Speechless, Nick switched off his mobile data connection and clicked on the new app with a rainbow-colored V-shape icon.
The screen loaded for a while, and then a retro-design female cartoon character with golden curled hair appeared and spoke cheerfully.
"So, you have chosen to participate in the race for Top Idol. Congratulations! Welcome to the realm of limitless possibilities!
"By accepting the invite, you are now an esteemed 'Pointer.' Let your dreams fuel your race to become Top Idol, the chosen one who shall have their greatest, deepest desire granted."
'Hmm, sounds like only one person can become the Top Idol.' Nick listened carefully.
The beautiful cartoon lady continued, "Before you start your journey, here is some essential information to help you get started:
"In Top Idol, 'V-point' is the main currency. You earn them by completing tasks and unlocking achievements.
"V-points can be used to invest in the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. attributes, purchase items, upgrade talents, and activate S-Attribute Abilities. There are also leaderboards where you can earn trophies, cash prizes, and other items.
"With these privileges, strive to achieve fame, notoriety, and influence, which are all amalgamated and recorded as the 'V-Score'! Once you reach the V-Score threshold of your 'Class', you will be permitted to participate in a Class Advancement Test.
"With all that said, there's still more for you to know, so start by making sure to read the rule book in the 'Help & Support' section.
"And remember, all your desires are within reach if you are willing to pay the price. So come and prove how deep your desires run. Once again, welcome to Top Idol!"
Nick remained silent, ruminating on the final words of the cartoon guide. 'All my desires are within reach if I'm willing to pay the price, and I should also prove how deep they run. Hmm, I guess this is actually some type of Ponzi scheme?'
At this point, Nick reached his limit in giving the app the benefit of the doubt, but he told himself to have more patience.
After the brief introduction, Nick was free to explore the app.
There were nine tabs: Profile, Attributes, Leaderboard, Inventory, Shop, Marketplace, Notifications, Achievements, and Help & Support.
First and foremost, he entered the Profile. For parts he couldn't fully understand and needed clarification, there was a small 'i' sign beside them, which he readily clicked for more explanation.
Name: Lennard Steven Park.
Alias: Pointer4879.
Nick read his name and narrowed his eyes.
'How did they get my full name? Ah, they probably got it from my WiChat account, though I haven't logged in. Has my phone really been hacked? Dammit, will I have to get a new one?' He hissed.
It was said other pointers wouldn't be able to see Nick's name. Instead, he would be identified by the alias — Pointer4879. Nick couldn't help but grimace at the rather unimpressive alias. Couldn't they have been more creative?
Class: Irregular.
Pointers were split into ten classes that served as designated levels of ascension, the next greater than the last: Irregular, Specialist, Double Specialist, Triple Specialist, Master Specialist, Elite Candidate, Third Elite, Second Elite, First Elite, and lastly — Idol.
To advance to the next class, a pointer was to reach the given V-Score threshold of their current class, and then complete the Class Advancement Test. If the pointer failed to complete the test, the pointer would be disqualified from Top Idol.
"It sounds like a pyramid scheme, but they haven't asked me to give any money or invite anybody yet, at least," Nick muttered.
'So I'm already an Irregular by just accepting the invitation? Then before, I was just a Regular? Hmm, alright.' Nick felt the scam was trying to inflate his ego and make him believe he was special.
S-Attribute: —
S-Attribute Ability: —
Unique Skill: —
There were seven attributes pointers could invest v-points in. Nick was shown the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. acronym, which stood for Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Looks.
Nick frowned thinking about the 'attributes' concept, where pointers could use v-point to increase their strength, intelligence, and even looks. Wasn't this too fantastical and fake? Why did the developers bother to add such a feature? It's not like life was a video game.
Somehow, this made Nick start to think it might not actually be a scam, or at least, a properly made scam.
However, he continued with his inspection. He further learned that after new pointers completed their first Class Advancement Test, they would choose an attribute out of the normal seven, which became their S-Attribute, which then came with an Ability.
From the info Nick read, the S-Attribute Ability seemed like an otherworldly rendition of power.
This was especially confusing.
In addition to all that, the Unique Skill was said to be a variant manifestation of the S-Attribute.
Talents: [ ], [ ], [ ].
There were three talent slots available for all pointers. Apparently, pointers could purchase talents as items from the Shop and upgrade their proficiency grade.
V-Score = [0/100,000].
V-Score, as mentioned by the cartoon guide, was an amalgamation of fame, influence, celebrity, and notoriety. Upon reaching the threshold, Nick could participate in a Class Advancement Test, which was necessary to advance to the next Class and choose an S-Attribute.
Daily Task(s) = [0/4].
Tasks were assigned to pointers each day, and this subsection tracked them. It was pretty self-explanatory.
V-Points = 0.
Nick hissed at the zero balance. Couldn't he have been given a few v-points so he could use them to confirm Top Idol's legitimacy?
He left the Profile tab and, out of mere curiosity, went over to the Attributes tab. With the 'i' sign in the corner, he learned that the maximum for each stat was 24, with 12 being the average.
[Attributes]:
Strength — 10.
Perception — 14.
Endurance — 12.
Charisma — 6.
Intelligence — 16.
Agility — 9.
Looks — 8.
Nick's face contorted with a hint of annoyance. There was no way he was going to accept those figures.
Strength, near average; Perception, slightly above average; Endurance, exactly average; Intelligence, above average; and Agility, below average.
These attributes were within Nick's expectations, to say the least.
However, the corners of his mouth and brows twitched slightly as he stared at the values of his Looks and Charisma attributes.
"Dammit, I'm not that ugly!" He clicked his tongue. "And I'm a pretty charming guy, aren't I? Yeah, because Nana even calls me her Prince Charming. Tsk, this shit is fake. At least, they somewhat got my intelligence right. But still, it should be a few points higher."
Indignant and now getting the gist of everything in the profile and attributes tabs, Nick didn't want to waste his time anymore. He had already reached his mental limit of giving the benefit of the doubt.
Nick quickly exited Top Idol. He didn't even bother skimming through the remaining tab sections.
He figured he needed tasks to get v-points, but the cartoon guide didn't mention how to get tasks, meaning he would have to search the app for an answer or just wait. And waiting seemed like the better option because, as was common in every mobile application, he expected Top Idol to inform him about the task via notification.
Out of curiosity, Nick attempted to uninstall Top Idol, but the phone's operating system didn't permit him, for some reason. This made him scrunch his eyebrows, but it was understandable considering he didn't personally install the app. He was hacked, after all.
Nick kept his phone away and rubbed his temples.
It was a crazy turn of events. He had attempted suicide, was rescued by a stranger who had been stalking him, woke up at home just to see a purple-eyed crow that could communicate had invaded, and ended up joining something that may or may not be a scam.
Things were getting too complex already, as usual.
Nick sighed and laid down on the side of the bed that wasn't wet. He just wanted to rest some more and idle away.
Facing the cupboard, his eyes focused on the wet black backpack, but suddenly widened.
'My money!'
He frantically stood up, grabbed the backpack, and zipped it open.