Urban System in America-Chapter 54 - 53: Satin Dreams, Hollow Nights

As he leisurely wandered around the mall, his eyes caught a pair of light tan pants paired with a thin linen shirt on a mannequin displayed inside a shop.

He paused, and without thinking much, stepped inside.

The store was cool, the air lightly scented with sandalwood cologne. He walked straight to the display, running his fingers across the fabric as he inspected it carefully.

It felt soft. High-quality. Luxurious in a quiet way.

Even though he had said he wanted to shop without looking at the price, he still took a peek at the tag, not because he couldn’t afford it. No matter how expensive a shirt could be, it wouldn’t be $100k. But obviously, he wouldn’t spend that much on a single shirt. That would be plain foolish.

And honestly, it would be embarrassing to walk up to the counter and find that a simple shirt cost tens of thousands of dollars. Better safe than sorry. 〜(￣▽￣〜)

He hadn’t reached that level of pretense...at least not yet.

But fortunately, it wasn’t anything crazy. Just the equivalent of one month’s rent. Nothing too expensive ( ﹁ ﹁ ) ~→ and still within his range.

"I’ll take this one," he told the attendant, who was waiting patiently by his side.

And with that, his shopping spree began.

He stopped by another boutique and picked up a few lightweight shirts—short sleeves, relaxed fits, perfect for summer.

Fifteen minutes later, he walked out with a bag in hand and a small grin tugging at his lips. So this was what it felt like, shopping without worry.

Next came a stop at a high-end sneaker store, where a sleek pair of matte grey trainers called out to him. The fit was perfect, like they were made for him. He bought them without hesitation.

Then another sneaker shop, with sleek sneakers lined up like collectibles. He bought two pairs, one for everyday wear, and one for when he felt like showing off... just a little. Not too flashy, but clean, modern, and expensive-looking.

Passing by the watches section, he slowed, eyeing the vast array on display. He wasn’t planning on buying one, but while browsing, he found a clean-faced watch with a black leather strap and a deep blue dial. Classic. Elegant. He liked how it looked on his wrist, like it belonged there and made a statement without screaming.

On a whim, he picked up a few accessories too, a pair of polarized matte black sunglasses and a simple woven bracelet, purely for the aesthetic.

Passing by a grooming store, he grabbed a set of essentials: face wash, toner, moisturizer, sunscreen, and a light cologne with a hint of citrus and sea breeze. It felt like summer in a bottle.

Seeing the vast array of shops and looking at the few bags in his hands, he felt like there was still so much left to buy. This was the kind of shopping he had always dreamed of, buying without worrying about the price, no mental calculations to protect his little savings.

But as he passed another row of stores, the buzz of the mall began to fade in his ears, and a strange feeling washed over him.

He didn’t know why. Everything had gone smoothly. He had what he wanted. But it felt... hollow.

It wasn’t guilt or regret, more like discomfort, like something unseen was tugging at the back of his mind.

A strange heaviness crept in. He couldn’t quite put a finger on it. Maybe it was the emptiness of shopping alone, or maybe the quiet echo of something he missed but didn’t notice. Whatever it was, it made him uncomfortable.

He slowed his steps, glanced around, but nothing seemed out of place. People were walking, chatting, shopping, laughing as usual. But he just felt... off.

He passed by several stores he once fantasized about entering, stores that had once felt untouchable. And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to go in.

Shaking his head, he decided to cut the spree short.

As he exited, he paused near the entrance and glanced around slowly. For some reason, he felt like someone had been there, watching, or maybe just someone familiar.

But there was no one. Just a few passersby and the usual foot traffic. He shook his head, brushed it off as imagination, and walked toward the valet.

The valet brought his car around, sweat glistening on his forehead under the sun. Rex gave him a little extra, not out of show, but because he understood what it was like working hard under a burning sky. Slipping into his car, he turned the music up loud and drove off, trying to shake the odd mood.

He didn’t head straight home. Instead, he let the city guide him and roamed aimlessly.

Cruising through Beverly Hills, past the glimmering streets of Rodeo Drive, he soaked in the city’s spirit. He passed the iconic palm-lined avenues and drifted near neighborhoods where Hollywood studios stood tall...landmarks of dreams and power.

Places he had only ever seen in videos. There was something soothing about it all.

