"I heard that you have awakened the talent of beast control on your own, and the level is quite high."
"I would like to invite you to join our Fallen Sun Guild, and I hope you will seriously consider it."
Emma had indeed come here specifically for Ethan. After receiving the news, she guessed that Ethan would visit the Beast breeding center.
Ethan was a little surprised when he heard her words. He hadn't expected the rumors at school to be true—Emma was actually a member of the Fallen Sun Guild!
The reputation of the Fallen Sun Guild was truly terrifying. They were the main sponsors of the National Beast tamer Competition and had a long-standing, prestigious history with a rich heritage.
The guild also boasted several legendary beast tamers under their banner, including those who had won three consecutive championships.
After a brief pause, Ethan quickly reacted. Looking at her, he asked lightly, "Mr. Hariss told you the news, didn't he?"
Emma nodded slightly, confirming his guess.
Ethan wasn't angry about this revelation. He knew Emma's personality too well—she wasn't the type to spy on him without reason. Most likely, she had spoken to their head teacher beforehand, which explained why she had gotten the news so quickly.
The two had shared a desk for a long time, and Ethan's grades in theory courses had always been excellent..
In addition, both Ethan and Emma had compatible personalities, and they usually got along quite well. Over time, they developed a good relationship, with perhaps even a hint of mutual affection.
This connection might have prompted Mr. Hariss to inform Emma about Ethan's talent. Perhaps the teacher also wanted to give Ethan a chance to secure a bright future.
After listening to Emma, Ethan smiled faintly and shook his head.
"You know me well" he said.
"Thank you for your kindness, but I have no intention of joining any organization or guilds."
Emma frowned slightly at his response and said seriously, "Ethan, you should understand what kind of talent you have. We're not asking too much from you, and the resources and benefits we offer are generous."
Ethan sighed quietly but remained firm in his decision.
'There's no such thing as a free lunch' he thought.
He knew that dealing with large organizations like Fallen Sun Group was never as simple as it seemed. If it had been before, he might have accepted the offer, as it would've been a good opportunity. But things were different now—he no longer needed to depend on others.
Emma's expression shifted subtly. She sighed deeply, looked at Ethan, and said softly, "I hope you'll think about it again and remember what you said to me before."
Without waiting for a response, Emma turned and left. Despite her composure, a wave of mixed emotions swirled in her heart.
"He's so determined," she thought. "But sometimes, determination isn't enough to overcome reality."
Emma herself was no stranger to talent, having awakened her beast Taming ability earlier than most. Her talent, "Deep Sea Blessing" was classified as SS-level, a notch above the top-tier S-level talents. It was almost certain she would become a legendary beast tamer in the future.
She had only wanted to bridge the gap between them and reduce the obstacles ahead. But judging by Ethan's personality, she doubted he would make reckless decisions.
"Maybe he already has a better plan," she murmured to herself as she left.
---
Ethan stood silently, watching her figure disappear into the distance.
He could almost guess what she was thinking.
In a low voice, audible only to himself, he murmured, "I don't usually make bold claims, but I will definitely earn my place in the Hall of Legends!"
With those words, he turned and left without hesitation. The material market would be closing soon, and he couldn't afford to delay any longer.
On the way, Ethan pulled out his phone to book a ride. The ride he chose was quite special, costing him a hefty sum of 100 mana stones.
Taking an ordinary bus wasn't an option—the nearest gates was more than ten hours away.
About 15 minutes later, a loud, clear cry echoed in the sky. A green-feathered roc descended quickly and landed gracefully near the square.
As it landed, Ethan noticed a middle-aged man seated on its back. Judging by his appearance, the man was likely a Hunter preparing to explore a gate.
Ethan approached him, confirmed the order information, and climbed onto the leather saddle with the man's assistance.
"Hold onto the handrail," the man warned. "If you fall, it's not my responsibility."
With a powerful flap of its wings, the green-feathered roc soared into the sky, and southgate City began to shrink in Ethan's view.
At first, the height was overwhelming, but Ethan quickly adapted and found himself relaxing. Looking down at the ever-changing landscape below, he took a deep breath, feeling a surge of excitement.
"This is the real essence of life in the beast tamer's world!"
Beast familiars played an irreplaceable role in countless aspects of life.
To truly rise and see the higher peaks, one had to keep climbing.
With his heart set on this journey, Ethan hoped this trip would be fruitful and mark the beginning of his beast control adventures.
---
After some time, curiosity got the better of him. He discreetly activated his talent to check the stats of the driver and his beast familiar. Though this action was considered intrusive, most people wouldn't notice, so he wasn't too concerned.
[Beast Familiar Talent]: Stamina Increase (Class C)
[Strength]: F++ Rank
[Beast Familiar]: Green-Feathered Roc
[Race]: Green-Feathered Roc (Strength/Wind Type)
[Level]: C+
[Talents]: Gust (C), Giant Transformation (C)
[Bloodline]: Great-Rank
[Skills]: Speed Dodge, Tornado, Swallow Return
Many people contracted beasts known for their size and strength, as it proved useful for various tasks. This green-feathered roc was a prime example—perfect for earning money through rides without compromising other activities.
---
About thirty minutes later, they approached Black Stone Town. The town was situated near the Black Stone Secret Realm.
After landing and paying the fare, Ethan began wandering around the town.
The pedestrians seemed cautious but didn't pay much attention to him, likely recognizing him as a student.
The coalition government had strict rules protecting students. Any harm caused to them would result in severe punishments.
As a result, Ethan's presence didn't raise any alarms, even though he appeared to be an ordinary student.
He soon inquired about the local market and learned that it operated in two shifts—a morning market and an evening market. The evening market wouldn't start until after nine o'clock.
With time to spare, Ethan found a restaurant to eat and then decided to stroll around the town, eagerly anticipating the start of the market.