Chapter 29: "Superstition," Adrian's Welcome Gift

Adrian clicked the post.

He found that it had actually been created five years ago.

The original poster's content was: Extra, extra! The richest merchant in the city, Howard Hart, owner of Yellow Crane Tower Shop, actually contracted a nearly twenty-year-old Fortune Dog after becoming a Four-Star Beast Tamer.

Below it was a picture. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for one of the shop's branch stores, Howard stood beside a yellow dog that looked a little old, like an ordinary farm dog. The only difference was that the tip of its tail seemed to curve into the outline of a golden ingot.

The replies below were basically full of confusion, such as:

[Is he crazy?! He's a Four-Star Beast Tamer, and he contracted a Common-Mid quality beast. I remember Fortune Dogs only live twenty-five years at most. Is he trying to ruin his future?]

Of course, Adrian also found some more important clues in a few floors.

[Gossip: he brings this dog to almost every new store opening, important signing, and business negotiation. Closer than his three other beasts.]

[I have even more gossip. Basically, ever since he took over the shop, this dog has always followed him to big and small occasions. Everyone says he's superstitious, because the dog's name has "fortune" in it, so he brings it to every important event.]

[Even if he's superstitious, he can't ruin his future like that. I don't believe it.]

[Some people say it's because beasts contracted by Four-Star Beast Tamers can gain lifespan, so that's why he contracted it.]

After that, the post seemed to become an update thread for Yellow Crane Tower Shop's cooperation with different merchants.

Basically, it was all ribbon-cutting ceremonies and launch events, with Howard and this yellow dog appearing in them.

The rumor of Julian's father being "superstitious" was something Adrian had heard a little about from classmates this past year. But he had never been one for gossip, so he had assumed it was just a joke.

It seemed this was where the information came from.

Adrian continued reading the floors below and did not find much more information.

But he had formed his own conclusion.

First, he did not believe the "superstitious" explanation. In those not particularly high-resolution pictures, he vaguely saw the bond between this man and his beast.

Even putting that aside, if it really was "superstition," this Fortune Dog should still be a point of entry.

If, at the meeting the day after tomorrow, Adrian could see it, that would mean Howard truly valued this deal.

Adrian continued researching in front of the computer for two hours.

He memorized the basic information he could grasp, then wrote down some of his questions to ask tomorrow at Leo's house.

The next day.

Adrian applied the ointment to Roxy early in the morning and fed her Spirit Dew.

He also did two hours of coordinated training with Lionel—basic training for building默契 between a beast tamer and a beast.

Then he collected the day's products, took care of the beast feed shop for a while, explained things to Arthur, and headed to Leo's home.

Leo's home was in a villa district in the center of Lumenhold.

It was actually not far from the cultivation center.

Same route, same mode of transportation, but Adrian felt that compared to the road three days ago when he went to choose his first beast, everything was completely different.

Stolen story; please report.

Violet had evolved, Spirit Dew was in stock, Lionel had become his beast, Roxy was gradually recovering, and now he was going to seek a better future for the beast feed shop.

Even the wind blowing through the bus window seemed more lively now.

Along the road, he could see Swiftwing Couriers flying toward their destinations one after another.

It reminded him of the novel he had been following yesterday, Grandma and the Swiftwing Courier. It showed one unread chapter.

He opened it with satisfaction…

This time, he was fully prepared.

Adrian arrived at his destination twenty minutes early.

He had to admit, after seeing Leo's home, he finally understood just how wealthy his family was.

This entire villa complex belonged to the Marsh family.

The one at the very center was like a small fortress. Around it were clusters of smaller standalone villas.

Adrian had searched online yesterday. Leo's family was one of the largest families in Lumenhold, and the only one famous for breeders.

Not only that, it was one of the top three breeder families in the entire Kingdom of Draconis.

It could be said that every person in their family was raised with the goal of becoming an outstanding breeder.

Although their family did not have a main industrial chain based on selling goods like Yellow Crane Tower Shop.

