(Arc 1 : The raven and the dragon) 

Hao Ming didn’t waste a second. As soon as he sat down at the desk, his fingers began dancing swiftly across the keyboard. Soon, several windows opened, revealing files, videos, and blueprints. He also turned on the projector and used it to display the surveillance footage that Gwenval and Ashlay had watched the night before.

Gwenval, curious about the full extent of Hao Ming’s skills, glanced at the screens. The left screen displayed a detailed floor plan of the Seoul Arts Center, meticulously representing every room and corridor. The central screen streamed surveillance footage. The screen on the right displayed a list of the guests and staff present that evening. A program ran, analyzing data in real time.

Suddenly, a sound chimed from the computer, and the message “All match” appeared on the middle screen, followed by another list of names.

“What does that mean?” Gwenval asked, intrigued.

“Before you arrived, I used facial recognition software to cross-check the faces of those who were supposed to be there with those appearing in the surveillance footage, along with the employees’ schedules. In short, my program scans the faces of everyone who should have been present and spots any intruders.” Hao Ming explained.

Was this even legal? How had he accessed all that information? Gwenval felt both impressed and uneasy.

“So, “all match” means there are no intruders?” Ashlay asked.

“Exactly. The third list that just appeared includes delivery workers, chefs, and other people who came to the center but left quickly. They weren’t there when the concert started.”

“Only musicians and staff had access to the dressing rooms…”

Gwenval began, deep in thought.

“… The person who wants to hurt you is part of one of these two groups.” completed Ashlay.

“You managed to sneak in, so anyone could have entered my dressing room.”

Gwenval gave Ashlay an accusatory look.

“Don't look at me like that. Last night, I sadly didn’t know who you were. And, honestly, if I wanted your attention, I wouldn't have used such an extreme method.” Ashlay defended himself.

“I can confirm that.” Hao Ming cut in, pointing to the images where the culprit appeared. “That man's build doesn't match Ash's. We can also assume the culprit knows the building well. Ash had never been to the Seoul Arts Center before the concert. Another important point is that we were busy preparing and competing in an automobile tournament. Unless I’m mistaken, Ash didn’t have time to add “plan a bloody plot against Altaha Gwenval” to his schedule. Even if he had hired someone, it definitely wouldn't have been to commit a crime.”

Hao Ming turned to Gwenval with a faint smile.

“ And I have known each other for a while. He doesn’t like sneaky conflict. He would have come straight to you to settle things.”

He’s more hotheaded than a manipulator hiding in the shadows. Gwenval concluded.

Though he was still cautious, the idea that this “help” might be a trap in disguise was fading.

The musician pulled a USB drive from his pocket and handed it to Hao Ming.

“These are the videos from my recording studio's cameras.”

Hao Ming thanked him, then plugged the USB in. After reviewing a number of clips, they spotted a masked stranger who was often seen around the studio, even when delivery workers were passing through.

“He wanted to see your reaction…” Hao Ming noted.

“Gwen, Gwen, are you thinking of anyone in particular?”

“No.” Gwenval replied, shaking his head. “I haven't had conflicts with anyone. I've only been around for a few years. Attacking me isn't worthwhile.”

“Another musician who finds you inconvenient?” Ashlay suggested.

“That's my guess, too. But I haven’t interacted with many Korean musicians lately.”

While Gwenval and Ashlay were discussing, Hao Ming launched a program that compared the stalker’s silhouette to the guests and employees at the Arts Center. The program also cross-checked the results with the studio footage.

Three minutes later, a new list of names appeared on the central screen.

“One of these people is the culprit. Do you know them?” Hao Ming asked.

“Only by name. They’re influential artists, but I’ve never really interacted with them. I only met some of them for the first time last night.”

“It would take too long to visit them one by one without tipping off the real culprit…”

Ashlay fell into deep thought.

“Hmm… This weekend, I could host a reception at the Turquoise. We can invite the people on the list of suspects as well as other artists to avoid arousing the suspicion of the culprit.”

“What if some can't make it?” Gwenval asked.

“From the videos, the person after you always seems to be nearby to watch your reaction. At first, they stayed in the shadows, but now they’re becoming impatient and aggressive enough to risk exposing themselves to reach you. Since last night’s attempt failed, they won’t pass up the chance to try again. I’m sure they’ll come. The question is, what kind of event should we hold? What do you think, Gwen Gwen?”

Gwenval thought for a moment. The Turquoise was one of the most chic hotels in the city. He wasn’t used to performing in such places, so it would be better to find someone who fit the setting. Ideally, they should also help catch the stalker. Suddenly, someone came to mind.

