Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 40: NGNL Collaboration Event (14)
[You really resemble a genuine villain.]
Novan fell silent, his face expressionless as he restrained himself. "Haha, that's a very good compliment, Tenma." Tenma smiled and stretched both arms over his head.
Novan looked at the sky. (This person... is very dangerous.) Meanwhile, Tenma was looking at the same sky. (I'm sure he's an impostor. At least now it's 20%.)
Time passed. Erna approached. "Novan, do you have any restaurant recommendations?" Novan held his chin. "How about yesterday's restaurant?"
Erna tapped her foot. "That was good. Should we go there again?" Tenma stirred. "Miss Erna, what's the most delicious food?"
"Fried rice." Tenma's eyes sparkled, his tongue sticking out. "Really? I want that." His eyes looked at Novan. "Let's go there. I want to try it."
Novan stood up. "Well, I'll take care of that." Their footsteps walked together with Erna. Tenma watched from behind, biting his index finger. (A tour guide but doesn't recommend other places?) The corners of his lips rose. (Interesting.)
Novan and Erna approached everyone who was gathered. "Everyone, do you want the fried rice from yesterday?" Almost everyone raised their hands. Erna turned her head. "Let's prepare for lunch first." Novan nodded.
Everyone prepared to go to the eatery, getting into cars to head to the mountainside restaurant.
The blue sky with sunlight warming their bodies, beetles and bees buzzing rhythmically over flowers to pine trees. At the villa, Boyka was sitting on the porch, watching the young man punching while using a 5kg barbell.
"Hey, Kaelan, it's been 30 minutes. Rest a bit." Blank stopped training, put down the barbell, and walked over to Boyka. "Yeah, maybe I'll rest for a bit."
Blank took a small towel and wiped his sweat. Boyka glanced over. (For someone his age, that body is good. His technique isn't bad either. Where did he learn?)
"Hey, Kaelan, where did you train before?" Blank patted his back with the cloth. "I have an older brother. He taught me to exercise."
"You have an older brother?" Blank nodded. "Yes, but now he's disappeared." Boyka looked at the ground. "I see. But have you ever trained in martial arts and competed?"
Blank shook his head. Boyka held his chin. (His body should develop quickly. Maybe it's just lack of experience.)
Boyka took a card from his bag and gave it to Blank. "This is for you. It'll definitely be useful." Blank took it, his mouth moving.
[Professional Martial Arts Training, 'UpperWings Company']
"What is this, Mr. Boyka?" Boyka smiled. "That's a martial arts training place. Just say you're my friend; you'll definitely get a discount." Blank raised the corners of his lips. "Really?" Boyka bent his knee. "Of course. I have connections there." Blank clasped his hands together, one clenched and one open as a sign of respect. "Thank you, Mr. Boyka."
Blank suddenly weakened, and his back hit the wall. Boyka was startled. "Are you okay, Kaelan?" Blank held his still-bandaged head. "It's okay, Mr. Boyka. Maybe I need a little rest." Boyka sighed. (This kid... he'll definitely become very strong later.)
The wind brushed their bodies, refreshing their previously hot skin. Birds flew and chirped; their melodious sounds reached their ears.
At the same time, Novan and the entire team were already seated at the same restaurant. Tenma was beside him, putting pressure on Novan. It would be very difficult to write with Tenma around.
Novan waited for the order sheet from Tenma. Everyone ordered fried rice and orange juice for their drink, making his mind think quickly about what to do. "Here, Novan. I'll order the same too."
Everyone ordered the same thing. Novan took the order sheet and went to the ordering table. Tenma watched. (We all ordered the same food, so he could just count the number. Why take the sheet?)
Novan reached the cashier. "Can I borrow a pen?" The server gave one. His eyes looked at the intern employee, none other than Neo. (Neo, this time is more difficult.)
Novan's hand moved quickly. Within 10 seconds, all the writing was finished, and Novan gave the order. "11 fried rice and 11 orange juices, please. And can that server bring them?" Novan pointed at Neo. The server nodded. Novan gave a tip again with a note inside.
Neo took the tip money and smiled. "Thank you." He turned around. (This is weird. Jarvis hasn't completed his mission. That means there's a variable. I have to hurry.) Neo's steps hurried to the restroom.
At the same time, Tenma passed by Novan. His steps slowed, seeing Tenma's hurried pace. "Where are you going, Tenma?" Tenma stopped. "I'm going to the restroom."
