["We've worked with Professor Asher before, we all know how capable you are."]
["We really have no other choice now."]
["Otherwise, we wouldn't want to disturb you at a time like this."]
'It's truly embarrassing,' The last sentence Professor Hubert didn't say aloud.
Compared to them, Asher's age was only half, or even just a third of theirs.
To dump all the burdens onto a child's shoulders… whether the child complains or not is one thing, they themselves feel embarrassed.
How can everything be expected of a child.
But this time… they really have no other way.
Seeing Asher agree, they still felt a bit embarrassed inside, as if they'd forced a kid into it.
Professors Hubert and Desmond were already quickly thinking.
'How should we compensate Asher?'
Speaking of which.
'Asher seems to be working on something called the Heart of Machinery recently?'
'How about giving him more resources?'
———
The day after Asher agreed.
Three Tier 1 Golden Silk Worms were sent from Star City to Asher as research specimens.
The person specifically responsible for delivering the three worms was none other than, Asher's old acquaintance, Jasmine.
Accompanying Jasmine was Professor Desmond.
Asher: "?"
If Jasmine's appearance was still barely understandable, Professor Desmond's appearance was completely unexpected to Asher.
"What's wrong?"
Professor Desmond's expression looked a little sour.
But this time it wasn't because of Asher. It was because he'd rushed onto a plane overnight.
Professor Desmond hadn't slept well for quite some time.
You know, even when those two idiotic countries came looking for trouble last time, Professor Desmond hadn't been this exhausted.
This time, staying up nonstop to research the Golden Silk Worms really wore him out.
Jasmine saw this, gently pursed her lips, showed a faint smile and said, "Professor Desmond came specifically to help you."
Asher looked uncertainly at Professor Desmond.
'Really?'
He didn't believe it. Just judging by Professor Desmond's personality...
As if guessing what Asher was thinking, Professor Desmond rolled his eyes at him.
'Damn! Is that how I appear in this youngster's eyes now?'
Then thinking about his own personality, Professor Desmond suddenly didn't feel like talking.
Asher's attitude towards him was already considered good.
There were others...
Just thinking about it made Professor Desmond not want to speak.
He was once a young genius himself, so what if his personality was a bit unruly?
Wasn't that perfectly normal.
In contrast, Asher, Professor Desmond even thought Asher was too humble.
If he had Asher's talent, he'd have aimed for the heavens from youth.
Definitely the kind that floats up high.
"Don't worry," Jasmine helped explain with a fair statement, "Professor Desmond definitely won't mess around at a time like this."
"Professor Desmond also understands how serious this is."
As she spoke, Jasmine glanced at Professor Desmond, as if hoping he'd add something.
Professor Desmond, still wearing a sour face, nodded seriously, "Don't worry, I really am here to assist you this time."
As he spoke, Professor Desmond took out a stack of documents, "This is some of what we've discovered in the past two weeks. Hope it can help you."
"At least it might help you avoid a few detours."
Professor Desmond's expression was very serious, with no sign of joking.
On matters he deemed important, Professor Desmond's attitude was very upright.
Seeing this, Asher nodded.
No matter what, Professor Desmond genuinely wanted to cooperate with him.
Knowing this, Asher could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Asher examined the three Golden Silk Worms that were delivered.
"Golden Silk Worms are a rather special kind of beast," Noticing Asher's gaze on the worms, Professor Desmond quickly began introducing them.
Afraid that Asher would dislike the worms for being too low level.
Tier 1 beasts were extremely rare.
"Once they reach Tier 3, Golden Silk Worms develop reproductive abilities, so for research, Tier 1 and tier-two are better."
No one wants to be caught by a worm halfway through the research, right?
Just thinking about that experience was horrible.
Asher nodded.
"Let's start now."
Deep inside, Asher felt a little fortunate. Thankfully, he had just expanded the lab recently.
It felt like his lab was getting more and more complicated.
