Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Chapter 19 - Taming the Gray Wing - Part 2

"If I were you," Liu lowered his voice, "I'd focus on recovering part of what our tuition cost. The fees are high, but with enough work in the gathering zones you could get them to double your resources and recover at least a fifth part in the next 8 years."

"Double? How does that work?" Ren asked.

"Tomorrow they'll come to check our belongings."

Ren visibly tensed.

"Relax," Liu smiled at his reaction. "It's not what you think. They'll just register the value of the stuff you brought with you."

"Why?"

"For what you just asked about. The Academy doubles the value of everything you get on your own in designated zones," Liu explained. "It's through a government subsidy system."

The mushrooms in Ren's hair glowed with renewed interest.

"Everything I get?"

"Everything you obtain with your own hands, yes. Things from your parents or inherited wealth don't count. Only what you gather or process here yourself. It's like a performance scholarship, the better collector you are, the more support you receive. The King has always incentivized people who go out to gather stuff."

"So if I find valuable materials..."

"The Academy matches their value," Liu confirmed. "That's why they record what you bring at the start, to know what you obtained afterward on your own."

Liu lay back on his bed, his bat fluttering restlessly.

"But like I said, don't get your hopes up with that creature," he murmured.

The mushrooms in Ren's hair pulsed softly, as if responding to his growing determination.

"What if you're wrong?" he asked. "What if there's more to spores than everyone believes?"

Liu looked at him for a long moment.

"Then," he said finally, "you'll have to find a way to prove it. But I warn you, the Academy doesn't waste resources on empty hopes and promises." _{ƒreewebηoveℓ.com}

'They aren't empty promises,' thought Ren. 'I just need a chance to prove it.'

And as that thought took shape, the mushrooms in his hair pulsed again, reminding him of the secret that lay beneath their feet.

Perhaps there was a way to achieve both things: obtain the materials he needed and secure his place in the Academy.

♢♢♢♢

"Did you hear that?" Min flopped onto his bed, his water snake materializing like a blue ribbon around his neck. "They double what we find and... A hundred crystals daily at Silver! With that I could..."

"Don't get your hopes up," Taro muttered. "First you have to get there."

"Oh, come on," Min smiled, turning toward Taro who was quietly organizing his things. "Don't tell me you haven't dreamed about it? Imagine what you could do with your beetle in the mines!"