Chapter 108: web.

Victoria Lehman was a British writer who had been unemployed for quite some time. At Billy's request, she had been tasked with creating a blog in his name, narrating everything about his life. The blog, titled "My Life," would become one of those gems left for future generations. It featured a brief biography explaining who he was and why he did what he did, some photos, the brands that currently sponsored him, videos of the commercials he'd shot, and his development in the music industry. It even had a music channel where he taught the basics of becoming a guitarist or singer.

-Good morning, everyone! I'm Billy Carson, and I think very few people know what I do in my spare time. It's natural to be curious, so today I'm going to give you a little taste of a musician's life. My band is full of old folks and couch potatoes, but I'm a firm believer in doing what I love. So today, we're going to get a taste of mountaineering. This baby behind me is a 12-meter-high wall, and it's my new challenge. It'll be my morning activity,- Billy said to the camera, followed by a full crew with cameras and lights, a special recording setup for such occasions.

Behind him was Gunter, a professional climber who taught lessons for £50 an hour. Billy had paid him for the entire day to get a good recording for both his personal use and the blog. They were capturing different angles and shots, with portable cameras already placed along the route. It wasn't Billy's first time climbing, but it was his first time doing so on a real mountain.

The two cameramen were Nicola and Octavio, both semi-professionals.

-Billy, we're going to take some wide-angle shots,- said Octavio.

-Sure thing.-

The photos were routine but essential for the blog. It seemed like a healthy hobby, Jerry thought as he watched the type of videos Billy was making.

-Okay, kid, let's start with the basics. This is a simple circuit, one of the easiest in this area. We need to take advantage of the good weather. The issue with rain is that the slippery terrain makes climbs like these a real hassle,- Gunter explained.

-Awesome, introduce yourself for my blog and explain everything we need to know about mountaineering,- Billy said.

-Sure... but...-

-Just say hello, explain what mountaineering is, then wrap it up with why people should practice it. In editing, these guys over there will make it into a video worth watching, and we'll post it online,- Billy smiled.

-Nicola, film Gunter,- Billy instructed as Gunter struggled to find the right words. Billy raised his hands to signal the start of the recording, and the red light on the camera blinked on, signaling that they were live.

-Today, we'll be doing basic climbing. I'm still a rookie, and my guide today is Gunter. We've been at it for two weekends, but don't worry, I usually do some climbing on my own. Now that I'm in England, I decided to practice a bit. The goal is Cairn Toul,- Billy said.

-Ah, hello, I'm Gunter.-

-My climbing instructor. So, what's next, and what do we need to start climbing?- Billy asked.

-We're going to learn the basic techniques of climbing. The slope here, with a 75-degree incline, isn't a dangerous challenge for beginners. It's 12 meters high, and the goal is to practice different routes with different types of ascents. We'll go over the basic techniques with your feet, arms, and body movements that every beginner needs to know to get started in the world of climbing- Gunter explained, lifting a rope, harness, and a bit of chalk. -These are the basic tools. This route also has a few anchor points where you can attach your harness. In previous classes, I taught Billy the basic tying techniques. Always make sure to be cautious and have an experienced instructor when you're dealing with this kind of activity.-

-Great, let's do this, - Billy said.

They arrived at 10 in the morning and finished by 4 in the afternoon as the sun began to set. The main challenges were the recordings, but the first official blog post on Billy Carson's site was now live. The website was generating traffic of at least 500,000 visitors per day, with Billy's name trending in searches. With new content, it would feed the press and could be called his first major influence. Now, it was just a matter of leveraging social media and initiating a strategic spam campaign.

***

Zoe Kravitz was browsing Billy's fan page when the spammed link to Billy Carson's new website caught her attention. Clicking through, she found herself captivated by the new mountaineering photos—Billy's video, his voice, and his shirtless shots had left her completely obsessed.

She quickly dialed her best friend, barely containing her excitement.

She wasn't alone. News of Billy's blog was slowly going viral across social media. The first wave of visitors were diehard fans who always stayed up-to-date on his news. Then came the casual music lovers, followed by others who learned through friends, websites, or news outlets. Octavio and Nicola had done an outstanding job creating the video and photos, while Victoria Lehman filled the blog with stories and content, all beautifully designed by the web developers.

-I just can't believe it,- Zoe whispered. Her room, part of a mansion, was the perfect retreat. Her friend Chloe, the daughter of an investor, spent her free time playing volleyball or painting.

Zoe was nervous someone might overhear her conversation. It wasn't common, except for those rare times when her mother picked up the phone and eavesdropped on calls.

-Did you see his abs? I think I'm officially 100% obsessed with that body—it's like it was sculpted by the gods!- Chloe whispered back, her voice breathless as her eyes turned to hearts, both girls hopelessly obsessed with Billy Carson.

-Oh my God, he's so beautiful,- Zoe responded, completely lost in Billy's digital eyes as she closed her eyes and kissed the screen.

***

-Congrats on the website, it's more than I expected,- Connor said that same night. It was almost midnight, and both were playing video games—Halo, firing shots at enemies as the world around them disappeared.

-I think the idea is to turn it into a content business. With my website, I want enough space to live a quiet life without worrying about anyone else. I plan to retire from music when I hit 40 and enjoy my life in the Bahamas, Hawaii... I don't know, maybe Greenland. Somewhere where no one can bother me, and I can live at my own pace,- Billy replied.

Gunfire echoed from the TV.

Billy's game plan was simple: connect deeply with his fans, so they could interact with him and vice versa. He planned to run polls, activities, and giveaways that would not only promote his brand but also his future clothing line. He was playing with many ideas, but the one that mattered most was his career as a musician.

....