Neo's eyes flicked upward.
A CCTV camera was mounted just above the door, its lens pointed downward at an angle.
If he had approached without a disguise, his face would've been caught immediately.
But now, dressed in the stolen jumpsuit with the cap pulled low, his chance to slip unnoticed increased.
The baggy fit also helped, making it harder to notice the difference in body size.
'Good thing I took that trash uniform.'
As long as he kept his head down and moved naturally, the camera wouldn't catch anything suspicious.
He adjusted the hat slightly, making sure the brim covered most of his face.
Then it hit him—the annoying window again. This time, it refused to vanish.
[Claim Reward]
"Tsk"
He clicked his tongue and waved it away, but instead of disappearing, his hand accidentally pressed the reward button.
A bronze box appeared in his hand, and before he could throw it, it popped open.
Another batch of gas hit his nostrils. He braced himself for the usual dizziness, expecting another episode.
But this time, something felt different. Instead of disorientation, a wave of energy spread through his body.
His mind felt sharper, his muscles less tense.
The sensation caught him off guard. 'What the hell…?'
[Strength Increased]
[Endurance Increased]
[Intelligence: Increased]
<=====>
Name: Neo Anders
[Attributes]
Strength: D
Agility: E
Endurance: D
Charisma: D -
Intelligence: C+
[Skills]
One Minute Wonder
Good shit
<=====>
'How is this even possible?' His mind struggled to grasp how an illusion could provide real-life benefits. It didn't fit the logic of reality.
'Could it be? The system is real?'
It was an outrageous idea, but how else could he explain it? His body really did feel lighter.
Then it hit him. During his studies in psychology, he had come across theories like Terminal Lucidity and the Last Surge of Strength.
This two theories were both strange but real phenomena that happen before death or in extreme situations.
Terminal Lucidity was when an unresponsive person, like someone with late-stage dementia, suddenly became clear-headed just before death.
It was like their brain flickered back to life for a brief moment, even though logically, they shouldn't have been able to.
The Last Surge of Strength was when a dying person or someone close to death suddenly got a burst of energy.
No one fully understood why this happened.
Some said it was the brain using up its last reserves, while others thought it was a final rush of chemicals like adrenaline.
Either way, it was as if the body ignored all logic for one last moment of clarity or power.
'I see now… so my body is already reaching its limit after all those drug injections,' he let out a dry chuckle.
For a moment, he felt depressed, realizing that everything he was doing might be for nothing.
'No, I can't give up,'
'If this place has a laboratory, then maybe… maybe there's a way to extend my life.'
With this new goal in mind, he inhaled deeply and focused on gathering information first.
Knowledge was power, and to increase his chance, gathering basic information was a must.
Running around blind would only get him killed.
Stepping forward, he swiped the ID card against the smart lock.
BEEEEP!
A soft sound followed, and the door clicked open.
His fingers tightened around the handle. This was it—his way in.
Without looking up, he pushed the door and slipped inside.
And what greeted him was a typical building interior.
The walls were painted gray, with fluorescent lights casting a dull glow.
Traces of age showed in the faded paint, suggesting the building stood for a long time.
However, recent renovations were evident—some cracks had been patched, but the repairs looked rushed.
He was in a hallway, with another door a few meters ahead.
Like last time, a CCTV camera was positioned nearby. Keeping his head low, he walked as casually as possible.
There didn't seem to be any people around—he heard nothing, not a single sound.
When he reached the door, he opened it and found what looked like a small office for four people.
PCs were placed around the room, but all of them were off.
He tilted his hat slightly, memorizing the camera angles. In his peripheral vision, he caught sight of an open door.
The lights were still on.
When he looked, he noticed a freshly brewed cup of coffee on the desk—and then a hand reached out to grab it, revealing another person facing the other way.
Neo continued to observe as the man sat in his office chair, his back turned to him.
Slowly, he walked toward the office and peeked inside.
The CCTV monitors were active, displaying live feeds from around the building.
That meant the person at the desk was in charge of security.
'Perfect,'