After three miles of walking, Il Ji was nearly at his destination. It was at this precise moment that he wished he had a flying beast.
"I wish I had a flying beast." Il Ji spoke.
A yellow sign bannered above him. "Chao City Petting Zoo."
Walking in the gate, he gave his ticket to one of the employees. After a short minute, they brought him to an enclosed room.
"What beast would you like to handle today?" The employee asked.
"I'd like to handle a cat or dog- preferably one that knows the shoulder strike skill."
"I'll bring one out to you shortly."
As the employee left, Il Ji waited. It shouldn't take long.
When the employee returned, she handed him a blueish tabby cat.
"This is Storm. Please keep in mind that any harm to our beasts will be paid in full by the card you gave at the register, as well as police action."
"Thank you. I am aware and would never do such a thing."
"Mmm." With that, the employee left him to his own devices.
"Hello Storm." Il Ji spoke. "Would you like to try practicing shoulder strike with me?"
"Meow." The cat took a battle stance.
"Be sure not to hit the wall." Il Ji responded. Reckless behavior could cost him more money than he had.
He assumed a similar position on the ground.
"Strike!" The cat struck the air with its shoulder. Il Ji followed suit.
As time went on, Il Ji felt ridiculous. It was much harder to assume the 'position' of a cat than that of a beast with no arms and legs.
Five hours later, his exhaustion paid off. 'I guess it takes longer to perform skills I'm not suited to.'
As Il Ji returned Storm and paid the cashier for the full five and a half hours, she looked at him skeptically. 'Who is this man? Why is he so sweaty? Just what was he doing in there?!'
Turning out the door and straight outside, Il Ji walked to a nearby building. It was the government's oversight department: The Chrono Federation Beast Association."
The giant, darkened grey building was the largest skyscraper in town. The entire building seemed to be made out of a single material- of this Il Ji was quite sure.
After taming a new beast, he was required by law to come to this building and register it. Otherwise, if he got into trouble his beast could be forcibly taken from him.
He walked up to the counter.
"Name and registration?" The lazy, nasal voice drifted from behind the cigarette smoke in the dimly lit room. An ancient aura drifted from the fat, elderly woman behind the counter.
Coughing a couple times, Il Ji responded. "My name is Il Ji. Here is my federation registration card."
"Il Ji." The old woman replied in a nonchalant tone. "Summon your beast onto the panel over there. Wait for me to clear you, and then take your beast back."
Not wanting to upset the lady, Il Ji immediately walked over to the panel and summoned Jackpot.
Leaving Jackpot on the panel, he walked back over to the registration lady and waited for her verdict.
After a moment, she handed him back his card. A few seconds later, she spoke. "You can take your beast back. Return here when you're done."
Promptly following her suggestions, he returned.
"You've been flagged with an irregularity. Please walk down the hall to your left and enter the door at the end."
Il Ji's eyes opened wide. This was not good. If some greedy old man wanted Jackpot, then…
He silently trudged down the long hall. Opening the door at the end, however, he was meeted by a smiling, spry old man in a lab coat.
"Orio Santers." The man said, extending a hand. "I take it you're the young man that just walked in?"
"I am." Il Ji replied cautiously.
"Great!" He looked at the nervous young man before him. "So that you know, while noteworthy, a Legend-bloodline beast isn't that rare around here. We actually have several projects in the works to produce Myth-bloodline beasts."
"So rest assured, we're not worried about that. Your beast is safely registered. Congratulations on your finding."
Il Ji let out a heavy sigh. The man smiled.
"Il Ji, what flagged in your registration is something that we have yet to indentify."
"Every time a beast is registered, we also check their contract mark. This is because some insidious beasts can trick humans into creating a reverse contract."
"However, the reading we get from you shows that you employed a wholly new, as-of-yet unseen contract mark. If you would be so kind, would you explain to me the general form and shape so I can understand it better?"