296 The Red Lotus Lounge (3)
As Erik stood on a corner, observing the VIP room, he noticed how the two intimidating guards blocking his way were armed and alert. Erik knew that trying to force his way in would be futile and would likely result in Achim and his girlfriend being whisked away to safety.
The young man quickly assessed the situation and ruled out the option of creating a dangerous diversion, as he did to enter the club, knowing that the guards would likely rush inside the room to protect Achim and his girlfriend if he caused a commotion elsewhere in the club. It was clear that the guards were highly trained and wouldn't be easily fooled.
Erik knew that he needed a more subtle approach to gain entry to the VIP room and confront Achim.
He took a step back, his mind racing as he considered his options. He observed the guards closely, noting their movements and patterns.
He noticed that they were vigilant and focused on the entrance of the VIP room, but occasionally, they would glance towards the bar as if checking for any trouble.
This made him think about something: the building's blueprints clearly showed that behind the counter, there was a passage to the kitchen, and from there, there was a corridor leading to many rooms, among which the VIP room where Achim and his girlfriend were located.
This meant that Erik only needed to enter the kitchen, and from there, he should head to the VIP room. The problem was that Erik could clearly see from the cameras that at least two people were in the kitchen, plus at least four other servers were bringing food and drinks to the many rooms.
However, thanks to the system, he should be able to get past them unnoticed.
The only problem was that he needed a plan to sneak inside the kitchen from the bar.
Quickly, he had an idea: Since many people were using their weird brain crystal powers there, using his wasn't a problem at all. Given that a band was currently playing music, the best thing would be to take advantage of the situation.
He quickly headed toward the bar and placed himself near the entrance while channeling his mana into Logan's power. As soon as the dart was ready, he hid behind a barrel and soon threw the dart at the singer. The man on stage was in the midst of his performance.
But as he belted out the chorus of the song, he suddenly faltered. His voice cracked, and he clutched his neck, a look of confusion crossing his face. The stinging pain in his neck intensified, and he tried to shake it off, but it only grew stronger.
The man was confused; he felt the pain in his neck, but there wasn't anything on his skin. Suddenly, he started feeling the foreign mana spread and tried to fight it. However, the man was not that powerful; he probably joined the army for some time, but since he was not that strong and was more interested in music than fighting, he wasn't skilled enough to get rid of it.
The singer's movements became sluggish as the foreign mana spread through his body, and his voice trailed off. He stumbled, lost his balance, and fell to the ground, his limbs going limp. He lost the battle against Erik's mana and started getting paralyzed. The audience gasped, their attention immediately drawn to the singer's plight.
At first, some of the clubgoers assumed it was part of the performance, but soon it became clear that something was wrong. The music came to a sudden halt as the singer's band members rushed to his side, trying to revive him. The crowd murmured with concern, and whispers of confusion rippled through the room, and all the gazes focused on the man.
Amidst the commotion, Erik discreetly slipped away from the scene, blending into the crowd, his presence unnoticed. He knew that the diversion he had created using his mana had effectively drawn the attention of everyone in the club, allowing him to move without raising suspicion.
He quickly went behind the counter while the bartender looked at the singer, unaware that the young man had just entered the door and gone inside the kitchen. He did this at the right moment since he was looking at the kitchen through the cameras, but he had to pay attention now since someone was surely looking at them in the control room.
<System, send a loop video to the control room while I'm here, behind the main room, and after I'm out of the club, delete everything they may have recorded until now.>
[UNDERSTOOD. SENDING LOOP VIDEO.]
With that, Erik was sure he wouldn't be found out quickly. The problem was that the guards could find out about the loops. The best thing to do would be to stop them once he left the room, so things would seem normal. That was what the system was going to do anyway.
Erik found himself in the bustling kitchen of the Red Lotus Lounge, where there was a flurry of activity as chefs and kitchen staff hurriedly prepared meals for the club's patrons. The aroma of exotic spices and sizzling ingredients filled the air, but Erik had no time to be distracted by the culinary delights.
