Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 27: NGNL Collaboration Event (1)
The sun shone intensely, and crowds of people moved together. On January 1st, several people were seen heading to the airport at 11:30 AM. Blank walked together with Viera's team.
"Kaelan, is everything ready?"
Blank was carrying a large suitcase and a huge black backpack on his back. "Yes, everything's secure, Viera." His brow furrowed slightly. (Ugh, this is a bit heavy.)
"Viera, where are the rest of my team?"
"Oh, right, they are already in Chean City A."
The countries of Chean, Sweas, and Italea are the eastern nations of this world. Chean City A, the largest metropolitan city in the world, has many skyscrapers lined up. However, the country is so vast that there are still many villages and mountains at its edges, including Blank's former home.
Blank nodded. "Viera, have you had lunch?"
Viera held her chin with her index finger. "Coincidentally, yes. I don't want to eat on the plane."
As the two of them spoke, a woman in a suit approached. "Hey, Mr. Cameraman? Aren't you too close to Viera?"
Viera waved both hands. "It's okay, Miss Erna. Kaelan just wants to adapt to our environment." Miss Erna scratched her hair slightly. "I don't understand why you chose a beginner cameraman like that."
Miss Erna is Viera's manager. Everything related to Viera in this event is her responsibility. Behind her, there was also a large bodyguard in a shirt, with a shaved head, visible muscles thanks to tight clothes, and a taller stature. His name is Boyka.
Blank turned his face away. (Better not get too close.) He walked normally.
During the journey, they all entered the waiting lounge for the plane, which would depart in another 25 minutes.
As they settled in the waiting lounge, Blank saw an old man with glasses leaning against the wall. His clothes were wrinkled and messy, with a torn black cloak. Blank took a drink and approached him. "Sir, would you like a drink?"
"I will read your fortune. Give me your hand."
The drink was brushed aside, and his hand was taken. The old man's fingers began pressing Blank's palm.
"S-sir? Wait, what is this?"
"I can read your fortune. 80% of my predictions come true for anyone."
The man then used both hands, opened Blank's palm, and began examining the skin and even the pulse just with finger movements.
The man jumped, startled. "Haa!" He panted heavily. Blank was stunned. "What? What is it, sir!?"
His hands trembled. "You... are threatened with death." Blank stared wide-eyed. "Huh?"
Viera heard from behind. Her face was curious, and she began to step forward. But before she arrived, the man suddenly pointed at her.
"She... is the partner who can save you..."
Blank and Viera fell completely silent. An unexpected statement was uttered again. Both of their faces tilted their heads slightly.
Boyka approached and grabbed the man's hand. "Your hand is strange. Leave here and don't disturb people." His gaze was sharp.
"Wait." Blank approached the man and removed his glasses. But what was truly shocking was: "This man... He's blind..."
All the witnesses, who were Viera's own team along with Blank, furrowed their brows. How did this man know Viera was there and point so accurately when he couldn't see himself?
Security suddenly arrived and apprehended the strange man. "Sorry for the inconvenience. We will handle this." Two security guards came; one caught and took the strange man away, and the other apologized to Viera's side.
"Forgive us for being late. This will not happen again. We hope you have a pleasant journey."
As the two security guards left, Viera looked at Blank. "Hey, what was that about?" Blank bit the flesh inside his mouth. (Will there be problems later too?) He stood up again.
"That was just an absurd prediction. No need to think about it."
Viera held her own right hand as if slightly uneasy. Miss Erna opened her mouth. "Enough, that was just a cheap trick. The plane is ready. Let's board."
Everyone left with their belongings. Although the situation had to be forced back to normal, that's what happened.
Blank and Viera's team stored their belongings first before entering the plane. Afterwards, they found their respective seats.
Viera sat with Miss Erna, but Blank sat with Boyka, who always maintained an almost expressionless, flat face.
(So awkward!)
Blank rubbed the back of his own hand and glanced at the plane window. (But speaking of which, this is my first time on a plane, right.)
Blank looked at the sky where clouds were now level with him. He gazed upwards, seeing only blue with bright sunlight. As he daydreamed, suddenly a voice sounded in his ear.
"Be careful~"
The voice was very faint, almost imperceptible. He immediately searched for the source of the voice but found nothing. (Who was that? It sounded like it was in my ear?)
"Be careful!"
Blank glanced; it turned out to be a child who often played on his phone on the plane while shouting, not far from him. (Phew... Seems like just a kid playing an RPG game with his friend.)
As he calmed down again, the voice reappeared and was heard from outside the plane.
"Be careful~"
Blank turned quickly. His eyes widened when he saw a young man whose face resembled his own outside the plane. (Hey, how can he be outside!?) Blank stared more closely. His figure was pale, and his face too.
"Be careful."
[Kaelan]
Slap.
Blank woke up. A slap hit his cheek, making it slightly red. "Ouch..." Blank rubbed it. (This stings. What happened?)
"Were you talking in your sleep, kid?"
It turned out Boyka had slapped Blank. "Was I asleep, sir?" Boyka folded his arms. "Yes, earlier it seemed like you were about to scream. Sorry I slapped you."
Blank sighed in relief. Boyka asked, "What time did you sleep?"
Blank scratched his temple and tried to remember. "Oh, I slept at 1 AM after watching the fireworks."
"No wonder..." Blank began to calm down again; at least his mind was clear now. Blank looked at Boyka to break the ice.
