As the succubus's voice fell, the entire altar fell into dead silence.
The eyes of the three were fixed on her in unison.
Under such a gaze, a touch of shyness appeared on the succubus's face...
But her body subtly moved away from Aster's side, and even quietly shifted half a step in Shane's direction.
Betrayal!!!
Aster felt like he was struck by lightning, frozen in place.
In this world, a Beastbond's betrayal of its master is more absurd than the sun rising from the west!
One must know, to a Summoner, a Beastbond is akin to the "parent" who gives them life.
The vast majority of Beastbonds would rather die in battle than betray their master.
But this succubus in front of him...
Aster stared at her intently.
That innocent and charming face still appeared harmless to humans and animals alike.
But at this moment, in his eyes, it seemed like a meticulously disguised facade...
Underneath it was nothing but calculation and greed!
But the next second, Aster suddenly laughed.
Is it a blessing in disguise?
Rather than keeping a ticking time bomb at his side, it's better to see her true colors as soon as possible!
So what if it's an Epic-level Tamed Beast?
His Golden Finger can cultivate more than just this one!
Even if he changes to an ordinary Beastbond, under his cultivation, it can reach the peak given enough time!
"Interesting."
Aster chuckled lightly as he shook his head:
"It seems some people... no, some beasts, don't even understand the most basic loyalty."
On the other side.
Shane was initially stunned, then his smile became even brighter.
"I've long heard that the succubi are exceptionally intelligent; today it truly lives up to its reputation!"
"Miss Succubus, as long as you're willing to follow my son, the Cheneys will spare no resource in cultivating you!"
As he said this, he did not forget to look hypocritically at Aster:
"This classmate of yours, if your Beastbond says so, you wouldn't... make things difficult for her, would you?"
"Nonsense!"
Evan King, having taken in the whole scene, stepped forward abruptly and cursed angrily.
Retired from the battlefield, Evan despised Shane's oppressive behavior.
"The 'Draconian Beast Taming Technique' clearly states that Beastbond transactions must be personally consented to by the Summoner! When did a Beastbond get to decide?"
He turned to look at Aster, his gaze sharp as a blade:
"As long as you shake your head today, no one will think about taking her away!"
This sentence once again focused everyone's attention on Aster.
The wind on the altar suddenly stopped.
Aster slowly turned his head, looking at the succubus whose eyes were filled with pleading, yearning for freedom.
This Beastbond... is she so eager to leave him?
He suddenly laughed, a laugh filled with sarcasm and relief.
"Boss Cheney," Aster's voice was frighteningly calm, "I agree to this transaction."
Joy appeared simultaneously on Shane and the succubus's faces, but before they could relax—
"However..."
These two words instantly made their hearts jump into their throats.
"The price is doubled, twenty million."
—Boom!
This figure was like a shocking bolt of lightning, causing Shane's face to change dramatically.
One must know that a normal Epic-level Tamed Beast fetches around eight million on the market.
Offering ten million was already considered an overpriced purchase, yet this kid dared to raise the price on the spot!
"Bro, this price..."
Shane suppressed his anger, attempting to negotiate.
"No bargaining."
Aster directly interrupted him, his voice as cold as ice:
"If Boss Cheney is unwilling to pay this price..."
"I'd rather send her to be destroyed!"
Crack!
The facade on the succubus's face instantly collapsed.
As a Spiritual Type Beastbond, she could clearly feel the killing intent in Aster's words—
This man is serious!
"Ugh..."
Facing death, she could no longer maintain that pitiful look.
She looked at Shane in terror, eyes full of pleading.
This was her only chance for survival!
And Shane's face was indecisive.
To him, twenty million wasn't much, but being played by a novice like this left him feeling choked.
He squinted his eyes, sizing up the young man in front of him; the other's "certain victory" posture only fuelled his anger further.
But thinking of his son, he forcibly swallowed his resentment.
First, secure this Beastbond, then as for the rest...
The days to come are long.
"Fine, I agree to your terms!"
Shane nearly ground out these words through gritted teeth.
Aster said nothing more and deftly lifted the temporary contract with the succubus.
Once saved, the succubus immediately gave Shane a grateful look, her voice sickly sweet:
"I will surely assist your son earnestly~"
Having accomplished his objective, Shane snorted coldly and left with the succubus.
While Mr. King looked at Aster, who seemed somewhat lost in thought, he sighed lightly and patted his shoulder:
"I've seen this kind of thing often, but a Beastbond betraying its master..."
He shook his head, "This is indeed a first."
"However, it might not be a bad thing."
"At least you've seen her true colors. With this money, you can totally go choose an excellent-level Beastbond and cultivate it well."
"Thank you, Mr. King."
After bidding farewell to Evan, Aster walked out of the summoning altar alone.
The sunset stretched his shadow long, and the exotic buildings and various Beastbonds walking along the street served as a constant reminder that this was no longer the world he once knew.
Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the complex emotions in his heart.
The most urgent thing right now is to contract a Beastbond as soon as possible—
No matter the talent!
"Without a Beastbond, I can't even participate in the intra-school selection ten days from now..."
Aster murmured to himself, his brow furrowing involuntarily.
The "college entrance examination" system in this world was completely different from the previous life.
The harsh three-round elimination system, with the first round being the intra-school selection held in ten days.
Only the top one hundred from each academy could advance, and now even his eligibility to compete was hanging by a thread.
Thinking of this, Aster couldn't help but clench his fists.
If that succubus hadn't betrayed him, ten days would have been enough for him to gather materials to complete the first cultivation...
With further enhancement of the Epic-level succubus, even if he couldn't clinch first in the school assessment, he could still get into the top ten.
But now...
His knuckles turned white from exertion, he forced himself to calm down.
"At least there's still the twenty million..."
This large sum is enough for him to buy an excellent-level Beastbond from the Beastbond Trading House.
Although it couldn't compare to the succubus with Epic Talent, he now had no other choice.
Aster raised his hand to hail a taxi pulled by a bipedal drake and, after getting into the carriage, spoke in a deep voice:
"Driver, to the largest Beastbond Trading House in Lythos!"
...
...