Chapter 10: Since When Did I Need a Magnifying Glass?
Manon gazed at her favorite blue dress, the delicate fabric shimmering under the soft hotel room light. It felt like mere moments had passed since her friends had excitedly unpacked their bags, their laughter still echoing in the spacious room. The three-day party in London was finally here, and she'd been practically vibrating with anticipation since yesterday. A gentle sigh escaped her lips as she carefully hung the dress in the wardrobe, the excitement building with each perfectly placed hanger. She grabbed her light coat, the cool material a comforting weight, and hauled her rolling suitcase towards the door.
"Andrien, could you lend a damsel in distress a hand with this ridiculously heavy piece of luggage?" she called out, her voice echoing slightly in the hallway.
A cheerful "Already conquered the downstairs and claimed shotgun!" drifted up from the lobby. Manon rolled her eyes, a playful glare directed at the ceiling. "Thanks for absolutely nothing, oh valiant brother," she muttered under her breath, tugging the suitcase down the grand staircase.
Her mother stood at the hotel entrance, a warm, slightly anxious smile spreading across her face. "Oh, my little London adventurer!" she exclaimed, pulling Manon into a tight, lingering hug. "Take good care of yourself, and try to keep an eye on Andrien too. Just two days, right?" A hint of sadness flickered in her eyes, as if even a short separation was too much.
"Three days, Mom," Manon corrected gently, returning the hug with equal affection. "It'll fly by, you'll see!" She planted a kiss on her mother's cheek and gave her one last, reassuring squeeze. "I love you!"
"Ready to conquer London?" Andrien asked, leaning against their rented car with a signature smirk.
"Born ready! Let's get this show on the road!" Manon replied, buckling her seatbelt with a surge of excitement. The drive to the airport was a blur of anticipation, and soon, she was greeted by the sight of Ria and Mariam, their matching sparkly hair clips bobbing like tiny antennae as they bounced with infectious energy.
"Look at you two!" Manon laughed, "You look like you planned the whole 'twin bestie' look!"
"We're London-ready and fabulous!" Ria exclaimed, her green eyes sparkling with pure joy.
"I heard the hotel has a mini museum with some amazing artifacts!" Mariam added, "We should totally check it out before we even think about unpacking!"
"And don't forget 'Over the Moon'!" Manon chimed in, her own excitement bubbling up. "The legendary fantasy novel! I can't believe we might actually see it!"
"Oh, I was doing some serious pre-trip research!" Mariam said, pulling out her phone to show a breathtaking image of the book. "Look at it, Manon! The cover looks so intricate and beautiful!"
The flight to London was a delightful blur of whispered secrets, excited plans, and shared snacks. Five hours later, they arrived at the opulent Woodluck Hotel, its grandeur making Manon's jaw drop slightly. She noticed Andrien and, surprisingly, Robin, were nowhere in sight. Her friends, however, were laser-focused on maximizing every second of their trip, their mental itinerary already overflowing.
"Museum exploration: commencing now!" Manon declared, a wide grin spreading across her face.
"I absolutely have to get a close-up photo of that book!" Mariam said, already fiddling with her phone. "Ray helped me with some… smartwatch enhancements, so I'm ready for some serious picture-taking!"
As they stepped into the hotel's small museum, Mariam's eyes widened in awe. "Oh my goodness, look at all these incredible things!" she gasped, snapping pictures of ancient-looking vases and dusty portraits. The vast, white-walled space was cool and inviting, the air thick with a sense of history and hushed reverence.
"Let's go see if they have any real dragon bones!" Ria joked, playfully nudging Manon.
"Slow down there, Indiana Jones," Manon chuckled, "I'm pretty sure dragons are still in the 'legend' category… for now."
"Oh," Ria whispered, a hint of disappointment in her voice, "Then… dinosaur fossils?"
They wandered through the exhibits, their excitement growing with each fascinating artifact. Finally, they reached the roped-off display case holding the legendary "Over the Moon." A thick security barrier kept eager viewers at a respectful distance.
"The cover looks like it's made of solid gold," Mariam whispered, her eyes wide with admiration.
"No way, it's definitely encrusted with tiny diamonds!" Ria countered, her gaze fixed on the subtly shimmering book.
"I have a feeling it's probably a bit of both, knowing how fancy old books can be," Manon said, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. "We can't exactly open it up and read, but just seeing it in person is pretty amazing."
"Photo opportunity!" Manon suggested, already positioning her phone. "Okay, everyone say 'Over the Moon!'"
"Over the Moon!" they chorused, striking enthusiastic poses with the treasured book as their backdrop.
Unseen behind a large, intricately woven tapestry, Ray watched them, his fluffy brow furrowed in confusion. "Is that… the same book they're all excited about?" he muttered to himself, seeing only a rather ordinary-looking leather-bound book with some faded embroidery.
"Manon, time for a quick scan," Ray's voice whispered directly into her ear. She nodded subtly, remembering the slightly ridiculous image of a fluffy white rabbit using a smartphone that she'd somehow gotten used to.
"Okay, my turn for a solo shot," Manon said, casually tapping her smartwatch screen as if checking the time.
Scanning book. Keeping details. Book original.
Only Manon saw the fleeting transparent screen displaying the book's intricate details and confirming its authenticity. "Got it, thanks, Ray," she whispered, ending the silent communication. "Girls, you have to see this selfie I just took! The lighting is perfect!"
"Best vacation ever already!" Ria exclaimed, scrolling through their growing collection of photos.
"You look so cute in this one, Manon!" Mariam added, giggling.
"Alright, museum conquered!" Manon declared, winking subtly towards the tapestry where she suspected her furry informant was hiding. "Time for some serious relaxation by the pool!"
Moments later, the news spread through the hotel like wildfire – hushed whispers turning into frantic exclamations. Ria burst into the hotel spa, where Manon was just slipping into a fluffy bathrobe. "Manon! The book! 'Over the Moon' has been stolen!"
"What?!" Manon gasped, her eyes widening in genuine disbelief. She rushed back to their room, a sudden sense of urgency gripping her. "My smartwatch! Where is it?" she muttered, frantically pulling open drawers and tossing plush pillows aside. "Ah, there it is!"
The screen glowed with a new, urgent message:
New mission: Become a detective for a day. Mission: Find the legendary novel 'Over the Moon'. New powers equipped: Speed LV: 6, Brain LV: 9.
Manon blinked, a perfectly tailored detective outfit – complete with a stylish trench coat and a surprisingly chic fedora – materializing on the unoccupied bed. "How in the world did that just happen?" she wondered aloud, staring at the unexpected attire. "And did I even agree to this?"
"Absolutely not!" she declared to the empty room. "I love 'Over the Moon' more than almost anything, but I am a novelist, not some… some book-finding superhero!"
Another notification popped up on her watch:
Reward: The more chapters you write about this adventure, the more downloads you'll receive. Good luck, Detective Manon! We believe this will be a very… revealing experience for your writing.
Manon chuckled, a reluctant smile spreading across her face. "Okay, fine! I'm in!" she exclaimed, a surge of adrenaline kicking in. "I can do this! Nothing is impossible for Manon, the novelist who will soon be legendary!" She paused, a look of utter confusion crossing her face. "But… how? What exactly do detectives even do? Where do I even start looking for a stolen book in a giant hotel?"