The opulent, futuristic interior of Yue Lan's palace faded from view, replaced by the tinted, anonymous luxury of the convoy. The drive away was quiet, a shared, silent debrief as we processed the morning's victory. Nari and I rode in the lead car, a bubble of calm strategy, while I'd relegated Bella and Allison to the car behind us, giving them space to process the masterclass in psychological warfare they'd just witnessed.
I sat quietly, staring out the window as the chaotic, vibrant streets of Tulnool blurred past. My mind was already moving on, shifting from the "Charming Prince" persona I'd worn for Yue Lan to the next challenge.
"So," Nari's voice, a smooth, musical sound, cut through my thoughts. She was looking at me, her striking grey eyes sharp and analytical. "How much of what you told Yue Lan was the truth?"
It was a fair question, one strategist to another. I turned from the window, a small, weary sigh escaping my lips. "As you already know, Nari, most of it was a calculated lie. A performance tailored to her exact needs." I paused, a small, genuine smile touching my lips. "But... I meant everything I said."
Nari's perfectly sculpted eyebrow rose. "You 'meant everything'? So, you are really her prince charming?"
I sighed again, leaning my head back against the plush leather. "Nari, think about it for a second. If you want to cut a piece of paper, do you use an axe or a pair of scissors?"
She frowned, following the logic. "Obviously, you'd use scissors."
"Exactly," I said. "And if you want to chop down a tree, you'll use an axe."
"...then what?" she asked, her gaze intense, knowing I was making a larger point.
"Both tools are made from iron," I explained, my voice low and steady. "But one is formed for paper, and one is formed for wood. Does that mean their core element, the iron, is different? No. It's still iron. It's just used for a different purpose in a different circumstance, shaped to be the most effective tool for the job."
I saw the understanding click in her eyes. She got it.
"You have to be flexible," I continued, my gaze hardening. "You have to change yourself, adapt to the situation, become what is needed. If Yue Lan needs a charming prince who will worship her and feed her ego, then I will be that prince. For Julia Roux, who was bored to death by perfection, I became a chaos agent, a thrill. For Stacy, who sees the world as a game of power, I am her equal, her partner in conquest. I am playing a different role for every queen, Nari. If I wasn't flexible, if I only knew how to be an axe, how would we ever be able to win a war that's fought on so many different fronts?"
Nari was silent for a long moment, her analytical mind processing my philosophy. It wasn't just manipulation; it was adaptation. It was a king's pragmatism.
"Then you genuinely value Yue Lan, and her talent," she finally stated, not as a question, but as a conclusion.
"Of course," I said, a genuine note of respect in my voice. "She is very talented. She has more work experience in her field than both of us combined. She's elder than us, and she's incredibly influential across the whole of Terrene. She is, without a doubt, a brilliant queen."
"Okay," Nari said, a new, deeper understanding in her voice. "Now I get it."
The rest of the ride was quiet, a shared, comfortable silence between two strategists who understood each other perfectly.
After riding for a while, the scenery shifted from the opulent, high-fashion district to a more modest, quiet neighborhood. The car pulled up in front of a normal-looking, almost suburban villa. It was elegant, yes, but it lacked the sheer, arrogant spectacle of Yue Lan's palace. This place felt… real.
As the bodyguards opened our doors, I turned to Nari. "For this one, I'm changing the team. You and Allison should wait here."
Nari looked at me, caught my "signal"—a subtle glance, a shift in my aura—and understood immediately. This wasn't her stage. This was a different kind of play. "I am fine by that," she said, her voice a calm, simple acceptance of my authority. She looked over at Allison, who was just climbing out of the other car. "Allison, you and I will be doing some… other stuff. Let's take a walk."
Bella had just joined us, her dark eyes sharp and curious. She looked at me, her "Boss" title still sounding like a challenge. "Boss, I am going with you? But why?"
I needed to test her. Triveria had shown her my power, Yue Lan had shown her my manipulative charm. Now, I needed to see if she could be a partner, a "queen" who could work "toe to toe" with me in a delicate, high-stakes negotiation.
