Chương 30: Innate Skill

"Hey, let's find a quieter place. You can take a moment to gather yourself," I suggested gently, my words aimed at providing comfort.

My aunt held onto me like I was her lifeline the moment I uttered the word "safe." Her trust was unwavering, and that made my task a lot simpler. Manipulating her, even for slightly illogical requests, was becoming a walk in the park.

I tested this theory with the drug addict a few hours ago. It started with a financial incentive – money tends to do the talking. Then, my suggestion skill worked like a masterful puppeteer, planting an idea in his mind that doing his job well would earn him even more. Convincing him that there wouldn't be any consequences for forcing himself to my aunt? Yeah, that might sound absurd to any rational thinker, but when your mind's already hooked on the promise of cash and my suggestions, even the wildest ideas seem reasonable.

I pushed the boundaries of his rationality, bit by bit, and it was almost scary how smoothly it all went. I'm fairly certain I could ask him to jump off a building, and he'd ask for the location. It was like he was operating on a completely different wavelength, and my suggestions were gospel truths.

There was just one hitch in my otherwise well-executed plan: the Domination Skill. I tinkered with him, pushed my suggestion skill up to a solid 70%, but the Domination Icon? Nowhere to be found. It seemed my dominance didn't extend to the male population. Which, okay, fine, a bit of a sexist power, but right now, that wasn't my main concern.

Finally, my aunt's sobs subsided, and she peered at me through tear-filled eyes that could probably win an award. Seriously, she could start a business bottling up tears and selling them as high-end eye drops.

There was even an intoxicating fragrance in the air – not just her perfume, but something sweet that lingered. Even Sang, with all her charm, couldn't hold a candle to this scent.

It was no wonder my uncle was shelling out for her cosmetics and skin-care regimen; the investment was paying off in dividends. And that skin? Just the touch of it sent shivers down my spine, as if a current of electricity was teasing my senses. She was a dangerous mix of beauty and allure.

'Oh, come on, Zyden! You're the one who has the neurolink System, not the other way around!' I scolded myself, mentally getting frustrated because of my perverted brain.

Scratch that – disappointment was an understatement. I was on the brink of surrendering to my Aunt's charisma. Seriously? Me? Almost falling for the ancient, mystical power of beauty? I shook my head in disbelief. I was this close to doing the one thing that's been haunting my nightmares... SIMPing.

Enough was enough. I mentally slapped myself back into reality.

Focus, Zyden! I took a deep breath and mentally erected a barrier against temptation. Of course, it's not like I actually have a mental barrier, so I just kept chanting this words three times in my head.

"Mind over body"

Now, let's check her status – who knows, she might be some kind of secret System User like me. Okay, reality check, it's about as likely as finding a needle in a sand beach, but curiosity was getting the better of me.

"Mind Eye"

===================

Name: Ji-Hoon Allysa

Age: 25 years old Overall Stats: 12.5 +5

Level (5)

Strength: 0.5

Agility: 1

Stamina: 1

Endurance: 0.5

Intelligence: 1

Charisma: 8.5 +5

Status : In distress

Suggestion Chance : 13% + 35%

Domination : 48%

***

Innate Skill Activated

Damsel in Distress: +5 Charisma (Temporary)

Humans have always exhibited innate abilities that tend to flourish given the right circumstances – like being able to jump higher, run faster, memorize things more effectively, or even learn at an accelerated pace.

Then there's the phenomenon where certain skills only surface under stress. For instance, a person who would usually struggle with lifting a refrigerator might find the strength to do so when their home is at risk from a fire. Similarly, the adrenaline rush triggered by being chased by a dog could make someone run faster than they ever thought possible.

Damsel in Distress skill. It's an intriguing notion that pertains to a select group of beautiful women who possess an extraordinary ability. When faced with danger, they release a specific set of hormones that evoke a protective or sympathetic response from the opposite gender. It's like an evolutionary mechanism designed to ensure their safety by inspiring those around them to take action.

(Click for more)

====================

"Innate skill? Click for more?" I couldn't help but exclaim in frustration.

"System, seriously? You can't be bothered to explain my skills properly, but you're practically writing a doctoral thesis on my aunt's innate skill? Are you trying to have a showdown with me here? Why do I feel like I'm cast as the villain, while my aunt gets a divine blessing as the heroine of this story?"

I scolded my system internally, my frustration simmering. I couldn't believe it was pulling this move on me. I mean, seriously? I had to practically play detective to figure out my own skillset, while it's out here giving my aunt's abilities the red carpet treatment. It's like words are precious nuggets of gold, but apparently, there's a VIP lounge for my aunt's skill description.

"Thank you for saving me," her voice was as sweet as honey, and I found myself swallowing hard, desperately trying to keep my composure. Was this the enchanting effect of her Innate Skill, or was I just a horny? I mean, to be honest, both scenarios seemed equally plausible at this point.

"No problem. How about we get out of here? After all, I did promise to keep you safe," I whispered into her ear.

[Suggestion: Success]

She paused, almost as if she were weighing her options. But with my skill in effect, I could tell she was just playing the classic hard-to-get card.

"Alright, but what about that creepy guy? Shouldn't we call the police?" she inquired.

"Don't worry about him. I've already got my friend tailing him. Let's head back to my place so I can clean your wounds?" I suggested. I mean, let's be real, my words might sound a bit odd, but …

[Suggestion : Success]

But hey, I've got the power to twist minds, so who cares?