"At times like this, there's no need to be polite. When results are needed, there's no room for politeness."
Charlotte thought about it. That did make sense.
"Then Little Machine and I will be entrusted to you," Charlotte, with lightning speed, shoved Thousand Machine into Asher's hands and quickly said.
Asher: "..."
Asher gave Charlotte a speechless look, "I said don't be polite, and you really went ahead and stopped being polite."
"Hehe," Charlotte grinned at Asher, "What's our relationship? Do we really need to fuss over these things?"
Asher: "I think it's still necessary."
Though he said that, Asher didn't throw away the Thousand Machine that he had caught in his hands.
He casually squeezed the little thing.
How to put it? Although it didn't feel as nice as the little jellyfish, it wasn't as hard as he imagined.
Moderately soft and firm.
A pretty decent stress-relief toy.
Thinking this, Asher gave it a few more casual squeezes.
"Let's first figure out a way to replenish some energy for it," Saying that, Asher fell into thought.
How does one replenish energy for a beast that eats discarded bytes? Since this touched on a field Asher didn't understand, his gaze did indeed look a bit bewildered.
Then Asher looked toward the Angel next to him.
"Mm mm!", Charlotte didn't know what Asher was thinking. Seeing that Asher didn't reject Thousand Machine and had taken it, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Since Asher accepted it, the problem probably wouldn't be big.
"Then I'll go find a place to stay first, okay," Charlotte felt reassured leaving Thousand Machine with Asher.
She waved at Asher, and without waiting for him to speak, she turned around and familiarly ran out.
What? Still need to ask Asher? She was very familiar with Asher's research institute. It's not like it's her first time here.
Asher looked down at Thousand Machine, then looked up at the Angel.
"…Your beast tamer really is something," Asher said with an indescribable tone.
Thousand Machine: "...."
Thousand Machine had no reaction, not even turning over, as if it hadn't understood anything.
"Angel, do you have a way?", Asher shifted his gaze to the Angel.
His innate skills were usually very useful, but sometimes he did encounter tricky problems.
Like the current Thousand Machine.
It was a beast that Asher had never seen or come into contact with.
In the end, he could only turn his pleading gaze toward the Angel.
The Angel stared at Thousand Machine with its big eyes, emotions unclear, for quite a while.
The previously unresponsive Thousand Machine slowly began to move in Asher's palm.
Asher: "?"
Thousand Machine was originally facing the Angel.
Thousand Machine inched its way around, turning its back to face the Angel.
Asher and the Angel looked at each other in confusion.
"It's fine," At this moment, the Angel spoke, "Just put it on me, from the angel's body, it can absorb enough energy."
Asher didn't know if it was his illusion, but he always felt the Angel's voice carried a bit of a subtle undertone.
Asher paused.
Curiously looked at the Angel.
"Why?"
"Is there something special about the Thousand Machine species of beasts?", Asher was sure it wasn't his imagination. The Angel's attitude toward Thousand Machine was a bit odd.
"Thousand Machine is a very special beast. It was originally electromagnetic particles floating in the air."
Asher: "?"
'Huh?', Asher's eyes widened.
'Why do I feel like I just heard some huge revelation?'
"Not all electromagnetic particles can evolve into Thousand Machine. Only those that successfully absorb mythical creature energy can evolve into Thousand Machine."
Asher: "!"
Asher's hand holding Thousand Machine trembled slightly.
Just how difficult and rare mythical creature energy was to absorb, Asher knew very well.
After all, he'd personally been in close contact before.
But Asher hadn't expected, that the birth of a beast like Thousand Machine would also be related to mythical creatures.
"The birth of a Thousand Machine represents the failure of a transcendent evolution attempt."
"Out of countless electromagnetic particles, only a few that successfully absorb mythical energy can complete the final evolution."
Each step builds on the last.
"Then Thousand Machine can actually reproduce on its own?", Asher didn't quite understand.
In this regard, he really didn't know as much as the Angel.
So Asher didn't mind asking a few more questions.
"The 'Angel' doesn't know how Thousand Machine reproduces either. Maybe after so many years, Thousand Machine evolved a new ability to continue the species."
