Chapter 34: Hot Potato

Inside Appraiser Gao Jiang's consultation hall at the Beast Appraisal Association.

"What?" Gao Jiang rose from his chair and interrogated Zhang He who had come reporting to him, "Are your words true? Even Lu Yunhe couldn't do anything to Lin Jin?"

"It's true. I saw it with my own eyes!" Zhang He assured. "Appraiser Gao, I feel frustrated too. Lu Yunhe had come aggressively, even kicking down the doors of Lin Jin's consultation hall. But I don't know what happened inside after that. When he came back out, not only was he not angry with Lin Jin, but he even addressed him as 'Appraiser Lin'. Even I'm baffled by this."

Gao Jiang pondered before waving. "It's nothing. Lu Yunhe is a rash and dumb man. He must have been deceived by Lin Jin's smooth-talking. But persuasion can't compare to genuine skills. Lin Jin would spill the beans sooner or later."

Zhang He felt that something was off but he didn't dare to say more.

"Zhang He, you used to be affiliated with Lin Jin so you know his capabilities best. If he was truly skillful, you'd have never switched mentors, isn't that right?" said Gao Jiang.

Zhang He quickly nodded, voicing his agreement. Perhaps it was this question that helped him regain his confidence. He was once Lin Jin's most trusted person. Having accompanied Lin Jin everywhere, Zhang He knew the man's capabilities best.

To put it simply, the man was a mess. There was no doubt about it.

"Chief Wang Ji has presented a formal request to the board, requesting to revoke Lin Jin of his official beast appraiser title. The results should be out soon. When that time comes, this black sheep, Lin Jin will have to pack his bags and disappear," said Zhang He.

Gao Jiang's eyes lit up. This was clearly confidential information. If this was true, Lin Jin's days were numbered.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Appraiser Gao Jiang, Chief Wang Ji is requesting an urgent audience with you."

***

Inside the chief's consultation hall in the Beast Appraisal Association, the man with a tiny mustache, Wang Ji, was engaged in friendly conversation with an elderly man.

"Steward Zuo, you're just as vigorous as ever. Now that the city lord is holding you in high regard, when he rises to greater heights, you are sure to rise with him."

Wang Ji held great regard for this older man.

His name was Zuo Wentang. Having served the army as a lieutenant office during his younger days, he was now the main steward of Maple City's city lord, making him just number two in status within the city.

Sitting beside Zuo Wentang was a rainbow tiger that was almost as tall as a human, bearing the aura of a mighty beast king.

"I'll be counting on your words, Chief Wang. I'm visiting you so abruptly because the city lord has dug up some century-old beast eggs this morning at a historical site. We require Chief Wang to evaluate them because you're the expert in this field after all."

Despite his old age, Zuo Wentang was full of vigor and carried an overwhelming aura.

He was talking about the tens of eggs laid before him.

These eggs were all of different sizes with the largest being the size of melon while the smallest was comparable to a fist. As a ray of light shone on them, one could even vaguely see liquid moving inside.

It was evident that the eggs were still alive.

For the blood contracts of this world, if a blood pact was formed prior to the beast egg hatching, the level of this contract and the beast's potential would grow stronger.

But obviously, one had to first evaluate what kind of beast the egg was.

Some people would say that these weren't beast eggs due to their irregular appearances. Based on the exterior and some finer details, this declaration was agreeable. However, they were not regular beast eggs.

As the chief of Maple City's Beast Appraisal Association, Wang Ji was naturally an experienced man. "In the studies of beasts, with the presence of the five elements on earth, together with darkness and light, when infused with an egg, it would create a varied species. The sizes here are all different and it's hard to tell what's inside. Especially after they have absorbed the earth's spiritual energy and the moonlight's essence, with various energies mixed together… Steward Zuo, you've given me a tough assignment."

While he spoke eloquently, Wang Ji was cussing in his mind.

'Mutated eggs like these are terribly hard to appraise and it's not like you don't know it either. But you brought it here anyway, asking me to appraise it. How should I do that? Aren't you just giving me a hard time?'

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But Wang Ji could never say that because his guest represented Maple City's lord.

