Chapter 436 Secret Meal (Part 1)
Usually, Gary would be fascinated by the rewards the system would present him with. They were like an incentive for him to keep working harder and stepping closer to reaching the Level 25 he was aiming for. It was an addictive feeling and quite thrilling to see oneselves progress in a way like this.
However, this time, he was far too obsessed with something else. That was the beast's dead body on the ground.
'The beast's body is right there. It's right in front of me. If I just took a quick few bites of it, it wouldn't be a problem, right? Otherwise, it's just going to waste. Maybe I can just say I’m really really hungry or something. Would that work?' Gary considered, but he soon remembered that everything in the special lesson belonged to the group called NIRV.
It made him think twice about whether or not he should do such a thing, but instead, there was another solution, the beast's tail that was still in his hand. Quickly turning away, Gary didn't know if just the tail was enough for him to gain stats, but he was going to try anyway. Bringing the tail closer to his jaws, he went on to take a bite.
He paused for a second, seeing the blinking camera in front of him.
'Will I get in trouble for this…ah, screw it!' Gary thought as he elongated his teeth to make it easier to dig through the beast's skin. It was still much harder than expected, and he imagined it would be relatively impossible to bite through it with his regular set of teeth.
However, just when the tip of his upper canine had pressed against the beast's skin, a buzzer suddenly rang throughout the area, forcing him to stop immediately and drop the tail. It was as if he had been caught red-handed doing something he shouldn't have.
[The Special lesson has come to an end.]
[All students should refrain from touching the beast for the time being until the invigilators come to collect you.]
Gary had an awkward look on his face. He was unsure if that message was directed at him, maybe someone had seen him, or if it was just simply a coincidence. However, after hearing the announcement, Gary walked over to stand by the others. Although he was quite upset, he was still trying to devise a way to consume the beast and wouldn't miss an opportunity if he got any.
Not for just this lesson, but if he somehow found a way, then in every special lesson, he would be able to eat a beast and get even stronger than before. Even the title of the Champion of the AFC would be within sight, and he could possibly do what Kai wished as well: Get to the very top, where the Tier 1 cities were.
The sound of the door in front of them opening was heard again, and for a second, all of the students, including Gary, had somewhat flinched. It was from the same door the beast had come thorough, and the trauma of what they had just been through, they thought they might have to go through it again.
It wasn’t a beast though, and instead, a few men in hazmat suits had come out. A group of around five. Along with them was a man with round glasses and a lab coat with the words NIRV embedded on his shirt, and finally was the professor that Gary had seen a few times before, Professor Humfrey.
As for the other Lab Coats, Professors and Teachers, they had gone to the other coloured room to do the same as they were about to do.
The staff in hazmat suits swiftly entered the area with all sorts of different equipment, including a special type of carving tool that looked quite like a chainsaw. However, the end was a lot thinner, and when they turned it on, it didn't seem to make as much noise when being turned on.
The students noticed that they were carving a part of the beast out carefully as if they were looking for something.
"Congratulations." Humfrey walked up to the students with a NIRV employee standing next to him. "All of you did incredibly well in this lesson, and to not get injured either, I am truly impressed. I have to say that you are one of the best batches to have taken part in the special lesson."
The students were pleased with the compliments, but they were unsure if this was just something that was said to all of the students for further encouragement or if it was actually the truth. But truthfully, it didn’t matter much.
"Yes, you have helped out NIRV greatly, and I am sure you all will make great Retrievers in the future." The NIRV employee also broke his silence and introduced himself, "My name is James Kent, and I will oversee the special lessons you will be taking from now on, so you will get to see me more often."
Going by the first impression, Gary wasn't really getting a good feeling from this NIRV scientist guy. The vibes just seemed all wrong, as if out of the whole thing, he always had more to benefit over those that he would make a deal with.
"We found it!" A shout from the right suddenly attracted everyone's attention.
One of the men in the hazmat suit held a tennis-ball-size crystal in his hand. He lifted it in the air for all of them to see, and almost immediately, James left the students and walked over to him in excitement to take a closer look.
"I guess I should continue from where he left off." Humfrey shook his head and continued after clearing his throat. "NIRV wants to have a good relationship with those that are the future of this world, and they believe you guys are that future. So, in addition to this, for becoming a Retriever, those who take part in killing the beast to get crystals that create the Altered, the NIRV would surely give ample rewards for your efforts.
"The more dangerous the task is, the better the reward they will give you. And since this is the first time you're taking this special lesson, as a kind gesture, they will be happy to have open ears to your almost any demand, and they, along with the academy, will do their best to accommodate your request.
"Whether that be an Altered DNA for a family member, or the first pick at rare Altered DNA to be used for yourself, or maybe even a meeting with the NIRV between your cooperation and more. Whatever request you can think of, please ask for it now, and we will try our best to match it as closely as possible. It's the least the academy and the NIRV can do for you for risking your lives."
Gary's eyes lit up because he had finally found his way to get the beast's dead body. He just needed to find a way to word it so it didn't sound so weird.
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