"Should we make contact with Makoto Aizen?" Emi asked as the car pulled up beneath the Aizen Tech building.
Qi Ming said, "Not yet. We need to wait for an 'opportunity.'"
Three days later, Ororon Island.
This was a small island formed by an undersea volcanic eruption. Viewed from above, it resembled a giant turtle.
Many years ago, two ancient turtle eggs buried deep underground had been jolted out through a weaker point in the earth by an earthquake, finally gaining their freedom.
After hatching, the two turtles grew up and became enormous.
The residents of the nearby islands called these two ancient turtles the Turtle King and the Turtle Queen.
They roamed the tranquil waters around Ororon Island, living amicably with the nearby residents and keeping out of each other's way.
Recently, a Japanese man named Kurosaki learned of this and formed a capture team, intending to capture the giant turtles alive.
They had chosen the moment when the giant turtles laid their eggs, waiting for the Turtle Queen to come ashore to lay them.
That night, beneath the bright moonlight, the Turtle Queen dug a hole in the sand and painfully laid her eggs, weeping tears of blood from the agony.
Seeing that the time was right, Kurosaki gave a signal, telling the capture team to get ready.
He led his assistant toward the Turtle Queen and instructed him, "Turtles laying eggs are very docile. Get as close as possible."
At that moment, the Turtle Queen let out a low, mournful cry, making Kurosaki's assistant freeze.
Kurosaki asked, "What is it?"
The assistant said, "It's begging us to spare him."
Kurosaki snapped, "You idiot! We've waited months for it! It's just an animal. Shoot it!"
The assistant pulled the trigger. A massive, razor-sharp tranquilizer dart shot out and lodged in the Turtle Queen's neck.
Hit in a vital spot, the Turtle Queen immediately let out a wail of pain. But having just given birth, she was too weak to fight back.
She could only endure the agony as she buried her eggs in the sand, then struggled toward the sea to escape.
"Lights!" Kurosaki shouted. The capture team aimed powerful searchlights directly into the Turtle Queen's eyes.
Temporarily blinded by the intense light, the Turtle Queen grew even more panicked. At the same time, the tranquilizer began taking effect, draining her strength.
Kurosaki was overjoyed at the sight. "Throw the net! Hurry!"
The other capture team members immediately complied. They were veterans in this line of work and naturally scoffed at claims that all things had spirits. To them, it was just an animal.
"Bang!" A sturdy net shot out and covered the Turtle Queen. She convulsed in pain, but having just given birth, she was weak beyond measure and unable to break free.
"Splash!" The water's surface burst apart, and an even larger turtle emerged. It was the Turtle King!
Rather than being alarmed, Kurosaki was delighted. "The Turtle King! Capture this one too while we're at it!"
Another enormous tranquilizer dart fired out and embedded itself in the Turtle King's neck, making him convulse in pain as well.
The capture team cast another net, but relying on his immense size and greater strength, the Turtle King forcibly broke free and barely escaped disaster.
The tranquilizer took full effect. The Turtle Queen could no longer move, while the Turtle King gradually lost feeling in his limbs and body, unable to tear apart the net trapping his mate.
At dawn, the capture team dug up the eggs the Turtle Queen had just laid.
Because of the attack, the Turtle Queen had used too much force while burying them, causing one egg to break. The other four, however, remained intact.
Kurosaki was extremely satisfied with the haul. Together with the capture team, he boarded a chartered freighter and towed the Turtle Queen back to Japan.
"Cheers!" That night, Kurosaki repeatedly raised his glass with the captain and first mate.
The captain was curious and asked what he intended to do by transporting such a huge monster back to Japan.
Kurosaki said, "I'm planning to hold a monster exhibition. Just putting that thing on display will draw visitors not only from Japan, but from all over the world. Then, after some training, it can perform too."
The captain said, "I see. Then you'll become billionaires."
Kurosaki modestly waved his hand, though he could not hide the smug look on his face.
"Let's hope so. Come on, drink up, everyone. Today's the happiest day!"
At that moment, his assistant brought over a soup made from turtle eggs.
"Everyone, you won't find game like this anywhere on any menu in the world. Nothing could buy it."
"Come on, everyone, enjoy!"
After the capture team and crew drank it, they all felt refreshed and considered it an unparalleled delicacy.
The Turtle Queen, being towed behind the ship, watched everything with blood-red, glowing eyes.
Her unborn children had been eaten by these humans!
Consumed by rage, she struggled violently, throwing the ship into chaos and sending everyone into a panic.
"How is this possible? Did the tranquilizer wear off?"
"She shouldn't have been able to move for three days!"
"Captain, a Japanese-registered cargo ship called the Fourth Sakura Maru has been attacked by a giant sea turtle. Its location is six kilometers southeast of Kozushima."
At Defense Team headquarters, Emi immediately received the report.
"What?!" Qi Ming quickly asked for the details.
Ororon Island, the Turtle King and Turtle Queen, egg-laying, captured by humans.
These were the giant turtle monsters King Tatas and Tatas Queen from episodes four and five of Taro Ultraman, "The Giant Sea Turtle Monster Attacks Tokyo" and "Parent and Child Star, the Brightest Star."
Perfect. Not only can I prevent the tragedy from the original story, I can also use this opportunity to make Makoto Aizen do my bidding. I have to seize it.
Before you continue