From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel-Chapter 144: Second Ranking Ceremony (2)

"For our next round, you all will finally get to do some traveling and get to compete with each other, head-to-head!"

At MC Ryan Leary’s words, the contestants looked excited at the thought of not being cooped up practicing all the time.

Competing was whatever, but traveling on someone else’s dime sounded very exciting, and they began chattering in excitement.

"Are you curious? Hmmmmm? Shall I tell you, or shall I let you pick teams first?"

- Tell us!!!

- Tell us, please!

- Where are we going?

- My passport is ready to go!

"Unfortunately, we won’t be going abroad this time."

- awwwwwwwwww

"But! It will happen in the future. Regardless, you’re going to spend a day busking in Las Vegas to pass out flyers and get people to sign up for the show’s awesome rewards, exclusive content, and, of course, voting access. Aren’t you excited??"

Not at all.

The thought of standing and performing in the hot Vegas sun sounded unpleasant at best, and from the description, wasn’t the production staff just using them as child labor to promote the show?

There wasn’t even a reward for busking.

The more concerning issue was that the plan the Assistant PD, David, had told William had changed from busking in two locations to a single location, meaning they all had to go to Las Vegas.

Curious as to what William’s reaction would be, especially because the boy had mentioned not wanting to take Ari, glanced back once more to see William gritting his teeth once more before forcing a smile.

Well, even if he wasn’t excited about it, at least somebody was more miserable than he was.

"Afterward, you’ll be going head-to-head performing the same song as another team as the opening act to a concert. Doesn’t this sound exciting?" fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

- A concert opener? For which artist?

- No way!

- That’s crazy!

The excitement in the room grew as the chance to be a concert opener was dangled in front of the contestants.

Even if it was a small crowd, having the opportunity to perform in a city like Vegas was a pretty good opportunity, and Ari felt his excitement build just a bit.

"The artist is a secret! Now that you’ve heard what it entails. Let’s get right to it. As we’ve previously done, Teams will be chosen by the individuals on the first-ranked team. Could Alfonso, Ari, Caleb, Gale, Ian, Leo, Minho, Minjun, and Rei please come to the stage?

Hearing his name being called, Ari got out of his seat and limped to the center of the stage.

"This time around, we’re forming 10 groups of 8, so that means one of you has to give up your right to create your own team, but you get to choose whose team you’ll join. Who wants to volunteer?" The MC looked at all of the teammates curiously as the cameraman moved closer.

"I will." Minho, who was the quieter twin, immediately raised his hand, "I’d like to join Minjun’s team."

"Awww, brotherly love. Additionally, after everyone has been sorted into teams, those who were voted as the best performer on their teams will have the opportunity to swap to a different team. Now, starting with Mathew, please choose your team members."

Mathew glanced around, looking regretfully at Ari before meeting the eyes of the contestants sitting on the pyramid.

"For my first pick, I’ll choose...William. He’s great vocally, well, all round to be honest."

At being the first pick, William smirked as he stood behind Mathew.

Ari just rolled his eyes while thinking, ’good riddance.’

"Great choice. Alfonso?"

"Mmmm, since we’re busking, then I’ll choose Daniel."

"Awesome. Ari?"

"Pick me!"

As soon as Ryan Leary finished talking, Jamie yelled out while raising his hands high into the air.

"Oh...will Contestant Ari choose Contestant Jamie, who has boldly volunteered himself, or will a betrayal happen here?"

Ari met Jamie’s blue eyes before smiling mischievously.

"For my first pick, I’ll choose Benjamin since I need a rapper, and he’s currently ranked first."

"Traitor!" Jamie yelled with a shocked expression.

"Oh, it seems that there’s trouble in paradise. Contestant Ari, you’re rebuttal to the accusation?"

"He betrayed me first by choosing Daniel the last time. I’m hurt." Ari pretended to clutch his aching heart.

Jamie’s expression was devastated entirely as if he couldn’t believe Ari was still bringing that up, but Ari just laughed at him before continuing,

"Plus, since you won best performer, he can just swap to my team, right?"

"That is correct. Contestant Gale, who do you choose?"

"Levi."

"Excellent, Contestant Ian, your choice?"

Ian glanced over at Ari before replying, "Jerome."

"Great. Leo?

"Rex."

....

"Contestant Ari?"

"Carlos."

"Nile."

"Haruto."

"Kyle."

"Vishal."

"Michael."

When Ari finished assembling his team members, he was pretty satisfied with the general makeup.

For vocals, he had himself, Carlos, and Michael (soon-to-be Jamie).

For rap, he had Benjamin and Nile

For dancing, he had Haruto and Kyle.

And for someone to help him research, he had Vishal.

While it wasn’t the most perfect team, he had grabbed people with high stats in those areas who had previously been on a team with either Benjamin or Jamie, or people he got along with.

With this setup, he thought things would go perfectly, especially when he dumped the leadership role onto Benjamin, who generally seemed to do a great job.

Even though Benjamin had some conflict with Carlos, it was something that Ari thought he could mediate.

Pretty satisfied with his choice and excited about the fact that he really wouldn’t have to do anything this time around, Ari smiled brightly at Ryan Leary, ready to move on to the next step.

"Now, can the individuals who were voted as best performers on their team raise their hands?"

9 people, including Mathew, who had chosen his own teammates, raised their hands high.

"Awesome, then if you would like to switch with an individual on any team, please keep your hand up."

Much to the surprise of everyone, Mathew kept his hand up.

"Uh, Contestant Mathew, you are aware that you chose your teammates, right? This is the team YOU selected."

"Yes, sir, I know. But I also have the privilege of moving teams, so I would like to move because I have an obligation to fulfill due to causing Contestant Ari harm."

As Mathew glanced at Ari’s foot one more time, Ari wanted to shake his head no.

It’s fine!

There is no obligation!

Leave my team as it is, please!

At this point, this injury is no longer your fault, so let it go!

MC! Please, skip him!

Unfortunately, the MC couldn’t hear his thoughts.

With a bright smile, he gave Mathew a thumbs-up and asked.

"Okay, which team do you want to join?"

"I want to join Ari’s team and replace Kyle, since our skill set overlaps."

It seemed that Mathew had used his brain as he wanted to replace the weaker dancer that Ari had selected.

"Well..." Ryan Leary glanced over at the PD standing in the background, and seeing PD Ji-ho shrug, continued, "There’s nothing against the rules, so Contestant Mathew will now be joining Contestant Ari’s team, and Contestant Kyle will be joining Mathew’s team."

The two boys quickly exchanged positions, and Kyle actually seemed relieved to be away from Ari.

"Does anybody else want to change teams?"

Jamie’s hand shot high up once more, and the MC laughed,

"Yes, Contestant Jamie, I already know which team you want to join. Who do you want to replace?"

"Michael."

"Understood, both of you, please swap. Now, does anyone else want to swap teams?"

Michael and Jamie swapped positions, with Jamie smiling brightly like the sun as he stood next to Ari.

"We’re finally on the same team."

"Yep. Should be fun."

The two of them bumped fists while smiling, before paying attention to the MC.

"Alright, last but not least, Contestant William. You raised your hand. Who do you want to swap with?"

"Him, I want to enter that team and swap with him." William smiled his characteristic smug smile as he pointed a lean finger.

When Ari saw who William was pointing to, the smile on his face disappeared, and he could feel his eyebrows trying to furrow immediately, and he had to physically stop himself from shaking his head.

[Uh oh.]

[It seems that your special plan is getting a wrench in it?]

No!

No!

Absolutely not!

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