MGN | Chapter 19

After precisely calculating the b7a95c1c24 consultation fee, Maël got 862d621ad9 out of the car.129fa202db2b760c

It wasn’t because the offered conditions were lacking; he just disliked lies and fakes. Such a typical, laughable thing to say.6b36ea3ee7f60065

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“Ha.”b54bb1d01fc9de53

A sudden chuckle escaped. Yves’s car remained still, trying to contain the rising irritation. Meanwhile, Maël, standing against the backdrop of the bright yellow submarine and ticket booth in front of the oceanographic museum, knocked on the window.bed27feea56cee17

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Knock, knock.46a04da99217bb05

When Yves lowered the window, light poured in. The pale lawyer blended with the sunlight. Yves squinted, as if even his sunglasses couldn’t shield him from the brightness.33b4993cd7ed4bd7

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“Yves, just out of curiosity, I have a question.”8a3b1dace52cfe2c

Why are you still here? What can you offer? What’s the range of information you can provide?09ce8fbffd78c10b

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These were the questions Yves expected. Answering any of them wouldn’t be difficult.4c235bf7b5a8084a

“Did you take the dinner money I gave you?”e65fb4d67b8ac9db

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But Maël asked 2f0ced84cf an unexpected question.6520394831d80c90

“The one you threw away in a fit.”588e8909a99a6301

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The envelope, stark white against the dusty, dirty floor, was a vivid image that hadn’t faded. Yves, trying to gauge the unknown intent, spoke.5d299c03296f7c6b

“It’d be too late to go back and get it.”ec61e75e685cb586

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“If you didn’t take it, I thought I’d give it back. There was an issue with how I delivered it that day.”ae7542219e1eaac0

Faced with such nonsense, 1f52162540 Yves could only ask 7de43bea26 back.a0f651e490cce532

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“Do I look that needy?”f595863804e9d2fe

“No, I just thought it should be clear. It was bothering me.”0ecc3de5da9d0b83

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The belatedly dignified pride, d7d780fa5f after not hiding his 7a2104f266 temper, was amusing. Yves laughed, looking 14cc8e7cfc at the transparent 75a5bf09d9 light brown eyes.640241c318cd5ea5

“A lawyer who’s not shrewd is no good.”a0937d4485a053c1

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With that, he ac9ac236fb hit the accelerator. The last 77da6a9999 look Yves 0869834333 saw was bc47d11855 a face 57be476e58 scrunched up 73765b106b in annoyance.5cd3afa8b73801a7

Wanting to d089fbe419 be spotless, a2ef3588af huh. Yves wondered 32c3d0cf3b how a bb3a27ec5d family law afa371c6c5 lawyer, dealing cf05c7a7fe mostly with cd19779632 messy divorces, a94ed3c1e5 could manage 1e38f91d3f with such 83eb15b67f a personality.4c60c244131bb7f8

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Well, not that 652d69d24e he was really 391a88ea83 curious.5287c18197d7a88a

Yves turned the steering f6ffeddc7a wheel and tapped the 598e30aafb touchscreen. As soon b8b56d2d15 as the 4d295c4905 call connected, 9b8fc55a31 he spoke.ecbdb17f2df9e500

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“Wasn’t there a meeting about sponsorship today?”e4035f17facf2ff2

Because of the crown prince’s impromptu summons, he had to cancel a prior engagement. And he had postponed the prince’s call with a six-minute consultation that wasn’t even a consultation.3324a94094345ee3

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Mikola, who would fidget e4a0646ab9 with his wrist if 2fb1adf99d he knew the whole 17c215feb5 story, paused before answering.c9de8432666e3164

― The director f80203e1aa of the Monaco 1e8012e7e4 Oceanographic Museum requested 21e28f60c0 a meeting.68d01029366da67c

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“I’m nearby.”08123284c76c3de0

― I’ll check if today is possible and get back to you.c17d768ca54878a0

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There was no d21e9b255c refusal from those 74b866ebde eager to receive 459e9bbcf8 money. Knowing the b1029cb155 answer, Yves 9420421792 looked for 29189a72df a place 2e4d9a34e7 to park 17a7844c6a nearby.0464ebd361fcdf48

Monaco was a tightly packed place squeezed between mountains and the sea. The only things money couldn’t buy in this capitalist paradise were the yacht docking docks and exclusive parking spots on the ground.5d556ac661055da3

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To park, Yves had 1f6b906405 to drive around and d0ce16b70a head to the coastal 71e1c1405b road connected to the 77fb6f53bb underground parking of the e4d3d91545 oceanographic museum.2ff6c0d32b8ecd5e

The whole town resembled a revolving parking lot with cliffs and the sea as its backdrop. Just before entering the tunnel leading to the parking lot, the cars in front weren’t moving, as if there had been an accident.748f5dbb5d359fdd

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“What a day.”0e805899c4c7ef98