Zuo Wentang was an intelligent man. He chuckled and replied, "Exactly because it's hard that I could only look for you. You should know that the city lord does not plan to hold these mutated eggs exclusively. In a few days, it will be Prince Rong's birthday. The city lord plans to present the eggs as presents but we can't very well send them over just like that. They would only have value with an evaluation report."

He simply stated the importance of this matter. To put it bluntly, 'I know it's difficult too, that's why I looked for you. Because you're the chief of Maple City's Beast Appraisal Association.'

Wang Ji chuckled in response but cursed madly on the inside.

Nevertheless, he stood up and went over to observe. Perhaps he might just find traces of clues. He used beast talismans, activated seals, even brought out specialized tools for beast evaluations.

After a while, Wang Ji's forehead was visibly covered in sweat.

When Zuo Wentang took notice, he too was aware of how difficult this assignment was. However, he had important tasks to attend to so he couldn't possibly keep Wang Ji company as he appraised the eggs.

"Chief Wang, I'll leave these eleven mutated eggs here and come for them tomorrow morning. By then, you have to give me a result. I'm counting on you." Zuo Wentang was washing his hands off this matter while Wang Ji was cursing like a sailor on the inside.

He had no choice. After seeing Zuo Wentang out, Wang Ji halted his consultation services for the day because this was evidently more important.

However, he realized that his knowledge wasn't sufficient for this task.

Wiping his sweat away, Wang Ji quickly sent for Gao Jiang. His thoughts were simple. Even if he had to shoulder the responsibility, he shall not shoulder it alone.

And so, Gao Jiang was summoned with great urgency.

After clarifying the situation, Gao Jiang cursed inwardly 'old bastard!'.

This was clearly a hot potato. Who doesn't know that mutated eggs were the most difficult to appraise? And the client needed to take them back the next day too. Wasn't he just toying with them?

However, he had no choice. Gao Jiang couldn't escape when it was Wang Ji who dragged him in. After all, he was an official beast appraiser of the association.

"Go, bring me the holy indicative water!"

"And the soul mirror too. Be careful."

Wasting no more time, Wang Ji and Gao Jiang worked together. The difficulty level of this appraisal was fiendish. They could only give it their all and try their best.

Both men had several rare tools and materials for beast appraisals.

For example, the holy indicative water was a precious material. Gao Jiang only had a little bit and was forced to use it in this situation.

Meanwhile, the soul mirror was Wang Ji's most valuable tool. This treasure was priceless. It was a present from his mentor many years ago. This tiny mirror could reflect intrinsic qualities, making it very useful in beast evaluations.

Once the items were here, the men began their evaluations as they discussed information.

Yet, by nightfall, they only managed to evaluate two out of eleven beast eggs. Even this was exhausting enough that both their foreheads were covered in sweat.

Without a doubt, even if they didn't eat or sleep, it was impossible to evaluate the remaining nine mutated eggs by dawn tomorrow. This assignment was destined to fail.

Although the city lord wouldn't punish them for this failure, he would definitely be displeased. And Maple City's city lord had influence over the general committee so Wang Ji was in a terrible mood because of this.

"Chief, we can't force this issue. Every beast appraiser knew that it's difficult to evaluate mutated eggs. This task requires time and experience. It's already difficult enough for us to evaluate two. At least we have something to show for," Gao Jiang comforted.

'After all, even if this is a failure, you, Chief Wang, will be bearing most of the responsibility.'

Wang Ji wiped the sweat on his forehead, his expression dark. "Although that's true, we still didn't complete the job. If we could evaluate a few more, that would save us more face. Right, I'll put both our names on these two evaluation reports."

Gao Jiang was cursing on the inside. If the evaluation was incorrect, he'd have to bear the responsibility too. But if it was correct, he could bask in the glory instead.

However, attaining glory wasn't possible right now. After all, only evaluating two out of eleven was still a shameful outcome.

"Anyhow, let's not sought after merit but seek to be faultless," said Gao Jiang. Then, he looked at the remaining mutated eggs. "What about these then? We can't really hand them back without evaluation reports."