First Brainwashing: Hero Spade (3)
"This fucking bastard...!"
Spade trembled with rage in front of the jack-in-the-box-like contraption that seemed to mock her. But her attention quickly shifted back to Apple at the muffled mmph, mmph sounds coming from below.
At least she's safe. That's what matters.
Letting out a slightly deflated sigh, Spade peeled the tape off Apple's mouth.
Riiip...
"Ow...!"
Even though she'd been careful, Apple still winced in pain.
"You okay? No injuries? I'll get you out right now."
She moved to undo the restraints on the chair, but they were all solid metal from the seat to the arm and leg clamps. Even for Spade, bending steel barehanded was impossible—unless it was something like curving a steel bar, maybe.
"Gonna need a bolt cutter for this..."
"Spade! Run!"
"Huh?"
Apple's urgent cry caught her off guard. Before Spade could process it—
Clunk!
Rumble...
The warehouse door, which had been wide open until now, slammed shut on its own.
"Ah...!"
Hiss—!
As if that weren't enough, unknown gas burst from small container boxes scattered around the warehouse.
Tear gas...? Or...!
"Don't breathe it!" Apple shouted desperately.
Spade didn't need to be told—it screamed danger on instinct. She rushed to the door, but there was no handle. Mechanical lock, probably controlled by a remote from afar.
"This, ugh...!"
Bam!
She kicked the door with all her mana-infused strength, but the thick steel only dented slightly. In the meantime, the gas was already clouding the air, making Apple cough and hack.
Spade had inhaled a bit too.
"Urk?!"
Her head spun for a moment. Paralysis gas? Something like that?
Can't stay here. Gotta...
What do I do? WhatdoIdowhatdoIdo—what?!
"No. 13...!!"
The gas thickened by the second. Spade muttered curses under her breath, cold sweat trickling down as she racked her brain desperately.
"...That should do it. Yeah?"
About ten minutes later, Villain No. 13 sauntered toward the warehouse where he'd lured Spade, having waited on a distant floor to evade her beastly senses.
This should be enough to take down even that monster of a woman.
"Smash the surveillance camera, why don't you? That thing was expensive."
He'd wanted to check inside, but Spade had apparently shot it to pieces in a fit of rage through the gas. No way to see now.
I snuck it from Dorothy's supply room...
Still, the plan looked like a success. Even Spade couldn't breach that door.
This was an abandoned factory once used as an Abyss outpost—power still flowed, and old facilities remained. The warehouse holding Spade and Apple doubled as a shelter, built tough enough to withstand superhuman strength from inside or out.
Who'd have thought I'd recycle it like this?
Moments later, at the door, No. 13 operated it with his handheld terminal.
Groooan...
The heavy steel door slid inward, venting the trapped gas in a whoosh.
He waited a bit farther back to avoid inhaling any, then stepped inside.
Alright, time to collect the downed hero—
"Huh?"
The room was empty. No Apple bound in the center, no Spade with her. Not even the heavy metal chair.
"No... 13-hoooooooo!!!"
"?!"
"Kyaaaaah?!"
The scream came from right nearby, in the warehouse corner. Spade had stacked random parts and junk, climbed atop it, and now leaped straight at him.
Thud!
Crack!
A heel drop aimed to crush his skull. It barely missed, her boot slamming into the concrete with terrifying force, cracking it.
"U, uwah! Uwaaaah!!!"
"Shit! She dodged!"
"S-Spaaaade~! Eeeek~!"
Spade tossed Apple down like discarded baggage—she'd been holding her overhead. Bound and helpless, Apple could only scream in terror.
Finally unburdened, Spade fixed No. 13 with a fierce glare.
"Ha... I'm gonna kill you. Gonna kill you dead!!"
No. 13 spun and bolted without a counterattack plan, Spade hot on his heels, kicking off floors and walls.
The gas from the containers filled the cramped warehouse in seconds. But heavy, it sank quickly.
Spotting that, Spade frantically piled up nearby junk and items, climbing atop the stack with Apple—chair and all—hoisted in both arms.
It bought time as the gas settled, leaving barely enough headroom near the ceiling. Only Apple's head, held high, escaped; Spade stayed immersed.
Yet she emerged unscathed because—
"I! Can! Hold my breath! For an hour!!!"
"Guhk?!"
No. 13 flew several meters from a side kick to the ribs, crashing into scattered containers before stopping. The impact left him paralyzed, body numb.
Spade approached step by step, knuckles cracking ominously.
"Sneaky bastard... Fine. This time, you're done for."
"A-ugh... Eek... S-spare... me..."
"Shut up."
No mercy. No. 13 was on the purge list anyway. His usual idiocy might've given her pause, but taking a comrade hostage and gassing them? That crossed the line—no hesitation.
Time to end this villain.
"W-wait! Trade! Let me live, and I'll give you the restraint password!"
Spade halted mid-stride, adjusting her gloves.
"...Password?"
"Yeah! Dorothy special-made... She's our genius scientist... Anyway! Regular cutters won't work! Promise to spare me, and I'll tell you!"
"...Spit it out."
"You promise?!"
"..."
Spade nodded silently. No. 13 blurted an eight-digit code in a panic.
Spade repeated it aloud to memorize.
"Y-you'll... free me...?"
No. 13 shakily rose, pathetic and trembling. Spade stared coldly, drew her holstered pistol, and aimed.
"Wha...?"
Click!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ruthless, no hesitation. Seven rubber bullets to the chest and gut, until it felt good.
"...!"
No. 13 convulsed, then slumped unconscious.
Spade gazed at him impassively.
"I said I'd spare you. Never said I'd let you go."
Rubber bullets—no death. Not a lie. And the code might be fake anyway.
She safetied the gun, holstered it, and returned to Apple.
The password worked, though finding the chair's back panel took time.
"Thank you, Spade. Sorry for the hassle."
"No worries. Glad you're unhurt. Nothing weird done to you?"
"No. That guy—13, right? He only cared about you."
Obsessed like that. Kinda creepy.
"Let's haul him to base. Boss'll decide—kill or keep."
She'd braced for a real fight after his bold challenge, maybe powers back. But nah, from what she saw.
What was he even thinking, provoking me...?
"Wait, Spade. That's not the issue—something important."
Feeling a bit deflated, Spade turned to leave, but Apple grabbed her. In her hand: smartphone and earbuds.
"I found the villain hideout. Should've reported ASAP, but..."
By sheer luck, she'd overheard villains—dangerous stuff, blunt and clear. Even secretly recorded it.
Not combat-suited, but gutsy as hell.
"Apple, doing that alone? Dangerous...!"
"I know, but couldn't ignore it. Please watch. Urgent, but you'll handle it!"
Apple tapped the screen, selected a video, handed it with earbuds.
Wonder what it is.
"The start's black—look close, something shows. Really close. Sound's faint too, so focus. Super important."
"Uh... okay..."
Apple insisted, so it must be legit. Puzzled, Spade plugged in the earbuds, maxed volume, and played.
Staring intently at the pitch-black screen that seemed empty.
