Chapter 191: Where’s the Pure and Naïve College Student We Agreed On?

By the time Asher returned, what he saw was a Little Raven clinging to him like glue.

Little Raven: 'I don't want to do pet acts!'

'I don't want to take care of children!'

Little Raven was just shy of curling into a ball and squeezing into Asher's arms.

Leo and Luna watched with longing eyes as Little Raven obediently nestled in Asher's arms, letting him stroke its feathers. The desire in their gazes was almost tangible.

"Leo, Luna, come here," Liana, watching from the side, was also feeling helpless.

These two kids were at that in-between age. Just a step away from being little troublemakers. As long as the creature wasn't a wild beast, they dared to approach and touch it. They wanted to touch everything.

And since they knew Asher, they were even bolder around him.

Well.

Now they were being ignored by Little Raven.

"Haven't you two already seen big brother's pet beast before?", Liana was referring to their previous meeting with Asher on the online forums.

If Liana had to describe that incident in two words. Reckless and rash.

Who knew if the person they met was actually good or bad?

It wasn't like there weren't bad people in this world.

Even though they arranged to meet in their own territory, just one day ago, given the atmosphere and situation in Red Soil City, if anything had happened… Just thinking about it still made Liana's heart tremble.

But more than anything, she blamed herself.

It was because of her disappearance that these two kids took such a risk, doing something so dangerous.

"But big brother's bird has become so much cooler."

"Yeah! It's even bigger than before! Way more majestic!"

As Luna and Leo chattered, their bright eyes practically sparkled as they remained locked on Little Raven.

Hearing this, Liana paused.

'This bird has changed?'

Liana immediately recalled seeing the unconscious Asher and that indistinct yet undoubtedly unusual pet beast on him.

'Was it this one?'

As she thought about it, Liana's gaze unconsciously fell on Little Raven, carefully examining it.

Asher noticed Liana's look.

Combining it with what Leo and Luna had just said, he sighed inwardly but didn't feel too troubled.

After all—

Ever since he saw Little Raven's new form last night, Asher had already considered this matter.

The changes in Little Raven were impossible to hide.

Too many people knew what Little Raven originally looked like.

"Professor Asher, did your pet beast evolve in the secret realm?", Liana hesitated before pointing at Little Raven and curiously asking.

Then she pursed her lips and smiled apologetically, "Because, when we were in that pitch-black little room… it seemed like we saw your pet beast glowing."

"Did it evolve then?", Liana hadn't told anyone about this, but in front of Asher, the person involved, she still voiced her suspicions about the strange scene she had witnessed.

Asher glanced at her, then calmly replied, "Not exactly evolution. Little Raven's current form is already its final stage."

"It just hadn't fully grown yet. It was still in its growth period, so when it came into contact with some suitable energy or resources, it started growing rapidly," Asher spoke seriously.

Not a single lie.

Growth period.

Suitable energy and resources.

Continued growth.

Each point accurately described Little Raven's actual condition.

As for the 'resources' it came into contact with… Asher glanced at the backpack he had brought out from the Red Soil Forbidden Zone.

Because of his status as a pet beast professor, Peter and the others hadn't interrogated him too thoroughly after rescuing him. They only confirmed he was unharmed before returning all his belongings to him, neatly placed in his hospital room.

Perfect.

Even if Liana hadn't come to ask, Asher had planned to find someone to consult about it anyway.

He reached into his backpack and pulled out the red mineral he had picked up.

"This thing," Asher took out a palm-sized piece of red mineral and placed it in front of Liana.

"I was actually hoping to ask about it myself. What exactly is this?"

No need to fake it, Asher was genuinely puzzled.

'What the heck is this?'

'Red ore? Red rock crystal?'

'It definitely isn't redstone or Red Soil.'

Liana, who prided herself on her extensive knowledge of the Red Soil Forbidden Zone's resources, stared at the red mineral with sudden confusion.

"I… Can I take a closer look?", Liana asked cautiously.

