Chapter 272 - 272: 272 | Touring Isn't Hard? (1)

<🎧 Song Recommendation: Don't Mind by Kent Jones>

...

Von was excited seeing the System had decided to gift him, and the reward was pretty helpful.

'I've been neglecting this upgrade for too long.'

Without wasting any more time, he selected the glowing card.

[Use Resonance Upgrade Card?]

[YES]

The card shattered and then the System chimed again.

[Ding!]

[Talent successfully upgraded!]

[Resonance (D) >> Resonance (A)]

● Skill: Resonance (A) — Greatly amplifies emotional projection during performances. Unlocks [Resonance Echo], causing powerful performances to leave a lasting emotional impression that can vividly resurface when remembered.

"Resonance Echo..."

That was interesting.

The old version simply strengthened whatever emotion he projected while performing. This sounded much more permanent.

If someone was deeply affected enough by a performance, merely remembering it later could bring some of that feeling back.

Then another detail caught his attention.

'During performances... Wouldn't acting count too?'

His lips slowly curved upward.

"Okay. That's actually crazy."

The implications were massive, especially for future acting roles, but his brain was far too tired to start dissecting them now.

He dismissed the interface, pulled his shirt back on and joined the others as they finished packing.

By midnight, the Phoenix arena was disappearing behind them.

***

The first thing the crew learned about Los Angeles was that they wouldn't be sleeping on the buses.

That announcement alone received a louder response than some opening acts had gotten during the tour.

The convoy had crossed into California before sunrise on Monday morning, and by the time the four entertainer coaches finally rolled through downtown Los Angeles, nearly everyone inside the lead coach was awake.

David stood in the front galley holding a tablet while Max, Conor, Alex, Emily and several others crowded around.

"Alright, good news before anybody starts complaining," David announced. "We're here until Friday morning. Four nights. I booked rooms for the primary crew and drivers at the hotel."

Max slowly lowered the cereal spoon in his hand.

"A hotel?"

"Yes."

"A real hotel?"

David stared at him. "What other kind is there?"

"Brother, I've been sleeping six feet away from Conor's feet for three weeks. Don't play with me right now."

Conor immediately looked offended. "My feet don't smell."

But as he said so, he took a sniff toward his feet that caused the entire galley to erupt in laughter.

Von smiled from his seat by the window.

After nine shows, thousands of miles of highway, truck stops, narrow bunks and shower schedules, even he couldn't pretend the idea of a proper hotel bed didn't sound incredible.

The buses weren't going anywhere. David had arranged a secured parking section nearby where the coaches would be cleaned, serviced and refueled during their stay, while the production trucks continued directly toward Staples Center for the first load-in preparations.

For once, nobody had anywhere else to rush toward.

At least that was what Von thought until the lead coach turned onto the street beside their hotel.

"Oh, fuck," Max muttered.

Von looked up.

The sidewalk ahead looked like someone had announced an awards ceremony.

There were photographers everywhere.

Dozens of cameras were already pointed toward the convoy before the first coach had even stopped. Entertainment reporters stood behind temporary barricades, while a crowd of fans pressed around them with phones raised over their heads.

Emily looked outside and sighed.

"Welcome to Los Angeles."

The moment Von stepped down from the coach, the street detonated in camera flashes.

"VON! OVER HERE!"

"VON, HOW ARE YOU FEELING AFTER PHOENIX?"

"ARE YOU EXHAUSTED?"

"LOOK THIS WAY!"

"VON! NINE SHOWS IN THREE WEEKS! HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP?"

Von lifted one hand against the flashes and continued toward the entrance alongside Emily.

Most of the questions blended into noise until one reporter leaned far enough across the barricade that a security guard had to put an arm in front of him.

"Von! You've been performing every few nights, recording new music on the road, rehearsing and traveling overnight! How difficult has this tour actually been?"

Von slowed.

It was a normal question.

He thought about it for a second and answered honestly.

"Honestly?"

The cameras immediately began flashing around him.

Von shrugged and decided to say with a smirk:

"I'm still waiting for the hard part."

The entire press line suddenly became louder.

Emily's head turned toward him with rolled eyes.

Von continued walking as reporters shouted follow-up questions.

"What do you mean by that?!"

"You don't think touring is difficult?!"

"VON, ARE YOU SAYING THE TOUR HAS BEEN EASY?"

"Is that a shot at other performers?"

Von frowned slightly. "What?"

Emily caught his arm.

"Inside."

"But that's not what I..."

"Inside, Von."

He allowed her to pull him through the glass doors.

The doors closed behind them, muffling the chaos outside.

Von looked at Emily.

"They completely changed what I said."

"They didn't change anything yet," Emily replied. "You just handed them the knife."

"I meant I'm expecting something difficult eventually. We've had problems, sure, but the actual touring part has been good. I'm not stupid enough to think the next seventeen shows will all be easy."

Emily stared at him. "So... go outside and make yourself clear."

Von looked through the glass at the reporters still yelling his name.

Then he shook his head.

"Nah. Too much stress."

Emily closed her eyes.

"Of course."

***

It took less than two hours.

Von had barely showered and eaten before his quote was everywhere.

["I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE HARD PART." — VON VARLEY AFTER NINE ARENA SHOWS]

[VON VARLEY SAYS GRUELING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR HASN'T CHALLENGED HIM YET]

[CONFIDENCE OR ARROGANCE? THE TWENTY-YEAR-OLD SUPERSTAR'S LATEST COMMENTS DIVIDE THE INDUSTRY]

By evening, touring musicians, choreographers, stagehands, singers and random people who had never entered an arena loading dock in their lives were all arguing about what Von meant.

Von ignored almost all of it, but Max did not.

The following afternoon, Von was sitting in the hotel suite with Alex and Conor when Max walked through the door carrying a tablet.

"You need to see this!"