TDAF 23

Chapter 23

“Th-the weight is the same.”

“If the weight is the same, that’s even more of a problem. The materials are different. Don’t you have any older Version 5 watches?”

At her words, Anna and Tom flinched. Then Tom quickly ran off and called another craftsman, Sten, who was in a different room.

There were seven craftsmen currently working at Factory No. 1, and these three were the ones who had been working there since the former director couple were still alive.

Sten spoke in a low voice.

“I told you. I knew it. We all knew something was wrong.”

It was already something all three craftsmen had noticed—that the parts coming out of the master room had changed after Evil became the director.

Anna said to Scarlet,

“At first, Sten discovered it, and we all went together to confront Director Evil. We told him the parts were strange.”

“The four senior craftsmen who were originally here were all fired. They told us juniors not to say anything….”

Tom trailed off. The three craftsmen looked ashamed and sorrowful.

Scarlet said,

“I’ll go into the master room. I need to check the materials to understand. I remember the password.”

She knew it would be dangerous if she got caught, but none of the three could stop her. Her eyes, shining with curiosity, were too similar to the former director couple’s. They knew better than anyone that this kind of investigative obsession was the Crimson family’s fate. It had been a long time since they had seen that look.

Scarlet took a deep breath.

“Do you know when Uncle is coming back from his trip?”

“He said he’d return tomorrow.”

The days when both Evil and Arnold were out would not come again anytime soon. Suppressing her fear, Scarlet walked toward the master room.

Anna, the most experienced of the three, quickly gave orders.

“Make sure no other staff run into the young lady.”

“Got it.”

Tom and Sten hurried off to check the other workers’ locations.

Meanwhile, Scarlet stood in front of the master room and steadied her breathing.

It felt as if she were standing before a massive barrier. This was Evil Crimson’s room—the man who had exploited her since she was twelve. Her face turned pale with fear.

But she had to know. Her desire to understand was stronger than anything else, and she couldn’t allow faulty parts to be sold. If not today, she might never get another chance like this.

To suppress the fear binding her like chains, she thought of something else—Victor Dumpfelt. Whenever she remembered his indifferent face telling her to get lost or calling her useless, even fear faded.

Since childhood, Scarlet often thought she would never be able to raise a child of her own.

She could love them—but she couldn’t bear to watch them collide with the harsh world outside her arms. The thought of children enduring the world’s cruelty until they became adults made her chest ache painfully.

Because of that, seeing someone she loved disappointed was more terrifying than violence itself. Not being able to make them happy felt like a sin.

Thinking of something even worse, her fear subsided.

Scarlet unlocked the puzzle-like master room door using her memory and stepped inside.

Inside the Master Room

The master room was far more organized than when her parents used it.

After searching for a long time, Scarlet finally found the manufacturing method for Crimson Version 5.

It listed materials and weights. The part she had noticed as “different in thickness” was also included—“pebbles from Luse Waterfall.”

She quickly memorized everything. If she could recreate it later, it was best to remember it now.

While continuing to inspect the room, she noticed a pile of pebbles in one corner.

“Oh… this.”

Those pebbles came from Luse Waterfall in southern Salantie, where the river fell directly into the sea.

She picked one up and studied it for a long time.

Why did the quantity change even though the weight was the same?

As she concentrated, she recalled her mother’s voice:

“Remember this, Scarlet. Luse Waterfall has a sacred power. We use pebbles that have endured that force. Only stones taken from underwater are allowed. Stones taken from outside the water are not.”

Scarlet looked at the stones.

But there was no way to tell whether these were taken from underwater or from outside.

While she was checking them—

“Ah, no, sir!”

Anna’s voice.

Scarlet turned sharply, a chill running through her body.

At that moment, there was a flash—and her body collapsed.

When Scarlet barely lifted her head, she saw Evil Crimson standing there.

He shook off the staff trying to restrain him, locked the door, cursed loudly, then looked down at Scarlet and rolled up his sleeves.

“You really are insane. You little thief.”

“The parts… are wrong…”

“Shut up!”

Rage filled Evil’s eyes.

“Who decides what’s right? Me or your dead parents?!”

Scarlet’s eyes also sharpened. Her usual submissive gaze turned fierce. This was about her parents’ pride.

“My parents made every part for a reason! Unless there’s proof it’s better, there’s no reason to change it! Crimson components are meant for lifelong clocks—”

“SHUT UP! I said shut up!”

Evil screamed, driven mad.

Having unlawfully taken his brother’s position, he needed to prove he could run the Crimson business. The ability to produce Version 5 was proof of his legitimacy as a leader. If that turned out to be wrong, his authority would collapse.

Worse, if word spread that the parts were defective, customers would demand refunds. It could ruin him.

Hours later, Scarlet regained consciousness.

She sat up and looked around. It was completely dark.

She felt along the wall, circled the room, and found stairs. Above them was a wooden panel—it was a basement.

She knocked.

“Is anyone outside?”

No response.

“Hello… Uncle… I’m sorry…”

Still nothing.

The darkness and enclosed space were enough to break even a strong mind.

Her voice shook as she knocked again and again.

“Please… help me…”

She covered her mouth and began to cry.

The air felt thin. She curled up on the stairs, unaware the panel above her was opening.

Someone grabbed her arm and pulled her up.

When she lifted her head—

Victor Dumpfelt stood there.

“Come here.”

Before she could react, he lifted her into his arms.

“Keep your eyes closed. It’s bad if your eyes adjust suddenly.”

Scarlet couldn’t even nod. She clung to his neck.

They were in the basement under the fountain system in Factory No. 1’s garden.

Evil, brought there by Victor’s men, still shouted angrily:

“That girl entered a confidential area! You should be grateful I didn’t kill her on the spot!”

Scarlet flinched at his voice.

Victor gently patted her like a frightened animal and placed her in a carriage.

She curled up, trembling. Victor covered her with his jacket.

Members of the Crimson family had always been large and strong, descended from blacksmiths.

Evil, who had been about to attack again, was momentarily shocked by Victor’s build.

But he dismissed it, thinking Victor was only someone who gave orders.

That thought changed instantly when Victor approached.

Evil instinctively realized he was facing someone far beyond him.

Victor struck him once. Evil swung back, but Victor dodged easily and broke his right arm.

A crack echoed.

Scarlet, hearing it, slowly lifted her head.

She saw Evil being beaten one-sidedly.

Even with support from Palin behind Victor, Evil collapsed after a punch to the stomach and lost consciousness.

Scarlet looked at Evil lying at Victor’s feet—and slowly calmed down.

A strange relief spread through her, as if chains binding her had been broken.

She even let out a faint laugh.

Everyone turned toward her.

Evan, leaning against the carriage, glanced inside and said:

“So our young lady likes this kind of thing.”