Little Raven: "?"
"Chirp?"
'Why does it feel like when the bird looks at the Beastmaster's face, it instinctively wants to slap it?'
In Little Raven's large golden-red eyes, there was great confusion.
Facing Little Raven's thought process, Asher: "..."
Asher reached out and rubbed Little Raven's head.
"We're good kids, be good."
Little Raven rubbed hard a few times against Asher's palm.
'Alright then.'
Then Little Raven turned and slapped the Cat-Worm in Asher's arms with a wing.
Once again understanding Little Raven's way of thinking, Asher silently let go of the Cat-Worm in his arms.
'Let them fight.'
'Anyway, it has nothing to do with me as the Beast Tamer.'
'Hmm~'
Asher took the little jellyfish off his head and held it in his hand, squishy and bouncy, with a great stress-relief toy feel.
Plus, the little jellyfish was especially docile towards Asher.
When squeezing it, Asher felt there was nothing to worry about.
"That East Soren Corporation or whatever. What they want to do doesn't matter. Soldiers come, we'll block them; water comes, we'll use earth to stop it," Asher said calmly.
It was also said to the few pet beasts in his home.
"Compared to them…", As he spoke, Asher's gaze fell on the few pet beasts in his house.
How to improve his own pet beasts' strength, that was what Asher cared about more.
To forge iron, your own body must be strong.
Only by becoming strong yourself, is it truly meaningful.
Little White Snake flicked its tail.
The little jellyfish curled its tentacles.
Angel bluntly said, "A proper amount of steel and resources will make Angel stronger."
After thinking for a bit, Angel added, "Compared to other pet beasts, Angel becoming stronger is very easy."
Asher: "..."
Asher looked at Angel with a rather complex expression.
'What?'
'How did those words come out?'
'Easy?'
'Heh!'
Looking at those hundreds of kilograms of steel and high-grade resources, Asher's hairline hurt.
Moreover, this was just the resources needed for one stage of Angel.
As levels increase, the amount of steel and resources needed to restore Angel would only increase.
Thinking of this, Asher sighed.
"Let's just buy it with money first."
"Fortunately, I have money."
Although it had only been a year, Asher had earned quite a bit.
He still had a small goal.
But thinking about the spending coming up… Asher sighed again.
Thinking, Asher pulled out his phone and opened the Beast Tamer official website.
After hesitating for a long time, Asher closed it again.
"No, this won't do," Asher shook his head, "If I post a message about buying steel now… wouldn't I be handing myself over as a sucker?"
Although the news about the Heart of Machinery hadn't completely spread, but anyone with a bit of background and information channels would likely know about it in the next couple of days.
After all, transporting the Heart of Machinery from Oakridge City with such a big movement, it's impossible that it went unnoticed.
Acquiring steel wasn't something that could be done in a day or two.
Not to mention Asher wanted a lot of it.
Asher pondered for a moment.
Put down the phone.
This obvious route of purchasing wasn't appropriate.
But that didn't mean there weren't other ways
———
The Heart of Machinery, two days later, was finally successfully transported from Oakridge City to NY City.
In Bluewind University, many people were discussing this matter.
"Wow! I saw something online before about a mechanical-attribute beast, the Heart of Machinery, and I didn't believe it!"
"I thought it was pure nonsense! Who would've thought…"
"Same! I thought the exact same thing!"
"But is it really okay to leave this thing in Professor Asher's hands? Isn't that kind of bad?"
"You can't say that. It was Professor Asher who risked his life and worked hard to find it!"
"But if it were in official hands, wouldn't we have a chance too…"
"Even if it's with Professor Asher, we still have a chance! It's not like those rumors online saying Professor Asher is hiding it and planning to build a mechanical army of his own!"
"Hilarious! Hahaha! If I had such a chance, I'd totally want to try it!"
"I want a mechanical army! This is the romance of steel, understand?"
"Don't understand even a little!"
