1 Chapter 1: Druid
"Woods, are you really not considering it anymore?"
A voice full of chatter came from the phone:
"As a genius in a major foundational discipline like yours, you should have a top-notch research environment. Our university's biology laboratory may not be on par with Harvard, but it is still world-class. How can you conduct research all by yourself in a small shop?"
"Thank you for your concern, Professor Wilson... but I still believe that science stems from practice. I'm very interested in the upcoming '1000 Plant Transcriptomes Program (1KP)' in November, so I've decided to personally collect the samples."
In a gentle voice tinged with apologies, Oaks replied to the professor's advice. He put the phone on speaker mode, placed it on the table, and turned to take a black hoodie from the hanger.
Just as he touched the keys in his pocket, Professor Wilson's voice resurfaced after a few seconds of silence.
Whether it was due to the speakerphone or not, the professor's voice sounded somewhat helpless.
"Alright, Woods, this is the sixth invitation that you turned down... since you're going to participate in this world-class initiative, I'll help explain it to the other professors."
"Um... thank you," Oaks touched his chin again and grinned, then picked up the electric shaver next to the phone.
"Professor Wilson, you also know the significance of this world-class initiative for botanical research— It's a global collaboration aimed at studying the genetic and genomic diversity of plant species over the past billion years, from green algae to flowering plants. Although my degree is in biology, my focus on botany goes a little deeper than zoology."
"Buzz—"
The sound of the electric shaver rang out, and Professor Wilson's voice filled with a wry laugh came from the phone.
"Well, your words are not wrong, but you, who single-handedly elevated our biology program to the top three in the country—I can already imagine the faces of those folks from Harvard and MIT who mocked us."
"Well, I still hope to personally go to the rainforest to collect samples. I've been living in this concrete jungle for too long, and I feel disconnected from nature."
After touching his smooth chin, Oaks satisfactorily put down the shaver and picked up his phone.
"And Professor Wilson, I conduct biological research with the hope of improving people's living environment. Your and other professor's research directions are slightly different from mine."
"Ah, Woods, I have to say your goals are noble... but I still have reservations about an academic elite like you managing a small plant shop!"
Oaks smiled apologetically.
"Professor Wilson, this is a social experiment... It won't be long before you understand. Please apologize to the other professors on my behalf~ That's it, bye~"
*Click!*
After hanging up the phone, Oaks let out a sigh of relief, placed the phone in his jeans pocket, tidied his red hair, and in a cheerful mood, he went downstairs to lock the store door and walked towards the back exit.
Oaks Woods after his Ph.D. in biology from Cornell University in New York. He had gained some recognition in the academic world.
Although he lived in New York, Oaks was actually of mixed Central European descent, with half of his heritage being Irish.
Therefore, while his facial features closely resembled his father, one of the most prominent characteristics from his mother's Irish lineage—red hair—was also apparent on him.
His residence, the "Emerald Dream" plant shop in the 20th Street district of Brooklyn, New York, was a two-story standalone storefront, the largest inheritance left to him by his parents.
When Oaks was fourteen years old, at the end of 1999, his parents had a fatal accident on their way back from a business trip. They didn't even have time to leave a will.
And when he received the news, he was eagerly waiting for his parents to return and celebrate Christmas. He fainted from the overwhelming shock. When he woke up, he had transformed into his current self.
H... He remembered his previous life.
So now, at the age of twenty-three, although Oaks has a car, he prefers not to drive unless it's for deliveries.
As for taking the subway... Come on, is New York's subway even considered a subway? It's more like hell!
"Since today is my birthday, I'll close the shop for a day... but life is about movement."
After locking the back door, Oaks looked up at the partially open skylight and glanced at the digital watch on his wrist.
"September 22, 2008, 10 a.m."
Nodding his head, Oaks stretched his body, slightly crouched, and then leaped forward.
"Whoosh!"
A flash of light passed by, and Oaks, who was nearly six feet tall, disappeared, replaced by a chubby orange cat with a big round face that squeezed through the skylight and vanished in an instant.
Yes, this is Oaks' special ability.
In his previous life, he was called Nathan Woods.
Born in an industrial city, he had an infinite yearning for nature since he was young. Even when playing games, he would choose occupations with "Nature" backgrounds.
So, after graduating from university with a degree in environmental protection, he chose to become a forest ranger in a national forest nature reserve.
On his 30th birthday, during an operation to stop a poaching group from causing a forest fire, Nathan Woods heroically sacrificed himself.
When he woke up again, he received a gift from nature.
Although the reincarnation location wasn't great—New York was a city with one of the world's poorest environmental qualities, not to mention the terrifying wealth disparity and the intertwined mix of glamor and chaos.
But the power of nature not only strengthened his body and mind but also endowed him with unique spells and legacies.
"A unique quadruple-Specializations talent, the Nature's Emissary of Azeroth—"
"Druid!"
Although he had a deep understanding of this versatile profession, Oaks didn't rejoice for too long after gaining the abilities.
Because before he could fully integrate his previous life's memories, an attention-grabbing global conference was broadcast on television.
It was the 1999-2000 New Year's Eve Technology Conference in Bern, Switzerland.
A transcendent academic gathering of top scientists across the century.
And the most dazzling star among them was none other than:
Tony Stark, the Chairman and CEO of Stark Industries, a genius scientist, philanthropist, famous playboy...
And it seemed that there was some gossip about him and another female scientist that night.
Well, these were things the public loved to hear.
But at that moment, Oaks froze.
After carefully sorting out his memories, he had to suppress his initially soaring mentality firmly.
In this world, there was Stark Industries, there was Tony Stark.
Stark Industries had factories in Los Angeles, California and Queens, New York.
And the Captain America Memorial in Oaks' own Brooklyn.
Hmm, Captain America and Peggy Carter's memoirs of World War II.
Doesn't that say something?
Although his ability is quite interesting. But it's not a primitive society now!
In an era where the Earth's ecosystem has been so damaged, practitioners of nature magic are inherently weakened...
"I must have a disguise!"
From that time onwards, Oaks set his plan... well, his survival guidelines.
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