Adaptation Seen (V.1 Ch.2.1)

~~~(POV: Scott Cassidy)~~~

~~~(Location: Dorm Room, 1st Year Dorm Building, Optimum Island)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: August 22nd, 7:00 AM, 2020)~~~

~~~(Age: 19 Years)~~~

The morning summer sunlight beams through my windows. The system is open with its usual effort in showing me the morning time. I lazily dismiss the screen as I lean up.

It's the first Saturday of the school year. All the first years are happy to get a day off. Many of the average and poor students have been through hell this week.

Not that it's surprising since it's what I expected. This week was valuable in my efforts to gather information on Duncun and his closest allies. I've learned that a spy for my brother exists in class 1-G.

Her name is Gretchen Wellston. She's one of the most popular girls in Class 1-G. I've yet to use my Analytical Vision on her. I'll do it soon. How I know of her existence is simple. I've gained a spy in class 3-A.

Duncun isn't the only one using others to gather information. My spy is far less obvious and more effective. It's costing me 2500 Personal Points a month, but it's worth the cost.

It's far cheaper than one might expect, but that's thanks to a unique circumstance. My spy has more than Personal Points motivating him.

Especially considering how much Duncun is paying his spy. Using women in such a manner usually costs more, so it's cheaper to use a man. In this instance, at least. Women have their uses, as I'm sure Gretchen will prove in her ability to watch me.

A breath of air enters me as I stand up and go to the kitchen. Today, I'll be doing something I've never done before.

Spend time with friends.

Victor, Juliet, and Henry have invited me to a meet-up at the J&R Memorial Mall today. They'll be spending time enjoying the Saturday. Juliet and Henry are above-average students. Saying their good is more accurate.

They won't struggle with anything academically unless given a curveball out of nowhere. Victor, on the other hand, has an exceptional mind. That's saying something considering the standards I hold.

He'll have more uses to me than Juliet and Henry will. Before I meet up with my... Friends. I'm spending time with Jennifer today. She's insisting that I meet her at some restaurant for breakfast.

While I'm standing in my kitchen now, I'm not planning to make any food. As easy as it would make my life to say no to her, she wants to spend time with me.

It takes a couple of minutes for me to put on some clothes and step out of my apartment. As I'm walking down to the elevator, I catch a boy broken by bullies.

At the end of the hall, a depressed Michael looks over the railing at the skyline of Edaria City in the distance over the water. His first week has proven to be far worse than he expected. The constant bullying he's suffered is manifesting mentally.

He sees me walking down the hall to the elevator, only to avert his eyes a second later. Soon, he'll either be destroyed by the bullying and leave Optimum, or he'll come to me.

It'd be a waste of a perfect tool if he were driven away, but suffering must happen to bring him to me. To fully instill the need to change and do so by my hand.

Once I'm at the elevator, I press the button, and it opens after a few seconds of coming from a higher floor.

As it opens, the familiar face of Olivia greets me. How often we bump into each other isn't lost on me. I step into the elevator; she gives me a greeting smile.

Only to receive neutrality back. Now that she's in my presence, the system will begin its work.

[Olivia Bellcoar is surprised to see you but not unhappy.]

The system does its job of telling me her thoughts. A way for me to always be ahead of someone like Olivia. She's dangerous to any man with goals and ambition. She'll drag him down and ruin him.

I'd feel pity for the man she's targeting if I had the ability to do so.

[Olivia Bellcoar is excited since her first target has asked her on an early morning date today.]

[Olivia Bellcoar already has her target deeply interested in her and convinced she's the ideal girlfriend.]

[Olivia Bellcoar's Target Destruction has risen by +5]

[Target Destruction of (Unknown) has increased: 15/100]

[Special Modifier added to Olivia Bellcoar: Target Destruction.]

Olivia isn't the first girl I've met with a Special Modifier, but she's the first with one specifically designed to destroy male targets.

She's on her way to her first date. Whoever the sorry soul is that's caught in her crosshairs is something I'll look into. I don't like not knowing who. It could prove useful if I did.

One thing I want to avoid is her dating any boys from class 1-G. If one is already her target, I'll have to fix that. If it's too late, I'll let her run her course until she's done.

[Olivia Bellcoar is impressed at how good you look despite not having to shower or spend time getting ready in the morning.]

[Olivia Bellcoar wants to start a conversation with you since you seem interesting.]

Her eyes are looking at me in the reflection of the metal elevator door as we go down. Floor after floor.

"You look good today, Scott. I'm sure the girl you're off to see is lucky to have you. But I must admit, I didn't expect you to be the type to date anyone. Let alone be interested."

[Olivia wants to learn what type of girl you're interested in. Since you don't seem the type to be attracted to others given the disposition she's witnessed.]

There is an amused edge in her voice as she speaks. There are several ways I could respond that would benefit me.

I don't want her interested in me beyond what she's at now. However, it might be too late based on how she's acting now. She gently places her platinum blond hair behind her ear.

[Olivia Bellcoar is intrigued at your lack of response. Becoming more convinced you have a type and are putting up a front.]

