The Broken System Chose the Antagonist
Chapter 39: Warehouse

Chapter 39: Warehouse

Nadia neared the warehouse with newfound determination, motivated to put her plan into action. ’I’m not going to let you toy with me any more, Hilda Hertel.’ She thought with a growl.

When she stepped inside, she was met with the sight of a large, open hall. It had a concrete floor that was cracked from age and stained from cargo-handling. A roof of steel trusses that had skylights that spanned all the way from the entrance to the end. And stacks of wooden crates, barrels, and torn sacks that were placed neatly on either side of the hall.

The insides were also bustling with people like an indoor market, chatting and moving around for unknown reasons.

Nadia narrowed her eyes slightly in suspicion. ’For a place that’s been abandoned for several decades, this place looks rather maintained...’

While glancing around in search of her group, she took another step inside, then immediately recoiled.

"Ugh...!"

Her nose wrinkled as an abrupt odour of salt, oil, and corroding metal wafted into her nostrils — clogging them the moment she smelt it.

It was an overwhelming odour, but one she was particularly familiar with — minus the salt — having visited several factories in the past. Thus, she managed to quickly adapt to the smell.

Although... she did feel there was something off about the odour in the factory.

Nadia shot a random glance at the steel beams that connected to the ceiling and discovered the cause of this strange odour.

Situated between the areas where the beam and ceiling were connected was a slimy black mould, growing out of the steel beam’s paint, which was in the process of peeling off.

It grew in a difficult-to-reach spot near the ceiling, though it should be manageable enough if the cleaner was skilled in climbing.

Unfortunately, though, given that it hadn’t yet been cleaned, it seemed that the people in Ross’ group didn’t feel it was worth the effort... or they just hadn’t gotten around to clearing it yet.

’I hope it gets cleared soon... I think this type of mould can easily get people sick.’ Nadia thought, concerned.

She had also noticed that compared to the walls, the roof didn’t look that reinforced. But that shouldn’t matter all too much, assuming the steel beams were in good enough condition, the roof shouldn’t give in any time soon.

Averting her gaze from the ceiling, she slowly made her way through the bustling crowd to find her group, which she discovered had made it a quarter of the way through the tour.

"That’s where we store our steel bars, and over there is where we store our wooden pallets. Though we should throw them out, since they’ve all become rotten." Ross pointed out. "And there are our metal hooks in case we need to chain something up, and..."

While Ross continued to list the things they had in storage, Hilda, who was listening keenly at the back, noticed Nadia’s arrival. And at this, she could help but break into a joyful mood, smiling near-instantly when she locked onto the Heroine’s figure.

"You’ve finally arrived, meine Dame. Did it really take you that long to compose yourself~? Hehe," Hilda snickered teasingly.

"What."

A vein bulged on Nadia’s forehead, ticked off by what she heard. She had only just arrived, but she was already getting the urge to lash out at the woman.

Fortunately, the remembrance of her plan allowed her to compose herself.

She let out a sigh, then responded in a monotonous voice:

"No. So, what did I miss?"

Hilda blinked at Nadia’s cold response, then smirked.

"Nothing much, I can fill you in on them later."

"That’d be appreciated."

"Yep, yep~"

Nadia, who was about to turn away, watched as Hilda pushed out her right hand towards her. She raised an eyebrow at this and looked at the woman with a questioning stare.

"What are you doin—"

"Well, I just thought, since it’s so crowded, we could hold—"

"Absolutely not."

"I hadn’t even finished yet!"

Nadia sneered in repulse.

"There’s no way I’m holding your hand again."

"Oh, come on~ it wouldn’t hurt you~" Hilda urged, but was immediately given a glare in response.

She then pouted with a look of betrayal.

"You seemed to have liked it last time, so why not now—"

"I didn’t." Nadia briskly interrupted, struggling to hold it in, "And it’s never going to happen again. You. Got. That?"

Hilda stared blankly at her for a few seconds before rolling her eyes.

She then sighed in deep disappointment.

"Haa... fine~..."

She withdrew her hand.

[Quest: Hold hands with Nadia Crane]

[Status: Failed]