These five pet beasts are, up to now, all the pet beasts Asher has.
As a beast tamer, for Asher to have contracted exactly five pet beasts within two years is already quite a shocking thing.
After all, a typical beast tamer who graduates after four years of college generally, at most, would have only contracted three to four pet beasts.
And that's already among the top tier.
If the strength is just slightly weaker, a bit more ordinary… there's a chance they might not have even unlocked the third contract slot yet.
But Asher has already contracted a full five pet beasts.
Not many people have noticed this point.
Among them are even those most familiar with Asher, President Robb and Iris.
They always subconsciously compare Asher's talent in pet beast evolution research with his beast tamer talent.
Then, because Asher's talent in pet evolution research is too outstanding, they instinctively overlook. In fact, Asher's talent as a beast tamer is not bad at all.
It's even a bit too heaven-defying.
"Does this count as a different kind of getting rich silently?", Asher casually hugged the chubby Cat-Worm tightly into his arms, stroking it absentmindedly as he spoke.
"Meow?", The Cat-Worm, with its messy pair of eyes wide open, instinctively responded.
'What getting rich? I am hungry!'
Asher: "..."
'Alright, alright.'
'Eat, eat, eat!'
He stood up to make arrangements for every pet beast at home. Even for Angel, who doesn't really need food, Asher didn't skip it, he even offered a special type of lubricating oil.
Mechanical-type pet beasts should drink lubricating oil.
Just kidding.
What Asher actually prepared for Angel was a golden, shimmering liquid that sparkled with starlight inside. Anyone who didn't know better might really think it was lubricating oil at first glance.
In fact, it was a kind of liquid made by crushing and processing energy crystal cores.
Extra thick in texture.
Exceptionally beautiful in color.
As for its effect… it's not as efficient as directly eating energy crystal cores, but it's still quite beneficial for mechanical-type pet beasts.
The joints become much more lubricated.
Saying this stuff is lubricating oil… isn't really that inaccurate, actually.
Ever since mechanical-type pet beasts appeared on the market, the related service industries have naturally gone through updates and iterations.
This lubricating oil is one such product.
Watching all the pet beasts bury their heads and go nom~ nom~ as they chowed down, Asher's mood also became quite good.
"Not bad," Asher nodded in satisfaction.
Actually, just in terms of strength, the pet beasts at home were already quite strong.
No matter the time, Asher had never slacked off on training them.
It's just that… for various reasons, aside from Little Raven, the other pet beasts had more or less encountered some trouble when it came to evolution.
Asher rubbed his forehead with a bit of a headache.
"Judging by the current situation, rather than continuing to try boosting strength, it's better to find a way to evolve."
Boosting strength is a quantitative change. Accumulating power is an accumulation of quantity.
But evolution is different. Evolution is a qualitative change.
Whether it's awakening bloodlines or innate skills, it's a leap in quality, and the abilities can be greatly improved.
Asher didn't have much time left.
So compared to quantitative change, Asher still wanted to trigger a qualitative leap.
Thinking of this, Asher's expression looked a bit troubled.
Totally normal.
This wasn't an easy thing to do.
"From quantitative change to qualitative change… this really is a troublesome kind of power," As he spoke, Asher exhaled a long breath from his chest, his eyes looking rather complex.
'Ah… What's the best way to go about this?'
'Think. Asher think more.'
"Chirp chirp chirp—", Watching Asher fall into contemplation, Little Raven seemed to think of something, lightly flapped its wings, and let out a series of crisp cries.
Asher, who understood what Little Raven was saying: "?"
'What? Good grief.'
"I didn't forget…", Asher helplessly lowered his head, reached up to hold his forehead, his expression looking quite conflicted.
Even without Little Raven saying anything, he hadn't forgotten about this matter.
It's just the priority order is different.
And that is…
"If it's a full lineup, there's still one pet beast missing."
Asher had a deep and solemn look on his face.
With his hands propping up his chin, he had a thoughtful expression.
