Thinking of this, President Robb let out a slight sigh.
As the president of the NY City Beast Taming Alliance, wanting to develop NY City better was both his duty and his hope.
So being tempted by the Heart of Machinery was completely normal.
Of course, President Robb didn't intend to shortchange Asher either.
But before President Robb could consider how to discuss it with Asher, a phone call came from above.
The message conveyed was simple.
Since this resource was found by Asher, then this resource should belong to Asher.
When President Robb hung up the phone, he was still wiping sweat.
He had long known that Asher had a good relationship with the headquarters of the Star City Beast Taming Alliance, but he didn't expect it to be this good.
He felt that the attention from above toward Asher far exceeded his perception range.
Asher glanced at President Robb.
'Hmm? It doesn't seem like a illusion?'
'The way President Robb looked at me was indeed a bit strange?'
"So now…", Asher thought for a moment and still didn't ask.
Since President Robb was unwilling to say, he would just pretend to know nothing.
Besides, keeping the Heart of Machinery in hand was also beneficial to him.
"I suggest you open a breeding house," President Robb sincerely offered advice to Asher.
Since the official importance placed on Asher was solid and real, President Robb naturally wouldn't go against it, but instead was even more determined to build a good relationship with Asher.
At a time like this, helping Asher and offering some reasonable suggestions.
'Won't that make Asher feel more goodwill towards me?'
President Robb seriously stood in Asher's shoes and began analyzing for him.
"If the Heart of Machinery was in official hands, they would definitely choose to establish a breeding base."
"But for you personally, a breeding base doesn't hold much value, and it's too costly."
A massive breeding base. From site selection to construction, to the later stage equipment installation and staffing… a whole series of procedures, without a nine-digit or even ten-digit investment, it simply can't be fully implemented.
This is also why breeding bases are not entirely open to all beast tamers for free.
Everyone has to eat. Loss-making businesses really can't be afforded.
So President Robb decisively helped Asher pass on this plan.
"If you really want to just let the Heart of Machinery sit there and do nothing, it's not that it's impo…", As he spoke, President Robb slightly frowned.
The rest of the sentence never came out.
Asher blinked playfully at President Robb and said with a smile, "Not that it's impossible?"
President Robb: "…"
"Alright, it's still not really feasible," President Robb sighed and looked at Asher with a helpless expression.
This was truly not feasible.
"I'm not trying to dictate what you should do, just this…"
Asher saw that President Robb was going to keep explaining, so he immediately smiled and interrupted him.
"Uncle Robb, I'm not really a kid anymore who doesn't understand anything," Asher smiled and picked up the tea on the table.
This tea was brewed before Asher even entered the office, and now it was at just the right temperature.
"Promoting mechanical attribute beasts is a good thing for all beast tamers."
"Everyone has more options, and when facing beast tides, it might bring unexpected results."
Asher put down the teacup and continued, "And this is also a good thing for me."
As he became more outstanding, the resources needed would become more and more.
Relying entirely on NY City, relying on President Robb, wasn't really viable.
He needed to build his own network of connections.
The first step was to show that he had such intentions, and was no longer going with the flow.
These words, Asher didn't say out loud.
But President Robb could understand everything just by looking into Asher's eyes.
President Robb looked at Asher with a sighing gaze and patted him on the shoulder, "Asher, you… hey! As long as you understand!"
"Then I can be at ease."
Maybe it was because he had watched Asher come out of the Aspengrove Village service station all the way. In President Robb's eye, Asher had always been like a child. Until this moment.
Only now did President Robb truly realize, Asher was no longer just a child.
Asher had long since graduated.
And was a well-known honorary professor at Bluewind University.
An official teacher at South Soren Advanced Beast Taming Academy.
In NY City, Asher was already among the top talents.
"Then what's your plan?"
Earlier it was Asher asking President Robb questions, and now it was President Robb's turn to ask Asher.
"Go with my suggestion and open a breeding house?"
