Chapter 52: Preparations For Concert
After getting properly dressed, Yerin and I head down to the underground garage.
Standing beside a sleek, dark SUV was Val. She was dressed in her pristine, tailored suit, standing at crisp attention with her hands folded behind her back. At this point, her level of dedication didn’t even surprise me anymore.
"Good morning, Val," I said with a smile. "Are you coming with us today too?"
"Good morning, Young Master Seth," Val replied, her voice back to its usual professional tone. "Outside the Fernando estate, your safety is my direct responsibility. Furthermore, given the recent sensitivity surrounding your Astral Soul, I must remind you not to use your reality-manipulating abilities in public under any circumstances."
"Got it," I nodded in understanding. "I’ll keep my hands in my pockets."
We climbed into the back seat of the SUV, and as Val pulled out of the driveway, I noticed four additional black SUVs pulling out alongside us, forming a tight defensive convoy around our car.
I leaned back against the leather seat, looking out the window at the motorcade. "Is all this really necessary just for a drive across town, Val?"
"It is entirely necessary, Seth," Val answered, calmly checking the rearview mirror. "Especially with you and Lady Yerin traveling together. You may not fully realize it yet, but simply being the heirs to the Fernando and Rothschild families makes you high-priority targets for hostile factions, rival bloodlines, and mercenary groups that would love nothing more than to see you dead."
"She’s right, Seth," Yerin added, adjusting her mask slightly as she looked at me. "You have to be super careful. I was kidnapped three separate times when I was younger. It was honestly terrifying."
Val let out a subtle, deadpan sigh from the driver’s seat. "That was primarily because, even as a child, Lady Yerin had a habit of sneaking past guard posts. Her stealth was so absurdly good that she regularly evaded top-tier Rothschild security teams."
Yerin rubbed her nose proudly, grinning behind her mask. "Hey, it’s a natural talent! I can’t help it if I’m sneaky!"
I chuckled, reaching over to squeeze Yerin’s hand. "Alright, alright. I’ll stay close to Val."
Twenty minutes later, our convoy arrived at the edge of the Capital, pulling up beside a vast stretch of plains that had been empty wasteland only yesterday.
I stared out the window, my jaw practically hitting the floor.
Huge construction cranes, heavy machinery, and swarms of workers moved across the field at unbelievable speed. A complex of sleek, modern concrete buildings had already been erected, and the framework of what looked like a massive, state-of-the-art open-air stadium was rapidly taking shape before my eyes.
"Surprised?" Yerin giggled, clearly enjoying my stunned reaction. "This is the true power of our family. Yesterday, this whole area was just dirt and grass. By tomorrow night, the world’s largest concert stadium will be standing right here."
I looked at the sheer speed of the construction, noticing subtle ripples of energy in the air around the heavy structural beams. ’Yep... the supernatural side is definitely helping out behind the scenes,’ I thought dryly. There was no way normal construction crews could build a world-class arena in forty-eight hours.
Val parked the SUV near the VIP entrance of the completed administrative building and turned around in her seat.
"Young Master, you and Lady Yerin should remain within this central building complex," Val instructed. "If you wish to step outside to the main stadium area, call me immediately. Lord Julian has assigned me to oversee the entire security perimeter for this concert. It’s a massive event, and we can’t afford a single vulnerability."
"Understood. Good luck with the security prep, Val," I said.
Val gave a polite nod before stepping out of the car to coordinate with the tactical teams stationed along the perimeter.
Once Val left, Yerin led me through the tall glass doors of the main building.
The moment we stepped into the lobby, dozens of staff members, technical crew, and venue managers recognized Yerin. They immediately straightened their posture and bowed respectfully as we passed.
"Good morning, Miss Nova!"
"Welcome, Miss Nova!"
"Good morning," Yerin replied.
Her voice was cool, dignified, and icy, the complete embodiment of her ’Nova’ persona once again. I noticed a few younger crew members looking slightly intimidated by her presence, instinctively stepping back to give her space.
Seeing that, I offered the nervous staff members a warm smile and a polite wave as we walked past. The contrast seemed to make them sigh in relief, and several crew members shot me grateful looks.
I leaned in close to Yerin, whispering near her ear. "Hey... are you really okay with walking around beside me like this? Won’t people start rumors?"
Yerin shrugged casually, maintaining her cool posture as she whispered back. "Honestly? I wouldn’t mind announcing to the whole world that you’re my boyfriend right now. The only reason I’m holding back is because I don’t want my family getting involved just yet. Besides, my core crew has been with me for years, they know better than to leak my private life."
I tilted my head, curious. "Is your family really that strict? Would they cause trouble for us?"
Before I could dwell on it, Paige’s chaotic, giggling voice chimed in my head.
[Oho? Strict parents?!] Paige cackled, sounding thoroughly entertained. [Seth, this is a classic webnovel trope! You should prepare to faceslap her overbearing parents, flex your supreme aura, and steal their daughter right from under their noses!]
I rolled my eyes mentally. ’Paige, stop reading trashy webnovels.’
Still, as I looked at Yerin’s relaxed face, a quiet resolve settled in my mind. If her family ever tried to come between us or force her into something she didn’t want, I wouldn’t hesitate to go completely overboard to protect her happiness.
As we walked deeper into the building, the scale of the production truly hit me.
Hundreds upon hundreds of staff members buzzed around like a synchronized hive. Stage engineers reviewed holographic blueprints, camera crews calibrated high-end broadcasting equipment, professional dancers rehearsed routines in glass studios, costume designers adjusted racks of glittering outfits, and security teams mapped exit routes.
All of this absurd, high-level effort... just for a single day’s concert.
’Man...’ I thought, genuinely awed by the sight. ’I used to think a concert was just a singer stepping onto a stage with a microphone. The amount of work that goes on behind the scenes is insane.’
My thoughts were cut short when Yerin suddenly stopped in front of a pair of double doors leading to a private command office.
"Sarah!" Yerin called out, her cool Nova persona softening slightly.
Standing behind a massive desk covered in schedules, tablets, and coffee cups was a sharp, stylish woman in her early thirties, wearing glasses and a crisp blazer. She turned around, letting out a long, exhausted sigh before her eyes locked onto Yerin... and then shifted squarely to me.