Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 30: NGNL Collaboration Event (4)
[Going according to plan]
Then, a person with a heavy voice asked over the phone.
[What happened?]
"The girl is easily trusting. According to the information, she likes to eat bread."
[And then?]
"My partner sabotaged the bakery and offered the famous Zopf bread from this place at the airport, and she just accepted."
[Haha, that's funny. Are you going to move before the mission even starts?]
"No, I'm just testing the timing of the drug. I think it's quite accurate for now."
[That's risky, but couldn't you fail?]
"Whether it succeeds or not, I didn't come with just one plan, Joe."
The man with the slightly messy shirt went to a seat at the edge of the cafe and continued his conversation.
[Oh, really? What about unexpected variables?]
"I don't know. So far, nothing has changed from the plan."
[That's good. You really are infiltrator number one, Jarvis. You must bring Viera, or you won't be able to contact him.]
"Yeah, yeah... I'll contact you again later."
The call ended. The young man lowered his phone and stared sharply ahead at the empty wall. His hand clenched tightly, and he gritted his teeth. "Damn."
---
Back to Blank and Viera's position. Viera was currently sitting on a park bench. There was still time before Emma finished, and the equipment was fully ready.
Blank asked again, "Are you really okay, Viera?" Viera gave a thumbs-up. "It's fine now. Maybe I just ate something wrong." Blank nodded, his breath easing again.
"Thank you, Kaelan. Sorry for the trouble."
Blank smiled. "It's fine, no problem."
Viera looked at him seriously. (That's why I wanted you here, Kaelan.) Viera lowered her head. (You're a good person.) A memory flashed in her mind.
[Before recruiting Blank]
Viera was sitting with Reynald. They were having dinner and chatting. Viera asked, "Bro Rey, that teenager from yesterday, you know him?"
Reynald chuckled softly. "You know, we met before at the used bookstore, right? If I'm not mistaken, you came several times to meet someone."
Viera nodded. "Yes, I was looking for the boy my father warned me about before, but he wasn't there."
Reynald smiled. "That's the person you were looking for." Viera fell silent, her body freezing, and her food dropped. "Really?"
Reynald replied with a nod and a smile. Quickly, Viera immediately contacted her manager. But what Viera didn't know was...
(Kaelan didn't return to that bookstore, probably because Kaeri had already moved him.) Reynald looked at Viera. (That woman has always been the easily worried type.) Reynald chuckled softly. (Very different from her mother.) He let out a long breath. (Your father was harsh because he knew about the family but pretended everything was normal.)
That was what happened before, which led Viera to convince her manager to bring Blank into the team, even though initially rejected, it was finally resolved.
[Back to the present]
On the other side, the three people from the main media team clearly saw Blank just hugging Viera and helping her sit on the park bench, sitting with her.
Navas stared sharply. "Look at that bastard." Lirie turned her face away. "I hate people who are too lucky."
"Even though we've worked hard all this time, why does he get more? What's different?"
Shortly after, suddenly Emma shouted and ran over. "Brother Kaelan!" Viera and Blank's gazes shifted. "Oh, Miss Emma, you seem very enthusiastic."
"Yes, come on, Brother Kaelan, let's take photos first. I want personal photos before we start."
Blank listened to little Emma speak, but behind Emma was Lauren carrying a script file in her hand.
Blank lowered his body and said, "Miss Emma, Brother Kaelan will help with photos if Miss Emma wants."
That made Emma very happy. Thanks to Blank, all of Emma's ego could be satisfied. But Blank continued, "However, after the photo session is finished, okay? Brother Kaelan will definitely take personal photos."
Emma, still a child filled with ego, also had to work according to the company's request. This made Blank need to think and act more maturely.
Even so, the happy expression on Emma's face faded a little. This put Blank in a dilemma, but he still had to do it. "Later, Miss Emma will be recorded according to your wishes after Brother Kaelan's work is done, okay?"
Words resembling a small reward after work were quite effective. Emma felt her face become cheerful again with the series of spoken sentences. "Alright, Brother Kaelan."
Blank smiled. He also glanced at Lauren, but it turned out Lauren looked calmer and gave a slight smile toward Emma. At the same time, Erna approached. "Sorry I'm late. There was a short meeting. Let's begin."
This park was located right in the city center with tall buildings surrounding it. It would be perfect for the futuristic game theme, which had more dominant technological elements than nature, even though such a reality was scary.
The media team waved at Blank. "The equipment is ready." With that, the second day of shooting was set.