"I actually think it's quite suitable."
As he spoke, President Robb's expression became enthusiastic.
"I've also learned a bit about that Heart of Machinery. Although it's very powerful in terms of function, manufacturing semi-lifeform mechanical creations would also need a lot of materials, right?"
A lot. A huge amount. Extremely massive.
However, even so, Beast tamers chasing mechanical attribute beasts would still not be few.
After all, from any angle, beast tamers are a high-income group.
"Opening a breeding house is still a better choice," At this moment, President Robb was genuinely thinking from Asher's perspective.
"Invest a bit of resources in the early stage… hmm, if you don't have enough, you can apply through the Alliance, no problem," said President Robb.
Whether it was Asher's current status, or the attention from above, or his own relationship with Asher. Lending a hand to help Asher casually,bdidn't even count as a big deal.
"I don't really want to open a breeding house, kind of troublesome," Asher said, rubbing his chin.
President Robb: "…"
President Robb looked at Asher with a helpless expression, "Just said you seemed grown-up…"
'Now you're childish again?'
Asher smiled at that.
"It's really because I find breeding houses troublesome. The business model is a bit too time-consuming," Asher spread his hands and said with a beaming smile.
"Having ideas and plans is one thing."
"But my real foundation still lies in my strength as a beast tamer," Asher paused again as he spoke.
"Oh, and also my reputation as a pet professor."
President Robb fell silent.
"Fair point," President Robb nodded, then looked at Asher with curious eyes.
"You already have an idea," President Robb said in a very certain tone.
Having interacted for so long, President Robb had some understanding of Asher's character.
Since Asher said so, he definitely had an idea.
"Yes."
"I want to open… a blind box store?"
President Robb: "?"
Tiny eyes, huge question mark.
Asher smiled.
President Robb: "You're not serious, are you?"
President Robb was shocked.
President Robb was stunned by Asher's bold idea.
'What?'
'This thing can be played like that?'
Asher nodded.
'That's right!'
'It really can be played like this.'
Playing is playing, joking is joking.
Asher wasn't just joking aimlessly.
There was a reason for saying so.
"Regarding this manufacturing mechanism, Uncle Robb, you might not be too clear," Asher raised a finger and, through the description of Angel, Asher explained more carefully to President Robb.
"Even if the same steel and resources are used, it's impossible to manufacture two identical mechanical attribute beasts."
"Just like how there are no two identical leaves in this world, same logic."
"And mechanical attribute beasts are lifeforms… oh no, I'm not being rigorous enough with my words, they're semi-lifeforms."
President Robb looked at Asher speechlessly.
Asher couldn't help but laugh, "Heh, anyway, as long as you understand, I'll continue."
President Robb waved his hand impatiently, "Say it say it say it, I'm listening."
Asher: "Personality, these semi-lifeforms also have their own personalities."
Think about it, even if you custom order using the same steel, with the same materials and same cost, yet you receive two different-quality mechanical attribute beasts, wouldn't beast tamers feel some type of way?
If you ask Asher, how is that any different from opening a blind box?
Before contracting other pet beasts, at least you could roughly know the pet's aptitude.
But when it comes to mechanical attribute beasts…
Asher couldn't be bothered to let them pick and choose.
Might as well just do it as blind boxes.
President Robb: "!"
"Now that you say that…", President Robb rubbed his chin, just about to say, 'Seems like it kind of makes sense?'
Then President Robb came back to his senses and rolled his eyes at Asher.
"So basically, it's just because you're lazy, right!"
Asher chuckled, "As long as you know, as long as you know."
"No need to say it out loud!"
'It hurts feelings!'
Asher said with a serious face.
President Robb this time really waved at Asher with a bit of distaste.
"Alright alright, anyway the Heart of Machinery is in your hands, you do whatever you want."
"Not like I can control you anyway."
What else could he do?
'Whatever. Let it go.'
