(Arc 2 : Blood and love )

"And, you are ?" The man asked.

"What is he doing here?" Kaelan wondered.

"Bai Hao Ming. CEO of Jade Shielding. Unfortunately, I don't have a business card with me. Mr. Monroe and I were supposed to meet to discuss a project, but I've been delayed. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important, Mr. Monroe."

"Ah? Uh, yes. I mean, no. I understand you had a last-minute appointment."

Kaelan was still confused by Hao Ming's sudden appearance. But, he managed to play along. The middle-aged man, who was vaguely familiar with Hao Ming's business, doubted the veracity of this "appointment". But since he saw that the situation might become unpleasant for him if he insisted, he pretended that it didn't matter and let Kaelan and Hao Ming go.

"Xiè xie (*Thank you)."

The painter thanked Hao Ming, so he was the only one to hear.

"Bié kè qì (*It was nothing or you're welcome)."

Kaelan and Hao Ming sat down to talk in a small salon downstairs.

The painter stay silent, deep in thought. It was the first time they'd seen each other in two weeks.

"Who was that unhealthy-looking man? He looked about the same age as my father." Asked Hao Ming.

"A collector. I helped him buy some art some time ago. He also bought some pieces from me. Even though we didn't see much of each other, I always felt uncomfortable in his presence. There are also some unpleasant rumors about him. Fortunately, I've never been alone in a room with him. But what about you? What are you doing here? Did you come to see Nienrao?"

"No, I had a meeting with a client earlier in the day. Then I stayed with the hotel security teams."

"I see..."

The atmosphere was a bit heavy. They didn't know what to talk about to lighten it.

"Ash tells me that you and Altaha are staying at the Turquoise for the weekend. Are you having a good time?"

"Yeah, we're having a good time. Gwen is resting... You know, you don't have to speak formally to me. Nienrao has no problem that."

Hao Ming took a few seconds to think.

"I'll... I'll try."

Again there was a blank. After a few minutes, Hao Ming stood up.

"I should... leave you. You must be tired."

"Ah? Uh, all right."

"Have I ever had so much trouble talking to someone?" Kaelan asked himself.

Just as the painter stood up, his phone vibrated. He had received a message from Gwenval. He answered quickly, but when he started to put the phone down, Hao Ming stopped him.

Kaelan gasped and stared at the young man in front of him. He wasn't looking at him, but at his phone with great attention.

"Is something wrong?"

"Your phone lock wallpaper, it's..."

"My wallpaper?"

The painter turned on his cell phone again. When he looked at the lock screen again, he immediately understood why Hao Ming had reacted this way and smiled. The picture was a fresco of a woman whose features were barely recognizable. White birds were flying out of her mouth. Hao Ming took out his phone and showed the painter his screen, which showed a similar fresco. The birds on both paintings were almost identical, proving that it was the same artistic style.

"Do you know Helm?" Asked Hao Ming excitedly.

Kaelan was pleasantly surprised. Hao Ming was showing him a different side of his personality. The young hacker realized that he had deviated from his usual behavior and tried to control himself, but it was too late. Kaelan laughed.

"I got carried away, I'm sorry. It's just that I don't meet many people who know this artist. You're one yourself, so there's nothing wrong with you knowing him."

Hao Ming didn't know where to put himself.

"Don't be embarrassed. I like his work too. As an anonymous artist, he paints what he likes without having to explain himself. Because he paints in places that have lost their luster or in abandoned buildings, he doesn't risk being accused of defacement."

"Exactly! A lot of people love what he does. Some places have even been renovated and are now frequented again thanks to his works."

Stars shone in Hao Ming's eyes. He could talk about Helm for hours.

"What a fanboy" Kaelan laughed.

"Why is a white hat¹ such a fan of this artist?"

Hao Ming showed him his wallpaper again.

"I took this picture about a year ago. When I first saw it, I was fascinated. Naturally, I wanted to know more about the artist. I did some research and discovered his name: Helm. Then I came across more photos of his work, and before I knew it, I was monitoring social networks to see if any new photos of his creations had been posted. He rarely posts himself, but a lot of people have created blogs about him. Discussing about his style and theorizing about who he is or what he's going to do next.

"Oh, he has such a large community?"

"Yes, he does. His frescoes are like talismans for some people. Myself included..."

Kaelan laughed at the remark.

"Did it ever occur to you to... you know... hack into his account to find out his identity?"

