Chapter 3: Launch, Lust, and the Stranger's Gaze
The scent of freshly brewed espresso mixed with tension in the air. Kael Veyron stood near the glass window of Mira's boutique café, watching the digital clock on his phone count down to zero.
10:59 AM… 11:00 AM
> [System Notification: Startup Launch Protocol – Initiated]
The digital storefront for TrendSpark went live.
Mira, dressed in a tailored white blouse and sleek black skirt that hugged her curves a little too distractingly, stood beside Kael with a bright smile and nerves hidden beneath layers of elegance. Her long dark hair was tied up in a high ponytail, exposing the delicate line of her neck — something Kael tried very hard not to notice.
She tapped the tablet in her hands and checked real-time analytics. "We've got sixty-eight concurrent users already."
Kael barely had time to process before the counter jumped.
68 → 142 → 308 → 577…
> [System Notification: Early Surge Bonus Triggered – +$500 and Passive Popularity Buff (24hrs)]
"What the hell…" he muttered, eyes wide.
Mira laughed, a sound like wind chimes. "What? Surprised people like your work?"
"I'm not used to this. Being... liked," Kael admitted.
She glanced sideways at him, biting her lower lip. "Well, get used to it. I might just be your first fangirl."
His heart skipped — not because of her words, but the look in her eyes. Mischief. Challenge. Warmth.
> [Affection Level: Mira A. Lin – 42%]
Threshold approaching: Physical Affection unlocked at 50%
---
Things weren't all smooth.
Three hours into the launch, the influx of orders caused backend lag. A few product images didn't load, and customers began spamming the support chat.
Kael dove into the admin panel while Mira juggled influencer calls, feedback loops, and damage control. It was chaos — pure, glorious chaos — and yet Kael felt alive.
The system chimed again:
> [Emergency Task: Stabilize Server Performance in Under 10 Minutes]
Reward: "Programmer's Flow" Buff – Focus + Coding Speed 300% for 30 min
Kael didn't even hesitate. He entered a zone he hadn't touched since before his dreams had been crushed — hands flying across keys, isolating the problem, rewriting scripts, patching the backend API, rerouting CDN protocols.
Nine minutes. Forty-seven seconds.
Server load stabilized.
Customer reviews turned positive.
Mira threw her arms around him from behind, pressing her chest into his back. "You did it! Oh my god, you genius!"
Kael froze.
He could feel every curve. The press of her warmth. Her excited breath near his ear.
"Mira—" he started.
She realized her position, cheeks flushing a dangerous red. "Ah—sorry! I got carried away…"
> [Affection Level: Mira A. Lin – 50%]
New Relationship Milestone Reached: Mira may now initiate romantic gestures.
Kael turned to face her. "It's okay. Really."
She looked into his eyes, her lips parted, the air between them charged.
Then—
Ding.
The café bell rang. A new customer entered. But she wasn't just anyone.
Tall. Slender. Wrapped in a dark, almost ceremonial robe with fine embroidery. Her hair was silver-white, falling in waves around her pale face and crystalline eyes that shimmered with unnatural intensity.
Everyone else in the café seemed to quiet — as if time itself slowed.
She looked directly at Kael.
Not at Mira. Not at the other customers.
Only at him.
---
> [Warning: Unidentified Entity Detected – System Interference Level: Medium]
[Name: UNKNOWN | Alignment: ??? | Status: Observing the Host]
Kael's body tensed, his instincts screaming.
Mira noticed. "Kael? What's wrong?"
He didn't answer. The strange girl was walking toward him. Her steps were slow, deliberate, each movement wrapped in a strange grace that defied the usual bounds of reality.
She stopped inches away.
"You," she said, her voice cold yet melodic, "are not ordinary."
Kael's throat tightened. "Who are you?"
"I am... curious," she murmured. "And curiosity always leads to danger. Be cautious, Kael Veyron."
> [New Quest Triggered: The Watcher's Gaze]
Objective: Discover the Identity of the Unknown Entity]
Reward: System Upgrade Fragment + ???]
She turned and walked away, disappearing out the door like a shadow vanishing under sunlight.
---
After a long silence, Mira grabbed his hand. "Kael… what the hell was that?"
He exhaled slowly, hand still tingling where she touched him. "I think my world just got even more complicated."
She gave a nervous laugh. "You're already launching a business while everyone still thinks you're a ghost. That's pretty complicated already."
He looked into her eyes. "Mira, I don't think I can explain everything… yet. But things are changing. Fast."
She squeezed his hand. "Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"That you won't leave me behind."
Kael smiled — not bitterly, not with regret. With real conviction.
"I promise."
> [Affection Level: Mira A. Lin – 56%]
New Relationship Trait: Devoted Companion – Mira will now actively support you in missions and business ventures. May experience jealousy as harem grows.
---
Later that night, Kael opened his system panel.
His revenue had crossed $3,000 in under 24 hours.
More quests were opening. New tools. Skill draws. Harem mechanics beginning to unfold.
And that mysterious silver-haired girl... She had known his name.
Somehow, Kael had drawn the attention of something far more powerful than he expected.
But for the first time in his life, he wasn't afraid.
He was ready.
---
End of Chapter 3