"Hissy? You mean she is your pet snake?" Ashley asked, her voice still trembling with disbelief.

Hissy turned her head toward Ashley and responded with a small nod.

Her movements were calm, almost cautious, as if she was afraid of making the situation worse.

There was no room for doubt anymore. The naked young woman standing between them was indeed Hissy.

Ashley stared at her in silence.

The empty pet essence bottles scattered on the table, the faint purple scales along the girl's skin, and the subtle aura lingering in the room all began to connect in her mind.

When she thought about evolution, everything suddenly made sense.

So this is what happens when a pet reaches a higher stage.

Even so, Ethan himself had never expected Hissy to evolve this fast. The last time he checked her status, her level had still been relatively low.

Seeing the result of her overnight growth left him stunned.

The tension in the room slowly eased. Ashley's anger, which had flared up moments earlier, gradually melted away.

She let out a long breath, rubbing her temples as if trying to push the chaotic thoughts out of her head.

"…Alright," Ashley said at last, "Let's just forget this happened."

She turned toward Hissy and gave her a gentler look.

"Come on. Let's get you dressed."

Hissy nodded obediently. She followed Ashley into the bathroom without protest, leaving Ethan alone in the room. The door closed behind them with a soft click.

Ethan sat down on the edge of the bed, stretching his legs forward. His mind was still trying to process everything he had just witnessed.

After a moment, he summoned the pet status panel in front of him.

[PET]

[Name: Venomfang Queen]

[Level: 50 || Pet Essence: 5000/5000]

[Rank: Epic]

[Evo: 2]

[ATK: 7250 || DEF: 7000]

Ethan stared at the glowing panel for a long time.

Just days ago, Hissy's level had only been 18. Back then, she was still growing steadily but slowly, like most pets.

Now she had jumped all the way to level 50 in a single night. It was not just impressive. It was absurd.

A jump like this should not even be possible under normal conditions.

The second evolution explained everything. With that evolution, Hissy had gained the ability to transform into a human form.

Ethan had not been awake to witness it, but he could easily imagine how it happened.

While he and Ashley were asleep, Hissy must have finished consuming all the pet essence, triggering the evolution on her own.

A second evolution and such a massive increase in power. I wonder if she can actually fight while maintaining her human form.

Before he could dwell further, the bathroom door slowly opened.

Ethan turned his head.

Hissy stepped out first, now fully dressed in a LionArk uniform. The black and silver colors fit her surprisingly well, hugging her figure without looking awkward.

The uniform seemed almost tailor made for her.

Ashley followed behind her, already wearing her own uniform and cloak. She adjusted her sleeves as she stepped out, then glanced at Ethan as if checking his reaction.

"That looks good," Ethan said honestly as he stood up.

He walked closer to Hissy, examining her more carefully. She was not particularly tall. In fact, she was slightly shorter than Ashley.

Still, her posture was straight, and the uniform made her look far more composed than before.

"Hissy," Ethan called.

"Yes?" she answered immediately.

"Can you fight while you are in human mode?" Ethan asked.

Hissy nodded without hesitation. She explained that after her evolution ended, she tested her strength while maintaining her human form.

At first, it felt strange. Her balance was different, and controlling her power required more focus than in her snake form.

Still, she succeeded.

She described how she launched several attacks at the wall, controlling her strength carefully so she would not destroy the room.

Every strike landed exactly where she intended.

Hearing that, Ethan felt a wave of relief and satisfaction.

Even so, his personal preference did not change. He was far more accustomed to Hissy's snake form.

In that form, she was flexible, swift, and almost impossible to detect. She could slip through shadows, climb trees, and strike enemies before they even realized she was there.

Human form, while powerful, was far more visible.

"What do you think?" Ashley asked after listening quietly.

Ethan folded his arms, thinking for a moment.

"Hmm… as long as we are not in combat situations, I do not think I will mind her human form," he said.

Then he added, "But her snake form is still the best. She can move unseen, perform scouting, and launch surprise attacks. That is something her human form cannot do as easily."

Ashley nodded in agreement.

"I think so too. But since her evolution just happened, maybe it is better to let her stay in human form for now."

Ethan agreed. He stepped closer and crouched in front of Hissy until their eyes were at the same level. Her pupils shrank slightly, instinctively reacting to his presence.

He raised his hand and gently patted her shoulder.

"Congratulations on your evolution," Ethan said sincerely, "You may stay in your human form."

Hissy's eyes lit up faintly.

"However," Ethan continued, his tone becoming more serious, "I want you to always stay close to me, no matter what happens."

He looked directly into her eyes.

"Do you understand?"

Hissy nodded firmly.

"I understand," she said, "I will obey."

Satisfied, Ethan straightened up. He asked Ashley to take Hissy to his office and told Hissy to wait for him there.

Hissy complied without hesitation. She followed Ashley out of the room, leaving Ethan behind to finish preparing himself.

Once he was ready, Ethan left the room as well. As he walked through the corridor, he noticed people moving in and out of Ashley's office.

From their expressions and pace, it was clear that Ashley had already returned to work.

Ethan continued toward his own office. When he opened the door, he saw Sherly already inside, seated across from Hissy.

The two of them were talking casually. Sherly seemed animated, clearly curious. She knew Hissy as Ethan's venomfang pet, but this was the first time she had ever seen Hissy in human form.

"Sir Ethan?" Sherly greeted when she noticed him.

"It seems you have already met her," Ethan said.

"Yes," Sherly replied, smiling awkwardly, "I still cannot believe Hissy can transform into a human."

"I was just as surprised," Ethan said calmly, "But evolution is natural for pets. She reached level 50, so it was only a matter of time."

Sherly nodded, clearly agreeing. She then shifted back into work mode and handed Ethan several documents that required his signature.

The office soon filled with the quiet rustling of paper. Ethan and Sherly worked through the stack together, reviewing reports and signing approvals.

Hissy, on the other hand, was completely detached from their work.

A wooden sofa table nearby was covered with sweet snacks. Hissy sat there happily, munching on them one by one with visible delight.

Her eyes sparkled every time she tasted something new.

Ethan occasionally glanced over at her. Physically, she looked like an eighteen year old girl. Yet her expressions, her excitement, and her simple joy made her seem much younger.

She looks grown, but her heart is still that of a child.

"The meeting with the permanent alliance guild leaders will be held tomorrow," Sherly said, handing over another file, "I will prepare everything listed here."

Ethan reviewed the contents carefully. The preparations were thorough, more than sufficient.

"They may stay in LionArk for one or two days," Ethan said, "Arrange accommodations for them in the city center."

"Of course, Sir Ethan. I will present the options this afternoon," Sherly replied.

Ethan nodded. After that, he mentioned that he needed to go to the city center to buy something.

"I want to come too!" Hissy said suddenly, raising her hand enthusiastically.

Ethan stopped mid step. He turned toward her and smiled faintly.

"Then let's go, Hissy."

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