"How much longer is the flight, sir?"
"About another 2 hours."
"Oh, right, sir, do you have a wife?"
"Oh... why ask that?"
"Just curious, sir."
"Not yet."
"Huh? How old are you now, sir?"
"34 years old."
Blank tried to find another conversation topic. Only one sentence crossed his mind.
"What's your type of woman, sir?"
"Don't know."
"Hmm... Is that so."
"Maybe a female teacher who's a bit tall and somewhat curvy."
(Curvy?) Blank scratched his cheek. "Huh... Hahaha, so you still have your own taste, sir. That's the taste of a real man."
"Hey, you dare to tease your elders."
Blank covered his mouth slightly with a fist. "Ah... or maybe you actually have someone in mind already?"
Boyka pretended to cough. "Stop it." Blank giggled.
The situation began to change with just a small thing, until the journey finally ended. Now, the plane had landed at Chean City A Airport. Everyone disembarked and retrieved their luggage.
After getting their belongings, Miss Erna ordered comfort taxis. Viera saw a bakery on the left side of the road. "Miss Erna, let's buy bread first." Miss Erna accompanied Viera to buy bread. The vendor smiled.
Some time passed until finally taxis began to arrive. They all got in and sat on comfortable, plush seats. (Woaah! So this is how rich people live.) Blank stroked the car's smooth seats.
The taxi began moving. The journey revealed many towering buildings with modern architecture. After some time, the taxi finally stopped at an inn called 'Casandra Hotel'.
Blank and Viera's team entered the hotel. Blank walked through the grand lobby decorated with a Christmas tree and the greeting 'Happy New Year 2026'.
Blank bit his lip, but Viera's team remained calm and looked professional now. Unlike Blank, who wore a shirt, only Viera was in a sweater. They entered the elevator going up.
The elevator doors opened on the 47th floor. A large single-floor space was combined with several restrooms and bathrooms. The size of the main room was like two basketball courts combined. (Crazy, is this a private place?)
Blank glanced to the left. There, three people were checking shooting equipment. (Ah, those must be my colleagues later.)
On the right, a child accompanied by a well-dressed woman was watching a brand model video on a wide, thin TV. (If that's the child artist named Emma and her manager.)
A bodyguard taller than Boyka, though with a smaller build, came out of his room. (Ah, that must be Mr. Leon.)
Their arrival was glanced at by everyone. Blank became the center of attention, but not with the warm gaze he imagined.
"Welcome, Team Viera." Greeted the well-dressed woman who was previously with Emma. "Thank you, Miss Lauren, and Team Emma," answered Miss Erna.
Meanwhile, the woman checking the camera whispered to her friend. "Is that the rookie guy who was suddenly recruited?" One of them answered, "Probably. People who can get in without hard work are very uninteresting." The woman clicked her tongue. "I don't like privilege."
Lauren addressed them, "You can rest first. Later, we'll have a brief briefing about this collaboration at 6:00 PM, and dinner at 7:00 PM."
Viera approached Blank. "Kaelan, over there is the media team. I'll leave for a moment. Can you handle it?"
Blank turned. "Of course, Viera. It's fine."
Viera smiled, then invited her manager to go to the room for a while to rest. Blank also visited the friends who would be his team from now on.
Blank smiled and waved. "Good afternoon, everyone."
"..."
Blank paused for a moment. (Was my way of greeting wrong?) They answered, "Oh, hello, yes."
Blank moved his fingers. "Ah, right. My name is Kaelan. I—"
The woman answered, "My name is Lirie. The one with curly hair is Navas. The one wearing the hoodie is Robert."
Blank nodded and smiled. "Alright, nice to meet you all—"
"Alright, go to your room and sort out your huge amount of luggage."
Blank fell completely silent. None of his teammates' gazes spared him a glance. "Alright, thank you. See you all later."
Blank walked away to his room. He placed the suitcase and bag on the floor and sat in front of them. Slowly, he unzipped them; equipment like cameras, tripods, and lenses became visible.
Blank leaned his body against the wall. (It seems it won't be easy.)
Blank spent his time testing some equipment to make sure they functioned properly. "Testing, testing." Microphone, okay.
After some time, the clock finally showed 5:50 PM. Blank immediately returned to the central room for the briefing. He sat on the sofa accompanied by the three people who would be his teammates.
After some time passed, the two managers finally arrived, carrying a laptop and a pointer for the presentation.
Emma and Viera also came with their bodyguards watching over them. They all wore home clothes but remained polite, comfortable, and warm.
The large screen in front began to show colors. Lauren began explaining, "Alright, this is our workflow for the next 7 days."
Blank paid serious attention. He finally realized that:
[The NGNL Collaboration Event Viera x Emma Begins]
Night with moonlight began to show. The full moon was now a few days from being complete. The densely populated city still had many vehicles stuck in traffic jams even now.
At the same time, in an apartment, a tall man entered his room. He turned on the light, and several posters of artists were displayed.
His steps halted when he saw one large poster depicting a girl with long brown hair and bangs. The man smiled looking at it.
The tall man opened his phone and looked again at a message from someone a month ago.
[From Miss Erna. Hello, sir...]
The man held his own neck, raising the corners of his lips.
"I can't wait." He looked at social media and then began typing a name. Slowly, the name became clear: 'Viera'.
The man smiled and began looking at the posts one by one, each like already red. The man bit his lip and did only one thing.
Tap.
[Liking an Already-Liked Post]