[These are the stats of former Leo.] [Physical talent: C-]
"Huh..." Dino pursed his lips, a touch of disappointment evident on his face. Leo's physical talent was even lower than he had anticipated. No wonder Leo had struggled so much.
For Dino, anything below an S+ grade was simply unacceptable. He held himself and others to the highest standards, and if someone fell short, they were unfit for the task at hand.
He examined the subgroups under Physical talent.
*Visual: D-
*Voice: C+
*Expression: D-
*Dance: B+
Leo stared at the statistics with wide eyes. It was clear now why Leo had failed so miserably in acting. If he had explored his talents properly, he could have become a renowned dancer with his impressive dance skills.
"B+ may not be exceptional, but given the circumstances, it's a decent score," Dino muttered under his breath, recalling the countless TikTok videos he had seen where people garnered millions of likes with basic dance moves.
[Host, don't worry. These are Leo's stats. You can improve them with hard work... and the support of the system.]
"That's reassuring," Dino replied with a confident smile. He had faith in his own abilities and was not overly concerned about improvement. Even without the system, he believed he could have become a Bollywood superstar.
Lost in thought, Dino glanced at his reflection in the mirror. While Leo had appeared above average by industry standards, after assuming Leo's identity, he radiated confidence and determination. The once downcast expression had been replaced by one of resolve.
"Perhaps you weren't a great actor before, but at least you gave it your all," Dino mused, gazing at the drawings on the cracked walls. These sketches were a testament to Leo's unwavering determination to become an actor.
Examining a nearby timetable, Dino could discern the intense effort Leo had put into pursuing his acting dream. He moved toward a shelf and picked up a letter adorned with a star symbol.
"Small boss," he read aloud, a small, knowing smile forming on his lips. So, this was Leo's last opportunity. But now that he had taken Leo's place, it was Dino's fresh start.
"Leo, starting today, I am you. Your dreams will become mine... Trust me, together we will conquer Bollywood," Dino declared, his voice filled with determination. From now on, he was Leo.
DING.
Suddenly, a system notification chimed.
[Mental talent improved three ranks.]
[Mental talent: S-]
*Body awareness: A+(+3)
*Crowd control: S+(+13)
Leo raised an eyebrow as he observed the upgraded mental talent. Was this his first upgrade after transmigration?
He had a hunch that the boost in Body awareness had come from fully embracing Leo's identity, while the enhancement in Crowd control seemed to result from merging with Dino and Leo.
According to his memories of Leo, convincing even his agency to give him a second chance had been a daunting task. How could someone like that have crowd-control skills? Shaking his head, Leo opened the invitation letter, eager to understand what "Smallboss" entailed.
Smallboss was a reality show introduced in Asia three years ago, and its popularity had surpassed even that of Hollywood shows. Its unique aspect was that it was conducted in secret, with participants cut off from the outside world. It was more a survival show than a typical reality program.
One hundred fortunate participants would have the opportunity to showcase their acting skills on the show.
Judges would score them, but the rankings were determined solely by fan votes. Every two weeks, there would be an elimination round, and the show would span twenty weeks.
The ultimate winner would earn a role in a movie produced by the company.
The prize might seem modest, but the real reward was fame. The previous two winners had swiftly become renowned actors, with one even landing roles in Hollywood productions.
Leo had been an ardent fan of the show, so he knew its workings. Every two weeks, participants would receive a script to act out, and these scripts were performed in groups, initially based on solo performances.
"In essence, the most talented individuals form teams," Leo sighed. It was no wonder that the past two winners had emerged from these teams.
"I'll be safe if I can secure a place in one of those teams," Leo muttered as he continued reading the letter, which contained contracts and the show's start date.
"September 20, 2023."
"Damn, the show is only five days away!" Leo gasped, staring in disbelief at the starting date. The show was set to take place on the Andaman-Nicobar Islands, and the coordinators had arranged a flight for convenience.
But with his current statistics, how could he hope to join a strong team?
[New mission: Win Smallboss] (Accept or Reject)
A notification suddenly appeared before him, and without hesitation, he accepted the mission.
[System missions]
[Main mission: Become a Bollywood superstar. (Time limit: Unlimited)]
[Sub mission: Win Smallboss.]
(Prize: (Unknown))
"Unknown?" Leo frowned his brows.
[Prizes will vary as per your grade of completing the missions.]
"That's it."
It appeared that his initial task was to win Smallboss. Leo sighed and decided to step outside for some fresh air.
However, when he opened the door, he was stunned by his surroundings.
"How could anyone live in these conditions?" he exclaimed, his gaze fixed on the dirty canal just three feet away from his doorstep. Another step, and he would be at the water's edge.
A nauseating odor assaulted his senses, causing him to scrunch up his nose. How had Leo ended up living in such squalor? Three years ago, he should have had some money, shouldn't he?
His eyes trailed along the shabby buildings on both sides of the canal, arranged in a straight line. He tried to recall his memories of this place.
"Dharavi..."
A/N: This is my first time writing, so please forgive any mistakes. I'll strive to improve my writing as the story progresses.