CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: WHITE PHOENIX PARROT

"So, what’s up?"

Just as Lin Guang was about to speak, Wang Dawei waved his hand, "If you’re asking me out to eat or play, it’s not that I’m being ungrateful, but today really isn’t convenient. My dad wants me to head straight to Longteng Bay Hotel after school."

"..."

After a moment of silence, Lin Guang sighed:

"I’m not that kind of person with too much time on my hands."

"Oh, right." Wang Dawei slapped his forehead with a smile, "Silly me. You’re already paired up with the top beauty from the Experimental School, why would you think of asking me out?"

"... No, let’s not even talk about Miaomiao. I haven’t even asked you out before, have I?"

"Uh, now that I think about it, maybe you’re right."

Wang Dawei scratched his head, "So what do you actually want to say? If it’s not that important, maybe we can talk next Monday or just over the phone? If I don’t leave now, I’m definitely going to be late, and my dad will probably treat me to a whipping of cane-smoked pork. He said he spent a fortune to get an Intermediate Researcher who specializes in psittaciformes and is also a Two-Star Miracle Master to take a look at my big bird."

Though psittaciformes aren’t exactly a hot field, obtaining the title of Intermediate Researcher in any discipline is not easy. In this field, this researcher’s status might rival that of some Senior Researchers.

However, it’s just a Senior Researcher at most. With the knowledge in Lin Guang’s head, even without any system, he could become a Spirit Beast Doctor or even an academician.

"I have some thoughts about your White Phoenix Parrot."

Lin Guang didn’t explain further, just lightly shook his head, "Let’s talk next week."

"Huh?"

Wang Dawei, who was just about to lift his leg, retracted it immediately. He knew Lin Guang never spoke without a reason, so he cozied over with a cheeky grin, "Bro, don’t be like that, what’s up with my big bird?"

"It needs some time. Your dad must have spent a lot to bring in an expert like that."

"No, isn’t it just being late for a while?" Wang Dawei hesitated for a moment, but then straightened his neck confidently, "People say the client is king; we’re consumers, so they surely won’t mind us being a little late. Besides, a father wouldn’t beat his son to death, would he?"

Clearly, compared to the never-met expert, Wang Dawei trusted Lin Guang more,

"Alright then, I’ll tell you now."

After organizing his thoughts, Lin Guang slowly said, "You remember my parents’ profession, right?"

Wang Dawei paused — of course, he knew Lin Guang’s parents were Spirit Beast Researchers. After all, an orphan affording this type of school, plus having good study habits, wasn’t something an average person could explain.

Then his expression became a bit more serious: "What’s going on?"

Lin Guang adjusted his glasses and deliberately lowered his voice, "I found a research report on the White Phoenix Parrot at home... It contains some secrets that the academic world hasn’t disclosed yet, things that may not even be known or discovered by others."

Wang Dawei’s eyes widened, "So—"

"If you’re willing, I can try something. I can’t promise too much, but from what I’ve seen, I might be able to help your White Phoenix Parrot learn a special skill."

He thought for a moment and added, "Of the Spiritual Element, useful in combat, and it’s one of a kind."

Wang Dawei suddenly got excited. He knew Lin Guang’s character wouldn’t make empty promises.

"Fate, it’s all fate! I never imagined your parents had researched this, and I just happened to contract with a White Phoenix Parrot!"

The thing Wang Dawei valued most about the White Phoenix Parrot was its ability to talk, a characteristic often seen as showy.

To have his White Phoenix Parrot possess a unique (at least seemingly) skill in the world was undoubtedly a huge temptation for Wang Dawei, so much so that just thinking about it made him drool.

Lin Guang didn’t respond. Of course, there was no way his parents just happened to have done research on the White Phoenix Parrot, but he didn’t want to lie, either. Instead, he used this guiding method to let Wang Dawei misunderstand, hoping he wouldn’t investigate his parents’ past research too deeply.

"Bro, from now on, you’re my brother! A brother from another mother! If Wang Xiaosheng dares to disagree, I won’t acknowledge him as my dad!" Wang Dawei pounded his chest, "As long as ’Big Bird’ can learn a cool new skill, I don’t care about its power, no matter how much money you spend or how you train that annoying bird, it’s all good!"

After speaking, Wang Dawei hurriedly pulled out his wallet and from it took out... a student ID?

"Oops, my mistake!" He laughed awkwardly, quickly putting the student ID back and pulling out a familiar golden card, a shopping card from the City Spirit Beast Mall with a value of 10,000 Credit Points, forcefully placing it in Lin Guang’s hand.

"Bro, use it as you please! Consider it an early payment for the effort, and if it’s not enough, just tell me and I’ll get more from my dad!"

Lin Guang swallowed the words he was about to say, and instead asked, "Why are you carrying so much money on you?"

"My dad told me to. He said in case of robbery or kidnapping it’s ransom money, or at least they’d leave me a decent body on account of it."

"...Alright then." Lin Guang shook his head, "When are you and your big... White Phoenix Parrot available?"

"Of course we’re available now!"

"It’ll take at least an hour."

"Even if it’s two hours or three hours, so what if I don’t go tonight?!"

Wang Dawei pounded his chest, lifting his right hand, on which was a bird-beak-shaped green mark glowing faintly white. A White Phoenix Parrot, about twenty centimeters tall, flapped its wings and landed on his shoulder. It looked about eighty percent like Lin Guang’s past life’s ’Sulphur-crested Cockatoo,’ except the crest feathers on its head, which could be raised, were in multiple colors, appearing like it had picked up other birds’ dropped feathers from the ground and stuck them to its head.

"Grub time, grub time, grub time!"

As soon as it perched, the White Phoenix Parrot, named "Big Bird" by Wang Dawei, spread its pure white wings and squawked, its voice hoarse, distinctly non-human, naturally infused with a comedic effect.

"Quiet, quiet, quiet, don’t cause trouble here," Wang Dawei patted the bird’s head, then pointed to Lin Guang, "Big Bird, this is my good buddy, a brilliant researcher, who can make you stronger. No matter what he says, you have to listen, I know you don’t want to follow other people’s orders, but... Damn!"

Before he could finish, Big Bird flapped and flew onto Lin Guang’s shoulder, singing proudly, "New boss, new boss, grub time, grub time!"

"Ungrateful traitor." Wang Dawei grumbled, "I even secretly gave you snacks before, but I guess loyalty is temporary when your belly is hungry, huh? I should’ve named you ’No Conscience.’"