Maverick (Blank)
Chapter 35: NGNL Collaboration Event (9)
[Hello, good morning, everyone. My name is Novan.]
Novan smiled warmly at them while waving his hand in a friendly manner.
Lirie's cheeks flushed. "Whoa, this time he's fresher." Robert and Navas waved. "Nice to meet you, Novan."
Novan put his hands together. "Nice to meet you all. Sorry I'm late; there were issues before coming here."
Erna approached. "It's alright; it was also very sudden." Erna extended her hand. "I'm Erna. Welcome to the NGNL Collaboration Event."
Novan shook her hand. "Haha, yeah, it's fine. I understand."
Novan gave a smile to everyone at the Villa. He also looked at Leon and Boyka. (So, there are only two defense variables, huh.)
Blank stared at Novan and held his chin. (I feel like I've met him before, but where?)
Erna turned to the team. "Alright then, we'll be heading to Lake Logano soon. Novan will be taking us."
Novan nodded. "Of course. Let's all get ready for the lake, everyone." Everyone began preparing their equipment.
Novan went outside for a moment, waiting in front of the road. He took shelter under a large tree big enough to keep him out of the sunlight.
(This seems like it will be difficult, but luckily it was handled earlier.) Novan glanced toward the Villa briefly and muttered to himself again. (Now, let's see how they behave with each other.) Novan furrowed his brow. (If killing the team here was allowed, it would be easy, but unfortunately, it's not.)
---
Meanwhile, inside the Villa, Emma was heard shouting, "WHAT DO YOU THINK, MISS ERNA, MISS LAUREN? ISN'T THAT A GREAT IDEA?"
Blank and Viera covered their faces with reddened cheeks.
Lauren approached. "But, Emma, if we proceed, we're short one character."
This was the debate before everything happened. There had been many changes since Emma came down from the second floor this morning. Earlier...
[7:30 AM]
Emma came down the stairs and then shouted loudly. "BROTHER KAELAN AND SISTER VIERA WERE HUGGING!"
Everyone was startled to see Emma. Lauren tilted her head. "What did you say, Emma?"
Emma stood in front of them all. "Earlier... earlier Brother Kaelan said something, then Sister Viera cried, then Brother Kaelan hugged her tightly."
Blank and Viera came down together and also shouted in unison.
"Wait, that's not true!" they both said.
"IT'S TRUE! THEY WERE HUGGING LIKE IN A DRAMA, BUT IT WASN'T ACTING!" Emma protested.
"Wait, Emma, that's a misunderstanding." Blank began approaching Emma; Viera also came with Blank. "It wasn't like that, we were just..."
The two became the center of attention again.
Erna scratched her head, her eyes sharp. "Oh dear, what's going on again so early in the morning?"
Miss Erna approached Blank. She spoke with a heavy voice and a flat face. "Kaelan... do you know the law?"
Blank swallowed his saliva, cold sweat dripping on his forehead. "Are you ready for jail?" Miss Erna threatened.
(NO!) Blank was scared half to death.
"NO!" That wasn't Blank's voice.
It was Emma's voice, shouting reflexively upon hearing Blank could be sent to jail.
Emma shouted reflexively and then fell silent as all eyes in the Villa turned to her. Emma thought hard, trying to be a genius again at this moment. (I have an idea.)
"Emma wants to say that Brother Kaelan has a talent for acting." Erna and Lauren furrowed their brows. "What?"
"Emma saw it; Brother Kaelan could fit into a film frame."
Lauren approached. "But Emma, the script is already prepared, and there are only characters for Emma and Viera."
Emma shook her head. "No, no." Everyone fell silent, confused. Emma tapped her small foot on the floor, trying to remember something. Finally, she remembered.
"There's another character. Anna is the younger sister. My older sister has a partner, and it just so happens they met in the village, right?"
Lauren bent her knees. "Yes, but we at least need to find a more famous character. We can't just pick anyone, Emma."
"What's wrong? Brother Kaelan is handsome too!"
