The main reason was that they didn't have the confidence to provoke Soren.
The number of registered Beast Tamers in Soren was more than the population of their countries.
"Because it's Alan, the authorities agreed."
Asher nodded.
He then heard President Robb continue, "What we didn't expect was that Eastern Nation and Cold Nation somehow heard about this and said they also wanted to participate in the exchange with us."
Hearing the names of these two countries, Asher's expression became strange.
"These two countries just became laughingstocks to everyone. Where did they get the courage to stir things up again?"
Asher didn't understand.
They had just embarrassed themselves. Can't they behave a little now?
Eastern and Cold Nation: 'Stir trouble! Keep stirring trouble! Life goes on, trouble never stops!'
Asher: "..."
Alright then.
These two countries really are something.
From President Robb's words, Asher could tell. They had no prejudice against Alan.
Want to come exchange?
Then come!
We're all good friends!
Let's play together nicely.
Cold Nation and Eastern?
Ew—
There's a problem.
"Besides, aren't those two countries not even that friendly with each other?", Asher asked in confusion.
"Could it be that after embarrassing themselves together, they somehow developed feelings?"
Asher really couldn't figure it out.
Cold Nation and Eastern were located quite far apart.
Their status also differed.
No matter how you look at it, they shouldn't be getting along!
"Who knows," President Robb said helplessly, "We also thought those two countries were going to fight."
Embarrassing themselves big time together, fighting would be normal, right?
Who would've thought, not only did they not fight. They were even trying to build a friendship between them.
Truly laughable.
Of course, how solid this "friendship" really is, is also a good question.
"If that's the case, then their insistence on coming to Soren must have no good intentions," Asher said with absolute certainty.
President Robb nodded vigorously.
Exactly.
Everyone thought so too.
"Can't reject them?", Asher asked.
"How should I put it…", President Robb showed a toothache-like expression, his whole face wrinkled up, "Shamelessness is invincibility, get it?"
Asher: "..."
Totally get it.
Seeing Asher's expression, President Robb continued, "We rejected them, but they insisted that they admire Soren, want to learn from Soren, and want to communicate with Soren."
"Everything they said made it sound like they were pitiful. If we didn't include them, it meant we were looking down on them. What could we do?"
Asher really wanted to say, 'Yeah, we do look down on you!'
Unfortunately, when it comes to international affairs. Sometimes it's not about what you think in your heart.
"The main issue is that Imperial Spire is also fanning the flames," President Robb sighed again.
"If it was just Cold Nation and Eastern, we could simply reject them. What could they do?"
It's not like Soren had to be wary of them.
Even if they straight-up said, we're just not letting you join.
What could Cold Nation and Eastern do?
Besides flying into impotent rage.
It's not like they can beat Soren.
Soren's Beast Tamers aren't pushovers.
Before trying anything, weigh your own worth first.
If you've got nothing, just sit quietly.
But then Imperial Spire had to butt in.
Jumped in with a super shameless attitude to stir things up.
"Said things like Cold Nation and Eastern don't have bad intentions, and since we agreed to exchange with Alan, why can't we also include Cold Nation and Eastern?"
As he spoke, President Robb revealed an extremely disgusted expression.
Too much tea in the tone.
But when President Robb spoke, he didn't seem surprised at all that Imperial Spire would do such a thing.
Asher also recalled those bizarre antics he'd seen online involving Imperial Spire.
They were all about being professional sh*t-stirrers.
Whether it involved them or not, they had to jump in somehow.
What benefits do they gain?
Sigh!
Doesn't matter!
As long as they're happy!
Over time, all countries knew that Imperial Spire was a bunch of lunatics.
No one found anything they did surprising anymore.
Asher should've felt the same.
But for some reason, Asher thought of the conversation he'd had with World Tree Lily last time.
A lot of thoughts churned through Asher's head, but in the end, he didn't say anything.
'Uncertain.'
'Better observe more.'
If Imperial Spire really wanted to do something, there's no way there wouldn't be signs.
He would catch them slipping eventually.
