The fearful look in Zahir’s eyes and the incomprehensible whisper of ‘treasure hunt’ wouldn't leave her mind.
Frustrated, she told Artistea about what had happened today.
“Arti, what happened today… what do you think?”
Artistea’s voice was as calm as ever.
“Ah!!! Right!!”
Karida shot up from the sofa.
Distracted by the reunion with her father and the shock of the Eternal Conductor, she had forgotten the most important thing.
“What should I do? I just came empty-handed!”
“Ah, yes. Thanks! What would be a good gift… Chazra is a soldier now, right?”
Karida scanned the list Artistea recommended.
An ordinary gift, an ordinary wedding. Perhaps her father’s worries were excessive, she tried to think as she went to sleep.
The next day, Karida woke up early, prepared the gift she had bought, and headed to the mosque where the wedding was being held.
She thought there would be few guests at the Islamic-style wedding, which was rare in America, but contrary to her expectations, the mosque was filled with the lively energy of many people.
She was able to find Zahir’s family quickly.
She didn't recognize the grown-up Ahmadi and Zaydan at first and had to exchange laughing greetings.
“Karida! It’s been so long!”
Zaydan greeted her with a hug from his strong arms.
He had clearly worked out consistently; the mischievous boy of the past was gone, and he had become a handsome man.
Ahmadi looked just like his father, but his characteristically gentle impression made him seem much kinder.
“Thank you so much for coming. Have you been well? Do you know how much we missed you?”
Karida felt the same.
“I’m the one who’s more grateful. It feels good to be welcomed so warmly.”
She had missed them so much too.
“By the way, Zaydan, I heard you made the physics engine for the most popular game these days, ‘The Last Car Thief’. How did a troublemaker like you do something like that?”
At Karida’s compliment, Zaydan scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
“Come on, it’s all thanks to you. I learned it from talking with Artistea.”
Ahmadi nudged Zaydan and said.
“He’s right. Though we almost had a big problem because of that kid a while ago.”
Zaydan, who had brought it up, glanced at Ahmadi.
“A big problem?”
As Karida asked back, Ahmadi, who was next to her, glared at Zaydan for a moment, then sighed and continued.
“Some crazy bastard spread a deepfake video of Chazra and Asha before their wedding.”
“Oh my goodness….”
She had received many reports that crimes using Artistea were on the rise, but seeing someone who had been a direct victim for the first time made the seriousness of it hit home.
The biggest reason for this major problem was the absence of anyone to correct Artistea’s learning direction in Chapman’s absence.
Karida remembered how Song Joo-eun had held onto her for days, asking for a solution.
Though it all ended in temporary fixes, Karida herself had also tried to get Artistea’s ethical design to work properly until recently.
“We would have been in real trouble if it weren't for Zaydan.”
“Zaydan?”
“Yeah, he tracked down the distribution route faster than the police and blocked it all.”
At Ahmadi’s praise, Zaydan shrugged his shoulders modestly.
“I just asked a famous person in the industry to take care of it, that’s all.”
Karida was once again impressed by the man before her.
He wasn't just a mischievous little brother, but a dependable man who protected his family in a crisis.
She found herself glancing at Zaydan again.
'I should have dated Zaydan! If only Father hadn't stopped me!'
Ahmadi was also a fine man who worked at his father’s research institute, but he was too earnest to be fun.
After their greetings, Ahmadi and Zaydan left to greet the arriving guests.
In the meantime, Karida also greeted Raina and Bashira, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, and asked about their well-being.
Everyone just expressed their joy at seeing her after so long; no one blamed her.
The wedding that followed was beautifully concluded amidst the blessings of the guests.
Karida’s heart ached as she saw Chazra, who was a little crybaby boy in her memory, become a dignified groom.
Chazra and Asha were a well-matched couple.
'Marriage… if I were in Iraq, I wouldn't have stayed unmarried at my age, right? I wanted to marry a wonderful person too…'
At the reception after the ceremony, she naturally stuck by Zaydan’s side.
Zaydan didn't refuse her. It felt good to talk to a man without any distance after so long.
Bashira and Zahir watched with disapproving eyes, but Raina, Ahmadi, Chazra, and Asha smiled and said they looked good together.
Karida thought Zaydan, with his muscular body from working out, looked even more handsome.
Chazra, being a soldier, also had a good physique, but Zaydan was a little more to Karida’s taste.
Moreover, when some of the guests recognized Karida and asked for greetings and photos, Zaydan blocked them all for her.
