Matteo leaned in towards Ludovica, his voice low but confident. "Ludovica Leandro's button contains some kind of electronic device, probably a camera, and his sleeve conceals a weapon," he whispered in his conclusion in her ear as they walked arm in arm.
Ludovica arched an eyebrow skeptically "What?!" she asked rhetorically.
"Leandro has a camera and a weapon," Matteo affirmed again.
"And how, pray tell, you know that?" she questioned, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
"I can see it," Matteo replied casually, his tone unwavering. "I'll inform Angelina. Leandro is probably here to gather intel, and his button must contain a camera."
Ludovica shook her head in disbelief, her frustration mounting. 'I can see it is not an explanation! Was this man purposefully trying to piss her off?' "How can you tell that there's a camera and a hidden weapon just by observing?! That's absurd!" she protested, her voice tinged with exasperation.
Matteo ignored Ludovica and tapped into his earpiece again, deftly relaying his observations to Angelina.
And Angelina expressed similar concerns, she asked Matteo how he found out. "How can you be so sure, Matteo? That sounds highly implausible," she inquired, her tone tinged with skepticism.
"I can see it," Matteo replied simply, with the same confidence.
Angelina paused for a moment, recalling a similar response from Matteo in the past. "The same way you found out I am a Viable, huh?" she mused, her tone thoughtful.
"Yes," Matteo affirmed.
A lightbulb sparked in Ludovica's head. Her mind raced as she processed the exchange. Matteo had correctly identified all the guards, a feat impossible for normal people or even Viables unless they were Psionics. But Matteo wasn't a Psionic, or she would have sensed it. 'Does he have some ability similar to a psionic?' she didn't know how close her guess was to the fact of the matter.
Meanwhile, Angelina accepted Matteo's explanation and redirected the conversation to the task at hand. "What do you think, Matteo?" she asked him as if asking for a suggestion.
"Leandro is probably here to gather intel on something - or someone."
Angelina nodded in agreement. "Keep an eye on him and find out what information he plans to gather, but don't void other possibilities yet," she instructed.
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The Live art performance was in full swing. The artist danced with colors, each stroke a symphony of emotion. Splashes of passion collided on canvas, creating a masterpiece before the audience's mesmerized eyes.
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Matteo preferred Classical art which tells good stories - according to him. Meanwhile, Ludovica preferred Abstract art.
So keeping their differences aside for a while and deciding on a mutual compromise - They will take turns keeping a watch on Leandro while their preferred artists perform different kinds of art. This way they can both enjoy themselves a bit and also stay on the mission.
Now, Ludovica, mesmerized by the abstract art on display, appraised each piece with generous praise, admiring the bold strokes and vibrant colors. "Ah, the freedom of abstract art," she remarked, her eyes alight with appreciation.
Meanwhile, Matteo, while diligently keeping an eye on Leandro, couldn't resist making sarcastic remarks "Yeah right, the absurdity of abstract art." He muttered to Ludovica, "I just don't get it. Abstract art doesn't tell any narrative. It's like staring at a jumbled mess of colors and shapes, it simply doesn't make any sense"
Ludovica shot him a disapproving glance, her irritation evident. "Not everything needs to be straightforward and visible" she retorted, her voice tinged with exasperation. "Some of us have more refined tastes and prefer art that is about evoking emotions and challenging perceptions."
Matteo shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze still fixed on Leandro. "Agree to disagree," he replied, his tone unapologetic.
Their roles reversed when a classical artist took the stage for the next performance. Matteo's eyes lit up with admiration as he watched the intricate brushstrokes and meticulous attention to detail.
"Now, this is art," he remarked, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "Art that has actual meaning and makes at least some kind of sense"
Ludovica rolled her eyes at Matteo's praise for classical art, her skepticism evident. "Lack of creativity," she muttered under her breath, her tone laced with sarcasm. "And no deeper implied meaning, of course."
However, their banter took a brief hiatus when the invisible art performance started. As water was delicately applied to canvas, creating ephemeral visual effects that challenged attendees to observe and appreciate the subtleties of the artwork before it disappeared, Matteo and Ludovica found themselves equally unimpressed.
"This is more nonsense than abstract art. It's just straight-up pure stupidity," Matteo remarked, his frustration evident.
"Finally! The one thing we can agree on!" Ludovica exclaimed, sharing his sentiment.
But as they were about to share a knowing glance both of them caught something in the corner of their eye. Leandro was making a move. He was moving across the room.
Their attention then shifted to Julien Leroy and Alessio Dubois, who were engaged in conversation near the back of the room. Leandro's gaze lingered on them for a moment before he discreetly put his fingers around one of the buttons of his tux.
Matteo's eyes widened as he recognized what Leandro was trying to do - "He's trying to spy on Julien and Alessio," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
Ludovica's jaw tightened as she watched Leandro carefully position himself to capture Julien and Alessio's conversation.
Meanwhile, Matteo was already contacting Angelina -
He discreetly tapped into his earpiece, his heart racing as he relayed the urgent information to Angelina. "Angelina, it's Matteo. Leandro is making a move. He's trying to spy on Julien and Alessio," he whispered urgently, his voice barely audible over the ambient noise of the gala.
Angelina's response was swift and decisive. "Understood, Matteo. Keep an eye on him, and try to block his surveillance if possible. We need to confirm our suspicions," she instructed, her voice firm and authoritative.
Matteo nodded, his focus solely on Leandro as he meticulously observed his every move.
With a silent nod of agreement, Matteo and Ludovica sprung into action, weaving through the crowd towards Leandro.