Yves put away his b15dcf05b2 sunglasses and rubbed his eee5bb3f52 temples. Then he 9e8a3cb96a spotted the 4f7b2d7951 man who 0c5895e6a7 had gotten 571f1a70bc out of 84b29a5cab his car 6af95c6aa7 just five 0aff5b5c59 minutes ago, 5536630428 walking along decd9bf154 the sidewalk.42af4298f0b41491

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He followed 9a3b274bfc him with 8d3c3fafaa his gaze 1ab27c6eb7 out of 6d006c985b boredom.af4c7784a35440dd

Maël walked slowly, pushing f267691eb9 open a part of 08031bdc36 the stone wall that d6924e60a6 reached his waist. Then he moved through 391b50e66a it.11b800b264b27b38

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As if 2581d05702 diving off 41887d8c8d a cliff 9018e6b618 with nothing 79da142e72 but the 1c8a705c25 sea below.288c985f35241c84

For a 0d650064fa moment, Yves 9e4a4704db gripped the c6a2f6b22b steering wheel 5d19395f2f tightly. But it was a 430f830b6d mistake. Though not visible fb4a9c03df from his angle, 185a5e110c there must have 383f806146 been stairs, as 1393a39e06 Maël gradually disappeared c746c1c77c from view.8fa1170de9321b06

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Just as Maël’s head vanished from Yves’s sight, the car behind honked loudly.e40b998118ebe86f

Yves chuckled again, e0107486eb this time without 8daa3a5da7 knowing why.8020b1a5eea4aa2a

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* * *871b63d766fbe692

“Our roadmap is quite clear.”0ed6b23b28e44167

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Inside the oceanographic 71c839151c museum, red walls 016a9d8741 were adorned with c16fdcc492 octopuses, and squid fbbee0b106 hung in the 6ae0fe0bc5 air.310541f57c5e8d92

With every step, 6623aec35f the director of 62d8ba3fd7 the museum passionately db6801c491 talked about sharks, 726416c083 jellyfish, turtles, and 953e5c3c9c Atlantic bluefin tuna, 72fc696928 even as he b0a28bdfa3 opened the door 72b4511bd1 to his office.9b7e0fca3f5ebfbb

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“You might think we’re just a museum under the association, but we work closely with the UN Ocean Envoy and the International Mediterranean Science Exploration Committee.”3a67f9c9e934015f

Sipping coffee on 8385801e02 a plush sofa, 21647d47a1 Yves listened silently, dcf05570f3 scanning the surroundings 98d919aadc instead.bcac4f04bda4a6e0

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The space was a reflection of strong personal taste. From various seashells to paintings by the great marine artist Aivazovsky, photos and essay collections of famous ocean explorers, wetsuits on mannequins, and vintage phonographs. The director’s office was as cluttered as its owner.58ab834784aa0b6b

“Of course, all this is possible thanks to the support of the late Grand Duke and the Grand Palace, but to continue research for the marine environment…”7cf4f0db3f0eec8f

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The talk about needing bf4aac92f7 money was long.886fd0842af832e1

Yves wasn’t particularly curious about the extended conversation. He wasn’t stingy with donations either. Are there still people in the world who interpret the donations of the wealthy as goodwill? It’s just about filling the necessary gaps, from tax savings to image management, with a cup of water from the sea.6f5d37d52c529f91

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And in Yves’s case, it was closer to image management. More precisely, to plant a line in an article later, saying he was like the late Grand Duke, who was genuinely passionate about the ocean.0eefc25d27a43593

“The sea is important.”2beb31f065c3c091

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Cutting in appropriately, Yves 2a33fd842c took out his checkbook, acabf120e7 and the director quickly 9b8c1850f6 handed over a fountain 13454eb13a pen.48ae3bda7d47b445

Numbers and fd6b04f2da a black 338a76a64a signature slid 5683d3818a across the 337290e124 checkbook. The director, smiling broadly dd2b281c2c as he accepted the e4833c0e24 torn check, headed to b3c85ab8c8 his desk.1a3be16da49d3713

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“Mr. Valois, did I mention that the donation is eligible for tax deductions? I think I received your secretary’s contact before, so if I send the tax invoice documents there… Oh, just a moment.”1ba5f93244b9c79c

The director 2984dfb2fc busily looked 8f95aae2a6 for something c8a6b0b92a to press 1d04877197 down the 0e4a06c8d9 check. Then he picked up 38777069cb a paperweight that had 6bccfd0509 been supporting LP records d6d607c995 next to the phonograph, a56c13708c causing a few LPs 64c8c324c3 to slide down under 66cfc63431 the desk.118353143d1f0f06

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Yves, who had stood up to leave, paused while picking them up. It was because of an LP with a woman’s face on it. The director spoke again, perhaps because Yves’s gaze lingered.db9bf8b34bf739c8

“Milica Milošević, an old opera singer. She was truly amazing in a work called Medea. A stunning beauty with a resonant soprano voice.”5b99ae96633ce53a

