"Is this Harpie?"
Construction on Cigar Castle's walls and towers still rang with constant clanging as Baron Roman and his son Russell walked through the corridors of the main keep.
On a special climbing frame outside the corridor perched Harpy Harpie.
Baron Roman exclaimed repeatedly, "Without facing any life-or-death crisis, Harpie actually advanced into a pseudo-dragon on her own. This is truly... unbelievable."
After a pause,
Baron Roman suddenly said, "I've decided. For my fourth Phantom Beast, I must seek out a Phantom Beast Pseudo-Dragon Descendant contract! I won't risk my life. Whether I can advance to Dragon Domain Lord will depend on the Phantom Beasts themselves!"
"Father, have you achieved Mental Balance?" Russell spotted the key point.
Baron Roman smiled reservedly. "With such an outstanding son as you setting the example, how could I, your father, not strive harder... A few days ago, I finally balanced the minds of my three Phantom Beasts and opened a fourth contract slot."
He patted Russell's shoulder. "Speaking of which, I'm one step ahead of you again. I've advanced to a 4th Rank High Phantom Beast Knight first."
Russell smiled. "I hope you can still advance to a 5th Rank High Phantom Beast Knight, Father."
"Haha, that's not very realistic. Maintaining Mental Balance among three Phantom Beasts already exhausts me. Four is my limit." Baron Roman knew his limits. "That realm is better left to geniuses like you."
At this moment,
Harpie let out a "Caw!" and said through their mental link, "Russell, the castle is so boring. I'm going to Oak Forest."
"Go ahead." Russell waved.
Without seeming to spread her wings to take flight, Harpie leaped from the climbing frame and swiftly turned into a gust of wind, vanishing without a trace.
"Goodness!" Baron Roman marveled. "Just how fast is Harpie?"