*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*
Waking up to the sound of a phone ringing, the man lying beside the bed used his pillow to cover his ears.
He let it ring a few more times before looking who would call him so early in the morning.
He suddenly sprang up and immediately picked it up once he saw the name 'Branch Manager – Wu Ken' display on the screen.
"Good morning Manager Ken, what can I do for you?"
He answered the call while setting up his wireless earphone.
{Doctor, regarding the observation report you made about a White Turtle evolving into a new species, do you still have the specimen? The main branch is curious.}
"Oh! Sorry Manager Ken but that monster is not from the lab, but my assistant's monster. I'll ask him to bring it over."
{Okay. Bring it to the lab tomorrow morning.}
Doctor Fei Hua was just about to tell the Manager that Ji Liu would be at school at that time and won't be able to bring the monster when he already ended the call.
'Tsk' with nowhere to vent his anger, he dialed Ji Liu's number and set the phone to the side.
{Good morning Doctor Fei Hua. Is there something up?}
"Yes indeed, can you bring your Turtle to the lab today and leave it till tomorrow?"
The doctor asks as he takes out a sandwich from his refrigerator and heats it in the microwave.
{Uhhmm. The thing is Doctor, I won't be able to bring it.}
"Why? If it's about food, don't worry about it, there will be people taking care of it too."
{It's not like that doctor, you see, I don't have it anymore.}
*Teet* *Teet* *Teet*
Ji Liu was so slow to talk that the microwave is already done heating the sandwich.
"What? Wait, don't tell me you already butchered it to make armor and shield?"
The doctor asked as he munches on his sandwich, but there was an even longer pause that he already finished eating the sandwich before Ji Liu replied.
{Can you keep a secret doctor?}
'Secret? What secret? This kid is being dramatic. Maybe he's being bullied and that's why he got the turtle? Poor kid.' The doctor thought to himself.
"Alright, alright, let's meet and talk about it at the lab after lunch." The Doctor told Ji Liu in a consoling way.
Ending the call, he washed his hand and went back to sleep.
******
It's 4 o'clock.
A man who carries what seems to be his half-eaten lunch was walking toward a two-story building. He is only 29, but his shoulder-length, wavy, ash-gray hair coupled with his decrepit appearance have people think he already have grandchildren.
On his way, he noticed the door was still locked, and no sign of people inside the building. 'Weird, he must have left already.' He thought to himself, as he had made an appointment with his assistant earlier in the morning.
Displeased, he went inside and made a call.
"Where are you?"
"You arrived Doctor? I'm in the employee's lobby. Please wait for me, I'm on my way."
******
Ji Liu arrived at the lab where Doctor Fei Hua was waiting. He already planned out what he would say and what he would keep as a secret.
"Doctor, after awakening, I seem to be able to see a monster's status window, and that was how I was able to evolve the White Turtle into a Radiant Baby Carbonemys."
"I see! So the experimental potion works after all! Heheheh" Doctor Fei Hua beamed with joy at what he heard.
"Ex- Experimental? Doctor, were you the one who made the potion? And you tried it on me?" Ji Liu was horrified at what he heard.
"Well, nothing happened to you anyway so it's all good right? But you have to keep it a secret okay? Also, I didn't made that thing. It's one of Meiji's latest breakthrough and is at the final testing phase. I have to report this."
There was nothing Ji Liu could do even though he is unconvinced at what the Doctor said. But then again, he wasn't sure if it was true or not. And the reason the Turtle is gone hasn't even been explained yet.
"Doctor since that is the case then you should compensate me. I only need two simple things, the first one is that that the matters concerning the turtle should be dropped." Ji Liu demanded as he thought it would be the easiest way to avoid the matter.
"I didn't even agree about compensating you." The Doctor replied while shaking his head. "But consider that one done since I would be reporting the matter concerning the potion anyway." The Doctor added.
"The second one is information. How was it possible develop such potion." Asks Ji Liu, his curiosity preceding him.
"What's the use of knowing that?" Doctor Fei Hua scowled. But he then proceeds to answer the question.
TL;DR, two researchers made it some time ago by adding a mutating agent that would modify the DNA causing a mutation within the optic nerve during the awakening process.
Pitying Ji Liu for asking such question, the Doctor had an idea and gave the kid a task.
******
A kid wearing his school uniform was walking around the forest outskirts east of Yun City. He has a mid-length, curly, fiery-red hair contrasting his small sea-blue colored eyes. Although a little lacking in height, his aura is of that of a mature person.
Yes. This person is Ji Liu.
In front of him are 3 monsters. An unconscious 9th stage Bronze leveled Silver Edge Eaglesong, an 8th stage Bronze leveled Sunset Silver Duprasi and a 3rd stage bronze level Thundara Sparrow.
Ji Liu just finished making a contract with the Silver Edge Eaglesong. It was unexpectedly strong and prey on smaller monsters and was only subdued due to the support of the Thundara Sparrow.
The Thundara Sparrow was a result when he fused his Purple Tailed Swift with the Black Snail, and currently, he has these 3 as his contracted monsters.