A moment ago, Azha had just calmed down, but now his emotions surged instantly.
'Damn it!'
'That look is definitely mocking me!'
"You bastard!", Azha looked angrily at Asher, looking like he was about to charge up and fight him to the death.
Asher showed a confused look and glanced at Azha's companions.
Azha's companions also revealed puzzled expressions.
"Although I don't know why you're angry, if you attack me for no reason, I don't think my pet beasts will show mercy," Asher said lightly, his tone calm.
Azha became even angrier.
'This guy!'
'Clearly, he is the one who provoked first, yet he's pretending to be innocent here?'
Azha was nearly exploded with anger by Asher.
Asher continued smiling calmly.
'Hehe!'
'At a time like this, it's about who loses their cool first.'
Azha's companions looked at him with increasingly strange expressions.
"Azha, I know you're angry that the Umbrella Mushroom Beast ran away, but earlier it really was you…"
"We know you're upset, but still, you can't just…"
This time, his companions' voices couldn't stop Azha.
Asher's mocking smile and tactful words were deeply imprinted in Azha's mind.
Azha rolled up his sleeves, ready to rush at Asher with all his might.
Asher first gave Azha's companions a helpless glance, spreading his hands.
Then—
Shua! Shua! Shua! Shua!
All four pet beasts attacked at once.
Another Umbrella Mushroom Beast and Vine Spring, commanded by Azha, were instantly pinned to the ground by Little Jellyfish.
What about the remaining three pet beasts?
Oh.
They were all staring straight at Azha.
Faced with the life-threatening gaze from Little Raven, Cat-Worm, and Little White Snake, Azha: "..."
Moved?
Absolutely didn't dare to move.
Golden-red pupils.
Golden eyes in hunting mode.
And a pair of eyes that just by looking would drop your SAN points.
Sweat on Azha's back and forehead burst out in a flash.
Hair standing on end.
Goosebumps all over.
"Calm down, calm down!", Azha's companions finally sensed that something was wrong.
They quickly stepped forward, wanting to stop Asher's actions.
The beasts beside them also began to move.
Asher conveniently observed a bit.
Among the locals of Evergreen City who controlled beasts, most people only had one. Only a few had two.
But hardly anyone had more than three.
This, Asher could understand.
Beastmasters who awakened extraordinary power and had beast-taming talent could only contract up to six pet beasts.
And they had to gradually expand their mental sea and beast space to accommodate more contracted pet beasts.
Ordinary people wanting to control many beasts all at once?
That's not how you die.
Thinking of this—
Asher glanced again at the guy called Azha.
'Say what you will.'
'Just the fact that this guy is the only one among them who can control three pet beasts means his status definitely isn't low.'
Just like Asher thought.
He had just pinned him down, and the others rushed over in a hurry.
Unfortunately, Azha couldn't withstand even a single blow in front of Asher. The others were no better.
Cat-Worm and Little White Snake didn't even have to move.
Just a simple glance back from Little Raven, shifting its locked gaze from Azha to those rushing over people and pet beasts.
They stopped immediately.
That look, that intimidation… it wasn't that they didn't want to move.
They simply didn't dare.
The atmosphere in the square turned weird as well.
Because Asher's appearance brought them hope, the tourists were highly focused on his every move.
Seeing Asher have a conflict with the locals… they might not openly take Asher's side, but they definitely wouldn't try to stop him.
Not to mention how the locals had forcibly taken away those pet beast professors and experts before. It had scared them too.
Just then.
An old man who looked over sixty, with white hair and wrinkled skin, walked out with his hands behind his back.
"This beastmaster lord, I apologize on Azha's behalf for his recklessness."
"Please forgive his mistake."
Asher looked at this old man who immediately placed a lofty title on him.
Wearing the distinctive attire of Evergreen City, the man looked like a senior priest or shaman.
Stooped back.