Emanuel heard these discussions and shook his head repeatedly.[ T/N: Asher's first friend in the college in Ch132]
"Those people online will say anything just for fame, Professor Asher is really unlucky."
Jacob next to him also nodded.
But he thought a bit deeper.
"Speaking of which, that trending search the other day was really strange."
Emanuel: "?"
'Didn't think of it before.'
'Now that it's mentioned...'
"I also think it was kind of weird."
Emanuel wasn't brainless, it's just sometimes he couldn't think that far ahead all at once.
After being reminded, Emanuel's brain instantly became active.
"And also, isn't the online description of the Heart of Machinery way too detailed?"
"Even we only found out about this today."
And it was only because the handover between Oakridge City and NY City had gone successfully.
As they spoke, the two looked at each other.
In their eyes was the same confused emotion.
'Hmm! There's definitely something fishy here.'
"Let's trust Professor Asher," After thinking, Jacob pushed his glasses and said.
"What we can think of, Professor Asher definitely can too."
Emanuel hummed twice: "…I'll send a message to Professor Asher, just in case?"
"Maybe Professor Asher was busy a few days ago and didn't notice the trending topic?"
That was another suspicious point.
The trending topic rose quickly, and dropped just as fast.
The rise and fall were so dramatic, people didn't even have time to react.
Jacob didn't stop Emanuel.
Although what Emanuel said did make a bit of sense.
———
"Professor Asher replied to me!"
Not long after.
Emanuel held his phone in both hands, eyes wide open with excitement.
Jacob: "!"
Jacob quickly leaned over to Emanuel and looked at the message he sent.
[Emanuel: …That's the situation, Professor Asher, you must be careful! Don't get tricked by schemers!]
[Asher: Thank you, I will.]
Jacob: …
Jacob took off his glasses, wiped them, and put them back on.
There was a complicated look in his eyes.
To say that Professor Asher replied… okay, to personally say thanks, that was definitely beyond their expectations.
But…
Jacob thought of their idiot roommate from before, and in the end felt this was good.
Professor Asher didn't blame them, which was already a big relief.
"Alright."
Jacob picked up a book from the table and patted Emanuel's shoulder.
"Let's hurry to the next classroom, or we'll be late for the next class."
Emanuel nodded.
Just as he was about to put his phone away, the phone suddenly vibrated again.
Emanuel: "?"
Emanuel looked down.
He suddenly opened his eyes wide, full of disbelief.
"Professor Asher… Professor Asher he…"
"I know Professor Asher thanked you," Jacob hadn't noticed Emanuel's shock, looking at him calmly.
"So what more do you want?"
"Print out the chat log and worship it?"
Emanuel shouted: "I think that's a great idea!"
Jacob: "..."
Jacob: 'I think my roommate's got issues. Mental illness.'
Emanuel: "Don't look at me with that expression!"
As he said that, Emanuel shoved his phone in Jacob's face.
Jacob was forced to glance at the phone with a slightly annoyed look.
But after clearly seeing the content, Jacob also suddenly opened his eyes wide.
"Holy crap!"
'What what?'
'Professor Asher asked if we want mechanical-attribute beasts?'
'Just need to provide our own materials.'
'And we will get a mystery box?'
At that moment, Emanuel unleashed his years of single-player hand speed to the max, not daring to delay a single second.
Very fast!
Jacob was even urging Emanuel on: "And me too, don't forget me!"
Emanuel: "?"
'What?'
'There are actually other people around me?'
'Why didn't I know anything?'
Jerry, sitting in the next class's large lecture hall, realizing his two roommates still hadn't shown up: "?"
"Achoo—" Jerry sneezed, rubbed his nose.
Looked at the teacher on the podium.
"Hurry up."
These days, teachers have advanced attendance methods.
It's more than he can handle.
———
Asher sent the message to Emanuel and put away the phone.
"Master seems to be in a good mood."
Angel circled Asher twice, as if seriously observing Asher's facial expression.
Asher gave a couple of hums.
