Rath, the Peregrine Falcon
"My Lord, if you wouldn't mind me asking a question?"
One of the G.A.E humans called Janet, a red-haired beauty who could change her hair colour and length with just a simple thought as part of her specialised augmentation ability, wanted to ask Esmond more about the body coding and augmentation as she was curious about having some of her own.
"Sure, go ahead."
"Could the body coding be made for specific organs…?
What I mean is, currently I have gathered from my quick skim through the information that the coding affects the body as a whole.
But why not affect the organ instead.
If we wrote the coding for, let's say, improved eyesight, could be write it on the organ and increase the body coding any person could be subjected to."
Esmond like their idea and even thought it worked better that the current method which meant it could give his soldiers a greater sense of power and strength.
His snipers could be deadlier than anyone could ever imagine.
The basic soldier would basically be a super soldier on radioactive steroids with mech suits built into them.
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"I'll leave the project in your hands.
I hope you can bring me results soon.
Also, another thing…" Esmond this time raised his voice to garner the rest of the scientist's attention who were lost reading and examining the information on the commlinks about the body coding and augmentation.
"I have two projects that need manpower and attention.
One is a clone project that's being built which needs to be overseen and while the other revolves around beasts and animals.
I can tame beasts and animals that I am planning to use for espionage and warfare.
Problem is I want my soldiers to be connected with them or at least be able to communicate freely so they can work in the battlefield.
It also has applications for the average people and citizens, so it is an important project I want you all to work collectively on."
Everyone bowed and understood their Lords message, leaving seconds later in a mad rush as Echos humanoid drones were leading them their desired areas that they wanted to call their own within the institute.
The only ones to stay back were a couple G.A.E humans and Zadris people of both genders, around roughly 15 people who asked for a moment of their Lords time.
Carter had more of an idea about what it could be since he was so connected with the Spatial Ark Land, but he left and chose not to stick around for now as work came up in another section of the space.
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Esmond followed the group who seemed more wiser and calmer than a lot of scientists that were jumping around with joy and arguing about their projects like it was their bread and butter.
"My Lord, we are actually members of the faculty of the Institution so we can't of course let ourselves behave in such a manner before your presence."
"Hahaha by all means, please be yourselves, even before me.
It's pointless to change yourself to suit others.
Your uniqueness makes you… you."
The faculty members felt warmth within her hearts that their Lord had such thoughts and was more open to their quirks, which they long had to hide in the past lives unless they wished for scrutiny from this that profited from their work or by people who saw them as freaks.
They continued to laugh and chat freely with Esmond till they arrived at the centre of the institution grounds where a similar square to the Summoning Square was in the centre of the beautiful open park with a small platform before it.
"This is where scientists, up to 300 daily, including families specialising in the field, can appear.
Any of the faculty members can summon them daily, which will also provide more faculty members with every summoning" a faculty member spoke, as the information as already in their minds since they arrived in the Spatial Ark Land.
Esmond was surprised to learn that another summoning square was built, and one that was specialising in the stuff he needed to, so he was overjoyed, and asked Echo to organise public transport to the institution and to inform the other residents about the new arrivals.
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'It's just 2pm and I'm already tired…'
Esmond was back in the cabin resting, wondering if he should sleep of the rest of the day or do something else, but he thought about the project he'd given the institution and then thought about his ability that he hadn't used as of yet.
He knew the space generated the animals automatically and with the introduction of the beasts it did the same and add them as well, but Carter was able to keep them far away and controlled so they never encountered people.
Esmond knew about this and had no issue, but there wasn't anything that really attracted his attention for a pet.
He more so thought about using snakes, mice, insects, and other creatures to help spy and gather information for him in various nations.
However, he needed to test the limits of his ability before he could progress with his plans for the animals and creatures.
There were also plans to head into the Hunting Grounds immediately to gather another large pool of species that could come in hand, but Esmond chose to go find some birds… with Carters help…
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"Kwark!
Kirhk!"
The calls of a Peregrine Falcon were echoing up above in the air, as Esmond looked up from the ground with Carter beside him, asking the falcon to come down.
"You really want to try taming this bird? Why exactly?"
"Well… I mainly want to see if I can somehow see what my tamed beasts can…
If that's possible then I'll send the bird out to fly around the house to look us for anyone stalking the property, but it also means I can initiate my plans to use tamed beasts as informants.
Russia and America tried during the cold war and failed…
But with the taming ability… just maybe… I could create another level of espionage that will stump the leading governments of the world."
Esmond explanation left Carter stunned as he didn't expect such a strategy in such a technological era.
He understood if it was a magical era that allowed Esmond to control animals through magic currents in the air but for him to have a taming ability and then use it as surveillance against competitors and foreign nations.
Carter was on board with the plan and found it completely devious while brilliant, so he was also eager to see the results.
The black and white falcon landed on Esmonds bare forearm as it's claws would cause no harm to him because of his superhuman strength.
