Adam stood across the street from the glowing five-star hotel, rain still pouring down.
"Acting all confident and shit, but how the hell do I sleep in there without money?"
[Mission Reminder: Find a place to stay tonight without spending money.]
[Pro Tip: The best con artists don't lie. They just sell the truth wrapped in confidence.]
"That's… mildly concerning advice, System."
[You want to sleep in the rain, Princess?]
He narrowed his eyes.
"You're kind of a little bitch, huh?"
[You're literally talking to a glowing screen in the middle of the street. Let's focus, shall we?]
Adam exhaled sharply through his nose. Alright. Fine.
He looked down at himself. Soaked, bruised, no phone battery. He didn't even look like he belonged near the building, let alone inside it.
Still… he had one thing left.
His brain.
He spotted a sleek black sports car parked just in front of the hotel entrance. Instantly, an idea sparked.
Adam ran his fingers through his soaked hair, straightened his torn shirt, and crossed the street with careful steps, keeping his head low to avoid drawing attention.
As he neared the car, he pretended to pull out a phone from his soaked pocket. Of course, it was dead. But he held it like it was still working, raising his voice just enough for people nearby to hear.
"Yeah, I'm still stuck. I took the wrong route, and the car broke down three blocks from the house. This is a nightmare."
He turned slightly, angling his body just right, casually resting his hand on the hood of the black car like it was his.
"My room should've been reserved already! Goddammit, Dad, what am I supposed to do now? Sleep on the street? Just send a chopper or buy the hotel in front of me—I don't care, just do something! I am a Goldbourne for God's sake."
His voice was calm, annoyed—but not desperate. Rich people didn't sound desperate.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed a man watching him from the lounge window—a middle-aged businessman, suit slightly wrinkled, eyes heavy with stress.
The man frowned, clearly listening. Curious.
Adam sighed, loud enough to sell the act, and "hung up."
[Great acting, Host. I didn't know you were that talented.]
"Thanks for the compliment. I guess."
Inside the lounge, the businessman leaned forward, curious. He had the look of someone in trouble—someone looking for hope or opportunity.
Adam gave him a brief glance—just enough to hook interest—and turned his body like he was about to leave.
Sure enough, the man stood up and came outside.
"Excuse me," the businessman said, voice polite but cautious. "Did I hear right—Goldbourne?"
"Yes. Adam Goldbourne. Sorry, I'm a mess. Long story."
The businessman hesitated. He looked Adam up and down—saw the wet hair, the bruised cheek… but then, he saw the shoes.
They were muddy and scuffed now—but they were $1,500 Italian leather. He knew, because his company was also in the fashion business.
His gaze shifted to Adam's shirt—torn slightly, but unmistakably designer. Custom buttons.
The man narrowed his eyes.
"Goldbourne as in… Goldbourne Corp?"
Adam gave a tired smile. "The one and only."
[Pro Tip: Humans believe what they want to believe. Let the dots connect themselves. Don't oversell it.]
The man chuckled, then hesitated again. "I'm Daniel Rowe. CEO of RoseMark Apparel."
Adam's eyes lit up just slightly—recognition, but not too eager. "Of course. You guys handle boutique-level suits. Clean work."
Daniel's brow lifted. He knows fashion?
Daniel folded his arms, studying Adam a moment longer.
"You said your car broke down?" he asked.
Adam gave a tired shrug. "Yeah."
He left it at that—just enough to sound frustrated, but not desperate. Too proud to ask for help, but not too proud to accept it. It was a careful balance, and it was exactly what he needed to finally get the room.
'Smart, handsome guy who knows his fashion, and a Goldbourne too' Daniel thought, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. 'Seems like this guy was sent by God to help me. Thank you, God, for breaking down his car.'
Adam caught the flicker of a smirk forming on Daniel's face, and his heart skipped a beat. 'I've got him. He's taking the bait.'
Daniel's smirk lingered as he looked Adam up and down one more time. Whatever hesitation he had was gone now—replaced by opportunity, curiosity… maybe even a little hope.
"I hate to say this out loud," Daniel began, voice smooth and casual, "but I'd be a damn fool to let a Goldbourne walk off into the rain."
Adam tilted his head slightly, just enough to acknowledge the compliment without showing too much interest. "I'm sure I'll figure something out."
Daniel laughed, shaking his head. "Come on inside. Dry off. At least let me offer you a drink—then you can decide if you want to stay or not."
Adam paused, pretending to weigh the offer like it was a minor inconvenience rather than exactly what he'd been aiming for all along. Then he gave a slow nod. "Alright."
"Perfect." Daniel stepped back and motioned toward the hotel's golden doors. "After you."
Adam moved with practiced ease, every step careful and measured. Not too fast—don't look eager. Not too slow—don't look suspicious. He passed the doorman, who opened the door without a word, likely assuming he was some VIP or relative of Daniel.
As he continued walking behind Daniel into the hotel, he heard a sharp ringing sound in his brain, making him stop in his tracks and wince in pain.
Daniel turned around as he heard Adam make a painful noise. "Are you alright?" he asked, panicking, struggling to think what to do.
Before Adam could ask him for any help, the ringing stopped, and the blue screen popped in front of him with the familiar sound of the system echoing in his brain.
[Mission Complete!]
[+100 Comeback Points!]
[+1 Free Skill Spin Unlocked!]
[Optional Bonus: You've made a valuable connection with a CEO. This may lead to unexpected opportunities.]
[Damn, didn't expect you to actually complete the first mission and that too so smoothly. You are a smooth criminal, host.]
Daniel, a bit confused, saw Adam staring in front of him with focus. "Are you alright... Do you want me to call a doctor?"
"No, no, everything's fine. Just felt a sharp pain in my head—probably from getting cold outside in the rain," Adam responded hastily.
Adam continued moving on like nothing happened, stealing glances at the screen and focusing on the voice in his head.
[Do you want to spin for skill right now?]
"Hell yeah," Adam muttered to himself, following Daniel to the hotel's bar.
[Skill Wheel Activated. Spin in 3… 2… 1…]
A glowing wheel appeared in Adam's vision, spinning wildly with labels like:
Silver Tongue
Memory Recall (Photographic)
Dancing skills
Investor's Instinct
Emotional Poker Face
Pickpocket
It slowed… clicked… and stopped on:
[Congratulations! You have unlocked: Culinary Conjurer (Lv1) – You have an innate talent for turning basic ingredients into surprisingly delicious dishes.]
Adam blinked, stunned for a moment as he processed the new skill that had just been handed to him. 'Culinary Conjurer? Really?'
"Well, that's... unexpected," he muttered under his breath.
[You wanted a skill, didn't you? Be thankful it wasn't 'Pickpocket.']
Adam shot a glance at the screen, keeping his face neutral. 'Culinary Conjurer, huh?' Well, he'd take it. It wasn't like he had much of a choice, and who knew? Maybe it'd come in handy. It was better than nothing.
Finally pulling his eyes away from the screen in front of him, Adam looked around at the bar. It was very futuristic, as you'd expect from a five-star hotel.
The bar had dark wood counters, glowing liquor shelves, and soft amber lighting. Leather stools lined the counter, creating a cozy, relaxed vibe.
Daniel, still worried about Adam's health, motioned to a seat at the bar. "Please, make yourself comfortable. It's the least I can do. I'll have bring you something so just stay seated and get comfortable."
Adam gave him a warm smile and took the seat as Daniel went to the bartender to order drinks for them.
[Pro tip: Say 'status' to display your status screen to look at your stats and skills and improve them using comebackpoints.]
'Damn, let me try that really quick.' Adam thought, maintaining his calm as he waited for Daniel to finally return.