Chương 315: Chapter : 315

The 13th Unit walked down a long dirt road. The industrial district looked completely abandoned. Rusted metal sheets covered the old buildings. Broken glass littered the sidewalks. The sky above was gray and cloudy. It looked like a very sad place to live. Ken Eliot dragged his feet across the dirt. Scuff. Scuff. Scuff. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. He looked down at his navy blue suit pants. A thick layer of gray dust covered his nice shoes.

"This is a total disaster," Ken complained loudly. He let out a massive yawn.

"My shoes are completely ruined. Rust is terrible for leather. We are walking way too far. I need a break. My legs are officially going on strike." Naomi walked right beside him. She did not yell at him. She just smiled warmly. She nudged his shoulder with her elbow. She treated him exactly like a naughty friend.

"Stop whining, Ken," Naomi teased. Her green eyes sparkled with amusement.

"We just got off the train ten minutes ago. You can survive a little bit of walking. We need to find Luis. He is our only lead."

"I am just expressing my true feelings," Ken replied. He gave her a goofy, lazy grin.

"My feelings say I want to find a couch. And maybe a very large sandwich." Laxmi walked behind them. She tossed a tiny orange flame between her fingers. She laughed out loud.

"You are always hungry, Ken. Do you have a black hole in your stomach?"

"It is a very distinct medical condition," Ken agreed. He patted his stomach.

"I require constant snacks to function." Sayma walked at the front of the group with Princess Iris. Sayma pushed her thick glasses up the bridge of her nose. She checked a small piece of paper.

"The warehouse is just around the next corner. Everyone needs to stay alert." They turned the corner. Suddenly, a bright voice called out from the street behind them.

"Wait! Stop right there!" The entire 13th Unit turned around. A girl in a spotless white and gold uniform ran toward them. Her blonde hair was curled perfectly. It was Elma. The servant from the 16th Unit looked totally out of place in the dirty industrial district. She held a small, neatly tied white bakery box in her hands. Elma stopped a few feet away. She was breathing fast. Her cheeks instantly turned a bright, vibrant shade of pink. She refused to look directly at Ken.

She stared very hard at a rusted streetlamp instead.

"Elma?" Princess Iris asked politely.

"Are you following us?"

"I am absolutely not following you!" Elma announced very quickly. Her voice pitched up just a tiny bit. She crossed her arms tightly.

"Princess Hestia gave me a short afternoon break. I was just taking a walk. I happened to visit a premium bakery in the Inner City. I bought too many chocolate eclairs. I simply do not like wasting food. I decided to give the extra ones to your messy unit." Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Naomi put her hands on her hips and stared at the blonde girl.

"Elma. We are in an abandoned industrial wasteland. There is not a single bakery within a ten-mile radius. Do not even try to lie this time." Elma's face turned so red it looked like it might catch fire. She hugged the box of chocolate eclairs tightly to her chest.

"I... I got lost!" Elma stammered defensively, her blue eyes darting everywhere except at Ken.

"I was looking for a very rare, exotic metal polish for my swords! Yes! And I just happened to have these eclairs in my pocket all day! They are getting warm and squished, so you have to eat them right now!" Laxmi grabbed her stomach, laughing so hard she almost fell over.

"You carried a pristine white bakery box inside your pocket?! That is the best excuse yet!" Ken stepped forward, giving her a huge, goofy smile. He took the box.

"Elma, you brave the dangerous wastelands just to bring me dessert. You are the absolute best stalker a guy could ask for."

"I AM NOT A STALKER!" Elma shrieked, totally losing her arrogant composure.

"Just eat the chocolate and shut up! We are still enemies!" She spun around and ran away as fast as she could, disappearing behind the rusted container. Luna let out a huge yawn. She rubbed her sleepy eyes.

"She definitely likes you, Ken. It is very obvious."

"I am a very lovable guy," Ken agreed lazily. He opened the box. He took a huge bite of a chocolate eclair. He chewed happily.

"And these are fantastic. Best rival ever. But why are we stuck on this loop again?"

"Eat your pastry and keep moving," Naomi chuckled. She patted his back.

"The warehouse is right here." They stood in front of a massive, rusted metal building. The paint peeled off the walls in large strips. The windows were completely broken. The large metal sliding door was open just a crack. Princess Iris stepped forward. She placed her hand on the metal door. She pushed it open. The hinges squeaked loudly. The sound echoed through the empty street. The 13th Unit stepped inside. The warehouse was incredibly dark. The air smelled like old motor oil and damp dirt.

Huge metal shipping containers sat in the corners. Rusty catwalks crisscrossed the ceiling high above them. Broken factory machinery littered the concrete floor.

"This place is super creepy," Ken mumbled. He finished his pastry and dusted his hands on his pants.

"It looks like the perfect place to get attacked by giant spiders. I do not like spiders."

"Stay focused," Zinia warned. She cracked her knuckles. Her eyes scanned the dark shadows.

"This building is huge. Keep your guard up." Sayma walked toward the center of the room. She looked around.

"Hello? Is anyone here? We are looking for Luis. We want to talk about Dr. Carrion." A loud, echoing laugh rang out from above. Everyone looked up. A man stood on the metal catwalk high above the factory floor. He wore a dirty brown jacket. He had messy brown hair and a nasty smirk on his face. He leaned over the metal railing. He looked down at the girls.

"You found me," the man said. His voice was slick and arrogant.

"I am Luis. But I am afraid you are entirely too late." Princess Iris looked up at him. Her violet eyes were calm.

"Anny sent us. She said you were Dr. Carrion's childhood friend. She said you worked with him in his laboratory. We just want some answers." Luis laughed again. It was a cold, cruel sound.

"Friend? I hated Carrion. I always hated him. He was an arrogant snob. He always thought he was smarter than everyone else. I did not work with him. I watched him." Naomi frowned. She rested her hands on her twin daggers.

"Anny told us you two were close. She said you spent every night together."

"Anny told you exactly what I wanted her to tell you," Luis sneered. He stood up straight. He clapped his hands together twice. The sound echoed loudly.