Two days passed.
Rocky didn't return to the Clan, but instead headed somewhere else.
Rocky stood in front of the entrance to a magnificent building with a hundred floors—its systems connected to other buildings around it.
He could see people moving busily through hundreds of glass windows in the building.
Plant Association… a huge organization that researched plants and produced them under pills for beasts, along with many other things.
They were said to be the richest organization. Although they didn't possess the strongest beasts like the Great Clans, no one dared to underestimate them.
From what he had heard in the recent news, they had successfully researched special plants to enhance beasts
The Great Clans had been trying to chase them, but it was mostly useless because they lacked one thing.
Plant Scholars… the Association had plenty of them.
Yes, with money, they could buy almost anything—even humans. Meanwhile, the Great Clans had nothing but their unique ability to tame the strongest beasts and their knowledge about them. They couldn't sell the treasures they had accumulated over hundreds of years just to recruit Plant Scholars… and when it came to money, they simply couldn't compete with the Plant Association.
With the passage of time the Great Clans had been lagging behind the Plant Association.
(If they actually succeed in researching special plants to enhance beasts… maybe the balance of power in the world will change… Sigh, why am I even thinking about this shit? I'm not even in a that position to care about it.)
Rocky quickly stepped inside.
His target here was to obtain a contract with the Plant Association.
Rocky headed over to a nearby receptionist.
The female receptionist, with a well-developed chest, was writing something in her notebook. When Rocky came closer, she looked up and asked politely,
"Greetings, boy… how can I help you?"
Rocky nodded.
"I want to submit a newly discovered plant."
The female receptionist nodded.
"Okay, you want to… wait, what? A discovered plant?"
She narrowed her eyes while looking at Rocky, a hint of doubt showing. After all, Rocky was still too young to be capable of something like that.
Rocky shrugged. He already knew she would react this way. Indeed, he wasn't someone who was supposed to be able to do such a thing. He had learned his lesson back at the academy, when those bastards had framed him.
He would use a random name as a shield, to protect himself from everyone.
"My master discovered the plant, but he's busy, so I came here on his behalf."
The female receptionist nodded in understanding.
"I see. You're a disciple of a plant scholar. That's not rare, but next time, you should come with your master. A discovered plant is always important business."
She then asked,
"What is your master's name?"
Rocky answered,
"Kai Peter."
She frowned.
(That's strange. I thought anyone who discovered a new plant would be part of the Plant Association… It seems his master is an anonymous plant scholar. That explains why he's not one of us. After all, only a top plant scholar would have the knowledge to research new plants.)
She nodded.
"Please, follow me. We'll go to the waiting room. A junior plant scholar will make the contract with you."
Twenty minutes later, Rocky was sitting on a soft bench, holding a cup of tea.
"It's delicious."
He let out a relaxed breath after savoring the tea. In fact, he had never enjoyed this kind of tea before. It gave him a light feeling, as if he were swimming in warm water.
"How do you feel? This is a type of tea I always sip." A middle-aged man opened the door and stepped into the magnificent room.
Rocky blinked a few times while assessing the man.
A noble with a wrinkled face, yet still handsome, carrying the air of a gentleman. However, when he met the man's narrowed eyes, Rocky believed he was an experienced fox.
(I should be careful.)
Rocky nodded and placed a petal of the Six-Red Skull Flower onto the gold-plated table.
"This is my master's finding."
Walter Miles grinned.
"Before we discuss business matters, I think I should introduce myself."
"My name is Walter Miles… a senior plant scholar."
Rocky replied politely.
"My name is Rocky Stephens… but I think we should get straight to the point."
Walter smiled. He understood that Rocky didn't want to talk about his clan.
"Alright. That's exactly what I was thinking."
He walked over to the bench and summoned his beast. Moments later, a golden squirrel crawled out from beneath his shirt. It jumped onto the table and sniffed the petal.
However, after barely half a second, the beast suddenly collapsed, shivering for no clear reason.
"Jack!" Walter shouted in worry, but then he sighed when he saw the beast was still fine. Even so, its expression made him realize something.
(He's high?)
It was quite bizarre. After all, his beast belonged to a race specialized in analyzing plants. Its ability was enough to withstand the effects of rare plants, and even close-to-noble ones.
If there was a plant capable of putting his beast into this state… then it had to be a noble plant.
Sweat formed on his forehead as he thought about a new high-rank plant.
He understood that noble plants were extremely rare in this world. Even the Plant Association only knew of 128 noble plant species.
If they could obtain a new species, it would add one more to their list… this was no longer a matter he could handle on his own.
"What is your master's name, fellow disciple?"
In order to research such a newly discovered plant, he believed Rocky's master had to be a grand plant scholar, someone who devoted their entire life to plants.
He had always respected people like that. After all, they were the roots of this world's knowledable. Moreover, his own master was also a grand plant scholar… thinking about it made him feel proud.
So, in other words, Rocky could be his fellow disciple. He should make friends with this boy.
"Kai Peter." Rocky frowned.
Walter rubbed his chin. He had never heard that name.
"An anonymous plant scholar? …But I understand. My master always leaves the trivial stuff to me while he focuses on his research...It seems your master is the same too… he doesn't like to show himself in front of everyone."
Walter nodded and said politely,
"I'll call my master right now. During that time, you can try our pills—a new product from the Association. Take it easy, make yourself at home."
A/N: I hope you enjoy this novel. Support by adding to your library and giving a power stone or two. Thank you.
I will also appreciate a review to keep me motivated.