CHAPTER 224: PIRATE KING (2)

"Pardon?"

What the heck was going on?

As the staff member speed walked away, Ari decided to tag along to see what the actual issue was.

While following along, other stage staff wearing the black staff shirts were running by, some of them with clipboards, and others speaking into walkie-talkies.

The staff member that Ari was following eventually walked into a room that seemed to be the hub of activity. It had several laptops and audio equipment that Ari had only seen in the studios he had visited.

Two people were standing around a laptop, seemingly trying to get it to start up and work again, while the staff member he followed immediately began asking questions.

"Any progress on fixing the issue?"

"I don’t know why, but the computer decided to begin installing updates while I was in the bathroom. You know how Apple products are. The update takes forever, so this one is a lost cause." A plain-looking man responded.

"And the spare computer?"

"I’m getting it up and running and will just download the music files from the cloud. Speaking of which, who’s the kid behind you?"

"Huh? You? Didn’t I tell you to go back to your room?"

As the staff member that Ari was following spun around, Ari waved his hand and introduced himself.

"Yes. Hello again. I’m contestant Ariel."

The staff member whose badge said ’Audio Engineer - Mark’ gave Ari a bland look before dropping an unnecessary truth bomb.

"Ah, I know you. The number one troublemaker, who has been the only contestant in the history of the show to get arrested. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

[Wow.]

[I like him.]

Ari: ಠ_ಠ

Even if it was an accurate assessment, was there a need to say all that?

What happened to a simple nice to meet you.

"I’m the song arranger for my team, and I’m here to give you the most updated version of our song."

"No changes to the music allowed."

"But-"

"No changes allowed. We’re dealing with an issue right now and don’t need any extra variables. What was submitted earlier is what will be used, as is." Mark repeated as he began tapping away at the laptop.

Not one to give up, Ari stepped closer and began arguing his case.

Ari thought of the most urgent reason that would warrant a song change before giving it a try.

"The PD made me remove some things since there was a song copyright issue, and they want to be able to use the footage later."

"She didn’t tell anybody here that, so I have to assume that you’re lying. Are you lying?"

[You’ve been caught.]

Even if he had been caught, Ari had no plans of confessing to the truth unless PD Emily was standing in front of him.

"I’m not lying. There’s really a problem with our old sound file."

Mark paused for a moment before shrugging, "Unless someone high up comes to vouch for you, I can’t take your word on it. If the PD wanted it changed, she would have probably come along with or sent a text. The previously submitted sound files were vetted by multiple people and submitted, so it’s what’s going to be used."

[He really has you there.]

[A staff member who uses their head, that PD hired some good people.]

It might be good for her, but it’s annoying for me!

Mark then turned to the staff member that Ari had followed and nodded his head at the door.

"Get him out of here and take him to his team’s waiting room."

"You come with me!"

"No wait! Can you at least play my team’s song? Or call the PD! I really think there’s something wrong with it!"

"Get him out."

"No wait! Listen!"

Before he could protest, Ari’s arm was grabbed, and the staff member began dragging him toward the door against his will.

"Is there anything I can do to help you guys?"

At the familiar gentle tone, Ari spun around to see Jelissa shyly poking her head through the door.

"Judge Jelissa?"

"Ah? Why are you dragging a contestant out like that? His hand is injured, so please be careful. And Ari, what are you doing here?"

Jelissa’s eyes took in Ari being dragged out by a staff member as well as the audio engineer focused on the laptop, quickly understanding that they were trying to fix the sound issue that had suddenly cropped up.

"This contestant is just causing a fuss. We’ll get him out and get the sound fixed right away. Sorry for the inconvenience."

"Ah, thank you for your hard work, but please release him. Ari usually doesn’t cause issues unless there’s a reason. Ari, what’s going on?"

"There’s something wrong with my team’s sound file, and it absolutely needs to be changed," Ari told her in a serious tone while waving his flash drive around once he was released.

"I have the original I worked on here, and I just wanted them to switch it or at least listen to the original to hear what the problem is."

"Well, I understand you being upset, but they’re just doing their job while trying to deal with this more important issue. But-"

Jelissa stared at him for a moment before nodding decisively and turning to Mark.

"Are you downloading the new sound files from the shared cloud drive?"

