She Outshines Them All

She Outshines 326

Athena lightly shook her phone and said, “Same here.”

After exchanging a knowing glance, 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 and computers.

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

Given their skills, she and Matthew could easily catch their shadow, but what would that accomplish?

These stalkers were likely just low–level lackeys 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 glanced up at the chilly, dark sky, a small smile playing on his lips. “You know, on a night like this, a walk together doesn’t sound too bad.”

Athena smiled back.

Despite the lack of stars or moonlight, the cold, still air wrapped around them, creating a quiet scene that was surprisingly, comforting.

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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 relaxed pace.

Suddenly, Athena halted, her eyes darting to the black 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 exclaimed, “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. NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

Matthew coughed lightly. “Just so you know, I’m not completely 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 glanced 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 accomplish 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 plans.”

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 welcomed 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 plan 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 Villas had come to a close.

Participants trickled out of the villa in small groups, chatting animatedly as they left.

Still wrapped in her black 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 surveillance cameras, leaving them without any way to access 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 accountant. At 28, he had been involved in a car accident that left him in a vegetative state, with little hope for recovery.

Three years into his coma, his parents welcomed another child, a daughter.

Miraculously, Noah regained consciousness at 36 and quickly restored his health. He found work at a small company 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 claims 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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