Chapter 2

**Limitless**, the plot of this movie is actually not very complicated.

Eddie Morra, the male protagonist, was originally a loser who had been dumped by his girlfriend. He finally got a book commission but couldn't write a single word.

One day, he obtained a small transparent pill called NZT-48 from his ex-wife's brother, who he ran into on the street.

Although the pill doesn't look impressive, its effects are quite powerful.

It can activate the potential in the human brain and stimulate the nerve endings in the brain within thirty seconds, making it, in a sense, a "Viagra" specifically for the brain.

This small transparent pill called NZT-48 can unlock every neural joint in the brain, giving the user a photographic memory and exceptional learning abilities.

For example, one can learn a complex language in a day, easily understand complicated formulas and equations, and win the favor of anyone with witty and appropriate language in a short time.

Of course, all these benefits depend on continuous use of the pill. Once the effects wear off, the user reverts to their original state.

This is not the biggest problem, however. Long-term use of NZT-48 can also cause many side effects.

Initially, these side effects include severe headaches, vomiting, and dizziness. Later, the user may start to experience memory gaps.

Ultimately, the person may suffer from various diseases due to the collapse of their immune system, leading to an early death.

Unaware of the side effects of NZT-48, Eddie Morra quickly transformed from a loser into an elite human due to the drug's effects.

To put it bluntly, his brain, after taking the pill, worked as efficiently as a computer's central processing unit.

Not only could he remember everything related to his experiences, but also everything he saw, read, or even heard by chance, would be deeply imprinted in his mind and readily available for use.

With such a powerful brain, Eddie first spent four days completing his novel, then began to dabble in the stock market and financial markets.

Unexpectedly, he had a good start and made a substantial amount of money, much to the amazement of his peers.

Eddie Morra's outstanding ability to make money soon caught the attention of financial tycoon Carl Van Loon. After personally experiencing Eddie Morra's genius, Carl wanted to recruit him to his team, seeing him as a new "economic growth point."

As the saying goes, "The head of the bird gets shot."

Eddie Morra's conspicuous success soon brought him significant trouble. First, he was targeted by mysterious assassins, and then by the loan shark who had lent him money, both aiming to get their hands on NZT-48.

Moreover, as he continued to take NZT-48, the side effects began to manifest one after another.

Fortunately, being the protagonist, despite numerous issues, Eddie Morra eventually managed to escape these dangers and became a popular politician.

Writing novels, making money in finance, and becoming a politician—this process, in Liu Rui'an's view, is the standard development path of a protagonist in an urban web novel.

Unfortunately, Liu Rui'an knew that this model was not suitable for the Marvel world.

He believed that even if he didn't attract the attention of villains like HYDRA, organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. would be more than willing to have a "talk" with him.

Holding the large bag of transparent pills, Liu Rui'an felt a sense of unreality.

Considering he still had to stay in the **Limitless** world for a month, to minimize the risks and maximize the benefits of his trip, Liu Rui'an hesitated for only a few seconds before taking one NZT-48 pill from the plastic bag and swallowing it.

The transparent pill quickly entered his body with saliva and began to take effect after thirty seconds.

The sudden change in his senses made Liu Rui'an feel as if the world had brightened. No, it wasn't just a feeling; it was a fact.

His originally dark pupils became increasingly transparent and profound.

At that moment, Liu Rui'an's brain had transformed from a calculator into a quantum computer.

All the information he had seen, read, or even heard by chance was now neatly stored in his brain.

The vast amount of information could be accessed at any time, giving Liu Rui'an an indescribable sense of comfort.

Knowing that every second after taking the pill was precious, Liu Rui'an, unlike the protagonist Eddie Morra in the original story, did not waste time.

After confirming that the person he had knocked out was deeply unconscious, Liu Rui'an quickly formulated a plan and began to act.

To minimize his presence, Liu Rui'an repurposed the entire room.

Useful items were collected into a handbag he found, including the food and clothes Eddie Morra had just picked up from a fast-food restaurant and a laundromat.

After freshening up and making some "modifications" to his face, Liu Rui'an used the room's phone and fluent American English to report the murder, then calmly left the apartment.

Liu Rui'an spent enough time and effort to completely erase all traces of his departure.

By the time he emerged from a large mall, his appearance and attire were completely different from before.

With the help of cosmetics and some props, his appearance had also changed significantly.

Even the people in the **Limitless** world would not be able to connect the current Liu Rui'an with the person who left the apartment, and even his acquaintances would not recognize him if he didn't speak.

Knowing what he needed most, Liu Rui'an, after cleaning up the traces, dove into the largest library in the area.

Living off savings was not Liu Rui'an's style, especially not after taking the pill.

For two weeks, Liu Rui'an, taking one NZT-48 pill each day, continuously absorbed a vast amount of knowledge in chemistry, medicine, and biology.

Given the significant side effects of NZT-48, it was crucial to research and improve the drug as soon as possible.

In addition, Liu Rui'an did not neglect studying topics that could enhance his safety, such as medicine, combat, and firearms.

After two weeks, Liu Rui'an, now an expert in chemistry, biology, and pharmaceuticals, published several high-quality papers on the internet through several prestigious universities and specialized academic websites.

The core content of these papers revolved around a topic called "God's Forbidden Zone."

The concept of "God's Forbidden Zone" was not Liu Rui'an's original idea. It refers to the nearly 90% of the human brain that cannot be utilized by humans.

Some have said that if humans could fully utilize their brains, they would be equivalent to gods.

The high-quality papers quickly attracted attention in the industry.

As the originator, Liu Rui'an, as expected, received many invitations.

These invitations came from universities, academic circles, and private laboratories, all hoping to discuss the "God's Forbidden Zone" topic with Liu Rui'an and explore potential collaborations.

After spending another week visiting several universities and private laboratories, Liu Rui'an, with his exceptional knowledge, not only obtained a legal identity but also secured a well-paid research position.

Liu Rui'an was well aware that, given his mysterious background, he could never gain the trust of the powerful entities behind the laboratory.

However, trust or lack thereof was irrelevant. All he needed was a convenient environment for research and drug production.

Just before the deadline for his stay in the **Limitless** world, Liu Rui'an successfully developed the next generation of NZT-48.

This new drug, named NZT-50, was the second generation, developed based on the original.

While retaining the drug's effects, the new NZT-50 had minimized the side effects as much as possible.

Further reducing the side effects was not impossible, but it would require lowering the drug's effectiveness, which was unnecessary for Liu Rui'an, who had a clear plan.

Before the deadline, Liu Rui'an successfully manufactured enough pills for himself and returned to his room in the laboratory, citing the need to rest.

When the laboratory staff broke in and found the room, they were shocked to discover that the person had vanished without a trace.

Liu Rui'an, who reappeared in the alley, was completely unconcerned about any events that might occur in the **Limitless** world due to his mysterious disappearance.

Unlike his狼狈 state a month ago, the Liu Rui'an who reappeared in the alley looked like a successful person.

"Phew..."

After taking a deep breath and reminding himself that even in his current state, he was still in danger in this world, Liu Rui'an calmed down and left the alley.

He hailed a taxi on the street and asked the driver to take him to the largest jewelry store in the area.

When Liu Rui'an emerged from the jewelry store, he had a black briefcase filled with dollars from this world.

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**End of Chapter**