"Don't worry," Eliana looked at Little Sun's evolution path, and the more she looked, the more her eyes sparkled, her two eyes were just short of turning into light bulbs on the spot.
'This Little Sun's evolution path, and the form after evolution... all look too interesting.'
Eliana once again felt fortunate.
She listened to Senior Levi's words, studied in Soren, and joined Professor Asher's research institute.
Otherwise, her future self would definitely regret it.
Levi beside her: "..."
'Talk no more.'
Anyway, he also felt that it was quite good like this now.
"Half a year's time... we will definitely strive to finish even earlier," Eliana said with firm conviction.
The others around also had no objections.
That's right.
Professor Asher did not even spend half a year to develop these two evolution paths. Obvious to all, it was two hours on the lecture platform.
They, as staff members, must also work hard.
Can't let Professor Asher's reputation be affected because of them.
Can't let Professor Asher pay the price due to their incompetence.
Asher: "..."
"Alright then, as long as you understand," Asher was quite emotional.
Being this kind of capitalist... he himself was starting to feel a bit embarrassed.
It's really because the staff were just too good at self-CPUing.
This made Asher... feel very unaccomplished.
Logically, this should be something he, the boss, ought to be doing. How did the employees finish everything themselves?
'Forget it. Just like this then.'
'Doesn't everyone look quite happy?'
Asher waved at them, "That's all the work, arrange it yourselves."
"During the upcoming period, don't disturb me for the time being."
Everyone nodded repeatedly.
Just short of raising a hand to the sky and swearing.
Absolutely won't disturb Professor Asher at this time. Unless the sky is really falling.
Everyone watched as Asher headed toward the training ground beside the institute.
Lisa calmed down from her excitement, looked at Asher's departing back, and couldn't help but reveal a curious expression in her eyes, "Is Professor Asher going into seclusion to research some very incredible topic?"
Still unaware of Asher's true life goal, Lisa purely thought that Asher was going to research pet beast evolution routes alone.
Langdon actually had similar thoughts as Lisa.
Just that since his little sister already asked, he didn't see the need to speak up.
What the two didn't expect was, after hearing Lisa's words, the others all looked at her with a kind of... complex, weird emotion.
Langdon and Lisa: "???"
'What?'
'Did something I just say accidentally touched some landmine?'
Instantly, the siblings' expressions became a little panicked.
It was Sarah, who had gotten along quite well with the siblings recently and had lent them a helping hand from the beginning, who stepped forward, giving everyone a helpless yet amused look.
"You two," Sarah stood in front of the siblings, raised a finger and pointed at everyone one by one. This represented naming and criticizing.
Everyone grinned sheepishly.
Even Chase gave his wife an embarrassed smile.
Sarah rolled her eyes even more exaggeratedly, "Teasing kids is fun, huh?"
"It really is quite fun," Pierce took the lead to nod.
The others also expressed agreement, "That's exactly it."
Sarah: "..."
Langdon and Lisa who finally caught on: "..."
'Good grief. So they were really just teasing us.'
'Scared us to death.'
Exchanging a glance and a smile, Langdon and Lisa also relaxed, and Levi stepped forward to briefly explain Asher's goal to the siblings.
At first the siblings: "Really?"
After hearing it: "..."
'Awesome! As expected of Professor Asher.'
This dream...
"If it were someone else, I think I'd have something to say, but since it's Professor Asher...", Lisa said softly. As she spoke, she trailed off.
The meaning was self-evident.
Everyone exchanged glances.
We're all thinking the same thing.
Things that would seem absurd on anyone else, when placed on Asher, just seem so normal.
Doubt? Why doubt?
"...Anyway, let's first properly discuss the upcoming work arrangements and division of labor," It was still Sarah who made an effort to bring the topic back on track.
Relaxation was about enough.
Time to discuss serious business next.
———
Einvol silently finished watching Asher's public lecture.
Eddy's expression was about the same as Einvol's.
"I... damn!"
When Eddy saw Little Sun's evolution at that moment, he barely managed to change the curse that was about to escape his mouth into a more normal-sounding exclamation.
"It evolved just like that?"
"Really not even caring about basic laws?"
"One second he comes up with an evolution path, the next second it's actually evolved, isn't that a bit too heaven-defying?", Eddy genuinely complained.
Then Eddy saw Einvol, still silent, drag the video progress bar of the just-watched clip back to the beginning.
Didn't say a single word. But his action fully expressed what he wanted to say.
Seeing Einvol like this, Eddy felt a bit of inexplicable complexity in his mood.
He already knew Asher was amazing. But seeing Einvol's level of regard for Asher, Eddy once again genuinely felt how incredible Asher really was.
That's definitely far beyond what a normal person can imagine.
But speaking of jealousy... Eddy looked at Asher on the projection screen.
To be honest, he couldn't even feel jealous.
There's a saying, right? When someone's ability is just a little ahead of yours, you'll feel jealous, you'll want to catch up. Because you know deep down, you're just a little bit behind. That person isn't that unreachable. As long as you work hard, you can definitely catch up.
But when someone's ability far exceeds your own scope... Then it's really impossible to feel jealous. Because you understand even more clearly that the gap between you is like heaven and earth.
To say jealousy... would be like a peasant bumping into an astronaut. Not jealous.
Just that if possible...
"When I get rich, I must replace my brain with a good one," Looking at Asher, Eddy said with firm conviction.
'Damn it! Hope the new brain works as well as Asher's.'
Einvol beside him: "..."
Einvol was too lazy to even talk.
He gave Eddy a "figure it out yourself" kind of look.
