head, and in a low voice said to Asher and Freya, as well as the younger son who came over, "Right, I also prepared a piece of pomelo leaf in your bags, in case something metaphysical happens…"
Seeing Old Hank looking like he had more to say but hesitated, Asher also fell into deep thought.
'Wait a second?'
'Prince's luck… is it good or bad in the end?'
———
[Elsewhere]
[Asher's Research Institute]
Not long after Asher left, Sarah received a special email.
"This is…", Sarah remembered this account. After clicking it open and seeing it, she subconsciously furrowed her brow.
"This guy is really annoying."
Sarah recalled what Asher had said before. Apparently, he held no malice toward the siblings and would even help them out when he could.
And the special instructions Asher had given her…
After thinking for a bit, Sarah replied to the siblings' email first.
Then she made a call to President Robb.
President Robb: "?"
Seeing that Sarah was calling, there was a bit of confusion in President Robb's eyes.
He had some impression of the staff at Asher's institute, especially someone like Sarah who was in charge of external communication.
["What's the matter?"], President Robb asked with doubt.
Normally speaking, if something came up at Asher's institute, Asher himself would handle it.
Even if it really needed outside contact, it was usually Asher doing it.
Sarah contacting him was honestly a first.
Still, President Robb remained polite.
"President Robb, here's the situation…", Sarah quickly and thoroughly explained the entire story over the phone, "…That's basically the gist of it."
After finishing, Sarah didn't think there was anything to get mad about.
After all, even if there was a reason to be mad, that anger had already come and gone days ago.
But it was different for President Robb.
This was the first time he'd heard of someone planning to step on Asher's stardom behind his back, and he was so angry he wished he could rush straight to Fangshan City right now.
["That guy's surname is Q, right?"]
["I vaguely remember him."]
["I thought from the start that guy wasn't a good person, but I didn't expect him to go so far as to bully someone from my team?"]
["He really dares to dream and act!"]
President Robb was cursing on the other end of the phone, gnashing his teeth.
Sarah: "This matter is indeed disgusting, but since we haven't caught any solid evidence, it's hard to take official action."
"But the Q siblings are the same pair from the recent publicity, the Twin Stars of Q City."
As if worried that President Robb wouldn't recall, Sarah even reminded him of the recent trending topic.
President Robb's gaze became sharper and sharper.
"Professor Asher thinks they have some talent and decent personalities," As she spoke, Sarah recalled the meaning conveyed in the siblings' email, they were indeed good kids.
They had their own hardships, but they didn't want to step on Asher to get famous. Instead, they were trying to change their circumstances through their own effort.
They even tried to pass on the information they had, warning Asher to be alert of President Q's actions.
At their age, being able to do this was already very impressive.
"If possible, Professor Asher suggests you could try poaching from President Q."
This kind of action has an official term, Talent Introduction Plan.
President Robb: "..."
Sudden realization dawned on President Robb.
["That idea… is quite good!"], President Robb stroked his chin.
Although, the Q siblings' abilities were indeed nothing compared to Asher's talent.
And due to their own background, they were unlikely to become top-tier potion makers, but that didn't mean they lacked talent or potential.
There are countless paths in life.
They weren't even adults yet. In the future, they might show strengths and advantages in other areas.
Right now, just the potions they developed for short-term ability boosts were enough to make many city Beast Tamer Alliance presidents tempted.
President Robb: 'Worth a try!'
If it weren't for Asher's suggestion, President Robb might not have been this moved, but now that Asher had said it… President Robb was even more inclined to give it a shot.
At this point, Sarah added fuel to the fire, "Just now, the Q siblings sent me another email saying that President Q still hasn't given up on his previous plans."
"This time he's planning to attack Professor Asher from another angle."
"They're feeling very conflicted and don't know what to do."
Sixteen or seventeen, maybe seventeen or eighteen-year-old kids.
Their parents were still lying in the hospital.
President Q was the head of the Beast Tamer Alliance. If they tried to do anything within Q City's sphere, he'd know instantly.
Sending an email to Asher's research institute and telling him the news they knew was the fastest and best option they had.
["Don't worry,"] Originally, President Robb had started fantasizing about poaching talent and his hostility toward President Q had slightly lessened, but after hearing this, his fighting spirit reignited instantly.
What? Still trying to come after Asher? You've got some nerve.
Do you know how much fiscal budget our NY City Beast Tamer Alliance can apply for every year? Just saying it might scare you to death.
Poach? We have to poach this talent! And not just poach, we must leave that old fart with an unforgettable lesson.
Otherwise, it won't be long before these unreliable schemes start spreading again.
["Leave this matter to me!"]
President Robb patted his chest and took on the task.
Sarah finally hung up the phone and let out a long breath.
Yep, this was what using resources wisely looks like.
Professor Asher and NY City benefit each other.
"By the time Professor Asher gets back, this matter should almost be resolved," Sarah smiled, then turned around and entered the research institute.
———
As for what was happening back at the institute, Asher wasn't completely unaware.
Anyway, all the arrangements had already been made, so there was no need to worry more.
Asher carried his large backpack and officially stepped into the territory of the Red Mill Mountains, curious about how lucky Prince really was.
Felter had somehow ended up beside Asher, "Asher, how strong is your beast now?"
"I've already contracted a second beast and am preparing to contract a third."
"Also, my fourth contract slot is about to open."
