Beast Taming Begins with the Inner Circle of Pets

Chapter 26 Military Deterrence

"It's okay if Second Aunt doesn't have experience, we do. When my brother was in high school, the cost for a year was only around 200,000. Second Aunt, don't believe the neighbors' boasts." She really dares to ask for that much—two million for two semesters a year, six million for three years! This isn't just about tuition fees; she's already calculated her brother's compensation. She probably saw that her family's compensation had doubled, so her appetite doubled too.

"It's not that your brother Han is so disappointing; he only awakened the basic elemental mage skill. How can he compare to your brother? Every year your brother didn't get a scholarship in school!"

"Since my second brother isn't very talented, it's definitely necessary to spend money and resources on him. But with my abilities, 500,000 a year is already the limit." At least for now, as for how much he can earn in the future, that's a matter for later.

"What do you mean? You don't want to admit it? Your father promised it himself." Aunt Lin changed her expression, her eyes darting back and forth between Lin Manman and Lin's mother.

"Yes, my father agreed, and I personally acknowledged it. But even if my father were here right now, could he meet your demands?" Even if Lin's father were still alive, the family's annual income wouldn't reach a million. Lin Manman sneered; this was clearly a sign of their true intentions.

"How can they be the same?"

"Why is it different?"

"Didn't you just receive 20 million in compensation? What's wrong with temporarily using it to support your second brother? He can pay you back when he earns money in the future." Aunt Lin didn't beat around the bush and readily admitted it.

"How dare you say that? That's compensation for Ruochen's medical expenses. How dare you even think about taking that money?" Lin's mother's eyes were red with anger. The usually gentle and kind person was now pointing at Lin's second aunt and roaring as if she had gone mad.

"Sister-in-law, don't be angry. I asked around, and Ruochen's condition is such that he might wake up in a year or two if things go well, but it could take five or ten years if things go wrong. I also heard that his soul was damaged, so he won't be able to improve after he wakes up. If we use this money to raise Hanhan, Hanhan will be your second son."

"Second Aunt! I advise you to speak properly!" Lin Manman directly summoned Honey Badger and Rainbow Jade. Originally, out of consideration for her father and brother, she did not want to be too harsh on their blood relatives and tear off their facade.

But clearly, Aunt Lin didn't think that way; her thoughts were even more chilling than she imagined.

The honey badger, exceeding three meters in size, and the equally large Rainbow Jade after its evolution, instantly occupied half of the ward. Leaving aside the aura emanating from Rainbow Jade and the honey badger—both were already level two spirit beasts—their sheer size caused the Lin family's expressions to change drastically.

"Lin Manman! As a professional, are you using your abilities on your family?" Grandma Lin looked at the drastically changed Honey Badger and Hongyu in surprise, and shouted angrily and fearfully.

"Grandma, didn't you hear what Second Aunt said? What? Do you think so too?" Lin Manman pushed her mother behind her and asked imposingly with narrowed eyes.

Grandma Lin was glared at fiercely by the man and two beasts. Although she felt uneasy, the loss of her authority as an elder filled her with anger. "Is this the tone you use to speak to your elders? Your second aunt's words may be harsh, but they are the truth! Your father is gone, and your brother is only a burden to you now! Although you have awakened your profession, you are still a girl. Do you want to risk your life in those expedition teams in secret realms after graduation?"

"Stopping your brother's life support won't kill him, it just means he won't wake up again. But we're spending money every day now, how can the doctors be sure when he'll wake up? The future of the Lin family rests on Mo Han, is it wrong to dedicate all our resources to raising him?"

"Ruochen!!!!!" Grandma Lin had barely finished speaking when Lin's mother suddenly collapsed to the side of the hospital bed and exclaimed in surprise.

Lin Manman disregarded everyone else and quickly looked over, only to see a single tear sliding down the corner of her brother Lin Ruochen's eye on the capsule hospital bed. Lin Manman felt her mind explode, and she looked at her grandmother, whose face was filled with fear and shame, with red eyes.

"First, my father is still alive; he's just missing. I will find him. Second, don't even think about touching my brother's compensation money. If I hear you slandering my brother again, don't blame me for disregarding blood ties! Third, our family has me; we don't need to rely on any outsiders!"

