Chapter 496 - Days MMXXXV - MMXLIII

The filming crew stayed for an entire week. they mostly kept training and experiencing the life of hunters, but on the last day, they actually headed out to the goblin woods, with Martin, Amit, and Nobuo. Even Marcella went with them to provide medical support.

Such a strong guard was unnecessary for hunting a bunch of goblins, but apparently, both India and Hatta didn't want any possibility of the guests being injured at all.

Tihana kept her promise and didn't skip school. She tried really hard instead, earning few more good grades. I had no other choice, but to talk with Mika Sawamura to organize few days of a break for the students. She quickly got on board, since her staff was actually really tired of teaching and conducting research at the same time.

If I only knew that I was actually digging my own grave...

With the seven days passing the South Korean stars finally left, but another group was supposed to come shortly after them. The streamers also were on route to Ark, since they didn't need that much equipment both groups could do their thing simultaneously. For some reason Tihana really wanted them to meet and interact with each other.

I was worried her idolized vision of those people might meet with the ugly truth, and she will get hurt in the process. Rishi eased my nerves a bit when we had an opportunity to talk, as he brought me my new set of enhanced clothes. He reassured me that she is too smart to let some assholes hurt her and that she will see it coming before it happens. He really had a lot of faith in her.

The D-day finally arrived. Students got their two weeks break from school, and the Mission Man crew arrived. They had eight members as their regular squad. Two women and six men. Although this time was different, since the opportunity to promote was too big, they came with some quests.

A very famous girl group that took a whole of Asia by a storm - Sparkle. They had Eight members so it kinda worked for the show since the missions were conducted usually in smaller teams that had to compete against one another. The winners usually get prizes, and the losers punishment, although it was more about avoiding the punishment than getting the prize.

A whole crowd gathered on both sides of the portal to see them passing through from Dwarka to Arc.

Tihana was among them, looking at the idols with sparkly eyes, which was kinda ironic. The shooting was supposed to start on the next day, so I knew that if something was supposed to happen, it would be then. I had no idea though how terrible it would be...

I watched my fake daughter holding a smoking chicken in her hand, and observing the stars from afar. I was using 'Hide presence' to make sure I won't be spotted easily by her.

The group of people surrounded by bodyguards on one side, and by Wuxia's soldiers on the other, passed through the gate hall waving at people and smiling. The girls were incredibly beautiful, like dolls. the regular show crew on the other hand mostly wasn't. The guys were actually pretty ugly by my standards, but since they were comedians, their looks didn't really matter in their careers.

They were supposed to be funny, like the whole show.

After getting outside they were stunned by the view. The weather was always perfect in Arc, sun shining, sky blue, and a gentle breeze slightly cooling the skin. A mix of modern-looking buildings with few ancient ruins peaking here and there revealed itself before their eyes, and it was so unusual, that they all stopped for a moment.

Their first exposition to the local architecture got soon ruined by the reporters, yelling their questions. Those guys were still looking very silly with the notebooks in their hands and polaroids hanging around their necks.

They were always making me smile.

The crew had no other choice, but to keep pressing on, to escape further into the city, where the press would finally let them go.

Wuxia members led them to barracks, where they had rooms already prepared. Since they just arrived the whole day was free for them to get accustomed, and the shooting should start the next morning.

Tihana kept following them at a distance, too shy to come closer. She probably wouldn't be stopped by the guards if she did that thanks to the fact I was her fake father, so, despite the fact that Hatta gave them orders, they still wouldn't want to mess with me. But she didn't, she just was lurking and observing.

I had mixed feelings about that. On one hand, I was happy she wasn't engaging with them and putting herself into trouble, but on the other hand, I was annoyed by how shy she felt towards those people.

They were no different than her to me. Even the members of Sparkle, despite their ridiculous beauty. Tihana could also look like them if she had makeup on.

I caught myself advertising my own daughter to myself. I found it kinda funny.

When the whole group went inside, and Tihana, after hesitating for a long moment, finally headed towards Boris's place, I decided to also go.

I had to return tomorrow bright early and keep watch. I had no idea that I was actually pushing myself into trouble. If I knew I probably wouldn't do that, but I got tunnel vision on my fake daughter and her safety.

I really didn't want her to do something, that she would regret in the future. I guess I was being kinda overprotective. Something that I believe now was quite normal for an inexperienced parent, who just has his first child, and is kinda raising them alone.

I spent the rest of my time working with Sudarshana on the translation.

This period of time came to an end with 24 360 160 points remaining on my account, and 21 class points.