"Because you put in some effort on the last assignment," I said, the half-truth a simple, effective command. "But right now, I need you to work with me. Directly. This target is… unique. I need your perspective."
"Okay," Nari said from the sidewalk, already diverting Allison's attention. "Allison and I will handle our own business. We'll meet back here."
"Afterwards, then," I said, turning to Bella. "Let's go."
Bella and I walked up the path and into the villa. The moment we stepped inside, the atmosphere changed. The surrounding environment spoke for itself, screaming the identity of its owner. This was the home of a true artist. A home of musicians, lyricists, and singers. Guitars—acoustic and electric—lined one wall. A grand piano sat in a corner, sheet music scattered across its polished surface. Stacks of books on music theory and poetry were piled on every available surface. The air itself seemed to thrum with a quiet, creative energy.
I was calm, my senses alert, but I could feel the nervous tension radiating from Bella. This was her first real test, her first time acting as my partner, and she was clearly out of her element.
"Boss," she whispered, her voice a little shaky. "I don't know if I'm the right choice for this. Nari would be better…"
I stopped and looked at her, my gaze firm and steady. "Don't need to worry," I said, my voice a low, reassuring command. "Just follow my lead. And focus on the goal."
She took a deep breath, the matriarch's steel settling over her nervousness, and nodded.
We were led into a room that was half office, half recording studio. And there she was, sitting calmly on a simple chair in the middle of the room, like the quiet eye of a creative hurricane. She was, in a word, a doll. Her skin was flawless, porcelain-fair and luminous, with an almost abnormal, glossy white sheen. Her lips were a deep, glossy red, a stark, beautiful contrast. Long, straight, sleek black hair, so shiny and voluminous it looked unreal, framed her delicate face. Her almond-shaped, soft brown eyes held a strange, distant calm. She wore a simple mini-dress of a pale lemon color, with a high, round neck. Her figure was slender, perfectly proportioned with a moderate bust and ass. She was beautiful, but in a way that felt fragile, almost… unreal. She was Jing Shu.
She stood as we entered, a polite, serene smile on her face. "Hello, Mr. Wilson," she said, her voice as calm and melodic as I'd imagined. "I am really glad to meet you."
And then, her entire demeanor shifted. The serene smile vanished, replaced by a cold, arrogant mask. Her brown eyes narrowed, and her voice became sharp, high-profile, and utterly dismissive. "Whatever you want to say, explain yourself quickly, and move. I have a very busy schedule."
Before I could even react to the sudden, jarring change, her expression softened again, a look of pained frustration flashing across her face. She seemed to be arguing with herself. "Don't be like that, Jing," she whispered, her voice returning to its original, gentle tone. "They are guests."
A moment of silence, and then the arrogant persona seemed to fire back, though I couldn't hear the words. I just saw the pained look on her face. "You also know why they are here," she murmured, as if in response.
I was utterly confused. My mind was racing, trying to process what I was seeing.
The woman in front of me finally took a deep, steadying breath, her calm expression returning, but now tinged with a hint of apology. "Sorry for this," she said, her voice soft and serene again. "Let us introduce ourselves properly."
She looked at me, her brown eyes clear and calm. "I am Shu Bai," she said.
Then, her eyes flashed, her posture straightened, and the arrogant, "high profile" mask snapped back into place. "I am Jing Bai," that voice said, sharp and territorial.
The calm returned. "And we," Shu Bai finished, her voice a gentle, unifying whisper, "are Jing Shu Bai."
I was bewildered. My [Chanakya] skill was screaming at me that this wasn't just a mood swing. This was something far more complex. This is going to be tough, I thought. Beside me, I could feel Bella processing the information, her analytical mind working furiously.
I bowed my head slightly, my own voice calm, acknowledging both of them. "It's all our pleasure, Miss Jing and Miss Shu."
"Please, both of you, sit," Shu said, her voice the very picture of polite hospitality.