Seemed slow at first glance, but a closer look revealed that the old man's legs were perfectly fine. He only looked slow. In reality, he walked quite fast.
Not to mention those sharp and clear eyes flashing with wisdom.
He was an important figure.
"Alright, I'll let this slide," Asher casually waved his hand at Little Raven and the others.
Including Little Jellyfish who pinned the two beasts, all four pet beasts flapped, ran, and flew back to Asher's side.
The old man paused at the sight.
'Hm?'
'Not playing by the book?'
Then the rest of his planned moves were useless.
The old man and Asher made eye contact again.
Old fox and young fox smiled at each other.
Old man: "..."
'Got it.'
'No wonder the kid from our side lost.'
The old man put away his tricks and slowly spoke, "Thank you, beastmaster lord, for being so magnanimous."
"No big deal," Asher smiled faintly, then changed the subject, "May I ask who you are?"
"I am Mokari, considered an elder to these children."
Asher raised an eyebrow.
'Elder?'
'Might as well call him clan leader?'
'But that isn't important.'
Evergreen City's geography was indeed unique. Special ecological environments leading to special management systems. Understandable.
"I heard Evergreen City recently invited many pet beast professors and scholars, setting up a talent selection event, right?", As he spoke, Asher looked around.
"But why haven't I seen a single familiar pet beast professor?"
Only then did Asher look at Mokari, "Those professors are all valuable talents of the Alliance."
'If you locked them up privately, don't you think you owe us an explanation?'
'Otherwise…'
The Alliance can accept Evergreen City's unique beast-taming methods due to their physical traits.
Can accept them living in their own way.
But that doesn't mean it will tolerate Evergreen City becoming a country within a country.
Mokari's expression changed upon hearing Asher's hidden meaning, "Haha, rest assured, beastmaster lord, they're all doing just fine!"
"We would never harm them!"
"We know our limits."
Asher said nothing, just quietly stared at them.
'Do you think I believe you?'
Asher: 'Nope.'
He merely asked a few questions among the crowd, and those beast-tamers already dared to attack him.
Trust they have limits?
Asher looked toward Azha, who had just been helped up not far away, face full of resentment and dissatisfaction.
And smiled without saying a word.
Old man: "..."
'Our people embarrassed us in front of an outsider.'
Mokari glared at Azha.
Azha, not far away, seemed to realize how much trouble his earlier recklessness had caused.
He looked gloomily at the old man, not daring to speak.
Mokari glared at Azha again, then turned to Asher.
Immediately changed face.
With a smiling face, the old man said, "This matter… sigh, to explain it clearly is a bit complicated."
"If beastmaster lord doesn't mind, could we speak in another place?"
Asher stroked his chin and said nothing.
He glanced at the young man who had revealed much information earlier.
The young man looked confused: "Ah?"
'Why are you looking at me?'
"Hey!", The auntie who had also spoken to Asher pushed the young man aside, enthusiastically shouting at Asher, "Young man, you go ahead!"
"If the Alliance's rescue team arrives and you're not back yet, I'll vouch for you."
Asher: "Alright, thank you, auntie."
Hearing this, the auntie beamed with joy, "Good, good, young people these days sure are sweet-talking!"
Auntie was happy.
Asher also made necessary backup plans.
Only then did he turn to the old man.
Clearly distrusted, the old man: "..."
What could he say?
Same old story.
His own people lost face first. Couldn't blame the cautious outsider.
The old man turned and led Asher toward the opposite direction of the square.
Asher asked nothing and followed directly.
Watching Asher and the old man leave, Azha and the others who nearly attacked Asher earlier exchanged glances.
"He went with Mokari?"
"Then what do we do now?"
"Will Mokari punish us?"
"But we didn't clash with that guy, it was all Azha…"
As they spoke, everyone's eyes landed on Azha.
Having been stomped on by Cat-Worm and feeling like his ribs were about to crack, Azha: "..."
