Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 21: Kaelan (8)
A week had passed since Blank signed the collaboration contract as the main media partner between Viera and Emma.
Currently, Blank was heading to a 4-star restaurant at 7:00 PM. This time, it was a request from a client named Mr. Arga.
Blank was wearing his suit again, with a small rose pinned on the right side of his jacket. This event was a special 2nd wedding anniversary dinner for Mr. Arga.
Upon arrival, a large restaurant with a mix of gold and black adorning its interior was visible. Blank was amazed.
"Oh my... So this is the life of the rich."
Blank shook his head. He walked alone, carrying his camera.
"The pay is decent, $500 for tonight's work."
The scent of Fresh Aquatic perfume reached his nose. Chandelier lights illuminated all the scattered round tables. A voice came greeting him.
"Kaelan."
Blank turned; the voice was from Mr. Arga. "Good evening, Mr. Arga. I've prepared the equipment you requested."
"Good. Just walk around later, okay, and make sure all the guests have their photos taken."
Blank smiled. "Of course, Mr. Arga." Then Mr. Arga handed him a thick, prepared envelope. Blank was startled. (Huh? Given directly?)
Mr. Arga gave the envelope to him. Blank accepted it. "Ah, thank you, Mr. Arga." Mr. Arga gave a thumbs-up with a wink. "Do it right, okay." Blank nodded. "Absolutely, Mr. Arga."
Blank began preparing. Guests started arriving, and Blank started his camera.
After waiting 20 minutes, all guests had arrived, and Blank began photographing them one by one with maximum results. The lighting was adjusted to the slightly dark room conditions and the blue spotlight on the stage.
For 15 minutes, Blank moved around taking pictures, but a voice came to his ears.
"Hello, cameraman."
Blank paused, his vision turning toward the source of the voice, his eyes widening.
"Huh? You're here, Miss Viera?"
Viera smiled and waved her hand. "Do you have time?"
Blank approached. "Yes, after this event is over." Viera took a bite of pudding. "Alright."
Blank returned to work. His focus was still on Mr. Arga, so his business with Viera would be after finishing.
Shot after shot was taken. Blank worked for 2 hours in the room until the event closed. Mr. Arga approached him. "Kaelan? How are the results?"
Blank wiped his slightly sweaty forehead and showed the photo results. Mr. Arga was impressed. "The results are much better now! Where did you learn?"
Blank raised the corners of his lips. "I just work every day, Mr. Arga." Mr. Arga applauded. Then he pulled out his wallet. "Here's a tip for you."
Blank's eyes sparkled, and he accepted it. "Thank you, Mr. Arga."
Everything went smoothly until the guests began to leave. Blank left the restaurant feeling happy. (Today was incredible. 2 hours of work can support me for a month here.) Blank looked at the road and was startled.
A 4-door sedan was parked in front of him. Viera was in the back seat waiting for him, and beside her was a bodyguard guarding the car. (Ah, right, Viera asked me to meet her. What is it about?)
Blank's steps approached. "How can I help you, Miss Viera?"
Viera looked at him. "You haven't eaten, right?" Blank tilted his head slightly. (Why ask like that?)
Viera continued, "let's eat together. There's something I want to talk about." Blank bit the flesh inside his mouth. "Is that so? Is it okay?"
Viera nodded slightly. "Get in." Blank slightly moved his fingers. (Is my relationship with Viera that good?)
Blank approached the car door; the bodyguard looked at him, making him feel nervous. "Sorry, can I really get in?" Viera smiled. (This is weird, very weird.)
Blank got into the back seat, and the bodyguard started driving. The atmosphere became quiet, and Blank's left hand trembled slightly. (Wait, is this really Viera? Shouldn't she be famous? Why invite me to eat?) Blank looked at her.
But at the same time, Viera also looked at him. "Hey, your name is Kaelan? You're the kid from the used bookstore back then?"
Blank was silent for a moment. "You remember?" Viera nodded. "Brother Reynald told me." Blank bit his lip slightly. (So that's why I got recruited too.)
"That means I got scouted because..." Viera smiled. Blank chuckled softly. "Haha, I already suspected."
Blank returned to his original position. (But this is still weird. Why does Brother Reynald also care about me?) Blank felt a bit of worry. (What if it's related to Mr. Son?)
