"This is our reasonable deduction! It still needs time to be studied and verified!", Cleveland quibbled.
"But Asher saw through it with just one glance!"
Cleveland: "..."
He stiffened his neck with an ugly expression.
What a pity.
Sincerity has always been an invincible finishing move.
"I think Asher is more impressive than all of you," Haynel blinked and continued speaking.
Atu also nodded beside her, showing a supportive look.
Asher smiled slightly, "Thanks for the compliment."
What? Be modest for a bit?
Give Eastern Nation some face? Nope!
Only that is absolutely impossible.
Asher not going along with their words and stepping on Eastern Nation twice more is already considered saving them some face.
More than that is impossible.
"You guys…", Dustin stepped forward when he saw this, wanting to say something, but was immediately blocked by Cleveland with a dark face.
Dustin's expression looked very unconvinced.
Cleveland gave him a look, signaling him to shut up.
Dustin looked indignant, his lips moved a few times, but in the end, he obediently closed his mouth.
Cleveland took a deep breath and truly realized. This matter had indeed gone beyond his imagination.
Then he started thinking.
'How exactly did Soren discover the special traits of the Drilling Bug?'
'Could it be that Soren has already been researching this kind of beast before?'
'If that's the case.'
'It might be explainable.'
'No.'
Cleveland recalled.
'The attributes of Soren's Drilling Bug and Eastern Nation's Drilling Bug are different.'
'Although it is only a partial change in attributes.'
'It is enough to cause changes in the specific evolution path.'
'And also changes in attributes after evolution.'
'The evolved Drilling Demon Dragon and Drilling Magic Dragon are also different.'
'Not long ago, that Professor Desmond even asked about the attributes of the Drilling Bug.'
'Which means… Soren's pet professor, might have really just discovered it recently?'
Cleveland was shocked.
Cleveland didn't believe it.
'Impossible.'
'Absolutely impossible!', Cleveland just couldn't believe this guess.
But if it weren't like this, then there would be no way to explain how Soren discovered the special trait of the Drilling Bug.
You have to know.
They also discovered the possibility of a new evolutionary path for the Drilling Bug only through a chance coincidence.
Then they spent years of time.
Through all kinds of experiments.
To finally determine that the new evolutionary form of the Drilling Bug should possess flight capability.
Then combining it with the basic form of the Drilling Bug.
After repeated deliberation and guessing, they finally confirmed that the Drilling Bug should be Dragon-type after evolving.
But this pet professor from Soren, from the time he saw the Drilling Bug to determining that it should possess flight capability after evolution. How long did that even take?
Cleveland's gaze toward Asher changed.
His brain was working rapidly.
Various conspiracy theories flashed in his mind.
Asher didn't even glance at him.
Asher's gaze was still fixed on the Drilling Bug.
The new evolutionary path of the Drilling Bug was indeed something Asher hadn't expected.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
[Evolution Path: Six-Winged Demon Bug]
[Bloodline Direction: Fei Yi¹]
[Evolution Plan:
Favorability 100 (8/100)
Compatibility 100 (21/100)
...
...
...
Mythical Creature Blood Crystal (2/1)
Can evolve once completed]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Asher smacked his lips.
His expression was a little indescribably complicated.
No.
The earlier requirements were all quite normal.
Especially favorability and compatibility.
But such low values, this was the first time Asher had seen that too.
Then Asher's gaze fell on [Mythical Creature Blood Crystal (2/1)].
'Why is it 2?'
'Besides the blood crystal of the Three-Legged Golden Crow, did this Drilling Bug consume the blood crystal of some other mythical creature?'
"Did this Drilling Bug have any special experiences? How did you make a contract with it?", Asher turned his gaze to the beastmaster of the Drilling Bug.
He wanted to know some past experiences of the Drilling Bug from his mouth.
To see if he could infer how the Drilling Bug came into contact with the Mythical Creature Blood Crystal.
The beastmaster of the Drilling Bug opened his mouth, but before he could speak, he was interrupted by Dustin beside him.
"Ronan."
The beastmaster of the Drilling Bug closed his mouth again.
Asher: "..."
'Oh.'
'Almost forgot.'
'These aren't our own people.'