"…Anyway, it's hard for us to say no. They really can't do anything to Soren, but Alan might get affected," President Robb said and then looked at Asher.
"So now, all three countries have sent their beast professors to Soren for academic exchange."
Asher: "They're already here?"
"But what does that have to do with me?"
Back to the original topic.
There's no shortage of talent in Soren's beast evolution research field.
'Why must it be me?'
"Alan came purely to exchange, but Eastern and Cold Nation both brought their research projects along. They called it a way to better communicate with us."
Asher fell silent again.
Oh wow.
Eastern and Cold Nation weren't even pretending to hide their intentions.
Academic exchange is not the same as visiting someone's home.
It's not like you need to bring gifts to be polite.
Academic exchange.
Exchange!
It's supposed to be a friendly discussion.
Bringing your own research project, what are you trying to do?
Freeload?
Or are you trying to show off and claim you're better?
Showing off something the host Nation doesn't have and saying: Look at this.
You don't have it, right?
Hehe!
Not giving it to you!
Envy much?
Asher: "..."
Asher: "Are these two countries seriously okay in the head?"
President Robb: "They probably weren't before, and now. Who knows."
Who knows what kind of crazy wind hit them.
"This is why we thought, since you're capable, maybe you could join this exchange and then take their projects…"
'Ahem!'
'No need to finish that sentence.'
But Asher understood what President Robb meant.
Eastern and Cold Nation came with malice and bragging intentions.
Soren: Huh? Came to my house to flex?
Watch me master your prized tech.
Replicate.
And replicate it even better.
What?
You say it's unfair?
Weren't you the one who showed off first?
Besides, you brought it to show me, I remembered it, mastered it, made an identical one, what's wrong with that?
If this gets out, no Nation would think Soren's at fault.
Trying to show off and getting humiliated in return, as long as you can fight back, no one dares say anything.
"Alright then, I agree," Asher said after thinking it through.
———
[Star City]
Alan only sent two beast professors, one male and one female. Both very young.
Their attitude was also very friendly.
With deep-set features and tall frames, they didn't seem arrogant or aggressive at all. Instead, both had an unexplainable honesty and calmness about them.
One glance and you'd know they truly came for academic exchange.
Definitely no hidden agenda.
Compared to Alan, the research teams from Eastern and Cold Nation seemed… too over-the-top.
A complete team of beast evolution researchers, with numbers ranging from 10 to 100 depending on project complexity.
Both Cold Nation and Eastern brought teams with around 50 people.
Excessive.
And just barely within an acceptable limit.
The 100 people from the two countries standing together nearly matched the number of resident researchers in Star City's National Research Institute.
The institute's researchers looked visibly displeased.
Leading the group, Professor Desmond frowned impatiently.
"What are you trying to do with so many people?"
"Planning to take over our research institute?"
"Oh, please believe us, we truly just want to engage in friendly exchange," said Cold Nation's team leader, a beast professor who looked even younger than Professor Desmond.
He blinked his blue eyes innocently and said, "But because of the nature of the projects, we needed this many people."
"We hope your Nation doesn't mind."
The team leader from Eastern looked about the same age as Professor Desmond. He looked at the visibly older Professor Hubert and said with a smile, "We even brought important projects currently being studied in our Nation, hoping to exchange and discuss with yours."
"Hopefully we can learn from each other in the process!"
Professor Desmond: *angrily muttering*
'Learn?'
'Learn your ass!'
"Does this look like coming to learn?'
'Everyone internationally knows that beast evolution research is never Soren's strong suit.'
'This is clearly a face-slap!'
Not to mention the leader from Eastern kept eyeing him and Professor Hubert up and down, as if their age gave him some sense of superiority.
Professor Desmond clenched his fists.
"Haha, sure, sure, let's all study together," Professor Hubert's cheerful tone helped calm Professor Desmond down.
"So, what topics did you bring to discuss?"
"If your researchers can't solve it, then go ahead and share. Our Soren researchers don't mind helping."
In an instant, the expressions of Cold Nation and Eastern's professors and researchers became complicated.