Blank looked at the car ceiling. (If my father is Mr. Son's associate, that means Father was also rich and well-known.) But he scratched his temple. (But it's useless if there are many problems.)
Blank looked at the city streets. (Does that mean Brother Kaeri also...)
The car stopped. Blank looked at a seafood restaurant in front of him. He looked toward Viera. "Uh? We're eating here?"
Viera chuckled softly. "You catch on fast. Let's get out."
Viera and Blank got out; the two of them entered the restaurant together, but Blank felt anxious. (That bodyguard isn't coming in. Why do I have a bad feeling?)
"This is my favorite seafood restaurant."
Blank listened to Viera's words. "You like seafood?"
Viera smiled slightly, tilting her head a little. "My father doesn't allow me to swim in the sea, so I haven't been able to see it directly. Since I'm jealous, I just eat it."
Blank blinked rapidly. (This girl is unique.) Then he continued, "well, maybe someday you can go on an adventure at sea."
Viera giggled. "True. Later, for the NGNL event collaboration, we'll go to the Italea Sea. It's beautiful there."
"Is that your first time going to the sea?" Viera answered, "yes."
Viera ordered a table for the two of them at the cashier. Blank took out his wallet, but Viera stopped him. "I'll pay." Blank was surprised. (Huh?)
Then a waiter came to escort them. Blank walked behind her. (I don't understand what this situation is.) Blank tried to approach her.
"Sorry, Viera. This must be troublesome for you."
Viera glanced slightly. "It's okay. I'm happy right now."
They sat facing each other. Blank blinked quickly. (What should I do?) Viera played with her phone; Blank's hands trembled. (It's useless. Brother Kaeri failed 14 times in first meetings with girls. I don't know what to say.)
Then a story topic flashed in his mind. "Viera, didn't you already eat at the previous restaurant?"
Viera shook her head. "I don't like steak, so I didn't eat much." Blank scratched his temple slightly.
At the same time, the food arrived: spicy crab and grilled squid as the main dishes. "Your order is here."
One by one, plates were served. Blank observed. (This must be expensive...) After finishing, Blank continued the conversation.
"Aren't you busy? What's it like being the Brand Ambassador for NGNL Company?"
Viera ate a piece of squid with a fork. "No, it's already evening; I have no schedule. Besides, my work is for promotion."
Blank moved his head slightly. "That's true. Aren't you famous now?"
Viera sighed. "The NGNL group has been famous for a long time. I'm just the topping."
Blank nodded his head while trying some of the crab in front of him. Viera continued, "That's thanks to the Kuhaku group."
Cough cough.
Blank choked.
"Hey, what's wrong? Drink this plain water."
Blank drank the available plain water to clear his throat.
Viera continued, "and even within the NGNL group, there's a name recorded as someone who contributed greatly through the Kuhaku group."
Blank finished half of his plain water and said, "Really? Who is it?" Blank continued drinking.
"If I'm not mistaken, the name is Agero Leonardo Davea."
Cough cough cough.
Blank choked again.
"Hey, what's wrong? Are you allergic to seafood? Why didn't you say so?"
Blank wiped his mouth to clean off some seasoning stuck to his lips. "It's nothing. I think I got a bone stuck."
Viera felt a bit relieved. "Thank goodness. I thought you were allergic."
Blank tried to change the topic. "Oh, about the NGNL Collaboration Event, can I bring that?" Viera tilted her head. "Hmm?"
The two of them talked and discussed the event happening in 2 weeks. Time kept passing for about 15 minutes. Blank left the restaurant with Viera in front of him.
"Kaelan. If you want to go home, I'll take you."
"No need, Viera. I'll order a taxi here."
"Alright. Take care, Kaelan." Blank raised his right hand. "Thank you for tonight. Sorry for the trouble." Viera got into the car and nodded. "Yes, see you at the event." Blank smiled.
After Viera left, Blank looked around. There was only one security post with lights on. Blank opened his wallet and looked at his full name card.
[Arion Kaelan Davea]
Blank's real name was revealed. He pondered in the silence of the night; his thoughts became chaotic. (So Mr. Son was right.) Blank looked ahead. (I could be in danger.)
But before putting the name card back into his wallet, a gust of wind and a speeding car in front of him caused the card to be blown away and fly.