Blank blinked rapidly. (What kind of situation is this?)
Lauren: "But Emma, in that scene, there also needs to be a villain. That means we need to find one more person, and there's not enough time."
"Mr. Boyka can do it." Emma pointed at Boyka. The bodyguard blinked quickly.
Lauren held Emma's shoulder. "No, that character is slim, somewhat tall, with a messy look. It will be difficult because we currently don't have anyone to fill that role."
"Well then, quickly confirm with the company, Miss!" Emma was enthusiastic.
Erna approached. "But Emma, it's not that easy."
Emma thought again. What should she do to make Miss Erna agree? Her eyes fell on Viera. "Then, Sister Viera, do you want Brother Kaelan to be your on-screen partner for the recording later?"
Viera was startled, but there was no other choice. Blank wasn't at fault, and this all needed to be resolved quickly. "I agree."
Erna turned. "But Viera..."
Viera looked at Erna. "I will discuss it with Ms. Kiki."
Erna fell silent and sighed heavily, turning her face toward Blank.
"Kaelan, are you brave enough to take responsibility?"
Blank's legs weakened. Actually, his body still hurt to move, but this was the only way. "I will take responsibility."
Erna clicked her tongue, taking a long breath. "I will contact the superiors. Emma's team and I will discuss first." Her eyes glanced sharply at Blank. "As for you, Kaelan..."
"Only if it's approved," Miss Erna said flatly.
Blank swallowed his saliva with a rapidly beating heart.
---
Time passed. In Viera's room, the four of them had now opened an online meeting with the superiors. Blank sat in the center with his hands constantly moving.
On the right, a mustached man with a large build sat. "Hello, Emma." Her father waved, and Emma did the same.
On the left, a woman with blonde hair wearing a white blazer sat on a black chair. "I don't understand this, Viera." Viera swallowed her saliva. "Ah, it's like this..."
Viera and Emma explained what happened and told the story to the two company owners who were collaborating. After 10 minutes passed, everyone reacted.
Emma's father raised his eyebrows. "That's impossible."
"How can a stranger enter the frame? At minimum, we need a famous person to attract attention," said the owner of the advertising media company.
Kiki Axela just watched with a flat face, showing no interest at all.
Emma pleaded with both hands pressed together. "But Dad, really, he's the one who made Emma so happy here. He's handsome and tall enough, and his body is athletic too!"
Emma's father tried to suppress his smile seeing his beloved daughter pleading with him. "Ah, but Emma... It will be difficult for Dad later..."
Viera watched Emma, who kept trying to convince her father. Now she had to as well.
"Ms. Kiki, I dare swear, that person will be very suitable for our current game character."
Kiki brought her hands together in front of her chin. "Experience?" Viera answered, "He has won the annual village role-playing competition 3 times."
Kiki moved the corner of her lips. "Village?" Viera nodded. "Karao Village." Kiki paid attention, her gaze focused. (Karao? I've heard of it from Robenson.)
"Describe him."
Viera began explaining. "His name is Kaelan, 18 years old. He's the cameraman I hired back then..." Viera explained while Kiki tried to remember something. (Kaelan? Why does that not sound familiar?)
"Bring him in," Kiki interrupted Viera's words.
Viera's heart beat fast. This felt like pressure on her, and for sure, this situation could cause bigger problems.
"Alright..." Viera said nervously.
Viera opened the door, and Blank was seen sitting waiting, his gaze fixed on his own feet.
"Kaelan, come in. Ms. Kiki wants to meet you."
His legs trembled, but he forced himself to stand. "Y-yes..." Blank said in a low voice.
Blank entered the room. He prepared himself and put on an enthusiastic face to fulfill his responsibility.
Erna took a chair. "Sit down."
Blank sat right in front of the screen showing two important people with intimidating stares, making him even more nervous.
Emma, seeing Blank nervous, began thinking. She would perform one final act.
"Look at my handsome dad. This brother's face is handsome, right? Just like Dad when he was young. It fits the character," Emma persuaded.
