An Eighty-Million Net Worth and the Pet Battle Tournament

Wang Keke held the listless Lin Mo in her arms, happily rubbing her cheek against his fur. The boy named Wang Xin nearby, having truly followed his own "eye for talent," pointed at the sturdiest Little Tyrant—the one that had just been bullying Lin Mo—and said to the breeder, "I want that one. Yes, the fiercest one!"

The Little Tyrant seemed to sense something; it bared its teeth and growled at Wang Xin, looking ready to fight, which only made Wang Xin more satisfied.

"Haha, it's got spirit! I like it! This is what a future King of Beasts should look like!"

Li Wei was not to be outdone, selecting another equally robust cub with a fierce gaze. The girl named Hu Lili, however, had little interest in tigers. She ran to a nearby pen and returned holding a small, snow-white fox with clever, agile eyes and a fluffy tail—a Phantom White Fox. It was clear she valued aesthetics more.

The last boy, the somewhat quiet Zhang Wen, chose a spirited Flame Hound cub with fiery red fur.

The group of teenagers chattered noisily as they finalized their choices of battle pets. Guided by the breeder, they toured other sections of the facility to look at other types of monster cubs before finally heading toward the checkout area at the front of the Breeding Base, feeling thoroughly satisfied.

Lin Mo was held in Wang Keke's arms, his little head resting on her shoulder, his amber eyes calmly observing his surroundings.

The closer they got to the exit, the louder the alarm bells rang in his mind.

The high walls were not only covered in electrified barbed wire but also featured hidden, pitch-black firing ports. Thick cannon barrels protruded slightly from behind armored plates, gleaming with a cold, metallic luster. At key points in the corridor, guards wearing standard-issue powered exoskeletons and carrying large-caliber firearms stood watch, their eyes as sharp as hawks, scanning every corner.

Damn... this security level... it's too exaggerated! Lin Mo felt a chill run through his heart. This isn't a breeding base; it's a military fortress! It seems the survival environment for humans in this world is far more severe than I imagined.

At the front desk, the staff skillfully processed the "transfer" paperwork for each chosen cub, scanning chips and verifying identities.

When it was Lin Mo's turn, his ears perked up the moment he heard the price quoted by the staff.

"Mutated Winged White Tiger cub, serial number XT-07, status assessment: Good (slightly underweight), potential assessment: To be observed... Price: 80 million Huaxia Currency."

Eigh... eighty million?!

Lin Mo's little heart skipped a few beats.

In his past life, he had studied diligently, dreaming of finding a good job where a million-a-year salary would have been a blessing. Now, he was suddenly worth eighty million?! Although this money wouldn't end up in his pocket, this direct reflection of his "value" still left him feeling a bit dizzy.

But immediately after, he heard the prices of the other cubs.

Wang Xin's Little Tyrant: 120 million.

Li Wei's cub: 110 million.

Hu Lili's Phantom White Fox: 150 million (rarity bonus).

Zhang Wen's Flame Hound: 98 million.

...So, he was the cheapest one in this batch?!

The small sense of pride he had just felt vanished instantly. Lin Mo grumbled internally: Damn! Discrimination! Naked fur-color discrimination! Just wait until my wings grow out; I'll blind you all!

However, he reconsidered: Wang Keke hadn't even blinked when spending eighty million on him, ignoring those more expensive "blue-chip stocks" to choose him, this "discounted item"...

This little girl has an eye for talent! She knows how to invest in potential! Lin Mo suddenly found Wang Keke much more agreeable, and even the humiliating name "Mimi" didn't seem so hard to accept anymore. Subconsciously, he burrowed deeper into her arms, finding a more comfortable position.

Once the checkout was complete, the group walked out of the Breeding Base with their respective battle pets. Several rugged, clearly modified off-road vehicles were parked at the entrance.

Wang Keke walked toward the most luxurious and spacious one. A young woman in crisp combat gear with a steady, sharp aura immediately stepped out and respectfully opened the door for her.