On one side, he had to achieve a qualitative transformation; on the other, he still needed to contract a pet beast whose strength wasn't weak and whose potential couldn't be too poor.
And the time… was only several months, at most half a year.
To accomplish both of these things at the same time, anyone else would find that absolutely impossible.
But if it were Asher…
"First focus on your strengths. If it really doesn't work…"
'Just find a pet beast to make up the numbers?'
It's not about randomly contracting a pet beast. Rather, it's about contracting a beast whose potential isn't weak.
It's just that there wouldn't be enough time to properly raise it. During matches, the main reliance would still be on the other five pet beasts, like Little Raven, Cat Worm, and the others.
The sixth beast would serve more as a formality.
If done like that, the pressure on Asher would be much less.
"Chirp!", Little Raven, understanding Asher's thoughts, gave him a disappointed look.
Little Raven: (￢_￢)
'What kind of beastmaster are you? Can't you be a little more ambitious? Want more for once. Is this really that hard?'
Little Raven: *Angry bird*
Asher: "…"
"Please, have mercy on me, ancestor."
"Is this really that easy of a thing?"
Asher also gave Little Raven a look full of exasperation.
He was really just a normal person.
Little Raven: 'There are three things the bird regrets in life.'
'The first two don't matter.'
'But the worst, having a beastmaster who doesn't strive.'
'Damn it!'
Having powerful companions is not only proof of the beast tamer's strength and abilities but also extremely important to them as beasts.
Haven't you heard that saying?
If your ability doesn't match, no matter how hard you try to integrate into the circle, it's just forcing it.
It will never work out.
Asher: "…"
Understanding what Little Raven meant, Asher gave it a very helpless look.
This really was… something he hadn't expected at all.
"Then what do you suggest we do?", Asher looked at Little Raven with resignation.
He couldn't solve the problem. So he decided to pass it on to the one who raised it… the bird.
Thinking this, Asher nodded to himself with righteous confidence.
What's wrong with his logic? Absolutely nothing. Totally reasonable.
You couldn't find a more logical thought process.
Asher just stared at Little Raven.
Little Raven: *Bird face shocked*
Shocked to its feathers. Little Raven never imagined that Asher could be this shameless, directly tossing the problem onto its tiny bird shoulders.
Asher fell silent again. He said nothing.
Asher couldn't hold it in after all.
"If it were when I just contracted you, you really were just a little bird," Saying this, Asher held up his hands and gestured a size around Little Raven.
Then he gave Little Raven a meaningful look.
"But now… what do you think?", Asher smiled.
Little Raven: "..."
(〃＞皿＜)
'Damn it!'
'So angry!'
Looking down at itself, even Little Raven's puffed-out chest didn't look as firm.
Little Raven: 'So mad!'
"Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp chirp!"
Little Raven's golden-red eyes spun round and round.
Suddenly, its spinning pupils froze.
Asher: "?"
He was stunned for a second, then followed Little Raven's line of sight.
And then he saw…
Asher also fell into thought.
Little Raven looked at Asher.
Asher looked at Little Raven.
'Say no more.'
He'd nearly forgotten, there was another pet beast in the house. That was, World Tree Lily.
No doubt about it. World Tree Lily's disguise was just too good.
Sometimes, when Asher wasn't paying attention, he'd even accidentally think of World Tree Lily as just a common houseplant.
Until this moment…
"Chirp!"
'The bird thinks this is perfect! Absolutely perfect!'
Cat Worm tilted its head, and its two dragon horns nearly poked into Asher. Luckily, he dodged fast enough.
Looking at World Tree Lily, Cat Worm's eyes were full of confusion.
'What's this? Why is it in our house?"
Asher smiled.
Let it be said again, World Tree Lily's disguise was really too good.
Maybe it was because it used to be a Tier 9 wood-type beast, after its rebirth, World Tree Lily's aura was especially close to nature.
Even someone like Asher, who already knew its true identity, would sometimes overlook it.
Let alone those who didn't know at all.
At least Sarah, who occasionally cleaned Asher's room, had never sensed anything strange about World Tree Lily.
