Gangster to Idol

By the time the day ended, nothing had been accomplished. They hadn't settled on roles, hadn't choreographed a single step as a team.

It was a disaster.

Cain left the practice room with a storm brewing in his chest, frustration burning hot. His jaw clenched as he made his way back to CROSS HQ, his thoughts a whirlpool of anger and disappointment.

They were wasting time. Worse, they were sabotaging their own chances without even realizing it.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

When he arrived at the headquarters, the building felt eerily quiet. Joker, Bones, and the rest of the gang hadn't returned yet from raiding that warehouse where the Silver Serpent posers were currently staying.

Cain had ordered the hit himself, a necessary move to secure their territory and eliminate those posers once and for all.

He trusted them to get the job done, but the emptiness of the HQ added to his agitation.

As he walked through the halls, his mind still buzzing from the mess of the day, he finally reached his room. He paused at the door, not sure what to expect, but then saw a familiar glow.

Fifi was now awake, and was floating there, beaming with excitement.

"Welcome back!" Fifi announced with a bright, sparkling grin, though her face remained lethargic. "I've successfully upgraded!"

Cain blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Upgraded?" he asked, his frustration slightly giving way to curiosity. "And what's that supposed to mean exactly?"

"Yes! I've leveled up after all your hard work! Now, I can provide better advice, analyze data more efficiently, and—oh!—I unlocked some new abilities!" Fifi floated closer, her tiny wings fluttering excitedly. "You'll see. Everything's about to get much easier."

Cain raised an eyebrow. He wasn't sure how much easier things could get when his team was falling apart, and Fifi's energy wasn't exactly infectious.

Cain sighed, running a hand through his hair. Maybe this upgrade could help him manage the chaos that was brewing in his group.

Maybe it could give him the edge he desperately needed to pull them all together.

"So what's new with you?" Cain asked.

[System Update: New Items in the Shop and [Relationship Feature]

Fifi floated in front of Cain, her translucent wings shimmering as she clapped her tiny hands excitedly. "First up! There are new items in the shop, take a look!" she announced with her usual lethargic tone.

Cain raised a brow, half-expecting some trivial cosmetics or items meant for beginners.

His experience with the system shop had been hit or miss, but this time, as he scrolled through the new entries, his eyes widened.

"These . . . are different," Cain muttered under his breath, glancing up at Fifi. She hovered above, giving him a nod of confirmation.

"You're in for a treat! These items will help boost your idol career in ways you never thought possible. And there's more—something called the [Relationship] feature that's bound to come in handy. But we'll get to that in a bit."

Cain kept scrolling, his interest piqued. Each item was more intriguing than the last.

Some of them seemed perfect for the various aspects of his idol journey—from performing on stage to managing the challenges off stage.

|| New Shop Items ||

Voice Enhancer Amulet

→ Cost: 1500 Idol Points

→ Effect: Temporarily improves vocal clarity, pitch, and projection during performances. Grants a 15% boost in audience engagement and increases the chance of standing ovations by 10%. Cooldown of 24 hours.

→Description: A silver amulet embedded with a small crystal that hums with an energy that resonates with the wearer's vocal cords. It wraps around the singer's throat like a warm embrace, ensuring that every note they hit sounds perfect.

→Utility: Whether you're performing in front of a large crowd or practicing in front of judges during a crucial audition, the amulet gives you the confidence you need. It amplifies your voice to a degree where even your slightest mistakes are drowned out by sheer power and precision, something particularly helpful when you're feeling nervous or when stage pressure mounts.

Stage Presence Perfume

→Cost: 500 Idol Points

→Effect: When applied, it boosts the user's stage presence, causing a 20% increase in charisma during public appearances or performances. Additionally, it generates a subtle aura of confidence that helps reduce stage fright and nervousness by 15%.

→Description: The fragrance smells faintly of cedarwood and vanilla, a warm, grounding scent that calms the nerves and commands attention. Explore stories at empire

→Utility: This item is especially useful during live broadcasts, high-stakes performances, and meet-and-greets with fans, where first impressions matter the most. The effect of enhanced charisma helps you appear more approachable, drawing in potential fans and industry figures alike.

