Chapter 10: The Little White Dragon

Lu Ran, after spending some time studying in his room, finally stepped outside.

He had come to a realization—his sole beast-taming skill was too precious to ignore. Not learning it would be a waste, and it was certainly not something he would dismiss lightly.

As for how to make the best use of the Super Beast Mimicry ability, he already had a plan in mind.

Ha Zong was barely a year old, still highly adaptable... Though he would never behave like a dog, there was nothing stopping Lu Ran from ensuring he did not act like one either.

To achieve this, however, he was still missing some key items.

Once he returned to Luhai City, he could experiment further.

For now… his purpose in Infinite City was to gather as much information as possible.

The sooner he understood the situation, the sooner he could return.

"The Divine Deer Pendant must be kept hidden—it must never be exposed. Fortunately, I can store it within my identity card's inventory."

Before leaving, Lu Ran made thorough preparations. The pendant was his greatest secret, one he could not afford to let anyone discover. Otherwise, it would surely attract covetous eyes.

An epic-tier treasure… Though he wasn't sure how many levels it surpassed the standard and high tiers, there was no doubt—it was a rarity beyond compare.

Of course, above all else, it was the keepsake left to him by his mother.

—

Stepping outside, Lu Ran found himself in a residential district composed entirely of gray and white buildings. The surroundings were eerily quiet—there wasn't a single soul in sight.

He had initially assumed that Infinite City would be bustling with activity, filled with other beast tamers like himself. But clearly, he had overestimated the scale of the place.

After surveying his surroundings, he began making his way toward the district's outer perimeter.

It wasn't until he reached the entrance that he finally encountered another person.

The man was dressed in a pristine white suit, thick-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, exuding an air of seriousness—no… scratch that. He was lounging on a small stool, holding a book in one hand while repeatedly reaching into a bag of chips on the table beside him, stuffing them into his mouth.

So much for being serious.

As Lu Ran approached, the man took notice of him.

"A newcomer?" Sensing Lu Ran's presence, the suited man turned his head, his tone oddly cheerful. "Congratulations, rookie. You've successfully cleared the novice trial."

Lu Ran eyed him. "And you are?"

"Relax," the man chuckled. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm also a resident of this district—your senior, so to speak. I passed the novice trial and became a beast tamer a little over half a month ago."

"We're all from Xia Nation, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Think of me as your guide to Infinite City." Rising from his seat, the suited man smiled warmly.

"And how should I address you?" Lu Ran asked, sensing that this person's primary task was to wait here for newcomers like himself. He might as well oblige him.

It seemed that many had already become beast tamers before him.

He had a rough guess about this man's identity.

"They call me Little White Dragon in the Waves."

Lu Ran: …?

"And you?"

"No need for real names. Typically, when a beast tamer enters Infinite City, they modify the name on their identity card."

"It's basically like an online alias."

"Roadside Passerby," Lu Ran replied. He had, indeed, changed his name.

At first, he had considered naming himself King of Beast Tamers, but he worried it might be too arrogant and draw unnecessary trouble. In the end, he opted for something more low-profile.

"…Huh?" The suited man was momentarily stunned.

So ordinary.

He had expected young rookies to pick more… dramatic names.

Shrugging, Little White Dragon in the Waves said, "Alright, I know you must have a lot of questions. How about I help clear things up for you?"

"Thanks," Lu Ran nodded. "First, I want to know—what exactly happened to me?"

Little White Dragon pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Three years ago, mysterious Contract Black Cards began appearing all over the world. Conservative estimates suggest that just within Xia Nation, several hundred of these cards descended."

"That was the first recorded instance of their arrival. From then on, the world became aware of the existence of supernatural forces."

"Three years ago?" Lu Ran's eyes flickered with surprise.

"That's right."

Three years ago—the Contract Black Cards, beast tamers… That was when Xia Nation first learned of them?

Then what about the Divine Deer Pendant?

That heirloom of his had to be at least centuries old.

"And then?" Lu Ran pressed.

"That first year, only a few hundred individuals in Xia Nation were chosen to become beast tamers. But the number who actually survived the trials and entered Infinite City? Far fewer."

Lu Ran remained silent.

"Since then, the Black Cards have descended once every year. Two years ago, one year ago… With each occurrence, Xia Nation saw another few hundred individuals selected."

"And overseas?"

"Due to population differences, most countries only had a handful of chosen individuals. Xia Nation was comparatively fortunate in that regard."

"Of course, even though our numbers exceed those of other nations, relative to our own population—billions strong—beast tamers remain a minuscule fraction. Because of that, and due to government suppression, this phenomenon hasn't significantly impacted society. Beneath the surface, tension simmers, but outwardly, things remain calm."

"But then, a month ago, everything changed."

"The annual descent of the Black Cards occurred once more."

"This time, however, they appeared in vastly greater numbers and persisted for much longer. Even now, Black Cards continue to manifest worldwide, selecting new beast tamers."

"You've seen the number on your identity card, right? That signifies how many individuals have passed the trial before you."

"The government predicts that this time, the scale is unprecedented. Suppressing the information will soon become impossible. Society will be shaken. As a result, discussions are already underway on how to reveal the existence of beast tamers to the public—without causing mass panic."

"You and I… we are among the fortunate ones. Not only were we chosen, but we also had the strength to survive. Most people never make it past the novice trial—not because Xia Nation lacks access to strong animals, but because the average person struggles to adjust to this reality so quickly."

"After all, Infinite City possesses its own awareness. It tailors the novice trial according to the beasts a newcomer contracts."

"Of course, having a powerful initial beast still provides a massive advantage… Those wealthy folks overseas… damn it, they raise all sorts of exotic creatures. Their starting edge is ridiculous."

Lu Ran fell silent once more.

So this was the truth?

"Are you with the government?" he finally asked.

"More or less."

"Xia Nation Beast Tamer Alliance

Beast Tamer Administration Bureau

New Recruit Division, Second Unit—Little White Dragon in the Waves."

"The Beast Tamer Alliance is Xia Nation's official beast-tamer organization. It was established three years ago as a classified government branch."

"Internationally, similar organizations have emerged to maintain balance between nations."

Little White Dragon smirked. "Honestly, if they didn't pay me, I wouldn't be sitting here babysitting rookies."

At least he was upfront about it.

"So, you're here to recruit me into the government?" Lu Ran asked.

It made sense. Beast tamers wielded supernatural power—there was no way the authorities would allow them to roam unchecked.

But truth be told, Lu Ran wasn't keen on joining. He preferred to keep others at arm's length. Grouping up for dungeon challenges would only make it harder to use the Divine Deer Pendant in secret.

"You could say that," Little White Dragon admitted. "But ultimately, the choice is yours."

"So long as you don't use your powers to commit crimes, the government won't force you to join. However, all beast tamers must be officially registered."

Lu Ran hadn't expected that answer.

For a moment, his mind raced with possibilities. Had the government initially tried to enforce stricter control—only to suffer severe backlash? Or had beast tamers grown so powerful in just three years that they were beyond the reach of conventional authority?

That seemed unlikely. If they were truly that strong, the world would have already descended into chaos.