'Their degree of cooperation isn't that high.'
Asher sighed.
"Your research direction on the Drilling Bug is wrong," That was all Asher said.
Then he returned to the side of Professor Desmond and Professor Hubert.
Cleveland was utterly confused.
Cleveland looked at the people he had brought, then stared closely at Asher, "Do you have any evidence?"
"If not, I suspect you Soren people are deliberately trying to cause trouble!", Cleveland, while panicking because of Asher's words, didn't forget to take this chance to throw two buckets of mud on Soren.
"Believe it or don't, whatever," Asher shrugged, an expression that said he didn't want to say more.
Cleveland: "..."
Felt like he punched the air.
Really pissed off.
And Asher said it, and did it.
No matter how much Cleveland and his people looked toward Asher, Asher just pretended they didn't exist.
'Research?'
'Pfft!'
'Study however you like.'
'If you can figure it out.'
'I will write my name backwards.'
Asher gave Professor Desmond and Professor Hubert a look saying "we'll talk later."
The two didn't doubt him at all and believed Asher completely.
The one who ended up uncomfortable was Cleveland.
Cleveland: "…Hmph! We won't believe anything you say!"
"Start preparing to continue the project research!"
Cold Nation, who was supposed to stand up and show off their achievements: "..."
Trembling.
'Should… we hold off a bit?', Cold Nation quietly pulled their head back.
Eastern Nation Country: "!"
'Despicable!'
Cold Nation: 'Despicable what despicable! We never agreed to anything!'
'We weren't even on the same side!'
'Ever heard of keeping your head down?'
Eastern Nation Country was not having it.
If they couldn't pick a fight with Soren, can't they at least go after Cold Nation people?
The two countries started bickering again temporarily.
———
"What did you mean by what you just said?"
Professor Desmond and Professor Hubert led Soren's research team to smoothly slip away.
Atu and Haynel also came over.
Asher looked at them.
Both of them gave Asher big, silly smiles.
Plus their massive builds.
For a second, Asher hallucinated a giant golden retriever wagging its tail.
Asher: "..."
'Fine, fine.'
Professor Desmond and Professor Hubert didn't chase them off, so he had no reason to hide things either.
"Favorability," Asher spit out three words.
Professor Desmond and Professor Hubert exchanged glances and instantly showed enlightened expressions.
Understood.
They got it.
Totally understood.
Atu and Haynel, whose Soren language was okay but still totally confused: "?"
'Is this some kind of encrypted communication channel? Why does it feel like we're not in the same world?', Haynel and Atu were like curious cats, wanting to ask.
But they held it in.
Not their turf.
They were here for academic exchange.
'Stay calm.'
Asher smiled and continued speaking.
"That Drilling Bug is quite special."
"Only that one," Asher repeated again.
Although he still didn't know under what special circumstances that Drilling Bug used a Mythical Creature Blood Crystal.
It probably wasn't man-made.
More likely a coincidence.
Then Eastern Nation discovered this special Drilling Bug. Before fully researching its evolutionary path, they treated this anomaly as the norm. Then they would discove, no matter how much they researched. They couldn't take the final step.
Even if it looked like they were just one step away.
They couldn't make the leap.
Just couldn't do it.
"This really is…", Professor Hubert pushed his reading glasses and revealed a bit of amusement in his gaze.
'Interesting.'
'Kind of want to watch.'
"So you've already figured out the Drilling Bug's new evolution path?", Professor Desmond's focus was different.
He looked at Asher with surprised eyes.
Asher calmly nodded, "Pretty much."
"But still needs verification."
"What a pity."
Professor Desmond: "..."
"Not a pity!"
"Not even a little!"
Professor Desmond said very firmly, "You just prepare. Once the time is right, we'll go over and fiercely rip them off for a fortune!"
Asher looked at Professor Desmond in surprise.
'Huh? Huh? Huh? Didn't expect that!'
'Professor Desmond looks so serious and upright, turns out he's got this kind of strategy too!'
Asher made an OK gesture.
Piece of cake.
Totally chill.
———
Compared to Asher's side's friendly atmosphere, the Eastern Nation team was a total mess.
"Don't believe what Soren people say."
"There's no way they figured out the Drilling Bug's true evolution path in such a short time!"