'As if that kind of brain can be swapped just because you want to.'
If it were really that easy, who knows how many people would've already washed and replaced their brains with a brand new one.
With patience, Einvol watched Asher's public lecture video several times over, the more he watched the more his eyes sparkled.
"...So this is what they call a genius...", Einvol exhaled a long breath from his chest, his eyes especially complex.
Just ask, those who became first-class researchers. Among the top domestic professors studying pet beast evolution, just ask, who wasn't a genius when they were young?
Even Professor Einvol, in his youth, was also a genius far beyond the norm.
Professor Einvol did not take pride in this.
He was also long numb to the envy and jealousy of his peers. His attention was always on someone stronger than him, that is, Professor Damien.
In Einvol's eyes back then, only Professor Damien could truly teach him.
However, it was precisely Professor Damien's rejection that dealt a heavy blow to the then-young Einvol.
Although never publicly spoken, Einvol knew it in his heart. Even now, he still remembers, and cares deeply about it.
He still wants to prove to Professor Damien that he has the strength.
Not taking him as a disciple back then was Professor Damien's loss.
Luckily, Eddy beside him didn't know what Einvol was thinking.
Otherwise, he would definitely show a face full of ridicule.
'What? Professor?'
'Where did you get the courage from. Let you think others don't know your little thoughts?'
'Saying it like this is a bit disrespectful.'
But in Eddy's view, that's exactly how it is. Professor Einvol's thoughts are so shallowly obvious that anyone who knows him even a little, more or less understands his obsession.
It's just that nobody really pays it any mind.
Sigh! Geniuses, right? After getting hurt, it's perfectly normal for them to hold grudges, right?
At most, Professor Einvol just holds grudges a little too fiercely.
Not really a big problem.
Whether in terms of character or capability, Professor Einvol doesn't really have any major flaws.
This one small little issue, it's acceptable. Really, it's acceptable.
Too bad, Eddy didn't know what his teacher was thinking right now, otherwise he would've taken the opportunity to say a few words about this.
'Teacher, seeing yourself clearly is not a bad thing.'
So Einvol's gaze remained on Asher on the projector screen. His expression was extremely complicated.
Jealousy. This was the first time he truly experienced the emotion of jealousy.
After all these years, over fifty years old already, only now did Einvol fully realize what kind of feelings his former classmates had toward him back then.
He let out another breath from his chest.
Einvol forcibly suppressed the emotions that were spreading out of control.
Envy is fine. Jealousy is also fine. But if he were to do something irrational because of it, absolutely not.
Forget others, even he himself would be the first to look down on himself if he really did something like that.
After adjusting his mindset, Einvol shifted his focus to something else.
"If we invited Professor Asher to join our project…", As he spoke, Einvol paused. Eddy didn't even need to say anything.
Einvol himself was the first to shake his head.
'Not appropriate.'
Their project already had a very high level of confidentiality.
It wouldn't be suitable to suddenly bring in outside personnel halfway through the research.
Asher's ability is beyond doubt.
But Einvol was also very confident in his own ability.
Asher had his own genius traits, but Einvol wasn't eating dry rice either.
With just a bit more time, he was confident he could successfully lead his team to complete this project.
"Still, finding a chance to communicate properly with Professor Asher would be better," Einvol nodded.
He wanted to hear Asher's thoughts. He wanted to have an in-depth, one-on-one exploration.
Eddy: "..."
Eddy didn't make any comments or suggestions.
This was fine too.
"Then should I reach out from my side?", Eddy looked at Einvol and asked.
Einvol had no objections. He really did want to chat with Asher, exchange ideas, and see if they could spark some new inspiration.
And then…
Einvol, who was waiting anxiously, received some news that wasn't very good for him. Asher had entered seclusion.
Einvol: "..."
The moment he heard this, Einvol's whole body stiffened. At first glance, he looked like a statue. He had completely petrified.
Eddy at the side also fell silent.
Uhh…
Although, he truly hadn't expected this outcome.
"Teacher… how about we wait a little longer?", Eddy said softly.
Einvol stiffly nodded in agreement.
But Eddy could tell, the teacher's soul was gone.
His whole heart wasn't here anymore.
Let's hope everything at the research institute goes smoothly from here and nothing unexpected happens.
———
Meanwhile, Asher remained completely unaware of this.
And even if he did know, he wouldn't really care.
Asher was carefully studying his group of pet beasts.
"Little Raven."
The golden-red big bird flapped its wings, puffed out its chest, proudly showing off its chest feathers.
"Cat-Worm."
Now fat enough to be half a truck in size, the Cat-Worm let out a thud as it heavily jumped onto the table in front of Asher. The two dragon horns on its head looked especially round.
If Asher didn't know these were dragon horns, he might've thought they were deer antlers.
They looked quite nourishing.
"Little White Snake."
The glossy white snake wriggled its thigh-thick body, its fine scales rubbing together with a rustling sound. Its pair of golden vertical pupils stared sharply at Asher.
"Little Jellyfish."
Whoosh~
The huge, pink jellyfish directly took up a fifth of Asher's entire room.
Its tentacles flailed around in the air, often accidentally landing on Asher or one of the other pets.
To be honest, with its current size, calling it "little" was really pushing it.
"Angel."
Asher's gaze finally fell on Angel.
Angel stared at Asher with a single giant mechanical eye.
He heard, but he didn't want to talk.
Is that a problem? Nope.
Asher had long since gotten used to Angel showing eighteen different expressions in a day.
Let Angel be. As long as Angel was happy.
Anyway, when it came time to perform, Angel never slacked off. That was good enough.
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