We sat. But before Bella could even begin, Jing spoke, her voice a sharp, protective warning. "If you have come here with another contract, then let me warn you, I am here. And I am not going to let us get stuck in some bad contract ever again."
"We should at least listen to them, Jing," Shu interjected gently.
I got it. A vague idea was forming. They were a single unit, a perfect, symbiotic partnership. Shu was the heart, the artist. Jing was the shield, the performer, the fierce protector of that heart. They treated each other as equals, and to win them, I had to win them both.
I gave a subtle, almost imperceptible nod to Bella. She understood exactly what I meant. Her test had begun.
Bella straightened her posture, the nervous woman gone, replaced by the confident, commanding matriarch of Triveria. "Thank you for giving us your time, Miss Jing and Miss Shu," she began, her voice smooth and professional. "As you both may know, we are from Phoenix Capital Group, and we are in the process of launching our own brand, 'Allure,' which will participate in entertainment, fashion, and lifestyle on a global scale."
"We know about your project," Jing said, her tone still curt, dismissive. "So, what do you need from us?"
Bella didn't flinch. "We are assembling a board of legends, the greatest talents from all over Terrene," she continued, her voice gaining a new, ambitious power. "And we would like for both of you to participate with us, to help us build this new world, and to reach the pinnacle that both of you truly deserve."
It was a good pitch, but it was aimed at the wrong persona. "But I don't really care about fame," Shu said softly, her voice full of a quiet, artistic integrity. "All I want is to create beautiful songs, and for Jing to perform them."
That was my opening.
I leaned forward, my gaze focused entirely on Shu, speaking directly to the artist, the soul of their partnership. "How about this, then," I said, my voice a calm, steady promise. "An agreement where we work together. You, Shu, will have full, absolute freedom. What to create, how to create, why to create. There will be no pressure on you. No deadlines, no demands for a 'hit song.' You will have full, uncensored creative freedom. We also will not do any editing or censorship of your work. How about that?"
I watched her face. The calm in her eyes was replaced by a bright, intense spark of intrigue. I had hit the mark.
But before she could speak, Jing cut in, her voice sharp as glass. "We get that. Creative freedom is a nice fantasy. But still, why should we believe you? What is this 'pinnacle' in your eyes? More money? More fame? We already have that."
Bella, seeing her cue, stepped back in, her voice full of a new, passionate conviction. "In our eyes," she said, her gaze fixed on Jing, "the pinnacle isn't just money. Yes, Miss Jing, you are a very prominent figure on the Automatia continent. But our goal is to make your voice, Shu's art, world-famous. We want your song to be on the lips of every single man and woman on Terrene. Whether they understand the language or not. We want your song to be present in their heart, and your music to vibrate in their mind. For us, that is the pinnacle. And even further than that."
She was doing good work. Brilliant work. She had flawlessly spoken to both of them, offering Shu sanctuary and Jing a legacy. I could feel them thinking, really thinking about our offer.
But Jing, the eternal protector, the skeptic forged by a dozen "bad contracts," wasn't sold yet. "You are ambitious," she said, her arms crossed. "But that is still not enough of a reason. Why should we work for you? What can you really offer us that we don't already have?"
Shu spoke then, her voice full of a quiet, genuine respect. "Mr. Wilson, I... I really admire your ambition, and your goal. And your offer of freedom… it's what I've always dreamed of. But Jing is right. If she will not agree, I also can't join. Because we only join a project when we both agree."
This was it. The final hurdle. They were intrigued, but they weren't convinced. They needed proof. They needed to know that I wasn't just another predator in a different suit. I leaned back in my chair, a slow, confident smile on my face. "Absolutely. You're right. You shouldn't trust us on words alone." I glanced at Bella, who was continuing to list the financial benefits, the marketing reach. It was good, but it wasn't the final card.
I needed to know what that final card was. I activated my [Advanced Appraisal] skill, my gaze locking onto them.