"Miss."

Wang Keke nodded and sat inside, holding Lin Mo.

Watching this, Li Wei couldn't hide his envy as he whispered to Wang Xin, "See that? Two female bodyguards at the early stage of War General! One driving, one providing close protection. The Wang Family really treats Keke well. I heard that after her spirit reader talent awakened, the family's resources were heavily tilted toward her."

Wang Xin sighed as well, "Can't help it. She's a genius spirit reader. We have to rely on ourselves to make it."

Their conversation wasn't loud, but Lin Mo's tiger ears caught the keywords.

Spirit reader! So it's true! High-stage War General bodyguards? And two of them? Lin Mo secretly glanced at the two women in the driver and passenger seats, whose auras were as steady as boulders, and felt a jolt of shock. My cheap owner has a much bigger background than I thought! Northeast Base City... the Wang Family... one of the Five Great Families?

The vehicle started, drove away from the Breeding Base, and entered the interior of the base city.

Through the window, Lin Mo curiously observed this strange world. Skyscrapers coexisted with futuristic technological facilities. Pedestrians hurried along the streets, many carrying weapons, and the air was filled with a tense yet orderly atmosphere.

The convoy finally drove into a heavily guarded estate area. High walls, electric fences, patrols, hidden sentries... it was even more fortified than the Breeding Base. After passing through several identity verification checkpoints, the vehicle stopped in front of a massive villa that blended modern design with classical garden aesthetics.

"Mimi, we're home!" Wang Keke carried Lin Mo out of the car and walked into the mansion, beaming with joy.

As soon as he entered, Lin Mo was slightly stunned by the luxury and grandeur inside. The high-ceilinged hall, the magnificent crystal chandeliers, and the precious wood and stone decorations all showcased the family's heritage and power.

What shocked him even more was his keen perception of the powerful, faint auras hidden beneath this luxury—clearly the internal security force of the Wang Family.

He could feel eyes from the shadows sweeping over him, this "stranger" of a cub, with a scrutinizing gaze before quickly moving away.

A big family... the water runs deep here. Lin Mo felt a sense of dread and became even more determined to keep a low profile and survive.

Wang Keke didn't linger; she carried him straight to the third floor, to her own private area. She pushed open a door to reveal a spacious, bright room, decorated warmly and comfortably. In the corner, a luxurious pet bed with a soft cushion had already been set up, along with exquisite food and water bowls.

"Look, this is your new home!" Wang Keke placed Lin Mo into the bed.

Immediately after, she took out a sealed metal canister. When she opened it, it revealed a pale golden paste that emitted a rich, energetic aura.

"This is a special nutritional paste for young beasts made by our family's pharmacist. It's much more nutritious than the beast milk at the base! Try it!"

As the aroma entered his nose, every cell in Lin Mo's body seemed to cheer! He could no longer maintain his composure; he dove into the bowl and began to wolf it down.

The paste melted in his mouth, turning into surges of heat that washed over his limbs and bones! Compared to this, the beast milk he had earlier was nothing but thin, watery soup!

Good stuff! This is the kind of food worthy of a future Starry Sky Behemoth! Lin Mo ate with abandon, feeling his body becoming fuller and stronger with every passing second under the nourishment of this energy.

Watching him eat so happily, Wang Keke's eyes curved into crescents as she gently stroked his back. "Eat slowly, no one is going to steal it from you. Eat more and grow up fast; we still have to win a prize at the Pet Battle Tournament in three months!"

Pet Battle Tournament?

Lin Mo pricked up his ears while frantically devouring the nutritional paste.

It seemed that his days of peace (and keeping a low profile) wouldn't last long. However, with access to these top-tier resources, it didn't seem... like such a bad thing?

He licked the corners of his mouth, a flicker of human-like calculation and anticipation flashing in his amber tiger eyes.