Beast Taming: I'm Really Just a Forest Ranger-Chapter 101 - 98: When Did the Association Get Such a Monster! (2)
Chen Yuan remained noncommittal.
Currently, Beastmasters with riding Pet Beasts are very few. After all, to become a mount, having a large size is one aspect, a gentle temperament is another, and sufficient stamina is yet another.
"Haozi’s Gray-armored Wild Boar could indeed become a riding Pet Beast. Being a Piggy Knight isn’t shameful," Chen Yuan thought to himself.
"And to have a riding Pet Beast on the road, you need to acquire the appropriate license," Manager Zhang, noticing Chen Yuan’s change in expression, continued, "At the same time, some people have suggested that Pet Beasts with special abilities should obtain a driving license, replacing some drivers."
"For example, Spirit-type Pet Beasts can directly use Spiritual Power for more detailed control of vehicles, with higher efficiency and safety coefficients."
"Or the Four-armed Leaf Monkey, whose intelligence is no less than that of humans. Its four arms can control the steering wheel while manipulating other buttons. With basic traffic knowledge, their driving skills would be no weaker than seasoned drivers."
Chen Yuan had heard a bit about the Four-armed Leaf Monkey mentioned by Manager Zhang. It is a Wood-type Pet Beast with four flexible arms and high intelligence.
"Wouldn’t it be too extravagant to have a Pet Beast act as a driver?" Chen Yuan couldn’t help asking.
Manager Zhang chuckled heartily: "It’s just a gimmick. Now that driverless technology is quite mature, it’s definitely not the Pet Beasts who’ll be driving."
"But... they will surely relax relevant regulations, allowing Pet Beasts to qualify for driving licenses. That way, they can be used in various fields, further liberating productivity."
At this point, Manager Zhang fixed his eyes on Chen Yuan and asked, "If I receive relevant information, I will inform you immediately."
"You can bring your Pet Beast to take the driving license free of charge, but I have one request."
Understanding that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, Chen Yuan kept his composure: "What request?"
"When it goes to take the driving license, could it help us advertise a bit?"
Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"
"Compared to ordinary people getting a driving license, having Pet Beasts do so clearly attracts more attention," Manager Zhang said, smiling unchanged.
Chen Yuan glanced at Cola, who was giggling beside him, thought for a moment, and nodded in agreement: "Alright."
After a pause, he added: "But I hope it won’t take up too much time."
After the conversation, Chen Yuan walked out of Xiangrui Driving School, put Manager Zhang’s business card in his backpack, and took a car to the bus station.
The sky was even gloomier than in the morning, with dark clouds pressing down on the sky, occasional gusts of cold wind, giving a bleak and chilly feel despite it being midsummer.
Seeing the unusual weather, Chen Yuan frowned, just hoping to quickly return to the farm.
...
Baokun City Beastmaster Association Building,
A burly, tall man walked slowly into the door, with thick eyebrows and a square face. Even though he wore a black suit, he couldn’t hide his obvious muscles, looking from afar like a towering iron structure.
Upon seeing this person enter the hall, the security guard at the door immediately shouted: "Good afternoon, Advisor Shi."
Shi Gang grinned, gently patted his shoulder, causing the latter to feel a heavy pressure as if he would be crushed in the next moment.
"Advisor Shi’s strength has increased quite a bit," the security guard said after Shi Gang let go, rubbing his shoulder.
Hearing this, Shi Gang gently coughed and then said in a loud voice: "Ha, you noticed that."
"Oh well, I discovered when I woke up this morning that I’ve advanced to a Middle-tier Beastmaster, and my strength has greatly increased."
As soon as he said this, the security guard’s eyes lit up with excitement, shouting: "Advisor Shi has become a Middle-tier Beastmaster?"
At this moment, a single stone caused a thousand ripples, and the passing Beastmasters immediately turned their eyes to the upright Shi Gang, with discussions occurring one after another.
"Isn’t this the Advisor Shi from the Association? He became a Middle-tier Beastmaster so quickly?"
"That’s why he can be an advisor, right?"
"So impressive, I just became a Beastmaster myself."
