The person speaking suddenly had another head pop out beside them, "Ah, that color scheme, that size, looks like a Flame Dragon?"
Another head grew out by the window again, "Normal Flame Dragons aren't that big. If we have to say such a big Flame Dragon, other than the Flame Dragon King, then only Miss May's Flame Dragon fits."
As soon as these words fell.
Several people in the office were stunned.
'Miss May?'
'Who else could it be but that Miss May?'
Just mentioning the surname, perhaps ordinary people who don't pay attention to beasts and Beast Tamers wouldn't know, but they were different.
They at Asuka New Media were a well-known media organization in NY City.
Both online and offline, they had quite a few loyal fans.
Of course, they also had very strong professional ethics.
As long as it involved beasts or Beast Tamers, they could always deliver the news to the public at the first opportunity.
So their position in NY City was also quite stable.
At the same time, they harbored a powerful ambition, grow bigger and stronger. Go beyond NY City.
Become an even more famous and conscientious new media.
Unfortunately, that wasn't an easy task.
Luck, strength, both were indispensable.
As for their luck... just look at how they placed their office building in the suburbs and it was clear, the profits weren't good, not making much money.
This was the dilemma a conscientious new media company would encounter.
People never stayed long at the company either.
Compared with so-called dreams, real cash-in-hand salaries were far more practical.
However...
"Ever since Professor Asher's research institute was established in this suburb, the land prices in this area have shot up," The young man who first stood by the window, also the youngest employee at Asuka New Media, said with emotion and envy.
The senior employee next to him didn't look so pleased after hearing this, "Yeah, land prices went up, housing prices too. From what the boss said, it sounds like the landlord even plans to raise our rent."
Young new employee: "?"
"Young man, reality is just that cruel. Things like jacking up prices and taking advantage of a crisis, there's never a shortage," The senior employee patted the newbie on the shoulder.
The newbie's expression instantly crumbled: "Ah?"
"Then won't we have to move somewhere else?"
"But I came here just to be closer to Professor Asher."
"If we relocate... then I might as well find a new job that lets me stay here."
Senior employee: "..."
The senior squinted his eyes, and his once gentle pat on the young man's shoulder suddenly got a lot stronger, "Young man..."
"We can still talk things over. After all, the boss signed a ten-year contract with the landlord back then."
"If the boss breaks the contract, he'll have to pay a huge penalty."
The newbie's eyes lit up again, "Oh oh oh! Boss mighty!"
"But the ten-year contract only has a year and a half left now."
Newbie: "..."
Life's ups and downs are just like this, isn't it all a bit too thrilling?
"Ahem," A senior who had interjected earlier walked to the water dispenser with a cup and filled it with hot water, a faint scent of goji berries wafting from it.
"In any case, don't overthink it. Let's make the most of the next year and a half, fight to grab more headlines and trending topics. Maybe we can save some traffic that way, and earn a bit more money. Even if we move later, it won't be too miserable."
The newbie gave a dead-fish-eye stare, "...Seniors, maybe I should just leave the group chat now."
'Feels like this is a shady company that can go bankrupt any minute.'
Luckily, the newbie eventually calmed down.
The company pays salaries on time.
The benefits are pretty good.
Five workdays, two days off, eight-hour workdays, never any overtime.
And the seniors in the company are all very friendly.
Except for some late-stage chuunibyou, hot-blooded youth tendencies, or being overly private, there's no scheming, no seniority-based promotion games.
That could count as a perk.
Unless there's an emergency announcement that needs edits, the boss would even give them overtime pay and allowances. It's really hard to find a more conscientious company than this one.
Everything is good.
The only drawback is, the salary's too low.
If it weren't for being a local NY citizen, after paying rent, there wouldn't be much left by the end of the month.
Thinking of this, the newbie sighed.
'Might as well make do for now.'
If the company really can't hold on anymore, he'll jump ship then. Otherwise, he feels he can at least barely stick it out and go down with the ship.
"If it really is that Miss Freya, could we maybe ride the edge of it, write something attention-grabbing?"
"As for whether it's true or not... speculations, all speculations," The newbie looked at the massive creature suspected to be the Flame Dragon, stroked his chin and said.
The senior standing beside him: "..."
"Young man, very flexible thinking, open-minded, really good at finding loopholes," The senior patted his shoulder again with a sigh.
At first the newbie thought it was praise and even gave an embarrassed smile.
But the more he listened, the more something felt off.
'Hmm?'
'Are those really words of praise?'
'Why does it feel like something's wrong with every part of it?'
The newbie finally caught on: "..."
He showed dead-fish-eyes.
"I was just thinking for the good of our company, alright?"
"Those recent stories like the breeding base adding new equipment, a Beast Tamer accidentally using pesticide on a plant-type beast and nearly causing a disaster, or some local Beast Tamer making top 100 in the South Soren college league..."
"Those aren't hot enough! Not eye-catching enough! We're not official media!"
'The official ones get government subsidies at least.'
'What about us?'
'Nothing at all.'
'Purely running on love and passion.'
The newbie couldn't understand it, 'When there's a trending topic right in front of them, why not grab it?'
"That's not called a hot topic, nor speculation, that's called rumor-mongering, got it?", The senior patted the newbie's hand, placed it on his shoulder, and hooked his arm around his shoulder.
Pulling the whole man over.
Half-embracing him.
The senior said seriously, "We don't do that kind of rumor-mongering. Sure, it creates heat, but what's the point?"
"We don't want that kind of traffic that comes from gossip."
"That kind of traffic comes quickly, but it goes just as fast, and it ruins our reputation," the senior sighed as he spoke.
The newbie fell into deep thought.
Finally, he reluctantly nodded.
'Fine, what the senior said does make sense.'
