Chapter 13: Underground Duels? Even Dogs Wouldn't—I'll Do It!
According to the system's affection rating reference chart:
50 points marked the boundary line between strangers.
Exactly 50 meant first meeting—no attraction, no disgust. Pure neutral.
Below 50 meant the target was starting to dislike you.
50-60 points: Target finds you somewhat interesting, possibly attracted to something about you.
60-70 points: Target considers you a casual friend, willing to chat amicably.
70-80 points: Target considers you a good friend, willing to help when you're in trouble.
80-90 points: Emotions approaching romantic love. Confession success rate should be very high in this range.
Above 90 points: Essentially a romantic relationship. Even without confession, the target definitely has a crush on you and will tolerate most things you do.
Incidentally, Amano had confirmed with the system that rewards became available once affection exceeded 70 points.
It didn't necessarily require 100 points like Kikawayu.
Of course, 100-point affection brought extreme rewards like full Extra Deck type unlocks.
Normal affection increase rewards only granted usage rights to specific Extra Deck cards.
Amano suspected this disguised romance system was exploiting a loophole in this world's Extra Deck mechanics—the ability to print cards on the spot during duels.
"You're back, Rei!" Kikawayu spotted Amano from a distance and waved excitedly. "Someone's here to see you!"
"To see me?"
Amano had partially guessed already.
After all, a beautiful girl with 55 initial affection points—above stranger level on first meeting. If the system wasn't lying, something about him must be attracting her.
Bring it on. As long as he could farm affection points, visitors were extremely welcome.
"Hello, Amano Rei." Finesse got straight to business. "I'm Finesse Wein. I have a favor to ask."
"Listen, listen, Rei!" Kikawayu looked even more excited.
"Finesse is the young miss of the Wein Corporation! After watching your duel yesterday, she wants to hire you as a Wein family duelist! Amazing, right? You're about to strike it rich!"
Dude, you just stole all the young lady's lines.
Boss reaches for food, you spin the turntable. Boss opens the door, you get in the car first.
Good thing she's not your boss.
Though she's about to become mine.
The Wein family's young miss. The moment Amano saw "Finesse Wein" displayed by the system, he'd suspected as much.
Never expected the prestigious Wein family's young lady would personally come recruit him just from watching yesterday's lucky duel.
As expected, dueling was just the excuse. The real reason was obviously that he was too handsome.
"Does the Wein family lack duelists so badly? Coming all the way to recruit a rookie from District 32?"
Working for Wein Corporation would definitely pay well. Saying Amano wasn't tempted would be a lie.
But out of caution, he needed to confirm whether Finesse was after his body.
If she was after his body... even better.
"Heh." Amano's question earned a bitter smile from the girl.
Up close, Finesse's beauty became even more striking. Even wearing a troubled expression, she resembled a sun-wheel flower swaying in wind and snow.
"Wein Corporation doesn't lack duelists. But I do."
"Why? Aren't you the corporation's young miss?"
"The relationship is... complicated. Family stuff. My mother's status is rather sensitive, so my position is also... um, you probably understand, right?"
Since this was their first meeting, Finesse really didn't want to admit she was actually an illegitimate daughter.
Wealthy families having multiple wives and concubines wasn't uncommon within Eden Tower.
But her mother didn't even qualify as a concubine.
Outsiders called her "the Wein family's young miss," but only Finesse knew the internal reality.
"I... vaguely understand."
Finesse's barely-an-explanation left Amano completely confused.
But her expression made clear she didn't want to discuss it further. Her eyes conveyed a strong "don't ask more questions" message.
Amano could only express considerate understanding.
[Finesse Affection +1]
Unexpectedly, this feigned consideration also earned slight affection from the young miss.
"Amano, I'll be honest—I'm very interested in you personally."
Despite her seemingly aloof exterior, the young miss spoke with surprising directness.
"Eh?" Kikawayu startled. "Weren't you here to offer Rei a job?"
"Of course I am. After watching yesterday's duel, Amano Rei, I think you have tremendous potential to become a powerful duelist!"
Forget aloof—Finesse's tone contained obvious enthusiasm.
This gap between appearance and personality wasn't off-putting to Amano. He actually found it cute.
"If you become my duelist, I'll offer you... extremely generous compensation!"
—Well, why didn't you lead with that?
This proved the young miss was still too inexperienced.
You should mention the most important condition first!
Extremely generous compensation. As long as the money's right, everything else—ideals, future prospects—becomes negotiable.
"How generous?"
"Um..."
Finesse suddenly froze.
Mentioning compensation last wasn't actually due to inexperience. She just wasn't used to making empty promises yet.
Her current situation couldn't support any decent offers.
After being marginalized by her older sister and second brother, then assigned work at the Tower's bottom levels by her father, even Wein family financial support had decreased significantly.
That luxury car behind her and the dedicated driver were the last remnants of Finesse's dignity as a Wein family young miss.
But if tonight's events went smoothly, any sacrifice would be worth it.
"Tonight, there's an underground duel in District 11. I need you to participate for me."
"District 11? Underground duel?"
Amano found this strange. They were still negotiating terms—how had she already assigned him work?
Young miss, do you even know how to recruit employees?
"District 11?" Even Kikawayu looked shocked.
District 11's location was extremely unique—situated at the very edge of the entire Tower bottom level.
Due to its edge position, an even deeper layer existed below the bottom level—the infamous underground black market.
That place existed beyond Mainframe Eva's jurisdiction. A lawless zone.
Like underground bare-knuckle boxing rings. In underground duels, the physical feedback rate during matches—depending on both parties' wagers—could reach 80% maximum.
If you took a direct attack from a large monster in an underground duel, it was no different from getting hit by a truck in reality.
This wasn't like the anime where you could solve everything by rolling on the ground a few times.
An impact equivalent to a hundred-ton truck—you'd end up black and blue all over. Actually, more like scattered in pieces everywhere!
Clearly understanding underground dueling's dangers, Amano righteously refused: "Underground duels? Even dogs wouldn't—"
Finesse: "Win or lose, I'll pay you 100,000 Eva Points as compensation."
"I'll do it! Underground duels are what I live for!"
Amano's stance reversed instantly.
Like he said—as long as the money's right, everything else is negotiable.
Win or lose, guaranteed 100,000 Eva Points compensation.
Is this what wealthy heiresses are like?
A single duel would cover all of Shio's prosthetic limb costs.
For currently impoverished Amano, there was absolutely no reason to refuse.
People die for wealth, birds die for food.
After eighteen years struggling at Eden Tower's bottom levels, Amano deeply understood one truth: the world only has one disease—poverty.
"The condition is you must give it your absolute best effort." Finesse stated her requirement.
"Naturally."
If he didn't give his best, what if he got flattened like a speed bump by some massive monster?