Tracked

After lunch, Ophelia made the decision to part ways with the guided tour.

"It's clear that the tour guide knows something about the Pearl, but he's not willing to share it with us," Ophelia shared with her team. "We'll have to uncover the truth on our own."

Angus nodded in agreement. "I propose splitting into two teams to maximize our search efficiency. One team can explore the marine museum mentioned by the guide, while the other team investigates the library for any old newspapers or records about the Pearl."

"Your plan seems like a solid starting point, Angus," Ophelia praised. "I'll join your team. Given the question you asked, there could be potential danger, so Lindley, Nixon, and Irvette, are you comfortable forming the other team?"

"No problem, but I'm more intrigued by the marine museum," Irvette responded.

"Same here, Irvette!" Nixon chimed in. "I'm an Ecology student, and marine museums are right up my alley."

"Very well, I'll go with you two," Lindley stated, adjusting her glasses. She had no particular preference between the two options.

Before they split up, Angus distributed SIM cards to each of them. "Make sure to insert these into your phones so we can stay in touch in case of emergencies," he reminded them. Observing the slight bulge in their pockets, he had anticipated that everyone had brought their phones along.

"Where did you get these, Angus?" Ophelia was surprised; she hadn't noticed Angus obtaining the SIM cards, nor had she even considered the idea.

"Ophelia, communication is crucial," Angus said, shaking his head. "I saw a convenience store by the beach that had all sorts of items for sale. I purchased five SIM cards with basic plans at a reasonable price. The kind lady over there covered the cost for me." He glanced at the generous woman who had provided him with food and drinks, and she returned his gaze with a warm smile.

Ophelia found herself momentarily at a loss for words. She couldn't deny that Angus had a certain charm and appeal, but she hadn't expected this advantage to be used so effectively...

"Alright, let's head to the library then," Ophelia told Angus. "Remember, if you encounter any danger, reach out to us. I'll do my best to respond as quickly as I can," she reminded the other three.

---

On their way to the library, Ophelia's heightened senses allowed her to perceive the presence of hidden individuals.

Although Angus couldn't sense them, he anticipated their presence and was unfazed when Ophelia informed him.

"Let's act as if we're completely unaware of anyone behind us," Angus advised. "Don't turn around, as that might trigger an immediate attack."

Ophelia kept a brisk pace alongside him, hoping to confound those who were trailing them.

"You seem quite knowledgeable about this. Have you experienced being followed before?" Ophelia inquired.

"Well, yes," Angus replied with a brief pause, choosing not to elaborate.

Recognizing his reticence, Ophelia refrained from pressing further. She considered the various scenarios in which someone might be followed in reality and understood that some things were best left unasked.

"They're still in close proximity," Ophelia warned when they finally arrived at the library.

Suddenly, Angus took hold of Ophelia's hand. "Let's pretend we're a couple. It will confuse them and divert their attention."

Ophelia was taken aback by the sudden intimacy.

"Honey, you mentioned wanting to find out if the ocean water here has beauty benefits," Angus spoke loudly. "I think the library might have the answer you're looking for."

Although Ophelia felt embarrassed, she followed Angus' lead. "Thank you, dear."

Once inside the library, Angus hastened to the old newspaper section, while Ophelia perused the area with makeup and beauty books...

"Honey, I've heard that mermaids have incredible skincare secrets. I'll head to the newspaper section to find relevant articles," Angus announced loudly, earning a few irritated glances from fellow library-goers. He then whispered near Ophelia's ear, "The tall man wearing white earphones at the leftmost window and the slender girl using a pink smartphone near the women's restroom are the two individuals who were following us. Their behavior doesn't match that of typical library users."

"Understood," Ophelia acknowledged. Though she found the two people's behavior only slightly odd, she trusted Angus's judgment.

As Angus swiftly sifted through relevant news articles, Ophelia made her way toward the women's restroom, the one that was closer to Angus' location.

As she walked by the slender girl Angus had pointed out, Ophelia purposely lost her balance and exclaimed, "Ouch!"

The slender girl immediately turned her attention toward Ophelia and, hesitating for a moment, extended her hand to help her up.

"Thank you so much!" Ophelia gripped her arm. "You're truly kind. My back is hurting quite a bit now. Could you assist me to that chair over there so I can rest?" She gestured towards one of the chairs farthest away.

The tall man, having observed the situation, exchanged a few quiet words with the slender girl before making his way over to where they were.

