"May the sun brighten everyone."

"..."

The sudden appearance of these people made Anshul dumbfounded. Only by looking unfashionable robes anyone can tell they are not normal. All three people were was around 6.2 to 6.3 feet tall dressed in red robes with a symbol of sun on their left chest. As the figure in the middle starts to move towards Anshul, the other two figures followed him quietly clearly stating the hierarchy among the trio.

"Who might you be, boy?" the man in the middle asked in an arrogant voice.

{Who the hell is he? Is he from a cult or something? or he just like to wear unfashion clothes? Seriously, this damn world is full of weird people!} the voice remarked in a laughing tone.

"Don't you think it is basic manners to introduce yourself before asking others, sir?" Anshul replied calmly.

The man in the middle smiled at Anshul's words and introduced himself. "You are right, one should introduce themself first. I am Zhao Wu, the one on my left is Zhang Chan and the person on right is Ron. Now I once again asks who are you?"

Zhao Wu stared sharply at Anshul, resembling a snake eyeing its prey, scanning him from head to toe. Sensing this, Anshul could tell that Zhao Wu was no ordinary person. Despite this realization, Anshul managed to conceal his fear. For some unknown reason, he felt it unwise to reveal his identity to them.

"I am Chirag, and I serve as a lab assistant under the guidance of Dr. Arun."

"Oh," Zhao Wu seemed delighted upon hearing Anshul's words. "You work here? That makes things easier. You see, we're here to recover an item that was stolen from us by Dr. Arun."

{What!? How could that feeble, goody-two-shoes man steal something from someone? I might believe you can talk to girls normally, but I can never believe your father would do such a thing! I knew it, these people are not right in their heads. Let's just leave} the voice declared.

"...Steal? I don't know of any thieves here, and I know Dr. Arun; he is no thief. If you have a problem, I suggest you leave for now and return when Dr. Arun is present. Please excuse me, I must go and clean the lab," Anshul said.

"Don't be so quick with your answers, young man," Zhao Wu said with a certain tone. "Let me ask you, do you happen to have any information regarding 'Vitalizer's blood'?"

{Vitalizer's Blood? Oh, so that's what VB stands for? Wait a moment, that's blood in that container... that's gross. Oi, idiot, your father has weird taste}, the voice concluded.

"I don't know anything about the VB container. I ask again for you to leave as I must clean," Anshul stammered, his voice filled with feigned innocence.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

The Zhao Wu's scrutinizing gaze raked over Anshul's entire being, examining him for any signs of deception. After what felt like an eternity, he turned away, seemingly ready to leave the lab. Relief washed over Anshul as he believed he had successfully fooled them with his words.

{Oh, i don't knew you can lie through your teeth. Hehehe you sure are useful sometimes}

'Well, I am not Lying though, i really don't know anything about THAT'

But just as Anshul's guard began to lower, Zhao Wu abruptly halted his departure. Slowly, he turned back to face Anshul, a cunning smile playing on his lips.

"You know, kid" Zhao Wu turn and said with his voice dripping with a calculated blend of amusement and intrigue, "I never said anything about the container."

{Shit, why can't you a single thing right}

'It's because of you, I couldn't think straight' Anshul said in his mind.

Anshul's heart skipped a beat as he tried to think of an excuse. However, before he could respond, he was struck by a knife in his upper abdomen, thrown by Zhang Chan. Pain filled Anshul's abdomen, and he lost strength in his legs, causing him to fall to the ground and cough up blood.

"Ugh..."

"You should be grateful, kid. You were not hit in any vital area," Zhao Wu said arrogantly. "I'll ask you again; Where is Vitalizer's blood?"

"I... don't know," Anshul groaned in pain as he replied.

"Still denying till the end, kid. You know even if you are not hit on vitals, you still don't have much time left. Soon you will feel the hassle due to continuous loss of blood. After that, you will start losing your senses like touch, pain, heat. You know how painful it will be. Last chance, hand it over."

{Oi, what are you doing? Just hand over that damn thing to them. You may survive, hand it over} the voice suggested.

"...No," Anshul replied in a shaken voice.

'If i give this to him, I will not be able find my father'

"As you wish," Zhao Wu said as he retrieved the knife from Anshul's body which make him again cough up blood and he slowly starting to lose conscious. Zhao Wu give him a last look and turn around "You wasted my time, boy. Tsk even the sun is setting now, we should move fast before THEY arrive here."

"What about the boy" Ron asks.

"Leave him be; he brought this upon himself" while saying this Zhao Wu starts to look around for VB container and ignoring Anshul.

Meanwhile....

{Oi, idiot, open your eyes! If you die, I die. Think something!! anything!!Oi!}

The voice hurriedly said before Anshul lose his consciousness but this time, Anshul couldn't hear the voice, as his mind was working faster than ever. Anshul was currently thinking of everything he could use to save his life. Suddenly, he remembered his father's words: "At the time of sunset, everything becomes magical." What did it mean? Sunset... last movement of the sun... magic... hour... magic hour!

"gloa...ming" Anshul whispered using his last bit of strength which make him fall unconscious. As his voice reached the container, the lid opened, and a stream of liquid flowed towards the wound on his abdomen, entering Anshul's body.

Unaware of this, men in robes were busy searching the lab but found nothing. Ron also checked if the boy had it, but he could only find an empty container, which he left there and did not tell the others about it. Unable to find anything, they start walking to entrance.

"Tsk what a waste of time. It was not here" Zhang Chan comment.

"Ron, did you check the boy" Zhao Wu asked.

"Yes, the boy is dead, and he has nothing with him" Ron replies while looking at Anshul on the ground.

"Let's leave before THEY come here" man in the middle stated.

All three men left the lab unaware of the changes happening to Anshul's body....