As I adjusted my coat and stepped into the lab, I expected the usual quiet hum of machinery and empty hallways. But today, my breath caught.
Leaning against the wall with a confident ease was a woman who commanded the room with her presence.
She wore a pristine white blouse that traced the shape of her shoulders and a sleek black mini-skirt that showed off long, porcelain legs.
Her half-cut black hair was sharp, falling just above her shoulders with an elegance that seemed as deliberate as the rest of her. Her dark, piercing eyes met mine without hesitation, and for a second, I felt as if she could see straight through me.
Her face—high cheekbones, a delicate chin, and full lips pressed into a firm line—gave her the look of someone who didn't often tolerate nonsense.
Trying not to linger, I shifted my gaze, only to find another woman standing just a few steps away.
She had a different kind of beauty—soft, enchanting, almost ethereal. Her black hair fell loose around her face, accentuating an angelic grace that seemed almost unreal.
She wore a fitted black coat over a white blouse, her posture calm and demure, with a gentle smile that instantly put me at ease. There was a light in her eyes that drew me in, a warmth that made her look as if she belonged in another world entirely.
Caught between them, I was silent, nearly blank, when Mia's voice broke the spell. "Boss, among the 23 applicants, these two stood out as the very best."
I gathered myself, giving a quick nod. "Alright, Mia. You're dismissed for now."
Mia grinned. "Don't forget my payment, boss!" With a playful wink, she walked out, leaving me alone with these two intriguing women.
Clearing my throat, I faced them, hoping to sound more composed than I felt. "May I know your names?"
The first woman stepped forward, her tone sharp and precise. "Julia."
Then the second woman approached, her voice warm, almost like music. "My name is Celeste," she said softly, and I couldn't help but feel drawn in by the sound.
"Right… well, thank you both for being here." I forced myself to focus. "I brought you on to train me in Genomics, Genetic Engineering, and Gene Expression Data Analysis. I'll be diligent—I need to learn this as quickly as possible."
Julia's expression remained skeptical. She crossed her arms, fixing me with a look that held no room for pleasantries. "Do you think becoming a genetic engineering expert is easy? It takes years to master this field."
Celeste placed a gentle hand on Julia's arm, her voice calm yet firm. "Julia, we're here to teach him. That's our job, after all."
Julia let out a soft huff but didn't object. Her intense gaze remained on me, though, and I could feel her analyzing me, almost challenging me.
I nodded, doing my best to reassure them both. "Don't worry. I'm well aware of the challenge, but I'll work hard. Time isn't exactly on my side."
Julia's eyebrow arched slightly, surprised. "You can't be more than eighteen. What could make time so pressing for someone your age?"
Celeste gave her a small, knowing smile. "Let's respect his needs, Julia. He must have his reasons."
I nodded gratefully, both to Celeste and to Julia's discerning questions. "Thank you. We'll start tomorrow. If you need anything, my secretary will handle it."
They both nodded, saying their goodbyes before Mia led them out.
---
Once they left, I felt a tension slip from my shoulders, though a new energy buzzed within me, driving me to action. Dropping to the floor, I went straight into a set of push-ups, feeling each movement ground me. Their presence, their aura—it was intense, and I had to cleanse myself of the restlessness it left behind.
For hours, I cycled through exercises, a steady rhythm of exertion that kept my mind sharp. At last, when my muscles were sore and my body drenched in sweat, I stopped, breathing heavily. I took a long, cold shower, letting the chill seep into my bones and cool my nerves. By the time I was done, the clock showed 9 p.m.
Sitting cross-legged on my bed, I closed my eyes and focused inward, sinking into a deep meditative state. The familiar hum of my Ki flowed through me, steady and warm, and I let it grow, pulling energy from the earth and sky, balancing every part of my being.
[ Qi exp = +5 ]
[ Qi exp = +5 ]
[ Qi exp = +5 ]
..
..
---
The hours slipped by, and by 4 a.m., I opened my eyes, feeling sharper than ever. I had time before Julia and Celeste would arrive, so I went to my desk and unrolled a blueprint I'd been working on for months.
The Gravity Chamber.
It was still in the design stages, but I could see it in my mind—a training environment unlike any other, where I could push my body to levels unimaginable.
The materials alone, though, would cost at least 30 billion Zeni. Funding this project would be its own battle, but it was possible.
With the right resources and knowledge, I could make anything a reality. And now, with Julia and Celeste's expertise at my disposal, my understanding of genetics and engineering was about to deepen.
As the first light of dawn crept through the window, I rolled up the blueprint with a deep sense of purpose. The Gravity Chamber, my Saiyan DNA research—this was only the beginning. With each passing day, I could feel my path becoming clearer. Whatever it took, I would be ready for the challenges ahead.