Insect Tamer's Ascension-Chapter 40: Three days are over (2)- Talk with the Baron
The last day of the allotted time was over, and Theo was in his room, contemplating what he was going to say to the Baron.
Clara was standing just beside him, concern evident on her face too. The summon was nearing any minute now, and the wait was killing him.
"Don't worry, young master. Your father will understand your greatness. I am confident," Clara consoled, and Theo smiled.
Theo nodded in understanding, his gaze fixed on the praying mantis, which was eating small insect corpses in the corner of the room.
Sometimes, Theo wondered just how much space there was in the mantis's stomach. It ate as much as Theo gave it and extra, yet not a single day had gone by that the mantis had refused food.
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He had also figured out why the mantis was not able to kill level 4 slimes, even though it was already level 3.
All this time, it had been able to kill creatures just above its level. Be it at level 1 when it killed level 2 or further, there were no problems until this one.
And that was when Clara clarified some things. It seemed the slimes were the weakest until they reached level 3. At those levels, they only increased in blob size and nothing more.
But research showed that after level 4, the core also strengthened, making it harder than before.
It was recorded that history's highest-level moss slime had a core that was almost indestructible for centuries. It was kept in the vault of the kingdom's treasury until they were finally able to use it.
The same had started to happen here. Theo had made a plan. If the mantis survived the meeting today, which he was confident it would, the only thing he would focus on was the training of its skills, not leveling.
With Clara's advice, he had decided to slow things down, as the mantis's skills were weaker than what its level suggested, which was not an efficient way of nurturing a beast to strength.
After a few minutes, a few knocks came at the room's door. Theo took a deep breath. It was finally time.
Clara quickly went and opened it with a smile.
A man in an elegant black suit entered. It was none other than Alfred.
"Good morning, young master Theo," he greeted, and Theo nodded with a confident smile.
"It is time for your meeting with the Baron. I have come to escort you," Alfred spoke again, and this time, his wrinkled eyes opened and scanned the box near Theo.
Just when he saw it, a warm smile formed on his face.
"It seems you really were successful, young master Theo. Let us go now."
Theo quickly got up and took the box with the mantis with him.
They all exited the room, and Clara walked behind Theo while Alfred was ahead, leading the way.
It was a very quiet day in the Barony, just like usual. There seemed to be no guards in the corridors either.
Theo's mind was already thinking of answers he would give the Baron. How the past three days had gone, he simply didn't realize.
Just a few minutes of walking led Theo and Clara to the big gate of the Baron's office.
Alfred opened the gate right away without any heads-up, and Theo looked at his father sitting right in the front.
The Baron was working and writing things on some papers. He was still wearing that golden armor that shined because of the sunlight coming from the big window.
The Baron was no older than his mid-thirties. Yet, the maturity on his face made him almost look forty.
When the Baron finally looked up, he muttered, "Theo… so you have finally come."
Theo wanted to frown, as the Baron was most probably the one who sent Alfred to get him. What did he mean by 'so you have finally come'?
"Good morning, father. Hope you are doing well."
"Well, it will be decided if I am doing well after this meeting. So, your three days have passed." he said and continued further, "What have you prepared?" The Baron, with his blunt personality, spoke with seriousness.
There was no pressure in the room anymore, and even Clara seemed to be doing well. Yet sweat could be seen moving down the side of her forehead.
"I am all ready, father. I have completed the change in the beast as I promised on my honor," Theo spoke with utmost confidence. It seemed the lack of pressure in the room was making it easy to talk.
He opened the lid of the box just like before, and just a second later, a greenish blur came out and landed on his shoulder.
The Baron squinted his eyes at the small, green, plant-covered insect.
Alfred's eyes were open fully, staring at the beast until they landed on Theo.
"Have you just covered this thing in moss and plants, Theo?" he asked.
"Master, look at its status," Alfred spoke with a curious look.
The Baron did just that, and after a few seconds, Theo could see realization flashing in his eyes.
"This… Moss Carapace Mantis… Wasn't your beast an Iron Mantis, Theo?" There was a curious frown on the Baron's face.
Theo smiled. It was the expression he wanted to see. It meant his father was curious enough.
"This is what I had promised you, father. I can change a beast, and it can only happen with insects," Theo stated, making the Baron and Alfred twitch their brows at the same time.
"This is an entirely new beast, master. It looks like the Iron Mantis to some extent, yet it is not that, I reckon," Alfred commented.
"Father, this is what my affinity 'Evolution' can do. I can change a beast for the better. At first, it had one ability, but now? It has three."
The Baron was all quiet, which Theo didn't like. Yet, he had rested his case, and now, only the verdict was left.
"Evolution… is this such a great ability? To change a beast and make it better…. Alfred, talk to me." All the anger of the Baron was gone, and he had returned to his usual self. He had expected results yet not to this extent.
There was a sense of dumbfoundedness the Baron was feeling, and Theo couldn't be happier.
