From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel-Chapter 157: The Three Buske-teers (5)

POV Wilbert Brown

Throughout the whole conversation with the stupid Pop Star team, Wilbert Brown couldn’t help but notice the person wearing a strange green mask while standing by Benjamin.

He was hard to miss especially since he was dressed in a warm looking tracksuit in the boiling hot sun and was looking around like he was at the movies while annoyingly slurping a basically empty cup of juice as loudly as possible.

He couldn’t tell if it was a contestant or a staff member, but the sight of the green eyes that seemed to analyze him before dismissing him was very annoying.

In fact, he found all of the handsome boys, especially Benjamin and that rich blonde boy, extra annoying.

It wasn’t fair that just because they happened to make it onto some stupid pop show, they were getting really popular while he and his crew, who had been grinding for years trying to make it in the entertainment industry, were still struggling.

His crew had been putting in thousands of hours of effort, trying to make and share their own art and break into the mainstream, but all these spoiled kids just regurgitated the songs given to them, danced the basic dances they were taught, and got famous just because they looked a little good and could carry a tune.

And the fact that Benjamin, whom he knew and had once been close to, joined such a stupid show while giving up as an underground artist rubbed him the wrong way.

Instead of being a rapper making it with his own skill, he was basically selling out for a pop paycheck.

And now, because of his good looks and kiddy rap that wasn’t even written by him, Benjamin’s popularity was soaring to even crazier heights than it had before.

It wasn’t fair.

But now, it seemed that the universe had conspired to give him an opportunity, and he would take it not only to boost his group but also to show these pop star kids what a real artist was and embarrass them on their own show.

Meeting the green eyes of the boy with a strange mask as he whispered in the ear of the woman who had been trying to calm things down, Wilbert gave him a fierce smile.

"Set it up. Let’s do it. I’ll show you what a real cipher and real artist is, and I can assure you, it’s nothing like the nonsense you do at that little pop star program of yours. Don’t start crying and running to your mom when you lose."

"I definitely won’t be the one crying, but you got it. You prep your people, we’ll prep our people, and we start in a bit." Ari spoke in his typical laid back manner which pissed Wilbert off even more.

"Fine! Prepare yourself Benji."

"I’m ready for you whenever, Willie." Benjamin gave Wilbert a mocking smile while slinging his arm around Ari’s shoulder. "We fully plan on kicking your arse."

Wilbert spun around, walking back toward his group, gathering them in a huddle, and Ari freed himself before turning to Kate.

"Katie?"

"Ye-yes?"

"Our microphones and speakers are ready, right? Could I please have the laptop and controller set up, along with the flyers and other materials? It seems we’re busking after all."

"We really should just go. This has gone way beyond my scope, and I have to ask the PDs." Kate replied, looking as if she were about to cry.

This situation had quickly spiraled out of control, and she was completely stressed from trying to manage everything on her own.

She couldn’t believe she was saying this, but she truly missed being micromanaged by PD Emily.

"We’ve already wasted almost an hour, so we might as well make it worth it, yeah? Why don’t you contact PD Emily to update her, and we’ll just have a little back and forth. If she says we should go, we’ll stop immediately, but at least this way, we’ll have collected some footage." Benjamin began soothing her in a soft voice, and she nodded while fanning herself.

"Okay. You’re right. Ari. I’ll get your stuff set up. Please don’t move from this area while I call the PD. And don’t pick any more fights. My heart can’t take it. You too, William."

"Sure."

"..."

The moment Kate ran off, Ari made eye contact with his teammates who had been watching the situation curiously and gestured for them to come over.

As they ran over, Williams’ annoying voice sounded off from the side.

"You, what do you think you’re doing?"

"Prepping for a cipher." Ari looked at him like he was stupid.

Were his ears really just for show?

"Why did you chime in and ruin things. As the leader, I had it under control." William insisted with an angry face, his pale skin looking slightly burnt from the sun and covered in sweat.

"They called you a colonizer when you tried to buy them off, and they were going to call the cops on us. Kate was about to start crying. You call that under control? At least this way we get to perform something."

"And disgrace ourselves?"

"What’s disgraceful about it?" Benjamin asked in a slightly sharp tone.

"...that’s not the point, and that’s not why we came here. He overstepped his authority." freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"Okay. Sure. Sorry Leader. Nag me about it later, not now. Unless you want to lose to people you were looking down on and trying to buy off earlier, let’s prepare, shall we?" Ari replied flippantly.

"...."

It took all of Ari’s energy not to roll his eyes, but somehow, he did it.

"Cool. Look, if you don’t want to participate, then at least work the crowd and get people to sign up and buy tickets, which is what we came to accomplish in the first place. The rest of us will handle it."

When the rest of the team arrived, Ari pulled Carlos to his side while glancing at their faces.

"So, we may or may not be competing in a cipher. I’ll be your MC, so yeah. I’ve never been in one, so this will be a fun experience for everyone."

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