Lucian Blackwell had hit rock bottom.
He sat shirtless on a torn couch in his dim apartment, a half-finished bottle of cheap whiskey dangling from his fingers. His place smelled like instant noodles, sweat, and desperation—a mix he was painfully familiar with. The cracked television in front of him flickered every few seconds, though it hadn't shown a proper signal in days. The electricity was still on, for now. That was more than he could say for the water, which had been cut off three days ago.
No job. No prospects. No future.
Lucian used to dream of becoming something big—maybe a businessman, an investor, someone who walked into a room and made people pause. But that was before life spat in his face. His parents died in a car crash when he was seventeen. His inheritance? Stolen by some distant relatives who used legal jargon and backroom deals to strip him of everything. Since then, he'd been hustling through dead-end jobs, surviving on ramen, cheap booze, and whatever scraps life threw at him.
The only thing he had going for him now was that he hadn't jumped off a bridge yet.
He leaned back and let out a bitter laugh. "This is it, huh?" he muttered, staring at the ceiling. "This is how it ends."
Then, it happened.
Ding!
A sound echoed from his phone—clear, melodic, and unfamiliar. He blinked, sat up, and picked up the device from the table.
On the screen, a black background with glowing red text appeared:
> [Lust Exchange System Activated.]
[Welcome, Lucian Blackwell.]
[System Bound. Status: Irreversible.]
Lucian stared at it, confusion etched on his face.
"What the hell is this? Did I get hacked?"
He swiped, tapped, tried closing it, but nothing worked. The screen wouldn't change. A single button shimmered at the center.
[Begin]
He hesitated.
Part of him wanted to throw the phone against the wall, assuming it was some elaborate prank. Another part of him—desperate, curious—wanted to see where it led.
He pressed it.
> [Tutorial Mission Unlocked.]
[Target: Mia Lane – Age: 23 – Cashier at SevenMart, currently single. Lives next door.]
[Reward upon successful conquest: $500 cash, Charisma +1, Basic Massage Skill unlocked.]
[Requirement: Achieve genuine climax from target. Time Limit: 72 Hours.]
[Warning: Consent and authenticity are mandatory. Forceful acts will result in immediate system punishment.]
Lucian stared blankly at the glowing screen.
Mia Lane?
His neighbor?
He'd seen her a few times—brunette, slim waist, full lips, cold eyes. Always looked like she was in a rush. Barely spared him a glance even when they stood in the elevator together. She had a figure that made men snap their necks and a bitchy aura that said "don't bother."
Sleep with her? In three days?
"Bullshit," he muttered. "This can't be real."
But then another ding.
> [Mission Activated. Countdown Begins.]
Lucian felt the phone warm slightly in his hand, like it was alive. He looked around instinctively, heart racing. Was someone watching him? A hidden camera? A prank show?
He stood up, moved to the window, and peeked out.
No one.
The building was quiet as always.
His eyes drifted across the hallway through the small slit in his door.
And then he saw her.
Mia.
She was struggling with her grocery bags outside her apartment, dressed in a plain black tank top and tight jeans. Her hair was tied up in a lazy ponytail, strands clinging to her neck from sweat. Her keys were clenched between her teeth as she tried to juggle three plastic bags at once.
Lucian blinked.
> [Target Acquired. Seduction Progress: 0%]
He looked down at the phone. The words had updated on their own. His palms began to sweat.
"Okay…" he muttered. "Let's say, just for fun, this is real…"
He tossed on a wrinkled shirt and stepped outside, trying to act casual.
Mia glanced up.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Hey," she said, voice neutral.
Lucian forced a smile. "Need a hand?"
She paused.
Maybe it was the way he said it. Or maybe she was just tired of carrying her own weight today. Either way, she nodded and let him take the heaviest bag.
He followed her to her door.
"You just get off work?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said, fumbling with the keys. "Double shift. Manager's a dick."
> [Small Talk Initiated. Seduction Progress: 3%]
Lucian's brows twitched. He couldn't help but glance at the screen again. It was updating in real time.
"Sounds rough," he said smoothly. "You should let someone take care of you for once."
Mia glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "Is that your way of flirting?"
Lucian smirked. "Maybe."
> [Seduction Progress: 5%]
[Charisma Level: Normal]
She didn't reply immediately, but he noticed the corner of her lips twitch slightly, like she was hiding a smile. She opened the door to her apartment, dropped the bags inside, then looked back at him.
"You're weird," she said, "but thanks."
"No problem," he said, stepping back.
> [Progress Saved. Remaining Time: 71 Hours, 44 Minutes]
Lucian returned to his apartment and collapsed onto the couch again. The phone pulsed once more.
> [You have taken your first step toward depravity.]
[More targets will unlock as your charm and status grow.]
[Next reward tier: Passive Wealth Generation – Requires three successful conquests.]
[System Message: Use your tongue, your fingers, your voice. Use anything. Just make them feel real pleasure.]
He stared at the screen, heart thudding.
This wasn't a dream.
It wasn't a joke.
And for the first time in years, Lucian Blackwell felt something stir in his gut.
Hunger.
He closed his eyes and chuckled.
"Alright, you bastard system. Let's see how far I can take this."