“Would an exhibition work?” he asked Ashlay.

“An exhibition?… Yes, that could work.”

“I have a friend who'd be happy to help and could easily bring some pieces to the hotel this week.”

“Perfect! I’ll tell my mother so she’s aware of the situation. She can help us, too.” Ashlay continued.

“You can also count on me and my bodyguards for security.” Hao Ming added.

The trio agreed to set the date for the following Saturday. An event centered entirely on Gwenval would limit the culprit’s options. However, if the main attraction were an exhibition and the musician were just an attendee, there would be less public attention on him, making it seem easier for the culprit to approach.

By around 1 p.m., they had finished discussing it. Hao Ming had an appointment in the afternoon, so after seeing Gwenval and Ashlay to the elevator, he left to prepare some documents. Ashlay had temporarily taken on the role of Gwenval's bodyguard by mutual agreement. The young man insisted on accompanying the musician and watching out for any signs of the stalker.

“I could take you to get something to eat.” Ashlay suddenly offered.

“Skipping steps already?” Gwenval asked wryly.

“No—No—It— it’s not dinner. Nothing special. I just thought you might be hungry.” Ashlay stammered.

“I'll have to pass. I’m going to see my painter friend to discuss the exhibition plan with him.”

“Alright…”

“Hao Ming is quite the character. I thought people like him only existed in movies or worked for the government.”

“That was nothing for him. He can access any system and do far more than just pull data. He created Jade Shielding to counter high-level hackers like him and to find someone who can match him… He loves testing his skills.”

“Hmm… interesting.”

Did Ashlay have unique talents like his friend?

The elevator stopped on the tenth floor. As soon as the doors opened, a large group of people stepped in. Ashlay imagined the scene : With the sudden crowding, Gwenval would have to step back quickly and end up pressed against Ashlay, who would shield him from those in front. Of course, this was only in the young businessman’s imagination. In reality, Gwenval sidestepped a few people and ended up on the opposite side of the elevator, in the back. He had imagined the same clichéd scene, but he had no desire to live it.

Where he was, he could see the disappointment on Ashlay’s face, which secretly amused him. He smiled faintly and adjusted his glasses. Ashlay felt as if someone had played a trick on him. Still, he continued to admire the musician’s face from afar, forgetting everyone else in the elevator.

Despite his assurance in his flirting abilities, Ashlay discerned that Gwenval wasn't really the type of person interested in relationships.

Later, once in the car, Ashlay entered the address Gwenval had given him into the GPS. The first few minutes of the drive were silent. Ashlay kept his eyes on the road, trying not to be distracted by the divine being gazing out the window, on his right.

“I’ll be back working at my studio starting tomorrow.” Gwenval said calmly.

“Don't you think that's risky? What if the culprit—”

Ashlay stopped mid-sentence, realizing what Gwenval intended.

“He probably thinks I got scared when I stopped coming. But my presence at the concert must have infuriated him. If I go back to the studio as if nothing happened, he’ll get furious, become reckless, and eventually slip up. At least, I hope so…”

As he listened to him, Ashlay noticed again that Gwenval seemed afraid of nothing. After some research, Ashlay found that in public, Gwenval appeared talented, elegant, and incapable of harming anyone. People instinctively wanted to respect him, protect him, and see him smile. But Ashlay now saw that this was only one side. The musician had a fierceness and presence that wouldn’t allow anyone to walk all over him. After all, what's a rose without thorns? Ashlay found this duality incredibly attractive, which made him even more curious to get to know Gwenval.

“And you’re not afraid he’ll use more extreme methods?” Ashlay pressed.

“Let him try. Not only will his prison sentence be long, but I can’t guarantee that he’ll have full motor function afterward.”

Ashlay shivered. Gwenval had spoken so calmly. The person targeting him clearly had no idea who they were dealing with. Ashlay couldn’t wait to see what Gwenval was capable of.

After about twenty minutes, they arrived at a workshop outside the city center. There were no signs naming the place, but the mural covering the front made it clear that an artist worked there.

Gwenval thanked Ashlay for the ride, then stepped out.

“Gwen, Gwen!” Ashlay called.

The musician stopped and turned toward his car.

“Tomorrow, I'll pick you up at home and take you to your studio. It's safer than a taxi.”

Gwenval took out his phone and sent Ashlay his address. He smiled and greeted Ashlay before heading into the workshop.

As he left, Ashlay noticed a car parked across from the studio. He had the feeling he'd seen it before. In the end, he couldn't remember where this feeling had come from and concentrated on the road, heading for Orchid Prestige headquarters.