———
A day passed.
Asher still hadn't found a way to deal with the Golden Silk Worms.
But—
"I definitely won't be able to attend the tournament," Asher said helplessly.
June and Ivy's invitation was tempting.
Unfortunately, time wouldn't allow it.
"Just tell me the result then," Asher thought for a moment and said, "If nothing unexpected happens, the one who wins should be that beast tamer who was previously on the power rankings, right?"
Seeing that Asher skipped the topic and didn't intend to continue the discussion, June only pouted.
She didn't insist on digging deeper.
She knew Asher's current status.
Just like how her dad didn't tell them everything about work when he came home, June could understand that Asher had things he needed to keep secret.
Just felt a little bit of a pity.
["Alright."]
June said in a muffled voice, ["Then I'll share the result with you when the time comes."]
["Promise you'll be the first to know!"]
Asher smiled and made an OK hand gesture.
Even though it couldn't be seen.
But once he knew who the champion was, watching their video specifically would roughly show the level of strength in the college league.
After chatting a bit more, Asher hung up the call.
He rubbed his forehead.
Asher sat in the ergonomic chair, lightly kicked his foot, and the chair slid a bit forward.
"Professor Asher, don't worry, let's take it slowly," On the side, Sarah, who was recording data on the worms, smiled at Asher and said gently.
Since yesterday, Asher had seemed to carry an indescribable anxiety.
Sarah, who also heard about the Golden Silk Worms, subconsciously assumed it was because of the worms.
She couldn't say she wasn't anxious at all.
After all, any beast tamer had heard of how terrifying these beasts were.
Reproduction.
Parasitism.
Even if removed, with current tech and medical levels, it would still be incredibly painful.
Let alone before human medicine reached today's standards.
Golden Silk Worms were the undisputed "reproduction killers."
Anyone unlucky enough to encounter one, would die.
Those lucky enough would just die and be done with it.
If they were discovered only after entering the city… then the first thing was to carry out extermination immediately. That was the lesson humanity learned from the worms.
Asher shook his head and said nothing.
His anxiety was indeed because of the Golden Silk Worms.
But not entirely because of them.
The reason being, Asher had already discovered a way to counter the Golden Silk Worms yesterday.
But!
But Asher didn't know how to say it properly.
"This really is…", Asher rubbed his forehead.
The method to counter the worms was simple, right before his eyes, Little Raven.
Solar True Fire.
The best choice for dealing with a parasitic, bone-sucking beast like this.
It wouldn't stop until the target was completely incinerated.
As long as Little Raven appeared in a battle with the Golden Silk Worms, it could unleash unimaginable power.
But… Asher was thinking about how to bring this up.
After much thought.
Asher realized this wasn't something he could just casually gloss over.
A wild Tier 9 Golden Silk Worm… once it formed a beast tide and impacted the human world, the damage would be beyond imagination.
After serious consideration, Asher went to find Professor Desmond.
"Hmm?" When Professor Desmond heard Asher immediately say he had a solution, his face showed a puzzled expression.
"Really?", Professor Desmond looked at Asher in disbelief, eyes full of confusion.
'No way?'
'It has only been how long?'
'A day?'
'And Asher already has a discovery?'
'Isn't this a bit too unbelievable?'
Asher smiled helplessly, "I'm not lying. It's just that… this situation is kind of a coincidence."
"Speak! Quick! Let me hear!", Professor Desmond eagerly looked at Asher.
Wanting to know what method Asher had found to eliminate the Golden Silk Worms.
"Genetically target them?"
"Alter their genes?"
"Or create a new agent to fight them?"
As long as there was theoretical support, Professor Desmond was willing to believe, and test it.
"It's none of those," Hearing Professor Desmond's guesses, Asher shook his head.
Professor Desmond's curiosity grew even stronger.
'Then what else could it be?'
"A pet beast."
Professor Desmond: "?"
'Huh?'