'What about our camaraderie?'
'Aren't we comrades?'
Comrades: 'Doesn't exist!'
"Azha, you caused it, you take responsibility. We believe Mokari won't punish you!"
Azha clutched his aching chest and slumped to the ground, completely unwilling to move.
———
Asher followed Mokari into an octagonal treehouse, much larger than the surrounding ones.
As soon as he entered.
He looked around the interior with open curiosity.
'Amazing.'
Though it looked like wood from the outside, the inside was well-designed for ventilation, lighting, and protection against weather.
While Asher looked around, the old man sat on a brightly colored sofa and brewed a pot of hot tea.
"Have some tea," He placed a cup before Asher.
His eyes, however, were fixed on the mask on Asher's face.
Asher acted as if nothing was unusual and boldly took off the mask, hanging it on Cat-Worm's horn.
Cat-Worm: "?"
"Meow?"
It had been circling Asher's feet, but now distracted by the mask, it began spinning in place, trying to dig the mask off its head.
The old man: "..."
Mokari forced his gaze away from the chaotic bug and focused on Asher's face.
Then his expression faltered.
"You… you're…"
Asher raised an eyebrow.
'Hm?'
'What's wrong?'
If it were someone else, Asher would've just assumed they recognized his true identity.
Being too famous had its downsides, always trending.
But Evergreen City was relatively remote and closed off.
Young people might still go online.
But Asher didn't believe a man in his sixties like Mokari would have a particular impression of him.
A bad… well, maybe not bad, but ominous feeling.
"MESSENGER OF THE DIVINE TREE!", Just as Asher was speculating, Mokari suddenly shouted, his gaze toward Asher turning incredibly complicated.
Asher: "?"
"Huh~?"
'Messenger?'
'What messenger?'
As for the "Divine Tree" the old man mentioned, Asher instantly matched it with World Tree.
"What messenger?", Asher asked directly.
Mokari's gaze flickered, then he shook his head, "No, I was mistaken."
Asher was speechless.
'What is that?'
'Raise curiosity only to say nothing?'
'What kind of new torture method is this?"
"That messenger, what's it about?", After thinking a moment, Asher added, "Also, what's up with you all, and where's the flower ring?"
Mokari had been planning to brush Asher off, but upon hearing "flower ring," his eyes turned sharp instantly.
"How does an outsider like you know about the flower ring?", His previously hunched back straightened with a whoosh, sharp eyes staring fixedly at Asher.
As if any wrong move from Asher would be met with immediate action.
"The Divine Tree told me," Asher lobbed a straight pitch.
Mokari, just becoming alert, looked confused: "Huh… huh?"
'Who said that?'
'Sacred Tree?'
'You must be joking!'
Returning to his senses, Mokari looked at Asher like he was an ignorant child.
"No matter how you learned about the flower ring. Maybe through prior investigation, or from some tourists…"
"If you're trying to trick information from this old man's mouth."
"That still doesn't justify you using the Divine Tree as an excuse."
Asher gave the old man a helpless look.
"How do you know I'm making it up?"
Before the old man could argue, Asher quickly described in detail the World Tree he had seen.
The old man, who didn't believe him at first, began to look dazed.
Asher felt like he saw a meme-worthy groundhog reaction on his face.
'Huh?'
'HUH!'
'No way?'
'Why?'
Finally, the old man snapped out of it.
"Now you believe me?", Asher smiled the same as before, "So tell me, what's up with the flower ring, and what happened to the pet beast professors?"
"This…", Mokari didn't dodge the topic.
Asher's description of communicating with the Divine Tree had shocked the old man.
Turning him from a crafty old fox into a helpless little bunny, cooperative to the max.
"Sigh!", He first heaved a long sigh.
"The flower ring… well, it disappeared."
"The problem is, we were busy preparing the event and no one knows when or how it went missing."
Asher: "So you arrested outsiders first, huh."
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