Michael's office was silent, the only sound coming from the faint clicking of his keyboard as he busied himself with work. Frank sat stiffly across from the massive desk, trying hard to mask the nerves crawling up his spine. The longer the silence stretched, the heavier the weight in the room became.

Finally, Michael looked up, his sharp gaze locking onto the young man in front of him.

"Frank, the Global Competition is not some talent show you stroll into with excuses. You get one shot. Win or lose, that's it. And I don't need to remind you—your backer owes me for even putting you here."

Frank swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Yes, sir. I understand. I'll deliver."

"Better," Michael said simply. His tone was calm, but it carried the weight of a verdict. Every word pressed down on Frank's chest like a stone.

Michael wasn't like the other label heads. In the music industry, he was the godfather. He owned the number one record label in the world, but more than that, he controlled the game. Nothing big happened without his knowledge. Politicians were on his speed dial, media executives in his pocket, and artists owed their entire careers to his ruthless brand of guidance.

Nobody crossed Michael and got away with it. Even the heads of the other Big Four labels tread carefully around him, because Michael was infamous for cutting down rivals without hesitation by any means necessary. Behind the polished suits and expensive whiskey was a man who dealt in power, fear, and absolute control.

Frank knew all this, which was why sweat prickled at the back of his neck every time he sat in this chair.

A knock came at the glass door, saving him from drowning in his nerves.

"Come in," Michael said without looking up.

His PA stepped inside, tablet in hand, bowing slightly. "Sir, there's an update on the person you asked me to keep an eye on."

Michael extended his hand. The tablet was placed before him. The screen lit up with charts, trending reports, and looping clips of JD's Heathrow incident — him shielding a fan, disarming attackers, and the roaring media response that followed.

Michael leaned forward, scanning with a sharp eye. A faint smirk tugged at his lips.

"Interesting," he murmured. "He's even more promising than I thought."

Frank's gaze flicked to the screen before he could stop himself. JD's face. The footage of the fight. The way Michael's expression shifted — calm but calculating. In that moment, Frank knew. Michael was interested in this person.

"Keep watching him," Michael ordered, handing the tablet back. "Every move. Every number. I want updates if anything happens."

"Yes, sir," the PA replied softly.

Frank clenched his fists under the desk. He had been sitting here trying to prove himself, only to see Michael's focus shift so easily to someone else — someone new. He didn't even know why, but the sight of JD's face left him uneasy and threatened.

Michael dismissed him with a flick of his hand, eyes already back on his computer. The PA packed up the tablet, JD's face still frozen on the screen, and left the office.

Frank forced a smile as he stood. "Alright then, Michael. I'll get back to work… on what we discussed."

Michael didn't respond. Just a nod, as though Frank was already forgotten.

Out in the hall, Frank waited until the PA emerged with the tablet tucked under her arm. He stepped closer, lowering his voice.

"That guy on the screen… who is he?"

She hesitated, glancing around before leaning in. "JD. New artist. Trending everywhere these past few months. An incident occurred at the airport where he was attacked, and he disarmed the attacker; it was even shown on CNN. I am surprised you don't know him."

Frank's jaw tightened, as if he didn't even hear any of it. His concern was whether the person was a threat to his path. "And Michael?"

The PA's lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't answer outright, but her eyes said it all: Michael was interested. Everyone in the industry knew what that meant. Michael rarely missed when it came to talent — once he fixed his sights on someone, it was only a matter of time before that person worked for him and most definitely exploded in popularity as he was the one calling the shots.

Frank stepped back, muttering, "Figures."

The PA gave a polite nod and walked away, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

Frank leaned against the wall, dragging a hand down his face. The timing couldn't have been worse. The Global Competition had already begun. And its rules were brutal — once in a lifetime. No second chances, no do-overs. It wasn't just about talent; there was more. It was about votes, raffles, and pulling the right strings just to make it on stage. It was hosted every three years, and once you competed, you could never compete again.

Frank already had his slot secured, thanks to Michael's backing, even though the raffle had not been conducted, and that was only because of his backer's influence. But if Michael shifted his attention now, if JD entered the picture… everything could crumble.

He clenched his jaw, trying to steady himself. Maybe Michael only wanted to sign JD. Maybe he wasn't thinking about pushing him into the competition. Still, the thought left a bitter taste in Frank's mouth. He knew better than anyone: Michael didn't waste interest on small things.

And if JD was really in Michael's sights… then Frank's position was already under threat.

He decided to do his own research on JD With his mind made up, he called his agent.

"We have a problem and a possible new threat."

***

Meanwhile…

Oblivious to all of this, Dayo was still looking at the mission complete interface that had just popped up in front of him.

[System Notification]

Mission Completed – Path to Global Stage

Performance Rating: SSS+

Viral Song Released: Achieved

Chart Requirement (Top 50 Global): Surpassed

Current Rank: #1 Global Chart

Audience Engagement: Legendary

Reward Unlocked:

System Upgrade → Level 2

Signature Skill → [Prodigy's Instinct]

A rare ability that lets the host pick up new talents at a much faster rate than ordinary people. Whatever skill the host sets his mind to—singing, dancing, performing, or even stage presence—progress comes naturally, as if guided by instinct.

Overachievement Bonus:

Reward: [Global Spotlight Card]

Effect: Doubles the exposure and reach of your next release for 7 days.

Penalty Avoided: No skill lock applied.

A smile crept up Dayo's face. He had been wondering when the system would reward him. He knew he had met the criteria but hadn't received confirmation yet.

Now, seeing the rewards listed, Dayo felt overwhelmed. He quickly called out the one thing he wanted to confirm.

"Stats."

DING!

[STATS]

Name: Jason Dayo

Age: 20 years

Status: National Artist (Level 5)

Singing Level: B-

Writing Level: A-

Acting Skill: C-

Visual: B+

Instrument Level:

Guitar: SS+

Flute: A+

Piano: S-

Violin: A-

Music Production Skill: SSS+

Video Editing: B+

Potential: SSS+

Skills:

-Prodigy's Instinct

-Status Viewer

-Perfect match

Cards:

Global Spotlight Card → Doubles the exposure and reach of your next release for 7 days.

System Level: 2

*New Features unlocked*

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