After speaking, Lin Manman took out her newly updated professional certificate and badge from her bag, carefully pinning the badge to her chest, the two lit gold stars shining brightly. "Grandma, Second Uncle, you are my father and brother's blood relatives. For their sake, I won't be violent towards you, but if you dare to step into this place again, don't blame me for being impolite."

When Uncle Lin and Grandma Lin saw the Level 2 Beast Tamer badge on Lin Manman, their expressions turned even more unpleasant.

"You brat..." Aunt Lin's eyes turned red with jealousy when she saw Lin Manman's badge.

"Slap..." Uncle Lin slapped Aunt Lin across the face, then apologized to Lin Manman, "I'm sorry Manman, your aunt said some harsh things, but she wasn't cursing Ruochen. Don't be angry, I'll take her away right now."

Uncle Lin pulled Aunt Lin towards the door. Today, he had tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead; he hadn't gotten the money and had offended his promising niece. He hoped that if she behaved better, there would still be a chance to repair their relationship.

Grandma Lin's face turned ashen; she felt extremely ashamed and didn't want to stay any longer, so she followed Uncle Lin out.

"Wait a minute. For my father's sake, we'll continue to provide for Grandma's living expenses. I'll also accept my second brother's tuition of 500,000 yuan a year. But if I hear you slandering them again, then I will sever all ties with your family on behalf of my father and brother." Lin Manman's face was cold and stern. It wasn't that she didn't want to sever ties with this family now, but just because she didn't have deep feelings for them didn't mean her father didn't. She didn't want to take this step unless absolutely necessary.

"Oh, it's all my fault today. I didn't stop your aunt. Don't be angry. We won't bother you again unless it's absolutely necessary." Upon hearing this, Uncle Lin's guilty expression became more genuine.

After Uncle Lin's family left, Lin Manman helped up her mother, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Why should we give them money? Do they even deserve it? How did your father treat them when he was alive? Even their jobs were found through your father's connections. How dare they? How dare they!" Lin's mother was full of grievances and resentment.

Lin Manman sighed, "Mom, don't cry. It's just a drop in the ocean. Just think of it as paying for peace and quiet. Because of this money, they won't dare to gossip outside. And after today, they won't dare to bother you anymore."

"Besides, if Dad comes back in the future and finds that he hasn't kept his promise, he'll definitely feel guilty towards Uncle's family, and he might make up for it even more then."

Mr. Lin is a sentimental person. Given his shrewd nature, his second aunt might use this to her advantage and control him. In that case, it probably wouldn't be a matter that could be resolved with just a little money.

"Your brother is still conscious. He must have heard everything they said. How heartbroken he must be!" Lin's mother stroked her son's face across the capsule hospital bed, wishing she could take his place.

"Isn't this a good thing? Mom, you should talk to brother more often; maybe it will help him wake up sooner. Brother, did you hear that? You don't know yet, do you? I awakened as a Beast Tamer on my own, and I reached level two in just one day! Aren't I even more talented than you?"

"Don't pay attention to what Grandma and the others are saying. You have such a talented little sister. She'll definitely bring you back all sorts of rare and precious treasures in the future. Even if we just pile them up, we'll still get you to the ninth level..."

The mother and daughter huddled around the hospital bed, talking incessantly until midnight, though the person in bed offered no further response. But they knew he could hear them…

Many readers were angry, feeling that the female lead was being bullied and then given money. I specifically came back to write this chapter to explain that the money wasn't really money to the female lead at this point. She valued her family more. She believed that her father's disappearance, not his death, meant she had no right to sever ties with her grandmother on his behalf. Her grandmother's family posed no threat to her either; she was simply spending money to buy peace and quiet for her mother. After all, she was powerful enough that others wouldn't dare bother her, while her mother was just an ordinary person. The female lead herself had to go to school, become stronger, and had many other things to do, making it impossible for her to be with her mother all the time. Therefore, spending a small amount of money for peace and quiet was the most efficient approach. As for why I wrote this plot, it's because it represents a significant psychological turning point for the female lead, marking her shift from a passive, indifferent mindset to a desire to become stronger.

(End of this chapter)