Chapter 367 A Glimmer of Hope
Before long, their car arrived at the old town, and Scarlett was stunned to see the buildings there. The architecture, almost identical to one another, resembled the charm of old Paris.
"Theo, why did the royal city suddenly move to a new location?" Scarlett asked curiously.
Theodor pondered for a moment before responding, "I'm not entirely sure of the exact reason. But what I heard from my parents was due to concerns over the royal family's health. They believed the old town's location was unsuitable, prompting the former king to relocate to the new site alongside the government offices..."
He continued, "As a result, the royal heritage buildings in this area were transformed into museums. Over time, with the shift of the government center, this place gradually transformed into a popular tourist attraction," he explained as they walked towards the address Scarlett had.
Scarlett nodded, although still somewhat puzzled by Theodor's explanation.
"I see," she acknowledged.
"You'll notice that the buildings here have transformed function. Many have been repurposed into hotels, restaurants, and cafes, but the physical form of the architecture remains the same. There is a rule that they are forbidden from changing the facade." Theodor added. "And during the holiday season, this place becomes bustling with tourists from various countries."
Scarlett's observation confirmed Theodor's words as she spotted Asian tourists capturing precious moments with their families.
"Young Madam, this is the place!" Logan's voice abruptly interrupted their conversation, causing them all to halt in their tracks.
Scarlett was taken aback by the sight of a five-story building before her. This building was supposed to be an apartment building, but now it has changed its function into a Chinese food restaurant.
"Logan, are you sure this is the correct address?" Scarlett asked. She glanced at Logan.
"Yes, ma'am. This is the exact address you provided," Logan responded, equally perplexed. He surveyed the old building, searching for clues to aid his young madam in looking for her mother's trace.
"It appears that a restaurant now occupies the ground floor," Theodor said, pointing towards a metal door tucked in the corner. "Meanwhile, the upper floors are still being used as residences. I think that door leads to the stairs, right!?"
"Yes, I think so!" Logan said while eyeing the separate entrance.
"So, sis, would you like to enter the restaurant? Perhaps we can ask the restaurant owner about it..." Theodor suggested, his gaze fixed on Scarlett, who remained rooted in her place. She looked disappointed.
Scarlett sighed softly, realizing that her hopes of finding any significant leads had been dashed. Nevertheless, she smiled and nodded at Theodor.
"Yes, let's go in and see if the owner has any information that could help us," she agreed, mustering her optimism once again.
They entered the restaurant, greeted by a spacious interior typical of a Chinese restaurant. The room was adorned with numerous round tables covered in vibrant red tablecloths. Although it was still early in the morning, the restaurant was bustling with visitors enjoying their breakfast.
Scarlett selected a table near the window to have a clear view of the street ahead. It was essential for her to keep an eye out for any CCTV cameras in the opposite building.
"Ma'am, what would you like to order?" Logan asked as the waitress approached to take their orders, diverting Scarlett's attention. She turned to face Logan.
"Anything will do. You can order the usual dishes I enjoy," Scarlett replied, shifting her gaze once again to the building across the road.
Her eyes were drawn to a tall, five-story building situated directly across from the restaurant. It appeared more like an office than an apartment; she noticed it now served as an information center.
A glimmer of hope sparked within her as she spotted the presence of CCTV cameras affixed to the building and its neighboring structure. The sight brought a sense of relief, as she knew that these surveillance systems could potentially hold valuable footage.
Before coming to this country, Scarlett had investigated that this country was a first-class country, which was more advanced than the countries around them. Twenty-five years ago, this country had an installation of CCTV all over the public space, like this old town.
Scarlett needs to find the old server that stored all the CCTV footage, hoping that the footage is still being stored.
So, for her next step, she made up her mind to investigate further and gather any information that might be stored within those CCTV archives. But she needs Theodor's help. Again!
"Huh, where's Theo?" Scarlett inquired, turning to Logan. She had been so engrossed in observing the building across the street that she hadn't noticed Theodor's absence from their table.
"Mr. Theodor is on the phone," Logan replied, gesturing toward Theodor, who stood near their table next to the large glass window.
Scarlett looked at Theodor for a moment, but before she could gaze away, something caught her attention.
"Why does he look angry? Has something happened?" She asks while trying to calm her mind after spotting something.
"I'm not sure, but it could be work-related issues..."
"That stubborn Theo!! I already told him... he didn't need to accompany us if he was busy with work but he insisted on following us," Scarlett exhaled deeply to calm her anger.
...
"Did you happen to notice anything peculiar around us?" Scarlett asked after sipping her warm tea.
Logan's expression turned serious as he responded, "I'm not entirely certain, ma'am. But I believe someone may be tailing us..."
"When did you first notice it?"
"Since we left the Royal Garden," Logan replied. "However, I can't be certain if they are affiliated with us or not."
A somber silence fell upon Scarlett. She slowly turned her gaze towards the window, wearing a bitter smile.
"They are not related to Xander or Theo," she said softly, causing Logan's face to tense up.
"M-Mam," Logan stammered, his eyes darting around, trying to find them.
"Stop! Don't look around. Let's not give them any clue that we are aware of their presence," Scarlett calmly instructed, maintaining her smile as she locked eyes with Logan.
