Ethan looked genuinely baffled for a moment.
"This is a dual-talent beast! And both talents are impressive!" he thought, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Ordinary black goats were typically no different from livestock like fat-eared pigs, bighorn cattle, or red-necked geese. These animals barely had any extraordinary traits and rarely awakened supernatural powers. Most were raised for their meat, known to be far tastier than that of regular animals.
Yet, the talents of this mutant black goat surpassed even the colorful butterfly he'd seen earlier at the Beast breeding center.
"What could have caused such a dramatic mutation?" Ethan wondered, his heart racing.
Since his Beast Familiar Talent had flagged the goat as compatible, there was no reason to hesitate further.
At that moment, the queue ahead had dissipated, and Ethan approached the stall.
The merchant was enthusiastically pitching the black goat kid to a mercenary clad in iron armor.
"Brother Marcus," the merchant said with a grin, "if you're planning a celebration, this little lamb would be perfect!"
"It's just the right size for a whole roast—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. Absolutely delicious!"
Marcus rubbed his chin, clearly tempted but hesitant. Sensing his indecision, the merchant quickly added, "I'll even give you a 10% discount!"
The offer seemed to sway Marcus, who scratched his head and began to respond, "In that case, I'll—"
But before he could finish, Ethan cut in.
"hey brother, our class reunion is coming up, and we don't have anything to eat yet. Let me take this lamb instead," he said confidently.
Marcus glanced at Ethan, then smiled and nodded.
"Alright, it's yours." He handed over the deal graciously, adding, "You're from Southgate High School, right? Have you awakened your beast-taming talent yet?"
"If you or your classmates ever want to explore the gates, look us up. The Armored Mercenary Group is reliable and affordable!"
Marcus handed Ethan a business card, which he accepted with a polite smile.
"Thank you. I'll definitely consider it when the time comes!" Ethan replied.
Marcus picked up his purchases and turned to leave. The merchant, however, looked visibly disappointed.
"Brother Marcus, are you sure you don't want to reconsider?" he called out.
But Marcus shook his head with a sigh.
"We didn't gain much on this trip, and there's no point in overindulging. Let someone else have it," he said before walking away.
The merchant let out a regretful sigh, then turned his attention to Ethan, who smiled and asked, "How much for the goat? I'll take it right now."
The merchant studied him carefully before speaking.
"Are you sure you want to buy it?"
"Of course!" Ethan replied confidently.
The merchant sighed again and said, "Alright, but just so you know, this goat is… unusual."
Over the next few minutes, the merchant explained the goat's history.
One day, the merchant's children were herding sheep when the entire flock mysteriously disappeared. The bodies were later discovered at the base of a nearby cliff—all except for the black goat kid, which had somehow survived.
According to an eyewitness driver, the flock, led by its head sheep, had jumped off the cliff one by one, as if compelled. The black goat kid had stood apart, silently watching the tragedy unfold.
Afterward, the merchant noticed even stranger behavior. The goat avoided eating feed, instead sneaking out at night to prey on farm poultry. Its calm, eerie demeanor unsettled everyone.
Fearing that keeping the goat might bring trouble, the merchant decided to sell it. He didn't want to butcher it either, worrying that the meat might tarnish his reputation.
Ethan listened intently but wasn't deterred. Instead, he chuckled.
"How bad could it really be?" he asked. "It's just a goat. I'll take it."
The merchant sighed in resignation. "Alright, but remember—you've been warned. If anything happens, it's not my responsibility."
He hesitated before naming a price. "500 Mana Stone"
"Take it or leave it."
Ethan paid without hesitation and asked the merchant to release the goat from its cage. The merchant obliged but kept the goat muzzled, explaining that it had a history of biting.
"Remove the muzzle," Ethan said calmly. "It won't be necessary."
The merchant complied, half-expecting chaos to erupt. Instead, the goat surprised everyone.
It rubbed affectionately against Ethan's leg before obediently following him. The merchant scratched his head, utterly confused.
"That's… strange," he muttered.
A Mutant's Choice
Ethan wasn't surprised. He knew that in the Realm of Beasts, some creatures with noble bloodlines and extraordinary aptitude would actively choose their masters.
It was a simple rule: the stronger the beast tamer's talent, the more likely a high-ranking beast would willingly submit.
As someone with a SSS-level talent, Ethan's presence clearly resonated with the mutant goat.
Ethan smiled as he walked down the street, feeling immensely satisfied. Luck had been on his side today—he'd found a beast compatible with his talent on his very first visit to the market.
Now, the next step was clear: he needed to complete the contract.
Night had fallen, so Ethan decided to stay in Blackstone Town rather than return to Southgate. He found a small hotel, paid for a room, and settled in.
Once inside, he carefully locked the door and sat down to prepare himself.
The black goat kid seemed to sense what was coming. It approached Ethan and nuzzled his hand.
Ethan chuckled, patting its head. "Since you're ready, let's begin."
He extended his right hand, activating his beast-taming talent. Black mist-like spiritual energy flowed from his palm, enveloping the goat's head.
Thin, dark threads extended from the mist, weaving into the goat's body and forging a deep, mystical connection.
The contract process took half an hour. When it was complete, Ethan stored the goat in his Beast Familiar Space.
Now, it was time for the final step.
Ethan closed his eyes, focusing his mind on the goat. Using his talent's unique ability, Divine Blessing, he prepared to evolve the goat into a restrained creature.
Mutant black goats were often linked to mysterious myths—symbols of ancient power.
"What kind of evolution chain will this goat unlock?" Ethan wondered excitedly.
"If it connects to that existence… it would be incredible."