"Yes, ma’am."

"Can you play his team’s song briefly? About 30 seconds starting from 1:03? I just want to hear something."

"We don’t have time...."

"I’m sure you can spare 30 seconds. If there are complaints, I’ll take full responsibility. Just play it."

"Okay."

Several clicks later, as Mark increased the volume of the music and started it at the requested time, William’s recorded vocals could be heard clearly from the speakers.

The room was utterly silent as exactly 30 seconds played before Mark stopped the music.

"Wow. Wow. Wow. Very good." Jelissa’s voice was calm, but her usually gentle brown eyes looked like they were flaming and wanted to burn somebody alive.

"Ari. Lend me your flash drive and head back to your team’s waiting room. I’ll make sure the correct version of the song is what will be played, so don’t worry."

"Uh, sure. Here."

A little bit intimidated, Ari immediately handed it over to her before backing away toward the door.

"Wait a moment."

Ari immediately froze, wondering if he was in trouble, but Jelissa only adjusted the scarf on his head.

"Good luck with your performance, Ari. I hope you do well. As for the rest of you, nobody leaves the room until I get a list of everyone who’s been in this room."

"Uh...thank you."

"Of course. Thank you for finding this out, and I’m sorry you had to do so. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it."

The gentle click of the door sounded like a gunshot to Ari’s head, and he immediately ran back to his team’s waiting room, spotting William sitting alone on the sofa with only Jerome seated next to him.

He had a satisfied smile on his face that got bigger as he stared at Ari.

"That took a while. Feeling better?" Benjamin walked over and began patting his back hard.

"Yep. My stomach was hurting from the tension, so the toilet and I became acquainted."

"Ewwww! TMI!" Justin screamed before taking several steps back and pretending to gag.

"Don’t worry, I washed my hands properly. Want to smell it?" Ari immediately began chasing Justin with his arms outstretched.

"No! Ugh! I don’t want to hear or smell it! I don’t even want to see it! Don’t chase me!"

"It smells good, I promise."

"I don’t care! Ben!! Do something!"

As Justin tried to hide behind Benjamin, the British boy dodged to the side before grabbing a water bottle as he pretended to be a fight commentator.

"It’s the battle of the featherweights! On the left, after adding 3 whole centimeters to his height and now coming in at 180 cm and weighing 57 kg on a good day, it’s the Sea Captain himself, whose beauty makes Aphrodite jealous, whose singing can put sirens to shame, and whose judgmental eyes have paralyzed people more than Medusa ever did, give it up for the man, they myth, the legend, Ariel!"

"I’ll have you know that I weighed 60 kg today."

"Was that before or after breakfast, Ari? The world would like to know." Benjamin held the bottle out to Ari’s mouth as if it were a microphone.

"...shut up."

"Don’t worry, Jamie and I are crafting the perfect bulking and lifting plan for you. Whenever you’re ready to get in the gym-

"I’d rather die."

"Alright! Moving on! On the right, coming in at 173 cm and 62 kg, it’s the best first mate ever, theater kid extraordinaire, the big brain idea bank, the future leading man in all the romance movies on the big screen, jack of all trades, it’s big man Justin!"

"How do you know my weight?"

"I picked you up and guessed. Anyways. Gentlemen, or rather Pirates! Are you ready to rumbleeeeee!!!!"

"No. I just don’t want to smell his hands."

"Not really."

"Who cares! 50 quid to the winner! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

At the mention of money, the two pairs of eyes, one chocolatey brown and one sea green, flared up as they began gauging each other.

Justin definitely had the weight advantage along with a lower center of gravity, but Ari had better reach and a bit more flexibility.

But before they could actually get into it-

"Please! No fighting! You’ll mess up your costumes! And Benjamin, stop instigating!"

Rex interrupted the fight because, as the leader, he couldn’t spectate like the rest of his team.

"Booooo-, I’m just making a bit of fun because we’ve been delayed for a while, innit?"

"I don’t care."

"Team Sexy Pirates! You’re up!"

As a staff member burst in through the door, and they all got up, Ari was happy to finally see the transparent blue screen in front of his vision give him a notification.

[Ding!]

********************

And in the audience, a cold war was brewing between fans of two individuals who were just realizing that the contestants they supported and hated were now on the same team.