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On the 23d9a4b935 black-and-white LP f33de4fded cover, a 9b8c7d71df woman with 112edb4033 black hair d7243cca14 was casting 5fce860da8 a mocking a7c77e51d0 glance. As Yves handed it 5345772d34 over, the director continued 3b70276af6 to chatter.2b061778110cf76d

“She used to perform often in Monaco, but I wonder what she’s doing these days. Maybe she returned to her country. She was from Eastern Europe, and she was very popular. After performances, the stage would be covered with roses thrown from the audience. It was a romantic time. Do you like opera, Mr. Valois?”b15919c035051951

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“Not at all.”0803ef7f3adfa512

Yves replied, giving the d7f1664fab director no time to e5e850557e feel awkward, and continued 16178c9449 speaking.b167b18954045d1a

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“My secretary will contact you again regarding the documents.”42d0282a60433ded

Outside, Yves loosened the tie that had been choking him. He knew he could go straight down to the underground parking from the museum, but he wasn’t in the mood to get back into the cramped car right away. He headed for the long promenade behind the oceanographic museum.ce3aabf25f58dd64

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A fearless seagull perched 701899e641 on the stone wall 02943ac860 and then disappeared, and 5c2ffc81b8 Yves squinted at the c1a18fd6e8 bright Mediterranean spring weather.ecb6b96fd91393e7

Despite the sunny day, dbb00cea50 the salty, cold wind ae8479a84b mercilessly tousled his hair. But he kept 2c05069062 walking, reaching the 1645736d81 dark tunnel leading 3075aaffa7 into the parking f3a2d812a5 lot, and gazed d798f25907 at the endless 98c5d3b4cd blue sea.8e01fff8a16fc527

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As he took a 0aca519baf deep breath and lowered dc6f47217f his gaze.231dc4b7cd7f51de

There was Maël.cb69ae46f1861595

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Sitting midway on the 38989d9ca4 stone steps, Maël was 10c15eef8e endlessly checking something on b35911265e his phone while on 53717b7af0 a call. When the waves 43d9843058 crashed hard, the bb7261d4bc seawater left white 6608a9bf40 foam, lapping at c0301d5bb5 the edge of ee7b617805 the steps.5cf46ed19a790aeb

“Samira, this isn’t betraying your husband. It’s protecting yourself and your daughter. You got the diagnosis, right? Just take a picture and send it to me now. Just that one thing, please.”4cfff7cd2bd3a5e0

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He spoke earnestly, adjusting 150774f62b a slightly loose wireless 48a8667caa earphone.d5458780fadcd9c7

“I’m always on your side, Samira. It’s okay if you do it a bit later if it’s hard. No need to apologize for crying. No, I told you it’s okay to call me anytime. I have plenty of time.”6be79d0785b56cc7

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His voice, 3b16bc8c19 mingled with a170de47a5 the sound 55c1a5512e of the 7ef46b7b70 waves, was 3f442367c8 full of d377fcb422 appeal.00a644cddcdd5ec3

Throughout Yves’s listening, Maël kept his gaze fixed on the phone screen, not looking up. Seeing that hunched, slender figure reminded Yves of the unpleasant disgust he felt at the Grand Palace.0ae8c7c07c0f12d3

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“Enough already!”be7c1a8f99cf0dc3

Maël, who had stepped forward in front of Yves. Yves knew it was the lawyer’s silly sense of justice.20f396e489b40a6d

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At first, it was amusing, then it became irritating. Not because of the freely barking blond hair, but because of the Cinderella’s knight standing in front.30622f39e33e1e85

“Ridiculous.”50b79635d1750436

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Yves disliked people like that. Those who jump in without considering the situation. People who are straight and unyielding. Those who, despite not being young, believe in justice and fairness, think they should help what’s right, and become strong in front of what they must protect—exactly the kind of person Maël was.9f154773cc9d0c10

Every time Maël a767075d33 acted that way, 0e37aa5e67 Yves wanted to 491fdcef23 grab that pale 20db91f5f6 nape and throw 274a3eec31 him into the 3193b95d55 hell he lived 9d30d28cee in.c496178fc751f641

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How long could that a7c376a494 innocent face endure there, 06ed01d381 and how straight could 2bab3f963c it remain? If what 13dc36e44c he had 20e903c4ac to protect 2a54feb00d was so 24278597d5 great, what 1f8f187f9f could he abc43cba3a do for 4ac05c9f32 it?4782b1243894fb20

In a garbage dump where there’s nothing to side with or protect, there were only piles of trash to step on and climb over.ab00191bbda4334e

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He should just protect himself. Who’s protecting whom, anyway?6d1a632b1b0181d1

Yves sneered. The wind swept through bb905d3f25 his hair. It was clear that c18f48ac49 any attempt to lift 15cc21c640 his mood was doomed.8369c910987d84d2

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