Past Hollywood’s studio clusters, banners for upcoming blockbusters hung tall. Through the Sunset Strip. Melrose Avenue. Echo Park. Then toward Santa Monica. The buzz of LA, the chaos, the calm...it somehow settled his thoughts.

By evening, he found himself driving along the coast. The Pacific stretched beside him like an endless painting, the road hugging the waves. He rolled down his windows and let the salty breeze wash over him, the rhythm of waves blending with the soft music playing in the car. The sun dipped lower, turning the sky orange and gold.

Eventually, he found himself near the Getty Center. He hadn’t planned to stop, but something about the building’s silhouette against the night sky drew him in.

He stood by the edge of the overlook, gazing at the city lights below. The Getty was elegant, sprawling, and just... quiet. The lights of LA stretched endlessly below. He stood there silently, staring at the museum’s graceful structure.

He thought about its founder, about the kind of people who could spend hundreds of millions on rare art without blinking. People who dropped his entire net worth on a yacht they barely used, or an old painting just to hang in a hallway no one walked through.

Compared to that level of wealth, his hundred million felt like loose change.

He exhaled.

He stayed there for a while.

Eventually, he returned home. It was late. He tossed the shopping bags on the couch and made a quick meal, nothing fancy. Just pasta with whatever he had in the fridge. Then he collapsed onto the sofa.

He turned on the news, flipped through channels, but nothing held his interest.

The news played in the background, as he lay there staring blankly at the ceiling, maybe living a life he once dreamed of, his brain couldn’t process everything.

He just felt a sense of emptiness. Maybe it was because he had no one to share it with. Or maybe... he missed his past life a little.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed, bringing him back to reality.

"[Adrian: Everything okay about tomorrow?]

[Rex: Yeah. Everything is ready. Just waiting. You?]

[Adrian: Same old.]"

Rex chuckled softly. He put the phone down and glanced at the time, midnight was near. And with it, his reward from the system.

Time ticked by.

As the clock struck midnight, a familiar soft chime echoed in Rex’s ears.

Ding!

His vision shimmered faintly, like a ripple in the air, and a sleek translucent system interface appeared before his eyes.

[Daily Sign-in available]

[Claim Now]

His brows lifted. "Finally," he muttered.

Without hesitation, he claimed it.

A cheerful burst of confetti exploded across the interface in a dazzling spray of gold, blue, and silver, accompanied by an excited jingle.

"[Congratulations!]

[You have received: Digital Mirage]"

The confetti shimmered one last time before fading into pixels. Then the air in front of him warped—like a hologram stabilizing, and a translucent screen appeared in the air, displaying the skill.

—

"[Skill – Digital Mirage]

[ Type: Passive / Temporary

Use Limit: One-Time Only

Duration: 15 Minutes

Expiration: Must be used within 24 hours

Description:

Cloaks all traces of digital activity.

Activating this skill renders your actions untraceable: location, network access, data transfers, system breaches, everything becomes invisible for a full five minutes.

Ideal for... illegal things.

Or, you know... emergency incognito browsing.]"

—

Seeing this, Rex raised his eyebrows and sat up straight. But realizing it was just a time-limited, temporary skill, his enthusiasm dampened. He fell back on the couch.

"Anyway, it’s still better than water or those instant noodles... and it could help me in tomorrow’s operation," he muttered lazily.

He tapped to inspect further. A timer appeared, ticking down from "24:00:00" in the corner of the interface, like a quiet warning.

The hologram dissolved into thin air. The music faded. But the thought lingered.

Rex stared at the now-vanished interface for a moment longer, lips twitching into a faint smirk.

"Five minutes, huh... Guess that’ll be enough."

With a stretch and a quiet yawn, he finally rose from the couch. He headed to the bathroom, splashed cool water on his face, then lazily brushed his teeth.

The house was quiet...the kind of stillness that made every step echo just a bit louder.

He walked into his room, kicked off his slippers, and flopped onto the bed without much thought. As he pulled the sheets over himself, he glanced once at the ceiling...eyes reflecting the faint glow of the city outside.

"Tomorrow’s D-day," he muttered under his breath, voice low and steady.

"The day Clement gets exposed."

And with that, he closed his eyes...

And sleep took over.

(End of Chapter)