The medium sized raptor with just over a meter wingspan was staring at Esmonds eyes, clocking its head side to side as if it was examining Esmond.
They both looked at each other for a couple more moments before Esmond shut his eyes and leaned his head forward.
The falcon followed suit and closes its eyes before touching its head with Esmonds forehead, creating a connection between each other.
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~Master…~
*Ding*
[Taming Ability Activated!]
[Successful!]
[Tamed!]
[Peregrine Falcon]
[Name: n/a]
[Level: 0]
[Vitality: 10/10]
[Abilities: n/a]
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Esmond saw the information pop up in front of his eyes as he patted the falcon.
He could hear his voice in his head clearly, calling him master, but Esmond was caught up thinking of an appropriate name for his first pet.
He was terrible with names, evident when he gave up and went with Manston for the future car brand name as he couldn't come up with anything.
"Your name is Rath… named in part after the God Ra."
~Thank you Master for the name! ~
"Kwark!" Rath squawked aloud, screaming at the sky, as Esmond laughed with joy hearing Rath speak to him in his mind, while Carter whined dozens of metres back with his hands covering his ears so they wouldn't burst from the falcon ready to bust it's throat from screaming.
…
..
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For the rest of the day, Esmond trained with Rath and commanded him to hunt so he could level up.
He was curious to know what might happen to the falcon, but he also wanted to see how Rath attacked.
Esmond could close his eyes and picture himself watching the vision from Raths eyes as he glided above the sky, ready to swoop in and attack the small prey.
'This is insane!
HA! My plans are going to fucking work… well some adjustments need to be done so everything can monitor this somehow… but other than that, I think we have a solid chance of success.'
Esmond laughed as he watched Rath fly through the air and attack its prey.
It wasn't getting experience like Esmond assumed it might, but it was enough for Rath to train a little.
An idea came to Esmond mind about taking Rath with him to the Hunting Grounds next time with some other beasts and see if they could level up.
Opening his eyes, he left the care of Rath in Carters hands before heading back to the cabin.
Knowing the function of his ability, he passed a message along to the institution for the scientists to understand a little bit about the connection with the tamed animal.
After that he thought about resting for the evening, with his parents already out and about, he still didn't have the time to sit down and chat with his dad about how he came to learn about James CEO role…
Rather he wasn't too concerned with that, instead he wanted to see the conditions of his parents and how the changes had affected them properly, but Carter told him they'd left the space at some point and went out for the day.
So, he wasn't too concerned and went off to rest until they came back, or something came up.
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֍ Meanwhile in Hong Kong ֍
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At the highly exclusive and private Shek O Country Club, where the rich and powerful gathered for a game of golf or just to relax as they discussed business.
One such man was out on the course, teeing up for his shot just as his phone started to go off with a call coming for his private number.
The middle aged with east Asian distinctive features, sighed in frustration, being put off from his shot.
Cai Zhao, shouted at his caddie who was beside his golf bag, "Answer the fucking phone before I wrap this 3-iron around your head!"
Zhaos young caddie, an intern that worked for his company, was sweating bullets as he raced through the dozens of pockets until he found his boss's phone.
Accepting the call, he handed over the phone to Zhao, making sure to not look his boss in the eyes.
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"Ahh?" Not even given saying a greeting, but just grunting, Zhao walked back to the golf ball, readying to take another swing.
"Seems like you haven't changed, even after all these years…"
"Power can change people to forget their past…
For me… it brought out more of my personality and ego…
How is the family, James?"
Zhao stopped playing golf for a moment, paying attention to his old friend who'd called him after so long.
"Amelia is doing alright, starting university soon, so she is running around freaking out.
Your sister-in-law is keeping it together, but she can't believe our daughter is already so big and old…
*Sigh* Time flies by without us noticing doesn't it Zhao…"
"Hmm… there are times I miss our youthful days… but the comforts we have now, are just too hard to give away hahah, so dear friend, tell me why you have called so suddenly?"
Zhao was more than happy to continue chatting with his friend, uncaring about his golf game anymore, but he knew there was more to it than a friendly catch up.
"Zhao… remember what you said to me a long time ago…"
"Hmm… if you ever entered the same world as me… I would be by your side, and we would fucking rule the world hahah… are you collecting on those words?"
"Yes… but for my dear nephew and student…"
"Ohh?!"
Zhao wanted to hear more about this supposed nephew of James since Zhao knew he was an old child and there were no other siblings in James family, so he was deeply curious, but James warned him with a little hint for his nosy friend.
"Don't you dare send you people to look for him, Zhao.
The poor boy has uni to start and will be beside my daughter so don't try anything stupid."
"Aiiyo, why you like this, James?
You know I won't do anything foolish.
Anyway… tell me what you need from me?"
Zhao threw his golf club to his caddie as he muted the call so James wouldn't hear him screaming.
"Call the family and tell them to prepare Yifei to study abroad!
And find out where Amelia Trudell is studying!!
For fucks sake who is this bastard that dares himself to be called James Trudells nephew?!"