Logan woke up with his face stuck to the couch and his neck twisted as if he had had a passionate night with a blender.
—Agh what day is it today? —he asked, rubbing his eyes.
—It is your Day 1 as "Supreme Entrepreneur." Time remaining for the mission: 6 hours, 12 minutes. Probability of success: 23%. Probability you mess it up: 77%.
Logan sat up, scratched his chest and looked at the floating interface with a "I'm not in the mood for your shit" face.
—You have so much faith in me, Fay... can't you make me coffee or something?
—No. But I can lower your metabolism if you want.
—Do it and I'll uninstall you.
—You can't. Idiot.
Logan got up, put on his jacket and checked his notebook. Fay had loaded two profiles like they were soccer player cards to recruit:
- Nicolás Rodríguez (Nico): Appearance: orange hair. Face full of freckles and blue eyes. Age: 20. Hacker from the slums. He's the one who can open the advertising nodes. He loves food, you'll see how you bribe him. I sent his workshop address to your GPS.
- Pico-Pico-Live: Appearance: neon purple hair. Brown face and loves wearing sunglasses. Age: 30. Basically a street streamer who screams for likes and does stupid challenges. I honestly think his followers have attention deficit. He's always near the square.
—A Chinese hacker and a clown who walks around with a megaphone? Is this my elite super team?
—Yes. And the worst part is that you're the leader. How scary.
Logan sighed. He put on deodorant without looking and left with the bike that sounded like it had a severe case of tuberculosis.
---
The Lower District was as poor as ever, with its tin houses and drifters roaming the streets. Logan arrived at Nico's workshop, which looked like a dump that had been given the name of a laboratory.
Nico was hunched over a panel full of bare wires, wearing a mechanic's coverall and gloves bigger than his hands. He was among broken screens and a mug that looked like it had survived a civil war.
—Uh… Nico? —Logan said, feeling his way.
—Yes, the one and only. What do you want? I'm busy. And I don't like awkward silences.
—Alright, alright, I'll get to the point. I'm Logan and I need you to open Node 7. At five thirty. It will only be a few minutes.
On hearing this, Nico let out an "anja" as if he'd been offered to clean a public toilet.
—And what are you going to pay me for that?
—Well, I have something you might be interested in.
Logan opened his backpack and took out an empanada wrapped in newsprint.
—I'll pay you with a week of this for free.
Nico stopped what he was doing, looked at it, put a hand to his mouth and murmured:
—Uff an empanada...and it's cheese. Are you trying to seduce me?
Nico turned serious.
—Alright, Logan, you were saying. Let me see what I can do for you. I just hope they're pretty hot.
—Almost as hot as the +18 content your cat was watching.
Nico turned to the corner. The cat was on a tablet watching something that was definitely not educational.
—Hey, you damn cat! Stop stealing my internet with that crap! Chinese girls Aaah Aaah all day!
The cat ignored him completely and turned up the volume.
Logan laughed for a while and then stood up:
—Deal then?
—Deal.
They shook hands like two guys who knew they were doing something illegal, but not illegal enough to stop doing it.
Fay appeared floating over Logan's shoulder.
—Confirmed: Nico is functional. Although his cat has more charisma than you really.
—Can you stop insulting me every five minutes?
—I could. But then you'd lose 80% of your motivation. And I'd lose 100% of my entertainment.
Nico looked at Fay with curiosity.
—Does she always talk like that?
—All damn day, friend —Logan said.
—And can't you silence her?
—I tried. She threatened to lower my charisma for "hostile attitude."
Fay spun in the air as if bowing.
—Thanks for your interest, Nico. But you are not authorized to interact with my interface. Nor with my user. Nor with his face.
—She's jealous —Nico said, amused.
—No! I am only protective of my assets. And Logan is an asset… defective.
Logan rubbed his face.
—Can we get back to the topic?
—Yes, yes. Node seven. Five thirty. Five minutes. And if the police come down on me for vandalism, I'll hide in your fridge.
—It's empty.
—Better that way.
---
Logan left Nico's "workshop," adjusting his jacket.
—Well… next stop: Pico-Pico-Live —he muttered, as if the name gave him heartburn.
Fay appeared floating over his shoulder.
—User, reminder: PicoLive has unstable energy, limited vocabulary and zero sense of danger. He is ideal for your plans.
—Was that sarcasm?
—It was statistics.
After searching a bit around the designated spot, Logan found him in the central square, surrounded by kids. PicoLive was standing on an empty crate, shouting:
—Challenge of how long I can hold my breath! If I faint, they give me likes!
Logan approached.
—Hey hey, don't die yet. I need you alive.
Pico looked at him with glassy eyes and a red face.
—Oh wow! —he took a breath— Do you want me to shout something for you?
—Five minutes of noise. At five thirty. I want people to look at the screen and for my ex to find out I'm still alive and have more charisma than her.
Pico climbed down from the box, shook off the dust and smiled.
—That sounds epic, bro! Deal!
—Huh? That easy? —Logan said, completely surprised.
—Yes, friend, your macabre idea has potential. Do you want me to shout your name, your story, your trauma?
—Relax bro, just shout and make it sound important.
—Perfect! Do you want me to throw myself on the floor? Set myself on fire?
—No. Just shout. And don't die please.
Pico ran off to prepare his "performance." Then Fay floated near Logan and whispered:
—User, probability of success: 41%.
Logan smiled. Then Fay continued floating over his shoulder and whispered:
—Did you know your face reduces engagement by 12%?
—Did you know I can ignore you?
—Did you know if you ignore me I lower your charisma?
Logan fell silent. The system was like a toxic ex with access to his self-esteem.
---
At 3:00 PM Fay appeared with an update.
[Synchronization in progress. Node 7 has confirmed opening. PicoLive is ready too. Recommendation: don't improvise. Your face is already ridiculous enough.]
—Thanks for the emotional support, Fay.
—It's not support. It's prevention of public humiliation. Although… if you fail, they uninstall me. And that would be… annoying.
Logan raised an eyebrow.
—Do you care?
—No! Idiot! It's just that… I have history to lose. I don't care about you.
Logan smiled. Fay turned red. Literally: the hologram flickered red for a second.
—Are you… blushing?
—Color error! Visual bug! Shut up!
---
At 5:25 PM Logan positioned himself behind a column. Nico was ready with his portable panel while PicoLive shouted "Come see this revenge!"
—Status: ready. Probability of success: 41%. Probability that Pico messes up the timing: 59%.
—Can't you do something so he doesn't screw up?
—I'm a system, not a nanny.
At exactly 5:35 PM Nico did his magic. The node opened. The screen flickered. For three seconds, Logan's face appeared with the text "Ana, look at this bitch" which caused people to start laughing.
Fay showed the notification:
[+300 Partial Charisma]
[Skill unlocked: Stage Presence (60%)]
Logan smiled. It wasn't much, but something was something.
—And now what?
Fay was silent for a second. Then she spoke in a tone she didn't normally use.
—Alert: external observer has acquired tracking rights over user.
—What the hell does that mean? Speak properly.
—It means someone with money and time to burn has just paid to watch you.
Logan looked up. On a balcony in the Upper District a female figure watched him. Dressed in expensive clothes, black hair at neck length and the bored smile of a millionaire. Her wrist device began to glow.
Fay lowered her voice.
—User. Recommendation: don't ignore her.
—And if she wants to buy me?
—Then prepare to be sold first.
Logan swallowed saliva by pure instinct.
Fay floated closer, closer than usual.
—And if she buys you… I can't protect you.
—Relax. I don't sell myself that easily.
End of Chapter 2