Pleasure system: I alone own all the money and women

With every training session under old man Jakens and my secret sessions with Jessica, I felt myself growing stronger, both in my cultivations and my hidden skills. The progress was undeniable, and the thrill of pushing my limits kept me motivated.

"System, what's my current status?" I muttered under my breath, curious to see how far I'd come.

A translucent screen materialized before my eyes, displaying my stats in glowing letters:

[Your current status is-

Time Cultivation: Level 28

Healing Cultivation: Level 29

Pervert: Level 20]

I smirked at the last line. The Pervert skill was a peculiar one, but it had its uses. Still, my focus was on the deal I'd made with Jessica. Just one more level, and I would have had her body all to myself. The thought alone was enough to make my heart race, but I quickly pushed it aside. There was no point dwelling on what could have been.

"Nice going, Ashbourne. You did quite well," Jessica said, her voice breaking through my thoughts. She stood before me, her arms crossed and a playful smile on her lips. "Sadly, you won't be rewarded as per the deal because you didn't reach the requirements." She giggled, clearly enjoying my disappointment.

I scratched the back of my head, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I figured as much. But hey, at least I got stronger, right?"

Jessica nodded, her expression softening. "You did. Your progress is impressive. From level 7 to 28 in Time Cultivation and level 5 to 29 in Healing Cultivation in just a month? That's not something just anyone can pull off."

Her words were encouraging, but they also reminded me of how much I still had to learn. The deal with Jessica had been a driving force, pushing me to train harder and faster than ever before. Even though I hadn't met the requirements, the progress I'd made was undeniable. And now, with Jessica's friend arriving in town, I had a new opportunity to strengthen my team.

"My friend has finally arrived, Ashbourne. You still want to meet up?" Jessica asked, her tone casual but her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Yeah, sure we can," I replied, my mind already racing with plans. I couldn't forget my background plan of making money through hunt-and-pay missions. Recruiting Jessica's friend would make our group tougher and reduce our chances of dying in the dangerous world of assassins. It was a win-win situation.

"She said she'll meet us at the town square by noon in her letter," Jessica explained as we made our way through the bustling streets.

I was eager to meet her friend, a living human who used the rare Curse Cultivation. As a rare cultivator myself, I knew how valuable such an ally could be. The thought of adding her to our team filled me with anticipation.

After a quick workout to clear my mind, I followed Jessica to the town square. The place was alive with activity, merchants hawking their wares, children playing in the streets, and adventurers exchanging stories of their latest exploits. I scanned the crowd, trying to guess which one of them was Jessica's friend.

"Melanie!" Jessica suddenly shouted, waving at a figure in the distance. The figure waved back, and as she approached, I got a better look at her.

She was a dark-skinned elf with striking dark purple hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night. Her figure was nothing short of breathtaking, curved hips, a slender waist, and an ample bust that drew the eyes of every man in the vicinity. Yet, despite her allure, there was an air of danger about her that kept people at bay. Her sharp, serious gaze softened as she drew closer, revealing a warm smile.

"It's been a while, Jessica," Melanie said, pulling her friend into a tight hug. She then turned to me, her eyes narrowing slightly as she assessed me. "Who's he? Your boyfriend?" she teased, a smirk playing on her lips.

Jessica blushed, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. "I wish," she muttered under her breath before quickly adding, "This is Ashbourne. Ashbourne, meet Melanie."

"Nice to meet you," I said, extending my hand. To my surprise, she shook it firmly, her grip strong and confident.

"The honor's mine," Melanie replied, her dimples showing as she smiled. "I've heard a lot about you from Jessica here."

"Stop, Melanie. You're embarrassing me," Jessica protested, her blush deepening.

I couldn't help but chuckle at their banter. It was clear that the two of them shared a close bond, and I found myself feeling more at ease in their presence.

"Why don't we find somewhere more private and comfortable to talk?" I suggested, glancing around at the crowded square. The last thing we needed was prying ears or wandering eyes.

We found a cozy ramen store on the next street. The place was designed to pique customers' attention, with its warm lighting, wooden decor, and the tantalizing aroma of broth and spices wafting through the air. We settled into a corner booth, and as we waited for our orders, Melanie began to share her story.

"Jessica must have told you, I'm a Curse Cultivator and an assassin. I was kicked out of my club because of my reckless killings," she said, her tone tinged with pride.

I raised an eyebrow, unsure whether to be impressed or concerned. Reckless killings didn't exactly scream 'team player,' but her confidence was undeniable.

"Well, I'm a Time Cultivator," I replied. "No jobs at the moment, but you'd be a valuable asset to my team in our future missions."

Melanie leaned back in her seat, her expression thoughtful. "I don't mind joining, as long as no one stops me or reprimands me for unnecessary kills."

Her words reminded me of the heroes from my past life, those who had made me meet a tragic end, despite their fame and recognition. I recalled a headline I'd once overheard in a bar that 'I died in a quest, despite being warned not to go alone'. It was a sobering thought, but it also reinforced my determination to build a team that could survive the dangers ahead and avenge my past self.

"No problems with that," I assured her. "But I'd love to see you in action. I want to know how Curse Cultivation works."

Melanie's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Sure. I'll show you what I can do."

"Why do I feel left out here?" Jessica interjected, pouting playfully. "At least let me in on the conversation."

We all laughed, the tension easing as we continued our introductions. Despite her dark cultivation and assassin background, Melanie had a surprisingly pleasant demeanor. She was confident, witty, and carried herself with an air of mystery that was both intriguing and intimidating.

As the conversation flowed, I decided to test her resolve. "System, activate Pervert," I murmured, barely above a whisper.

[Ding! Pervert activated.]

The skill allowed me to influence others' emotions, making them more susceptible to attraction or arousal depending on my level. I decided to test it on Melanie, curious to see how she'd react.

"So, what are you doing tonight?" I asked, my tone casual but laced with subtle intent.

Melanie raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "Nothing, I guess. I'll have to wait until we start our assassinations before I can do something reasonable with my life."

I frowned, surprised that the skill hadn't worked. Was it because of my level, or was it her Curse Cultivation that made her immune?

"The second is right," Melanie said, as if reading my thoughts. "My Curse Cultivation allows me to resist any form of hypnosis or mental manipulation."

I nodded, impressed. "So this is what peak Curse Cultivation looks like. Nice."

Getting this Cultivation would be peak, but I couldn't get any way of getting it at the moment.

Clearly adding her to the team was the right choice, with her around I won't have to worry about all of us getting into hypnosis or mental manipulation.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter and conversation. By the time we parted ways, I felt confident that Melanie would be a valuable addition to our team. As I headed back to old man Jakens' place, my mind was already racing with plans for the future.