"Don't know if I can find some special beast in this secret realm. If I can, I'll make a contract, and then beat up Dexter when I get back. No problem at all…"
Blah! Blah!
Felter was like a chatterbox, spilling all his business with Dexter at Jade Dragon University.
Dexter, who wasn't present: '…Wow, thanks! Even now you're making sure to keep your bro relevant.'
Asher listened and nodded.
He didn't feel annoyed; in fact, he found it interesting.
Really interesting.
Not to mention, Dexter and Felter could barely count as people he knew. Asher was also very interested in the wild training and actual combat courses at Jade Dragon University.
These were things Bluewind University didn't have.
And also things Asher hadn't really experienced.
"That's normal," Freya also came up beside Asher, and said with interest, "A lot of courses and assessment methods here, aside from Jade Dragon and Flood Dragon, are rare in most universities!"
"One reason is the students' strength, and another is the unique geography and environment of Jade Dragon and Flood Dragon Universities."
"Fighting, battling, eliminating, and slaying beasts is something every Beast Tamer from Jade Dragon and Flood Dragon must get used to."
Asher thought about Star City's special location.
Everyone becoming soldiers isn't strange at all, it's practically normal, so normal it's abnormal.
"Now that I think about it, my four years at Flood Dragon University were the most unforgettable six years of my life."
Asher: "?"
"We at Flood Dragon have our own gap year," Seeing Asher's confused look, Freya explained.
"Every two years, we take a year-long practical session, usually going into the wild to hunt monsters and fight beasts," Freya spoke lightly.
But Asher wanted to wipe the sweat off those students.
Hardcore.
That's seriously hardcore. No wonder the Beast Tamers from Jade Dragon and Flood Dragon are so impressive.
Their extracurricular activities were leagues apart from other schools. No wonder they produce powerful Beast Tamers. When something happens, they actually step up.
At that moment, Prince, walking in the lead, turned his head and found—
'Hmm? Why is there no one around me?'
Everyone had gathered around Asher.
Prince: "?"
He didn't think too much about it. Hands on hips, he loudly shouted back, "Hurry up and follow! We still have to find a good resting place once we go in!"
"Don't dawdle!"
Before Asher's group could respond, Felter stepped up to roast his brother,."What are you rushing for? Acting like you don't procrastinate all the time."
"Oh wait, no, you're the type with a three-minute passion span."
As he spoke, Felter suddenly looked at his brother with sharp eyes, "You better not slack off once we get inside. If I make it back alive, I swear I'll tell Mom everything."
Felter shouted this loudly.
Asher could visibly see Prince pause for a moment.
Asher: "..."
He had a bad feeling.
He suddenly felt like he'd boarded an unreliable pirate ship. Now what?
"Chill."
Asher almost thought he'd said it out loud, but when he turned and saw Freya's perfect reply, his eyes were full of confusion.
Freya waved a hand at him, looking utterly calm, "When dealing with this guy, especially going on adventures together, you have to adopt this mindset."
"What to do? Chill."
"The main thing is, don't overthink. The more you overthink, the more you'll suffer."
"You'll just end up mad for no reason, while that guy won't feel a thing."
Freya's face bore an indescribable weariness, clearly someone who had suffered.
Asher: "?"
His curiosity didn't lessen, it grew stronger.
But Asher didn't rush to ask more.
Clearly, it was hard for even Freya to explain how weird Prince was.
Some things you just had to see with your own eyes to understand.
No rush, they were almost there anyway.
Before that, Asher curiously surveyed the Red Mill Mountains.
In all directions, even underfoot, there were signs of excavation, not a blade of grass growing, with the soil loose and crumbling.
There were also many large and small mine-like tunnels, long and dark, just big enough for a person to squeeze through hunched over.
These tunnels were everywhere.
Some were large enough for someone 1.8 meters tall to walk upright.
Some were so small you had to crouch deeply to enter.
It was practically a real-life maze.
The path they were on wasn't very wide. One person passed just right, two people side by side felt cramped, and three… yeah, someone was already getting squeezed to the back.
Asher felt dizzy looking at it.
But leading the way in front, Old Hank looked like he had everything under control.
"Are you very familiar with the paths here?", Asher looked toward Felter.
Felter rubbed his chin and said, "Knowing every path isn't realistic, but about 80–90 percent, most of them at least. Unless it's some really ancient paths, then dad might not be that sure."
Old Hank heard this and glared back at his son.
Then said to Asher, "That's not wrong."
"These caves and paths were dug out at different times. A single entrance might lead to multiple routes, just like rabbit holes."
"Sometimes those extra tunnels were made just to confuse others."
Asher looked amazed.
'Gold diggers, you guys really know how to play!'
Old Hank read the look in Asher's eyes and snorted twice, "That's because you don't know how dangerous this business was in the early days."
"These years it's gotten more stable, the fossil excavation craze has cooled, and things have gotten a bit better."
"But back then, there were always people trying to reap without sowing, lying in wait near entrances to rob others' fossils."
"If you were lucky, you just lost a day's worth of finds. If not…", Old Hank shook his head.
When the forest is big, all kinds of birds exist.
"That's why there are these complex caves, especially at the entrance area, you'll find more of these caves."
"Some were dug by the robbers, used for squatting and waiting."
"There are also some dug in advance by the escaping people, just used to shake those people off."
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