The exclusive dressing room backstage at Madison Square Garden completely shut out the deafening roar of the crowd outside the venue.
Uta took off the massive headphones hanging around her neck, tossed them carelessly onto the vanity piled high with fresh flowers and greeting cards, and then sank into the soft sofa.
The radiant, seemingly inexhaustible World diva on stage had vanished, replaced by a girl with clear exhaustion on her face.
She closed her eyes, and the tens of thousands of frenzied, happy, and intoxicated faces from the concert continued to swirl in her mind.
The intense passion of the fans deeply satisfied her, but it also left her feeling a hint of emptiness.
With a "bang," the door to the dressing room was pushed open violently.
A blonde woman in a sharp professional suit, wearing high heels, stormed in with a huge, commercial yet sincere smile on her face.
"My diva, my darling, your performance tonight was nothing short of a miracle!"
Sofia Miller, Uta's agent, opened her arms and gave her a big hug, the scent of perfume instantly enveloping Uta.
"I just saw the preliminary data, the number of viewers on the live stream has broken records again! All of Wall Street is talking about your commercial value!"
Sofia's speech was as fast as a machine gun. As she spoke, she took a tablet from her assistant and swiped through various charts on it:
"The European tour invitations are already booked until next summer; Paris, London, Berlin—they are about to blow up my phone! Where are we going next? How about Los Angeles? Hollywood has already reserved the best dates for us!"
"Sofia."
Uta didn't open her eyes, her voice sounding a bit lazy and raspy from the performance.
"What is it, dear?"
"I want to stay in New York for a while."
Sofia's rapid-fire speech came to an abrupt halt, and the smile on her face froze for a moment: "Stay in New York? Why? The promotional cycle here is already over; we should strike while the iron is hot and start the next—"
"I haven't really had a chance to explore; this is my first time in New York."
Uta opened her heterochromatic eyes and looked calmly at her agent.
"I want to take a break."
Seeing the unquestionable look in Uta's eyes, Sofia immediately swallowed all her business plans back down.
She knew very well that the girl in front of her was the absolute core of the company, the goose that laid the golden eggs, and any of her requests had to be met.
The company's board of directors had long ago given a strict order: Uta's personal will was the highest priority in everything.
"Of course! Of course you can!"
Sofia's expression instantly switched back to an enthusiastic mode. She sat down next to Uta and affectionately put an arm around her shoulders.
"A break is completely deserved! You've been too tired lately; it's time to properly relax. There are many fun places in New York: the luxury stores on Fifth Avenue, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Statue of Liberty—do you need me to arrange a guide? Or a private party?"
"No need, I'll just wander around on my own." Uta shook her head.
"OK, OK, you're the boss." Sofia nodded immediately, but then remembered something, and her expression turned serious.
"But dear, you have to promise me one thing. New York isn't very safe at night; there are always some shady lunatics in those alleys. Not long ago, the news in New York City even broadcasted that two naked perverts were running wild on the streets of New York. You have to be careful."
"If you go out, you must take bodyguards, at least two! I don't want my precious baby to have any accidents."
"Got it." Uta replied offhandedly.
Sofia nagged a few more times about security details, and only after confirming that Uta had "heard" them did she stand up, satisfied.
"Then get some good rest. I've already arranged your room; it's the presidential suite on the top floor of the Plaza Hotel. If you need anything, call me anytime; my phone is on twenty-four hours a day."
She threw a flying kiss to Uta at the end, then hurried away with her assistant, and the sound of her directing work could be heard outside the door again.
The dressing room returned to silence.
The laziness and exhaustion on Uta's face slowly faded, replaced by a profound calmness that belied her age.
She reached out and lightly swiped through the air in front of her.
A blue light screen, visible only to her, appeared silently.
[Neutral Faction Player: Uta]
[Current Total Reputation Points: 1,000,000]
One million.
This number was what she had accumulated over half a year, after holding ten World tour concerts.
According to the system's assessment, every successful performance that influenced tens of thousands of people could bring her 100,000 reputation points. This was the most stable and efficient way she had found so far to earn reputation points.
Bringing happiness to the World with her singing, then receiving rewards. This sounded fair and aligned with her philosophy.
But she knew it was too slow.
Uta's gaze shifted away from the reputation points, and the image she saw at the concert flashed in her mind—in the frenzied crowd, the tea-haired girl who remained absolutely clear-headed, and the striking, softly glowing green shield emblem above her head.
[Guardian Faction Player: Misaka Mikoto]
A Guardian Faction player.
Uta had been in this World for over half a year, and this was the first of her kind she had encountered. She had originally thought she would be the only "singularity."
"Guardian—" Uta tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest of the sofa, a playful smile curling the corners of her mouth.
According to the system's explanation, players in the Guardian Faction took maintaining World stability and protecting life as their duty.
This meant they would actively or passively get involved in various "events" happening in this World.
And "events" often meant a massive amount of reputation points.
This was much more efficient than holding concert after concert herself.
Staying in New York was just an excuse to rest. Her real purpose was to see what kind of "surprise" this "Guardian" lady could bring her.
Uta's thoughts stirred, and the system panel switched to the "Bond Summoning" list that she checked countless times every day.
She ignored the unfamiliar names at the top of the list and skillfully scrolled down until two names that made her heart skip a beat appeared before her eyes.
[Red Hair Shanks — Summoning Reputation Points Required: 15,000,000]
[Monkey D. Luffy — Summoning Reputation Points Required: 10,000,000]
Fifteen million, ten million.
Two astronomical figures, like two insurmountable mountains, weighed heavily on her heart.
She looked at the familiar avatar of Red Hair Shanks, and the man's hearty laugh and the back of the Red Force sailing away flashed uncontrollably in her mind.
She still remembered herself crying and shouting, saying she would rely on her own singing to create a new era where everyone was happy, and make him proud of her.
And Luffy, that idiot who wore a straw hat and always giggled while saying he would become the Pirate King.
They had competed together, caused trouble together, and made promises to the sea together.
She missed them.
At the same time, she also wanted to ask Red Hair Shanks why he had abandoned her.
One million reputation points wasn't even one-tenth of what was needed to summon Luffy.
By holding concerts, how long would she have to sing? Five years? Ten years? She couldn't wait that long.
This World was full of pain, sorrow, and strife; she had seen too much of it from the news and the internet.
The "new era" she wanted to create required more powerful strength and faster speed.
She needed reputation points, massive amounts of reputation points.
Uta closed the system panel, and the light in the room dimmed. She stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.
Outside the window was the brilliant, dazzling night view of New York. Countless skyscrapers stood tall, and the river of light formed by the lamps flowed endlessly on the streets. This city was like a steel beast lurking in the night, full of vitality and danger.
In the eyes of others, this was the World's financial center, a city of dreams.
But in Uta's eyes, this was a huge hunting ground filled with "events" and "opportunities."
And that Guardian named Misaka Mikoto was the best guide she had found in this hunting ground.
"Misaka Mikoto—"
Uta whispered the name, her heterochromatic red and blue eyes reflecting the thousands of lights outside the window, flashing with the brilliance of a hunter.
"Let me see what kind of fun you can bring me."