Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 77: A Stakeout

Aren and Daniel drifted back toward the main auditorium floor.The stage lights glowed faintly overhead while technicians continued adjusting equipment along the platform. From the center of the stage, Miu’s voice echoed once more through the hall.

"Alright, that’s good," she called toward the control booth. "Levels feel fine."

A man inside the booth gave her a quick thumbs-up.

Miu stepped down from the stage shortly after, brushing a loose strand of pink hair behind her ear as she walked toward them.

"Done already?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah," she replied, stretching her arms lightly over her head. "Everything’s good to go."

Aren nodded faintly.

That much he had already noticed.

"Let’s head out," he said.

The three of them began moving toward the lobby again, dodging the occasional stagehand as the preparations continued without them.

For a while, none of them spoke.

Aren’s thoughts remained on the backstage machine. And the guard standing in front of it.

Eventually he broke the silence.

"How long have you had Argent Shield as your protection agency?"

"Oh," she said lightly. "Not that long actually."

She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her hoodie as they walked. "They’re technically part of my management company."

Daniel tilted his head.

"Subsidiary?"

"Something like that," she shrugged. "My talent agency owns a bunch of smaller businesses. Event planning, media stuff... security too."

She nudged an empty water bottle aside with her foot as they passed one of the hallways.

"I didn’t start using them until after the Lorianne Festival incident."

Aren glanced sideways at her.

"After the incident?"

"Yeah."

Her tone stayed casual, but there was a faint hesitation beneath it now.

"Once the whole ’rupturing eardrums’ thing blew up online, the company said I needed extra protection. You know, crazed fans, stalkers, angry parents..."

She waved a hand vaguely.

"So they assigned Argent Shield to handle my security full-time."

Daniel frowned slightly.

"And before that?"

"Just normal venue security most of the time," Miu replied. "Sometimes a couple freelancers if I was traveling."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Why?"

Aren didn’t answer right away. His mind replayed the image of the machine beneath the stage and the vast amount of security at the venue.

"...Just curious," he said finally.

But Daniel caught the look in his eyes. For a moment, the three of them simply stood near the edge of the street as trucks continued flowing into the plaza.

He let out a slow breath before turning toward Miu again.

"Can you get me in contact with your talent manager?"

Miu blinked.

"My manager?"

"Or whoever’s above him," Aren clarified. "Someone from the agency who actually makes decisions."

Miu tilted her head as she thought for a moment. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Well... it’s not like I can just call them up randomly," she said. "Everyone’s running around like crazy right now because of the concert."

She shifted her weight before snapping her fingers suddenly.

"Oh."

"What?" Aren asked.

"There’s a meeting tomorrow before the concert," she said. "A small one. Mostly team leads from each group just making sure everything’s finalized."

"Production crew, stage planners, security... that kind of stuff."

Daniel folded his arms.

"So basically the boring corporate meeting nobody wants to sit through."

"Pretty much," Miu replied with a small grin.

Then she pointed a finger toward Aren.

"You could probably join that."

Aren’s brow lifted slightly.

"I could?"

"Yeah," she shrugged. "If I say you’re part of my personal security consultation or whatever, they won’t question it too much."

"I already do random things that they’d have to account for anyway," she smiled sheepishly. "This won’t be something new."

Aren nodded slowly before turning to Daniel.

"Hey."

Daniel looked over.

"What?"

Aren jerked his thumb back toward the auditorium.

"I’m going to stay with her tonight."

Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"With the idol?" he asked dryly. "Junior, people are going to start rumors."

Aren ignored the comment.

"If something happens again with her voice, I need to be nearby."

Daniel studied his expression for a second before his joking tone faded.

"Alright."

Aren nodded once.

"But I need you to do something."

Now Daniel looked interested.

"What kind of something?"

Aren glanced briefly toward the guards stationed around the building before lowering his voice slightly. "Stick around the area tonight."

"Stakeout?"

"Yeah."

Aren folded his arms.

"I want to know what’s happening inside that place when the show isn’t running."

Daniel’s brows furrowed slightly.

"You thinking about that machine?"

"I’m thinking about a lot of things," Aren replied quietly.

"So walk around the district tonight," he continued. "Check the perimeter, the loading docks, the backstage entrances. See if anything weird shows up after hours."

Daniel rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"And if I find something?"

"Call me."

Daniel pushed himself off the railing and stretched his shoulders. "Alright, I’ll do a few laps around the district and see if anything looks suspicious."

He glanced back toward the auditorium one more time.

"If something’s happening in there tonight," he said, "I’ll find it."

Aren nodded once.

"Good."

Daniel gave Miu a quick wave.

"Later, superstar."

"Bye!" she replied cheerfully.

With that, Daniel turned and headed down the street, disappearing into the flow of pedestrians moving through the evening traffic.

***

Aren stepped into the lobby of the Imperial Hotel once more, this time with only one guard on standby. The man noticed him and asked immediately.

"Why’d you come back?"

"Not sure," Aren shook his head. "She texted me telling me to come, you know how random she is."

The guard nodded like it was something he was used to before letting Aren through.

As soon as they got through the elevator, Aren lifted the Aqua Veil. Miu walked ahead and unlocked the door before stepping inside.

Aren stopped just outside the threshold.

"Well," he said, rubbing the back of his neck slightly, "I’ll just stay out here tonight."

Miu turned around.

"...Out here?"

"Yeah," Aren replied. "If something happens again I’ll be close enough to respond."

He gestured toward the hallway wall.

"I’ve slept in worse."

For a moment she simply stared at him. Then her lips curved into a small smile.

"You know," she said thoughtfully, leaning against the doorframe, "I’ve actually never had a boy over before."

"...What?"

Miu held the serious expression for exactly one second longer. Then she burst out laughing and lightly punched his shoulder.

"Relax, idiot," she said. "I’m joking."

Aren rubbed his shoulder as she stepped aside.

"Come in already."

"You’re literally hired to protect me, remember?"

He sighed under his breath but stepped inside anyway as the door closed behind him.

"Worst decision of my life."