And... this was also one of the reasons he liked this company.
If they could really stick to this from start to end, that wouldn't be so bad, right?
"Then...", The newbie's mind started turning again, "Why don't we face Professor Asher directly, do a face-to-face interview?"
"Whatever we want to ask, just ask directly."
"We can even bring up the topic of Miss Freya."
"Then publish it, write it seriously and properly, and let netizens speculate on their own... That should be fine, right?"
Senior: "..."
"Young man, your brain works really fast," The senior looked up and down at the newbie in his arms.
'Clearly, judging by his eyes, just a recent graduate with a clear gaze, yet this brain... why the heck does it work so well?'
'This idea is brilliant!'
"Come quick, come quick!"
"Everyone, gather around!"
"This kid came up with a great plan!"
"If we can pull it off, next issue might not hit millions in views, but hitting 100,000 should be no problem!"
Then that would count as a mini-viral post.
Everyone's eyes lit up in unison.
"Then the only question before us now is, how do we get Professor Asher to agree to the interview?"
After speaking, everyone looked at each other.
"All staff mobilize..."
"Doorstep visit..."
"Ask with sincerity..."
"Maybe Professor Asher will agree?"
That's a good idea.
Also a good decision.
It's just, how to take that first step, now that's the real question.
———
Asher already had a way to solve the problem with the Flame Dragon's body.
Internal treatment plus external training.
A two-pronged approach.
External training referred to regular training and cultivation, just with the focus gradually shifting from physical training to skill-focused training.
"The most important thing is, to do everything possible to feel every strand of energy in the body, then fully mobilize that energy."
"This step is crucial."
Asher raised a finger and said, "Because the Flame Dragon is already used to only using seventy to eighty percent of its strength normally, so without consciously focusing, it still only uses that much strength during training."
That means power is wasted. No effect achieved.
Freya nodded heavily, "I'll also work hard to help Jaeger feel it!"
"Jaeger," she turned to look at the Flame Dragon as she spoke, "Let's work hard together!"
"Roar—"
Flame Dragon Jaeger truly had a very good personality.
Whatever Freya said, it nodded to.
'Mhm mhm mhm.'
'Yes yes yes.'
'Very obedient to my Beastmaster.'
Though it might feel tired, Jaeger was obedient.
Asher: "..."
'Alright then, another day of feeling like a third wheel.'
Then Asher looked at Clyde, who had stood silently to the side the whole time, and showed a somewhat apologetic smile, "Sorry, Mr. Clyde, I ignored you."
"Not at all," Clyde shook his head, looking not the least bothered, "Though..."
Clyde looked at Freya who was snuggled up with Flame Dragon Jaeger, and said softly, "It's good we discovered her problem in time."
"Freya and Jaeger have a great relationship. If something really happened to Jaeger because of her cultivation, she'd be heartbroken."
Asher smiled.
"Let's solve Jaeger's problem for her first. As for enhancing Flame Emperor's flame power, that can wait. No rush," Clyde chuckled, "Just finished a big commission recently, I can take some time off."
"Also gives me a chance to keep an eye on her."
As Clyde spoke, he nodded, showing a very brotherly attitude and sense of responsibility.
Asher glanced at Clyde, "Shouldn't you be saying that in front of your sister?"
"Uh...", Clyde stalled for a moment.
"Never mind then," Clyde said quite righteously.
Some words, it's fine saying behind someone's back.
Saying them face-to-face is really hard.
Asher: "..."
'Alright then, I can't understand you twisted siscons.'
'So weird.'
"At this point, it should be my turn to say, this is no big deal."
Asher smiled at Clyde and said, "Jaeger's situation is one thing, helping Flame Emperor get stronger is another, they won't interfere with each other."
"In fact, for me, it's quite a challenge. Pretty interesting."
Clyde looked at Asher, then looked again, seeing his smiling face, it was hard to tell if Asher was serious or joking.
'Looks like... kind of both?'
'But also kind of neither?'
"Besides, making Flame Emperor's flames stronger isn't as difficult as imagined. Simply put, it's about refining Flame Emperor's current flame."
If it were anyone else, maybe not.
But with Asher...
"The best way is to let Flame Emperor fight Little Raven."
Clyde: "?"
Clyde tapped out a question mark in horror, staring at Asher in shock, as if asking, 'Are you really not joking?'
Tier 9, Flame Emperor is a Tier 9 beast.
Even if that pet called Little Raven is Tier 6 now, compared to Tier 9... that's not just a three-tier gap.
That's a three-step ladder.
Asher's smile remained calm as ever.
"Of course I'm serious, why would I joke about this?"
"Don't worry, I'm not trying to let Little Raven get beaten until it starts doubting its life."
Before Clyde could say anything.
Little Raven, hearing this, first expressed its dissatisfaction.
'How dare!'
'What do you mean get beaten until doubting life?'
'Impossible!'
'Slander!'
'That's all blasphemy!'
'The bird will never doubt life!'
'At most, the bird might doubt bird life!'
Asher: "..."
'That joke isn't funny at all."
"Haha," Stared at by Little Raven, Asher still forced out two laughs with a blank face.
What else could he do?
Just tell him, what else could he do?
As a Beast Tamer, one must be humble like this.
His pet beast, he could only spoil it.
Thinking that, Asher helplessly shook his head.
'Alright, fine, let it be.'
Little Raven was satisfied.
Little Raven tried to land on Asher's head.
Unfortunately, Little Raven was no longer the tiny thing it once was, there wasn't any room to land at all. Just its two feet filled up all of Asher's head...
Not to mention that heavy body weight, it directly pressed Asher's head heavily downward.
Asher: "..."
Asher's forehead veins throbbed violently.
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