"I'm indeed in a good mood."
Angel expressed confusion.
"But didn't Master already know about this matter?"
Looking at Angel's confused face, Asher couldn't help laughing.
At this moment, Asher could even more deeply feel the gap between a mechanical lifeform like Angel and a human.
Thinking of this, Asher paused.
Or maybe it's not necessarily that?
Maybe it's because Angel is a pet beast?
The difference in thinking between beasts and humans is completely normal.
It's just that before, Little Raven and the others couldn't express themselves as clearly as Angel could.
After thinking, Asher still explained.
"Knowing it beforehand is one thing."
"Someone caring about me, constantly thinking of me, and reminding me, that's another."
Angel: ?
If it weren't for functional limitations, Angel's eyes would really have turned into question marks.
Asher sighed.
"It's fine if you don't understand."
"Even humans can't fully understand humans."
Just like Asher really couldn't figure out what that East Soren Corporation wanted.
"The inability of humans and beasts to understand each other's thinking is even more normal."
Asher smiled at Angel.
"Just accept the kindness… of a friend, barely considered a friend."
"And I can also take this opportunity to do a bit of publicity," As he said that, Asher rubbed his chin.
He didn't plan to monopolize the Heart of Machinery.
But how to let people know about this also needed a channel, right?
Emanuel, who had shown goodwill toward him, was a pretty good channel.
Emanuel, who felt like a pie just hit him on the head: "!"
He could do it.
This kind of pie, bring more.
Emanuel was already too happy to contain himself.
Seeing this, Asher shook his head and smiled as he put away his phone.
'As long as everyone's happy.'
'A win-win is the real victory.'
Compared to Asher's good mood.
Some people at this moment weren't so happy.
———
[East Soren Corporation Headquarters]
[Nexa City]
The tallest building in the entire city.
Combines office, research, and other functions.
It is also the most important building of the entire East Soren Corporation.
[Top floor]
There were standard floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of the whole city.
Inside a private office sat a large, antique, clearly expensive desk.
Across from it was a soft couch that made people want to sink in completely.
On the table in front, there were also desserts and snacks within easy reach.
But the three people currently in the office had no mood to appreciate the carefully arranged food and scenery.
"That Asher is really a tough nut?"
In the heavy executive chair sat a young man.
Giovanni Casito.
The current head of East Soren Corporation.
Thinking about how he had fanned the flames of speculation online regarding Asher and the Heart of Machinery.
Giovanni originally thought, even if Asher had past achievements, netizens would still suspect him.
Who would've thought, it was completely useless.
Not only that, their hired trolls were even discovered.
Thinking of this, Giovanni's expression darkened.
The female secretary standing on the side lowered her head and didn't dare speak.
This matter was assigned to her by Giovanni.
Clearly, it wasn't done well.
And it likely had already attracted Asher's attention.
The female secretary lowered her head even more.
Now was the worst time for the boss to notice her.
Unfortunately, things rarely go your way.
"No!"
"That Heart of Machinery…", As he spoke, Giovanni's tone grew gritted and resentful.
Giovanni was really furious.
'So close!'
'Just that little bit more!'
'The Heart of Machinery should've been mine!'
Giovanni wasn't just saying that casually.
Just three months ago, Giovanni had obtained a special map.
Because of his innate skills and subordinates, Giovanni realized the map was unique.
Immediately, Giovanni put people on analyzing the map.
Just as it was about to be decoded, the Heart of Machinery appeared.
When facing a difficult problem, getting the right answer isn't easy.
But when facing the answer, ereverse-engineering the problem is very easy.
Giovanni immediately realized, the Heart of Machinery, was the answer to the map he obtained.
Giovanni: "!"
Shocked. Excited. Then came unwillingness and fury.
'That is my treasure!'
'That is what I was supposed to get!'
'What's with this Asher?'
'He actually got it first?'
People never think they're too slow, they always blame others.
Giovanni was just that kind of person.
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