Gangster to Idol

That morning, Mimi was going about her usual routine at the bakery when she noticed Cain, as always, hunched over his table, devouring his usual breakfast.

His eating habits hadn't changed — crumbs littered the table, and sauce smeared the corners of his mouth. Mimi shook her head, sighing at the sight.

As she continued to watch him, her thoughts drifted to the mysterious man who had appeared that night, the one who had rescued them.

"C.C. . . . ," Mimi muttered under her breath, her curiosity piqued. She pulled out her phone and opened BuzzVid, scrolling through the latest videos until she found him.

There he was, dancing effortlessly, his hair styled with a rugged charm that was undeniably captivating. He was strikingly handsome — rough around the edges, but handsome nonetheless.

Mimi replayed the memory of his gentle voice and the refined, almost gentlemanly manner he had shown that night. It was such a stark contrast to the brutish Cain sitting at a corner.

She couldn't help but smile as she clicked [Follow].

This was the kind of man every guy should aspire to be, she thought, as she glanced at the screen one last time before tucking her phone away.

Meanwhile, completely unaware of Mimi's thoughts, Cain was wrestling with a dilemma of his own, absently licking the sauce from his fingers as he stared into space, deep in thought.

"What's up with you?" Fifi asked, noticing the unusually serious expression on Cain's face.

"I just realized something," Cain replied, still lost in his thoughts. "I need a fake background."

"You're only thinking about that now?" Fifi raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "You should think about that the first time."

"If I'm going to enter this idol thing, they'll definitely dig into my past."

"That's true. And they'll find out you're a gangster."

"That can't happen. My guys can't know I'm entering this embarrassing idol world."

"Isn't it the other way around? Shouldn't you be more embarrassed if the world finds out you're a gangster instead?" Fifi deadpanned.

Cain ignored her and continued to mull over his options. "What should I do now? My records are all in the government database. Should I hire a hacker to forge a new identity?"

Fifi's eyes lit up with a mischievous gleam. "I've got just the thing for you."

Cain frowned, shaking his head. "I'm not wasting any more IP on your items. I still haven't paid off the Charm Bracelet."

"You've already paid off more than half of it," Fifi pointed out, her voice dripping with temptation. "You could buy one of my items right now and be done with it."

"No way," Cain said firmly, his mind set. He was saving every point to boost his stats, preparing for the idol world. He wasn't about to blow it on another of Fifi's trinkets.

"Are you sure?" Fifi whispered, leaning in close, her voice silky and enticing. "This time, I've got something that could solve all your problems. Just one use of this [New Idol Identity Card], and you can forge a flawless background for C.C. in every database on the planet.

It'll even create a history of past jobs for you, and if you want, it can say your family died in some tragic accident or whatever backstory that fits you."

The more Cain listened, the more intrigued he became. The offer was almost too good to resist. "H-how much . . . ?"

Fifi hid her triumphant smile beneath a mask of calm. "Just 200 IP."

Cain fell silent, weighing the decision carefully.

"You can buy it in installments," Fifi added, her voice smooth as silk.

Cain hesitated for a moment longer, then finally let out a sigh. It was risky, but the reward was too tempting to pass up. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll take it."

Fifi grinned, knowing she had him exactly where she wanted. "Good."

Within seconds, a crystalline card materialized in Cain's hand. He hesitated only for a moment before using it. The card dissolved into a shimmering mist, vanishing into thin air.

"That's it?" Cain asked, eyebrows raised in doubt.

Fifi nodded confidently. "Yep, it's done."

"How do I know it worked?"

With a sigh of exaggerated patience, Fifi pulled up her holographic interface and tapped a few keys. Within moments, she turned the screen toward Cain, revealing the appearance of a new entry in the government database. It had C.C.s picture on it.

"Charles Corn? That sounds like a snack, not a person." Cain scowled, unimpressed. "Isn't there a better name?"

Fifi stifled a laugh, quickly covering it with a smooth explanation. "The more unusual and catchy, the better. It'll stick in people's minds, and besides, it gives you a perfect excuse for why you'd want to hide your real name. Fans love a good story."

Cain considered her words, nodding slowly. "Ah, well, you have a point. The name doesn't really matter to me. Let's see . . .

orphaned at a young age, worked in numerous establishments after that."

"Everyone loves a sob story," Fifi added with a knowing smile. "The sadder, the better. People will sympathize with you, root for you — they'll be on your side before you even step on stage. A boy at a young age already working hard. Ohh~ I can already see the fans shedding tears."

Cain grunted, his attention still fixed on the fabricated details. "I'm not too concerned about that, but . . . are these companies legit?"

Fifi grinned, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Absolutely. In a corporate world handling thousands of employees, slipping your information into their databases was a piece of cake. They won't even know it's fake. As long as your name's in their records, they'll vouch for you without question."

Cain's frown slowly twisted into a smirk. "Being a janitor at this company before? That's actually perfect. Alright, let's see just how far this little trick can take me. For the meantime, I need to order a government card for C.C."

Fifi couldn't hide her satisfaction as she watched Cain's expression shift. She knew she had him hooked.

Cain chuckled to himself, a low, unsettling sound that echoed through the room. He could finally have at least one Identification Card for C.C.

Unbeknownst to him, Mimi was watching from the side, her face contorted with disgust. This guy was nothing like the polished and refined C.C. she'd seen online. The difference was like night and day.

Mimi shook her head, trying to shake off the unease Cain's creepy smile caused. She turned back to her work, determined to ignore the unsettling presence sitting just a few feet away.

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