A couple of minutes earlier.
After saying goodbye to the smoker guy, I continued on my way. But my mind was completely wrapped around a single thought.
’If the rumor was spread by the Sadis Gang to keep people off Nolan Street... then what’s so important about the original Aiden’s house that they’d go to such lengths to gatekeep it?’
Was Aiden hiding gold or something?
Or maybe there’s been a hidden basement inside the house all along, one that holds a buried secret of humanity?!
It had only been a few hours since I inherited the original Aiden’s memories, and there was still a flood of information to process. Trying to pinpoint any specific memory that might offer a clue was like finding a needle in a haystack.
"Wait, why was I trying so hard to guess? I’m about to meet them anyway. I can just get the answer straight from their mouths."
As I walked closer to my destination, Richie’s words suddenly echoed in my mind. Instinctively, my gaze shot upwards, scanning the ceilings and roofs above.
"Nothing, huh? Well, Richie said his drink buddy saw an owl. It’s noon now, perfect napping time for an owl. I guess even a beast tamer can’t push their pets to go against their nature."
I was on the verge of exhaling in relief when a faint squeak reached my ears. My head instantly turned around to the noise’s direction, catching sight of a rat. It stood there, staring at me oddly before darting off somewhere else.
"A rat? I recall Peter was seen conversing with one. That odd stare... could that have been one of his tamed animals?" I whispered to myself.
At this very moment, a flash of lightning struck my mind.
’Is it possible for Peter to be nearby at this hour? Or better yet... is he at my house?’
If that were the case, I had to act fast. Capturing him now could save me a massive amount of effort, and might just be the key to wiping out the Sadis Gang entirely.
With that thought, I reached into the worn cloth bag where I kept all the items Althea had given me and pulled out a fiery red pill.
[Mid-Tier Temporary Stats Enhancer Pills]
[Function: Grants the user a temporary boost in all stats to B-Rank for 60 minutes.]
[Usage: Consume directly.]
"It might be reckless to use this pill so soon, less than a day after arriving in this world, but for the sake of my future... for the sake of a good night’s sleep without worrying about a knife pointed at me in the dark... this is worth it."
Without hesitation, I placed the pill in my mouth, but didn’t swallow. Instead, I held it between my cheek and gum.
This way, I could activate it instantly if things went south. And if Peter wasn’t nearby, I wouldn’t waste it.
While keeping the pill tucked away, I reached into the bag again and pulled out a thin talisman with a drawing of an eye without eyelids.
[Inspection Talisman]
[Function: Allows the user to see a target’s personal information, such as name, stats, race, and age. It can also reveal weaknesses or hidden conditions and illnesses.]
[Usage: Aim the talisman at your target. It can be used from a distance. Speak your chosen Incantation to activate it.]
About half a minute later, using a building as cover, I cautiously craned my neck around the corner and looked down Nolan Street.
I spotted someone right away.
A lone figure stood outside a two-story building that I recognized immediately.
’That’s the original Aiden’s house and massage parlor... or should I say, my house now.’
My gaze shifted from the building to the man standing dead center in the street. The whole area was deserted, likely because of the drifting rumor. And aside from the hunched figure, there was no one else around.
A white pigeon rested on his shoulder, looking docile.
I hurriedly pulled my head back behind cover.
Even though I had never seen Peter in person, his description had been so vivid, so detailed, that I could picture him clearly, and the man I just saw matched it perfectly.
’I couldn’t be mistaken... the description fits him perfectly. That’s definitely Peter. And that pigeon, it has to be one of his controlled pets.’
Without wasting another second, I took a deep breath and steeled myself for what was about to come.
I tilted my head slightly and swallowed the pill I’d been holding in my cheek.
The pill had been tasteless and odorless while resting in my cheek all this time. But the moment it slid down my throat, everything changed.
It dissolved instantly, before it even reached my stomach.
A sharp, burning scent flooded my nostrils, and my throat ignited with pain. It felt like I had swallowed fire.
Almost immediately after, a searing pain ripped through my entire body.
