Professor Desmond had a face full of grumbling, wanting to complain but not knowing how to put it into words.
Watching from the side, Professor Hubert looked way too delighted.
'Ah.'
'Youth.'
'Youngsters.'
'Interesting.'
Professor Desmond: "Achoo!"
"Feels like someone is talking about me behind my back," Professor Desmond rubbed his nose as his eyes scanned around.
Aside from that research team from Cold Nation, who occasionally glanced in their direction, no one else was looking this way.
'Could it be I am overthinking?', Professor Desmond thought uncertainly.
In the end, he shifted his gaze back to Asher's Little Raven.
"Your pet beast is really special," Professor Desmond was itching to try, visibly eager to pet the Little Raven.
Little Raven: Heh!
A queen—noble and cold.
Want to touch?
Fly up and try if you dare.
Professor Desmond: Still staring—
Flying was definitely not an option.
But seeing that Asher hadn't put Little Raven back into his mental sea beast space, Professor Desmond focused most of his time and energy on Little Raven.
Goal— to touch this special Oriental Peacock just once.
He was certain he could achieve it.
Asher looked at the sneaky, half-disguised Professor Desmond who was secretly trailing beside him, more and more of a headache.
"No like…?", Asher looked helplessly at Professor Hubert watching the show.
"Aren't you going to do something?"
"What's there to manage," Professor Hubert was as calm as ever, "To put it bluntly, they're just bored."
As he spoke, Professor Hubert glanced at Asher.
Just short of outright saying, 'Yeah, it's your fault, all your fault.'
Eastern Nation and Cold Nation had originally come to show off and maybe step on Soren a bit.
But who could've guessed? Before they even had the chance to act, they were already beaten into submission by Asher in just a few moves.
Even the national research institute staff began to question whether something was off? This didn't quite go according to their plan, did it?
Why did Eastern Nation and Cold Nation back down so quickly?
Asher: "..."
"Ahem!"
Asher coughed twice, his expression quite helpless as he said, "I really didn't expect it either."
He'd thought Eastern Nation and Cold Nation would show up with something to back them up, right?
Professor Hubert laughed again at that, "I wasn't blaming you."
"You're amazing. We should be happy."
Compared to letting the two countries act tough first and then slapping them down afterward, Professor Hubert was much more satisfied with how things turned out now.
What? Letting them jump around?
Nope.
They never intended to give those guys a chance to jump around from the start.
Asher: "..."
'Alright, fair enough.'
'Shouldn't have given them the opportunity to act cocky at all.'
"Cold Nation probably won't stir up trouble anymore," Professor Hubert continued.
"The evolution plan you provided for Oriental Peacock, we're currently working hard on testing it."
Even though Asher had written it out very clearly.
The implementation still required time.
Besides, they were following Asher's direction from the beginning out of full trust.
Some of them even tried to backtrack the reasoning. Why do it this way, how it differed from Oriental Peacock's original evolution path. What kind of special reactions would these resources trigger in the Oriental Peacock?
Hearing about what they were doing, Asher: "..."
'So professional.'
"All in all, for this and that reason, Desmond over here has a hot temper."
"He was already prepared to harshly teach those two countries a lesson, who would've thought…", As he spoke, Professor Hubert glanced at Asher one more time.
'Mhm!'
'Who would've thought?'
Asher stole all the limelight.
They didn't even get a chance to show their skills.
"Well then, I guess I'm just too awesome," Asher sighed, "Being invincible is also a kind of loneliness."
"Hahaha!", Professor Hubert laughed loudly.
Hiding not far away, Professor Desmond: "?"
'What's so funny? Could it be Asher noticed my flawless disguise?'
'No no no! That's absolutely impossible!', Professor Desmond stared intensely at the Little Raven circling above Asher's head, deciding to try again.
Asher let him do as he pleased.
As long as Little Raven wasn't willing, even if Professor Desmond stared for ten days or half a month, it wouldn't happen.
Just like Asher expected.
.
.
.
.
[Half a Month Passed]
Professor Desmond… looked at Little Raven with more resentment than a ghost with a grudge.