The wealthiest family in all of Lumenhold was actually theirs.

There was no other reason—breeders had an unmatched advantage in evolving beasts. Without their help, evolving high-quality, high-level beasts in the later stages was simply impossible.

In Leo's words: his family no longer lacked money. What they lacked were the many things money could not buy.

Adrian sent Leo a message, and Leo quickly came out to greet him cheerfully.

"Adrian, here, here!" Leo waved from a side door about fifty meters from the main entrance.

Adrian walked over and took a wreath woven from Purple Starvines out of his backpack. It was exceptionally exquisite.

"Whoa, I said you just needed to come. Why bring a gift?" Leo said, but his hand honestly reached out.

He could tell it was not expensive. It was a token of Adrian's feelings. Besides, if placed in Violet's home, this wreath would probably match it well.

These wreaths were woven by Roxy.

She had the Keen Mind trait. Besides handling daily chores, she was also very talented at handicrafts.

This weaving skill had been taught to her by Adrian's mother. She had just stopped weaving after her evolution.

Now that her condition had improved, Roxy could control her time and preferences more freely.

When Adrian had gotten up this morning, quite a few woven wreaths had appeared at home. There were also various flower arrangements and sachets.

These were all little touches Adrian's mother had once taught Roxy to improve the quality of life.

"My family's household beast, Roxy, made it. You picked quite a few Purple Starvines yesterday. Since you seemed interested, I brought one for you," Adrian said.

"Heh, good brother!" Leo touched his head. "The last time someone was this good to me was the last time."

"We still have twenty minutes before our appointment. Come on, interested in seeing my private cultivation base? Violet and Goldie are both there. I'll let you meet my beasts too."

Adrian checked the time and nodded. "Sure."

Leo was a Two-Star Breeder after all. Adrian was also curious about what had become of the "skinny" Mist Spirit Spider and the somewhat face-connoisseur Phantom Dream Butterfly he had seen a few days ago.

Inside Leo's private cultivation base.

As soon as Adrian entered, he noticed all kinds of scratch marks on the floor. The place looked a bit messy overall.

Then he heard a "squeak squeak" sound. Goldie had already "slid" over to them.

This metal-attribute spider seemed even more skilled at applying metal energy to its body. It seemed the scratches on the floor were its handiwork.

A few days ago, it had been hiding in a corner, motionless, as if the world had nothing to do with it. Now it was this lively.

However, when it noticed that besides Leo, there was also an unfamiliar person, it froze.

Then it scurried back to its nest with a "pitter-patter," nearly slipping because it failed to control its metal energy.

Adrian instinctively looked at its panel:

[Personality]: Timid, simple, shy

[Status]: After coming to a suitable environment, it released its true nature. It has eaten too well these past few days and needs to release a large amount of metal energy to achieve internal dynamic balance. So it has been in a state of high enthusiasm, only controlling its emotions when seeing strangers.

Adrian could not help laughing. He looked at Leo. "Leo, have you been feeding it too well these past few days?"

"Heh, you noticed? Its body has gotten stronger." Leo looked proud.

"You also need to control its diet a little. A weak body cannot handle too much nourishment. The place it lived before was not suitable for it, and it probably ate too poorly. Ordinary cultivation methods probably do not suit it."

"Maybe if you feed it fewer good things, it will stop scratching the floor."

Leo listened to Adrian's words and fell into thought.

As a Two-Star Breeder, beast husbandry had always been his weak point. There was no other reason—his family was too rich. The beasts could eat whatever they wanted.

His parents had also taught him to improve in this area. Raising beasts was not about feeding them the more expensive the better.

Adrian had only glanced a few times and already noticed the problem.

But Leo was not surprised. Adrian's sensitivity and understanding of beasts exceeded ordinary people. He had felt that on the first day they met.

"I might have fallen into my old habit again. I really do need to consider its original state." Leo scratched his head, then thought of something and asked, "Then help me check Violet too. Have I been feeding her wrong these past few days? She always seems to ignore me…"