hotmtlnovel Chapter 120: Cheating shamelessly
Chapter 120: Cheating shamelessly
'I guess it won't be too hard to make sure judges just love me more than Angelo,' Tristan thought. 'But he's unusual, exotic—the public loves this, and judges love high TV ratings.'
Maybe it would've worked out, maybe it wouldn't have. Either way, Tristan felt humbled.
Even with his system, there were people who could compete with him, and people who were just better. And without the system, Trystan would be rotting in prison right now.
A moment later, he sat straighter and clenched his jaw.
'So what?! I'm not going to give up on my goals, just because I met an obstacle I didn't expect! If I want a smooth start in the industry and a lot of CP to help me later, I have to win this contest, so I will do it! Honest methods or by foul, what does it matter?'
When Angelo returned to the waiting room, just as emotionless as when he left, Tristan's determination was even brighter than before. He prepared to show not just his 100%, but his 200%!
By honest methods or by foul.
Ignoring everyone, Angelo walked all the way to his previous seat on a couch opposite of Tristan and spaced out again.
"Hey, Omen," Tristan spoke up. "Why didn't you play like that from the start?"
Angelo blinked and looked at Tristan. After a pause, he pulled the headphones down.
"Please, repeat. I didn't hear your words just now."
Angelo was close enough that when Tristan focused, he could've heard music from Angelo's headphones—except there weren't any.
'Huh? He wears headphones without music? Really, what a weird man! But a genius... Is he really one of these people who are born extremely good at something, but are terrible at everything else?'
"I asked, why didn't you play like just now from the start, Omen? At the first round of the competition? You would've earned much more popularity... I didn't hear about you at all outside of the contest."
"That's because I wasn't interested in participating in this contest until recently, Mr. Gemello. Then I was convinced that it will be worth my time to actually win it. I think, if I knew from the start that there would be musicians like you in the finale, I'd have tried harder from the first round. Do you play any other instruments besides the guitar?"
Two minutes later, Angelo walked inside, too.
"Is this a secret meeting?" he asked robotically. "Do you want to bribe me, Mr. Gemello?"
Tristan smirked.
"So you aren't stupid. But yes, that's what I want. I can pay you more than $15000, and you can still release your songs. Hell, I can even help you promote them. If they are anything like the last one, they are worth promoting."
His demeanor was charming and his voice was like liquid honey pouring into Angelo's ears–but there wasn't a sign that Angelo was affected by it at all.
Tristan didn't even know if it were his persuasion abilities failing, or just his observation skills. He was working almost blind here!
"But this would be illegal, and cheating. Those are wrong things."
Tristan narrowed his eyes.
"Is that what you truly believe, Angelo Omen? That law defines what's right and what's wrong? Then how does it happen that rich people can be let off with a fine for major crimes, while others are often put into prison despite being entirely innocent?"
Angelo thought for a long moment.
"Please, speak more directly, Mr. Gemello. Did you mean to say that the justice system is flawed, or that it's money that decides what's right or what's wrong?"
"The first one!" Tristan snorted. "Money just decides who can do whatever they want, and who can't."
'This man is so blank—I still can't tell what he thinks! I have no idea what he wants, either! Besides money, of course. But I know what he DOESN'T want!'
"Omen, think about this—you said you don't like competing here. You don't enjoy being in the spotlight at all, right? If you are only here for the money, then just take mine and leave without all the bother."
Angelo thought for even longer than the previous time, before finally giving an answer.