Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chapter 72 Influencer

The class came to an end. Manipulation was unethical to begin with, and a college class wouldn't really teach you much, but the professor was vivid with his examples, giving Alicarde some strange ideas.

The lecture had been full of hypothetical scenarios that bordered on the morally dubious, yet it sparked a curiosity in him about the extents of human influence and control. He walked out of the class with Anne by his side. Elizalina had been taken away by her clique, giving Alicarde some breathing room for the first time in a month.

'Elly is really popular, so being around her gets me a lot of unneeded attention,' he thought to himself. By contrast, walking with Anne made him blend into the crowd.

All the guys who hated him didn't even seem to notice his existence. It was almost as if the main highlight of who he was, was being Elizalina Crimson's boyfriend. Without her, nobody would even notice.

'Beautiful women are so much trouble,' he mused.

Walking with Anne was better—no unnecessary attention. The air was cooler outside, and a gentle breeze blew through the campus, rustling the leaves of the trees that lined the paths.

Anne nudged him playfully. "Did the class give you any grand ideas for taking over the world, Mr. Manipulator?"

Alicarde laughed. "Oh, you know me. Always scheming. But seriously, some of those examples were pretty wild. I mean, using emotional triggers to influence someone's decisions? Sounds more like mind control than persuasion."

"Yeah, that was intense," Anne agreed. "But I think it's kinda scary how subtle cues can sway people without them even realizing it. Makes you wonder how much of our everyday choices are really ours."

"Exactly. Like, maybe I only chose this path because you nudged me this way with your irresistible charm," Alicarde teased.

Anne rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Your path was already set by your oversized ego."

"Imagine what I can do with this knowledge, all the ladies will be eating out of the palms of my hand." Alicarde laughed.

"Or I'll have to come bail you out of a police station. Ever think about that, huh?" Anne said.

He chuckled. "Fair point. I would look beautiful in orange."

"Yeah, you would. Better not drop the soap," Anne replied.

"Actually, on second thought, I would look horrible in orange," Alicarde said.

Anne laughed, then her tone shifted slightly. "Right, I almost forgot. There's been an update on the esper situation in Central City."

"Really now? I don't really see the hype. I can solo them, they aren't that cool." Alicarde said with mock arrogance.

Anne's eyes lit up with excitement. "Espers are so cool! Imagine having psychic powers. It's like something out of a comic book. But you, defeating them all? Please.

You'd be toast."

"Toast? Me? Never. I'd wreck them. I mean, look at me. I'm practically immortal."

Anne giggled. "Keep dreaming, Ali. Maybe in your next life, you'll be an esper. Until then, you're stuck being a regular human. The lame type."

Alicarde smirked. "Regular? I prefer 'exceptionally ordinary.' But seriously, it's crazy how much the world is changing. First espers, what's next? Monsters? Then what, aliens?"

Anne grinned. "Who knows? Maybe you'll be the first to discover them."

"Or the first to defeat them. Just add it to my list of great accomplishments," he quipped, his tone dripping with mock arrogance.

"I can already see it—a statue of me, the great Alicarde, and legions of adoring fangirls. It would be like the second coming of MJ."

"Women will be the death of you," Anne said, rolling her eyes.

"A little too late for that," Alicarde laughed.

Their conversation flowed easily, the teasing banter a comforting rhythm that made the walk across campus feel effortless. It was moments like these that made Alicarde appreciate the simplicity of normal interactions, away from the chaos of his otherworldly concerns.

Anne walked by his side, glancing at him.

"Hello, boy and girl! Name's Liam Rothwell, influencer, millionaire, extraordinaire," a well-dressed young man with dark hair in a stylish combover interrupted.

He was accompanied by another guy his age with green hair, who carried a camera, capturing the moment. Liam's designer clothes and confident demeanor screamed self-promotion.

Alicarde was on guard from the moment Liam stepped forward. He clenched his fists, ready to fight at any given moment. However, after giving the young man a thorough look, he lowered his guard. There was no need to be paranoid, Liam was mundane. His stylish outfit and confident demeanor indicated he was more interested in self-promotion than causing trouble.

Anne was confused but calmed down as Alicarde figured the young man was an influencer of sorts, stopping people to ask them questions.

"A guy like you has probably never even seen a luxury car before. But today's your lucky day—I'll give you a ride," Liam mocked, his tone dripping with condescension.

Rumors of a mysterious guy flaunting brand-name cars had started circulating not long after Alicarde began using the various luxury vehicles from the mansion's garage. Clearly, this fool hadn't done his homework. Most of the campus's envious whispers only flared up when Elizalina was with him, otherwise, he was practically invisible to them.

'Ahhh, people and their shallow minds,' Alicarde sighed inwardly.

"Ahhh, women," Alicarde sighed, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all.

They approached the car—a sleek, high-end vehicle with a glossy black finish and a luxurious interior that would have impressed most people.

But to Alicarde, it was just another toy, far inferior to anything he had access to. The plush leather seats and advanced dashboard tech were nice, but hardly impressive compared to the cars he drove.

Liam stood beside his car, a smug look plastered on his face as he watched Alicarde. The Undying's expression remained impassive as he observed the influencer's attempts at flaunting his wealth.

"So, where to?" Liam asked, trying to sound enthusiastic.

Alicarde and Anne exchanged a quick glance, their eyes gleaming with shared mischief.

"We want to go to La Belle Époque," Anne said with an innocent smile.

Liam's smile froze. "La Belle Époque? That's the most expensive restaurant in the city."

"Yep, that's the one," Alicarde confirmed, his gaze daring Liam to back out.

"What? Can't afford it?" Alicarde's tone was almost casual, but the challenge was clear.

Liam's jaw tightened briefly before he forced a smile. "Alright, La Belle Époque it is. Hop in."

As they drove off, Liam tried to make small talk. "So, what do you guys like to do for fun?"

Alicarde smirked, his tone dripping with irony. "Oh, you know, the usual—exploring haunted places, hunting mythical creatures, and occasionally, saving the world."

Liam chuckled awkwardly, clearly unsure whether Alicarde was joking or not. "Haha, you guys have quite the sense of humor. But seriously, why La Belle Époque?"

Anne leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "It's the best place in town."

Liam nodded stiffly, his smile strained. "Alright, I'll take you to the best spot in town."

Arriving at the restaurant, Liam parked the car and turned to them, his expression forcedly cheerful. "Here we are. The best place in town for a date."

Alicarde and Anne stepped out, exchanging amused looks.

"Shall we?" Alicarde offered his arm to Anne.

"Let's," she replied, taking his arm with a playful smile.

Liam followed them inside, his camera still rolling, trying to capture every moment.

Inside, the restaurant was dimly lit, with soft, romantic music playing in the background. The décor was opulent, from the plush seating to the elegant table settings, the ambiance speaking of luxury and refinement.

The maître d' greeted them warmly. "Good evening. A table for three?"

"Yes, please," Liam replied, his camera man still behind.

As they were seated, Anne glanced around, admiring the luxurious surroundings.

"Wow, this place is amazing," she breathed, her voice tinged with awe.

Alicarde nodded, his eyes scanning the room. "Yeah, not bad at all."

Liam beamed, trying to appear magnanimous. "I told you it would be great. So, what do you guys think? Ready to enjoy the best meal of your lives?"

Alicarde and Anne exchanged a knowing look, their eyes glinting with shared intent.

"Absolutely," Alicarde replied, his voice mockingly solemn. "Let's make this a day to remember."

'The day you go broke,' he schemed silently, his gaze flicking to the clueless influencer.