He thought Asher had grown up.
Didn't expect that after all this, he was still a kid.
Thinking of this, President Robb rubbed his temples with some headache
Asher is NY City's genius.
A pillar that could support NY City for at least fifty years.
If anything happens to anyone, it can't happen to Asher.
"If you need anything, just tell me. Don't be polite."
President Robb had barely finished speaking when Asher nodded and said confidently, "Uncle Robb, since you said that, then I definitely won't be polite."
"I really do have something I need your help with right now."
President Robb paused.
Didn't think there was anything wrong with Asher's straightforwardness.
Wasn't it something he said first?
Asher doing this was totally normal.
———
"Huh?"
Back at the research institute, Asher saw an unexpected person there.
"July?", Asher blinked, looking at the girl in front of him, his tone carrying a bit of surprise.
July also opened her eyes slightly wider, as if she didn't expect Asher to still remember her name.
Seeing this, Asher smiled first.
"We were at least classmates, it hasn't been that long since high school graduation, I'm not so forgetful that I'd forget your name."
"I just didn't expect…", July's voice was a little soft.
Looking at Asher, she couldn't help but lower her head.
"It's not really appropriate to talk outside, let's go in and chat."
Asher brought July straight into the reception room.
Seeing July looking uneasy, Asher smiled and poured her a glass of juice, "Try it?"
"Tastes pretty good. Everyone at the institute likes it."
When it came to taking care of his underlings, Asher always did well in terms of daily perks.
After all, everyone genuinely treated the institute like home.
Seeing Asher acting naturally, without putting on airs, July instead relaxed a bit.
She held the juice Asher placed on the table with both hands and took a sip.
The perfectly balanced sweet and sour taste spread in her mouth.
July's eyes lit up, and she looked more relaxed overall.
Asher curled his lips.
So no matter when, good food and drinks were always the best way to soothe people.
Asher didn't ask directly why July came.
Instead, he brought up a more casual topic.
"At this time… don't you have class?", Asher recalled that July seemed to have gotten into Radiant City University.
Though he remembered the person, he really didn't remember which university each classmate went to.
"..."
"We're on break for the Double Glory Festival," July replied, looking at Asher with a bit of surprise.
Asher: "?"
Huh?
Asher checked the date.
Only then did he remember.
Different world, legal holidays were a bit different too. Like the May holidays, Asher was used to May Day being a holiday.
But in this world, the holiday was mid-May, from the 10th to the 15th, five consecutive days off.
It was said that in the era of intense beast tides, on one particular May 10th, humanity won two great victories on the same day.
The Double Glory Festival became a tradition.
Except for Asher not being used to it, everyone else was.
Suddenly realizing something, Asher: "…"
'Without noticing, I have become a black-hearted capitalist? Didn't even give time off during holidays?'
"Cough! Cough!"
Asher coughed twice.
"Are you feeling unwell?", July didn't think too much.
Seeing Asher cough, she looked at him with concern.
Asher quickly waved his hand, "It's nothing, it's nothing."
"What did you come to see me for today?", Seeing July relaxed, Asher quickly changed the subject.
July followed Asher and her attention was drawn back.
"It's like this…", July frowned and began talking about her situation.
"East Soren Corporation?"
When he heard this group from July's mouth, Asher's face showed genuine shock.
This was an established pet supply manufacturing group in the nearby three provinces.
Reputation had always been good.
In recent years, they had been trying to move toward high-tech development.
Their concept product was a type of shield, which was theoretically said to withstand a full-strength attack from a Tier-6 low-level beast.
But in practice… well, it had been years and there was still no finished product.
"They approached me, saying they wanted to sponsor me."
Asher nodded.
This kind of group did charity every year, sponsoring students in need was normal.
Not to mention July was a beast tamer, which made her even more valuable to sponsor.
But July frowned and said, "But after interacting with them, I feel like they're not really here for me."
As she spoke, July looked up at Asher.
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