Recalling the surge of energy he felt when holding it, Asher hesitated for a moment but then nodded.

'Might as well test it out.'

For now, he couldn't find a better person to ask than Liana.

Because of Luna and Leo, he and Liana maintained a relatively friendly relationship.

With Asher's permission, Liana picked up the never-before-seen red mineral and examined it closely.

Asher watched her expression carefully, not missing a single detail. Even the slightest tremor of her eyelashes.

After confirming that Liana showed no signs of surprise or any reaction suggesting she felt energy flowing through her body, Asher was certain she hadn't experienced what he had.

Otherwise, no one could go through such an experience for the first time without showing any reaction.

And indeed, Liana felt nothing.

After repeatedly examining the mineral, she shook her head and set it down.

"I've… never seen this before," Saying that, she pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and then placed it in front of Asher.

"These pictures show the highest quality red ore and red rock crystals I've encountered," She flipped to the next image, "These are the more common varieties of red ore and red rock crystals."

As for redstone and Red Soil, just like Asher hadn't considered them, Liana hadn't either.

Their appearances were completely different.

Asher looked at the pictures and immediately grasped the phrase: you don't know until you compare, and once you do, the difference is shocking.

The red mineral he had taken out was as vividly colored as a ruby. If he didn't say otherwise, it could probably pass as one.

Of course, selling it as a gemstone would never be as profitable as selling it as a rare resource.

But compared to the red ore and red rock crystals in the pictures…

How to describe it?

The red ore was somewhat similar to his red mineral, just barely.

The biggest difference was transparency.

His mineral was extremely pure and translucent, to the point where he could faintly see his fingerprint through it.

But red ore was different.

Though also red, it was a darker, aged red. More like dried, coagulated blood.

Its texture leaned more toward rock than gemstone.

If anything, red rock crystal looked more gem-like than red ore.

But it was riddled with impurities, making it resemble a low-quality gemstone.

Seeing this, Asher stroked his chin.

"So, this is a previously unseen special resource from the Red Soil Forbidden Zone?", he asked uncertainly.

Liana confirmed, "Yes. I've never seen anything like it before."

And she knew the Red Soil Forbidden Zone inside and out.

"Your pet beast grew after absorbing this energy?", Liana almost said evolved but quickly corrected herself.

Asher, without a hint of guilt, nodded.

'Yes. That's exactly it.'

'What?'

'A three-legged Golden Crow projection?'

'No idea.'

He knew nothing.

Liana didn't overthink it. To her, Asher's explanation made perfect sense.

The only thing that truly surprised her was…

"Professor Asher, you're really bold. In that situation, facing an unknown resource…"

'He actually dared to let his pet beast absorb it!'

Sure, fortune favors the bold, but most people would prefer to play it safe.

Asher spread his hands helplessly, "I was worried too."

"But I originally mistook it for red ore or red rock crystal. Plus, Little Raven seemed interested in it."

Little Raven: "!"

Nestled in Asher's arms, Little Raven immediately began to struggle.

'Wait, wait, wait!'

'Why is the bird taking the blame again?'

'What do I have to do with the bird?'

Asher patted Little Raven's back soothingly.

'Calm down.'

Little Raven: ╭(╯^╰)╮

Seeing the interaction between Asher and Little Raven, Liana couldn't help but show a faint smile.

If before, Liana still had a tiny bit of doubt about Asher's words, suspecting that he was hiding something but just didn't want to say it.

Then after seeing the way he and the bird interacted, like a father coaxing his sulking daughter.

As someone with an inconsiderate younger brother and a sometimes-considerate, sometimes-inconsiderate younger sister, Liana instantly resonated.

'As a Beast Tamer, Asher is truly spoiling his pet.'

'Sigh.'

'No choice.'

'Everyone have their struggles.'

'Relatable.'

"It's fortunate that the result turned out well. Professor Asher, your pet will definitely become very powerful once it grows up," Liana sincerely offered his blessings.

