At the backstage, minutes after Chris Cornell finished his set. Ozzy Osbourne approached with a drink in his hand, his eyes widened with curiosity.
Ozzy Osbourne smiled and said "Bloody hell, kid… you were not joking around out there!"
Chris Cornell replied with his tired and hoarse voice, "Thanks… I was not sure how they would take it though."
Ozzy Osbourne smirked, "They did not throw anything, did they? That's a win in Detroit." He then proceeded to laugh and patted Chris Cornell's back and said "Nah, seriously, you've got a voice like a demon's gospel. Proper and wild!"
Chris Cornell shyly smiled but he looked at Ozzy Osbourne's eyes and said "That means a lot coming from you. I have been listening to your stuff since I was like… ten."
Ozzy Osbourne laughed. "Jesus Christ, now I feel ancient!" He added, "But I mean it. You've got presence, lad. You are young and still rough around the edges, but there is something real in that scream you got. Keep your head on straight and do not let the suits ruin you, you get what I mean?"
Chris Cornell nodded, "I won't. I've got good people around. I just want to keep growing. Get tighter. Meaner."
Ozzy Osbourne added, "That will come. Just do not forget, no matter how big the crowd, you sing like it is life or death." and then he leaned slightly toward Chris Cornell and whispered, "And if you ever need a madman to vouch for you… you've got one here." He smiled after.
Chris Cornell showed a happy and appreciative expression, "Thanks, Ozzy. Really. I won't forget this night."
Ozzy Osbourne smiled and said before he went on stage, "Good. Now get some water in you before you cough up your guts. And don't be a stranger." He walked towards the stage where his band members were already starting to play the instrumental of his first song.
Chris Cornell did not leave Ozzy Osbourne in his eyes, he kept watching him. In that instant, he felt that rockstar energy that he did not feel earlier. It was as if Ozzy Osbourne became a different person from earlier. 'Damn.' He whispered to himself.
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
James was watching on the side with Joseph Kennedy Sr and the Sub Pop Inc staff. When Chris Cornell and the band members finished, the staff quickly assisted and handed over bottles of water to each performer.
After Chris Cornell finished having a brief conversation with Ozzy Osbourne, he approached James and Joseph Kennedy Sr, James quickly asked him, "So how is it to feel Ozzy's energy change from a nice chill dude to a rockstar persona on stage?"
He shook his head as he laughed at James' question. "It was so different! He felt approachable and then he got to a fucking monster when he approached the stage. It felt so alien but also something I really want to have as well."
James smiled as he heard Chris Cornell tell his thoughts about Ozzy Osbourne. 'You got that same energy in my past life too.'
He laughed at Chris Cornell's feedback and just encouraged him to strive to be the same.
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
The whole show ended with a bang from Ozzy Osbourne and his band members. The staff of Sub Pop Inc. left along with the whole crew and went back to their hotel rooms.
As per schedule, the whole team should travel to Chicago, Illinois and arrive there by April 8, 1981 in the morning and do the soundcheck in the afternoon for the next day's show.
Good thing, James and Joseph Kennedy Sr already went ahead and rented a good sized touring bus with one of the Sub Pop Inc. staff as the driver, it was Sidney Reilly, who was "hired" by Joseph Kennedy Sr. as a permanent staffer for Sub Pop Inc.
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
During the midnight and dawn, the whole crew travelled from Detroit Michigan to Chicago, Illinois and arrived after 5 hours.
The whole crew was asleep during the drive. They woke up when the tour bus arrived in Chicago, Illinois around 7 in the morning. One of the Sub Pop Inc. staff bought coffees for each crew member. As for Chris Cornell, he and his hired vocal coach started the exercise after eating breakfast.
The other crew went to their rented hotel rooms and further prepared for the whole day and the planned sound check in the afternoon.
As for James, he was already awake and he looked like an energized kid, he did not look like a fatigued kid, and some staff even were amazed by their "boss" stamina and maturity. Of course only the staff knew who really owned the company, Joseph Kennedy Sr was the enforcer of the kid's wishes. And it has been the gossip within the company since they saw James with Joseph Kennedy Sr following behind and conversing as if the two are equals.
At the side, while sitting, James was all jolly as he received a big reward from the system last night after the show.
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
Earlier.
[CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR LABEL'S FIRST AND SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL SHOW!]
[YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED A 5-STAR ARTIST CARD!]
And then, another reward came on after.
[CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ARTIST'S SUCCESSFUL SHOW!]
[AUDIENCE APPROVAL RATING: 65%]
[AUDIENCE SIZE: 11,000~]
[YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED A $650,000 MONEY BAG!]
'God damn! More than half a million for a 65% approval rating!? Well… with the size of the audience… this is great!'
He wanted to jump and shout but he could not because the crew were already sleeping soundly inside the tour bus so he could only do it internally. He checked his money bag balance and it was a staggering $1,650,000.00!
'I am a millionaire already and I am still in the early stages of my plans! I am what they really called an "overpowered protagonist"!'
'Now, with the new card reward, an artist huh? I wonder who it will be this time? But I can not activate it right now, it would be weird if all these guys woke up and saw another person they do not know in our bus, I will wait for later at my hotel room.'
'I am excited to see who it is!'