It had only been a year!
Why did it feel like the cats had suddenly evolved again, with an ever-stronger air of civilization? And with so many projects, given the cats' current construction capabilities, even with help from the Research Commission, development should not have proceeded this quickly.
Although agriculture had started long ago, in the past it had only involved growing some mushrooms, medicinal herbs, and the like.
Now they had directly made a large stretch of farmland—this did not align with the style of the Research Commission in Logan's impression.
In the more than ten years of contact with the Research Commission, although Logan had never shown much attitude nor said much, he had taken it all in.
Although the Research Commission had been helping the cats all along, fulfilling the duties of a perfect ally, and had even formed a certain degree of linkage with the group of Fire Wyverns, it could be said that, no matter the world, the behavior of the Research Commission could be called a model of a perfect ally.
But there was one point, namely that although the Research Commission did not keep anything back, it had always maintained the leading position.
Simply put, it maintained a state in which the cats could not do without the Research Commission, but the Research Commission could do without the cats as an ally.
Of course, this was not to say that the Research Commission had any other designs or was deliberately trying to keep a hold on them.
If it were like this, then this would not be the Monster Hunter world.
This is a kind of sense of alienation; the Research Commission has always placed itself in the position of "outsiders," an aspect that, imperceptibly over time, it unconsciously reveals.
In fact, this is also very normal. First, because of differences in race: in the Old World, the Lynians either live independently or blend completely with humans, and there has never been a situation of symbiosis with high-ecological-niche monster groups forming a unique culture.
Second, apart from the First Fleet members, the Second Fleet members have only been here a few years, and quite a few people do not plan to reside in the New World long-term, merely treating this pioneering effort as an adventure or a great undertaking.
Under all these circumstances, their contact with the cats is more like "poverty alleviation" by a powerful civilization toward another civilization. Aside from needing the cats to handle some inconsequential small tasks, act as intermediaries for communication with the group of Fire Wyverns, and serve as helpers during ecological surveys, the Research Commission can be said to be entirely independent.
But now, the cats have begun planting. They are Lynians and do not rely much on plant-based foods, so the things grown through this planting are certainly for trade with Astera.
Such trade behavior is undoubtedly a sign of a deepening relationship between both sides.
"So, what happened?"
Logan was somewhat at a loss. As his wings spread, several silvery-white scales with a metallic feel fell.
With the combined support of the Marvel Scale and Multiscale traits, he could keep his scales at their optimal state at all times; scales that were slightly worn would very naturally shed.
Hearing the call-to-assembly horn, several leaders of the Grimalkyne tribe who entered the nest could not help but have their eyes burn hot when they saw those few scales that had fallen to the ground.
During this year in which the Fire Wyvern boss was away, his scales at the Fire Wyvern clan's contribution-point exchange counter had a different price every day!
Especially the scales with intact condition and the richer remaining energy inside—these were ranked as the number-one heirloom of the Grimalkyne!
It was just that scales of this kind were too rare. Generally, only when the Fire Wyvern boss proactively praised an outstanding Grimalkyne would he specially shed one from his body.
At present, it is said that the one holding the most scales is Tonkotsu, the captain of the Fire Wyvern Guard. The Fire Wyvern boss's scales it holds, if paired with those Rathalos materials stored by the Research Commission, could even be forged into a weapon surpassing the Huntsman's most cherished "Scorching Flame Wing" greatsword.
Indeed, although the Research Commission had a good relationship with the group of Fire Wyverns of the Ancient Tree, they also possessed their own stock of Fire Wyvern materials—those obtained from battles with other Fire Wyverns in the forest or the Wildspire Waste during external investigations.
Unfortunately, these Grimalkyne leaders could only look; soon after, a Fire Wyvern Grimalkyne came to collect those few scales.
A large quantity of processed food was carried into the nest by the cats. As Logan and Aki ate, they listened to the reports of these cats whose faces were filled with fanatic excitement.
With the orderly reporting, Logan gradually came to understand what had happened at the Ancient Tree and Astera during the time he had been away.
"The Admiral actually dared to bring the Ahtal-Ka to Astera—and the Ahtal-Ka didn't tear Astera down! This—"
Logan felt that the world seemed to have changed somehow. Could a small butterfly like him really flap its wings and cause such a wind?
That was the Ahtal-Ka!
A monster specialized in human architecture!
And yet it had actually lived peacefully in Astera for an entire year!!
Even if the Research Commission had paid the price of nearly a year without carrying out new pioneering investigation missions, this was the friendship of a Dangerous First-Class Monster!
Logan lowered his head and ate a freshly roasted Mosswine to calm his nerves!
Then he heard Tonkotsu mention the Wyverian girl. Just as Logan spat out an Aptonoth bone and was about to tell Tonkotsu to summon that Wyverian girl, he saw a Wyverian girl dressed in a gorgeous Velkhana battle dress appear at the entrance of the nest, holding solemnly in her hands a large gem emitting a faint fluorescent glow.
Logan's gaze was instantly drawn toward it.
Not toward the Wyverian girl—but toward that gem.
He didn't know why, but the energy radiating from that gem gave him a faint sense of familiarity, as if he had once come into contact with it—or even absorbed it.
Suddenly, without Logan summoning it, the simple panel abruptly appeared before his eyes.
[Missing plugin detected]
[Constitution: has reached minimum requirement]
[Energy: qualified]
[Mental Strength: has reached minimum requirement]
[Plugin has reached minimum installation requirement]
In an instant, a message was transmitted into Logan's brain.
The information given by the panel was: Eat!
Eat that unknown gem!
It was the first time Logan had so clearly received information from the panel, and also the first time the panel had prompted him that he needed to take the initiative to do something.
So, out of curiosity, he actively tried to call the panel, but after that message was infused, it fell silent as usual, with no further movement.
With a low growl, the Wyverian girl who had been blocked outside the nest by the guard-squad cats could finally enter the nest.
Holding the gem, when she approached Logan, her eyes went slightly vacant.
In an instant!
Emotions such as curiosity and doubt affected her, just like years ago when she had unconsciously been infected by that surge of anger in the clan grounds.
But at that time, when the Wyverian girl went to look, what she saw was only a Fire Wyvern couple that was a bit different.
Now, however, before her were two flying wyverns that looked very similar to the gold and silver Fire Wyverns, yet on closer look had not insignificant differences.
"Wait, the Prophet said that Wyverian resonators usually only produce emotional resonance with powerful Elder Dragons, thereby learning some of the thoughts the other party currently holds with strong emotion, so this silver giant dragon before my eyes, the 'Fire Wyvern boss' in the Grimalkynes' words, is the very Rathalos that easily dealt with the Yian Garuga back then?"
When this thought appeared, the Wyverian girl at first felt it was somewhat unbelievable.
But she soon relaxed, thinking that in a world this vast, nothing is too strange; a Fire Wyvern becoming different from its original species due to environmental influence or some special experience is all very normal.
Besides, who has stipulated that something that looks like a Rathalos by appearance must really be a Rathalos?
Under the influence of nature's life energy, certain monsters in their growth period will possess appearances and living habits very similar to other monsters, and only after they grow up will obvious differences appear.
In the Wyverian girl's memory, the Prophet seemed to have said during teaching that there was a kind of monster that, when small, was very similar to the Popo of the snowy regions, and would even grow up in Popo herds; only after maturing would marked differences appear.
It seemed that the silver-white giant dragon before her eyes was just like that.
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