Alex retreated from the library with a mix of cold sweat and euphoria. Not only had he completed the mission, but the newly acquired Cunning felt different from the calm of Charisma. Charisma was like a velvet cloak over his anxiety; Cunning was like a fast data processor in his brain. Now, instead of just knowing what to do, he could formulate the right phrase.
However, the System gave him no time to enjoy his success.
The HUD flashed with an intense Gold color, the designation for Extreme Danger Missions. The brightest and most visible Flower in the garden was, of course, Jessica 'Jess' Reed.
Jess was the dance team captain, the junior Student Council president, and the person who laughed the loudest and most contagiously on campus. She was always surrounded by a court of friends, and approaching her uninvited was considered social suicide.
[TARGET ASSIGNED: SUN FLOWER (Jessica Reed)]Base Collection Value: LEGENDARY. Mission Difficulty: A (Very High). Social Risk: EXTREME.
— ACTIVE MISSION: "THE SPOTLIGHT".Objective: Elicit a genuine laugh from the Sun Flower in a public setting. (Must be audible to at least three witnesses). Time Limit: Until lunch break. Success Reward: $300, +3 SP to Charisma (Mass Charm), and S-Class Skill: 'Instant Persuasion'. Failure Punishment: Permanent reduction of -1 in Charisma and Perception.
The punishment was terrifying. A permanent reduction in Charisma meant he would revert to the clumsy, stuttering Alex from the beginning, or worse. Alex checked the time: lunch was an hour away.
He decided the only way to succeed was to study his target. He activated his Perception Level 6, which allowed him to ignore the distraction of the rest of the hallway and focus on Jess. He found her in the courtyard, rehearsing with her team.
Jess's team was a fortress. Any attempt to approach would be blocked.
— Cunning Level 2 active. Searching for weaknesses.
Alex noticed something: Jess was a perfectionist. The rehearsal stopped because one of her friends, Noah, had messed up a step for the third time. Jess was frustrated, but instead of yelling, she paused, took a deep breath, and forced a smile. Her control was admirable, but it was also a crack. Her frustration was real.
The ideal moment wouldn't be when she was happy, but when she was holding back an emotion. Humor in a moment of tension works best.
When the lunch bell rang, Jess and her group headed for the central tables in the courtyard. Alex grabbed his lunch tray and walked over. His heart was beating so hard he could barely hear the cafeteria din.
He approached the group. His stomach churned, but he remembered the feeling of +2 Charisma.
"Excuse me!" Alex said, fearlessly approaching the perimeter of Jess's group.
All eyes turned to him. Alex felt like an insect under a magnifying glass.
"Can we help you, buddy?" asked Noah, raising an eyebrow.
Alex looked at Jess. She wore a polite smile, that "I'm waiting for you to leave" smile that popular people master.
Alex used his Cunning. He leaned slightly toward the group, with a look of conspiracy, and lowered his voice (just enough for the three closest people, including Jess and Noah, to hear).
"I need your help with something serious," Alex whispered. "I was at my locker and I heard someone started a rumor... they say Noah is actually a spy from the swim team and is deliberately messing up the dance steps so you lose your synchronization. Is that true?"
There was a second of silence. Noah was offended, about to protest: "What? That's ridiculous—!"
But Jess cut him off. She had frozen for an instant at the audacity of the absurd, specific accusation. The tension from her previous rehearsal frustration broke at the image of Noah, the clumsy swim spy.
Then it happened. Jess erupted in laughter. It was loud, clear, and infectious. She doubled over the table, lightly hitting it. "That's—that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!"
[Objective of audible laughter for 3 witnesses: ACHIEVED]
Alex felt a boom of energy in his head.
[QUEST COMPLETED: THE SPOTLIGHT]Genuine Laugh Requirement: Satisfied. Reward Received: $300, Charisma Level 12, S-Class Skill: 'Instant Persuasion' unlocked!
Alex felt the surge. His Charisma went up a total of 3 levels. He felt powerful, as if the world obeyed his words.
"Just wanted to check. Honestly, I thought it was nonsense," Alex smiled, giving a slight bow. He turned and walked away, leaving the group in confusion and Jess still half-laughing.
"Wait, who was that guy?" asked one of Jess's friends, wiping tears from laughing.
Alex didn't even look back. The System was too busy informing him of his new ability: Instant Persuasion, a skill that, according to the HUD, allowed him to influence people's decisions with just a couple of words.
But success always came at a price. As he exited the cafeteria, Alex felt a prickle on the back of his neck. The HUD displayed a new warning icon: [Warning: Sun Flower has been activated and is now aware. Status: Intrigued/Cautious].
Alex had earned a laugh. But he had also earned her attention. And Jess Reed's attention was never passive.