The airships of the Annapurna Financial Guild carved lazy circles through Autumnvale’s amber sky like predators marking territory. Vincent watched them from his Sector 3 office, each vessel a reminder of the delicate ecosystem of power he navigated daily. The corporate district sprawled below—spiritlamps casting their ethereal glow between the harsh electric lines that fed the city’s appetite for progress.
His reflection caught his eye in the window’s surface. Composed. Calculating. The face of a man who’d learned to smile while sharpening knives.
The soft rustle of fabric announced Olivia’s presence behind him. She stood with her tablet, fingers dancing across its surface in the particular rhythm of soone managing a dozen crises simultaneously. When she finally spoke, her voice carried the careful neutrality of soone who’d learned not to interrupt Vincent’s contemplations.
"The Annapurna envoy hit turbulence over the ridian Peaks. They’re requesting accommodation in one of our private vault suites for their finance wardens."
Vincent’s lips curved—barely. "Grant it. Let them feel important."
"Should I prepare talking points for when they inevitably probe about our quarterly projections?"
"Not yet. Let’s test the waters first." He turned from the window, the movent deliberate as a chess piece sliding into position. "But monitor ridian Enterprises. The mont they catch wind of uncertainty, they won’t sit back."
He planned to give up his corporation’s neutral stance and ally with Annapurna Financial Guild... at least temporarily. This decision hadn’t co to him on a whim. Cornelius Corporation had been stagnant for too long and would start lagging behind if he didn’t act soon. The mont his corporation fell out of the top ten, everything would go down like a landslide.
Olivia nodded and tapped her screen, then lingered. "Anything else?"
Vincent finally looked away from the skyline. "Yes."
"Send a bouquet of white callias to the headmistress. And a reminder gift to Remo D’Souza—he still owes a favor."
Her brows lifted just slightly. "That won’t change academy policy."
"No," Vincent said. "But it might change how they enforce it."
Vincent acknowledged that Celestial Academy wasn’t under his control. It was run independently and influenced by multiple major corporations—not sothing his mid-tier company could dominate. He knew he couldn’t pressure the academy directly. But he planned to exploit loopholes, relationships, and perception using dia influence or by leveraging Helena’s public image.
She paused. "Do we need to discuss Helena Darrow’s onboarding tiline?"
He waved her off. "The academy won’t make it easy. But I’ll work the angles they allow."
Olivia lingered another breath before leaving. He heard the door close with a soft click.
Then he moved—swift, deliberate.
Back to his desk. Into his chair. And with a flick of thought, the System responded.
[SYSTEM ACTIVE]
Role: Corporate Villain
VP: 780 | LP: 240
Protagonist LP: Liam Darrow – 760
Narrative Status: Suppressed
LP Advantage: Active
Active Favorability Links:
Helena Darrow – 71/100 (Respect Subtle Attraction)
Rina hra – 34/100 (Low Trust, Emotionally Unstable)
Vincent tapped his fingers against the polished desk.
"Rina hra. Not dangerous, but essential. That brat thinks she’ll co. His proof he’s good. If she shifts even slightly... his script collapses."
He pulled up her file again—school records, health logs, parental debts, psychological flags.
"Emotionally dependent. Financially exposed. Lacking backbone."
He tilted his head.
"But also... not bitter. Just tired. The kind who clings to the first person who offers stability. She’s cute too. Totally soone a protagonist would target first."
And now, he would be that person.
Although he wasn’t really interested in Rina romantically, her academic achievents caught his eye. She was the only scholarship student in an extraordinary academy like Celestial Academy, which could even be considered among the top 3 universities in the country. This was impressive because mostly only heirs of rich corporations or their connections entered such universities in this world.
"And since our protagonist is pursuing her, how can I let it be?"
[New Task Unlocked]
Objective: Pull Rina Away from Protagonist
Offer emotional protection, visibility, or opportunity.
Reward: VP 150 | LP 25 | Liam LP -25
Vincent smiled.
"This one’s worth so investnt."
He opened the System Store. He had delayed it for quite a while because he wanted to accumulate enough to be left with so as a safety net after purchase.
[SYSTEM STORE – TIER 1 ACCESS]
Available VP: 780
🔹 Social Skills Catalog
Public Speaking (Basic) – 100 VP
Natural Charisma Boost (Aura Level I) – 150 VP
Social Presence: Subtle Favor Bias (Active Perk) – 300 VP
🔹 Reputation Tools
Background Adjustnt (Minor File Tamper) – 200 VP
Anonymous Influence Pack – Press Leak Option – 250 VP
Vincent hovered his finger above the screen. For a second, he actually chuckled.
"Charm or bias... which lie sells better?"
Then, in a whisper:
"Why not both?"
[Purchase Confird – "Aura Level I: Natural Charisma Boost"]
Adds a soft subconscious glow to the user’s presence.
Increases first impressions, emotional reception, and general likability by 12–18% in social settings.
Passive. Stackable with reputation modifiers. Effects may decrease with the higher the individual’s position.
[VP -150 | Remaining VP: 630]
He leaned forward again.
The "Subtle Favor Bias" perk blinked next to it. He thought of Olivia’s sidelong glances. Future boardroom debates. Even minor allies shifting a few degrees in his favor was worth far more than 300 points.
[Purchase Confird – "Social Presence: Subtle Favor Bias (Active Perk)"]
Adds a soft, perception-level narrative bias in favor of Vincent during public or semi-public encounters.
Boosts group favor, dampens suspicion, and increases grace period for mistakes.
Works best in etings, social gatherings, and contested conversations.
Has a cooldown after major use.
[VP -300 | Remaining VP: 330]
No thunder. No fanfare. But Vincent felt it—a warmth around his chest. Like the air around him had changed tone. Softer and more inviting.
Even the room seed to hold him differently now.
He leaned back, content.
"This won’t just tilt Rina. It’ll tilt her entire class."
Then the mont shifted.
The system chid again. A red shimr this ti. An alert.
[Passive Alert: Favorability Link Interference Detected]
Origin: Rina hra
Liam Darrow LP 10 | Vincent LP -10
Vincent’s eyes narrowed.
"What...?"
His LP had just decreased? That was possible?
He growled under his breath. Liam had made a move on the girl. Sothing soft. Maybe comfort. Maybe nostalgia.
Didn’t matter.
"He’s more desperate than I thought."
But that was fine.
A plan was already forming in his mind.
[SYSTEM STATUS]
Vincent LP: 230 (-10) | Liam LP: 770 ( 10)
Remaining VP: 330
Vincent tapped the desk again. Slowly.
He smirked.
"Liam, since you’re so eager to get close to her, I’ll help you out."
He leaned back, satisfied.
"That’s a good investnt," he said aloud—then chuckled softly. "I almost look forward to soone challenging now."
He didn’t regret spending so many points. He could always take more from his new piggy bank: Liam.
He closed the System.
He lay down on his king-sized bed and thought to himself, "I should bring so company ho. It’s too lonely for a young... no, rich man like ."
He thought about the blonde woman from when he woke up but didn’t dwell on it. She had disappeared, and he had been too busy and overwheld to give her another thought.
He closed his eyes and soon the lingering thoughts faded away.
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