"The idea crossed my mind at first, but I didn't do it in the end. If he's staying anonymous, it's probably for a good reason. Whatever his identity, I've decided to wait patiently for Helm to reveal himself of his own free will. And if that doesn't happen, that's fine. Even though I want to know as much as anyone else, it's his work that I value the most."

"Mmm..."

Kaelan began to imagine how Hao Ming would react if he saw Helm for real. Would he become like Ashlay when he is with Gwenval?

While he was lost in thought, Hao Ming approached the painter. Kaelan stepped back slightly, embarrassed.

"You're red. Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

The painter looked at the clock in front of him and decided it was time to leave. He said a quick "goodbye" to Hao Ming and then went to his room without giving him time to add anything. On the way, he felt his heart beating faster and faster.

The young genius had greeted the painter without insisting, but he had found it strange that the latter had left so promptly. Had he said or done something out of place?

___

In Nemesis, one fight followed another, and the prize pools fluctuated.

There was also an event going on in the owner's office.

Handshakes, big smiles, briefcases full of money and signed documents.

Tonight was a big step forward for the fight club. The owner had just signed a partnership with an influential group that would allow him to open more "Nemesis" in the rest of the country, and even the rest of Asia.

"I hope we'll be working together for a long time. Send my thanks to your boss." The owner said happily.

"He'll pay you a visit as soon as he returns to South Korea."

"And if there's anything else I can do for you, please don't hesitate to let me know."

The group of men in black suits got out of the Nemesis and divided into two identical cars. In the first car, sitting in the back seat, was the most influential of them all. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, boss. It's done. [....] No, it wasn't hard to convince him. Once he saw the money, he didn't hesitate for a second. He would have sold his family to us if we had asked. [...] Everything is going according to the plan. I'm sending you the list of the fighters. As you predicted, many of them need money quickly. We'll start by going to those we have information on. For those who come for other reasons, we'll do our best to convince them. Some are very difficult to approach. [...] As for the new cargo, it arrived safely. The customers are delighted."

Soon after, the man in black hung up. He picked up a large rectangular envelope from beside him and took out several documents. It was a list of all Nemesis fighters since the opening. Dark Angel was listed as one of the best fighters. Apart from his nickname and the money he'd won so far, there was no other information.

____

Saturday and Sunday went by very quickly. Gwenval and Kaelan had been able to make the most of Turquoise without being disturbed by people who might have recognized them. Shin Ha Ri also felt like he was on vacation. The artists, who now thought of him as a little brother, didn't want him to stand on the sidelines like a security guard and had integrated him into their activities. Upon hearing this, Ashlay became very jealous of his secretary. But it didn't last long. Today he would finally be able to go out with his beloved musician.

In the early evening, Ashlay had come to pick up Gwenval from his recording studio. After offered him with a pretty red rose, he drove him to a fancy French restaurant on the outskirts of the city.

Upon arrival, they were greeted warmly and escorted to their table. Like a gentleman, Ashlay pulled out a chair for Gwenval, then sat down in front of him. Without delay, a waiter brought them the menu and wine list. Gwenval declined the alcohol list and asked for a house cocktail. When they'd made their selections, the waiter left for the kitchen.

"You don't like wine, Gwen Gwen?"

"I drink very little alcohol in general. I even avoid soju."

"Why ? Is there a special reason?"

Gwenval grinned.

"To tell you the truth, I'm not much of a drinker. Apart from a few cocktails and beers, I prefer to avoid it."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"How about you ?"

"I'm pretty good with strong liquor. I have a fondness for whisky. And, don't worry, I know my limits. Most of the time I drink with Hao Ming or at home. Oh ! By the way, Hao Ming knows how to make cocktails perfectly. He knows how to measure out the right amount of alcohol for each person."

"That's interesting to know... By the way, I can see that you two are very close. How long have you known Bai?"

"Since high school. He's my first real friend."

"Didn't you have friends in Thailand?"

Ashlay paused for a moment. He hesitated to answer.

"Actually, I don't remember much about my life there before I moved to South Korea."

"What does that mean?"

" Today, I go back to Thailand regularly to visit family or friends I met a few years ago. But when I was nine years old, I had a serious accident that killed my father. When I woke up, I was in a hospital in this country, and three months had passed. I had no memory of my life or who I was."

____

Glossary:

1. White hat: a hacker who uses his skills to find and strengthen vulnerabilities in a computer system so that malicious hackers can't get in.