'Isn’t he so cool? How did he grow up so well?'
After enjoying dancing and sharing delicious food, the party was coming to an end.
Karida wanted to spend more time with Zaydan, but he, taking after someone, politely refused and returned to his family.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
'Ugh, does he not like me? Is he gay or something?'
Karida grumbled inwardly but wished for this scene to continue.
It was so warm and happy.
After everything was over, Karida said goodbye to everyone and returned to her hotel with a heavy heart.
'When I meet Father tomorrow, what is he going to say.'
A sense of anxiety crept over her, but she decided to focus on the happiness before her for now.
At 10 AM, Karida woke up with a terrible hangover, paying the price for the previous day’s joyful atmosphere.
If it weren't for her appointment with her father, she would have collapsed back into bed.
By the time she had dragged her heavy body and finished getting ready, it was well past noon. She called Zahir, but he didn't answer.
'Could he be skipping lunch because of me?'
Knowing his personality, it was certainly possible.
Feeling sorry, Karida hurriedly drove towards the research institute.
The whole way there, memories of yesterday crossed her mind.
She would smile, imagining a happy future with Zaydan, and then her heart would turn cold at the memory of her father’s fearful eyes as he whispered the keyword ‘treasure hunt’.
She tried to shake off her anxiety and focus on happy thoughts.
But the moment she arrived at the institute, all her hopeful imaginings shattered. Unfamiliar black cars filled the entrance.
'What’s going on?'
As she got out of the car and walked towards the institute entrance, she saw a large crowd of people.
They were all dressed in black suits, and their movements exuded a trained efficiency.
Stepping inside, the lobby was even more crowded with men in black suits.
In the chaotic atmosphere, she didn't dare to speak to anyone and first went to the restroom to catch her breath.
It was the moment she was leaving the restroom, after calming herself down, to head to the director’s office.
“What do you think you’re doing!!!”
A sharp shout from a researcher was heard. Startled, Karida hid behind the restroom wall and witnessed the scene.
Men in black suits were dragging Zahir out like a criminal.
Resisting researchers were blocked by other men in black suits who stood like a wall.
A few were carrying out the heavy safe that contained the Eternal Conductor she had seen yesterday.
“What on earth are you doing!”
“We cannot say.”
Julia was standing with the men in black suits, leading them.
'Isn't that person… the deputy director? What is going on?'
Zahir was silent, his head bowed.
“Does this make any sense? Who are you to take our director away?”
No matter how angry or demanding the people were, the men in black suits said nothing.
Then, suddenly, Zahir quietly said he was sorry to the surrounding researchers.
One of the men in black suits threatened to gag him if he said any more nonsense.
It was then. Zahir’s gaze found Karida, hiding behind the restroom wall, precisely.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
In that fleeting moment, his eyes were saying something.
And then, he suddenly started shouting at the empty air like a madman.
“I found the treasure! I found the treasure!!!”
“Shut him up!”
One of the flustered agents struck him in the stomach.
‘Gah!’
Zahir swallowed a painful groan.
Karida, almost screaming without realizing it, quickly covered her mouth with both hands.
The man who seemed to be the leader of the agents said quietly.
“Gag him.”
While the agents were gagging Zahir, he turned his gaze to Karida one last time.
And then, with a faint smile, as if resigning himself to everything, or perhaps entrusting everything, he was dragged away.
Everything happened in an instant.
Karida couldn't understand what she had just seen, or how to make sense of the situation.
Dazed, she asked the other researchers, but they, like her, knew nothing and were just in shock.
Karida ran out of the institute and drove like mad to Zahir’s house.
The fear that something might have happened to them constricted her heart.
The whole time she floored the accelerator, she had to tremble in fear that the black cars of the men in black suits would appear in her rearview mirror.
'Father had a premonition.'
Questions swirled in her head like a storm, but the only clue was the desperate cry of ‘treasure hunt’.
When she arrived at Zahir’s house, thankfully, there were no men in black suits in sight.
The happy party of the previous day had ended, leaving its traces all over the house.
Karida found the family passed out drunk in the living room.
“Mrs. Raina! Wake up!”
Karida shook Raina awake, but she just stumbled, looking dizzy.
“There’s no time, hurry!”
Frustrated, Karida kicked the sprawled-out Ahmadi and Zaydan awake.
The Chazra couple, who had left for their honeymoon, were nowhere to be seen.
“What on earth is going on?”
