Truth be told, Noel wasn't feeling good. In fact, she felt downright awful.
Her presence here meant that not only had her plan failed completely, but she had also fallen into Jonas's trap. This was undoubtedly the greatest defeat of her career.
This defeat might even spell the end of her life. One wrong move, and the whole game was lost.
But that wasn't the only thing making this worse.
Noel looked at the man before her and realized she didn't even have the courage to meet his eyes.
The middle-aged man in the white lab coat from her memories overlapped with Jonas's figure. She feared him from the bottom of her heart. Even knowing that this was merely an effect of his methods, she couldn't overcome that fear.
In gaming terms, Miss Noel had undoubtedly been afflicted with a debuff-one that only activated when she faced Jonas.
"How... did you do it?"
Noel spoke hoarsely, but she couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze. She still couldn't face the man before her.
Jonas, however, sat down directly in front of her. Rather than answering her question, he said:
"You were found unconscious in the control room, Miss Noel. Some people from the Alt Conglomerate happened to pass by and rescued you with the Peacekeeping Forces."
His account was full of holes and utterly at odds with the facts, but Noel's eyes merely flickered. She didn't contradict him.
"We don't know why you were unconscious there, Miss Noel, but by the time the Alt Conglomerate's people arrived, the place was already filled with thick smoke..." Jonas sounded wistful, as though he had actually witnessed that billowing smoke.
Noel knew perfectly well that he was spouting nonsense, and she knew exactly what he was trying to achieve.
She lowered her eyes