Asher rubbed his chin.
It was as if he had just realized something.
He hadn't thought much when Jasmine showed up earlier, but now that he looked at it again…
'Right, isn't it strange for a member of the Inspection Team like Jasmine to appear here?'
He'd ask her about it later.
Asher listened as Luna and Leo counted on their fingers, recalling some things their sister had said before she left.
Bits and pieces.
Nothing particularly important.
Things like, It's getting cold, bring extra clothes when heading out, Some members are sick and can't come along this time, The mountain is full of energy, might be rich in red ore or Red Rock Crystals.
And so on.
Asher focused on the last sentence, 'The mountain is full of energy?'
If the Crimson City incident hadn't happened, he would've thought the same as that Rank 6 Beast Tamer—
That the mountain must have a rich deposit of red soil resources.
But trouble had already broken out.
This couldn't be viewed so simply anymore.
After chatting for a while longer and confirming there was no other useful information, Asher nodded and prepared to leave.
"I'll keep an eye on your sister's situation for you," Asher looked at the two half-grown kids and spoke seriously.
Leo listened to his promise and stared at him for a long while, as if trying to determine whether he was telling the truth.
Judging from Asher's expression alone, there wasn't even the slightest hint of perfunctory dismissal.
Leo suddenly jumped off the chair and ran toward the dessert counter, making a racket as he rummaged through something. After some clattering sounds, he found an item and hurried back to Asher.
"This is for you!", Leo stretched out both arms, holding something that looked like a square cloth in front of Asher.
Asher was momentarily stunned before taking it from him.
He unfolded it.
It was a square cloth, roughly 30×30 cm in size.
The fabric didn't feel like the usual synthetic materials or pure cotton. It had a very unique texture, one that Asher couldn't quite describe.
It felt… comfortable.
The overall color was a deep, earthy red, while the edges were lined with a muted, low-saturation green. The red part immediately reminded Asher of Red Soil City's name and the red soil resources in the Red Soil Forbidden Zone.
At the center of the cloth was a special emblem shaped like three leaves joined together.
It looked a bit odd, but the more he looked at it, the more it grew on him.
Leo watched as Asher accepted the cloth, his eyes carrying a hint of reluctance, "This was a gift from my sister. It's a token that proves I'm a member of the Red Soil Exploration Team."
"I'm only lending it to you. You have to return it to me later, okay?"
Asher smiled and tucked the cloth away.
"Alright."
———
[Red Soil Standard Training Ground]
This was the largest Beast Tamer training ground in Red Soil City.
The minimum requirement to enter was a First Tier Beast Tamer certification.
Even so, on normal days, the place was packed with so many Beast Tamers that it was impossible to count them all.
There was no helping it.
The resources in Red Soil City were valuable, and countless Beast Tamers came here in hopes of obtaining a share.
If someone couldn't even become a First Tier Beast Tamer, entering the Red Soil Forbidden Zone was nearly impossible. It was better to focus on improving their own strength first.
However—
This usually bustling, crowded training ground was eerily quiet today.
In the vast arena that stretched beyond sight, there were only about a dozen people scattered around.
The moment Jasmine stepped inside, she immediately spotted a man and a woman in the center, seemingly in the middle of a battle.
A group of Beast Tamers stood around them, watching.
At first glance, it didn't seem any different from an ordinary Beast Tamer pet battle, with spectators gathered around.
Except—
The two battling Beast Tamers were Mr. Peter and Madam Henrietta.
And the lowest-ranked spectators around them were all Rank 7 Beast Tamers.
If not for these details, Jasmine would have found the scene perfectly normal.
"Mr. Peter, Madam Henrietta," Facing the overwhelming pressure and intense aura in the arena, Jasmine straightened her back. Thanks to her experience in the Inspection Team, where she had occasionally encountered figures of this level, she managed not to flinch.
Only her face was a little pale.
"Red Soil City needs your assistance," Jasmine spoke.
Peter turned his head toward her, his half-tied ponytail swaying slightly. He grinned at her, his expression carrying a mix of roguish charm and mischief.
"Oh? Little Jasmine!"
"I know you're in a hurry, but don't be. Rushing won't change anything."
"Let me finish this match with Henrietta first, then we'll talk!"
Peter waved his hand dismissively, causing the coat draped over his shoulders to sway.
"You know, I've always wanted a proper fight with Henrietta, but she keeps dodging me. We never get the chance."
"But today! I finally caught her! I have to finish this match!"
He flashed a sharp-edged smile, his eyes locked onto Madam Henrietta with unwavering determination.
Jasmine: "…"
She glanced at Madam Henrietta, who had been silently standing with her arms crossed since she arrived.
Her feelings were… complicated.
Madam Henrietta seemed a little pitiful.
"Though I don't want to interrupt you, I'm afraid I must," Jasmine nodded but didn't intend to go along with Peter's wishes.
Peter: "…"
He narrowed his eyes in irritation and looked at her.
"Give me a good reason. Otherwise—"
"We've discovered the pattern of high-fever patients in Crimson City. The time frame for intervention is extremely short. If we don't resolve this within forty-eight hours, things will get much worse."
"I spent time traveling here. Seventeen hours have already passed."
Before Peter could make his move, he was forced to stop.
Across from him, Madam Henrietta smirked at his frustrated expression.
Peter: '… Damn! My fists are itching!'
He wanted nothing more than to ignore everything and drag Madam Henrietta into battle, but he knew better.
If he really did that, forget the future—this would be his last fight ever.
Peter wasn't ready to retire just yet.
Being a Ace was great.
