They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System-Chapter 670: You Have Some Nerve Coming Here

"He’s never been gentle with my training, so he definitely knows I can handle myself when the time comes."

"Maybe we could—" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Tu tu.

A message pinged on her phone, cutting her off mid sentence.

"Excuse me," Nnenna murmured, glancing down at her phone as it buzzed.

It was a message from Arthur.

[Where are you?]

She froze for a second, then looked up at Darius. Wait... he hasn’t told Arthur we’re here? That was a serious oversight especially in a time like this. He must have been too distracted by everything going on.

Nnenna didn’t say a word of blame. He had looked tense since they got to the basement; maybe the weight of command and worry had clouded his usual sharpness.

Taking the initiative, she typed a reply.

[We’re in the basement.]

The response came almost instantly.

[We?]

Nnenna blinked, a little confused. She quickly replied....

[Yes, Darius and I. He picked me up and brought me to the basement like you ordered. We’re okay.]

She added that last part intentionally, to reassure him that Darius had done everything right, and that the basement was secure.

But after that, silence. No reply. No typing dots. Just the quiet hum of the old lights overhead.

Nnenna frowned and slowly set the phone aside.

"Who was that?" Darius asked, noticing the flicker of concern on her face.

"Arthur," she replied simply.

"What did he say?" he pressed, sitting up straighter.

"Not much. He’s probably just... busy."

Her tone was even, but a faint unease crept into her chest. Arthur never left messages hanging, not when she was involved.

Still, Darius didn’t say anything more. The room went quiet again, and only the sound of the faint hum in the basement filled the air.

The silence stretched for several minutes.

Then, tap, tap, tap, hurried footsteps echoed faintly through the corridor.

Nnenna’s head snapped up at once. Her senses sharpened, every sound amplified. She stood, alert and still.

Darius blinked, confused. He couldn’t hear what she did. Only after a few more moments did the faint thuds reach his ears, and when they did, he was on his feet too, ready, tense.

"Maybe we should hide," he whispered, glancing around for cover. "If it’s an enemy, they might just pass by. I’d only slow you down, I’m not trained to fight."

"No need." Nnenna shook her head firmly, her tone steady. "It’s only one person. Skilled, yes, but I can take them."

Darius hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."

The footsteps drew closer. The dim light stretched a shadow across the far wall. Nnenna’s muscles tightened, ready to strike, until she recognized the voice.

"Little Sweetie?" she called, her voice edged with surprise.

"There you are," Little Sweetie said from a distance, smiling faintly as her eyes found Nnenna. "I’ve been looking all over for you."

Nnenna exhaled softly, lowering her stance when she didn’t see a mask from the distance. "Is it time for me to come back upstairs?" she asked, relaxing now that she recognized the face.

If Little Sweetie was here, Arthur must have sent her. He had called earlier before telling Nnenna to stay in her room and wait.

"No, not yet."

Little Sweetie shook her head slowly, her expression unreadable. "Actually, Arthur sent me here for a different reason."

Nnenna frowned, curiosity stirring. "What reason?"

"To get the power source," Little Sweetie replied calmly, almost too calmly.

Nnenna blinked. "What power source?" She glanced around the dimly lit basement, half expecting to see some glowing crystal hidden in a corner.

"The power source you have, of course," Little Sweetie said as if it were obvious. "He said it needs to be moved to a more secure location. You should give it to me so we can send it out of the castle quickly, then send you away too, until further notice."

Nnenna stared, her confusion deepening. "I don’t understand. What power source?" she asked again, trying to recall if Arthur or Carl had ever given her anything to keep safe.

She turned to Darius, but he only shrugged, equally lost.

"Don’t tell me you lost it?" Little Sweetie snapped, stepping closer now, her tone sharper. "Nnenna, stop wasting time. You’re in serious danger. I need to protect both you and the power source. Where is it?"

"I—"

"Step away from her."

The cold voice cut through the basement like a blade.

"Arthur?" Darius blurted out, startled.

Nnenna froze for a heartbeat, then her mind pieced it together. That voice. That tone. It was Arthur. But if he was the one speaking, then—

Her eyes darted to Little Sweetie. She raised her phone, its screen glow slicing through the gloom to reveal the woman’s face.

Not Little Sweetie.

A disguise. Again.

Her pulse quickened. She yanked Darius behind her and took a defensive stance, every sense sharpened. Whoever was under that mask, this was no ally.

In a flash, Arthur moved, too fast for the eye to follow.

He was beside "Little Sweetie" in an instant, twisting her arms behind her back and locking them in one fluid motion. Her strength meant nothing against his.

"Get your hands off me!" she hissed, struggling hard.

Arthur didn’t budge. His grip stayed firm, his expression colder than stone as his gaze fixed on the mask that had begun to slip from her face.

Nnenna stepped forward cautiously, Darius trailing just behind her. The air was thick, heavy with the faint sound of scuffling and the sharp rhythm of their breathing.

When she drew close enough to see more clearly, her stomach dropped.

That wasn’t Little Sweetie indeed.

Another disguise.

Her pulse quickened. She reached out and peeled the mask off slowly, her hand trembling, not from fear, but from anger at what she might find beneath.

The mask came away with a soft snap.

"You—" Nnenna’s voice cracked in disbelief. "Athena!"

The name left her lips like venom. Rage surged through her chest as memories of fire, betrayal, and her parents’ final moments flashed in her mind.