Gangster to Idol

"This is getting ridiculous. How the hell did that guy manage to style it the first time?" Cain grumbled, tossing the gel and brush into the sink with a frustrated huff.

He'd never struggled with his hair like this before. When it was long, he just tied it back, and that was that.

But now, with short hair, he had no clue where to start. Styling it was like trying to solve a puzzle without the picture — he simply wasn't built for this.

[NEW Skill! Hair Styling LV.1]

Fifi was still wiping tears of laughter from her eyes as she floated beside him with a mischievous grin. "You know what you need?" she teased, her voice full of mock seriousness. "The Celestial Comb!"

"No way. That thing costs 500 IP!" Cain exclaimed.

"But the Comb will be yours forever," Fifi whispered, leaning closer to his ear with a voice full of temptation. "You'll never have to struggle with this again. The Comb will style your hair in different ways that perfectly match your appearance for the day, all within seconds."

Cain frowned, mulling over her suggestion. "That's . . ." It was exactly what he needed — something to style his hair effortlessly every day, without the hassle of constantly visiting a salon or doing it himself.

The thought of having a comb that did it all for him was more than tempting.

Now that he considered it, 500 IP seemed fair, especially for something he could use indefinitely. But the idea of being indebted to that little devil, even if it was just points or cash, didn't sit well with him.

He knew how lending worked — it was like a drug. The more comfortable you got in burrowing money, the deeper you sank into the abyss of debt. And Cain had no intention of drowning.

"Think about it," Fifi urged, her voice smooth and enticing. "No more frustration, no more bad hair days. You'll always look sharp, no matter the situation. Imagine the boost in followers when you post daily pics with flawless hair — it's the perfect way to start building your brand.

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"You could even turn it into content: a weekly series on how to achieve the perfect style without dropping a fortune at the salon."

She leaned in closer, her tone dripping with temptation. "And the best part? You can pay it off in installments. Just keep completing your daily tasks and missions, and before you know it, it'll be yours, debt-free."

Cain hesitated, the idea lingering in his mind. It was a steep price, but the promise of never having to worry about his hair again was hard to resist.

"Alright," he finally said. "Let's do it."

Cain reasoned that he could always earn those Idol Points again. The present mattered more, and Fifi had a point — maybe he could even turn this into content.

"Here you go." With a graceful twirl of her hand, Fifi summoned the Celestial Comb.

Cain's eyes widened slightly as he watched it float in the air. At first glance, it looked like a simple comb, reminiscent of ancient Chinese designs. But it was pure white, almost like it was crafted from porcelain, with a subtle glow that gave it an otherworldly elegance.

He reached out and grabbed the comb, feeling a surge of energy as it responded to his touch. The handle shimmered, and his name slowly etched itself into the smooth surface.

[ACQUIRED! Celestial Comb!]

"Go on! Try it out!" Fifi encouraged, her excitement palpable despite her poker face.

Cain stepped in front of the mirror and ran the comb through his hair. Instantly, it felt as if the comb was guiding his hand, intuitively knowing where to part his hair and how to style it to highlight his best features. It was like magic, transforming his appearance with every stroke.

With the Celestial Comb in hand, Cain's appearance transformed effortlessly. His previously unruly hair was now perfectly styled, each strand falling into place. His short, dirty gray hair was sleek and refined, accentuating his sharp jawline and strong cheekbones.

The comb created a subtle, tousled look that added a touch of effortless cool, making him look both polished and edgy. The style highlighted his intense, piercing eyes and gave him an air of confidence and sophistication that was hard to ignore.

Cain now looked every bit the rising star he was destined to become.

Now, Cain felt that paying 500 IP for the comb was worth every point. He admired his reflection, a grin playing on his lips. "Not bad . . ."

"Now that's more like it!" Fifi beamed with pride. "Time for your first pic — let's get it posted . . ." Her voice trailed off as she took in the state of Cain's room.

The room was a chaotic mess, the complete opposite of his newly polished look. Clothes were strewn across the floor, some still in crumpled heaps from the last time he tossed them aside.

Empty takeout containers cluttered the desk, the remnants of past meals gathering dust. A stack of books and papers teetered precariously on the edge of a shelf, threatening to spill over at any moment.

The bed was unmade, sheets tangled and pillows haphazardly tossed around. In the corner, a pile of laundry threatened to consume an entire chair.

Fifi's eye twitched at the sight, her enthusiasm dimming as she took in the disaster zone. "This isn't the background that we should be taking pictures, you disgusting pig."

"Shut up. If it bothers you so much, clean it yourself," Cain shot back.

Fifi placed a hand on her hip, rolling her eyes. "Huh? I'm not your maid."

Cain ignored her, but deep down, he knew she was right. There was no way he could take a decent picture in the middle of all this clutter.

"You can't film a video in here, either. Instead of focusing on you, the audience will be too busy criticizing at the disaster zone you call a room," Fifi continued, her tone dripping with disapproval.

But Cain's thoughts were already elsewhere. She had a point — there was no way he could shoot anything in this mess. Plus, Joker, Bones, and the rest of his crew knew exactly what his room looked like. Even with his new, polished look that had no resemblance to his gangster self, they'd connect the dots in an instant.

"Hmm . . . maybe a green screen would work? Or a white sheet?" Cain muttered to himself, considering his options. There were plenty of apps that could swap out backgrounds in photos and videos.

He just needed something that would hide the chaos and keep his identity under wraps.