Novan's heart seemed to stop beating. (Damn, I have to buy time.)
"Oh, is it because you drank too much?" Tenma held his stomach. "Haha, maybe." Then he turned. "Sorry, I'm in a hurry." Novan froze. His eyes stared sharply. (Neo, don't make a mistake.)
Inside the restroom, Neo stood and was reading Novan's note. His pupils moved.
[Neo, there's a change of plan. I want to...]
Neo sighed. "So that's it. He hasn't succeeded."
The outer door opened. Neo fell silent and put the note in his pocket. The restroom door opened, and Tenma was facing the ceramic urinal with a slightly wet floor. Tenma glanced over. "Hey, are you an intern?"
Neo was startled. His guess was correct. Was it because of the formal clothes he was wearing now? "Ah, yes, sir. I've only been here for 2 weeks."
"Is that so? Did you just have a bowel movement? Don't forget to wash your hands." Neo scratched his head. "Ah, alright, sir. Thank you for reminding me." Neo left him.
Tenma entered the same restroom stall. The cover was lifted, and he felt the ceramic toilet with one hand. (It's cold.) Tenma came out and looked at the door. (He didn't have a bowel movement.)
After finishing, Tenma finally sat back beside Novan. They all waited for the food to arrive. Then Neo came with a trolley. 11 glasses were ready.
Tenma glanced. (He's the new employee from earlier.) His eyes looked at Novan. The man didn't move. Novan looked at the wooden table before him. In his heart, Novan said, (I must not move. I'll trust you, Neo.)
"Good afternoon, everyone. The orange juices are ready." Everyone looked happy. One by one, the large glasses were given. Tenma watched the movement of each glass being distributed.
That small trolley carried 6 glasses on the top and 5 glasses on the bottom. One by one, they started to decrease. First, from the bottom part, given from right to left. Now, the top part remained. Viera, Erna, Novan, Tenma, Demma, and also Leon hadn't received drinks yet. Tenma watched carefully, though from the outside it seemed like an ordinary glance.
The 6 glasses were divided into 2 horizontal and 3 vertical rows. At the third part, Neo took the left side, not the right. Tenma watched the server's hand giving it to Viera.
Tenma's eyes looked at Demma. The two stared at each other. Tenma's pupils moved from the center downward and then back as before. Demma took the glass meant for Viera. "Sorry, Viera. I'm very thirsty."
Viera was startled. "Oh, it's okay." Then, as the server was about to give it, Tenma stood up and took two glasses—the right side of the second row and the right side of the first row. "Server, I need one too. Let me help." Neo's heart beat fast. The second part was the orange juice with the tasteless, dissolving powder. Then Tenma gave it to Novan with a small laugh. "Haha, thirsty, huh, Novan? This is for you."
Novan looked calmly. "Thank you." The last remaining glass was only for Viera. Neo gave it and bowed slightly. "Thank you." His feet stepped away. His lips were bitten. (Jarvis, I leave the rest to you.)
Novan shook his glass and began to sip. (As I suspected.) The drink flowed down his throat. (I'm sure Tenma is the real Demma. At least 40%.) His eyes looked at Lauren. (Sorry, Demma. I'm not stupid either.)
Tenma began to lift his glass. One gulp was clearly heard. (I'm sure Novan is the impostor. At least 40%.)
Neo stepped away. He opened Novan's note again. Slowly, his eyes began to move.
[Use the trolley if available, or at least use movement from right to left. Then for the second part's movement, make one difference. If the person following me reacts, it means he's smarter and more observant than I thought. And for one more thing...]
His eyes saw the last name.
[Lauren, the woman beside the little girl.]
Neo moved away. He opened his bag, which contained fresh blood in a container. Neo placed it in the restroom, in a crevice behind the toilet. Time finally passed. A trolley brought fried rice and began distributing it. Novan and Tenma began to look at the food.
Novan began to eat slowly. (I remember, the real Novan has a history of stomach problems.) His hand held his stomach. Tenma glanced over. "Are you okay, Novan?"
Novan covered his mouth. "Lately, the pain in my stomach has started to feel worse." Tenma stared. (That... sounds like one of Novan's medical histories.) His eyes moved. "Oh, really? What's wrong?"
Novan held his lips. "I once had a peptic ulcer. It was a long time ago." Tenma held his chin. "Did you have surgery?" Novan shook his head. "Luckily, no." Tenma nodded repeatedly. (Right, matches the information.) His eyes turned away. (But earlier he didn't show anything.)