She seems to be on the fence regarding whether I'm faking or not. That I'm wearing a protective mask, she's far more in tune with getting into people's heads than I first thought. The more she proves herself, the more I'm sure she'll be my most powerful tool.

I could end up on her target list if I fit her parameters. As I am now, I'm not popular enough. But I check the attractiveness box. It'll be a while before people find out I fill the intelligence box too.

Nevertheless, the more friends I gain. The more influence I have, the more of a target I become to Olivia. A dangerous piece on the board to watch.

"The girl I'm meeting this morning is my sister."

[Olivia Bellcoar isn't convinced that you don't have a type. But she believes that you're meeting your sister.]

What a fascinating response... I would've expected something different along the lines of complete disbelief or absolute certainty in the 'truth' with my answer.

It seems like she wants to hold onto the idea that I have a type.

The cold response causes a crooked smile to form on Olivia. It'll become common knowledge I have two powerful siblings at Optimum soon enough.

There is no harm in revealing that knowledge now to Olivia. At least telling her I have a sister. She closes her eyes in silent contemplation.

"Still, I would think you don't care for anyone. I've gotten that from you. It's nice there is someone you care about. I was starting to think you were a machine."

The curiosity in her voice is laced with a subtle tone of adoration. She's trying to sound cute.

[Olivia Bellcoar thinks that digging further in will help her find information on you. She doesn't know how fruitless those efforts are.]

[Olivia Bellcoar doesn't know that you feel nothing at all.]

[Olivia Bellcoar is hoping to find something about you with this line of conversation. So she can use it to talk with you more in-depth at a later time.]

[Olivia Bellcoar is subconsciously and unknowingly vetting you as a potential target. Stemming from a naturally physical, mental, sexual attraction she has for you.]

It's not the first time I've seen a girl attracted to me, but she's the first one I've seen that's subconscious about it.

She's trying to illicit a reaction. Provocation by playing on a man's pride or ego is a valuable skill and one I've used on several occasions.

She'll find that what she's searching for doesn't exist.

A method on how to work a way into my life and heart.

As her personality to destroy powerful and popular men dictates her actions. Such a method of gaining entry into my life doesn't exist.

However, her subconscious desires for me are an indication of severe contradiction. It might be plausible she suffers from multiple personality disorder.

"You're the one that's going on a date."

The cold, confident edge in my voice forces her to raise her eyebrow. There is no hint of emotion. Passion, jealousy, interest. Nothing that she'd want to see from me. I don't have that to offer anyone.

[Olivia Bellcoar is impressed by how smoothly you shifted the topic of conversation.]

[Olivia Bellcoar finds herself always impressed by you.]

[You've successfully shifted the topic of conversation without raising negative concerns from Olivia Bellcoar.]

[+25 points to your relationship with Olivia Bellcoar.]

[Current relationship (Interested) level with Olivia Bellcoar: 15/100]

That's not unexpected. The relationship level has jumped from (Strangers) to (Interested). It was previously at 90 in the (Strangers) Progression path.

(Strangers) to (Interested) is the progression path for a girl who wants to be with me.

But by definition, Olivia's personality won't allow her. She has one of the most complex mental states I've seen. All the more evidence to suggest multiple personality disorder.

My observation is just the right amount of distraction to cause her not to question the avoidance. Best she not know how vulnerable I'm not. The most favorable outcome for me is her believing it's hard for me to get close to others.

"Yes, he's a first-year from class 1-C. He's adorable and has a lot of friends already. Not only that, he's really smart too."

There is an excited and admiring tone in her voice. One that would fool anyone in the world other than me.

[Olivia Bellcoar has decided to hide the identity of her target from you. Instead of using his name, she'll be using he/him with you.]

That's good news.

The current target she has isn't a male from class 1-G. That means I don't have to intervene. I don't care if she hides him from me or not. I'll find out who it is. Knowing the person Olivia has targeted will give me power over her.

A personal vector to control her.

"What about you, Scott? Any girls you're interested in?"

The false hope springing from her lips can ensnare any guy into believing she's into them. She's indeed talented in what she's trying to accomplish.

[Olivia Bellcoar knows that you won't give her an answer, but she's hoping to draw some information based on how you react.]

This line of conversation holds no interest to me, and shifting it to another topic would suit me best. But there is no need since the elevator door opens. Olivia is still waiting for an answer. I look at her and show no expression or feeling.

Only to turn my head away from her and exit the elevator. Walking to the lobby and the sliding doors that lead outside. As I depart, a final message from the system is given before Olivia is out of my presence.

[Olivia Bellcoar has increased Lust toward you.]

[Olivia Bellcoar is confused. She hasn't felt this way about a man since she was destroyed by the man she loved.]

[Olivia Bellcoar will be keeping a closer eye on you.]

[+25 points to your relationship with Olivia Bellcoar.]

[Current relationship (Interested) level with Olivia Bellcoar: 40/100]

I'm not convinced that Olivia is in complete control of her actions. That entire conversation and line of questioning with her points to a mental instability beyond what's on the surface.

I'll be keeping a closer eye on her too.

But for different reasons.

