72. Pheromone Suppressor

These days, Chen Shang returned home each evening with an exhausted body. In addition to the after-school training at the fighting club, he was also taken by Chiyo to the Tokugawa Society branch for extra sessions. Although his skills in Close-Quarters Grappling, Boxing, and Weaponry had all improved significantly, the sheer volume of training was wearing him out.

The most deadly part was that Chiyo's attacks were ruthless, yet never fatal. This meant that Chen Shang was often beaten within an inch of his life, but couldn't rely on his Danger Sense to evade her blows. If not for the high-grade energy potions and healing salves Chiyo provided him daily, his body would have been long since depleted.

"Brother, you've been coming home very late lately," Nayuta said, emerging from the bathroom with a towel draped over her shoulders, her eyes drifting toward her brother at the door.

"Was studying with classmates," Chen Shang replied casually, brushing her concern aside. "But you, you've been working hard lately, haven't you?"

"Another company approached me today about an advertising collaboration. The pay is pretty good, but..." Nayuta hesitated, forcing a smile. "It's nothing. As long as I can make some money for the family, it's not a big deal."

"But what is it?" Chen Shang, ever perceptive, caught the nuance in her words.

Nayuta lowered her head awkwardly. "They want me to shoot a swimsuit ad... um, the bikini kind..."

"Do you want to do it?" Chen Shang gently pinched his chin and asked.

"I... as long as it helps the family earn money..." Nayuta clenched her fists and answered with determination.

Let it be stated beforehand: this game would never feature storylines that have underage female characters shooting bikini ads—such violations of industry norms are strictly forbidden. Even if players want to interact with female characters in that way, they'd have to wait until both are at least eighteen in-game.

However, since Chen Shang helped Nayuta win the high school track championship, the world's timeline had begun to shift in unexpected ways. The butterfly effect had led to "original plots" like this one.

In response to Nayuta's explanation, Chen Shang pressed further, "But do you want to do it?"

Nayuta hesitated, blushing. "Actually, I... don't want to reveal so much in front of everyone."

"Then you haven't signed the contract yet, have you?" Chen Shang walked over and patted her shoulder. "If you don't want to do it, then don't. It's not like our family is short on money."

After the high school league, aside from earning a small sum of Collapse Points, Chen Shang also gained some pocket money. Nayuta handed over half of her advertising and interview earnings to Chen Shang, used the other half as family savings, and kept very little for herself.

Moreover, Chen Shang was far from a devil; he had plenty of ways to make money himself, though he rarely needed to. He would never let someone as dear to him as a daughter have to sell her soul for money.

"But... what if you suddenly start liking celebrities or virtual idols? That would cost a lot!" Nayuta's eyes shimmered as she quietly protested. "You don’t have to worry about me. I’m already grateful you took me in all those years ago!"

At these words, Chen Shang couldn't help but reach out and ruffle his sister’s hair, making her squeal in surprise.

"I told you, don’t do things you don’t want to do," Chen Shang said with a gentle smile. "I’m your brother—there’s no reason for you to be so concerned about me."

With that, he shoved an unopened nutrition potion into his sister’s hand and turned toward his own room.

Nayuta looked at the luxuriously packaged drink in her hand, her eyes sparkling with joy.

"Oh, I forgot to tell him—his package arrived!" she suddenly remembered, smacking her forehead as she muttered to herself.

...

When Chen Shang entered his room, he found a small parcel on the desk. The package was scorched in places, with clear dents and marks from rough handling—it was anyone’s guess which war zone it had come from.

He checked his phone and saw that the "Special Item Pack" he’d purchased through the Collapse Core had finally arrived. According to the tracking updates, three couriers had died and two shoddy delivery trucks had exploded en route, but the package had, in the end, reached him safely.

Eagerly, Chen Shang tore open the box and pulled from the foam a black, bracelet-like electronic device.

"What’s this..." Next to the bracelet was a recording pen, labeled "Instruction Manual" in bold letters.

He pressed the button, and a slightly grainy young female voice played from the device:

"Thank you for purchasing equipment from the Velvet Alchemy Workshop! I am [Beep]—the most beautiful second apprentice under the most beautiful alchemist [Beep]!"

"As everyone knows, all living beings emit their own unique pheromones to attract attention from their kind. The higher the frequency of pheromone emission, the more noticeable you become. Conversely, if someone emits no pheromones at all, they have almost no presence—virtually invisible..."

"What? Senior Brother, are you saying this is pseudoscience?! What kind of joke is that? You’re telling me *after* I’ve finished making it? You’re just looking for trouble, aren’t you?!"

A burst of assault rifle fire sounded from the recording.

"Hey, sorry, let’s continue... Anyway, this item is very simple to use. Just wear the bracelet on your wrist and adjust the dial to reduce your body’s pheromone emission frequency, greatly diminishing your presence."

"I’ve named it the 'Pheromone Suppressor.' This is absolutely a Nobel Prize-worthy invention—ahahahaha... Senior Brother, you’re not wearing body armor, are you? Master, quick, Senior Brother is dying—help him!"

The recording ended abruptly. Chen Shang silently mourned the unfortunate senior brother for a few seconds, then slipped the black bracelet onto his arm.

"Is it this button?" Chen Shang gently turned the dial on the bracelet.

Suddenly, the bracelet vibrated softly, and a subtle electromagnetic wave seemed to ripple out from it.

Knock, knock, knock!

Just then, Nayuta entered after knocking: "Brother, I forgot to tell you—your package arrived."

But as her gaze swept the room, she suddenly tensed. "Brother? Where are you?"

Even though Chen Shang was right beside her, she didn't notice him at all.

To confirm his suspicion, Chen Shang opened his character panel and found his “Charm” stat had temporarily dropped to [-3].

In this game, "Charm" did not refer to physical appearance, but rather how much attention a person attracted from others, for better or worse. In a sense, Charm was much as the second apprentice described—an attribute akin to "presence."

With Charm now negative, it meant that even if Chen Shang stood right in front of someone, he’d be easily overlooked.

For testing, Chen Shang reset the bracelet’s dial.

Suddenly, Nayuta gave a start, her words tumbling out in surprise: "Brother... how did you... I didn’t see you just now..."

"Huh? I’ve been in the room all along," Chen Shang said, feigning ignorance as he scratched his head.

"Sorry, I can’t believe I didn’t see you," Nayuta apologized, her eyes drifting to the opened box on the desk. "You’ve received your package, right?"

"I have, thank you for signing for it," Chen Shang replied, instinctively slipping his hand with the bracelet into his pocket and smiling.

"You’re welcome, goodnight!" Nayuta bid her brother farewell and left the room.