Emma's father observed. "Yeah, it's quite fitting actually. It suits, but he's not famous, Emma."
Blank remained silent, staring at the screen. There was no warm smile on his face even though he tried to keep smiling.
Viera tried one last time to persuade Kiki, who was still staring sharply. Viera said, "Ms. Kiki, his acting is good. He's also very skilled at getting angles, so the recording can definitely be maximized. The character's clothing also fits because it's a village person character like in the game."
Kiki's hands came together again in front of her chin. "Introduce yourself."
Blank's hands trembled; he forced his voice out. "My name is Arion Kaelan... I'm 18 years old. I have experience playing characters and can process camera—"
"Hmm, that's strange," Kiki interrupted Blank's sentence. "Here it says Arion Kaelan D. What does the D stand for?"
"Sorry, my mistake. My name is Arion Kaelan Davea. I..."
As Blank stated his name, Kiki's hand covered her smiling mouth. (So it's true.)
Kiki Axela tried to close her eyes briefly to regain professionalism. She smiled, and as Blank finished his introduction...
"You seem like a fairly suitable person. I see your talent. Do you agree, Mr. Kawa?" Kiki asked Emma's father.
"Ah, but that—"
"Don't worry, we will increase the budget to spread the advertisement more widely."
"Master, if that's the case, then we need one more person to fill the villain character. What should we do?" asked Miss Erna.
Kiki smiled. "I leave that to you, Erna." Erna's face paled, and Lauren patted her shoulder.
"Arion Kaelan Davea."
Blank was startled. "Yes...?"
Kiki smiled at the camera that had previously been very cold toward him. "A good name."
Blank's heart felt like it stopped beating. His body stiffened, his lips were silent as a thousand words, Kiki left the meeting, and so did Emma's father. Now it meant Blank was officially an actor in the advertisement, not just a cameraman.
---
On the other side, Kiki, in her office, leaned back. "Oh dear, how could he be there?" A large door opened from outside. Someone in a red jacket with a hat approached her.
"Hey, Ms. Kiki, I haven't even rested for a day, and you're giving me another mission." Kiki chuckled softly. "Sorry, Demma, but this is very important."
Demma scratched her right leg with her left foot. "So? What is it this time?" Kiki turned her face away. "Protect Viera."
Demma moved her right foot in circles on its tip. "Alright, just that?" Kiki smiled with a reddened face looking at a plate with the name Leonardo.
"One more thing. Protect Leonardo's child." Demma turned her body. "Ok... Wait, who?" Kiki giggled. "The child of the number one agent from the first generation. His name is Arion Kaelan Davea."
Within seconds, Demma appeared in front of her with a dropped jaw. Only one sentence came out of her.
"Buy the ticket now."
---
Back to the present, Miss Erna was still trying to think of a suitable character for the villain. The script was already prepared because at some point this would be advertised anyway, but it was accelerated by Blank's current actions.
Viera walked and looked toward the window. She watched Novan leaning against a tree with the wind brushing his hair.
"Miss Erna, I think I've found someone suitable for the last character."
Erna tilted her head. "Who?"
Viera pointed at Novan. Erna remembered something. She opened the profile data of Novan that had been shared earlier.
[Novan, Acting Experience, Won 2x Theater Competition, Won 1x Best Acting Alexia School, etc.]
"You're right, Viera. This is the solution."
Erna waved her hand and called Novan, who was leaning against the tree. "Novan!"
Novan turned around. His steps headed toward the Villa, asking why he was being called.
"Yes, what is it, Miss Erna?"
Erna, with sparkling eyes, stated something. "Didn't you win many acting competitions?" Novan fell silent. (She's right. The real Novan had many acting achievements.)
Novan smiled. "You're right, Miss Erna. What is it?"
"This is very much needed. I beg you, there's no one else." Novan raised his eyebrows. "What is it?" Erna began to open her mouth. One sentence reached Novan's ears, and his body instantly froze.
[Can you fill the villain character?]