Chapter 35 - 6.7 : Miss Aiza
The outing finally began. They toured the city throughout the afternoon, but Al simply stood at a distance, completely uninvolved and not once invited to enjoy any part of the tour.
The group visited several urban landmarks, cultural museums, and art galleries, followed by lunch at a five-star restaurant.
In the evening, the trip continued to an elite shopping center.
As before, Al didn’t walk at the front with Nayala or the Valendra family, instead trailing at the very rear, grouped with the guards. Some mall visitors even mistook him for a teenage assistant or junior aide since he wasn’t wearing a standard bodyguard uniform.
Al didn’t mind.
To him, being in the shadows allowed him to observe everything—with a clear head.
At least I don’t have to deal with annoying stuff, Al thought.
As evening approached, the group arrived at the heart of the city—right in front of the sparkling, towering Aria Plaza Mall. A massive shopping complex with ultra-luxury zones, it was owned by one of the most influential global companies in the world: Aria Group. Its facade gleamed like a giant crystal, and every visitor had to pass through high-level security screening.
Wearing clean, casual attire, Al gazed at the mall. He recognized the logo and interior design. Familiar. But he kept it to himself.
Ahead of him, several Valendra family members—who had treated him like an extra all day—suddenly spoke up.
"Hey, kid! Watch your step—this isn’t a street market!"
"Bet you’ve never even been to a place like this, huh?"