'Easy?'
President Robb really wanted to ask how Asher could say the word "easy."
It was clearly not easy at all.
But he thought, Asher wanted this, and thinking back on everything so far, when had Asher ever disappointed him?
Gritting his teeth.
"Alright! I'll take care of this!", President Robb looked at Asher in front of him, clenched his teeth, and took the gamble.
Winning would be the best outcome.
Even if he lost, it wouldn't be a big deal.
Hadn't Asher already brought enough benefits to NY City and to him?
More than enough.
Seeing that Asher was dead set on researching this, President Robb naturally didn't say anything more and agreed directly.
———
Mutated Beasts in the opposite direction… There weren't many mutated Beasts to begin with. A ratio of one in a thousand or one in ten thousand wasn't an exaggeration.
However.
With Soren's population where it was, and the number of beast tamers also increasing, the supply and demand for Beasts would only grow.
Each city's breeding base could still produce one or two mutated Beasts per year.
Rarity was always relative.
"What research project are you working on this time? It seems like quite a big deal," Iris leisurely arrived at Asher's research institute. It was also her first time seeing this place that belonged to Asher.
It was grand.
All the necessary equipment and tools were available.
Seeing it, Iris even felt a bit guilty about trying to poach Asher.
That is to say, President Robb had indeed done an excellent job of retaining talent.
"Professor Iris?", Asher was slightly surprised to see Iris appear unannounced.
Seeing Asher walk out from inside, Iris smiled slightly, "Last time you returned to Radiant City, you left in a hurry. I was curious about what you've been researching lately. Coincidentally, I received a mission that required me to travel, so I thought I'd drop by."
Then, Iris's gaze fell on the Striped Thunder Tiger in the courtyard.
"Is this the new evolved form of the Silverfang Tiger?"
"It looks quite imposing," Iris spoke with genuine admiration.
Indeed.
The striped Thunder Tiger looked extraordinarily fierce and domineering.
Otherwise, upon learning that Asher had developed a new evolution for the Silverfang Tiger, Bellick wouldn't have rushed over, eager to seize the opportunity.
What Bellick hadn't expected was—
He did manage to act first.
But taking advantage of it wasn't so easy.
The problem?
Sigh! Red Soil City, which was supposed to provide resources, wasn't delivering.
Without the red crystal needed for evolution, relying solely on luck, who knew how many Silverfang Tigers in their army would successfully evolve?
How was this any different from gambling.
Iris wandered around with curiosity, while Asher also found himself somewhat curious about Iris's journey.
Others might not know, but as someone who had been both Iris's assistant and student, Asher had a basic understanding of her.
Lazy… Iris was definitely not a lazy person. Otherwise, she wouldn't have achieved such success and honors at her age.
However, if she could slack off, she certainly wouldn't mind doing so.
Compete?
What's there to compete for?
Working oneself to exhaustion would only result in self-destruction.
So, most of the time, Iris preferred staying in Radiant City.
If she didn't have to go out, she wouldn't.
So why now…?
What could have persuaded Iris to willingly embark on this trip?
"It's all because you're too amazing," Iris smiled at Asher upon guessing his thoughts.
Asher: "???"
Unjust.
Completely unjust.
How did this suddenly become about him?
"Think about it. You're not even 20 years old yet, and you're already about to become the youngest beast professor in all of Soren," Iris deliberately stretched her words, speaking slowly.
"You personally may not feel much about it, but for Soren and the Beast Tamer Alliance, this is a big deal."
"So?"
Listening to Iris, Asher still felt a bit confused.
"But for individual cities… well, it makes things a bit tougher," Iris raised her thumb and index finger slightly to indicate "just a little."
"The Alliance's resources are limited. If one city gets more, others get less."
"Because of your sudden rise, NY City, which used to be just another ordinary city, has suddenly become a top-tier hotspot in the minds of beast tamers."
"You personally might not notice, but if you look at the statistics, you'll see that in the past two years, NY City has seen an increase in both beast tamers and beast professors."
Hearing this, Asher paused.
'Uh.'
He hadn't paid much attention to that.
But he did know about it.
Seeing his expression, Iris shrugged.
"That's just how it is."
"This kind of development is normal, and other cities won't hold it against you. But it doesn't stop them from wanting to fight for a chance. Maybe to produce another genius like you, or at least someone close."
Asher: "…?"
"They weren't this motivated in previous years."
"Hahaha," Iris laughed, "In previous years, there wasn't a Asher like you—a heaven-sent prodigy!"
"Before, everyone was equally mediocre. Just a bunch of weaklings pecking at each other, with no real winners or losers."
"But then, suddenly, you emerged, dominating competitions. If they don't fight back now, they'll become useless leftovers."
A classic case of the catfish effect.
'Terrifying.'
Although Asher didn't want to admit he was the "catfish."
"Anyway, that's the situation," Iris, having laughed enough, rubbed her stomach and continued, "Everwood City is one such special case."
Asher blinked.
'Huh?'
'Special?'
He didn't recall ever hearing about this city before.
"Never heard of it? That's normal," Seeing his reaction, Iris chuckled and briefly explained Everwood City's uniqueness.
"Like most cities, Everwood City has its own regional characteristics. The biggest one is, everyone is a beast tamer."
Asher: "?"
Asher: "!"
"You're joking, right?"
"What's there to joke about?"
"Everyone is a beast tamer… How is that possible? Can the beast tamer bloodline be inherited? That doesn't make sense," Asher muttered, "Even though descendants of beast tamers have a higher chance of awakening, it's never 100%. How did they manage this?"
"Well, actually…" , eeing Asher racking his brain, Iris couldn't help but laugh.
