Due to the intense buzz about these 8 new evolutionary forms in the Silkworm pathway, the process of approving Kain's patent this time was completed much faster than it was the first time with Gilded Serafin.
Soon, the announcement of Kain's patent approval for the evolutionary forms of the fairies set off a frenzy across the empire.
The fairies, with their high potential and irresistibly cute appearances, became an instant sensation.
Silkworms, once a common insect seen crawling through civilian gardens or on trees, quickly became a rarity as people scrambled to catch them. The idea of owning a fairy—especially a royal fairy—had become a dream for citizens of all backgrounds.
Kain's success earned him a new nickname: "The People's Planner" due to his two successive revolutionary evolutionary paths—fairies and the Gilded Serafin—being accessible to the average citizen. Both evolutionary lines offered significant potential at relatively low costs, creating a massive appeal.
However, not all nicknames were as flattering. Another title gained traction: "The Face Fanatic." This stemmed from the undeniable beauty of both the Gilded Serafin and the fairies.
Moreover, images of Kain unintentionally dozing off on Serena's shoulder during the National Tournament resurfaced online, fueling rumors of his supposed obsession with good looks.
Kain, as always, was oblivious to the nickname's implications, shrugging off the gossip. "I didn't intentionally discover only good-looking evolutionary forms. But its undeniable that a spiritual creature's appearance can play a part in its popularity. And more popularity means more money for me. I'm just being practical!"
Collin, acutely smelled the business opportunities and worked with Kain to open an additional workshop dedicated to producing silk infused with precise elemental ratios.
The silk would allow others to attempt the fairies' evolution without the need for advanced calculations or experiments. With this infrastructure in place, Kain's company stood poised to dominate the market.
However, not everything went as according to plan.
The FMT pills for River Wolf Pups, meant to be a flagship product, had been entirely overshadowed by the fairies.
While the pills received government support and attention from those already raising River Wolf Pups, the excitement around the fairies drew all eyes elsewhere.
However, the pills, despite being overshadowed initially by the dazzling fairies, proved to be a cornerstone of Kain's growing reputation as "The People's Planner."
These pills significantly reduced the costs associated with raising River Wolf Pups. And with Clearspring Wolves, their evolved form, being highly sought after for their healing and combat abilities, Kain's invention drastically lowered the barrier for ordinary citizens to own and raise one.
Communities of aspiring beast tamers, particularly in rural areas where resources were scarce, hailed Kain as a genius. Online forums buzzed with success stories of families finally being able to afford a Clearspring Wolf pup. Even the empire's military training academies began purchasing the pills in bulk, taking the opportunity to raise a healer regiment with the Clearspring Wolves as the basis.
Collin, while outwardly grumbling, couldn't hide his delight as pre-orders for both the silk and pills exceeded expectations.
Collin, while outwardly grumbling, couldn't hide his delight as pre-orders for both the silk and pills exceeded expectations. "The pills were supposed to be the headline product! But fine, let the fairies hog the spotlight for now. Money is money," he muttered while adjusting their marketing strategies to ride on the fairy frenzy's coattails.
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However, Kain's newfound fame came with its share of complications, particularly thanks to his new nickname as "The Face Fanatic."
The internet, fueled by rumors and leaked photos, painted Kain as someone with a particular fondness for beauty—not just in spiritual creatures but also in humans.
This had led to increasingly awkward encounters for the nouveau riche Kain.
Whenever Kain stepped outside, it wasn't uncommon to "accidentally" run into heavily made-up and extravagantly dressed women.
Some of them wore dresses adorned with butterfly motifs in a blatant bid to get his attention. To his confusion, even some handsome men had set their sights on him, often exaggerating their fragility in his presence.
One day, while heading back to his lab after a meeting with Collin, Kain was cornered by a group of admirers. "Mr. Newman! Could you share your ideal type?!" one woman called out, her eyes sparkling with determination.
Before Kain could respond, a stunningly beautiful male underclassman, with a delicate appearance rivalling a woman's, emerged from the crowd.
With a dramatic flourish, the student pretended to faint, aiming to fall gracefully into Kain's arms. Kain, oblivious to the theatrics, instinctively sidestepped, letting the student plop to the ground with a loud thud.
"Hey, are you okay?" Kain asked, his tone genuinely concerned as he peered down at the fallen student. The crowd fell silent for a moment before bursts of muffled laughter rang out.
The underclassman, clutching his bruised ego and elbow, stammered, "I-I'm fine…"
Word of the various incidents and shenanigans people have pulled to catch his attention spread online almost instantly, with a small community forming focused on sharing their experiences and strategies in seduction.
Moreover, the less successful these attempts were, the more his reputation for having ridiculously high aesthetic standards spread.
Meanwhile, Kain remained utterly confused by the unwelcome attention.
"Why are people acting so weird lately? I don't get it," he muttered to Collin during their next meeting.
Collin replied with a smirk, "You've got money, fame, talent, and now this ridiculous 'face-con' reputation. There is even a trend among some online celebrities that seems to take your approval as the benchmark for being good-looking."
And indeed, in the coming days, Kain came across more and more individuals "by chance." Many of whom he vaguely recognized as somewhat famous figures.
Unwilling to deal with the escalating chaos, Kain began isolating himself. He rarely left his lab, dorm, or classes, only going into public when absolutely necessary. But even then, the shiver running down his spine whenever he felt a "wolf-like" hungry gaze on him was a constant reminder of his current unfortunate popularity.
For now, Kain decided to stay focused on his work, pretending the outside world didn't exist.