Whoosh.
Blank's face paled, and he chased after his name card. After he chased it, suddenly someone came out of an alley because Blank's name card fell right in front of him.
"Y-you!?"
Blank was familiar with that face. (That's the thug boss who brought Lucky yesterday.)
This time, the boss was alone, but the boss's attention was diverted, and he looked at the card. Blank immediately ran to grab the card.
But as he almost reached it, his head was directly hit from behind by one of the boss's underlings using a club.
Thwack.
"Ugh..."
The man who was previously the boss's underling hit Blank's back again.
Thwack.
The underling shouted. "You're dead, you bastard! Caused trouble yesterday, huh? Look at my face." His face was slightly bandaged and bruised.
Blank felt weak, but his attention changed when the boss began reading the name on the card.
"Arion Kaelan Davea?" The boss furrowed his brow. "Oh, so that's your name, you bastard."
Blank ran with all his strength. His hands clenched and wanted to punch. But the underling immediately grabbed Blank with both hands. Blank then bit the man's hand, making the man scream in pain.
"Ah, damn! This bastard is biting!"
Blank swung his right hand to punch the boss's head, but the boss quickly anticipated by protecting the left side of his head. However, that was just a feint. Blank twisted his body and performed a dirty boxing move using his left fist to punch the ribs.
That was a Kaeri attack technique, but its speed and technique weren't perfect yet, though it could hurt the boss.
"Ugh... This kid."
Quickly, Blank tried to grab his card blown by the wind, but a club blade hit his back again.
Thwack.
"You little bastard!" The boss also stood back up and stepped on Blank's head, which was covering the card.
The security guard who saw it sounded an alarm. The boss and his underling were startled and then ran into the alley. "Damn, there's still security."
The security guard approached Blank. "Kid, sorry, I didn't see it earlier. Are you okay?"
Blank's face was red and dirty from road dust, with a slight nosebleed from being beaten by the two of them. Then the security guard helped Blank stand up and took him to the security post.
Blank exhaled in relief. But the card had been read by the boss. That could be dangerous because Blank's full name was his biggest problem.
Blank thought there might be some problems in the future. (Damn! That was very dangerous.)
"Are you okay, kid?" asked the security guard. Blank, being supported, groaned. "It's okay, sir..."
Blank finally ordered an online taxi to go home. Minute by minute passed, and the taxi arrived in front of him. Blank got into the back seat.
"Hey, it's you again, kid!" The driver was the same driver when Blank took Lucky to the police station. "You, you're a troublemaker, huh? Been fighting? And you're wearing a suit!?"
Blank's vision blurred; his head was dizzy and didn't pay attention to the driver's words. He leaned back.
"Hey, kid, you forgot my tip? I'm demanding it. I could be in trouble carrying a troublemaker like you right now—"
Zzzzz.
Blank fell asleep again.
"Young people these days are so rude! When you try to talk to them, they always fall asleep. Damn!"
Blank used his time to rest in the car. The time showed 10:00 PM, and he was still on his way to his rental.
The night was so quiet and dark. The crescent moon was covered by night clouds; the wind blew, making street cables sway. Meanwhile, in a narrow alley with lots of graffiti and spider webs on the walls, the boss and his underling were panting after running quite far.
The boss leaned against the wall. "That kid is lucky there was security late at night."
The underling sat on the dirty floor. "Yeah, boss, we're unlucky. But didn't the boss already know his name?"
The boss stroked his mustache. "Oh, right. His name is Arion Kaelan Davea."
The underling stood up. "Alright, boss. I'll declare war on him." Suddenly, he climbed onto a pile of wood and shouted.
"ARION KAELAN DAVEA, HOW DARE YOU OPPOSE OUR BOSS! DIE, YOU BASTARD!"
The boss covered his ears. "Oy, you're noisy, you idiot."
Suddenly, a stone was thrown at the wall right in front of the underling's eyes. The stone shattered, and the wall cracked.
Crash.
All eyes looked at the source of the throw. From behind a dark, run-down place, a tall, muscular man in a black jacket approached the two of them. His face was familiar. It was... Mr. Joe!?
Their hair stood on end seeing Joe's blood-stained hands. He approached and uttered a sentence in a heavy tone that broke the silence.
[Who just said Davea?]