She Outshines 326
Athena lightly shook her phone and said, “Same here.”
After exchanging a knowing nce, they both bent down to check their devices.
Their phones were equipped with anti–intrusion software, which, if breached, would trigger a self–
destruct sequence, taking out any connected devices—like each other’s phones andputers.
Thankfully, their systems were holding up well; the screens showed that the other party had failed
in their attempts.
This only reinforced their suspicions that the Unity Circle was anything but legitimate, and they
needed to stay alert.
After walking for a few more minutes, Matthew said, “Looks like someone’s following us. What do
you want to do about it?”
Athena replied, “We’ve got a signal here; we should call for a ride
Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.
Given their skills, she and Matthew could easily catch their shadow, but what would that
aplish?
These stalkers were likely just low–levelckeys following orders and capturing them wouldn’t give
them any useful information. It just wasn’t worth the trouble.
As for why they didn’t take the car they came in, it was because they had borrowed the Miracle. If
that car was spotted, the Messenger would likely connect the dots back to them and figure out
Matthew’s identity.
If they wanted to avoid any ties to the Unity Circle, it was best to keep their identities under wraps.
Matthew nced up at the chilly, dark sky, a small smile ying on his lips. “You know, on a night
like this, a walk together doesn’t sound too bad.”
Athena smiled back.
Despite theck of stars or moonlight, the cold, still air wrapped around them, creating a quiet
scene that was surprisingly,forting.
8
In that moment, they realized that having each other was the best view of all.
Strolling side by side, they ambled down the empty street at a rxed pace.
Suddenly, Athena halted, her eyes darting to the ck cloak she wore. “Do you think wearing this
will make people think they’re seeing ghosts or even call the cops?”
Matthew chuckled. “Even if they do, let’s just keep wearing it; I’d rather not catch a cold out here.”
Then a thought struck Athena, and she eximed, “Oh! You stood outside without a shirt for five
minutes! Are you okay?”
The temperature at this hour hovered around 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and even a healthy person
would struggle in the cold without a shirt.
Matthew coughed lightly. “Just so you know, I’m notpletely shirtless; I just didn’t have a top on.
And honestly, five minutes isn’t a big deal for me.”
Blushing, Athena gently patted his arm, concern etched on her face. “I’ll text Louis right now to
send you some medicine. You’ll be fine in just a couple of days.”
Matthew replied graciously, “Oh, well, thanks.”
After a moment, he nced back over his shoulder. “Looks like the people following us have finally
given up.”
43 Mon,
Athena nodded. “They probably figured out we caught on and realized it was pointless to keep
following us.”
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She turned her gaze back to Matthew. “What do you think the Unity Circle is trying to aplish
with events like this?”
Matthew paused, considering his response. “They’re looking to scout and recruit talent, among
other things.”
Athena nodded thoughtfully. “So, the Messenger and the organization behind him have some pretty
ambitious ns.”
Just looking at the participants from that night made it clear they were all high–IQ geniuses from
various fields. The only requirement to join the organization was a high IQ—no other barriers to
entry.
Almost all the tests and games were crafted to assess the participants‘ intelligence and
personality.
Among the crowd, there were quite a few socially anxious individuals, people from rough
backgrounds, those dealing with mental health issues, and even some who operated in morally gray
areas—possibly even those with questionable pasts.
Yet, the Unity Circle weed them all, providing opportunities to chase their dreams and rise
above their challenges.
An organization like that must have been quietly amassing a wealth of talent.
Matthew and Athena couldn’t help wonder what on earth the organization need all that talent for.
Just pondering the question brought up even more mysteries.
Matthew nodded, curiosity lighting his eyes. “So, what’s your n for the Unity Circle?”
Athena shook her head, resolute. “As long as they stay out of my way, I want nothing to do with
them.”
She knew all too well that curiosity could lead to trouble, and despite her talent and resources, she
had no intention of wasting them on something so trivial.
There was one secret she hadn’t shared with Matthew—and had no intention of revealing to anyone
else: the enigmatic Messenger was actually Joy.
Just then, Louis pulled up in a nondescript car, parking right in front of them.
He stepped out, handed them the keys, and then climbed into Matthew’s car to drive it back.
Meanwhile, the Unity Circle meeting at Riverfront Vis hade to a close.
Participants trickled out of the vi in small groups, chatting animatedly as they left.
Still wrapped in her ck robe, Joy turned to her butler, her voice low and serious. “What’s the
status on that girl with the 199 IQ? Have we got any leads?”
In this world where intelligence was currency, members referred to each other by their IQ scores. If
two people had the same score, they were assigned numbers—first, second, third, and so forth.
The butler replied, his tone respectful, “We haven’t uncovered anything yet.”
Joy’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Qur team tried to infiltrate her phone, but they were hit by a counter–virus, and now their systems
are down.
“We sent two agents to follow her and the guy with an IQ of 185, but they were spotted
immediately. They didn’t get a single piece of useful information and had to retreat.”
They had also preemptively shut down the local surveince cameras, leaving them without any
way to ess the footage. Joy fell silent, her mind racing. “Look into their invitations. We need to
trace where they came from.
Kiss
“Yes,” the butler said, nodding.
“And dig deeper into the IQ–199 participant’s mentor, Noah. I want every detail.”
“Of course.”
Within just two days, Unity Circle’s extensive resources uncovered Noah’s story, but the findings
were grim—he had already passed away.
Reports revealed that Noah hailed from a modest background; his father worked as a plumber, and
his mother was an ountant. At 28, he had been involved in a car ident that left him in a
vegetative state, with little hope for recovery.
Three years into hisa, his parents weed another child, a daughter.
Miraculously, Noah regained consciousness at 36 and quickly restored his health. He found work at
a smallpany while also investing in stocks, managing to build a nest egg that allowed him to
buy a home and secure insurance for his family. However, six years ago, at the age of 52, he was
diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He left a substantial savings for his family, penned a farewell
note, and made his way to the beach to end his life. His body was never recovered.
Yet, beach cameras had caught the moment he walked into the waves, vanishing beneath the
surface.
Since then, he had left no trace, and the Anderson family was left in the dark about his fate.
After finishing his report, the butler added, “The participant ims her mentor is the smartest person
she’s ever known, with an IQ that’s off the charts. However, our investigation shows that Noah
never took on students or apprentices. He was a solitary man, hardly engaging with anyone outside
of work and home life, and he had no interest in marriage or children.” Joy listened intently with an
expression cool and thoughtful. “The participant referred to her mentor as godlike. “It’s no surprise
that someone so extraordinary would keep their true identity hidden. Keep searching; we’ll uncover
something eventually.”
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