It felt like every inch of my muscles was being torn apart and rebuilt, stronger, thicker, more flexible, only to be torn apart again. Over and over. Dozens, maybe hundreds of times... all within seconds.
Inside me, it felt like my organs were on fire. My heart, lungs, liver, blood vessels, everything, was cooking in some infernal heat. I could feel them twisting and reshaping, adapting to the new power flooding through me.
The pain was so intense, I wanted to scream, but the moment I opened my mouth, no sound came out.
It looks like even my vocal cords had been scorched.
Just as I wondered whether I’d survive this, whether my body could even take it, when my consciousness started to fade, drowning in waves of unbearable pain, I experienced a strange sensation.
It was like a storm passing through my bones, washing away the pain in a single violent gust.
I opened my eyes, gasping.
"Ha...ha...I’m still alive?"
[Stats Enhancer Pill Activated]
[All Physical Stats Boosted to B-Rank]
[Time Remaining: 59 minutes, 20 seconds]
"Only forty seconds have passed...?" I muttered, dazed. To me, it felt like days had gone by.
Days of agony, to be exact.
Maybe it’s true what they say, time moves extremely slowly when you’re in pain.
No wonder I always feel like time’s moving at a snail’s pace when I’m working, yet when I’m having a blast playing games on the weekend, it’s over before I even realize it.
’Anyway... does this mean my physical stats are really all at B-Rank now?’
I summoned the system with a thought.
’Just as I thought, my Strength, Agility, and Stamina all got a boost, while Intelligence and Charisma stayed the same. I still wasn’t sure what Intelligence even represents in this world. Was it actual intellect? Mana control? Or something else’
I shook my head, closed my eyes, and concentrated, letting myself feel the changes in my body.
Right away, I noticed the change; my limbs felt lighter than a feather, yet simultaneously strong as steel.
My hearing had sharpened so much that I could easily pick up the sound of rats scurrying through the sewers, dozens of meters away. My vision was crystal clear, like someone had turned the world into HD compared to what I was used to seeing.
Now, everything became as clear as day, down to the tiniest movement.
A faint buzzing passed near my ear. Without thinking, I raised my hand, and with just two fingers, I caught the fly in midair. I opened my hand slowly, staring at the dumbfounded insect in disbelief before letting it go.
’I didn’t even need to try...’
When I took a deep breath, a mix of smells hit me all at once, booze, blood, food, sweat, dust. Each scent stood out like it had its own signature.
’Is this what B-Rank physical stats feel like?’
A grin tugged at my lips.
’It sure feels... Awesome.’
I clenched my fist and threw a punch into the air.
A burst of force exploded from my knuckles, followed by a rippling shockwave, like a mini sonic boom tearing through the air.
’What the hell is this strength...? This single punch of mine could easily kill someone.’
’Wait, why was my first thought about killing someone? I could’ve used a wall or a boulder as an example. Damn... is this the result of my personality merging with the original Aiden’s memories? Am I slowly turning into some kind of psycho?’
I stared at my hand, stunned by the raw power it had just unleashed. Just moments ago, I wouldn’t have believed my fist could leave a mark on a wall, now, I was confident I could punch straight through one and make a giant hole... maybe even bring down an entire house if I kept going.
’Fuck, get it together! Peter’s right there, I can’t be distracted! Focus! Focus!’
I quickly reined back my thoughts to reality and suddenly remembered something important.
’Ah, right. There’s no better time to use that item than now.’
I pulled out the talisman and aimed it at Peter from behind cover.
He’s the second-in-command of a major gang... so he must be crazy strong, right?
’Even if he doesn’t look it, maybe that hunched posture is just a trick. What if he’s hiding solid muscle under those rags? Or maybe that whole "weak old man" act is part of his hunting strategy, to lure in inexperienced, reckless idiots like me who let their guard down.’
Just in case, I whispered the activation word, "Peek."
The talisman instantly burst into flames, crumbling into ash in my hand. A glowing screen materialized in front of me. Updates are released by novel-fire.ɴet
’Fuck! He’s weaker than I thought!’