At the activation of the white talent, Genius, a surge of sharp clarity flooded Adam's mind, as if a hidden door to knowledge had been flung wide open.
He steadied his uneasy heart, then answered calmly, "No, my talent doesn't directly increase the rate at which I grow stronger."
The receptionist turned her gaze to Luke. The man observed Adam for a second, then gave a firm nod. "He's telling the truth."
Adam smiled faintly at the words. It was a simple trick, yet one that worked because he was technically telling the truth, only in a twisted form.
In reality, his talent affected how fast his strength improved, but not in a direct way. If he chose not to run simulations, there was no way his strength would grow. The same thing applied if he didn't draw strength rewards.
The receptionist nodded and asked another question. "Does your talent increase your attacking power?"
Lucifer pretended to think for a moment, tapping his chin lightly, before answering in a steady voice, "No."
It was the same trick as before.
She glanced back at Luke. When he shook his head, she recorded the information with a slight frown, then looked back at Adam.
"Does your talent have to do with healing or any supporting role?" she asked.
Adam paused briefly, his fingers brushing his chin as he considered his words. "It doesn't have to do with healing, but the Life Simulator talent can be considered a support talent."
The woman nodded after Luke's confirmation and jotted it down in her notes.
"Thank you, sir. That will be all." Adam caught a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, even though her polite smile remained.
He understood why. In her eyes, his unique ability was probably nothing more than another "useless" one.
After pressing his fingerprint on the small scanning tool she provided and signing his name on a freshly printed document, she addressed him again in a more formal tone.
"Congratulations on your awakening, Mr. Adam."
"As of today, you are officially a proud warrior of the Federation. As a newly awakened member of the Federation, a set of military cultivation techniques and martial skills will be sent to your email. You will also receive a link to a platform designed exclusively for supernaturals. Your temporary password will be your full name written in all caps, followed by the year '2028' without spaces."
"You may customize it once you log in."
She paused for a moment, her voice calm but firm. "Also, as a new Awakener, you are eligible for a monthly payment of $20,000. However, this amount will be halved if you fail to reach Rank One within six months, and it will be revoked entirely if you fail to achieve Rank Two within a year. Of course, on the bright side, the monthly payment will increase as you rise in rank."
Adam felt slightly overwhelmed by the rush of information, but one thing lit up in his mind like a beacon: money.
It wasn't just the money but also the other benefits attached to it. Though the conditions were strict, it didn't change the fact that he would soon have a stable income.
With his insane Life Simulator, wouldn't he reach Rank One in a single month once he simulated? Maybe even Rank Two or Three.
His heart beat a little faster, but before he could sink deeper into his thoughts, the lady behind the counter spoke again.
"Is there anything else you'd like to ask, Mr. Adam?"
Adam smiled politely and replied, "No, thank you."
Muttering a quick thank-you to the woman, he quickly made his way out of the Supers Association building.
'With this $20,000 from the Association, the house won't be short on funds for a while. Mom won't have to work so hard anymore, and she and my sister can finally live more comfortably.'
The thought filled Adam with a warm sense of relief, though he didn't allow the feeling to completely take over. Nothing in this world came without a price.
Even as an Awakener, the Federation wouldn't simply hand out money without expecting something in return.
'According to that lady, all I have to do to keep the benefits—and even increase them—is to get stronger.'
'And even if the Federation is planning something, I'll figure it out after my simulation at the end of the month. For now, I'll just keep a low profile and focus on growing stronger.'
Adam clenched his fist, his determination solidifying like steel. He now had a clear path ahead of him: get stronger quickly and make life better for his family.
Successfully awakening was only the beginning of his journey. Far greater things lay ahead.
But before any of that, he needed to get home and go through the information the Awakeners Association would send him. There was still much he needed to learn about being an Awakener.
To get home, Adam decided to take another taxi without hesitation.
While he could feel his body had grown stronger since his awakening, it didn't mean he had to push it unnecessarily.
His house was far from the Supers Association, and even the walk from his school alone usually took thirty minutes. Adding the Association's location into the mix, the entire trip would have taken at least an hour and a half on foot.
Now that there was money in his account, and more was sure to come, he saw no reason to be frugal.
Once he settled into the back seat of the taxi, he pulled out his phone and sent his mother a message, letting her know that he had completed his registration at the Awakeners Association and was already on his way home.
Just then, a bank notification appeared on his screen. His eyes widened slightly as he saw that $20,000 had been transferred into his account.
His balance had jumped from $10,200 to $30,200.
He exhaled slowly, a quiet thrill building in his chest. From the moment he awakened, his future had already shifted.
He briefly thought about sending his mother part of the money but quickly decided against it. Knowing her, she might panic, and that could affect her work.
He decided it would be better to wait until she returned home before talking about it.
Instead of being dropped directly at his house, Adam asked the driver to stop at a mall near his community to buy a few things for him and Aurora.