Rise of the Zillionaire Star

Chapter 25: Lana Syxx Face-Off (Part 1)

The studio lights were hot enough to bake glass casting a sterile glare across the sleek table. Four celebrity panelists sat in high-backed chairs. They were surrounded by giant plasma screens broadcasting their faces live to millions.

And there, at the far right, sat Lana Syxx. She was the rising influencer with ten million followers and a voice sweet enough to drown a shipwreck. She wore a pearl-white mini dress, her lashes swept dramatically as she dabbed a tear for the cameras.

Jaylen slid into his seat opposite her. He was the final guest brought in at the last minute at the request of the show’s producers. His arrival had been deliberately delayed. It was another tactic to keep him off-balance. But his expression was unreadable, while he maintained his posture. Inside, the System’s soft hum synced with his pulse.

“System Notice! Questline ‘Silence the Siren’ Active.

Objective: Clear your name in real time.

Bonus: +3 Talent, +2 Fame, +1 Z-Node if target credibility score drops below 15%.”

Across the table, Lana began her monologue. Her voice was trembling just enough to suggest fragility without losing poise.

“I’ve been carrying this for years,” she said, lowering her eyes. “It’s not easy speaking out… especially against someone as beloved as Jaylen Cruz. But I owe it to women everywhere.”

The host leaned in, hanging on every word. “You’re saying this alleged incident happened in…?”

“Two years ago,” she said, biting her lip. “At a club downtown. He cornered me, said things… things I can’t even repeat here. I never wanted to ruin his career, but the truth…”

Jaylen’s jaw flexed, but he didn’t interrupt. Zee’s voice whispered in his earpiece, her tone clinical.

“Confirmed: footage from that night has been manipulated. Traced payment - Blake’s PR firm. They fed her the script.”

His fingers tapped twice against the armrest - it's a prearranged signal. The System pinged in acknowledgment.

Lana continued, her voice cracking for effect. “I stayed silent because I was scared. But after seeing his recent rise… I couldn’t anymore. Not when people should know who they are really cheering for.”

On cue, one of the plasma screens flashed a black and white club footage. It showed Jaylen leaning toward Lana at the bar. There were no sound. It was only visuals of her shaking her head and moving away. The crowd in the studio murmured.

Zee’s tone sharpened. “Ready to drop the receipts?”

He gave the faintest nod.

The host turned to him. “Jaylen, do you have a response?”

He leaned forward, elbows on the table, eyes locking on Lana. “I do. And I’ll make this simple. That video is Fake. Here’s what really happened.”

He tapped the mic clipped to his shirt, and the studio screens switched to an alternate feed with a higher resolution and uncut scenes. The timestamp matched. This time, the audio was clear.

Video Playback

Lana: “So… what do I get if I post about you? A collab deal? Free tickets?”

Jaylen half smiled, “I’m here to perform, not bargain.”

Lana: “Oh, come on. Everyone plays the game.”

The clip ended with her leaning in, whispering something into his ear, and walking away - not the other way around. Gasps rippled through the audience.

Jaylen straightened. “And here’s the paper trail.”

A second file filled the screen. It was a bank transfer receipts. A $50,000 payment from a shell company. Then another clip was a phone screen recording showing a voice memo from Lana’s manager.

Manager’s voice: “This is from Blake’s people. You read the lines, you get the bag. Easy money.”

The studio atmosphere shifted instantly. The host’s expression froze in disbelief. The live audience started murmuring louder now, not about Jaylen, but about Lana.

Her face was drained of color. “That’s… that’s taken out of context.”

“Context?” Jaylen cut in, his voice calm but cutting. “You were paid to fabricate a story. You tried to ruin someone’s career for likes. That’s not context. That’s fraud.”

The System chimed. “Target Credibility reduction: 52% - 34% - 21%…”

Lana’s hands shook as she adjusted her mic. “This is… slander. My followers know me. They know I would never…”

The host interrupted in a voice unusually firm. “Lana, can you explain the payment from a company tied to Blake’s PR firm?”

She blinked rapidly, searching for words. The silence stretched painfully long.

From somewhere in the crowd, a single voice called out, “Fake!” Then another, “Clout chaser!” Phones rose like a wave, recording every second of what was happening.

The System’s next ping was almost gleeful.

“Target Credibility: 14%. Quest Objective Achieved.”

Lana’s sponsor banners on the plasma screen began disappearing in real time. It was at first her beauty brand, then her clothing line, then her skincare ambassador badge. Notifications started pouring in across the bottom ticker, Major brands sever ties with influencer Lana Syxx following live controversy.

She stood abruptly, mic clattering to the floor. Without another word, she stormed off stage as security scrambled to escort her past the cameras.

The host, still reeling, turned to Jaylen. “Well… that was unexpected. Jaylen, any final words?”

He glanced at the camera, his voice measured. “Don’t believe the headlines. Believe the truth you can verify.”

The crowd erupted in applause. It was not thunderous, but solid, and supportive.

The system buzzed, “System Notice: Quest Complete.

Rewards: +3 Talent, +2 Fame, +1 Z-Node.

Passive Skill Unlocked: Brand Integrity – “Your public image gains resistance against future smear attempts.”

Jaylen rose, gave a short nod to the audience, and walked off stage without looking back.

The second he stepped into the corridor, flashes exploded around him. Journalists had already swarmed the exit.

“Jaylen! Statement on Lana Syxx?!”

“Did you know Blake was behind it?”

“Are you pressing charges?”

Zee’s voice returned in his ear, dry and efficient. “You’ve got ten seconds before this becomes a media riot. Your call.”

He stopped just short of the curb, cameras still firing, his shadow stretching across the sidewalk.

And then without answering he half-smiled slightly, leaving every outlet desperate for his next word.

Journalists and TV hosts surged forward. Their mics extended to his mouth, ready to catch his first live reaction.