"Perhaps Master can explore that a bit," The Angel said with the most certain tone the most questionable words.
Asher fell silent. He stroked his chin.
"Maybe it's worth exploring?"
Innate abilities weren't always evident at first glance.
'Even the Angel doesn't know.'
'Come to think of it—'
Asher really did start to get interested.
'Research, maybe?'
'That sounds good.'
"But putting Thousand Machine on you doesn't hurt you, right?", However, before starting research on Thousand Machine, Asher first focused on another issue.
"Will the energy in your body be affected?"
"It's fine. Thousand Machine, as a small beast, can only absorb a tiny, very tiny amount, precise to less than 0.01%, of mythical creature energy."
"Therefore, the evolution from electromagnetic particle to Thousand Machine is extremely difficult."
"When still in the particle state, it's hard for it to control its thirst for mythical energy."
If it accidentally absorbs just a tiny bit too much, it'll croak instantly.
Reincarnation reset.
And then there won't be so many worries.
Asher coughed twice.
Why did he feel like the Angel's mouth was just a tiny bit venomous?
Asher shook his head.
'Forget it.'
'Not important.'
Since it doesn't harm the Angel and benefits Thousand Machine, Asher carefully placed Thousand Machine onto the Angel's round head.
It looked round. But once placed on top, it stayed flat. The top of the head had a somewhat flat arc.
At least Thousand Machine stayed securely on the Angel's head without falling.
Thousand Machine: "?"
Thousand Machine, who had previously turned around and pointed its butt at the Angel, never expected, in just a blink, it would be placed on top of the Angel's head.
Thousand Machine was so mad it wanted to jump up on the spot.
Then...
When Charlotte returned, what she saw was her previously limp and lifeless Thousand Machine, now puffed up with energy, trying to jump and fly off the Angel's head.
However, between Thousand Machine and the Angel, it was as if there was an invisible chain linking them together.
Thousand Machine couldn't jump off the Angel's palm… no, head.
Seeing this scene, Charlotte's footsteps subconsciously slowed down.
"…You really are a miracle worker," Walking over to Asher, Charlotte's gaze toward him held indescribable complexity.
Even her gaze at Asher was very complicated.
No wonder.
Who could've guessed?
She'd only been gone a short while and the previously drained and half-dead looking Thousand Machine had suddenly become full of life.
Thousand Machine, seeing its beast tamer arrive, cast a pleading look toward Charlotte.
"Zzzzz!"
'Save me! I don't want to stay with this big-eyed guy!'
Charlotte vaguely sensed a bit of emotion from Thousand Machine directed at the Angel.
But she wasn't quite sure what it was.
Looking at the lively Thousand Machine, Charlotte stroked her chin.
"Hmm… could it be that Little Machine is happy?"
Charlotte looked at Thousand Machine.
Then looked at the Angel.
Charlotte nodded, confirming her guess.
Thousand Machine: "..."
'Happy your butt!'
'I am not happy at all!'
Asher, who knew Thousand Machine's real thoughts: "..."
'Yeah. This really is a complicated issue.'
Asher didn't dwell on it.
"Let's leave it at that for now. Angel, I'll leave Thousand Machine to you for the time being."
The Angel blinked at Asher but didn't speak in front of Charlotte.
Asher smiled.
His trust in Charlotte was one thing.
Holding back on some things was another.
"By the way," Charlotte, seeing the revitalized Thousand Machine, didn't think much about Asher placing it on the Angel.
"What's going on with that room behind you?"
Charlotte recalled how she'd excitedly rushed over only to see a pile of rubble, and her expression turned faintly speechless.
"An accident?"
Asher briefly explained what had happened before.
"It just so happened we were doing repairs, didn't expect guests during break," As he spoke, Asher blinked, looking at Charlotte with an innocent expression.
"Or, want to just stay in the meeting room for now?"
Charlotte: "..."
"You could stay at a hotel too," Asher added.
Charlotte waved her hand, "Forget it, forget it, I'll just make do in the meeting room."
