Answering his question, Lucy then looked up.
"It's just it looked like it. In reality, it was also my first time. Branch 5 is really amazing. I thought it wasn't much when I was deployed here, but it is bigger than I thought."
"I see." Jack laughed in response, and thought, 'I don't know what the hell is this girl saying? But does this mean there are multiple branches?'
Jack followed Lucy through the cold steel hallways, the light above humming softly. The air smelled clean but just like the room, there were no windows — no trace of sky — only the faint vibration beneath his feet.
As he'd suspected, they were underground. Jack couldn't help but smile faintly. In his dreams, the man had moved between countless safehouses scattered across the city—but this place felt different. It wasn't just a hideout. It felt like a headquarters.
'This place must cost a fortune,' he thought, eyeing the seamless panels and the quiet hum of hidden machinery. Every corridor was guarded by sleek technology — doors unlocked with a soft click when Lucy swiped her card, her every move practiced and precise.
Occasionally, one or two people passed by, but none bothered to meet his gaze. Their faces were expressionless, their steps synchronized, like soldiers from another world. Jack quickly decided not to introduce himself.
Then they entered a wide glass corridor shaped like an observatory, overlooking a vast chamber of glowing monitors and figures moving with calculated efficiency.
"Do you want to know something Sir? You must have realized it already, but we are currently underground. This is Sector B — Surveillance and Data Management. All intel passes through here before being filtered upward."
Jack glanced through the glass. Two analysts worked at their stations while holographic maps hovered above them — digital grids alive with movement. On one massive display, red and blue markers blinked across maps.
Then came the notification:
[Knowledge about previous user acquired.]
[EXP +10]
[Progress: 80 / 100]
His heart raced. He does not even care about the notifications anymore.
Lucy's voice pulled him back as if she already memorized the entire facility's layout.
"Next is Sector C — training grounds."
The corridor opened into an enormous underground arena — sunlight simulated through the ceiling's radiant panels. Few individuals in training gears were lifting weights, practicing their swordsmanship, while some sparred across elevated rings.
!!!
Jack froze. His mind blanked for a second. He cannot believe what he'd just seen. It looked at first like he was watching professional fighters—disciplined, precise, and intense. But on closer look, Jack realized these people weren't normal at all.
One man leapt nearly five feet into the air with effortless grace!
Another was pummeling solid concrete barrels with his bare fists—and it was the concrete that shattered with each punch!
In the ring, someone was a wrestling monster. He was extremely skilled but it was too absurd to merely call him skilled. His body was twisting and coiling like a serpent.
Jack stole a glance at Lucy, but unlike him, it seemed to be a regular occurrence. No one seemed surprised but his mouth was about to drop to the ground.
'Hu-huh? Am I the crazy one here?'
Lucy spoke as if nothing happened. "So this is where they do training…"
"Training…?" Jack echoed subconsciously, barely above a whisper.
She nodded. "Yes, Sir. I heard from Vice-Executive. You've been neglecting your training, you could train here if you want."
With these monsters…?!
Jack immediately decided to scan the bodies of the people training again, and found that, while he could not see their abilities, most of them were around the 20-30 levels range.
Jack looked at Lucy with a deadpan look as she was also Level 20. He had then remembered that the man he fought didn't seem ordinary as well.
"Sorry Sir, I don't mean to dictate you." Lucy immediately said noticing his suddenly serious gaze.
Pulling himself back to reality, Jack recalled.
According to the dream, humanity were basically a hybrid of ancient races. These ancient races used to wield abilities considered supernatural and exclusive to their race.
But times changed until those purely humans became a rarity and people became a mix-match with different genetical background. Depending on what genetic makeup was stronger in one's body, they may now awaken the dormant powers within them.
Some awakened in moments of rage or despair; others in joy, desire, or even at birth.
Each awakening was unique and it was up to the awakened who stood for order to monitor, restrain, or, when necessary, stop those who turned dangerous.
Jack glanced at Lucy. The thought struck him sharply now. Of course she had an ability. He should have realized it sooner.
He exhaled. The dream had warned him. Deep down, he already knew the truth. After all, he himself was not ordinary as he had the system.
He watched the one punching the concrete switch to fighting a humanoid robot this time. Humanoid robots were already shocking enough since they were supposed to be available only to the military, but at this point, that must not be even an issue.
'A high-tech facility and a world built for people beyond normal limits…'
As Jack watched the arena, his system pulsed faintly in his vision.
'Clearly, I am also not normal.' He thought.
[First mission in progress: Advancement detected.]
[You have gained knowledge about yourself]
[10 exp received]
[100/100 exp]
[You have reached a new level.]
[You are now Level 2.]
[You have acquired a new skill: Map.]
[Map (Passive Skill)]
[Effect: Automatically displays the layout of the current area you are in, including rooms, exits, and notable points of interest and reveals hidden pathways and restricted zones gradually as you explore.
Additional Notes: It is open to updates and can be accessed even if the user is not currently in the area.]
Almost instinctively as if some vein in his brain just activated, the layout of the facility unfolded in his mind, lines and chambers glowing like a living blueprint.
This blueprint followed his vision wherever direction he looked towards to. Even if he closed his eyes, he could see it.
In their next location…
"Sector C: training grounds, the biggest sector in Branch 5."
This time, they saw reinforced doors guarded by two men in suits and earpieces. The atmosphere was colder, heavier. Just one look, and Jack could see that it was one of those places which has something important.
"I guess this is Sectors D and E," Lucy said and added disappointingly. "Access is restricted to Rank III employees and below. My clearance won't get us in."
The next place was a wide observation deck. Below, an enormous subterranean hangar stretched out towards what seemed to be wide streets, they saw armored vehicles, motorcycles, and even drones which were being fixed by what seemed to be engineers.
"This," she said, her suddenly passionate face catching the artificial light, "must be Sector F. Deployment. Most field operation in Province C and D begins here."
Jack's eyes swept across the massive hangar, his hands tightening around the railing as his heart thudded in his chest.
Just what kind of world did I wake up in? Holy shit!!! They have an aircraft! How did they even get these things to the country? No, I didn't even know this country have these things.
Below them were luxury cars, airships, and just high-technology vehicles everywhere. Jack do not know how to feel as he quietly watched in awe. It was like seeing the underbelly of an entirely different civilization.
At this time, Lucy couldn't help but turn to him.
She couldn't put it accurately, but something about the way Jack was looking at everything was making her confused.