176 2.2.1: Persuasion

"Congratulations Host, you completed your first target in this world! How do you feel?" Xiao Taotao asked with a happy smile once Xiao Yunhua was in the dimensional space. Xiao Yunhua's eyes were puffy and red from crying so much, but the little fairy pretended not the notice.

After she had met Dominic and he made his oath to protect her, he helped her return back to the Warrington mansion. Xiao Yunhua could still remember his gentle smile that broke her heart when she was still reeling in the whole situation. The more time passed, the more her feelings became nonexistent and she looked at him with no lingering attachment.

When she returned inside, she saw the Duchess who wanted to say something but didn't do her her state. She only gave her a look of annoyance and quickly dismissed her to her room. Before she could walk away though, the Duchess reminded her of the promise she made in exchange for being allowed to go.

Of course, since she had gotten her target, it was an easy promise to accomplish. She just felt that it was unfortunate for their friendship. In all the honesty she could muster, she really did enjoy his company because he was an intellectual and a gentleman.

So, the moment that she stepped inside of her room, she locked it and whisked herself to her dimensional space, her thoughts returning to the present as she looked at Xiao Taotao.

"I don't know how to feel." She couldn't lie because her thoughts were, after all, exposed in the dimensional space.

"Hehe, don't worry about it. You're just experiencing some unnecessary attachment. It'll fade away quickly and you'll get used to it as you experience more worlds." Xiao Yunhua was silent and the little fairy continued to speak. "Your Beauty Boost is going to be added as well."

"The list you gave me didn't give me a 'knight' so how many points will I get?" The list was pretty vague, especially for occupations like Dominic's.

"Well..." The little fairy scrunched her nose in contemplation. "Based on the difficulty, it was fairly moderate. I think 10,000 will suffice since he's the son of a noble."

That low amount of points made the whole thing not worth the effort she went through and the time of isolation. "But he's also a knight, that should be equivalent to more points?" She pressed on. If she simply accepted these little amount of points, then she would never finish and reach the desired amount of points.

The little fairy was silent then nodded. "Alright, 50,000 it is! Congratulations." Xiao Yunhua felt a little better. A feeling of exhilaration rushed through her when the points were added and the little fairy spoke again. "Your total is 945,000 points. Since it is a Beauty Boost from a completion of a target, then your choice of skills are below," Xiao Taotao snapped her fingers and a display of words appeared before Xiao Yunhua.

Hacking, design, game mastery and persuasion?

"What's with the last one?" It was different than the usual skills that were given.

"Exactly as it sounds!"

So she could persuade anyone to do anything?

"Unfortunately not." Oops. She had forgotten that her thoughts could be heard. The little fairy didn't mind and continued, "It's limited to minor things. Fortunately, since it's such an important skill, it's divided into three levels like your martial arts skill."

"If it's level three...?"

Xiao Taotao snickered, "Then you'd be a master of manipulation when it comes to your words. However, just like martial arts, the upgrades come completely random times. If you get it now, the second upgrade may come in your tenth world and whatnot." Xiao Yunhua was thinking so she didn't hear the part about her 'tenth' world; however, she did hear about the upgrading randomly part. Seeing how it was potentially useless, she decided against it.

"I guess I'll go with design." She finally said with some hesitation.

"Are you sure? Skills like persuasion are randomly generated and it's pretty rare for them to appear so soon. It will not be like the previous times where the skill just stays until it's eventually picked." The more Xiao Taotao spoke, the more she was tempted to listen. But persuasion of minor things wasn't beneficial...was it?

"Fine. I'll take it." Xiao Taotao beamed and immediately, she felt something fill her brain. It wasn't like those previous skills where it was showing her how it's done, but more of a calm one that would be beneficial when necessary.

"Speaking of skills, didn't you say martial arts would be beneficial for my next world?" Xiao Taotao felt embarrassed. She didn't expect for her host to remember words she said on the whim. But she couldn't be blamed! The schedule had suddenly changed to this one, meaning the next world would—possibly—be the one she was destined for.

"Well, there was an unexpected shift. But I'm sure you're not complaining because," Xiao Taotao snapped her fingers and Xiao Yunhua appearance enhanced. Her sky blue eyes became more clear and her average features changed into somewhat of a beauty. Or at least a young girl that would bloom into a beauty. It appeared so natural that one could tell they were the same girl, but the difference was the new aspect of her facial features. "You got your boost! 5,000 points will be deducted." She had no chance of refute as the points were immediately deducted from her. "Your balance is 940,000."

Seeing how Xiao Taotao was trying to change the topic, Xiao Yunhua didn't bother with it much and went with it. There probably was an error and Xiao Taotao didn't lie. She hoped that was the case.

"Alright, so who is now my next target?" It was time to shift to her second one, so she was a bit nervous.

The childish voice snickered, "For your second target, you must make Adriel Alston Delavan fall in love with you!"

Who is that?

She blinked and thought hard but her mind was blank. Before she had the chance to ask, Xiao Taotao had already whipped her out of the dimensional space and back into her room again.

Who is Adriel?

She hadn't ever heard his name before, so the next day—when she woke up from a sleepless night—she went to ask the Duchess discreetly.

Fortunately, her visit wasn't unexpected because the Duchess had actually summoned her too. "I've decided on the person that will escort you for your coming of age party." Her debutant party was still months away yet the Duchess had begun to decide on the candidate that would escort her. She was an illegitimate daughter, but in the eyes of the public, she had the support of the Warrington dukedom as well as the Duchess, who came from a powerful maternal family. Her bloodline didn't matter in comparison to her backing.

"I see..." she murmured. She had a few months for her new target, so she didn't worry. The Duchess was surprised to see her so obedient and not even curious on who it was. But that idea was broken when Violetta spoke again. "By the way, who is Adriel Alston Delavan?"

The Duchess scoffed, "How do you know his name?"

"Know who's name? I heard it on the streets." That was an irrefutable excuse she had conjured in the three seconds that she was being interrogated.

"Really?" Then she murmured something along the lines of "Who would dare say his full name?"

"Who is he?" The Duchess still hadn't answered her question.

"Violetta, what is the surname of the royal family?" Why did that matter to their conversation?

"Delavan." She subconsciously muttered, remembering the information that she had learned when she first stepped into the new world.

"Precisely."

Violetta's eyes clouded with confusion until the lightbulb flicked in her heard. Adriel Alston...Delavan! He was part of the royal family and a prince? She hadn't realized that she asked the last part of her question out loud, so the Duchess answered, "Not just a prince...but the Crown Prince of the GKY."

What!? Xiao Yunhua wanted to vent in frustration. This mission's difficulty had doubled instantaneously!

"And also the man that I have chosen to make your escort for your debutant party."

Xiao Yunhua didn't hear the rest as she passed out.