"This matter of Little Machine being pregnant… even though I don't know how it happened, it's still better if I study it with you," Charlotte said seriously.
Though Asher had always been extremely capable, unstoppable in all situations, who knew if something might go wrong this time? Besides, Little Machine's current state was very unique. It wasn't great to leave Asher alone with it.
Having her around meant there was at least a witness if anything happened.
"How many more days till your place is fixed?", Thinking she might have to live in the unsuitable meeting room for ten days or half a month, Charlotte frowned in distress.
That was absolutely unacceptable.
She had to urge Asher to speed up the construction.
"Just another couple of days," Asher glanced at the workers he had hired.
He spared no expense.
The repair speed was extremely fast.
Like Asher, who directly hired a beast tamer construction team to help.
Compared to regular workers, the speed was many times faster.
Of course, the cost also increased several times over.
Just like that, Charlotte temporarily stayed at Asher's research institute, helping out at his side every day.
.
.
.
.
[Two Days Later]
[Inside the Research Institute]
Charlotte, very familiar with the routine, handed Asher the tools he needed.
After passing them over, Charlotte's eyes dazed for a moment.
"Wait a minute?", Charlotte looked at the research institute's jumping pets.
Then looked at the Thousand Machine being observed by Asher.
Charlotte showed a confused expression.
"Weren't I on vacation?"
"Why do I feel like I've just changed locations to keep working?"
These past two days, Asher hadn't actually spent that much time studying Thousand Machine in the lab.
Asher wasn't a mad scientist. He had his own plans and research. Step by step.
He spent the extra time accompanying and training his pets.
One or two hours each day were used on researching Thousand Machine and the energy it needed.
Not much.
On the first day, Charlotte followed Asher voluntarily, and before she knew it, was helping out.
Today was the third day.
Asher didn't say anything, just gave a look. And Charlotte understood him with perfect coordination.
Charlotte questioned her life.
Forget changing locations to work, it was a place with no money to earn.
She might even end up paying several million from her own pocket.
Charlotte: 'The truly wronged one turns out to be me?'
"I need to get myself together," Enlightened, Charlotte clenched her fist, wearing a determined expression, "I absolutely can't keep listening to Asher…"
"Irradiator," Asher said.
"Okay," Charlotte answered before realizing.
Charlotte: "..."
'Forget it.'
'Better just do it obediently.'
Asher's willingness to help was already a big favor she owed.
Charlotte and Asher worked in perfect sync.
And over the past couple days of brief research, Asher really had discovered some very interesting things from Thousand Machine.
"Hm… electromagnetic particles, turns out they can absorb special energy to become special beasts. That's truly fascinating," Asher sincerely spoke with a tone of marvel.
'Fascinating.'
'Truly fascinating.'
"Thousand Machine's earliest food definitely wasn't discarded network bytes. I suspect it was electromagnetic particles drifting in the air."
When Asher finally spoke, he dropped a bombshell.
Charlotte: "?"
'Seriously?'
Charlotte widened her eyes and looked at Asher.
"The prototype of Thousand Machine, or rather before it absorbed extraordinary power, it was also electromagnetic particles."
Asher dropped another thunderbolt.
Charlotte, who had no idea about this: "Eh?"
Charlotte's blinking big eyes were filled with complete confusion.
"This…"
'Electromagnetic particles?'
'Thousand Machine's prototype?'
'Really?'
'If that's the case, can humans find a way to create more Thousand Machine?'
"Very difficult," Asher saw through Charlotte's thoughts at a glance, and spoke in a very decisive tone.
Very difficult.
Almost impossible.
For electromagnetic particles to evolve into Thousand Machine, they must have absorbed the energy of mythological creatures.
Can humans reliably control and use that kind of energy?
No. Then by the same logic, humans cannot artificially breed the species of Thousand Machine.
"Because they were originally electromagnetic particles, after gaining extraordinary power and becoming Thousand Machine, they can still absorb electromagnetic particles from the air."
"To replenish the energy they themselves lack."
Charlotte was not discouraged by Asher's earlier denial, she just looked at Asher with some curiosity.
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