CHAPTER 197: CHAPTER 196. WICKED WONDERLAND

"Ah..." Andrew felt his heart drop to his stomach. He kept his eyes on Noah’s retreating back to avoid reflexively glancing at the host manager. "Uhh..."

The arm around Andrew’s shoulder tightened. "What’s wrong, our dear idol?"

"The...the truth is..." Andrew tried not to gulp, hoping the manager didn’t hear his drumming heartbeat.

Could he really do this? He did want to be an actor to extend his career path, but it wasn’t like he had an excellent acting ability--especially not in a situation full of tension like this. Would it be better if he just came clean and asked these people to spare him?

"Senior Noah..." Andrew gulped very carefully, dropping his voice into a whisper. "I brought him here to impress him."

Ah, screw it! Ahn Noah was right--there were scarier people out there than a bunch of gangsters selling drugs to celebrities.

"Oh?" the manager raised his brow, pulling away slightly. "Are you planning to go into acting?"

"Y-yeah! He said he’ll introduce me to people in the industry if he’s satisfied. You know how important it is to have the backing of a senior, right?" Andrew said quickly in a whisper, relieved that the hand grabbing his shoulder was loosening up. He glanced at the manager and smiled sheepishly. "So...can you help me? I know you don’t show the advanced stuff to newcomers, but..."

The manager let go of Andrew’s shoulder. "Hmm...I’m not sure..."

"Oh, please?" Andrew clasped his hands, using the face he used to get his fans screaming. "I’m sure he’ll buy a lot! Besides, isn’t it good if he’s satisfied and comes again next time? Please?"

"Hmm..." the manager narrowed his eyes before glancing at Noah on the other side of the room. "Well, fine. Just for you."

"Oh, thank you, Hyung!" Andrew let out a sincere, relieved smile.

The manager scoffed. "Make sure you spend a lot too."

"Don’t worry about it," Andrew raised his thumb and grinned, no longer looking like a jumpy rabbit.

"Bring more people once you become an actor, okay?"

"You can count on me!"

The manager snickered as he turned away, probably thinking about more people he could rip off and blackmail in the future. But it wasn’t Andrew’s business; his business was to find Jasper and make sure the boy’s face got recorded in his hidden camera.

He turned away and walked to a different side from Noah, who was probably telling him to go separately so they could record as much as possible. Andrew looked around, walking from table to table to look for Amber’s half-brother. He made sure to walk slowly before each table so the cameras captured the faces and the drugs scattered around the table, but as he walked further without finding Jasper’s face, Andrew started to get worried.

What if Jasper hadn’t come yet? They did deliberately come late, but what if the boy came even later?

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Huh?" Andrew almost jumped in surprise, but fortunately, it was just one of the guests--another idol just like him. Seemed like he was still sober, unlike the others. "Oh, I’m looking for someone, Senior."

"Who?"

Andrew scooted closer to the person. "Do you know where Lee Jasper is?"

"Huh? HS Group’s youngest?" the senior idol arched his brow. "Why?"

"You know I’m sponsored by someone, right?" Andrew whispered to the senior idol. "It’s his sister, so..."

"What, so you’re trying to get the family’s approval? Are you trying to marry or something?" the idol cackled, slapping Andrew’s back as if the younger man were a comedian. Perhaps he wasn’t as sober as he looked. It was dark anyway. Fortunately, this person was rather useful. "That way," he pointed to where a loud clapping sound and a different kind of music were playing. "Good luck!"

Andrew went to the commotion while the senior idol was laughing, teasing him loudly about retirement plans or whatever--but what does he care? Andrew had a mission and no leeway to mind any teasing.

On the other side of the large hall, Noah also did his own recording while listening to the manager rambling about the stuff they were providing. He was still amazed that the camera on his necklace did not give away any light even in this dim place. Truly a dangerous piece of technology.

"...and all the alcohol and the entertainment are included within your invitation fee," he registered the manager’s words. "Just for you, Mr. Ahn Noah, we’ll include a newcomer benefit and give you some free samples."

Noah stopped near a table, where the people around were too busy to even notice them. "You mean these candies?" he scoffed at the small colorful pills and powder scattered on a tray in the middle. "I thought I could have something nice and interesting here, not those over-the-counter stuff."

The host manager arched his brow high before chuckling quietly. "I’m sorry, Mr. Ahn; I was under the impression that you were a beginner. Please follow me."

Noah maintained a skeptical expression while following the manager deeper inside the venue, where the booths got separated by tall screens and made the whole section look like a maze. He tapped the sunglasses perched above his head, making sure the mapping function ran as it should.

Before long, they arrived in front of the bar, which functioned more like a pharmacy for illegal substances. It was no longer samples on a tray, but inside a secured case; from pills to vials, they seemed to provide everything.

Quite sophisticated, these dealers. Perhaps because their clients were celebrities, or maybe they were serious about trying to one-up the Circle’s dealers.

"How about it, Mr. Ahn?" the host manager asked, observing Noah’s haughty face.

"How disappointing," the actor said coldly.