He glanced around the room, quickly spotting the two chefs who stood between him and the corridor that led to the VIP room. The chefs were engrossed in their tasks, chopping vegetables and stirring pots, and their attention was focused on the food in front of them.
Erik knew he had to be careful, as any wrong move could alert the chefs to his presence and jeopardize his mission. He assessed the situation by observing their movement patterns and the kitchen layout. He noticed a narrow gap between the counters that led towards the corridor, but it was a tight squeeze.
Taking a deep breath, Erik stealthily made his way toward the gap, carefully avoiding the bustling staff and hot cooking surfaces. He moved with cat-like agility, keeping his footsteps light and his body low to avoid drawing attention.
As he approached the gap, Erik's heart raced. He knew he had to time his movements perfectly to slip through without being noticed. He waited for a moment when the chefs were preoccupied with their tasks, and the gap was momentarily clear.
With a swift and fluid motion, he slipped through the narrow space as soon as the opportunity came, his body brushing against the counters as he moved. He held his breath, praying that he wouldn't make any noise or bump into anything that would give him away.
The chefs continued their work, seemingly oblivious to Erik's presence as he emerged on the other side of the gap. He had made it through, but his heart was still pounding in his chest. Erik now found himself in the corridor that led toward the VIP room.
The place exuded an air of opulence with its rich golden and red color palette, which evoked a sense of elegance and extravagance. The walls were adorned with ornate wallpaper in deep shades of red, embellished with gilded accents that caught the flickering light from the dim sconces lining the corridor.
The corridor was wide, allowing for a smooth traffic flow, as the staff members needed it to move with haste. The plush carpeting underfoot was a deep crimson red, muffling footsteps and adding to the lavish ambiance of the club.
Along the corridor's length, several doors led to various VIP rooms and offices. These doors were intricately designed with gold trimmings and handles, adding to the overall regal aesthetic of the corridor. Each door had a small, discreet nameplate indicating the room's purpose, but the details of what lay beyond remained a tantalizing mystery for even the workers.
Only Erik knew what lay ahead since he could see inside the room through the biological supercomputer.
The lighting in the corridor was deliberately subdued, with strategically placed golden lamps casting a warm, inviting glow. The walls were adorned with framed artwork featuring abstract and contemporary pieces that added a touch of modernity to the otherwise classic decor.
As one walked down the corridor, they would catch glimpses of the club's inner workings through open doors or partially drawn curtains. The faint hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the distant music melody created a symphony of sounds that added to the club's atmosphere.
Despite the allure of the VIP rooms and offices, the corridor itself was a destination of its own.
Its lavish design, with its golden and red hues, evoked a sense of exclusivity and sophistication, making it a focal point of the club's ambiance despite being accessed only by a few selected people and the workers. It was a place where secrets were whispered, deals were made, and intrigue lurked in every corner, adding to the allure and mystique of the Red Lotus Lounge.
Erik knew he was getting closer to his target but couldn't afford to let his guard down. Through the cameras, he noticed a waiter walking toward the kitchen, so he had to get the hell out of sight soon.
He moved silently, trying not to make any sound that could alert any staff members or security personnel that might be in the adjacent rooms. Quickly, Erik reached a bathroom, which he knew was empty, so he entered and observed the waiter from the security system getting past the door and entering the kitchen with an empty tray.
As soon as the man was out of range, the awakener sneaked his way to the end of the corridor, where he knew the VIP room, in which Achim and his girlfriend were located, was.
As he approached the VIP room door, Erik heard muffled voices coming from inside. He knew that Achim and his girlfriend were in there, and time was of the essence. He needed to act quickly and decisively.
Erik carefully tried to open the door without alerting the two people inside. He slowly pushed the door open, peering into the VIP room. He saw Achim and his girlfriend sitting on a sofa, seemingly unaware of his presence, and sipping champagne. He knew that he had to act quickly before they could react.
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