The medical center building was like a big semicircle made of glass. It gleamed beautifully in the moonlight but was nowhere near as good as the civilian housing quarters. This was located south of the medical center and was made up of nine-story buildings, each fitted with 48 two-bedroom apartments.
This housing quarters was made to contain at least a thousand families.
Walking past the enclosed housing quarters, I couldn't help but marvel at the dedication put into the protection of normal humans while an eighteen-year-old Limitless like me was sent to my death in the Nightfall Dominion territory—fully knowing I was only eighteen.
It was funny how I was awarded ten million dollars by the government, only to be sent to my death a month later.
Wouldn't it be sad if I never got to touch a dime of that money before I died?
"I'll start spending time on myself and having fun," I sighed. "That's if I survive this."
I was lost in thought and failed to notice Pamela had stopped walking.
"Adam."
Her voice snapped me out of my daydream. Not finding her ahead of me, I turned to see her standing and gazing at me with narrowed eyebrows.
Those eyes had a lot to say, so I patiently waited for her to speak.
"Why do you think I took special interest in you?" Pamela asked, and now it was my turn to frown.
I could easily claim she picked me because I was smarter than the rest, but that would be a very shallow answer. Slowly, I rubbed my chin while pondering. We were out here alone, so there was no reason to rush.
"I'm certain it's not because of my [Door] talent," I said after a minute of pondering. "And I'm certain I'm not the only smart one in the classroom, so it's not because of that either." I mumbled the second part as if I was speaking to myself.
I froze and lowered my hand from my chin before asking a question.
"Why did you take special interest in me?" I asked.
Pamela's face suddenly relaxed, and a small smile bloomed on her face.
"This is why I picked you. You question everything you see," she said in a softer tone and took a step forward.
I didn't retreat. I stood my ground and peered deep into her eyes without fear.
"Most Limitless are lost in the glamorous life the academy provides and the benefits the government gives. They never question the real intent of the government's actions," Pamela continued.
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a monocle, rubbing its edges with care. For the first time, I saw vulnerability in Pamela's eyes. There was sadness in those eyes.
Those were the eyes of a person who had experienced loss.
"Even the few at the top of the food chain who understand the government's intentions happily submit themselves to the government and become their hunting dogs—bringing down any Limitless who try to speak up against the injustice we suffer."
My frown deepened at these words, and I wrapped my arms around my chest while raising an eyebrow.
"That means my earlier speculation was correct?" I asked, and she froze.
Her gaze turned cold again, and she returned the monocle to her pocket before looking me in the eyes.
"A normal human can become an Ascendant after a few surgeries. But a normal human can never become a Limitless, unless chosen by the heavens," Pamela said. "They hate and fear us for that."
Her words confirmed my suspicions, and it made me feel like the owner of this body was stupid. The real Adam Black desperately wished for the chance to be a Limitless, not knowing it was nothing different from a death wish.
"Ascendants are being mass-produced, while our numbers keep dwindling." I sighed as I slowly lowered myself.
Pamela was confused by my actions and even more shocked when I casually sat on the ground like it was nothing.
"If you are tired, we can go back..." she said, but I waved her off before laying on my back and looking toward the moon.
"What do you think happens when most of the military has been turned into Ascendants and the government realizes it has no need for Limitless?" I asked out loud, even though the question was meant for me.
High intelligence makes one overthink things. Checking every possibility and probability. My thoughts went back to my journey to the academy when the agents talked about allegiance to the government.
I didn't understand why a citizen needed to be reminded he needed to be loyal to the country simply because he awakened a talent—until now.
Pamela's approaching footsteps got louder, but I did not panic. I kept looking toward the clouds until she was standing right beside me, looking down at me.
"I have a final request for you. Depending on your response, I will give you all my support—or I will withdraw it," she said in a rare stern tone.
She crouched, and I shifted my gaze from the moon to her beautiful face.
"But first, I need you to answer this question." Pamela's eyes narrowed, and her voice got sharper. "What is your [Talent]?"
Her question was simple, but my instincts told me the wrong answer would get me killed on the spot. But the right answer would lead to greater trust, which could be used to my advantage later.
I raised my hand and noticed Pamela's cautious gaze following my every movement.
Snap!
White fumes escaped my body, causing her to instinctively jump back to create some distance. Her cautious gaze followed the white smoke and watched it form a massive white gate.
Slowly, I rose to my feet while the gate swung open, revealing nothing but white light within. Pamela's eyes shifted from me to the gate a couple of times, and I chuckled.
"Aren't you curious?" I said while shoving both hands into my pockets.
Without saying another word, I walked through the gate, leaving her behind.
I entered first for a reason.
As soon as I entered the gate, I walked straight to a part of my pocket dimension where Lord Ravus's diary lay on the ground, and I picked it up.
By the time I stuffed the diary into my shirt, Pamela walked in with a mixture of fear and caution in her eyes.
She saw the massive white room with padded walls, floors, and ceiling—causing her eyes to dilate with genuine shock.
Her gaze ran around the entire room before falling on a part of the room that was stained with blood and pieces of torn clothes.
"I need to clean up," I shrugged, and she just nodded and walked around, rubbing her hands along the wall.
"I didn't expect it to be a space you could enter as well," she said, and I shrugged again.
"It's my safe spot in case of an emergency," I said, and she nodded again.
"I don't blame you. I would have done the same if I had something like this," she said.
She stopped walking and turned toward me with a raised eyebrow.
"Is that all?" she asked, and I shook my head.
I wasn't surprised by this question since I knew whoever was driving that military van had witnessed my battle with the Orc. I already suspected he or she must have exposed everything that happened to Pamela or Viktor, so I wasn't caught off guard.
"Nope. Unfortunately, I can't show it now," I said.
"Why?" Pamela asked calmly, and I pointed toward my pale face.
"It's the reason I'm suffering now..." I said while looking into her eyes.
"It gives me incredible strength and high-speed regeneration, but only lasts for a limited time. In exchange, I'm sick for an entire day." I explained the [Berserk Mode] talent. "It is my trump card should I find myself in a pickle." I lied with a straight face.
I saw the cold gleam in Pamela's eyes fade upon hearing this. It seemed this was actually what she wanted to hear, so my suspicion was right.
Her suspicious gaze was replaced with excitement as she spoke.
"You are a Dual-Talent Limitless!" she proclaimed excitedly.
"A what?!" I couldn't help but blurt out.