Chapter 20
“Let’s go.”
The place where Max stopped the car was an alley close to the apartment.
They moved straight to the apartment entrance. He and Ellen sat on the bus stop wooden bench.
[He said this was the only way out of the apartment.]
Thanks to the information received in advance, he knew the make and license plate of Yu Wi-Gang’s wife’s car. However, there was always the chance she might leave in her affair partner’s vehicle or on foot.
Waiting and keeping an eye on the entrance was the safest bet.
[If there’s no sign of her for too long, I’ll check if she’s still in Yu Wi-Gang’s home.]
Since he knew the address, there were plenty of ways to find out if it was empty.
Bzzzt!
A message from Yu Wi-Gang said he was leaving the house for work.
Max let him know their location, told him to pretend not to notice them as he passed by, and put his phone away.
“Oppa. Are we just gonna just wait here until she comes out?”
“Right.”
“The night breeze is so cool; it feels amazing~”
Ellen, who had tagged along under the pretext that tomorrow was the weekend, looked like she was having fun.
She had been excited during the car ride, calling it a Night Drive, and Max found it fascinating that a Person from a Magic Noble Family could find joy in such trivial things.
“There goes our Customer.”
“Ah! You’re right.”
Yu Wi-Gang drove past, glancing repeatedly in their direction.
This meant Max and Ellen’s work was starting now. They needed to sharpen their focus.
They spent time letting buses pass by one after another.
Ellen, wearing her hood pulled up, broke the silence.
“I just don’t get it. Why cheat after going through all the trouble of getting married?”
“Who knows.”
“Oppa, your reaction sucks. Aren’t you even curious?”
“The reason for the affair isn’t something I need to figure out. It’s not included in the request.”
“Hmm~ So it’s strictly business, huh.”
Max agreed with Ellen’s sentiment.
If asked whether he was curious or not, he leaned toward being curious, but he had no intention of digging deep to find out.
“Most things just give you a headache the deeper you dig, so it’s best to keep it as simple as possible, especially with this kind of work.”
“Oppa, you must be a bit soft-hearted. Or do you just have no room to care?”
“Both.”
Ellen blinked at Max, who answered without a hint of hesitation.
“What’s this? If you’re a Mercenary, shouldn’t you deny it here? It’s a field where you get eaten alive if you’re soft.”
“I’m of the mind that bluffing won’t even get you your money back.”
Max curled up the corners of his mouth and pulled a Lollipop from his pocket.
He gave one to Ellen and popped his into his mouth.
It was a chocolate flavor with a thick Sweetness. It was a good sign.
“What flavor did you get, Ellen?”
“Ta-da~ Orange. Since I’m the one eating it, this candy is now more expensive than a diamond.”
She could have just said it, but Ellen went out of her way to show him.
It was an attitude so absurd it brought out a laugh.
The waiting time wasn’t boring; it seemed like a good thing she had come along.
“If we put that candy up for auction, we could even buy an office.”
“You bet! With this one thing, we could buy a building in District 3 and still have change left over.”
They were passing the time exchanging this fruitless banter.
Vroooom!
A vehicle coming out of the apartment caught their eyes.
A woman is sitting in the passenger seat, touching up her makeup.
It was the exact same face as the wife in the photo Yu Wi-Gang had shown them.
“Oppa. You just saw that, right?”
“Yeah. Let’s get to the car.”
It took only a moment for the two to return to the alley where the rental car was parked.
They immediately boarded the vehicle and stepped on the accelerator.
“I’ll tail them, so Ellen, take a picture of their license plate with your phone and send it to me.”
“Let’s gooo!”
He drove quickly, following the road.
He spotted the vehicle stopped at a traffic light. He quietly pulled up behind it.
Click!
Having finished taking the picture, Ellen turned the camera around.
She switched to selfie mode, capturing herself and Max on the screen.
“What are you doing?”
“Hurry up and smile. It’s to commemorate making a request of me.”
When Max, holding the steering wheel, awkwardly raised the corners of his mouth, Ellen took the picture looking satisfied.
It was an energetic tension that was hard to believe for the middle of the night.
“I sent you the picture I just took, too. Keep it as a Family heirloom for generations to come.”
“Thanks to you, the value of my phone just went up.”
“Ahaha! Oppa, we’re finally speaking the same language! That’s how you should act!”
Inside the car, Ellen was as excited as if they were speeding down a racetrack.
Contrary to the mood, the vehicle couldn’t drive very fast.
“Why are there so many traffic lights here?”
“It’s a good thing for us. It makes our job easier.”
Taking advantage of the stopped vehicle, Max briefly wrote down the details and sent them to Yu Wi-Gang along with the photo.
The place they entered after tracking the vehicle carrying Yu Wi-Gang’s wife was an outdoor shopping complex.
[Arcadia Garden]
Someone confirmed that Yu Wi-Gang’s wife was moving with another man in the parking lot and was even taking a picture.
Max and Ellen got out of the car and began to tail them.
There were many people around, so the chances of being caught seemed low.
“Ellen, don’t do anything that stands out, just in case.”
“My beauty shines even when I don’t do anything, so what am I supposed to do?”
“…Pull your hood down low.”