'Hmm hmm hmm?'
'What did I just hear?'
"Using a pet beast with targeted abilities to counter the Golden Silk Worms," Asher said seriously.
Professor Desmond's previously excited face was like it had been doused in cold water, his enthusiasm vanished instantly.
"Ah… this proposal of yours…", Professor Desmond slightly furrowed his brow, his expression complex, not knowing where to begin.
Asher smiled, "I know what you want to say."
"Normally, the methods to destroy Golden Silk Worm eggs are nothing more than burning or drowning, right?"
These were conventional treatments.
But the benefit of these methods was very low.
They couldn't be used directly against Golden Silk Worms.
Only usable on the eggs.
So the humans who had been implanted suffered immensely during removal.
Still that same phrase.
That's an experience one would never want to repeat.
Just once is enough in a lifetime.
A second time?
That would be pure torture.
Directly fight a Golden Silk Worm?
Might as well die faster.
Unfortunately, the fear was. During the fight, the worm might find a chance to implant.
"Normal methods won't work on Golden Silk Worms, but my pet, Little Raven," As he spoke, Asher released Little Raven from his Beast Space in the Spirit Sea.
Professor Desmond's face became even more confused.
"My pet, Little Raven," Asher opened his arms to Little Raven, and Little Raven landed in his embrace.
Back at the national research center, Professor Desmond had seen Little Raven before and was very interested in it.
But he couldn't understand, why was Asher releasing Little Raven at this moment?
"Little Raven's flame is very special," Asher introduced.
"It's a fire from Little Raven's awakened talent skill."
"It won't go out until it burns the target to ashes."
[Solar True Fire: With a bloodline awakening level exceeding 30%, the three-legged Golden Crow can already be called a juvenile, possessing abilities close to a true Golden Crow. The flames have undergone a tremendous transformation. The fire it breathes has destructive properties (upon selecting a hostile target, the fire will not extinguish until it burns them to ashes).]
A flame of destruction.
Upon selecting a hostile target, it will only extinguish when reduced to ashes.
Professor Desmond: "!"
Upon hearing this, Professor Desmond's eyes widened in shock and disbelief, staring at Little Raven with an expression full of incredulity.
"Such a talent skill… such a flame really exists?"
'It sounds incredibly dangerous!'
But at a time like this, such danger actually brought comfort.
They needed that kind of flame.
Burn the enemy clean.
"Yes, I have full confidence in Little Raven's flame," Asher nodded while holding Little Raven.
Little Raven nestled in his arms, and very cooperatively nodded as well.
As if it knew Asher was praising how powerful it was, it played along with the show.
"Then what are we waiting for," Professor Desmond suddenly stood up, the whole person wanting to start sprinting.
Asher stopped Professor Desmond, who looked overly excited, "Calm down first, Professor Desmond. It's not like we don't have other problems now."
Professor Desmond: "?"
Professor Desmond was confused.
Professor Desmond did not understand.
Wasn't there already a flame that could target the Golden Silkworm?
Why are there still other problems.
Looking at Professor Desmond, who really seemed to know nothing, Asher's feelings were a bit complicated.
Hmm… how to put it?
He wasn't sure now whether Professor Desmond truly trusted him, or if it was because Professor Desmond was dumb, with a one-track mind.
"Do the others believe it?", Asher said calmly.
"After all, it hasn't been tested."
"In the current situation, once we attempt it… that would be actively launching an attack on the Golden Silkworm. Would the other beast tamers be willing to believe it?"
Believe that no accident will happen.
Believe that Solar True Flame can definitely handle the Golden Silkworm.
"Uh…", Hearing this, Professor Desmond finally reacted.
Indeed.
There was such a thing.
Professor Desmond started circling around Asher, looking very troubled and having a headache.
Good news, there's a solution right in front of them.
Bad news, others may not believe it.
Even revealing Asher's identity as a pet beast professor might not necessarily help.
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