They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 554: You Shouldn’t Have Followed Me

Her gaze never left Carl, but her fingers were already at a hidden switch.

Before anyone could react

Hissss!

Gas began pouring into the dining hall, a thick cloud flooding the air.

"Cover your nose, Nnenna!" Somto barked

But she was already one step ahead, her collar pressed tightly over her face.

Their heads snapped toward Athena just in time to see her press another button.

With a mechanical whirr, the floor beneath her seat split open, revealing a narrow stairway. She didn’t hesitate, slipping into it with quick, precise steps as the hidden hatch began to close behind her.

"She’s getting away!" Nnenna shouted, her voice muffled by the cloth she had wrapped around her mouth and nose.

"Let her go! We need to get out of here, now," Somto snapped, his tone urgent. "We can’t hold our breath forever!"

"No," Nnenna’s eyes were razor sharp above the fabric. "She has information I need."

"Nnenna, don’t you dare—" Somto began.

But before he could finish, she was already moving, slipping through the narrowing gap with a speed that made all three men freeze in horror.

Arthur reacted first, lunging toward the control panel. He slammed the button again, trying to reopen the hatch

Click.

No movement.

watch out!" Somto’s voice was sharp and panicked as he

BOOM!

explosion ripped through the section where they had been standing moments before, the shockwave slamming

clearly anticipated that someone might try to follow her, and had most likely

thought to check for traps. Fortunately, Somto had sharp ears; the faint click had been

the lingering haze. "Come on. I think I know where that passage leads." Without

of his soldiers and already

stairway, Athena ran without slowing. She was almost certain no one could

Fast footsteps.

breath caught.

panic clawed at her composure. She pushed harder, nearly stumbling as she burst through the end of the passage, only to find herself at the edge of a sheer

sudden, dizzying drop. The cliff stretched out into open air, jagged rocks jutting from the ocean far below. The wind roared up from beneath, sharp and cold, carrying the faint, salty sting of

like it had no business existing there, stood a small, weathered building, stone walls streaked with moss, a

The footsteps behind her didn’t stop. They followed, relentless, stubborn, and emerged into the light with

when she saw Nnenna instead. Surprise flickered in Athena’s eyes, quickly replaced

me," Athena said, her voice

out, so close it felt like it was right beside them, yet it came from

to me instead of

snapped toward the building. What kind of voice was that? It was

sound

figure stepped out. Cloaked in a black robe that seemed to drink in the light,

muttered, voice thick with irritation as it advanced toward