"Just one touch, what's wrong with letting me touch it once?", Professor Desmond stared at Asher and Little Raven with resentful eyes.
"Your pet beast doesn't even hate being touched!"
He'd seen it. When Asher cuddled with this pet beast, this so-called Little Raven not only didn't resist, but even actively asked for more cuddles.
Professor Desmond: 'So mad!'
The more he thought, the madder he got.
Asher: "…Is that the same thing?"
Asher looked at Professor Desmond speechlessly.
"Stop staring at Little Raven, I heard there's a Oriental Peacock about to evolve," Facing Professor Desmond's pitiful gaze took some courage, Asher decisively changed the subject.
Although knowing Asher was changing the topic, Professor Desmond still couldn't help but follow along, "I know."
"They said one Oriental Peacock's development is ahead of the others."
"The other Oriental Peacocks probably need another half a month or so to evolve, but this one is almost ready."
Even though he spent most of the time staring at Asher and his pet beast, Professor Desmond didn't forget to keep an eye on the lab's research.
After all, that was also important.
"Let's go check it out."
"Sure."
The two chatted as they headed toward Lab One.
Because of the arrival of Eastern Nation and Cold Nation, the labs had been divided.
Lab Two and Lab Three were allocated to the two other countries.
The largest Lab One was kept for their own researchers.
The evolution conditions for the Oriental Peacock were being tested in Lab One.
Hearing their conversation, Nance: "!"
He looked left and right.
All insiders here, specifically, no Eastern researchers. He leaned in.
"Professor Asher, Professor Desmond," Nance's Soren language was very standard. He blinked earnestly at the two and said, "You're going to see the Oriental Peacock evolve?"
"Can I come too?"
As he spoke, Nance excitedly rubbed his hands.
Using a pitiful look, he stared at Asher and Professor Desmond.
Especially Asher.
After spending this time together, Nance had also realized just how amazing Asher really was.
So as long as Asher agreed, the other Soren pet beast professors and researchers probably wouldn't object.
A brain with no scheming at all, just that sincere.
Face? Who cares! What matters is getting to witness the Oriental Peacock's evolution firsthand.
Professor Desmond: "..."
'You're kind of an interesting one huh! Saying you'd toss your pride—you really tossed it.'
'Saying no more schemes, really gave up on conspiracy.'
This made even Professor Desmond feel a bit bad about targeting him further.
"Fine, but only you can come," Seeing that Professor Desmond was about to say something sarcastic, Asher cut him off.
Seemingly proactive and friendly, he extended the invite to Nance.
Nance: "!"
Excited! So excited he furiously rubbed his hands.
Professor Desmond gave Asher a "how could you" look.
'Why agree so easily? Forgot what Cold Nation tried to do before?'
Asher gave him a soft smile, sending him a "don't worry" glance.
If you can't trust anyone else, you've got to trust him.
Sympathize with Cold Nation? Nope.
Asher's sympathy didn't go that far.
Seeing that, Professor Desmond finally calmed down a bit.
Thinking about it. He'd been trailing Asher for how long now, just to touch Asher's pet beast, Asher still hadn't agreed.
Soft-hearted? Asher wasn't one.
He striked at the right place, right time.
That Oriental Peacock was in the middle of evolving, Asher instantly recognized it.
It was the one he'd thought looked a lot like Little Raven when it was younger.
Having already cleared the air with Asher earlier, Little Raven wasn't the slightest bit jealous of a chick that just happened to look a tiny bit like it.
Little Raven: ╭(╯^╰)╮
'In beastmaster's heart, this bird is the coolest one! Other birds? Not even worth mentioning!'
Little Raven was full of confidence.
Asher held Little Raven, standing among the crowd to watch.
"It's evolving, it's evolving! It's really evolving!"
"Wow! That light is so dazzling!"
"Isn't normal evolution light usually milky white? This light from the new Oriental Peacock evolution path, isn't it way too dazzling?"
"Wait… that doesn't look like evolution light? Look closely, evolution light should still be milky white!"
"Then this light… I get it! It's the glow radiating from the evolved Oriental Peacock itself!"
Everyone: "!"
Professor Desmond: "!"
Nance: "!"
'Wow!'
