But the morning light brought a cold reality. His latest post—a carefully curated photo of a latte—had 512,000 followers and exactly 14 likes. The ratio was a neon sign screaming "fraud."
The screen glowed with a sickly blue light as Arthur hovered over the button. It felt less like a transaction and more like a pact. for half a million souls—or at least, the digital ghosts of them.
Arthur was a mid-tier lifestyle influencer whose engagement had been flatlining for months. He told himself it was "social proofing," a necessary kickstart for his personal brand. He clicked Confirm .