Status:
Name: Jing Shu Bai
Strength: 93
Agility: 89
Endurance: 102
Mentality: 183
Intelligence: 145
Mana: 0
Potential: SS
Skills: [Perfect Melody], [Creative Sanctuary], [Soothing Voice], [Center Stage], [World's Songbird], [Heartstring Weaver], [Flawless Performance], [Siren's Voice]
Passive Skills: [Psychological Connection], [The Star's Mask], [Shu's Shield], [Jing's Anchor], [Egeria's Counsel], [Apollo's Lute], [Star's Aura], [Drive for the Pinnacle]
Superpower: [None]
Soul Ledger: {Jing: [Wary of His Ambition] & [The Key to the Pinnacle]} and {Shu: [He Saw the Soul] & [The True Patron]}
The Soul Ledger confirmed everything. Shu was already mine, in principle. She saw me as [The True Patron], the one who saw her "soul" and offered her the sanctuary she craved. But Jing, her protector, was still wary. She saw me as [The Key to the Pinnacle], but she was [Wary of His Ambition]. She'd been burned by "bad contracts" before. To win Jing, I didn't need to offer more fame or money. I needed to prove that I was a better, more powerful protector than the one they currently had. I needed to show them I could be their shield. It was time to reveal my final card.
I gave Bella a curt nod. She understood instantly, her own role in this performance clicking into place. She stopped her pitch and opened a document on the tablet she was holding, turning the screen so Jing and Shu could see it.
"Miss Jing, Miss Shu," I began, my voice no longer that of a charming salesman, but of a cold, hard arbiter of truth. "To show our sincerity, my team did a little hard work. This is a report on the financial activities of your current manager, a man you've worked with for over ten years."
Jing's eyes narrowed. "Impossible. I don't trust you. Our manager is family."
"Is he?" I asked, my voice dangerously quiet. "Please, read the report. It details all the money he has been embezzling in your name. All the bad contracts he signed on your behalf, taking massive kickbacks. The illegal activities he's funded using your reputation as a shield. Like buying the gaming rights to a dozen failed properties, using your money. It even shows how he holds the rights to most of your music, your lyrics... and has even been showing himself to industry insiders as the 'solo creator' of your work."
Shu's face went pale, her hand flying to her mouth. Jing snatched the tablet from Bella, her eyes scanning the lines of data with a frantic, furious energy. I saw the exact moment her denial shattered, replaced by a wave of pure, unadulterated rage.
"That… bastard!" Jing snarled, her voice a low, vicious hiss. "He did all of this? In our name?" She was shaking, her [Star's Mask] completely gone. "I will not let him go easily! I will kill him!"
Shu was just staring at the screen, her eyes wide with a profound, heartbreaking betrayal. "How… how could he do this?" she whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "We trusted him. He… he did all this behind our back. Look, Jing… most of my songs… they're under his name. His family's name. We treated him like family."
Jing stood up, her entire body trembling with a righteous fury. She looked at me, her gaze no longer wary, but full of a new, desperate resolve. "Thank you for opening our eyes, Mr. Wilson," she said, her voice tight and resolute.
I leaned forward, my own expression serious, respectful. "So," I asked, my voice a calm, steady anchor in their storm. "What do you think about working with us now?"
Bella stepped in, her own voice full of a genuine, sincere warmth. "Miss Jing, Miss Shu, what we have promised, it's all true. We're not like him. If you don't believe us, we will sign any contract you want, written to your exact specifications, to guarantee your satisfaction and your freedom."
Jing Shu was silent for a full minute, a silent, profound conversation passing between the two personas. Finally, Jing looked at me, her gaze clear and decisive. She moved her hand toward me, extending it.
"We will meet you at the Allure headquarters," she said, her voice firm, "after we handle this bastard."
Shu spoke then, her own voice quiet but full of a new, fragile hope. "I hope you promise your side of the promise, Mr. Wilson. The creative freedom."
I took Jing's hand, my grip firm, a silent, unbreakable vow. "I will not give you a single chance to complain," I said.
With that, another crucial piece of our new empire was secured. I stood up, and Bella and I went back to the car, leaving the two sisters to begin the righteous, and no doubt brutal, destruction of their betrayer.