Zaydan asked with a dazed face from the alcohol, and Karida said firmly.
“I don’t know what’s what either. Everyone, listen carefully. We are in danger right now.”
“Huh? What do you mean? What’s dangerous?”
Bashira opened her door and walked out.
“Grandma, we have to leave right now. I’ll explain on the way out.”
Sensing the seriousness in Karida’s voice, Ahmadi’s eyes sharpened first.
“Zaydan, get up. We have to leave now.”
While the still-sleepy Zaydan slowly got up, Ahmadi asked Karida to take care of Bashira and Raina and ran towards the garage.
“What on earth is this!”
Bashira, who couldn't understand what was going on, poked Karida with her cane.
“I’ll tell you after we leave. It’s urgent.”
Zaydan, hearing Karida’s words, slapped his own face and ran into his room.
Karida helped Raina pack some necessary items. She had no choice but to ignore Bashira, who was walking around the house, angry.
“I should just die. Everyone ignores me now.”
“It’s not like that, Grandma. Karida wouldn't bother us with something like this. So something serious must have happened.”
Zaydan said, coming out with a bag of clothes.
Following him, Raina also handed a bag of necessary items to Zaydan.
“Your lives might be in danger!!! This is really not a joke!!”
At the people’s slow movements, Karida shouted urgently.
There was no time to be packing things.
“Father… Dr. Zahir has just been kidnapped!!!”
“What?!!!”
Bashira swayed as if in shock.
She might have fallen if Raina hadn't supported her immediately.
Only then did Zaydan drop the things and start running out with his grandmother on his back.
“You brat!!! It’s bad for my heart!!”
Bashira started grumbling, hitting Zaydan’s head.
Raina and Karida packed the bare minimum and left the house.
Ahmadi had the car waiting at the entrance and helped Zaydan get Bashira comfortably seated.
Raina and Karida got in the back, Ahmadi got in the passenger seat, and Zaydan got in the driver’s seat, and they started moving without a destination.
As the car started abruptly, Raina took out water and sandwiches from the small bag she was holding and handed them out.
Karida even felt a sense of respect for her, who hadn't lost her composure even in the chaos.
“So, what on earth is going on?”
Zaydan asked, stuffing a sandwich into his mouth.
“I don’t know the details either. But… Father was dragged away by men in black suits.”
To keep her promise to Zahir, Karida left out the story of the Eternal Conductor and only explained the scene she had witnessed.
The family, who heard the keyword ‘treasure hunt,’ also couldn't recall anything other than the childhood game.
After Karida finished speaking, a heavy silence and only speculation hung in the air. Just then, Raina’s phone rang sharply.
“Hello, this is Raina Al-Muradi.”
It was the deputy director she had met two days ago.
Ahmadi immediately gestured to his mother and took the phone.
Karida watched the call with all her nerves on edge.
“Ms. Marier, this is Ahmadi.”
Ahmadi, who worked with his father, knew Julia.
Ahmadi exchanged glances with Karida and responded calmly.
“Yes, what is it?”
“The CIA? Did you say the CIA?”
A shiver ran down Karida’s spine.
It hadn't even been two hours since she had seen Julia directing the people who were arresting Zahir.
She desperately signaled not to reveal their location.
“Is that important? What happened to my father?”
Karida’s skin crawled again.
She thought that woman must be a devil.
Karida looked at Ahmadi. She continued to send silent signals.
Fortunately, he understood her signals immediately.
Ahmadi changed his voice and tried to speak calmly.
“No, I don’t know anything either. What happened? I was… on my way home from my brother’s wedding yesterday.”
It was too hard for Karida to listen.
She gestured for Ahmadi to hand her the phone, but he shook his head with a serious face.
“What happened to my father? Is visitation possible?”
There was not a shred of emotion in her voice as she used the word ‘worry’. It was a clear threat.
“…Thank you. If you hear any news, please contact us.”
Ahmadi hung up the phone and gave it back to Raina.
Zaydan, who had been checking that the call was disconnected, slammed the steering wheel and let out a torrent of held-back rage.
No one stopped Zaydan’s aggressive words and actions. Without saying a word, everyone in the car shared the same feeling.
An awkward silence, which no one dared to break, fell. The one who broke the silence first was Ahmadi.
“Karida, if it weren’t for you, something terrible would have happened to our other family members too.”
“Huh? Oh… no…I…”
The silence continued.
No one had the courage to break the stillness.
