"Ahem!", Upon hearing this, the old man also showed a slightly embarrassed expression.
He awkwardly touched his messy beard, "This isn't… this isn't…"
'No matter what, outsiders are always the first to be suspected! Who would think to suspect their own people?'
Asher: "Understandable."
Hearing Asher's words, just as the old man was about to reveal a gratified smile—
Asher continued, "It's been a while since Evergreen City was locked down, right? So, have you guys found anything out?"
"Or are you planning to just keep people locked up like this?"
The old man and Asher exchanged a glance.
Not exactly hostile.
But clearly, this matter required a fair explanation and treatment.
In the end, the old man took a step back first, "You're right. We've been investigating those foreign professors and scholars for several days now, but we haven't found anything."
"Nothing at all."
Mokari's tone carried an unspeakable heaviness.
Asher could understand his feelings.
They had investigated.
But found nothing.
Only two possibilities.
One, the person who did it is really good at hiding. Must have prepared thoroughly and conducted investigations in advance.
Didn't find anything before.
Even if they continue digging, they still might find nothing.
The other possibility is that the culprit isn't one of the outsiders, but a local resident of Evergreen City.
From bloodline, customs, and habits, Evergreen City still retains a degree of tribal culture.
If it's their own people, the blow would be even more severe than imagined.
But as far as Asher was concerned, it didn't really seem to be his problem?
If it's their internal matter, let them handle it themselves.
After the discussion, Asher smoothly met up with Iris and the others.
"Asher?"
Hearing the door open, they originally thought it was someone from Evergreen City coming to ask pointless questions again.
They impatiently turned their heads toward the door. Then Iris saw someone she never expected to see here.
Others: "?"
'Huh?'
'Asher?'
'That name sounds kinda familiar!'
Looking again at the person at the door—
'He looks kinda familiar too?'
Next moment, everyone realized.
It wasn't just "kinda familiar"—they actually knew this guy.
They matched Asher's name to his face.
"You..."
Asher walked in, interrupting whatever Iris was about to say.
He took the initiative to explain the situation in Evergreen City.
"...That's basically it," Asher left out the part about World Tree and the Sacred Tree, not going into detail.
Everything else that could be said, he said.
Including why they were being temporarily detained.
Everyone: "..."
"Wait, what does their stuff getting stolen have to do with us!"
"Maybe it's... those shady outsiders who stole it?"
"I'm seriously... speechless! Just completely speechless!"
"That garland does sound important. If that's the case, I can kinda understand their panic, but that doesn't mean I have to accept it."
Everyone began complaining, one after another.
Iris suddenly said, "This really has nothing to do with any of our people, right?"
The room fell silent.
Just a moment ago, everyone had been righteously complaining together, now they all went quiet.
This question... how do you even answer it?
Everyone could swear it wasn't them.
But whether that's true or not... it's hard to be sure.
"Anyway, thank you," After dropping a bomb that would sow mutual suspicion, Iris looked toward Asher.
She thanked him sincerely.
Asher shook his head, "It's nothing."
The discovery of World Tree alone was already worth it.
But Iris didn't think that way.
Asher knowing where she was didn't mean he had any obligation to come find her.
Iris moved a bit closer to Asher and whispered, "So if they don't find the person, we can't leave?"
"Not that extreme," Asher, who was treated like World Tree's own child, answered confidently.
"But it'd be better if we find out who stole the garland," Thinking about how the garland came from World Tree, Asher felt the matter deserved attention.
Iris nodded: "Of course. And I suspect this has to do with..."
She paused mid-sentence and glanced at Asher.
Asher: "?"
'What're you looking at me for?'
Before Asher could ask, Iris lowered her voice even further and whispered, "And I suspect this has to do with that previous incident where your research results were leaked."
By the end, Iris was basically just breathing the words.
Only Asher, who was right beside her, could hear.
Asher: "..."
'Uhh!'
Asher opened his mouth, trying to explain something.
Then realized, 'Damn, this really is hard to explain.'
'Maybe?'
Even though there was no evidence his research had leaked from the inside. Most of it seemed like speculation from piecing together fragments found online.
Still, maybe?
Who knows if the garland theft this time was someone, or some foreign force, targeting things with special beast-taming powers.
"Let's investigate first. If possible, we can also help out," Asher smiled.
Hearing that, Iris gave him a weird look.
Asher: "?"
"...Alright then," Iris nodded.
She didn't ask how Asher managed to convince Evergreen City's locals.
Anyway, they'd find a way to investigate too.
When the beast professor group reappeared in the plaza, both tourists and locals looked surprised.
'Huh?'
'Huh! Huh! Huh?'
"Well damn."
The young guy who'd been lectured by an old lady before walked over to Asher's side.
He bumped Asher with his shoulder.
"I thought you were gone for good, but turns out..."
He trailed off as his gaze moved from Asher to Iris beside him.
Turns out Asher not only came back himself, he also brought back the beast professors who had seemingly been detained.
"How'd you pull that off?"
Asher smiled: "They're actually pretty reasonable."
The young guy gave Asher a "you think I believe that?" look.
Asher smiled and didn't respond.
Seeing this, the young guy scratched his head and dropped the question.
Asher casually found a place to sit.
Iris sat beside him. The young guy and the old lady also came over.
The group chatted casually, bits here and there.
And then, Asher vaguely felt like a gaze had fallen on him.
"Ah."
"Looks like I guessed right," Asher smiled as he spoke.
Iris: "?"
"Guessed what?"
