The Unlimited Ascension: Reborn as an Extra

Chapter 111: Bound by a Soul Oath

"So what is it? What did you want to discuss?..."

Alen asked the question while leaning back in his wooden chair, looking at the two of them with a bored expression on his face.

"Well, let’s start with something simple... Ava, tell me about the last time you remember. What was different in the world back then compared to how it is now?..." L prompted gently.

Ava sat in her seat calmly. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before she answered.

"The last thing I remember is that, the technology was far less developed. Things like those massive holographic projections up in the sky, the new magical technology, and the advanced sensors around the city did not exist. Everything has developed so much more, and the world looks much more beautiful and peaceful than it did before..."

"The world centuries ago was chaotic, filled with constant, lurking problems and wars. But it seems that in due time, the world has gained more powerful people who protect it..."

L nodded in agreement at her observation.

"Yes... Centuries ago, when you were gone, the world was heavily chaotic. But now, as there are many ’Sages’ living in the world, it is comparatively more peaceful than before... It’s not like the crimes had completely stopped, but they have lessened. The genuine fear of strong people enforcing the law has made the crime rates drop."

"The technology has also developed because there were many talented engineers who were born in the modern era and made their name in the world. The overall economy of the Human Continent has increased rapidly. Now it is the second most powerful nation in the entire world...."

Alen looked at him curiously and asked a pressing question.

"Then who is the first?..."

L looked at him and answered without hesitation.

"Of course, it is the Dragon Realm... They are the strongest beings in existence and possess countless ancient treasures and artifacts, which are strong enough to wipe out any of the weaker continents..."

Alen looked surprised at the mere mention of powerful artifacts and untapped power.

A slow, greedy smile revealed itself on his lips at the thought of those legendary items. His innate instinct for stealing was fired up suddenly.

L looked at Alen’s weird smile with a suspicious expression, but he didn’t point it out. Instead, he returned his focus to Ava.

"So, if you don’t mind me asking, can you tell me a little bit about the Illuminati?..."

Ava looked at him. She remained silent for a long moment before she finally spoke.

"No, I can’t tell you about them... It is best for you to not know anything about them. If they ever found out you have sensitive information regarding their operations, they would send many people to hunt you down... You should stay as far away from them as possible..."

"And besides... I can’t reveal it to you. There is a powerful spell cast on my very soul. If I try to tell you any critical secrets about them, then my soul will be shattered before I could even say a few words..."

L’s expression widened in shock as he learned that she was magically bound and couldn’t tell them anything. But he didn’t pressure her for answers, as he didn’t want to hurt her or trigger the curse.

"It is okay, you don’t have to tell us anything. Just the fact that you are alive now is enough..."

A comfortable silence was maintained in the small hotel room for a minute.

"Hey," Alen started, breaking the silence.

"I remember you said earlier that you were 105 years old before you went into the Ascension Realm. I feel confused. How did you reach 105 years old when you were just in the 4th stage of the Ascension Realm? From the information I received, every person has to attempt the trial at least once a year. Even if you calculate the maximum number of trials and the years, it is still not possible to become that aged..."

Ava, L, and even little Ravena looked at Alen with strange, judging expressions.

After a few awkward seconds, L finally opened his mouth and spoke.

"You are truly clueless about everything, aren’t you? You seem to really not know anything about how this world functions.... Did someone feed you incomplete information?"

Alen folded his arms across his chest. He looked at L expressionlessly but didn’t comment on the insult, knowing the guy was not wrong.

"Sigh... Okay, the thing is, you are right about the basic rule. We have to complete the trials at least once a year... But that specific rule is only for the Awakener who has not yet passed Stage 1."

L held up a finger to explain.

"After getting your First Star and passing the first stage, no such rule applies to you anymore. You can then attempt the trials whenever you want. But yes, you can’t walk away from your chosen path. Even if you don’t attempt a trial for years, you must not forget your actual path. If you try to divert or abandon your calling, then the ’Ascension Realm’ will forcefully pull you inside and give you an insanely hard trial as a brutal punishment..."

Alen stared at L, processing the confirmation.

’Damn, that old bitch really just gave me incomplete information. That makes total sense now. If every single person had to complete a trial every year in the Ascension Realm, then everyone must have either died at a young age or reached the absolute top at a young age... But no, there are older people who exist in the world who are also Awakeners...’

’It seems that old lady thought I would not even pass Stage 1, so there was no need to tell me the rules in that much detail. F*ck, I will see her again when that I will reached Stage 1...’

L then turned his eyes back toward Ava.

"So tell me. What have you decided to do now? Do you mind sharing your plans with us?..."

Ava looked at them with a soft gaze and said,

"I don’t know... I don’t have any grand plans, at least not yet... Maybe I will just buy a quiet house and live in it while taking care of a small garden..."

She looked out at the empty air, picturing a peaceful life.

L looked at her with a soft smile.

"Oh, that is great. I will come over for tea whenever I get the time..."

Ava nodded in agreement.

"I will welcome you anytime..."

Alen stared at the two of them, giving them a flat look.

"By the way, how are you going to buy a house? You don’t have any money left, do you?..."

Ava looked at him and replied smoothly.

"Don’t worry about that. I still have access to my own inventory, and it seems there are enough gold coins stored inside to buy a large mansion and live in it peacefully..."

"Wait, you have that much money?!"

Alen looked at her in pure shock.

’F*ck, it seems I am the only broke person in this room with no money left...’

’I had invested almost every single bit of money I got—after scamming those childhood sweethearts—into buying shares of different businesses back in the Blue City... Now I am completely broke. F*ck!’

As Ava and L started to discuss this and that regarding the modern world, Alen stood up from his chair.

Both of them paused their conversation and looked up at him. He answered their unspoken question calmly.

"I am going out for training after buying something to eat. You two should go out to eat something as well..."

L nodded.

"By the way, where are you going for your training?..."

Alen hesitated, unsure whether to tell him the location or not.

"Well, there is an old abandoned park near the edge of the city. It is a perfect spot for my training..."

"Mhmm... Okay, we will also join you there after we are done eating..." L offered.

Alen looked at him with clear annoyance but didn’t reply to the offer. Instead, he looked down at Ravena.

"Hey, are you coming?"

She turned her crimson eyes toward him and crossed her tiny arms.

"No way, I am not going to come with you. I am an independent lady..."

"Hmph! Independent? You are just a toddler. Don’t do anything fishy behind my back while I am gone, or I am going to beat you..."

"Hey, don’t you dare!!!" Ravena shouted back.

Alen turned around and walked away toward the door.

*Creak-!* *Thud!*

"F*ck that bastard!"

Ravena cursed as she folded her arms tight and puffed her small cheeks in anger.

L started to stroke little Ravena’s dark hair as the spirit leaned against him.

Ava turned her gaze toward L and asked a quiet question.

"Why are you hiding your true identity?..."

L didn’t look surprised that she brought it up. He knew she had found out his secret way earlier.

"Well... I have some difficult circumstances which force me to do this... And thank you for not revealing that to the others..."

Ava nodded calmly and offered a genuine promise.

"If you ever need any help from me, you can ask for it anytime. I owe both of you my life..."

L smiled warmly at her kind words.

"I will surely ask you if I truly ever need your help..."

The atmosphere in the room became incredibly warm, as there were fewer secrets existing between them compared to before.

Everyone has deep secrets in their life. It is best not to talk about everything—not because we do not trust the other person, and not because they will turn against us, but because revealing too much might cause the relationship to change and cause unnecessary worry. Sometimes it is best to not know everything in life; some secrets are simply good to keep hidden.