He could still meet plenty of interesting opponents.
"Damn it! Since when did you people get so fast?", Peter grumbled loudly.
The Beast Tamers who had been eagerly waiting for a showdown between two Eight Tier Beast Tamers: …internally adding a +1
Even though it felt inappropriate.
They were genuinely disappointed.
A duel between them would've been a true peak battle.
Such a pity.
Who knew when the next chance would come?
But they understood priorities. After hearing Jasmine's report, they sat down nearby and listened attentively.
Jasmine: "…"
She sighed.
She regretted not bringing her workaholic friend, Charlotte.
If she had—
She snapped out of her thoughts and quickly explained the situation, detailing how Asher had discovered it.
"Professor Asher…", Madam Henrietta, who had remained silent until now, showed a thoughtful expression upon hearing the name.
"He's that impressive Beast Professor, right? He's discovered several interesting new pet evolution paths and forms."
Jasmine nodded proudly, as if Madam Henrietta had just praised her instead.
Peter: "?"
Utter confusion.
Everyone else—including Jasmine, Madam Henrietta, and the other Rank 7 Beast Tamers, looked at Peter in shock.
As if they couldn't understand why he didn't know Asher.
Peter: "…"
'Crap!'
"F*ck!", Peter couldn't help but curse directly, "Is this Asher some kind of big shot?"
"Do I have to know him?"
"It's not about being a big shot or not," A seventh-rank Beast Tamer beside him said, "It's just that… how do I put it? It's really hard to describe, but if I had the chance, I'd definitely want to ask Professor Asher for help too."
Everyone except Madam Henrietta and Jasmine nodded frantically.
Peter: "..."
'Have I really missed out on some important information?'
It wasn't like Peter completely ignored people who weren't strong Beast Tamers.
But in the past two years, he hadn't heard of any new first-rank researchers.
'So just how impressive is this so-called pet beast professor Asher?
"What rank researcher?", Peter thought for a moment and decided to ask.
"Third rank," Jasmine answered directly, "But in a few months, he'll probably be second rank."
Peter blinked in confusion, "That doesn't sound that impressive."
'Pet beast professors—aside from first rank, what's so great about the others?'
'Just whatever.'
Then, once again, everyone stared at Peter.
Madam Henrietta even curled her lips into a slight smile, "Some people may have a very trendy, very fashionable face, but they're actually complete fossils who never go online or connect with the outside world."
"Really interesting," Madam Henrietta chuckled again as she spoke.
Peter, feeling subtly mocked: "...Hmph."
"I just don't think it's necessary," Peter crossed his arms, "Why bother with all those information sources? If something is truly important, I'll find out about it sooner or later!"
"Phones are just a waste of time, eroding my willpower!"
"As long as it has the basic function of making calls, that's enough!", As he spoke, Peter pulled out an old-fashioned mobile phone, long obsolete, the kind that looked like it belonged in a museum, his expression completely natural. [T/N: Nokia 3310]
A small portion of the seventh-rank Beast Tamers who were interacting with Peter up close for the first time couldn't help but look at him with admiration.
'Impressive, Mr. Peter.'
'In an era like this, someone can actually manage to live without a smartphone?'
They had truly broadened their horizons.
"Besides, a third-rank researcher doesn't sound that special. What's so remarkable about it?", Peter stuffed his phone back into his pocket, muttering, "And it interrupted my rare chance for a battle. Hmph!"
"But Asher is very young, and he hasn't been a pet beast professor for long," Madam Henrietta said with a smile.
Peter still had an annoyed expression, "I'm young too! In a circle of eighth-rank Beast Tamers who are all uncles and grandpas, I'm still a young guy, okay?"
Peter, in his early forties, lifted his chin energetically, full of pride.
The seventh-rank Beast Tamers around him, whether they were about the same age as Peter or even older: "..."
Well…
That's interesting.
Felt like they were being mocked.
And Peter had no self-awareness at all.
"Not the same," Madam Henrietta had a subtle smile on her face.
Peter: "?"
'Not the same?'
'How is it not the same?'
'What's different about it?'
'How young can he be?'
Peter thought about students majoring in pet beast evolution, who graduated at around twenty-five or twenty-six. Even if Asher was younger, he'd still be under thirty, right?
A third-rank researcher at that age wasn't bad, but to Peter, who was also a genius, it was just so-so.
Unless this Asher had become a first-rank researcher at around his own age, then Peter might acknowledge his ability.
And then…
When Peter finally saw Asher himself, his eyes were filled with confusion and doubt.
He looked at Asher.
Then he turned to look at Jasmine and Madam Henrietta.
Then back at Asher again.
"This is…", Peter pointed at Asher. For the first time ever, the always-confident Peter sounded a little uncertain.
Even if his eyesight was bad, he could still tell.
The person in front of him was obviously a teenager.
'Is he even an adult?'
'Oh.'
'He probably is.'
'But he still looks so fresh and youthful.'
'Like a straight-up college student.'
'Asher?'
'The Asher they are talking about?'
Jasmine nodded. "Asher."
"Nineteen," She added.
Asher: "?"
"Is there something wrong?", Asher looked at the trendy middle-aged man across from him, who was staring at him like he had somehow wronged him. His expression was utterly baffled.
'Did I do something?'
Peter fell into silence.
Peter started doubting life.
'Young… Oh. Understood. Young…'
'THIS IS RIDICULOUSLY YOUNG!'
In a circle where most people started in their twenties or thirties, this nineteen-year-old age was practically outrageous. Seriously, what was the difference between this and being underage?
'So this is what a true genius looks like?'
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y