The sun was just beginning to filter between the skyscrapers of Aurora City.
The distant sounds of magnetic trains and various holographic ads awakened the metropolis that never rested.
Blake opened his eyes slowly.
For a moment, he doubted whether the events of the previous night had been merely an illusion or a dream. However, the blue-toned digital interface reappeared before his gaze.
> Current Balance: $400.00
> Level: 2 (Initiate)
> Passive Skill: Passive Attraction [Active]
> Ongoing Mission: Contact a person with medium or high influence level.
---
Name: Valeria Chen
Age: 25
Height: 1.72 m
Hair color: Jet black, straight, long down to the waist
Eye color: Light gray
Influence level: Medium-High
Usual location: Lux Avenue commercial district, designer cafés, brand events
---
Blake got up, rubbing his face slowly.
—So it wasn't a lie. Now I have to try to win over this Valeria Chen —muttered Blake.
The system remained in constant activity, and apparently, he couldn't afford rest either.
He looked at himself in the bathroom mirror.
Dark circles, messy dark hair, but… something in his expression had changed.
His eyes no longer reflected resignation, but a renewed determination: a different spark.
He washed his face with cold water and looked at himself again in the mirror.
—From being a failure to… having the "Supreme Playboy" system. Sounds ridiculous. —he murmured with a hint of irony—. But if it works, it works, I suppose.
> [Positive mindset detected. Charisma increased by 2%.]
Blake exhaled slowly.
—You really know how to motivate people, damn system.
He chose his clothes with more care than usual. Although he didn't own luxurious suits, he opted for a dark shirt, clean jeans, and a simple jacket.
He didn't want to appear wealthy, but confident—something he was only just beginning to understand.
---
The train carried him to the central district of Lux Avenue, the commercial core of Aurora City.
The place shone even in broad daylight: giant screens, luxury boutiques, cafés with exorbitant prices, and hovercars passing by as symbols of power.
Blake walked among the shop windows.
Before, he would have avoided eye contact, feeling out of place.
But now, he kept a relaxed pace.
The effect was immediate: some glances turned toward him, as if his energy naturally drew attention.
> [Passive Attraction activated.]
> [Social perception temporarily increased by 12%.]
He stopped in front of the "Lux Core" mall. There, according to the system's data, was Valeria Chen.
An influencer with more than two million followers, the face of renowned fashion brands, and, according to the system, with a medium-high level of influence.
—Perfect —thought Blake—. A celebrity… If I mess this up, things could get complicated.
Even so, he gathered his courage and entered the building.
The main lobby was full of cameras, flashes, and a small audiovisual production team.
Valeria was there, taking photos in front of an expensive silver sports car.
She was tall, with dark hair with golden highlights, and an expression and smile rehearsed to perfection. Due to her work as an influencer, she always had to maintain a smile.
She radiated control, perfection, and a powerful presence.
Blake observed her from a prudent distance for a few seconds.
> [Target analysis: initial interest 5%. Self-confidence level: high.]
> [Recommendation: avoid showing need or admiration. Maintain professional posture.]
Blake took a deep breath.
This time, he couldn't just improvise like he had with Camila. Valeria was used to men constantly trying to impress her, so if he wanted to stand out, he had to break the usual patterns of interaction.
Suddenly, a crew member tripped over a cable, causing a lamp to tilt dangerously. Without even thinking, Blake moved and caught it just before it fell.
—Are you okay? —he asked the assistant.
—Y-yes, thank you. —Blake replied, brushing himself off.
Valeria noticed.
—Good reflexes —she said, with a curious tone.
Blake turned toward her, showing neither surprise nor nervousness at what he had done.
—I suppose I had to justify my grand entrance somehow.
Valeria raised an eyebrow.
—Your grand entrance?
—Yes —he said, smiling—. If I'm going to appear in your shoot, at least let it be for something useful.
> [Interest +6%. Total: 11%.]
Valeria smiled.
—I admit that was… clever. Are you a model or something?
Blake shook his head.
—Just someone with good timing.
> [Language of Seduction activated.]
> [Tone adjusted: relaxed, 5% deeper.]
She looked him up and down.
—Curious. You don't seem like the type who just happens to stumble onto a shoot.
Blake shrugged.
—And you don't seem like the type who smiles for fun, but here we are, what can I say.
For the first time, Valeria laughed genuinely.
The assistant interrupted them to announce a break.
Valeria, still curious, looked at him.
—Are you staying around for a while?
—Depends. If the company's worth it, then yes.
---
They walked to a café inside the complex.
People stared at them, some recognizing Valeria, others wondering who the man with her was.
Blake noticed, but didn't falter.
That was the trick: behave as if he already belonged there. He wanted the situation to revolve around him, not the other way around.
—So, Valeria Chen —he said, as they sat down—, the woman who makes thousands of people buy the same coffee just because you're holding it.
She raised an eyebrow.
—Is that a critique or a compliment?
Blake looked at her steadily and smiled.
—Well, that depends. Do you want it to be?
> [Interest +12%. Total: 23%.]
> [Emotion detected: Amusement.]
Valeria rested her chin on one hand, smiling.
—You have a rather… interesting way of speaking. You must be an actor, don't lie.
—No. I just learned the skill of listening to people.
The system vibrated.
> [Passive skill activated: Emotional Synchrony.]
> [Dominant emotion: curiosity.]
Blake relaxed even more. He no longer felt like he was pretending. For the first time, he felt like he was projecting his presence.
---
After a while, Valeria received a call and had to leave.
Before leaving, she approached him.
—Tomorrow I have a presentation at the SkyLounge. You could drop by if you want.
—As a guest or lighting assistant? Because I'd charge for both —Blake joked.
—Whatever you prefer, Mr. Cocky. —she replied, with a smile that lingered longer than necessary.
> [Progress: 32%.]
> [New mission unlocked: "Shine at the SkyLounge event."]
> [Objective: project authority in front of high-status figures.]
Blake watched her walk away among flashes and cameras. Before, he would have admired her from afar, but now he understood something the system couldn't teach him: real power lay in not needing to impress anyone to shine.
---
As he left the mall, Aurora City greeted him with its usual chaos. Cars rushing everywhere and enormous screens filled with ads.
Blake smiled to himself. He was still a nobody and probably lacked everything. But, for the first time, he felt he was on the right path.
> [Partial reward: +$800.]
> [Total balance: $1,200.]
> [Level 3 unlocked.]
> [New skill: Social Persuasion – increases projected confidence in high-status environments.]
The wind stirred his jacket as he walked along Lux Avenue. After a while, staring at the billboards, Blake smiled.
—Then, it's time to start acting as if I already had it.
And for the first time since that night on the bridge, he felt like a player in a video game he had never tried before. One whose rules he was only just beginning to learn.