"They must be deliberately trying to mess with our minds!"
"If we believe them, we're really falling into their trap!"
Cleveland loudly said in their language.
Because of Asher's earlier actions and performance, some researchers who had been discouraged did have their emotions turned around.
"But…", Ronan, the beastmaster of the Drilling Bug, frowned slightly, looking a bit troubled.
"No buts," Cleveland glanced at him.
"Don't believe those Soren people!"
"They have bad intentions!"
Ronan pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Really?
Thinking of how his relationship with the Drilling Bug had worsened just to cooperate with research, in the end Ronan still said nothing.
'Let's wait and see.'
'If the Drilling Bug really can evolve into a dragon-type beast...'
———
Letting go of the savior complex, Asher respected others' fate.
He clearly knew that the Drilling Bug couldn't possibly evolve.
Asher also didn't say anything about the actions of the Eastern Nation's research team.
No way around it.
Even if he said it, they wouldn't believe it.
Asher leisurely strolled over to the Cold Nation research team's side.
Nance: "…"
'Can I politely ask Asher to leave?'
Facts proved… he could not.
"Aren't you here to communicate with us?", Asher looked at Nance with an innocent expression and said.
Compared to the sly Cleveland, Asher was truly innocent and pure-hearted.
"Uh…", Nance opened his mouth, then silently closed it again.
'Alright then.'
'This matter simply can't be explained at all.'
Just like Asher said.
They were here for exchange.
There must be mutual exchange for it to be an exchange.
Seeing that even Nance, the leader, had given up resisting, the other researchers of the Cold Nation team also gave up resisting.
Communication between them wasn't difficult.
Soren, being one of the top countries, people from other countries basically knew a bit of the Soren language.
Everyone present was even the elite among elites.
Their Soren language was even more proficient.
"The beast you're researching is…", Asher's gaze fell on the beast their team was studying, showing a slightly surprised look.
Yes.
The beast the Cold Nation team was researching was none other than—
The Oriental Peacock.
Asher looked at those few Oriental Peacocks with bright and colorful feathers, his eyes revealing a nostalgic look.
Noticing something seemed off, Nance: "?"
Familiar feeling, familiar accelerated heartbeat.
"What exactly is your research direction? Do you need my help?", Asher said with a smile.
Nance: "…Soren is also researching Oriental Peacocks?"
"Ah, not really," Asher said.
Before Nance could breathe a sigh of relief—
"But I personally have done some research on the Oriental Peacock beast," Asher added.
"It's just that, due to some special reasons, and also because the new evolution path of the Oriental Peacock required way too many materials, I didn't continue the research," As he spoke, Asher stroked his chin, showing a thoughtful expression.
"This doesn't seem quite right, huh?"
"But starting research on the Oriental Peacock again now… doesn't seem too late either, right?", Asher recalled the Oriental Peacock's [Radiant Peacock] evolution path.
Although, at that time, he chose the [Three-legged Golden Crow].
On one hand, the Three-legged Golden Crow was more powerful.
On the other hand, because the [Radiant Peacock] consumed too many resources, Asher decisively gave it up.
Afterward, Asher didn't think of continuing research in that direction.
Until today.
Asher: 'Hmm? Seems like I now have enough authority to apply for materials and make things happen!'
'Research!'
'The new evolution path of the Oriental Peacock must be put on the agenda!'
Nance: "…"
Listening to Asher talk to himself, making decisions all on his own.
Nance felt a heart attack coming on.
What?
Don't believe Asher's words?
Think Asher is just talking nonsense?
To be honest… Nance had a hunch, everything Asher said was true.
Whether it was what he just told Eastern Nation or what he's saying to them now, it was all honest truth.
"You… we…", Nance hesitated to speak.
He wanted to stop Asher.
But had no standing to do so.
Asher waved to Nance, "You all continue your research, I'll head off first."
After saying that, Asher left without even turning his head.
Nance and his research team:
"Wait!"
"Let's talk this over first!"
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave!"
"Let's share and exchange ideas first!"
Asher: "No need, I can handle everything by myself!"
Turning around, Asher told Professor Desmond and Professor Hubert about the new evolution path of the Oriental Peacock.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
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