[Bonus chapter]
"Haaah~" Bai Chen was abruptly roused from his sleep, letting out a long yawn.
Tinkatuff was still bouncing around next to him, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Quick, quick, let's go! We need to catch a monster!"
Bai Chen blinked groggily.
"Catch a monster? Catch what monster?"
The Shorthand Smith held up a piece of metal, her eyes sparkling.
"Yama! Catch the owner of this metal!"
Bai Chen took the metal and studied it with bleary eyes.
"...What is this thing?"
The Shorthand Smith launched into rapid-fire "Yama yama!" explanations, repeating what she had just heard in the workshop.
"So you're saying you extracted this metal from the ore I brought back… and its quality is far higher than anything similar?"
"Yama!"She nodded vigorously.
This piece of ore had instantly won her smith's heart—rare, useful, and most importantly, reproducible as long as they found the source.
Bai Chen's drowsiness evaporated.
"There's a Basarios in the New World!?"
"Yama!"Her meaning was obvious: Let's hurry and catch it! I want the ore it produces!
Bai Chen held her down before she shot through the ceiling.
Basarios—an old nemesis of Long Sword users, and one of the monsters Bai Chen knew best.
A monster that hid beneath the ground, disguising itself as a rock, feeding on volcanic ore…A monster prized for its materials—high-grade ores, rare Wyvern Gems, and even delicious meat coveted by elite chefs.
So coveted, in fact, that poaching was a constant problem despite the Guild's crackdown.
And above all—
Basarios was only the juvenile form of Gravios, a monster powerful enough to stand alongside Rathalos and Zinogre in ecological authority.
A Gravios that once repelled an Akantor with its Crimson Steam Eruption, but ultimately fell prey only because Akantor was an end-tier apex predator.
A Gravios known as:
[Volcano Sentinel][Armored Tyrant]
The largest Flying Wyvern on record.Twenty meters long.Over a hundred tons in weight.
Bai Chen rubbed his chin.
"Gravios should be able to withstand Elder Dragon blood… and it could learn Heavy Slam, Tyrant's Presence, and Iron Wall.
The ore would help the Shorthand Smith… the Wyvern Gems could help cover expenses…"
He exhaled.
"We must catch the Basarios."
But the moment he made the decision, another issue emerged.
The Guild's strict anti-poaching rules.
Even attempting to capture a Basarios could count as an offense.
"I'll need the Commander's approval. Without it, I'd have to do this secretly… and that's not ideal."
He glanced at the bedside clock.
1:16 AM.
Every sane hunter was asleep at this hour.
But the Commander?That man probably never slept.
Bai Chen threw on his jacket, left Nergigante home as guard duty, grabbed the Shorthand Smith, and rushed toward the Command Post.
From afar, warm yellow light flickered inside the dark structure.
At the massive strategy table sat a broad-shouldered, white-haired hunter—the Commander—deep in thought.
Beside him, the Sword Master sat like an unmoving statue, eyes closed, presence as sharp as a drawn blade.
As Bai Chen approached the entrance, both veterans immediately turned toward him.
The Commander gave a faint smile.
"You're here so late. Do you need something?"
His attitude toward Bai Chen was nothing short of admiring.Such a talented, hardworking hunter was every leader's dream.
"Good evening, Commander. Good evening, Sword Master."
He stepped forward respectfully.
"Commander, I actually have something to request of you."
The Commander chuckled.
"Well, now, that's rare. The legendary hunter is asking me for something? Go on."
"Then I'll be direct. I discovered traces of a Basarios in the Ancient Forest today."
He placed the refined ore on the table.
The Commander and Sword Master exchanged a knowing glance—they had discovered the same trace only three days ago.
The Commander folded his arms.
"I imagine you didn't come at 1 AM just to report this and ask me to protect it from poaching, did you?"
"Of course not. I hope you can approve my request to capture that Basarios."
The Commander closed his eyes, thinking deeply.
Bai Chen swallowed, tense.If the Commander refused… he would have no choice but to secretly capture it and keep it stored in a Monster Ball most of the time.
After several seconds, the Commander spoke.
"The 'capture' you mean… is not the standard Guild capture, correct?"
"Correct. I want to make the Basarios my Pal Monster."
Bai Chen raised his right hand, revealing his Kinship Stone.
"Using the Rider method."
The Commander frowned slightly, murmuring to himself.
He'd heard stories—Riders who raised monsters from birth to become lifelong partners.
"But the Basarios in the forest are adults. Are you certain you can make it obey?"
If he relied only on the Kinship Stone—no.But with a Monster Ball as a failsafe?
He could ensure absolute safety.
Bai Chen thumped his chest.
"No problem at all! If it doesn't work, I'll release it or hand it to the Research Commission."
The Commander continued to evaluate quietly.
Bai Chen leaned in, offering temptation:
"Me raising a Basarios will benefit Astera. I can provide stable, high-grade ore for the base. It can also assist in hunts and base defense.
And if it's under my care, no one will poach it."
A long silence.
Then—
"I can issue this capture quest for you."
Bai Chen's expression brightened—
But the Commander's tone shifted.
"However… I'll need you to complete a task for me first. Only then will I grant you the capture permit."
Bai Chen froze.
"So… there is a condition after all?"
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