33: I want to be a salted fish

"Class 5 of Grade 3 is upstairs." Song Yu blinked and pointed to the 5th floor.

In this world, despite the vast size of the planet being a hundred times that of Earth, most of the area belongs to the ocean and wilderness forests. Therefore, each city has a large population, leading to many classes even in one high school grade, and it's normal for people to get lost while walking. Song Yu didn't think too much; she just assumed that the thin old man in front of her was the grandfather of some classmate and casually pointed the way.

However, she had just gone to the toilet, and when she came back, she found that the thin old man was talking to Zhou Tao.

The old man stood at the entrance of Class 5, silent, while Zhou Tao nodded and smiled, attracting curious glances from many students. But since Zhou Tao spoke in a low voice and it was near class time, most people couldn't hear what they were talking about. Song Yu casually glanced at the two, and instinctively slipped into the classroom through the back door with her backpack.

However...

Unexpectedly, as she stepped into the back door with her left foot, her right foot still lifted, and Zhou Tao's voice came from behind.

"Song Yu!" Zhou Tao's voice was very loud. "Song Yu, come here! Come with us to the office! Quickly!"

Zhou Tao waved while shouting, and even gestured to Song Yu to look at the thin old man next to her.

Song Yu: "...?"

Song Yu was at a loss, observing the thin old man carefully, thinking about her memories, and considering the people she had seen recently. She confirmed that she didn't know the old man at all.

With a puzzled look on her face, she followed Zhou Tao and the thin old man into the office.

The office of the senior high school teachers was on the ground floor, and it was large, with many teachers working in it.

As soon as she entered the office, Song Yu smiled and said, "Teacher Zhou, what's the matter with me? Who is this?"

The girl's fluttering eyelashes and sweet and delicate features, combined with her bright and brilliant smile, made her someone who, at the very least, wouldn't be disliked if placed outside.

However, unexpectedly...

The thin old man was frowning at Song Yu, and the three big words 'not happy' were clearly visible on his face. The wrinkles on his forehead were almost squeezing flies to death.

The old man's eyebrows were squeezed together, and without introducing himself, he spoke sternly, "Release your initial beast and let me see."

Song Yu was puzzled, "??"

Zhou Tao was a bit embarrassed and quickly explained to Song Yu, "Song Yu, quickly release your Twin-tailed Snow Civet Cat for Professor Sun to see. Professor Sun is one of the deputy deans of our city's Beast Research Institute, a Level 5 Beast Researcher. He specifically came over this morning to see your initial beast."

"Oh," Song Yu understood instantly.

So, it turned out that the recommendation letter from Principal Wu for the Beast Research Institute a month ago had worked.

Ah, Song Yu sighed inwardly.

She thought nothing had happened for over a month, assuming that Principal Wu was just joking.

Unexpectedly, the Beast Research Institute was waiting for her.

Releasing Qiuqiu from the space, Song Yu touched Qiuqiu's fur. Over this month, Qiuqiu had grown even larger, even though feline-type contracted beasts were slender and agile, it couldn't hide the fact that Qiuqiu sitting on the ground was taller than her. When Qiuqiu leaped out of the Beast Taming space, the whole room seemed to tremble.

It truly embodied the saying from Earth netizens about tigers: "When it's small, it's cute; now, it still looks cute."

"Slender body, elliptical pupils in a light golden color, pure white fur without any other colors..." Professor Sun paid no attention to Qiuqiu's size, nor did he care if Qiuqiu would attack him. He directly started inspecting Qiuqiu's body, claws, fangs, and tail.

The movements and speed almost frightened Qiuqiu!

However, before Qiuqiu could react with a threatening gaze, a huge figure suddenly appeared behind Professor Sun!

Covered in fiery red fur, even more robust than Qiuqiu, with its head reaching the ceiling directly! It was a fire-type ape-like beast covered in densely packed scale armor. Moreover, the ape held a golden vine-woven staff in its hand!

Song Yu was startled and quickly reassured Qiuqiu.

Clearly, Qiuqiu was also frightened, and its fur stood on end!

In front of this ape-like beast, Qiuqiu looked like a small toy...

At this moment, Song Yu finally understood why all homeroom teachers' offices were on the first floor, and the height of the first-floor rooms was about six meters! This was clearly a space for releasing contracted beasts.

"Hmph! Research on low-level bloodline races is indeed a waste of time. I really don't understand why low-level beasts with bloodline levels that are at most Tier 3 are worth studying. The first reaction upon seeing a higher-level beast should be a calm attack, not getting your fur all puffed up..." Professor Sun withdrew his gaze from inspecting Qiuqiu, hands behind his back, looking proud as he turned to Song Yu. 

"Last month, our institute received a recommendation letter from Principal Wu. He hopes that you can intern at the institute for some time and strive for good results in next year's college entrance examination... so you can report to the institute tomorrow."

Unlike candidates who wanted to major in Beast Taming, students aspiring to study Beast Research didn't need to participate in the Beast Taming practical exam. They only needed to meet the academic requirements for admission. Having an internship certificate from the local city's Beast Research Institute before the college entrance examination was even more advantageous. It would attract the attention of top universities or excellent mentors, laying a foundation for becoming an outstanding beast researcher!

However...

From beginning to end, Song Yu had never thought of becoming an beast researcher, let alone wanting to intern at the Beast Research Institute. She just wanted to quietly be a little transparent person at school.

Originally, she had thought that if someone from the institute came to find her, she could act ignorant and make the other party give up on her, the slacker. But this person disrespected Qiuqiu, which was too much...

Looking at Qiuqiu's tail and ear tips drooping because of the words 'wasting time on low-level bloodline races' and 'not worth contracting,' Song Yu's eyebrows slightly furrowed. She didn't feel like acting anymore.