Max felt his energy drain at her enviable level of self-love.
“You didn’t just think I was being annoying, did you?”
“We’re going to lose them. Follow me.”
“Ah! At least answer me before you go!”
The outdoor Shopping Mall, Arcadia Garden, transformed into an entertainment street called Luminous Avenue after 10 PM.
Here, establishments ranging from ordinary bars to Sensory Sharing Clubs, Hookah Bars, and Zero-G Clubs opened their doors.
Max and Ellen continued their pursuit, keeping a reasonable distance from their targets who were slowly browsing the shops.
“Looks like those two are going to have a drink here before they go.”
And so, they went further in.
The deeper they went inside, the more people they saw enjoying their Friday night.
“Phew! Why is the air so stuffy in here? Is this all District 20 has to offer?”
When Ellen flapped the hood she was wearing to fan away the heat, the eyes of the drunkards gathered on her.
Sticky gazes that even Max, who wasn’t the target, could feel.
“Ellen, do you want to wait in the car?”
“Pretty girls are used to these kinds of looks. Didn’t you know?”
Ellen giggled as if she didn’t care at all.
Relieved, Max kept his eyes on the targets and warned her.
“If anyone approaches and tries to hit on you, don’t hit them or roast them. I’ll Handle it somehow.”
“You’re telling me not to draw attention. I have at least that much Discretion.”
Then, Ellen stuck close to Max and linked arms with him.
“What are you doing?”
“Aren’t you supposed to fake your identity when doing this kind of request? This is how you get other guys to drop their stares.”
“…Suit yourself.”
“Why? Is your heart pounding? Being stuck to a beauty like me makes your heart feel like it’s going to burst, right?”
Max didn’t answer and kept his gaze nailed to Yu Wi-Gang’s wife.
He knew that if he entertained these jokes, she would only do it more.
“Shh. They went in.”
Max pulled Ellen along and headed toward the establishment the targets had entered.
[Aqua Vita]
A bar that vividly recreated the underwater world with holograms.
The dim yet blue light, like looking up at the sky from deep underwater, put the mind at ease.
An Employee approached Max and Ellen.
“Table for two?”
“Yes.”
“I will show you to your seats.”
When the Employee moved to lead them in the opposite direction of their targets, Max spoke up.
“Could we sit over there? My girlfriend has sensitive ears, so it’s hard for her if we’re close to the speakers.”
“Ah, of course. You may sit wherever you’re comfortable!”
They sat in their desired seats.
It wasn’t far from Yu Wi-Gang’s wife. She was sitting side-by-side at the Counter with a bulky man.
─ Since the weekend is free anyway, we can take our time…
─ And that outfit you mentioned last time…
Ellen whispered to Max, who was listening closely to their conversation.
“Oppa, you’re totally immersed in the role too. I was surprised when you called me your girlfriend.”
“Didn’t you say we’re supposed to fake our identities for this kind of request?”
“No, that’s true, but… I didn’t expect you to bite the bait so easily.”
“It’s not every day I get the chance to act as the lover of someone so noble. You gave me the opportunity, so I took it.”
Max drafted a message to Yu Wi-Gang and handed the Smart Menu Board installed on the table over to Ellen.
“Order the cheapest alcohol. We’re not going to drink it anyway. As for food, it doesn’t matter what you order.”
“I don’t drink alcohol anyway, so don’t worry. I’ve never even tried it. Oh! Fruit Cheese Crackers!”
“Come closer.”
“Huh?”
Max stuck close to Ellen and, pretending to take a picture of them, captured Yu Wi-Gang’s wife and the man on the screen.
Ellen’s smile had turned awkward, rarely for her.
“Oppa… at least tell me what you’re gonna do before you do it…”
“Ellen, aren’t you a bit too weak at ad-libbing?”
“I don’t know! Move out of the way so I can order!”
While Ellen cleansed her palate with just the snacks, Max continued to eavesdrop on the conversation.
Given that they were seen badmouthing her working husband, Yu Wi-Gang, and exchanging obscene remarks, it seemed certain that an affair was occurring.
[It’s no use if I’m the only one who’s certain. I need more definitive proof than this, evidence that can be kept on record.]
It was just a shame that Max’s equipment couldn’t isolate and record only their conversation from over there.
Besides, this wasn’t a good place to dish out punishment either.
[They’re leaving.]
Max confirmed the two were leaving and stood up from his seat with Ellen.
The pursuit continued.
“Look at how those two are walking. They’re completely swallowed up by the booze.”
Just as Ellen said, the targets' gaits had changed due to intoxication.
And so, their next destination.
[Hotel Pink Quartz]
Max quickly photographed the two of them entering the Hotel.
And that was the moment he tried to follow them inside.
Ellen unlinked her arm and grabbed his clothes.
“O-Oppa… are you s-seriously going in?!”
“Of course. I have to ride the Elevator with them to check which floor and room they’re in.”
Saying her companion could stay here if she felt uncomfortable going in, Max headed inside the Hotel alone.
Ellen gritted her teeth and looked around.
There were no particular gazes paying attention to them.
“Ah, seriously…! You have zero delicacy!”
After hesitating for a moment, Ellen followed Max and entered the Hotel.