Lirie and Robert would be sub-cameramen, while Navas would handle the lighting for the photoshoot and short recording. And, of course, our main protagonist, Blank, would be the main cameraman moving to the best angles.
After everyone was ready, Blank connected microphone cables and others to the main camera for optimal results. At that moment, Lirie and Navas were seen smiling slightly.
He began looking at the camera. (Hmm... Why is the lighting so bad with this camera? The sky is too bright.) Blank scratched his temple.
Erna approached. "How is it, Kaelan? Ready? It's about to start soon."
Blank felt pressured because this camera seemed to need readjustment, but if the time was about to start soon, it certainly wouldn't be possible.
Navas covered his mouth with one hand, while Lirie smiled while looking at the ground to avoid being seen. Robert approached.
"What's wrong, Kaelan? We're all ready." Blank looked at his main camera once more. (This needs a lot of fixing.)
Blank also looked at the tripod being used. He hadn't expected a loose and missing bolt in a nearly invisible part. Blank sighed and looked at Viera.
"Viera, did you bring the large suitcase?"
"It's in the car as you requested. What's wrong?"
"There seems to be a slight problem. Sorry, I'll go get it first." Blank ran toward Viera's car, passing Boyka and Leon on guard.
Boyka called out, "What's up, bro El?"
"I want to get something from Viera's car. It's a large suitcase. Could you open the door, Mr. Boyka?"
"Oh, sure."
Shortly after, Blank brought the large suitcase and returned to the main shooting location. He opened the suitcase and...
"Huh," uttered the three people from the main team who saw it. Robert furrowed his brow. (Wait, that's impossible.)
Blank opened the suitcase's contents. There was a camera identical to the one with the foldable tripod along with necessary cables. He only needed to set it up briefly because his own camera was already preset. The same large suitcase he brought at the airport.
The NGNL Company logo in the shape of a power button was also visible. Blank assembled it briefly and then tested it. (Luckily, before coming here, I prepared a backup camera.)
Blank tested the recording toward where Viera and Emma were. The exposure and filter suitable for the morning were, of course, good for creating a cinematic look.
(This matches the theme. Luckily, Viera allowed me to bring it just in case.) The reason Blank was sleep-deprived was also because he only had time to set up his camera last night.
"Okay, I'm ready, Miss. It seems the previous camera had some internal issues, so I'll just use this one. Is that okay?"
"Oh, that's fine. Is everything correct?"
Blank tested the sound and lighting of the recording. "Everything's safe, Miss."
(Impossible... He prepared a backup?) Navas twitched his finger. (This is strange. How could it be?) Lirie bit her lip. Robert lowered his head. (Oh dear, who have I been fooling?)
With that, the recording was about to begin. All the team and talent were ready. Now we enter the drama.
[Drama begins]
"Wait, sis! Sis, where are you going?" said Emma, playing the younger sister character.
"You must live a normal life, Anna," said Viera, playing the older sister character.
"But, sis! Why? Anna can't be alone here."
The older sister character approached Anna (the game character) and stroked her hair. "Anna, it's dangerous outside." Anna's eyes began to well up. "But, sis..."
The older sister hugged the younger sister, who began to shed tears. Then the older sister stood up again.
Anna's body trembled. Her eyes looked at her sister with visible teeth even though the corners of her lips turned down. "SISS!"
The older sister continued walking away, leaving Anna with slow steps. "Even if sis becomes an agent, Anna will still love you. Please..." Anna fell to the ground.
The older sister glanced back with a slight turn of her face. "I hope we can meet again... Anna..."
"CUT!"
With that, the recording was finished. It turned out Miss Erna had a talent for directing, as did Blank who recorded the dramatic scene. But in Blank's heart, (What the fuck.) His eye twitched.
Who would have thought the game character's older sister became an agent, leaving a little sister behind so she could live a normal life.
Blank scratched his head where it didn't itch, with a bit of cold sweat dripping around his ears. (Who wrote this damn story?)
"Okay, the recording is done for today. We will continue with the photoshoot session for the cover, action figure, and merchandise."
Blank looked exhausted, but Emma jumped around in front of him. "Brother Kaelan, how was the acting earlier?"
Blank smiled again and spoke gently. "Miss Emma's acting as Anna was so cool! The sad moment really pierced the heart. So good!"
Emma smiled and laughed. She was very happy when Blank praised her. Was this also part of a child's ego that Blank needed to fulfill? "Come on, take more photos of me." Blank rubbed his neck. "Haha, yeah, let's go."
