Side Effects of the Third Serum

Miles was on the train, going to headquarters. It has been some time since he topped his physical points. Now he could use the third serum and thus start to work up his strength once again. Of course, there was one other thing holding him back from consuming the third serum.

The third and fourth strengthening Serums were much more effective than the first two. Starting with the third, the serums would strengthen the smooth muscles and cardiac muscles as well. Meaning, Miles's inner organs would be destroyed to be healed once again. Including his heart.

He arrived at headquarters and entered without anything covering his face this time, and was greeted by the soldiers at the door.

"Sir, welcome sir!" Soldiers gave military salutes. Yes, Miles didn't come as Ezio this time and as himself instead. With the population of a couple of billions, there were a small few rare individuals who used Strengthening Serum when they were still in Grace-Rank. Unlike him, they would use the first or second strengthening at the peak of Grace-Rank when they either learned Energy or started to master it. Like Suchiru Kai, he could use energy despite being a Grace-Rank hunter.

But the third Strengthening Serum was something no one in G-Circle ever used before. It would raise quite a few alarms, so he couldn't purchase it with a fake name and had to do it with his real identity.

So instead of risking it, he decided to come clean and use serums as himself. He of course could purchase serums from the black market, but he knew how risky that was. And more expensive too, so he wasn't willing to gamble with his body.

Miles greeted the guards and walked to the paymaster. He recognized the guy from previous times.

"Mr. Cross, welcome. Do you want me to inform Ms. Cross?" He asked, then remembered Miles was here to use the Mind Serum not long ago with the help of the top scientist Evelyn. He heard who the person was later through gossip, and recognized Miles. He also heard he already used two Strengthening Serums, and perhaps was here to use the second Mind Serum.

"Hello again. I would like to use the third Strengthening Serum." Miles spoke politely. When the paymaster heard what Miles said, he felt like his brain had a short circuit. He initially thought Miles came for sequencing Strengthening Serum but then discarded that thought. After all, it was something impossible as far as he knew.

He wouldn't dare to think he really capped his potential and reached the maximum the second serum could offer and was still ready to use the next one. That was something never heard of before. Even people at Form-Rank, wouldn't use the third serum without ample preparations.

While it was easier to resist Serum's side effects with the help of energy, it was still something the human body could hardly stand this young. Not many people in Form-Rank would be unwilling to use the third serum and wait to reach the peak of the rank first.

After all, there were always risks of death or permanent injury while using the serum, and no one in their right mind who could easily advance to Form-Rank with their superpowers only would risk their lives for bodily strength.

But the person in front of him already used the second serum, and now he was using the third one while he was still in Grace-Rank. The paymaster decided to talk Miles out of it, "Mr. Cross. You should think things thoroughly. The third serum is very dangerous, and even people at top of Form-Rank succumbed to its effects before.

There are more than thousands of people who tried it before the peak of Form-Rank and crippled their foundations. It is admirable that you were able to use two serums in Grace-Rank, but that should be the human limit."

Miles knew that the paymaster was warning him out of goodwill, so he wasn't angry when he heard him. He only smiled, and said, "I am confident in my abilities. Please help me with purchasing."

Paymaster looked like he still had things to say, but a man appeared behind him and stopped him from talking. "Just do your damn job, and stop snooping in others' business. If he is adequate, sell the damn medicine, if he is not, kick his ass from the lab."

Miles wasn't angry when he heard the man, he was instead amused. "Hey Uncle Roger, you are as Jolly as ever." He asked with a smile.

"You know me brat. I am as happy as a dying pirate." He snickered and added, "I am proud of your achievements, Miles! You are a hero just like any other Cross, boy." He of course said those words to pamper Miles's self-esteem. Roger was close to Evelyn and knew Miles too.

Roger knew he was always depressed when he failed to awaken when he was small, after all, Miles was always in that lab when he was a kid. Roger uttered those words, firstly because he was proud of Miles, secondly, he wanted to give him some confidence.

Of course, he was still surprised when he heard Miles wanted to purchase the third serum. When they encountered each other last time, he already realized Miles had used a serum before, but he didn't know Miles had used the second unlike he surmised.

But when he remembered he was a Cross, it was normal after all. Merlin too used the first two serums when he just stepped into Form-Rank in a short interval. Who among the young generation could do what Merlin did? And now, Miles was using the third serum while he was still in Grace-Rank.

"Thanks, Uncle Roger." Miles of course knew what Roger was doing, but he felt thankful instead. "Can I count on you to keep this from my mother?"

"Of course. This is confidential after all, so don't worry." Roger said and looked at the paymaster. "You know it too, right?" He asked uncannily.

"Ye-yes, sir!" Paymaster stuttered and took Miles to the testing room.