~~~(POV: Jennifer Cassidy)~~~

~~~(Location: Winny's Restaurant, Shopping District, Optimum Island)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: August 22nd, 7:26 AM, 2020)~~~

~~~(Age: 20 Years)~~~

Lizzy's eyes are locked on the restaurant door like a hawk looking for dinner. Today is the day that I fulfill the promise I made to her. Since she did well last year and made it to the second year, she gets to spend time with Scott.

Albeit without his knowledge and with me watching over them. I know Scott wouldn't try anything, but Lizzy... She's always had the hots for my little brother.

She complained about how she gets to hang out with Scott, but after telling her that it's my way or the highway, she accepted. The smile on her lips and the excitement in her eyes will be crushed.

I know Scott... He won't feel anything for her...

This is the best way for her to see that pursuing Scott is fruitless. Since she won't believe me, it's the hard way she gets now.

My thoughts are interrupted as the door to the restaurant opens, and there is a small gasp from the side of me. I know my brother has good looks, but she's acting like prince charming just walked in the door.

"Wow... He's grown up..."

The sheer amount of lust in her voice causes me to cringe. Scott's eyes find our table, and he walks over. Before sitting down, he looks between Lizzy and me.

There is an unreadable look to him. No indication of what he's thinking at all.

"Deceiving me into a date with your desperate friend is low, Jennifer."

His cold and neutral tone sends a shiver down my back. I can't help but give a cheeky smile and look away from him, pretending I didn't hear him. My eyes find their way to Lizzy's face.

And I'm ashamed to call her my friend...

"He's right... You are desperate, Lizzy."

Despite his crass and brutal observation of Lizzy, there has been no adverse change to her demeanor. Only an increase in desire.

This isn't how I saw this going.

Nevertheless, I motion for Scott to sit down. He takes a moment and looks at me. Seeing that I'm genuine about wanting him to sit, he moves to the seat on the otherside of the booth and sits down.

Staring into my soul like he always does. If only other guys looked at me like that, I'd have no problem getting a boyfriend.

I suppose Scott's unique... Personality and gifts... Are what makes women attracted to him. I'll have my hands full, guiding him through college.

Women at this age are authentic sluts.