The High Priests didn’t waste time once they had made up their mind, and they quickly escorted everyone out of the Cathedral and across the street, into what turned out to be one of the University’s research labs.
Karl hadn’t realized that the two were located adjacent to each other, as they both had vast green spaces around their main buildings, which made it look like the Cathedral was located in a city park.
There were armed security at the doors to the university lab, preventing anyone without a pass from entering, but the High Priests didn’t seem bothered by the fact, and they simply waited for the supervisors to come down and let the group in after announcing their intentions to the guards.
The arrival of this group seemed to have caused an extreme level of excitement within the University labs, and Karl could hear and see people running around frantically, preparing various projects, or gathering notes and waiting by the doors of their workspaces in preparation to receive visitors.
That seemed like a good sign, like they might really get access to good things, the way that Hawk was hoping.
But they also had something to offer. If they offered up one of the spears of the Commander Rank grass, from the fight with the Commander Rank Giants, these researchers might be able to make something that would benefit all the beasts.
His Identification skill said that the grass would help Thor, but Karl didn’t recognize any of the other ingredients, and he couldn’t well tell these scientists that he knew what would work but not how or why.
Well, he could, but Karl wasn’t at all certain that they would take him seriously or believe that it was a Class Skill. The plants also didn’t always have the same names in the listing that they did in common use, so they might not even understand what he was talking about and assume he was making it up to sound impressive.
“Welcome, Elites, to the Capital University’s advancement research division. Here we have all the Golden Dragon Nation’s finest minds, working on ways to combat the threats facing our nation through the rapid evolution and advancement of the Elites.” The director greeted them as he opened the door, clipboard in one hand, and a whole suite of pens and tools in the pocket of his white coat.
“Now, I see that we have two mages and a Beast Master here today, as well as our fellows from the Church. Can you tell me, are the beasts actual beasts, or are they summoned each time they are needed?” The director asked, unclear about the nature of Karl’s abilities.
“They’re actual beasts, currently living in a separate space.” Karl explained.
“So, they require resources to help them grow? We have a division for that. They have been working on ways to tame Moor Tigers as guard animals.”
Karl gave the man a confused look. A Moor Tiger was roughly the size of a bus. Compared to a full-grown Lightning Cerro, it was three times the size, and it was a Royal Rank beast when fully grown. What could you even offer it that might make it loyal to humans?
“That is further down the building, so perhaps we could start with the mages, and see what we can offer them? One of the two mages looks like she is still a student, so she should currently be in her prime growth state.” The Director suggested.
“How long does the prime growth state last?” Dana asked, unclear as to the definition.
“It’s generally considered to be two to three years after the Serum Injection, which is why the Academy runs for four years in total. By then, they already know how most of the Elites are going to shape up. There are some exceptions who grow faster after they leave, but that is a rarity.” He explained.
Dana smiled. If it lasted two to three years, she had plenty of time left to try to catch up to Karl. He was already pulling ahead of her, and if he continued to outpace her like that, the government would consider her too far beneath his rank to keep going on missions with him.
“Now, did you have any resources that you might have brought with you? I know many working Elites do, as it offsets the cost of treatments from the University Labs.” The Director asked, with a gesture toward a cart with dozens of sealed and sterilized empty sample jars on it.
Everyone turned to Karl, who nodded. “I have a few things here. I have this fungus, which reads as an Ascended Rank plant by energy, though I haven’t personally identified it, we have these herbs and flowers, I’ve got some broken magical accessories, and I’ve got this odd Commander Rank plant, which, I think, might be good for my Lightning Cerro, as it greatly increases the regeneration rate of monsters who use it.”
Those were all out of his share of items, but if the others needed what the items made, he would just trade, since their portions were all still in his space as well, and the only one likely to even know the majority of the loot existed was Lotus, who had given much of it to Rae for safekeeping.
The Director stared at the rapidly filling jars as Karl and his assistants loaded everything away, and shook his head in dismay.
“I take it you’re not going to ask me for something small and simple today. The value of those items is incredible, and I was half expecting you to pull a ‘spare holy stone’ from out of nowhere to put on the pile. Just to put the value off the charts.” The Director joked.
“I’ve got one if you need one. A spare Holy Stone, that is.” Karl commented evenly.
The director laughed at the joke, but Karl borrowed a small and weak one from Thor’s pond and placed it in an empty jar.
“Dammit, I was joking, don’t just go putting Holy Stones in my sample jars.” The Professor complained.
“Fine, I will put it back in storage. Thor likes the smell of them.” Karl shrugged, but the Director immediately moved to protect the stone.
“I see how it is. I’m sure the lab can make good use of it.” Karl chuckled, while the High Priests softly laughed at the researcher.
The Church made Holy Stones, so they weren’t as rare for High-Ranking Clerics, but still, the value of them to the common person, as the researchers of the University Labs were, was immense.
If they could keep it for themselves, there was a chance that they would naturally awaken Holy Magic, like the clerics did without the Serum.
“Alright, it is safe to say that enough rare resources have been provided to offset the cost of any of the more common treatments, and heavily subsidize the others. Those Blood Lotus blossoms alone are worth more than most of the Ascended and Commander Rank treatments. Where did you even find them? No, don’t answer that, I don’t want to have to fill out the paperwork involved in knowing the answer. I will just gladly accept the rare flowers as payment.”
Though they were called a Blood Lotus, they didn’t show as being of particular benefit to Rae, according to Karl’s identification skill. It just said that they were useful for life drain type abilities. Which, technically, Lacerate was not. It didn’t steal the life, just let it bleed on the ground.
Alice and Dana both gave Karl happy hugs as the Director basically gave them a free pass to choose the resources that they wanted today, but the research assistants were even more excited.
“Mister Karl, is it true that you will be looking for resources to help your pets advance? You see, we are from the defensive beasts division, and the research from your advancement has already been quite valuable to us.” One of them asked.
“Oh, you got the notes from the treatments that the Bureau oversaw?” Karl asked, and the researchers nodded happily.
“We got notes from the Bureau about your time in the field as well. The possibilities are incredible. If only we could bond them the way that you do.” The researcher sighed.
Karl shrugged. “Give it time and I might learn the method to teach that to others as well. It would be quite the trick, having regular citizens become Beast Masters if they couldn’t become Elites.”
