Beast Tamer: I Can See Evolution Paths

Asher had no idea what kind of wild thoughts Benjamin's mind was cooking up.

His attention fell on the eagle nearby.

Thanks to the intense cram sessions over the past few days, even without relying on his talent skill, Asher immediately recognized it based on its appearance: "This Gale Eagle is clearly well-trained."

"Of course! Storm is my first contracted beast. We've been together for twenty years." Benjamin's grin was so wide it practically split his face.

If Asher had praised anything else, Benjamin might not have reacted so openly. But complimenting his pet beast? That was a direct hit to his soft spot. "I'm the captain, Benjamin. As long as you stick with us and don't run off, you'll be fine."

"Thank you, Uncle Ben," Asher responded with a polite smile.

Although Benjamin knew this was just a respectful greeting, Asher's demeanor left a positive impression. It made Benjamin feel like this young man was someone worth knowing. The little hint of annoyance he felt earlier completely evaporated.

Instead, Benjamin began chatting with Asher.

"We're still almost an hour early from the agreed time—why'd you come so early?" Benjamin glanced at the spirited Asher, curious.

Asher smiled. "Better early than late. I wouldn't want everyone waiting on me."

The more Benjamin talked with Asher, the more his fondness for him skyrocketed.

By the time the other members of the exploration team arrived, they were greeted by a surprising sight. The same captain who'd been complaining the night before about having to babysit some annoying rookie was now chatting happily with a teenager who looked about seventeen or eighteen.

The team members: "???"

'What happened to our captain? Did he not get enough sleep and lose his mind?'

As the group approached, Benjamin noticed them right away and waved them over enthusiastically. "Over here! Come on! Let me introduce you all."

He first pointed to Asher. "This is Asher, who'll be joining us today to check out the mineral deposit."

Then, he gestured to the only woman in the group. "And this is our team's vice-captain, Pitou."

"Hello, Sister Pitou. I really appreciate your help today," Asher said, flashing a sweet smile.

At over thirty years old, Pitou couldn't help but smile warmly at being called "sister." She tossed her short hair and replied with a spirited grin, "Sweet-talker, aren't you? Don't worry, sis will look after you today."

With his talent for building rapport and his deliberate effort to get along, Asher quickly blended in with the group. In no time, it felt as if he'd always been part of the team.

As the crowd grew thicker around the area, Asher surveyed his surroundings and asked, "Does heading out have a fixed schedule?"

"That's right," Pitou nodded, evidently pleased with his attentiveness. "While the beasts inside the Forbidden Zone generally avoid the walls and gates due to the special scent they emit, it's still better to be cautious."

"The main gate only opens three times a day—morning, noon, and evening. At other times, you'd have to use one of the four smaller gates, which require a lot more paperwork."

The main gate is quicker and more convenient, so most preferred to time their departure accordingly.

Thanks to their early arrival, Benjamin and Asher were first in line. With the special clearance provided by President Robb, they breezed through the checkpoint.,

The moment they stepped beyond the towering gate, a pungent mix of primal, bloody, and plant-like odors assailed their senses.

Asher instinctively wrinkled his nose. The relaxed Little Raven on his shoulder puffed up into a round, feathery ball.

Unlike Asher, the seasoned members of the exploration team showed no reaction, clearly accustomed to the environment.

"First time here, huh, Asher?" Pitou noticed Asher's discomfort right away, unlike the rest of the rough-and-tumble group.

She couldn't help but laugh when she saw the black puffball on Asher's shoulder. "Is that little fluffball your pet beast? So cute! But I wonder how strong it is."

Her fingers twitched, looking eager to poke at it.

Fighting back the discomfort from the smell, Asher chuckled. "Sister Pitou, don't tease Little Raven. She's just a kid."

The black puffball: (ΩДΩ)

'A kid?'

'How dare you?'

Little Raven immediately smoothed down her feathers and began angrily flapping her wings against Asher's shoulder, clearly expressing her indignation.

Pitou couldn't stop laughing, while the other team members gave Asher complicated looks.

They'd initially thought Asher's choice of pet beast was laughable.

Why contract something so seemingly useless?

But seeing Pitou so amused...

Hold on a second.

Kid, you didn't pick this beast just to charm women, did you?

Even with the teasing and banter, the team's professionalism remained impeccable.

NY City's Forbidden Zone had about 35% of its area explored, and the newly discovered mineral deposit lay in uncharted territory.

To reach it, they first needed to traverse that 35%—no easy feat.

With nearly eight years of experience in the area, Benjamin's team planned the most efficient route, minimizing time and danger.

Despite their careful planning, they still encountered two beasts along the way: a mid-tier fourth-rank Thunder Fang Tiger and a high-tier fourth-rank Yellow-striped Giant Python.

"Storm, protect Asher!" Benjamin commanded while summoning his second contracted beast, a Shadow Leopard.

The team worked together seamlessly, defeating both ferocious creatures after an intense battle.

What followed was a well-practiced routine: skinning, extracting tendons, collecting energy stones, and salvaging valuable parts of the meat. Anything non-essential was left behind.

"What a waste," Benjamin sighed at the pile of leftover meat. "But hunting beasts isn't our main objective this time. We'll have to let it go."

"Mineral deposits are worth more," Pitou said coolly, shaking off the blood splattered on her face.

Her straightforward reasoning left everyone convinced.

The group pressed on, with Asher quietly observing the battles. He knew he wasn't brave or skilled enough to contribute, but he wasn't idle. Watching the team's tactics gave him new insights into direct combat techniques.

"When we get back, we can try some of these out," Asher whispered to Little Raven.

The now-calm Little Raven rubbed against his cheek and nodded, 'Let's do it.'

Their teamwork will be just as strong—if not stronger—than these seasoned explorers.

Especially since Little Raven had developed a personal vendetta against Storm, the Gale Eagle.

Perhaps it was a bird thing, but Little Raven could not stand Storm getting close to Asher.

If she were stronger, she'd already have picked a fight.

Little Raven: 'This household can only have one bird.'

Storm: (￢_￢)

Thankfully, the rest of the journey was uneventful. By midday, they finally reached the area of the mineral deposit.

Suddenly, a wave of scorching heat engulfed them, as if they'd stepped into a blazing furnace.

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