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"Even if I, Anos Voldigoad, were to perish or leap from this tower, I will never agree to a blind date! You can set that idea aside permanently!"
On the 18th floor of the Pearl Tower, Anos stood unmoved, his face resolute. His posture was unyielding, exuding a quiet defiance, as though even the heavens themselves could not sway him.
Opposite him was an exceptionally beautiful woman.
She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail held by a silver crescent clip. Her soft, curved bangs framed her powdered oval face, accentuating her dark, defined brows and vivid eyes. With a straight nose and a pair of pursed, crimson lips, she radiated an aura of poise and self-assurance. This was Luna—Anos's older sister.
The surrounding guests, particularly the men, exchanged looks of admiration.
"Impressive! This is how a true man stands his ground!"
"Confident and firm—that's what we need in this day and age! Don't back down. Who needs a blind date when you've got your dignity?"
"Stay strong! I've had to deal with family pressure over blind dates myself. Freedom over everything! We can't bow down, we must follow our hearts!"
"…"
Without a word, Luna reached into her bag, retrieved a photograph, and held it out to Anos with an air of indifference. "Here's her picture," she said calmly.
Anos gave the photo a dismissive glance, smirking. "Luna, even if she were as stunning as you, I'm not interested in any blind date!" He picked up the photo and glanced at it briefly. But then, time seemed to stand still.
A few moments passed.
"What's her name? What time is the meeting? Which hotel? Also… any wardrobe advice?"
Pfft!
Nearby, two men spat out their tea in disbelief.
"Bro! What happened to all that pride? Where's your unbreakable resolve?"
"Man, I thought he was a Sigma male, but he's just… soft."
"Tch…"
"Heh, men these days!"
"…"
"Emily Roy, one o'clock this afternoon at the Crown Hotel." Luna calmly picked up her bag and walked away, not sparing him another glance.
…
At the Crown Hotel entrance, Anos exited his car just in time to see a young woman approaching him, her face lighting up with a gentle smile.
"Hello there. Has anyone ever told you that you're beautiful?" he greeted her with an easy charm, giving off the warmth of a boy-next-door.
The girl blushed, glancing at him and then at his license plate, seemingly shy. "N-no…"
With a confident grin, Anos reached out, brushing her cheek lightly. "Well, now someone has."
"Re-really?"
"Of course not! Haha!"
The girl froze in surprise, before muttering under her breath, "Jerk!"
"Ding… You have successfully charmed a stranger. Scumbag Value +10,000," chimed a sweet, ethereal voice in his mind.
Recently, Anos had been enjoying a vacation when he received a call from Luna, claiming she was gravely ill. In a panic, he'd returned immediately, only to realize he'd been tricked into attending a blind date!
As a university student, Anos had enough on his plate, yet Luna's relentless pressure to find a girlfriend had already led to three arranged dates this year alone! And to add to his predicament, he'd recently acquired the enigmatic [Scumbag System], an event that had steered his life into an unforeseen path. Although the system encouraged him to adopt a "scumbag" persona, Anos remained resolute—he would not succumb.
Three years prior, Anos had suffered a fatal accident on Earth. When he next opened his eyes, he found himself reborn in a world called [ Horizon Down ], a place similar yet fundamentally different from Earth.
Inside the Crown Hotel, Anos spotted a young woman in a pristine white coat, engrossed in her phone. He walked over to her table.
"Miss Emily, I presume?"
The woman looked up, her eyes lighting up with recognition.
"Anos, it's been a while," she said, smiling warmly.
Anos raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "A while? Have we met before?"
She laughed, her expression softening. "It's me, Riya—your high school classmate."
Anos froze, astonished. "You… you're Riya Roy?"
She nodded. "Yes, I go by Emily now."
In a flash, memories resurfaced. Back in high school, she'd been Riya, his first crush. They'd shared a fleeting relationship until he'd caught her with an older, wealthier man one evening. The next day, she'd scoffed at him, saying, "You're just a poor boy, Anos. Stop dreaming of dating above your station!"
Seeing her again, Anos felt the old resentment of this body's original owner flare within him.
"Ding… You have triggered the mission [Bedevil Emily]."
[Mission - Bedevil Emily]: Given the host's past grievances with Emily, proceed to disrupt her composure. Mission Penalty: None. Completion: 0%. Reward: Advancement to the Elemental Foundation Realm by Stage-One.
Boom—
The system's words struck him like a bolt of lightning. Until now, it had only offered minor items, like cultivation pills and body-strengthening elixirs. But now, it was offering him the chance to advance directly in strength! Anos's heart raced with excitement; Stage-One in the Elemental Foundation Realm was equivalent to Level 11, the second realm—a substantial leap forward.
Steeling himself, he smirked. Since fate had offered this opportunity, he'd gladly take it. After all, a little vengeance for the original Anos seemed entirely fair.
"Anos, I heard your sister's doing well now, isn't she?" Emily asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.
Anos took a measured sip of his tea. "Yes, she's doing alright. Taking vacations, playing golf with friends—keeping herself entertained."
Emily's eyes gleamed with anticipation. She had never truly cared for Anos in the past. But now he seemed taller, wealthier, and much more refined—everything she'd dreamed of.
Anos's eyes glinted with something cold. "It's funny, though," he mused, studying her with a hint of disdain. "People say a girl can change dramatically between youth and womanhood, but your transformation seems rather… extreme."
Emily blushed, laughing softly. "I've taken good care of myself."
Anos's gaze sharpened, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. "Really? Interesting. Your face seems much sharper now. Weren't you worried it might… poke you? Or did you get some assistance?"
"Ding… Successfully taunted Emily. Scum Value +10,000. Mission Progress: 30%."
....