"Yes? Where do you find it--"

"How come you never extend your invitation to me?" Noah shot a sharp gaze toward the manager, who could see his pupils widening and shaking slightly. "To think I had to receive one from a mere rookie."

"My deepest apologies," the manager bowed, hiding his deep smile beneath the curtain of his hair. "We’ll make sure to invite you privately next time. Would you like a table to try them?"

"Obviously," Noah clicked his tongue. "How much can you provide this night?"

The manager curled his eyes. "Ah, that would depend on your offer, Mr. Ahn," he lowered his voice as if it were a big secret. "We prepared a lot for the party, but we still want to make sure everyone can enjoy what they want equally. Of course, we can give special privileges to a generous guest."

"Hmm..."

Noah narrowed his eyes, as if contemplating. He glanced at the case, and slightly behind the counter. Special privileges or whatever, the fact that they were willing to sell large quantities to a newcomer meant they had brought all of their stash into this party to sell as much as they could.

Exactly what the person who had been ordering Sol around thought.

"Show me how much you can spare and I’ll make my offer," Noah said, wiping his lower face once before pointing at the one catching his attention. "This one is new, right?"

Noah had received a crash course on the drugs that had been circulating from Sol before this mission, and that one was not included within the lesson. He should get the information about that since he was already doing this.

"Of course," the manager nodded and told him about the drug’s effects while signaling to the staff member behind the counter to get the inventory. "That being said, I don’t recommend buying so much at once, Sir."

Noah frowned. "Because of the goods? Or the payment?"

"Unless you bring cash right now," the manager shrugged.

"Hmm...you’re right about that," Noah stroked his chin, looking understanding but still clicked his tongue in annoyance. "What a pickle. But..." he glanced at the manager with slightly raised brow. "Surely you have a way for that?"

"Surely," the manager smiled widely, explaining what method of payment the clients could choose so it wouldn’t get detected on his account while walking Noah to a secluded table in the corner.

Noah merely hummed and nodded while the manager kindly gave away their illegal method. Was there no suspicion on their side, or were they being desperate because of the parent group’s situation?

It didn’t take long before the drug was delivered to the table in a plush case as if it were jewelry or something. Noah, who had been acting bored by propping his cheek against the armrest, moved his palm to cover his mouth slightly; enough for the manager and the staff member to see him discreetly licking his lips behind his fingers. His fingers, which had been resting on the other armrest, fidgeted slightly as if he wanted to reach out to the table and snatch the packaging.

His trembling lips whispered so quietly as his mind tried to fight an old demon. "It’s been a while."

The manager’s eyes glamed while he leaned down to the actor. "Would you like to try, Sir?"

Noah took a deep breath, gulping quietly. "Before that," he shook his head slightly, tearing his gaze from the table abruptly as if restraining himself, turning his head to the manager instead while rubbing his ear. "Do you also...have something to be used on another person? The... untraceable one."

"Ah," the manager laughed inwardly--this actor was more wicked than he thought. He whispered in Noah’s ear. "We don’t talk about that here, Sir. But...maybe if you buy a lot--"

"So you have it?" Noah interjected impatiently, eyes slightly widened and shaking.

"Ahem," the manager pulled away and cleared his throat, smiling apologetically.

The man always looked like an epitome of health due to his reputation as an action-specialized actor, but no one really knew, huh? Perhaps the mysterious past that his agency had been protecting was the fact that he used to be an addict--the manager snickered inwardly.

Noah looked like he had finally snapped out of it because of the manager’s remark. He looked flustered for a second before fixing his expression, returning it to his haughty attitude. "Just keep this for me first until we do...ugh, whatever you told me earlier. I’ll take what I can for tonight."

"Of course, of course," the manager smiled brightly. "Would you also like something to drink?"

"Yeah," Noah leaned back, glancing at the table like someone looking at his old lover. "And where’s that junior who brought me here?"

"Andrew? Should I tell him you’re looking for him?"

"Yeah, you do that," the actor nodded, didn’t even look at the manager anymore, and just kept rubbing his ear while chewing the inside of his dry cheek.

On the other side of the room, Andrew was also rubbing his earring. To be exact, he was rubbing his new earring, which came with the rest of his outfit that morning. It was a signal that he had seen Jasper and got the boy in his camera; signalling to Noah that his mission was over.

He was wondering whether he should go look for Noah or not when the host manager suddenly tapped his back and told him that Noah was looking for him. The man even praises him for bringing in a good customer.

"As a thank you, I’ll spare you tonight," the manager muttered when Andrew was about to walk away.

"Huh?"

The man just smiled and patted his shoulder lightly. "Don’t worry about it."

"Oh, okay. Thank you, Hyung!"

Andrew hurriedly went to the spot the manager told him, and felt his earring vibrating just as he arrived at Noah’s table.

"Senior!" Andrew gasped in surprise, before whispering while clasping his ear. "What is this vibration?"

"It means they’re already on the move," Noah replied while standing up.

"H-huh?" Andrew blinked. "W-who?"

With a shrug, Noah replied lightly. "The police, of course."