What's the best thing in the world? Of course, it's getting things for free!
Hintleyya had just started her job and already felt how good the treatment was at Kazimierz's highest employee satisfaction company. Not only was the staff cafeteria free, but there were also meal subsidies, free drinks and snacks, and even a small coffee corner allowing employees to have afternoon tea around 3 PM. For meal delivery, orders could be placed collectively, with free delivery and discounts. She even had a cat cafe in the company.
"This is already my home—"
Hintleyya lay among a group of cats, so happy she was almost ascending to heaven.
The fluffy cats were obedient, friendly, would knead softly, and even do somersaults, meowing in front of her with overflowing service awareness. Hintleyya usually fed stray cats in her spare time and had visited cat cafes before, but being able to experience this kind of public relations service from a large group of cats for free completely broke her. Compared to this, what kind of hellhole was that damned Shieldless League?
No cats, no free lunch, she had to buy her own bento, subsidies were low, and when there were no targets, they even stingily paid out money!
Where can I leave a bad review for my previous employer?! I want to give it a full negative five-star review!
"That's great, you seem very happy." At this moment, Noah naturally couldn't lie on the ground and enjoy the cats' service like Hintleyya. She could only sit in her wheelchair, letting the cats climb all over her, making her look like a large cat tree. "It was indeed correct to set up a cat cafe in the company, wasn't it?"
"I think it's absolutely correct—but, won't people get addicted to free cat petting and not go to work?" Hintleyya asked curiously, "What if something like that really happens?"
"Nothing will happen… No matter how much they like cats, they won't stay here forever. If someone really stays here all the time, I'll talk to him." Noah replied seriously, "After all, this is a company."
"That's true, you'd definitely have to give him a good scolding."
"No… I'd ask him if he's been troubled by anything recently." Noah said somewhat sheepishly, "I think this is a place of healing. If someone really stays here for so long, they might genuinely be going through something very bad, or experiencing some kind of stress. If that's the case, instead of giving him more pressure, it's better to try and ask, and then see if we can help…"
As Noah spoke, she picked up the cat sitting on her lap, holding it up high as she continued.
"A friend of mine once said she hoped her company would be like a home… I think that's wonderful, so I also want to turn this company into that." Noah's smile was warm. "Although I don't think everyone in the world is good, everyone's lives are already so difficult. If possible, I hope to treat all those who strive to live gently, to make them feel warmth, and then to smile and continue working here for me—this world is pretty good, at least I like it very much."
"..." Hintleyya fell silent. She used a cat to cover her face, even though the other person wouldn't see her expression. But she felt that the expression she was making must be unpresentable…
This kind of company environment is practically raising useless people… If it were Hintleyya, she would definitely freeload at this company for the rest of her life. Although she felt that constantly slacking off would definitely incur public wrath…
But she became even more curious. Why would someone want to assassinate a person like this?
Although it was currently only about approaching her, the Shieldless League was, after all, an assassin organization. Approaching a person essentially meant targeting that person. Every clue Hintleyya obtained from Noah could eventually become a sharp blade pointed at her.
Although Hintleyya had long since lost much of her conscience, she still felt a faint pang of pain now—
—If only she were a hypocrite…
Hintleyya couldn't help but think this way; she wished Noah was a deeply hidden hypocrite, because then, even if she saw her truly die at the hands of the Shieldless League, she probably wouldn't be sad.
Few people targeted by the Shieldless League ever escape unscathed.
Moreover, Noah was a person with limited mobility; no matter how strong her vigilance, she couldn't detect methods like poisoning or long-range sniping. Ultimately… if they truly wanted to kill Noah, there were plenty of ways.
Although the order to kill Noah hadn't been given yet, what if she received it later? What if the Shieldless League lured Kuro and Manner away?
Although Noah was protected by capable people, she herself… was simply too fragile.
So fragile that Hintleyya could snap her neck in an instant right now. At this distance, Hintleyya absolutely couldn't miss; after all, she was the Platinum Position of the Shieldless League.
Hintleyya imagined countless scenarios where she killed the girl in front of her. She felt she could do it. Although she might not be able to escape from those two, she could do it.
No matter whether she could escape safely afterward, this girl would die in this attack; it was irreversible… But in every scenario, Hintleyya wanted to vomit. If she really did that, could she truly live with herself?
Perhaps… not?
Hintleyya closed her eyes, temporarily pushing this thought out of her mind. She didn't know why, but here, she didn't want to think of herself as the Platinum Position; right now, she was… just Hintleyya, a newly hired receptionist.
"Utterly satisfying… I'll definitely be a regular here from now on." As Hintleyya left the cat cafe, despite being covered in cat fur, she still said with lingering enjoyment, "Please, please don't ever give up on the cat cafe."
"Heh heh, well, that depends on your performance." Noah smiled, but Hintleyya had only pushed Noah's wheelchair a few steps when the golden-haired woman wearing a mask walked towards them.
Hintleyya instinctively stiffened, then awkwardly let go of the wheelchair handles.
"I wasn't trying to take your job—"
"Kuro, you found us so quickly?" Noah didn't seem flustered. "You know her, Hintleyya. Starting today, she's also a member of our company."
"…I just heard from the HR director." Kuro was still as laconic as ever, but the look in her eyes towards Hintleyya was utterly devoid of warmth. Even through the mask, Hintleyya clearly felt it—this person didn't like her. "Thank you for accompanying Noah. From now on, leave it to me."
"…Please, be my guest."
Under such pressure, Hintleyya instinctively took two steps back. Watching Kuro take control of the wheelchair, watching Noah say goodbye to her, Hintleyya inexplicably felt a little sour.
—Though she only… tried to please her to get close to her, right?