Julian, enjoying Rusty Stripe's escalating frustration, decided to push further. "Weak Tell me, what are your specialties! I want to compete with you! I want Sophie to see who the real man is!"
Rusty Stripe's impatience contrasted sharply with Julian's composure. He smiled, reaching out to gently lift Sophie's chin. "I'm about to tell you."
Sophie, despite her initial resistance, found herself leaning into his touch, her voice soft and yielding. "...Okay."
"I'm not afraid to share," Julian said, his gaze fixed on Sophie's eyes. "We've been living together for a month now. Sophie's parents know, they welcome me like family." He turned to Sophie, a playful glint in his eyes. "Right, Sophie?"
"Yes," she replied automatically, nodding. It was true, though Julian conveniently omitted the fact that he paid rent.
The cafe erupted in whispers. Sophie, the epitome of purity and obedience, was living with Julian? It was a scandal!
Realizing the implication of her nod, Sophie's cheeks burned crimson. She wished the floor would swallow her whole.
Julian, seizing the moment, raised an eyebrow at Rusty Stripe, conveying a silent "you understand?"
The cafe buzzed with speculation. Sophie, mortified, jabbed Julian's ribs. He remained unfazed, a genuine smile playing on his lips.
Rusty Stripe, however, remained confused. "What do you mean?" He turned to his gang. "What's he talking about?"
Julian inwardly groaned. Did he really have to spell it out? Thankfully, one of Rusty Stripe's cronies whispered something in his ear.
"What! My Sophie..." Rusty Stripe's face turned a shade of red that suggested he was about to explode.
"Light~"
"Feeling 9 points of negative emotion from Sophie Turner, system bubbles are being generated..."
Julian sighed. "Natural Liberation" wasn't kicking in anytime soon. And with only 9 points, the bubble would likely be useless. Still, Sophie was pinching him, even though he was doing her a favor. Women were impossible to understand.
He glanced down and saw a small, gray bubble forming near Sophie's feet. Before he could react, another system prompt sounded.
"Feeling 85 points of negative emotion from Chris Dick, system bubbles are being generated..."
Eighty-five points? Rusty Stripe was a goldmine of negative emotions! And there, at his feet, was a large, sky-blue bubble, radiating power. It had to contain a valuable football skill!
"Feeling 31 points of negative emotion from Willard Zachary, system bubbles are being generated..."
"Feeling 35 points of negative emotion from Milton Lusien, system bubbles are being generated..."
"Feeling 38 points of negative emotion from Buck Fried, system bubbles are being generated..."
"Feeling 44 points of negative emotion from Payne Lyle, system bubbles are being generated..."
"Feeling 55 points of negative emotion from Hansenton Chester, system bubbles are being generated..."
Julian scanned the room. Bubbles, large and small, were forming under the feet of Rusty Stripe and his gang. All within five meters of him. The other patrons, though clearly affected by the tension, weren't generating any. It seemed the system had a limited range.
This was fantastic! A simple display of affection, and he was swimming in free skills. He just needed to collect them.
He casually nudged Sophie's gray bubble with his toe, then strode towards Rusty Stripe, collecting the bubbles from him and his gang in one fell swoop.
Seven bubbles, seven strands of light, absorbed into his body.
"Light~ The host picked up the skill from the ruined bubble: putting on and taking off stockings +1, today's pick up progress is 4/10."
Putting on stockings? From Sophie, no doubt. Did that even qualify as a skill? Nine points of negative emotion, indeed. Useless.
"Reminder: When you use the putting on and taking off stockings technique, you can make the process smoother and smoother, but because you are not skilled enough, you have a high chance of breaking the stockings."
Well, that was... something.
"Light~ The host picked up the results from the ordinary bubbles: core muscle group training +10 hours, today's pick-up progress is 5/10."
"Results?" A new category! Finally, something useful. Ten hours of professional training, for free!
"Light~ The host picked up the results from the ordinary bubbles: the upper body and back muscle training degree + 10 hours, today's pickup progress is 6/10."
"Light~ The host picked up the results from ordinary bubbles: the ball-jumping training speed +10 hours, today's pick-up progress is 7/10."
"Light ~ the host picked up the skill from the ordinary bubble: long pass punching tactics course + 10 hours, today's pick up progress is 8/10."
"Light ~ the host picked up the skill from the ordinary bubble: exam cheating +1, today's pick-up progress is 9/10."
"Exam cheating?" Seriously? What kind of skill was that?
"Reminder: When you are taking the written test, you can bring your own cheat sheet to cheat. There is a certain chance that your grade after cheating will exceed your normal grade, but your chances of being caught by the invigilator will also be greatly increased. It is not ruled out The nervousness, dizziness, vomiting and other uncomfortable symptoms caused by your cheating process."
Make his own cheat sheet? A chance to exceed his normal grade? Increased chances of getting caught? What kind of twisted skill was this?
He couldn't forget it now, it was ingrained in his mind. Well, he didn't need to cheat anyway.
One blue bubble remained. Rusty Stripe's professional football skill. He hoped it was a good one.