Master-Level Time Management?
Luke couldn't help but feel the skill sounded a bit… sketchy?
Still, his curiosity got the better of him. He wanted to know what kind of effect this skill could have.
So far, every skill the system had given him was ridiculously powerful but still within the realm of reason.
But how do you even define "master-level" time management?
It's not like he could actually bend time to stretch a day beyond 24 hours just to spend more time with his girlfriends, right?
That was impossible. This wasn't some fantasy world with supernatural powers—that would be way too out of place.
Plus, he still needed to build closer relationships with two girls to unlock the skill, so it'd take some time.
For now, Luke pushed the thought aside.
"Pick whichever job you like. You don't need to overthink it. To me, they're all pretty much the same," Mr. Eisen said, noticing Luke hadn't spoken in a while.
"You're right. Those high-end brand endorsements don't mean much to me," Luke replied.
If any modern-day influencers heard him say that, they'd probably lose it.
For them and their fans, landing a luxury brand deal was like a badge of success, proof of their status and worth.
It was as if endorsing those brands made them classier, more expensive.
But to Luke, it just felt like cheering for their own commodification.
A sparrow can't understand the ambitions of a swan.
That path didn't interest him at all. Aside from the Cartier watch ad he'd done with Anne, he hadn't taken on any other luxury endorsements.
Instead, Luke carefully selected a few charity campaigns, steering clear of tricky ideological traps like climate change or human rights.
Once he had more experience and fame, he planned to return to his home country and do more there.
After all, Western countries were already wealthy enough. They didn't need him adding much more to the mix—a token effort was enough.
Finally, Luke handed a cooperation invite to Mr. Eisen. "I want to take this one."
Mr. Eisen glanced at it. "An invitation to be a tourism ambassador for the Japan National Tourism Organization?"
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) was a government agency focused on promoting international exchange through tourism.
Its role included boosting tourism to Japan through various activities both domestically and abroad.
Recently, thanks to the success of a few films and the Time Duology short films, Luke had gained quite a bit of popularity.
If he weren't of Asian descent, his achievements would've already catapulted him into the ranks of A-list celebrities.
So when JNTO planned a tourism promotional video, they extended an olive branch to Luke.
And since Luke had already been eyeing the Japanese market, he saw this as a great opportunity.
"Yeah, I want to break into the Japanese market. It'll help my film career a lot. It's the second-largest cultural market in the world, after all," Luke explained.
Mr. Eisen nodded. "Makes sense. It's worth a shot."
"Is there a detailed plan for the promo video?"
"We'll get that once we reach a preliminary agreement. Why? Any concerns?" Mr. Eisen asked.
"Yeah, I'm American, after all. Our two countries have a heavy historical baggage, so there are some sensitive areas I need to avoid."
Luke was clear-headed about this. To break into Japan, he had to stay above reproach.
The perspective on Japan was nuanced:
We love your dramas, anime, games, pop music, and, well, adult films.
But that doesn't mean we like your country.
Hayao Miyazaki and Akira Toriyama? Great guys.
Yui Aragaki and Satomi Ishihara? Perfect wife material.
But that doesn't stop us from disliking Japan.
Luke's worry was that the promo video might use his identity in a way that put one side down to lift the other or include subtle implications he couldn't accept.
"Got it. I'll talk to them first and make sure the script's clean before signing the contract," Mr. Eisen assured him.
…
When Luke and his group landed at Tokyo International Airport, it was already evening.
Also known as Haneda Airport, it was a 4F-class airport, the largest in Japan, about 11 miles from central Tokyo.
"JNTO sent staff to pick us up. We're staying at the Palace Hotel Tokyo," Mr. Eisen said as they walked.
The Palace Hotel Tokyo?
Even though Luke had never been to Japan, he knew of this luxurious hotel.
Located right by the Imperial Palace, it promised an amazing environment.
It was also super convenient, with plenty of attractions nearby.
For example, the famous Asakusa Temple was just 3.7 miles away—a 10-minute cab ride.
Want to hit up Tokyo Tower for a nighttime view of the capital? Only 3 miles away.
JNTO arranging their stay at this hotel showed how seriously they were taking this.
But it made sense. With someone as wealthy and influential as Mr. Eisen, VIP treatment was a given.
Luke, for now, didn't have the clout to command that kind of respect on his own. He was still riding Mr. Eisen's coattails.
As they exited the airport, a group of staff in formal attire was already waiting, holding up signs.
A middle-aged man in his forties stepped forward, eagerly shaking Mr. Eisen's hand and speaking in broken, Japanese-accented English. "Welcome, distinguished guests! I'm Takeshi Nakamura, representing JNTO. We're thrilled to have you here."
Takeshi Nakamura? The head of JNTO?
The big boss himself came to greet them?
Then again, given Mr. Eisen's wealth and status, it wasn't surprising.
"Thank you for the warm welcome, Mr. Nakamura. This is our company's star, Mr. Luke," Mr. Eisen said, giving a quick handshake before stepping back to formally introduce Luke.
Nakamura froze for a moment, caught off guard.
He hadn't expected Mr. Eisen to put Luke in the spotlight like that, willingly taking a backseat.
Looks like he needed to reassess Luke's importance and value.
Nakamura flashed a standard Japanese smile—polite, polished, but soulless.
Still in his Japanese-accented English, he said, "A pleasure to meet you, Luke-san. I hope you enjoy your trip."
The Japanese were all about etiquette. Nakamura, in his forties and clearly Luke's senior, didn't hesitate to use honorifics.
But that's just how Japanese courtesy worked—perfect on the surface, but it didn't always reflect their true feelings.
Luke didn't respond in English. Instead, he replied in fluent Kanto dialect Japanese: "Thank you for your hospitality. Here's to a great collaboration."
In Japan, the Kanto and Kansai regions are divided by Sekigahara. Tokyo, in the Kanto region, uses the Kanto dialect.
The Kansai region, centered around Osaka, has its own Kansai dialect.
Think of it like the difference between a Beijing accent and regional dialects back home.
"You speak Japanese, Luke-san! And better than me! If I didn't know you were Foreigner, I'd think you were born and raised here. I was worried about communication issues, but now I'm not concerned at all," Nakamura said.
For a reserved Japanese person, this was a pretty exaggerated expression of surprise.
"I know a bit. We can just speak in Japanese," Luke replied.
"Wonderful! We've arranged dinner at the hotel. This way, please," Nakamura said, bowing and gesturing for the group to go ahead.
They hopped into a fleet of Crown business vans arranged for their transport and headed to the Palace Hotel Tokyo.