As the pair reached the ground floor of the hospital, they could see through the glass doors to the entrance a plethora of flashing lights, as well as Jack's built form, who was already in front of the stand.
Guo was waiting on the inside. When he saw Kary and Alex, he rushed over to them, looking them all over, to make sure no blood or wounds were visible on their skin.
"You made a ss again, Mr. Leduc. Cleaning behind you is getting more and more frequent and exhausting. Learn so restraint, by the gods."
Alex sneered a bit.
"It's not like I went looking for trouble. They attacked us, not the other way around."
Guo glared at him from the corner of his eye.
"You know what I ant. Anyway. Let's not cry over spilled milk. You seem fine and presentable. I hope you have your part morized. Mr. Boudreau has already started the press conference.
"He had to when the threat of gunshots beca apparent. The distraction worked, and no one noticed the flashes coming from the sixth floor. But that also ans your turn is coming up sooner than expected."
Alex looked at him with a frown.
"No one heard the gunshots?"
Guo snickered.
"Mr. Leduc. This is a high-grade hospital, where privacy is paramount. The windows here are all bulletproof, soundproof, and paparazzi-proof. Any cara lens aid at it will see only black windows.
"Sadly, the human eye isn't affected by this, and if Mr. Boudreau hadn't distracted them, the five flashes from earlier would most definitely have brought attention. Good thing Mr. Boudreau is a smart man, or the troubles would have kept pilling up on your plate."
Alex looked apologetic for a mont before going back to normal.
Kary, still hanging onto his arm, looked outside, bracing herself ntally for the caras about to be locked onto them. She was used to this, but this ti, they wouldn't be trailing her as much.
She had stopped reciting her little mantra in the elevator, quickly making peace with the events from only minutes prior. She had no ti to feel remorse right now.
It would have to wait until later when they weren't assaulted by flashes and questions.
Guo raised his hand to his ear, listening to his earpiece.
"It seems your cue is coming up, young man. Good luck."
As he said that, Alex saw Jack step aside from the small tribune with his hand extended toward the glass doors. Taking a deep breath to steel his nerves, Alex walked out.
The cacophony of cara flashes and flying drones overhead, plus the dozens of questions that suddenly fused his way, was deafening. But he maintained his confident look and stride and walked to the tribune, where the microphones awaited him.
"Young man! What is your na?!"
"What is your connection to Jack Boudreau?!"
"What do you know about the service tunnel incident?!"
They hurled questions at him in quick succession, making it hard to focus on any question in particular. But just like Jack and Kary had told him earlier, he focused on one question he could hear and pointed to the woman who asked it.
"You first. You asked what my na is. I think that is the most important matter to tackle first. I shall introduce myself," Alex started.
As soon as he spoke, the journalists quieted down, so they could hear his response clearly.
The sudden silence, aside from the occasional click of a cara flash, made Alex uncomfortable. He suddenly heard his heartbeat in his ears.
But he soldiered on.
"My na is Alexander Leduc. I am not a very well-known person yet. But I intend to change that in due ti. So of you may think they recognize . Which they wouldn't be wrong to assu. I also go by the na Astaroth, in New Eden."
As soon as he finished saying this, he saw so eyes widen in realization.
This was a golden opportunity
No one had interviewed the runner-up for the first tournant yet, and he hadn't stepped forward until now. This gave him so imdiate and very-needed clout.
A torrent of questions unfurled once again, most of them incomprehensible among the others. But he heard one clearer than the others.
"What is your connection to Jack Boudreau, and why is he the one introducing you?!"
Pointing at the man who asked this, Alex locked eyes with him.
He and Jack had already discussed what to answer if this question ca up.
"Mr. Boudreau is my official sponsor for New Eden pro playing, as well as a business partner. The reason he introduced is that in a sponsor capacity, it is his right and privilege."
Notes were being jotted down on notepads, and recordings were annexed with personal comnts by podcasters and small-ti amateur journalists. All the while, the news channel journalists restarted their shouting contest, hoping the young man would answer their question next.
Alex raised his hand to ask for silence.
"Before I answer your questions, I would like to go through the main reason we gathered all of you here today. You can ask your questions once I have addressed this."
The journalists quieted down, ready for the scoop of the year.
"Regarding the service tunnel incident. I heard earlier, one of you asked what I knew about it. The answer is the following. I know everything. I was present when it happened."
A journalist shouted a question, interrupting Alexander.
"If you were present, then tell us! What happened down there?!"
Alex locked his eyes on him, giving him a death glare. The journalist gulped down nervously, suddenly feeling like he was getting faced down by a predator.
"I am going to. If you stop interrupting , that is."
The man nervously nodded his head.
"So of you might have heard rumours about what happened down there. Or seen so footage of freelance reporters crawling their way past the police cordon in the tunnels to get a shot of what happened. But today, I will tell you the entire story of how it went down, and why I was down there."
Silence suddenly perated the area. Aside from shutters and the buzzing of drones, not a single sound could be heard.
Alex slowly passed his gaze over everyone, seeing he had their full attention. With a deep breath, he readied himself for the future.
'No more privacy or low-key for . Here on out, it's high profile…'
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