"This really is…"
'A brilliant suggestion.'
Asher walked up to World Tree Lily and casually picked up the little spray bottle beside the bed.
It wasn't something Asher had prepared.
Probably something Sarah brought while cleaning.
Asher just used it conveniently.
He gently watered World Tree Lily.
World Tree Lily, which had been sunbathing motionlessly, lightly shook its body, just the branches.
All its leaves and twigs seemed to stretch out, becoming even more lush and full of vitality.
"What do you think?", Asher looked down, smiling as he asked softly.
He believed World Tree Lily had heard everything he'd said to Little Raven and the others earlier, including all the angles of consideration.
No need to repeat it.
It all came down to how World Tree Lily would choose.
After thinking for a moment, Asher continued, "I won't force it, the choice is yours."
Once a Tier 9 top-level transcendent lifeform.
Even though it had to start over due to choosing the wrong path, Asher still didn't dare underestimate World Tree Lily.
That tree had lived longer than he had.
Maybe not much less than the world itself.
Play mind games in front of World Tree Lily?
You think you've got 8,000 IQ points or something?
Asher didn't play games. He went straight to the point.
World Tree Lily shook its branches again.
["Hmm…"]
World Tree Lily made a sound as if pondering.
Asher smiled.
World Tree Lily suddenly stiffened its twigs, as if confused about why Asher was laughing.
It hadn't agreed yet.
Asher didn't explain.
Mostly because he was afraid World Tree Lily would get mad, ahem, no way World Tree Lily would be that kind of beast, right?
Right?
RIGHT?
Asher looked at World Tree Lily with eyes full of sincerity, as if he were about to rip out his heart to prove he was the world's kindest soul.
"Of course it's because, you didn't directly reject me. That means you're thinking about it, right?", As he said that, Asher even changed how he addressed World Tree Lily, switching from formal to a more affectionate tone.
World Tree Lily's tiny twigs seemed a little stiff.
But again, that's what made it a seasoned veteran.
In just a blink, World Tree Lily composed itself.
["Yes, I'm considering it"]
Because of its rebirth, World Tree Lily's voice had become more childlike.
It always made Asher think of a kid-like character.
["Actually, when I chose to leave that space with you, I already had the intention to contract with you"]
It's just that due to this and that, they didn't form a contract.
Now that Asher was inviting it again…
["Fine!"]
["You are my descendant. To form a contract with you, I am willing"]
Asher: "..."
He had an extremely strong urge to roast, but couldn't even figure out where to start.
Luckily, he managed to hold it in.
Otherwise, no guarantee World Tree Lily wouldn't get mad on the spot.
"My honor," Asher smiled as he emptied the spray bottle.
Maybe because it had been fully watered, World Tree Lily looked especially energetic, its leaves so plump they looked like they'd burst with dew.
Asher reached out toward World Tree Lily. It didn't show any signs of rejection.
This contract was completed just like that, seemingly with no effort.
From that moment on, Asher had a full set of six pet beasts.
Then Asher froze slightly, feeling something from his golden finger, or maybe some spiritual sensation from the void, and fell silent.
Hmm… how should he put this?
The moment the sixth contract was done, then came the message:
Want power? Burn money.
Only money can make you stronger.
Asher: "..."
His mood was basically, "Damn it!"
He swore aloud.
But good thing Asher wasn't ordinary.
He'd accepted even something like waking up in another world, what couldn't he accept?
Strong mental fortitude, that's him.
Asher took a deep breath and pulled out a sunny, dazzling smile, "What's money?"
"I've got plenty."
He'd been saving money all this time with no chance to spend it. Now the chance had come.
———
"Professor Asher, this is…"
In Asher's research institute.
Chase stared at the message Asher sent, his face full of hesitation, like he wanted to say something but didn't know where to begin. A truly conflicted expression.
Beside him, Sarah: "?"
As the first two staff members to join Asher's institute and given their experience and age, Asher had handed off many miscellaneous tasks to this husband-and-wife duo, even things unrelated to pet beast research.
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