Ophelia realized that their intention was likely to ascertain if Angus was indeed searching for the Pearl of Sirenia, and their actions might escalate once they confirmed it. Seating herself, she let out a sigh. "My memory failed me. I forgot to take some tissue papers from the restroom."

"I can help you with that," the slender girl replied with a hint of impatience.

Seizing the opportunity as the girl moved, Ophelia promptly contacted the library security. "Hello, I've noticed a suspicious man stationed near the entrance of the women's restroom on the first floor. I suspect he might be trying to harass me. I'm the woman using the pink smartphone."

The security personnel responded swiftly, having been stationed near the library's entrance. He quickly reached the restroom after taking an escalator.

"What is your purpose here, sir?" the security guard inquired upon encountering the man described on the phone. Turning to the slender girl, he asked, "Are you all right, madam?"

The situation was resolved within a short span of time, though it consumed about 15 minutes.

Once they had assured the security that all was well, Angus had relocated to a different part of the room, while Ophelia remained engrossed in her beauty magazines.

"Damn it, it would be much simpler to evacuate them both," the man muttered. "Why waste our time monitoring a couple of ordinary tourists?"

"We need to release them if they're unaware of the Pearl," the slender girl responded. "Our presence is merely a precautionary measure to confirm they're not after the Pearl's power."

Unknown to them, Ophelia manipulated the air between her and the two individuals, creating an invisible channel through which their voices were transmitted straight to her ears, resembling a telephone's mechanism. Every word of their conversation reached her ears.

Why are they attempting to find out those pursuing the Pearl of Sirenia? What's the significance?

As the two moved closer to Angus again, Ophelia received a text message from Angus: "Done, let's leave."

Immediately standing up and feigning a yawn, Ophelia moved toward Angus.

"Honey, I'm getting a bit bored of the library. How about we go find something more exciting to do?" Ophelia addressed Angus in a raised voice.

"Absolutely, my dear," Angus responded, slipping the relevant newspaper into Ophelia's backpack.

Exiting the library, they crossed paths with the two individuals. Ophelia offered the slender girl a gracious smile, as if expressing gratitude for her earlier assistance, while Angus paid them no attention.

Stepping away from the library, they hastened to a safe location to share information.

"They've left," Ophelia reported. "Probably concluded we pose no threat to them."

Angus commended Ophelia on her adept acting. "You performed even better than I anticipated, Ophelia."

"Well, I've had to put on performances at work to please my boss on occasion," Ophelia admitted. "But I appreciate the compliment."

Angus then led Ophelia to a nearby karaoke center. He booked a room and cranked up the music to its maximum volume. Ophelia was impressed by his level of professionalism in setting up this protective environment.

"Now we can share my findings safely," Angus declared, retrieving the newspaper from Ophelia's bag. The headline read, "Pearl of Sirenia Found Missing."

Delving into the details, the news revealed that the Pearl of Sirenia was valued as an entire kingdom and had once belonged to the Queen of Estoc, the former ruler of the Mermaid Land. With the Pearl's power, she had attracted numerous mermaids to inhabit the country, eventually transforming it into the world's premier tourist destination and renaming it the Mermaid Land.

However, the Pearl went missing around ten years ago, coinciding with the day of the Queen's reported demise, a detail mentioned in small print below the headline.

"Is there any information regarding the Pearl after that date?" Ophelia inquired.

"Regrettably, no," Angus responded. "I covered the most recent news and went back up to twenty years prior. There were occasional articles on the Pearl of Sirenia preceding that date, mostly lauding the Queen and promoting the Mermaid Land as an unparalleled tourist attraction. Strangely, after that specific date, no further mentions of the Pearl surfaced."

Ophelia was taken aback by Angus' ability to comb through two decades' worth of newspapers in just fifteen minutes, but her focus returned to the matter at hand. "I overheard one of them talking about needing to eliminate those seeking the Pearl's power. Could the Queen's death be linked to its power?"

"It's a possibility. The news claimed the Pearl was what drew the mermaids to the area. But despite the Pearl's disappearance, the mermaids remained in the Mermaid Land. I'm starting to question if it truly vanished," Angus pointed out a discrepancy.

While they were deep in discussion, Ophelia's phone buzzed with an incoming SMS.

"SOS." It was a distress message from Irvette.

"Goodness, they're in trouble," Ophelia exclaimed, rising from her seat.