With an expressionless face, Song Yu looked at Professor Sun, "Professor Sun, I have no intention of becoming a researcher, and I have never thought of studying at the Beast Research Institute. I'm sorry for making you come all this way, but you can go back to continue researching other higher-level bloodline contracted beasts."

"Although the Snow Civet Cat's bloodline level is not high, from the moment I chose it and contracted with it, it has been my partner, friend, and family. Therefore, I believe that contracted beasts cannot be simply classified with the crude terms 'bloodline high or low' or 'worth or not.' Moreover, even if Qiuqiu's level is low, it can still easily deal with a few humans..." Song Yu glanced at Professor Sun, almost writing it directly on his face.

—My cat can easily deal with you! You better leave! No one here welcomes you!

After all, she had never thought of becoming an beast researcher. She wasn't worried at all about offending the deputy dean of the Beast Research Institute and not being able to intern at the institute. She was already someone who wanted to be a slacker.

However...

As soon as Song Yu said this, the whole office fell silent!

Other teachers from the surrounding classes, as well as Zhou Tao and others, were all dumbfounded!

Who is the deputy dean of the Beast Research Institute?

He is one of the top figures in Jianghuai City!

When he walks on the street, as long as he reveals his identity, a bunch of people will give him face!

Most importantly, is this student crazy? Does she not care about her own future at all?

Offending a deputy dean of the Beast Research Institute in a Tier 3 city, as long as he makes a call, after the college entrance examination, which university would be willing to admit her to the Beast Research Institute major?

You should know that awakening an F-level waste Beast Taming space and matching it with a low-level bloodline beast would be the best future!

In this world, they had never heard of someone who had awakened an F-level waste Beast Taming space breaking through to a Tier 2 professional Beast Tamer.

In general, for someone who has awakened an F-level Beast Taming space, becoming a Tier 1 Beast Tamer in their lifetime is already a huge surprise.

However, compared to Tier 2 professional Beast Tamers, formal researchers at the Beast Research Institute have even higher social status and similarly substantial income.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the Beast Research Institute is an independent organization focused on researching beasts.

They have good cooperative relationships with the military, newspapers, magazines, media, schools, and more. Coupled with their high status, it is truly a coveted profession for many.

But this opportunity, which could easily secure admission to a university and a job, was directly rejected by the girl in front of them?!

How could this not be surprising?!

Having lost face to Song Yu, Professor Sun was angered, his beard bristling, and he scolded, "You little girl, do you even know what you're talking about? I came all the way from the North District Institute to Jianghuai City First High School, and you want me to leave? Do you think what I said is wrong?"

"Low-level bloodline beasts, unless a large amount of resources is used for cultivation, they can never surpass high-aptitude bloodline beasts! But with so many resources, why not use them directly to cultivate high-level bloodline contracted beasts?"

"A Tier 5 contracted beast can deal with tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of Tier 1 contracted beasts. What's the use of cultivating low-level bloodline contracted beasts? It's just a waste of resources, time, and energy!"

"As the saying goes, chickens and ducks travel in flocks, while tigers and leopards roam alone!"

"My Flame Ape is only a 4th Tier intermediate, but facing your 2nd Tier Snow Civet Cat variant, it is enough to fight a hundred! Any skill could turn this Snow Civet Cat into ashes!" Professor Sun, with hands behind his back, coldly snorted, pointing to the Flame Ape behind him. "So, instead of wasting time studying low-level bloodline beasts, it's better to spend time researching how to improve the success rate of contracting with human and high-level bloodline beast cubs! And help research and develop the skills of high-level bloodline contracted beasts!"

Professor Sun's words were very straightforward, but the combat power of the 4th Tier intermediate Flame Ape was there, making many teachers who contracted with low-level bloodline beasts feel embarrassed and nod in agreement.

In the end, this world was just that cruel!

"..." Song Yu didn't speak, but as she looked at Professor Sun, her brows furrowed more and more.

Seeing Song Yu's silence, Professor Sun thought that this little girl in front of him had already been subdued by him.

He was about to lift his head proudly, with his chin up, indicating that even if he apologized now, it was too late...

But he saw the girl in front of him lift one hand, arrogantly pulling the bangs on her forehead to the back of her head.

Professor Sun was puzzled, "?"

"Tsk!" Song Yu pulled her hair to the back, revealing her smooth and fair forehead and the high bridge of her nose. She sarcastically said, looking like a villain, "Professor Sun, you've been working for at least forty or fifty years now, right? May I ask if you have discovered a way to improve the success rate of contracting with human and high-level bloodline beast cubs?"

Song Yu continued to add fuel to the fire, intentionally pouting and saying, "I see your Flame Ape is only a 4th Tier intermediate. It's not even a high-level bloodline beast, right? At most, it's just intermediate, isn't it?"

"You've spent four or five decades researching contracts, and you still look down on low-level bloodline beasts. Is it appropriate? Moreover, even if you were given a hundred years, you still wouldn't be able to research a method for everyone to contract with high-level bloodline beasts. But how many high-level bloodline contracted beasts are there in the world?"

"High-level bloodline contracted beasts are not like cabbages grown in the fields, and low-level bloodline contracted beasts are not just dust on the ground! They are intelligent beings like us, capable of understanding language and communicating! Even the lowest Tier 0 beast is enough to defeat an ordinary adult male!"

Song Yu crossed her arms and shouted, "You look down on them, but I think they probably look down on you too!"

Professor Sun: "??!!"

"Hiss!——"

The teachers in the office gasped, and Zhou Tao was dumbfounded! Like a statue petrified.

It's over, it's over. How could he have a student who is so bold? Confronting the deputy dean of the Beast Research Institute and even daring to mock him? She really doesn't want a future!

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