'So it can be like this too?'
Now they were even more curious.
'What does the evolved Oriental Peacock actually look like?'
Finally.
The light surrounding the Oriental Peacock faded.
The brand new form of the Oriental Peacock appeared before everyone's eyes.
The moment they saw that creature, inside Lab One, all voices disappeared.
Only the hum of machines could be heard.
And the sound of the air conditioner.
Lastly, deep, heavy breathing.
You couldn't blame them for being so stunned.
Shocked.
This beast before their eyes… was so beautiful it took their breath away.
Literally breath-stealing levels of beauty.
A giant creature with seven-colored wings, every feather's color was perfect, gleaming brightly.
Like something out of a fantasy species…
Actually, not even that far off.
They had seen avian beasts before.
They had seen seven-colored beasts too.
But something this beautiful… it was really their first time.
Nance was so stunned he couldn't even speak.
'Perfect!'
'This is the true Goddess of Dawn in our hearts!'
What?
Little Raven?
At this moment, it had already been completely thrown to the back of Nance's mind.
From a human perspective, the evolved [Radiant Peacock], indeed could bring a stronger visual impact compared to the [Three-legged Golden Crow].
Just that, Asher hugged Little Raven: "Alright, don't be mad, in my eyes, you're the most beautiful one!"
Asher said sincerely.
Little Raven: ╭(╯^╰)╮
Little Raven angrily stared at the evolved Radiant Peacock.
Radiant Peacock: "..."
*Shivering*
Thought it was already very powerful.
Didn't expect that upon looking up, it would find the big boss staring at it.
Radiant Peacock: 'wants to die'
Radiant Peacock chose to lie flat.
Everyone around: "?"
'Hmm hmm hmm?'
"What's going on? What happened, why do I feel like the evolved Oriental Peacock looks a bit dispirited?"
"Still calling it Oriental Peacock! Does this evolved form look like it suits the name Oriental Peacock?"
"What should we rename it to…"
Seeing that everyone was eagerly about to give the Oriental Peacock's new evolved form a name—
"Wait... this evolution route was provided by Professor Asher, we should ask Professor Asher!", Someone remembered this matter.
The others also revealed expressions of sudden realization.
Indeed, that's how it was.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Everyone all at once looked at Asher.
Nance also looked at Asher with a face full of envy.
He wanted this chance too!
"Let's just go with Radiant Peacock," Asher said very lazily.
Everyone looked at the gorgeous feathers on the evolved Oriental Peacock's body.
Then thought of a peacock, 'It does seem to work?
Hearing that Asher even gave this fellow a name, Little Raven looked at the Radiant Peacock with even more targeted eyes.
Radiant Peacock: "..."
'Dead. Dead.'
'Just treat it me as if this peacock is already dead.'
A five-meter-tall peacock just lay down like that.
Asher: "..."
Asher, taking advantage of everyone still not reacting, hugged Little Raven and exited Laboratory No. 1.
Then made eye contact with Cleveland and others next door, who had been peeking over after hearing the cheers from here.
Peeking Cleveland's group: "..."
Asher who openly walked out: (•‿•)
"How's the progress on your project research, everyone?", Asher hugged Little Raven, pretending to be calm as he asked, "It's been over half a month, there should be some results, right?"
Cleveland's body stiffened.
Cleveland wanted to curse.
'Half a month and you want results?'
'What?'
'Is Soren not right in the head?'
"Project research needs to be treated rigorously, it's not something that can be done by slapping the head," Dustin's expression was also very stiff, but he still stood out and tried to respond to Asher.
If they said nothing.
Then they would really lose face.
"Oh, so that's how it is," Asher nodded.
Just when Cleveland and others thought this matter had passed.
Asher spoke again.
"But our project on the Oriental Peacock's new evolution route, from initiation to producing results, only took about half a month."
"Eastern is famous as a research powerhouse, yet in this aspect…", As he spoke, Asher paused.
Nodded meaningfully, "Mm, probably we were just lucky."
"No offense to your country's luck," Asher looked up and smiled at Cleveland and the others.
"Maybe on our turf, our ancestors are just more inclined to bless their own people."
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