"They should be called Beastmasters rather than Beast Tamers."
Asher: "!"
'Beast Taming and Beast Mastery.'
A single word's difference, yet the meaning was worlds apart.
The former referred to those who awakened extraordinary power and could use it effectively—beast tamers.
"Unlike other cities built on flattened land and vegetation, Everwood City was constructed directly within a primeval forest."
Since words alone couldn't fully explain, Iris pulled out some photos taken by others.
Giant trees requiring twenty people to encircle.
Treehouses built directly on ancient trees.
Special skywalks formed from interwoven branches, with seemingly precarious yet incredibly sturdy commercial buildings like department stores and restaurants.
Even modern electrical lines strung between higher tree canopies.
Below, a clean mud-based road, not cement, yet completely firm and non-slippery, even after rain.
If Asher had to describe it, Everwood City resembled an elven kingdom from legend.
The fusion of primal nature and modern technology created a steampunk-like visual.
"Amazing," Asher murmured.
A city truly unlike any other.
No other descriptions could fully encapsulate the corner of the city seen through the photos.
It was truly a unique and magical city.
"So what exactly do they want to do?", After looking at the photos, Asher was still somewhat confused.
"There are only so many resources. If you don't work hard, they'll be snatched away by you," Iris said in an indifferent and matter-of-fact tone, "They are planning to hold a talent selection event with strong local characteristics."
"I have been invited to be a judge."
Asher: "..."
Although…
Putting aside what this had to do with him, it just sounded incredibly unreliable.
With this in mind, Asher looked at Iris with a helpless gaze.
If he still couldn't tell that Iris was teasing him, then he wouldn't be Asher.
"Cut it out with the bad taste; enough is enough."
"Besides, if it were just this, it wouldn't be enough to make you willingly leave your house," Asher exposed Iris directly.
Iris shrugged, looking entirely composed, "That's true."
"It's just that the prize they're offering is very tempting. Supposedly, the judges also have a chance to obtain it."
As if deliberately trying to build suspense, Iris paused appropriately mid-sentence.
Asher: "?"
"The Heart of World Tree."
Asher blinked, "This… sounds kind of familiar? Isn't it an extremely rare wood-attribute resource?"
As he spoke, Asher's eyes suddenly widened.
Wait.
He finally remembered what the Heart of World Tree was.
"This thing actually exists?", Asher had read about it a long time ago in a comprehensive resource guide.
Because the description was quite unique.
It was said that only ninth-tier pure wood-attribute beasts, upon death, had a chance of producing this special resource when their heart, essence blood, and energy combined.
It was essentially akin to a Buddhist relic.
Not every ninth-tier wood-attribute beast could leave one behind.
But if one did appear, it was bound to be extremely precious.
"Most of Everwood City's beasts are of the wood, insect, or poison attributes. Given their harmonious coexistence with these creatures, the presence of a Heart of World Tree isn't too surprising."
Iris tried to maintain a calm tone.
However, having known Iris for a long time, Asher could still detect a faint trace of excitement in her voice.
Asher understood.
Forget Iris—
Even he was somewhat tempted just hearing about it.
Even if he couldn't obtain it in the end, just getting to see this legendary Heart of World Tree would be worthwhile.
"Don't even think about it," Asher understood Iris, and Iris understood Asher just as well.
She shot him a look.
Asher: "…So you basically came here just to show off, huh?"
His tone was filled with helplessness.
Exactly.
She let him know about it, but he couldn't get it…
Asher: →_→
"Hahaha!", Seeing Asher's frustrated expression, Iris laughed heartily, "That's right, I came just to show off."
"Don't make me curse you with an unfortunate blessing," Asher sighed.
Iris wandered around Asher's research institute for a bit before setting off for Everwood City.
Asher, on the other hand, continued with his research.
Although he was curious about the Heart of World Tree, he wasn't overly attached to it.
Wanting to hoard all the good things for oneself. That was for hoarding hamsters and misers, and he wasn't like that.
If he obtained it, great. If he didn't, it was fate.
Asher's philosophy was to take things as they came and not overthink them.
However.
———
A week later.
"Professor Iris is missing?"
Upon receiving a call from Bluewind University, Asher showed a shocked expression, "How did she go missing? Is there no news from Everwood City at all?"
Hearing Asher's questions, Principal Boyle looked equally troubled.
"Everwood City's situation is… special. Their signal is always unstable, so it's normal to lose contact. They still use the most primitive communication methods."
Writing letters. Sending letters.
"At first, we didn't pay much attention, but after three days of complete silence from Everwood City, and with Professor Iris not reaching out to us either—"
"We immediately sent others to Everwood City… but they also went missing."
As he spoke, Principal Boyle frowned.
Unlike Asher.
Though Asher had greater talent in pet research, Bluewind University's pet research department was still most recognized for Iris.
Not only due to her age and status but also because Asher spent most of his time in NY City and couldn't stay at Bluewind University long-term.
With Iris overseeing things, Principal Boyle had no complaints.
But now that she had suddenly disappeared… Principal Boyle was nearly burning with anxiety.
If he hadn't been stopped, he would have rushed to Everwood City himself, despite his old bones.
"Professor Asher, that is to say…", Principal Boyle grasped Asher's hands, his tone gradually becoming hesitant, his eyes filled with a hint of embarrassment.
Asher: "You want me to go to Everwood City to confirm the situation, right?"
Principal Boyle sheepishly nodded, looking quite apologetic.
"It's fine," Asher didn't mind Principal Boyle's awkwardness, "Now that I know about this, I can't just ignore it. I'll prepare to leave right away."
Saying that, Asher immediately took action.
Lightyear Dragon Rider Express, here we go!
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