It was easy to suggest meaningless solutions or to blame each other, but that would not have made the situation better.
“This is our family’s business now. We can’t drag Karida into this.”
Raina, who had emerged from a sea of deep thought, said in a voice filled with determination, as she took Karida’s hand.
“What? I’m…”
Raina shook her head.
Karida trembled with rage at her own powerlessness.
“We’re safe for now thanks to you. You may not be our family by blood, but you are our family. And family should protect each other, right?”
Zaydan’s handsome smile was reflected in the rearview mirror.
“The Americans are going to kill our family.”
Bashira, who had been quiet, said something ominous.
“Come on, why would you say that? Grandma, we’re all Americans now. What did we do wrong.”
At Zaydan’s easy-going manner, Bashira grew even more angry and started shouting.
“What do you know! What do you know about what America did to our country!! My friend, my brother, my father, they were all killed by the Americans in the war! It was wrong from the start. We should have just ignored Zahir’s dream or whatever and not come…”
Bashira began to tremble, staring into space.
Raina took off her outer coat, covered Bashira with it, and held her.
Karida didn't know what to say and just watched.
Ahmadi, as if having made a decision, handed a piece of paper with something written on it to Karida.
“Karida, this is Chazra’s contact information.”
“Huh? Why this?”
“If something happens to us, can you look after Chazra? He really doesn’t know anything.”
“What are you talking about, Ahmadi? You, me, Mom, Grandma, none of us know anything. Or are you saying you know something?”
Ahmadi shook his head at Zaydan’s words.
Karida saved the contact information she received from Ahmadi on her phone.
And she sent a normal text message with a congratulatory message for the wedding and wishing them a good honeymoon.
After sending the text, she felt afraid and hated everything.
She couldn't understand why this had happened to her father.
The fact that she had to return to that dreadful California after parting with them also tormented her.
“Ahmadi, Zaydan. I have to go back to Iraq.”
It was the answer to all her worries.
Zaydan tried to object, but Ahmadi raised his hand to stop him.
“I was getting tired of life in America. So I’ll go back to Iraq first and get settled. If something happens to you… then come to Iraq. I’ll protect you.”
“…Karida.”
Zaydan lowered his head and pulled the car over to the side of the road.
“Thanks.”
Karida said her goodbyes, hugging everyone.
“You all have to be safe. And if you rescue Father, come to Iraq. I’ll help you with everything.”
From the back seat, the sound of Bashira’s prayers could be heard.
“Oh, great Allah, please forgive my sins. Please forgive the sins of my son and grandsons who helped America.”
“Mother, please stop.”
Even when Raina tried to soothe her, her prayers did not stop.
They all looked at Karida with embarrassed expressions.
“Go on. I’ll call a taxi and go.”
“Ah! Right. Then what about your car?”
“This? It’s a rental. I’ll just call the company, tell them the location, and have them pick it up.”
“Ah…, nothing bad should happen to you either.”
Zaydan was genuinely worried. She felt a little better.
'They are on my side.'
“Zaydan. If this all ends safely, will you marry me in Iraq? You’re not gay, are you?”
“Huh? What are you talking about!”
Seeing Zaydan’s surprised face, she was able to smile a little.
“Be careful.” Karida said.
“You too.” Ahmadi and Zaydan said.
“You be careful too.” Raina said.
Watching the back of the car disappear, Karida prayed that it would be nothing serious, that this would not be the last time.
She returned to California that way.
But for three days, she heard no news.
At least, her car didn't become a problem.
Karida suppressed her anxiety and silently finished her preparations to return to Iraq.
After sending a text to Zaydan and Ahmadi that she was returning, she called Song Joo-eun and said she was quitting.
Song Joo-eun was surprised and tried to dissuade her, but Karida’s decision was firm.
Karida had finally found what she wanted to do.
For her beloved father, Zahir, and his family, she was willing to use the power of the family she had so despised.
No matter what it took, she had to prepare a land where they could stand on their own again.
Thank you for reading, and for staying with the world of Artistea.
Part 1 is fully completed (Chapters 0–15 + Asha’s side story).If you prefer not to wait for the scheduled uploads, the entire volume is already available on:
?? Amazon Kindle / Google Books — Search: Artistea: The Indelible Reminiscence(Links aren’t posted here to respect site policy, but the title alone will bring it up instantly.)
The free uploads here will continue on schedule no matter what. Your presence alone means more to me than I can express.
Next upload: ?? 2026-01-11