.

.

.

Asher didn't specifically hide his conversation with Liana.

From Asher's straightforward answers, Liana also guessed his thoughts. If someone asked, she would politely respond, but if it involved more private matters, she would decline.

Very soon.

Without Asher needing to explain a second time, the events he encountered in the Red Soil Forbidden Zone spread instantly.

Including Little Raven's growth—

All were given a reasonable and flawless explanation.

Through the power of their own imagination, these people completed the process of convincing themselves.

Seeing this, Asher shook his head.

'See?'

'No need to lie at all. Problem solved.'

Undeniably, the ease of the situation was also due to his social status.

"Looks like when I get back, I need to seriously study pet evolution. Gotta aim to become a First-Class Researcher as soon as possible," Asher muttered to himself.

Once his social status improved.

He could enjoy life even more freely.

Ahem!

Of course, that part couldn't be said out loud.

After staying in the hospital for two days, Asher was discharged smoothly, his body in perfect condition.

Jasmine and Madam Henrietta, as well as the newly appointed President of the Red Soil City Beast Tamer Alliance, Rosa, all came specifically to visit him.

The first two were purely there out of concern for Asher.

The latter came sincerely wanting to negotiate a deal with him.

"Professor Asher, the red mineral you discovered in the Red Soil Forbidden Zone… would you be willing to share a portion with us?", Rosa looked at Asher seriously.

After hearing that Asher had found a new type of resource similar to red ore in the Red Soil Secret Realm, Rosa had been wanting to meet him.

And have a little talk about a win-win deal.

But since both Red Soil City and Crimson City had only just returned to normal, and the Red Soil Forbidden Zone was still temporarily sealed off, Rosa had been buried under a mountain of work, too busy to even set foot on the ground.

If not for her extensive experience handling massive amounts of paperwork, Rosa felt she wouldn't have been able to hold onto her position at all.

She also realized again—

Back when Vincent had her as his assistant, how lucky he had been. She still hadn't found an assistant that satisfied her.

Rosa was already considering whether she should poach a fellow professional.

After all, the job requirements were a perfect match.

But that was a matter for the future.

Right now, she was more concerned about the resources Asher had brought back.

If it really was comparable to red ore or Red Rock Crystals, or even if it was just similar to Red Stone, it could help Red Soil City recover from the recent heavy blow and climb out of its current predicament.

And after seeing the red mineral Asher had brought out with her own eyes, Rosa's eyes lit up.

Although the energy within hadn't been tested yet, and the exact uses of this resource were still unknown.

Rosa was absolutely certain, 'This is good stuff!' [T/N: Tight! Tight! Tight!]

'Definitely good stuff!'

Testing?

That warm energy was already tangible just by touching it.

She couldn't wait to get her hands on more.

Asher: "…"

"I didn't bring out much, only a dozen or so pieces."

"And most of them are pretty small. This one is already considered big, so I might not be able to provide too much for you, President."

Having good stuff and being eyed by others was normal.

But giving away too much…

Sorry.

Not happening.

No way.

Before Rosa could say anything, Asher pulled Little Raven out again, "Besides, when my pet absorbs the energy inside, it grows rapidly, so…"

No need to finish the sentence.

Rosa instantly understood Asher's point.

Asher smiled.

Giving a small portion to Red Soil City wasn't out of the question, but whether he'd loosen up depended on how much sincerity Red Soil City was willing to show.

By exaggerating its value.

By making it seem important.

That would set the stage for sky-high bargaining.

Rosa: "…"

The light reflecting off her glasses flashed coldly.

Looking at the boy in front of her, who was clearly still a teenager, Rosa felt like her heart was bleeding.

'Why?'

'Why are young people these days all so cunning and shrewd?'

'Where is the innocence and naivety that is supposed to belong to college students?'

'Oh!'

'Asher isn't a college student anymore.'

'Professor Asher is already part of the real world.'

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