Erik von Markovik (given name is Erik James Horvat-Marković), more popularly known by as Mystery, is a Canadian author, lecturer and professional pick-up artist. He developed a system of attracting women called The Mystery Method which gained him attention in the PUA community and thus led to him hosting a VH1 reality show called The Pickup Artist. The character Mystery was created by Erik von Markovic in the late 90's for his performances as a mentalist, titled Natural Magic. He has done magic performances in many places, including Toronto, Las Vegas and Hollywood. The name Mystery was also used by von Markovik as an internet username. He is the author of The Mystery Method: How to Get Beautiful Women Into Bed. He taught and then befriended the writer Neil Strauss, who became Mystery's wingman and eventually a mentor in the seduction community. Along with a group of other former students, Mystery and Strauss shared a mansion in Hollywood ("Project Hollywood"), which soon became a focal point for potential students. Their friendship is told in the book of Strauss's method, The Game. In 2004, Mystery formed the Mystery Method Corporation, and at the end of 2006, He left to found a new company, called Venusian Arts. (The Mystery Method Corporation continued without him, and has since changed its name to Love Systems). His current venture is a company called "3 Second Rule", named after a Mystery Method rule whereby the student pick-up artist must approach a set of people within 3 seconds of first noticing them.