Training Focus Bands

→Cost: 500 Idol Points (pair)

→Effect: Worn around the wrists, these bands increase the wearer's ability to focus during practice sessions. Increases DEX gains by 20% when used during dance rehearsals or choreography sessions. Reduces fatigue buildup by 10%, allowing you to practice longer and more efficiently.

→Description: These sleek, black bands are adorned with a thin gold strip running along their edges. They hum with energy when worn, channeling that energy into the user's muscles and joints. During a long practice session, you could feel their effects kick in, as your movements became sharper and your body responded more smoothly to even the most complex dance routines.

→Utility: Perfect for the grueling hours of dance rehearsals that you face. These bands help you break through fatigue and muscle strain, especially during critical moments when you need to learn new choreography fast. The bands also offer long-term DEX stat boosts, making them essential to your daily training regime.

Performance Recall Earrings

→Cost: 650 Idol Points

→Effect: Allows the user to replay any performance they've seen or done in their mind with perfect clarity. Boosts memory retention during practice sessions, making it easier to recreate complex routines or songs. Grants the [Perfect Recall] passive skill when worn during practices.

→Description: The earrings are small, simple studs that glint like tiny stars. Once worn, they allow you to relive performances with striking detail. You could see every move, hear every note, and feel every moment as if it were happening again.

→Utility: This item is a game-changer for you, particularly when it comes to perfecting difficult routines or remembering feedback from judges. You no longer needs to worry about forgetting key elements of a performance. Every stumble, every mistake can be reviewed and improved upon, allowing you to grow faster as an idol.

Crowd Energy Bracelet

→Cost: 700 Idol Points

→Effect: Absorbs the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd during live performances, converting it into temporary stat boosts. For every 1,000 fans in the crowd, gain +2 CHA and +1 DEX. Effect lasts for the duration of the performance and an hour afterward.

→Description: This sleek bracelet is embedded with shimmering crystals that pulse in sync with the emotions of the crowd. When your wears it on stage, it draw in the electricity of the audience, fueling you with an energy you never thought possible.

→Utility: Especially useful during large-scale concerts or competitions where thousands of fans are present. The more the crowd cheers and screams, the stronger you becomes, turning you into an unstoppable force on stage. It's a powerful item that directly ties his performance success to the energy of the people watching.

Idol Mentor Token

→Cost: 1,000 Idol Points

→Effect: Allows you to summon a legendary idol mentor for one month. The mentor will guide you through training, provide feedback on performances, and help you master a specific area of expertise (e.g., singing, dancing, stage presence). Gain a 20% increase in skill proficiency during the mentorship period.

→Description: The token is an intricately designed coin, etched with the image of a radiant figure holding a microphone. When you summoned your first mentor, the room shimmered with a warm glow, and a legendary idol figure appeared before you—ready to pass down knowledge and skills honed through years of experience.

→Utility: This item offers invaluable hands-on experience and guidance from idols who've already mastered their craft. Mentors could help you refine specific skills or provide him with advice on navigating the competitive world of idols, giving you a unique edge over your rivals.

|| E N D ||

"This is great," Cain muttered, eyeing the [Voice Enhancer Amulet] with an intense longing. He could almost feel the power it promised—better control, more range, an edge over everyone else.

But the price tag? 1,500 Idol Points. It might as well have been a fortune.

Right now, he had exactly zero Idol Points, thanks to paying off his debt to Fifi and boosting his stats earlier.

"Man," he groaned, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration, "everything here is crazy expensive, and I don't even have any Idol options available at the moment."

Fifi floated nearby, twirling lazily, her voice laced with mischief. "You could always borrow from me," she suggested with a sly smile.

Cain rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. I'm not about to go into debt with you again. That was a nightmare to get out of. I'll just have to grind and earn more points now that the missions seem to have upgraded a bit."