"A favor?" Celine tilted her head, puzzled at the Professor's guilty face.
"Yes. First of all, It's a late introduction but this is my nephew, Zio." Professor Xion weakly pointed at the seated cold-faced man.
Celine quickly surveyed the Professor's nephew and couldn't help but marvel at the amazing genes of the Chester Clan. Both Uncle and nephew had good-looking faces.
Celine ceased her thoughts and introduced herself to the man. Celine lightly bowed her body.
"Hello, Sir Zio. I am Celine Sebastien, a 4th year in the Planter's Department, Majoring in both Nurturing and Taming Mutated Plants." Celine held out a hand, and fortunately, the man shook her hand.
"Zio Chester, 5th year in the Beast Control Department. Specializing in Beast Battles and Coordination." The man's introduction was cold and curt.
'Strangely enough, I kind of feel that he's faking his demeanor.'
Celine smiled and politely addressed, "So Sir Zio is a senior. I'll be calling you Senior Zio, then."
The man nodded. And Celine's eyes turned to the beautiful Water Fox on his lap, staring at her with curious eyes.
"Water Fox, a mutated water-based monster capable of long-range attacks and healing skills." Celine habitually analyzed and muttered.
Zio's eyes then brightened. Those of different Departments rarely knew other things that were related to other divisions.
"Ehem. Celine, the favor I am requesting is for the Water Fox. You see, to evolve into a Sparkling Sea Fox, it needs to drink purified water purified by any Costa plant species for a week straight." Professor Xion saw the opening and started talking.
And Celine listened with rapt attention.
"Professor, I remembered that you have a Costa Spring Vine." 'And it's quite the high-ranking mutated plant too.' Celine internally whispered.
Celine watched her Professor's face stiffen and his eyes slowly averting away from hers.
"The thing is, my Costa Spring Vine is in the... Mutated Plant Recovery Planet! It is currently recuperating after fighting a high-level erosion-based animal on a newly discovered planet. And among students under my supervision, only you, Celine, have the highest level of Costa mutated plant species on your hand." Professor Xion found a reasonable explanation and ignored his nephew's suspicious gaze.
Unlike his nephew, Celine did not doubt Professor Xion's words. It was quite common for Planters to send their mutated plants away to investigate newly discovered planets that have vegetation. For an esteemed Planter like Professor Zion, it was his duty to the Empire to send his powerful mutated plants to battle against the adversaries of the new planet.
"I just need to lend my Costa String Flower to Senior Zio for a week, right? Then that'll be fine. I can lend it now." Celine willingly summoned her powerful mutated plant.
The mutated plant appeared on her right hand. It was a five-petal, silver flower the size of her palm. Each of the silver petals is made of thin strings, capable of slicing even the Evenrium metal, second only to the Adantamium metal when it comes to sturdiness. (For reference, Adantamium metal is essential when it comes to making Space Warships' inner structure and the outside hull.)
The Costa String Flower has a ferocious temper, slicing those who covet its thin strings and beauty. Celine managed to tame one since she nurtured it since it was a seed. It can be said that the Costa String Flower views her as its 'Mother' and obediently stays still on her hand.
"Celine!"
"...?" Celine's hand holding the mutated plant shook at the sudden outburst of the always calm professor.
"Ehem. Celine, you need to be present when purifying the water needed by the Water Fox." Professor Xion then performed a hidden sign on his hand, away from the piercing stare of his resentful nephew.
Celine also excelled in the symbols used by the Planters despite not deeply learning them. She recognized the desperate hand gesture of her Professor.
The hand holding the Costa String Flower quivered and almost retracted. Celine almost summoned her mutated plant back, she then gazed over the cold-faced senior opposite her with disbelief.
The nephew of a great planter is actually a legendary plant killer?
How did that happen?
Celine looked at Professor Xion's guilty face and knew the reason that his mutated plant recuperating was not true. Tilting her body, Celine performed sign language used by the Planters and communicated with the Professor.
'Professor, why did you lie to me?!'
'I didn't, my nephew is that highly corrosive monster! My Costa Spring Vine is considered a national treasure, I can't let it wilt and die on his hand.'
'So you're sacrificing mine???'
'It's not that, Celine. You are called the Golden Hands of our Planter Department, you can resurrect any wilting mutated plants under your care, so your Costa String Flower will definitely survive!'
Celine faced an internal war between saving her professor's plant or hers.