Finally, Blank continued his photo session until finished, along with the entire team.
After several hours passed, they all finished. Blank was seen with a pale face, leaning on a park bench.
(Oh dear, Emma is so active. It should have ended at 2 PM, but it's already past 3 PM just because of her.) Blank let out a long breath.
Blank returned to the shooting location, packed all his equipment into the suitcase, and carried it out of the park. Viera, who was waiting, finally approached Blank with his large suitcase.
"Need help?"
Blank chuckled softly. "No need, Viera, haha."
"Alright then."
From outside the fence, Willie watched the two of them and clenched his own hand tightly. (That brat... Why so close?)
Blank and Viera walked together to the gate. Emma was seen very happy while looking at her phone filled with complete photos of her taken by Blank today.
But as Blank and Viera walked together, Willie glanced over.
Blank tilted his head slightly. Even though he was tired, he could still see the tour guide looking at him. Blank shook his head. Maybe this time he was just very tired.
Viera entered with her manager, and Blank didn't forget to return one of the suitcases. Blank also sat in the front seat so he wouldn't have to face the media team like before.
As the car was about to move, Blank reached into his pocket to take out his earphones again, but...
"Kaelan."
It was Robert's voice. Blank was startled and shifted his gaze to the back seat.
"Yes, what is it?"
Robert looked somewhat hesitant. He clenched his fist but continued his words. "I'm sorry." Blank rubbed his own fingers.
"Why are you apologizing, Robert?"
Robert held his wrist. "Because... I was the one who damaged the camera earlier."
Blank opened his eyes wide, but quickly regulated his breath again. "Is that so? It's okay, I don't mind—"
Navas gritted his teeth hard. "No, I was the one who damaged it. I'm sorry, Kaelan." Blank fell silent. (Why is this...)
"I was the one who adjusted the cables and the tripod. That was my fault." At the same time, Lirie lowered her head, forcibly closing her eyes.
"I'm also sorry, Kaelan. I avoided you because you seemed more special."
Blank lowered his gaze. These three were a team that worked hard together to reach this point. Blank was lucky; he was just known by Viera before being invited. Blank calmed himself.
A wide smile with perfectly closed eyes. "It's okay. Let's do our best after this." His teeth showed.
The three people from the main media team, who were initially gloomy, now quickly turned their heads.
Navas's jaw dropped. "R-really?"
Blank chuckled softly. "Yeah, it's okay. Let's fix things again."
Robert, who was silent, now began to speak. "Thank you, Kaelan. Sorry for our unprofessional behavior."
Blank waved his hand up and down. "It's okay. Let's have dinner together later."
Blank invited them to eat together in nearby seats. Their faces became a bit enthusiastic again. Now Blank had successfully transformed himself from initially disliked to a liked center. They all smiled. "Let's go," said the three people from the main media team.
The car continued until they arrived at Casandra Hotel. Dusk began with a warming light. Blank chatted with them throughout the journey, which turned out not to be difficult from now on.
---
Elsewhere, at Chean B airport, Mr. Son was wearing casual clothes and carrying his suitcase. While walking, he looked at a chat from his private group.
[Kuhaku Group 2.0]
[Demma: Oh my god, Robenson! You're vacationing without inviting us!?]
[Lizie: Shut up, shorty. You're already old, always on missions.]
[Rama: Hey, Demma, when are you coming home? It's been so long. Let's play billiards again. The loser has to ask a random girl out on a date, okay?]
[Demma: Be patient! I'm on my way back! Still tired here, and already being challenged... I already have a girlfriend!]
Mr. Son smiled seeing the group chat content on his phone screen. "Silly kids." When looking ahead, he saw a person in black sunglasses and a robe being pulled by two security guards.
"Hey, you, don't disturb people."
"My prediction is correct. 80% of my predictions are right. It must happen. He is the freest child in this world."
"Ugh, he's just a child with his uncle. What kind of prediction is that?"
Mr. Son smiled. His steps approached, and he extended his hand. "Hey, old man, try predicting me."
The capture was slightly released by security. The black-robed man began to feel his rough palm, which had many cut wounds. His fingers were examined until the man fell silent. Mr. Son raised his head slightly. "What do you see, old man?"
Tears began to flood his cheeks. His hands trembled. "Not long ago, there was a teenage boy who could die on his journey right now." The blind man looked toward Mr. Son.
[Y-you... are the key.]