Like they ate something weird.
Want to spit it out.
But they were the ones who acted polite first.
While the two professors from Alan remained low-key and friendly, suddenly their expressions changed.
Swish~ Swish~ Swish~
They clenched their fists and charged into the crowd.
Within the hundred-person team, they precisely located the person who spoke just now.
BANG BANG—two punches!
The Cold Nation researchers were dumbfounded.
Even those beside them couldn't react.
'Huh?'
'Aren't we mocking Soren?'
'Why are you two Alan guys jumping in?'
Seeing no one stopping them, Alan's professors were thrilled!
Bang! Bang!
Two more punches!
The beaten one cried out loudly.
His teammates finally came to their senses and rushed in to break it up.
But the Soren researchers quickly split them up.
"Hey hey hey, don't rush, let us handle it!"
"Stop fighting, stop fighting!"
"Nobody's gonna die!"
Their actions were coordinated.
Their tone was friendly.
Their actions…
Throw in a few more punches!
Hit the hidden spots!
Hit where it hurts most!
A chaotic mess.
Asher, blending into the crowd, couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
'Damn!'
'This really is… the art of biased peacekeeping!'
Cold Nation and Eastern's lead professors looked panicked.
'Isn't Soren supposed to be a nation of etiquette?'
'No way they will get physical openly, right?'
Oh.
It wasn't Soren doing it.
It was Alan.
Alan isn't a nation of etiquette. Alan doesn't have to hold back.
Cold Nation and Eastern: F**k.
"Quick, make them stop!"
Unable to handle it, the lead professors from Cold Nation and Eastern turned to Professor Desmond and Professor Hubert for help.
Professor Hubert chuckled merrily.
Professor Desmond snorted coldly and stepped forward.
His sharp gaze swept across the beast professors from Cold Nation and Eastern.
They broke out in cold sweat.
They really wanted to deal with the kinder-looking Professor Hubert.
Professor Desmond: 'Still trying to be picky? Dream on!'
Professor Desmond moved up.
Left behind were only Professor Hubert, and Asher, who'd been standing quietly behind him the whole time.
"These two countries' people are really something, aren't they?", Professor Hubert said softly with a smile.
"You sure have a good attitude," Asher said helplessly, yet with amusement.
"Sigh, trash talk. Who doesn't know how to do that?", Professor Hubert chuckled again, "But the next part is up to you young folks."
"When it's time to slap faces, slap hard."
Professor Hubert turned his head and winked at Asher.
Asher nodded.
Trust him.
When it comes to beast evolution research, no one can match him.
"Invincible" was not an exaggeration.
After the scuffle settled, Cold Nation's people still wanted Soren to uphold justice.
Too bad.
They mouthed off first.
The two beast professors from Alan weren't pushovers either, ready to brawl at any time.
Cold Nation's lead professor also understood. They were the ones who crossed the line first.
Professor Desmond's stance was even simpler: 'Spank both sides 30 times.'
'That's the end of it.'
No one gets to complain.
The Cold Nation researcher who got beaten still wanted to say something, like Soren was clearly siding with Alan.
But one glare from Cold Nation's lead professor shut him up.
Don't you know exactly what you did?
Besides, You had your chance to show off!
Don't make a scene now!
In the end, the various parties barely maintained surface-level peace.
All three groups were separated.
Mainly Eastern and Cold Nation.
Professor Desmond had no intention of letting those two groups collude.
As for the two beast professors from Alan, they stayed with the Soren team.
Eastern's lead professor couldn't help but ask resentfully, "Why can those two be with you?"
"Are you looking down on us by excluding us?"
Passive-aggressive tea-speak.
Professor Desmond sneered, wanting to say: At least you're self-aware.
But was stopped by Professor Hubert.
The old professor smoothed things over.
Everyone knew what was really going on.
We're all thousand-year-old foxes, why pretend this is a ghost.
"Professor Hubert really is quite the talent," He said softly.
The two pet beast professors from Alan who happened to be standing next to him turned curious gazes toward him upon hearing this.
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