Thug and Idol: 10X Rewards Second Identity System

"Then is your idea to make covers of each other's contest songs?"

Nel leaned back and clapped his hands.

"You read my mind, man! I already had some ideas about what I could do with your song to make it sound even MORE fresh! And we can make an entire music video out of it. Two of them!"

Tristan grinned, because that was true. Now that he had the backing of an agency, he didn't need to worry about not having equipment and personnel for making high-quality music videos.

Hell, he won't need to even rent time in a music recording studio anymore!

"Yeah, I'd love to make a cover of your 'Jester Jester', Nel. I have to think about the time we have left until the next round of the contest, too, though."

Especially since he had to manage his crime life as well.

The contest was in December, and today was October. Two months was neither a little, nor a lot.

After yesterday, Tristan knew that other small gangs will look at Cuatro Angulos like sharks in a tank on a fallen prisoner. And he better move quickly himself, so King Lion Gang got its lion's share.

The thought made him cringe at the awful pun and rub his aching chest.

This was going to hurt his performances in the next couple of weeks, too, but Tristan didn't have the time to waste and fully recover.

Seeing the motion, Nel frowned in concern, then squinted.

"Are you OK, Tris? You look kinda scuffed today. Is that a bruise under your concealer?" He pointed at Tristan's face.

The bruise on Tristan's jaw was small, something he didn't even remember earning. Tristan waved the concern away.

"I just hit myself with a barbell bar yesterday when doing lifts like a total dumbass."

Tristan barely went to a gym these days, preferring to get his muscles with system points.

His time could be spent in better ways.

Nel laughed.

"That happens with everybody who goes to the gym, I bet! Or something like that. I remember the time I dropped a dumbbell on my leg… I actually broke a toe bone! So you are lucky to only have a bruise. It won't make your singing any worse, I'm sure. Anyway, I know you gotta make a new song in two months, but something tells me that 'Dragonfly' didn't take you a year, man.

Either way, I'm ready to help you out with this. Anything you need!"

Tristan nodded. Nel's eagerness and surety in Tristan rekindled his determination to succeed. He had to do better than best! And with as much PP as he had, there was no way for him to fail.

"Then I can do the same."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

***

After finishing their meal, Tristan and Nel contacted the manager, which was given to them by the GTG agency.

The manager's name was Derek Writfield, and he actually worked with both of them, along with a few other talents in the agency. This was very common in smaller agencies like GTG.

Tristan knew he could've pushed to have a dedicated agent, but for now, he didn't have the need to. In fact, he barely spoke with Derek until now.

The manager met both young stars in one of the GTG office rooms, where Tristan sat on a guest chair, and Nel immediately sprawled on the couch

Derek, instead of taking the seat at the table, also took a guest chair. He fit there.

The manager had neat, but average looks and height, and a resting expression of someone extremely approachable, but not one to approach.

His hair was boring brown and cut short; his eyes were dull gray. As if to compensate, he wore a bright red suit that stood out like a flashbang grenade, but only hid Derek himself more.

"That's an excellent suggestion," Derek said after Tristan and Nel explained to him their idea. "But Mr. Gemello, the next round of the Californian Young Star contest is only in two months. Will you be ready for it in time? Perhaps it will be better to record your part after the contest is complete?"

The way Derek spoke was also extremely non-aggravating, to the point that required both talent and skill.

This tone of voice was the reason he was chosen to work with these two artists, even though he wasn't usually assigned to fresh artists.

For a reason Derek wasn't told, it was extremely important that these two were kept happy, no matter what. And keeping moody stars happy was Derek's specialty!

All the other artists under Derek's management were divas that were popular enough that stardom hit their heads, even if they weren't actually very successful.

But looking at Tristan and Gemello, Derek once again silently wondered why he was needed here. Tristan sure was arrogant, but seemed coolheaded; and Nel was obviously a very easygoing person.

Tristan huffed.

"I can do both in time, Mr. Writfield. If necessary, I will work without sleep to prepare… But it won't be necessary."

The look in Tristan's eyes left no doubts about that.

Derek smiled apologetically.

"Alright. We should also think this through a little. I feel like this idea can be improved even more. Perhaps if you record a mini-documentary about your unlikely friendship as rivals, Mr. Gemello, Mr. Mayar?

People like that sort of thing."

"Oooh, that's even better!" Nel exclaimed.

Unlike him, Tristan frowned.

Their friendship started when they were threatened by armed thugs!

Which neither of them reported.

Fabricating stories was common in showbiz, but it added a layer of trouble.

The idea itself, though, was great. Derek sure had a knack for this thing, and plenty of experience Tristan lacked.

Now he gave Nel a meaningful look.

"I don't think this story is something the public will be very interested in without some embellishment," he said.

"It won't? I thought it was—oh, riiight…"

While realization showed on Nel's face, Derek looked at the two artists in puzzlement.

He didn't pry.

"If this doesn't sound appealing, Mr. Gemello, I was actually given another good offer for a promo. I was contacted by Jane Greenpawl's manager yesterday—"

"Jane?!"