Every time he heard words of praise about himself, Shi Gang would smile and nod lightly, his heart filled with a small, bubbling excitement.
Shi Gang marched with confidence, heading towards the reception desk with a constant smile on his face: "I’m here to apply for the Middle-tier Beastmaster certification."
He looked at the staff at the desk and smiled: "By the way, help me get in touch with Chairman Wang and ask if there’s any special reward for being the first Middle-tier Beastmaster in Baokun City?"
The staff raised their head, expression complex: "I’m sorry, Advisor Shi, you’re not the first."
"Hmm?" Shi Gang subconsciously made a sound, then reacted, eyes widened like bronze bells, "What do you mean by that?"
The staff cautiously glanced at the gruff-voiced Shi Gang and said, barely above a whisper: "A Beastmaster has already advanced to Middle-tier before you."
Upon hearing this, Shi Gang furrowed his brows slightly: "I don’t believe it."
He had been at the Beastmaster Association for half a month and was familiar with the Beastmasters there. No one had faster meditation progress than him.
"This is the announcement released by the Association this morning," the staff pulled out the official announcement.
Shi Gang looked at the line of small text in the announcement, and his originally cheerful mood instantly became as gloomy as the weather outside. He silently clenched his fists and said in a deep voice: "Is there information on this Beastmaster?"
"That’s classified."
"I’ll ask myself."
As Shi Gang left the reception desk, the shadow he cast over the staff instantly disappeared, allowing the latter to breathe a sigh of relief.
Arriving at the chairman’s office, Shi Gang knocked on the door, and a voice soon came from inside: "Please come in."
Shi Gang pushed the door open and shouted, "Chairman, I heard someone advanced to a Middle-tier Beastmaster before me. What’s this person’s background?"
"He’s an advisor just like you," Wang Jianping slowly sipped tea, speaking unhurriedly.
Shi Gang clenched his right fist, eyes bright: "Chairman, I’m not convinced. I want to have a Pet Beast battle with him."
Wang Jianping said: "Why are you unconvinced?"
Shi Gang said: ".... Fast meditation progress is nothing impressive. For a Beastmaster, the strength of the Pet Beast is the most important."
"I apply to have a Pet Beast battle with him."
Upon hearing this, Wang Jianping’s face showed a faint smile: "Advisor Shi, do you still remember Captain Su?"
"Of course I remember," Shi Gang nodded, "Captain Su’s Silver Armored Mantis is very strong. On a mission with him, I saw with my own eyes how he easily subdued that rampaging Tier Two Pet Beast. Very impressive."
Wang Jianping slowly nodded and then raised his eyes to look at Shi Gang, his expression intriguing: "The Middle-tier Beastmaster assessment for the other advisor was a battle with Captain Su."
"Guess what the result was?"
"Got beaten down by Captain Su?" Shi Gang asked.
Wang Jianping smiled slightly: "Two minutes into the battle, Captain Su’s Silver Armored Mantis was lying on the ground, unable to get up."
Shi Gang fell into a long silence, his expression quickly changing. Eventually, he stood up, nodded towards Wang Jianping, and said hoarsely: "Chairman, I’m sorry for the disturbance."
With that, Shi Gang left the office silently and headed to the fitness area.
Half an hour later,
Covered in sweat, Shi Gang was showering, still hearing Wang Jianping’s words echo in his mind: "Two minutes into the battle, Captain Su’s Silver Armored Mantis was lying on the ground, unable to get up." He punched the wall hard, cursing: "Damn, since when did the Association have such a freak?"
But when he left the gym dressed, he had to face a cruel reality—he needed to battle that person to certify as a Middle-tier Beastmaster, to validate his own strength.
Shi Gang returned to Wang Jianping’s office, his demeanor and voice much subdued compared to before: "Chairman, I want to proceed with the certification. Have that advisor battle me."
After a pause, he took a deep breath and straightened his back: "No matter what, he’s part of our Association. The stronger he is, the better for us."
"I’m glad you realize this," Wang Jianping smiled and nodded, spreading his hands, "But unfortunately, you can’t battle him now."
"Why?"
"Because he returned to Qinling to continue working as a Forest Ranger."
"What?" Shi Gang was dumbfounded.
