"This time, I'm not here to borrow a book." Ash thought for a moment before deciding to get straight to the point, revealing her purpose for visiting the old man. "Last time, you mentioned that every year in October, the Azure Bay Mountain behind Solvale Town produces a rare spirit fruit called Ripple Fruit. Since school has a break tomorrow, I'm planning to go check it out."
"Oh?" The old man's interest was piqued as he heard Ash's words. "You want to ask me about the Ripple Fruit?"
"No," Ash shook her head and paused to organize her thoughts.
This was a bit of an awkward situation.
"I just wanted to ask you for a favor..." Ash pressed her lips together. "If I don't come by the library this weekend to find you, could you please help me report a missing person?"
"Hmm?" The old man was genuinely caught off guard and was momentarily stunned. "Report a missing person? Why?"
Ash gave a wry smile. "Because after I went back last time, I looked it up and found out that there are quite a few wild Spirit Beasts on Azure Bay Mountain... With my little arms and legs, I'm probably not even enough to serve as their snack. So just in case, I was hoping you could help me."
"If anything happens, it'd be nice to have someone help collect my body, so I wouldn't end up left out there, exposed and eaten by wild animals or Spirit Beasts."
The old man was silent for a moment after hearing Ash's words, and his expression turned slightly strange. "Actually, you can call the police yourself."
"Solvale Town may be small, but just like any other city, it has a patrol team and professional Beast Master stationed here… If you find yourself in danger, you can call them for help."
"With their abilities, those patrol team and Beast Master would be able to reach your location in less than half an hour and get you to safety. It's much more convenient than asking me to report it for you."
"I know that, Grandpa." Ash remained silent for two seconds, her tone calm and controlled, betraying no hint of emotion. "But I don't have a phone, so I need your help."
The original owner of her body had spent all of the inheritance left by her parents on treating her grandmother's illness, not to mention selling off all the valuable items in the house.
Forget a phone—there weren't even many electrical appliances left.
This left Ash, who had come from a technologically advanced modern society, living as though she belonged to the last century.
Fortunately, growing up in a middle to lower-class family had made her accustomed to the hardships of life.
This experience helped her quickly accept her situation after her transmigration.
She didn't give up, instead pushing forward in an effort to improve her life.
However, the old man didn't share her outlook.
He had initially thought that Ash's poor family background was similar to that of students like Alexei Yudin, who dreamed of becoming a Beast Master but couldn't afford the cost of Spirit Beasts.
He hadn't expected...