"That's good. Hope you recover quickly from that." Novan smiled. "Thank you, Tenma." One spoonful slid down his throat. (I have to fight back too. He's troublesome.)
The two of them finished eating. Novan went to the restroom. He searched for a small bottle with blood content behind the toilet. (This is disgusting, but it's necessary.) Novan drank it.
Mealtime ended. Everyone hurried back to the car. Novan came out with a pale face. His legs walked weakly. His hand held his stomach. Tenma greeted him. "Are you okay, Novan?"
Novan patted Tenma's shoulder. "It's okay." Novan walked toward the car. His stomach felt nauseous. (I have to hold it in my throat. Don't let any of it actually enter my stomach.)
Before Novan reached the car, his mouth spat blood onto the ground. Everyone looked and widened their eyes. "Novan? Are you okay?" A little blood was seen coming out. It flowed down his chin. Novan began to cough.
Leon and Erna moved quickly. "What's going on?" Erna looked at the small amount of blood spilled on the ground. "We have to take him to a clinic. Maybe it's an old illness acting up." Tenma watched him, his eye twitching. (Damn, he looks natural.)
Erna searched for the nearest clinic. The name 'HappyHeart' appeared at the top. Quickly, Novan was taken to a car. Everyone went briefly to the clinic, an 18-minute drive away.
Upon arrival, Erna approached the receptionist. "Help, is there a nurse who can check his condition?" Erna explained the symptoms. Novan's face was pale, and his hands were weak.
The receptionist scratched the back of her head. "Wait a moment, please. We'll try to find someone first." At the same time, Gru passed by, seeing Novan before him. His steps approached the receptionist. "Let me handle it." The receptionist glanced and nodded.
Novan was taken to a room to have his condition checked. Novan lay down. Gru brought a small bucket and placed it before Novan. Quickly, Novan vomited food and blood at that moment.
The bucket was placed under the bed. Gru looked at the still-weak Novan and went outside the door. "Under Novan's name, he needs to rest for at least 1-2 hours. For now, he's safe, just early symptoms of his old illness." Everyone nodded. Erna held her chin. "But tonight we have to go to the airport to Italea. We have to prepare."
Tenma raised his hand. "Let me be the one to accompany Novan." Everyone glanced. Tenma became the center of attention. "Is that okay, Demma?" Demma nodded. "No problem. I trust Tenma can handle it."
Everyone agreed. Finally, everyone started returning to the cars to pack up some equipment at the villa for tonight's departure. Tenma returned to the front of Novan's room, sitting on a long iron chair. (This is interesting. Very interesting.) His eyes looked ahead. (You succeeded in confusing me, Novan.)
As Tenma sat alone, a cold atmosphere enveloped his ears. The antiseptic smell reached his nose. Footsteps were heard, and Tenma turned. It was Gru. "Are you going in, sir?" Gru nodded. "I'll try to check his condition."
Gru went back to visit Novan. His eyes were seen beginning to open. Novan's hand moved, as if signaling to give paper and a pen. Gru took them and handed them over. They communicated via paper.
[Who's outside?]
Gru began to write.
[A man with a hat and wearing a jacket.]
Novan read it. His hand moved again.
[That person is dangerous. Let's communicate via paper. I'll change the plan. Can you contact Joe? And also, can you contact the person allied with Underring in Italea? I'm having trouble using my phone.]
Gru looked with a sharp gaze. His fingers moved. The paper was given back.
[That might be possible. Can you write down everything you want to convey?]
Gru took a new, larger paper. His hand gave the paper to Novan. Novan's fingers began to write.
[Tell Joe: Viera has increased security by adding Demma, one of the second generation of Kuhaku Group, and there are two of them. And also, the person he's looking for, Davea, is here...]
On the other side, outside the room, Tenma was deep in thought with both hands supporting his chin. His eyes stared at the wall before him. His breathing was regulated as he closed his eyes, then opened them again. (I'll switch to Plan B.)
He stepped away, leaving the area in front of Novan's room. His phone was lifted, and the screen lit up. One app was clicked, displaying an image of a flower with a greeting card. Tenma filled in the hospital address 'HappyHeart' and Novan's room number. One button was pressed. There were only two words:
[Order Now]
Meanwhile, inside Novan's room, Gru narrowed his eyes seriously. His pupils moved up and down, looking at Novan and his writing. Gru swallowed his saliva after seeing the last sentence. It was:
[Kill the person outside this room, and we will attack in Italea.]