They'd thought this whole thing would drag on for several more days.
But right after these outsider beast professors were released, the real culprit behind the scenes couldn't sit still anymore.
Asher almost wanted to ask—
'Seriously?'
'How did this person stay hidden so long without getting caught?'
'You guys just don't suspect your own people at all, huh?'
Asher was a little speechless.
Fortunately, the old man wasn't just all talk.
After learning Asher had communicated with the Sacred Tree, and that the Sacred Tree was very angry about the lost garland, believing it showed they didn't value the garland enough, Old man Mokari immediately gave up unnecessary hesitation and mercy toward his own people.
'Investigate.'
'It must be investigated to the very end.'
'Return the garland.'
'We absolutely can not risk Lord Sacred Tree's wrath.'
So...
"We caught the culprit," The old man said solemnly while stroking his beard.
Asher was a little speechless, "You guys actually move pretty fast, huh?"
"What took you so long before?", Asher was honestly baffled.
Azha and the other young ones, seeing Asher being so blunt, were about to scold him—
But were stopped by the old man.
"No."
"He's right. We really were... incompetent this time."
Hearing that, Azha and the others looked furious.
Since the old man stopped them, they couldn't vent on Asher, so they all directed their rage at the garland thief.
"Damn it! I never expected it to be you, Rama!"
"Rama always seemed like a good guy. When the garland disappeared, he was the one who said it might be the outsiders... I—"
"Who would've thought he was deliberately guiding us!"
The more they spoke, the angrier they got.
Asher looked over too.
The one called Rama was a middle-aged man.
Looked a bit dark-skinned.
Head down, couldn't see his face clearly.
Silent and reserved.
At first glance, really did seem like a reliable good guy.
Seeing them go on and on, Asher waved his hand impatiently, "I don't care why he stole the garland. Spare me the dramatic kneeling, crying, and repenting."
Rama: "..."
Hearing Asher's voice, Rama instantly remembered how he got exposed.
He glared at Asher in rage.
Asher didn't even blink.
Scared?
No way.
"The garland?"
"Let's wrap this up so we can leave."
Still within 24 hours, if they hurried, they might not even need to trouble the Alliance.
"This...", Hearing Asher's question, the old man's expression turned awkward.
Asher: "?"
Asher suddenly thought of a possibility.
"No way?", Asher looked shocked, "That garland's been preserved for years, right? How could it be so easily destroyed?"
He didn't quite believe it.
But the old man gave a bitter expression, "I didn't want to believe it either. But... but... sigh!"
Saying that, he pushed a square, old-fashioned wooden box in front of Asher.
Looking down, inside were broken, colorful fragments like glazed glass.
The garland.
Asher looked surprised.
From the photos, it looked like a normal garland.
But why did the real thing look more like some kind of glass crystal?
"Lord Sacred Tree...", Mokari spoke bitterly.
Asher stayed silent.
What would World Tree think of this shattered garland? He had no idea.
Just as Asher was about to push the box back, he realized. It wouldn't budge.
Asher: "?"
Suddenly alert, Asher looked at Mokari in shock.
'Wait—'
'Old man, what're you planning?'
Asher gave him a terrified look.
"Respected Beastmaster—"
"Stop!", Asher raised his hand and cut him off abruptly.
He rubbed his arm, face full of disgust, "Don't call me that. Every time you say that, something bad follows!"
Still, though.
Asher hadn't forgotten, this old fox had tried to use him at the start.
'Old fo— no, wait,' Hearing Asher say that, the old man showed a trace of embarrassment.
Just a trace.
"I apologize for my previous actions," Mokari looked sincerely apologetic.
"The garland matter... we would like to ask you to...", He didn't finish the sentence, only looked at Asher pleadingly.
The room's atmosphere grew strange.
Azha and the others wanted to speak up, but seeing their chief act so sincerely toward Asher, they didn't dare do anything.
Iris frowned.
"If it's dangerous—"
"It's fine," Asher shook his head.
Looking at the broken garland in the wooden box, he thought for a bit, then nodded, agreeing to help communicate with World Tree.
"I'll try. No promises."
"Thank you so much!"
.
.
.
The communication went way smoother than Asher expected.
World Tree already treated Asher like his own kid, he was practically pampered to the heavens.
Asher brought the shattered garland to him.
Explained the situation.
Basically, it was a story of jealousy.
Jealous of the younger generation being more capable.
Jealous of them being favored.
Got obsessed.
Did something like this.
World Tree shook his branches: ["Oh."]
Didn't really care.
"So what do I do with this?", Asher held up the box of shattered garland pieces, asking World Tree.
World Tree: ["Do you want it?"]
Asher: "?"
"What would I want this for? It's useless."
["Why is it useless?"]
World Tree's counter made Asher freeze.
'Wait?'
'What does that mean?'
Asher thought about it and looked at World Tree in shock.
"You mean... even in this shattered state, it's still usable?", Asher was confused and surprised.
But World Tree nodded as if it were obvious, ["Of course. This is a condensation of my power."]
["The form was just random."]
["The shape doesn't affect its function."]
Asher: "..."
'That explanation... actually makes damn good sense.'
"Alright, I'll send it back to them later," Asher put the box away.
He hadn't forgotten the devastated look on the old man's face earlier.
Even if Evergreen City had handled this poorly, it didn't mean Asher hated the place.
This bloodline-based beast-taming method was still pretty useful.
As he spoke, Asher got ready to leave: "Make sure entry and exit returns to normal."
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