Inside Kebento Factory's potion workshop, a massive vat sat at the center, filled to the brim with alchemical liquid bubbling over a flame below.

Thick smoke rolled everywhere, green mist choking the air. The heat was suffocating—no ordinary person could last three minutes here. The liquid itself seeped toxins into the body bit by bit.

Hundreds of workers crammed into the near-sealed space, masks on their faces. They expertly mixed reagents, crafting vials of potions with varied effects.

Some boosted physical strength temporarily; others enhanced magic affinity. Especially popular among adventurers were rapid-healing potions.

Special brews existed too, like imitations of succubus essence, often delivered to wealthy heiresses' mansions. In short, every bottle was handcrafted here.

Why use so many workers instead of efficient methods?

Simple: cheap labor.

What could be more efficient than employees working twelve-hour days, even volunteering for extra hours?

"Hmm... let's see, add this first, then... ah!" A blonde girl's arm accidentally brushed a nearby reagent bottle.

*Clack...*

The vial of purple liquid tipped over, slowly rolling down until it plopped into the alchemical vat. Instantly, the mixture began boiling violently.

*BOOM!*

A deafening blast shook the room. Shelves rattled, vials teetering on the edge. The blonde girl scrambled to steady them, narrowly avoiding disaster.

*Phew...* She sighed in relief.

"Sally Giovani!" A roar came from behind.

"Ah! Y-yes!" Sally snapped to attention. "Supervisor, what is it?"

"What do you think?!" the factory supervisor bellowed. "Did you just blow up another potion? I warned you—it's dangerous! One mistake, and you'd owe more than your life's savings!"

"S-sorry..." Sally lowered her head.

"Tch. Slow and clumsy. Useless!" The supervisor turned away, shouting, "This mistake comes out of your salary this month! Watch it next time!"

"Ugh... yes..." Sally murmured weakly.

Only after he left did she relax.

Despite the commotion, the surrounding workers showed not a trace of reaction. They mechanically repeated their tasks, dull-eyed, as if nothing around them mattered.

"Should be around this area..."

A faint voice caught Sally's attention. She turned to see two white-haired girls—one tall, one short—wearing masks and carrying a crate as they walked in.

"*Cough...* The stench here is awful... Witch Miss, must we enter now? What if that damn Holy Maiden can't find us?"

"Bored outside anyway. And I have business here."

Xia Xin scanned the room, frowning.

Mentally a lazybones, she hated this—dangerous, exhausting, thankless work.

But the system offered too much to refuse.

Just moments ago, new entries appeared in her system panel:

[**Time-Limited Quest Activated**]

[**Quest I: Destroy Kebento Factory** (This massive facility controls humanity's potion lifeline. As the Calamity Witch, crippling it would deal heavy damage—start by obliterating the workshop.)]

[**Reward: Sorceress's Gloves**]

[**Quest II: Bounty** (Factory director Grayd Zakari masters alchemy and finance. As long as he lives, another Kebento Factory will rise. Eliminate him.)]

[**Reward: Magic Scroll · Forbidden Spell · Hellfire**]

[**Note: Complete within three hours or fail permanently. Rewards cannot be reacquired.**]

These quests forced Xia Xin to scout the factory first, boosting her chances.

Three hours wasn't long. Time was tight.

The rewards were tempting too. She didn't know about the gloves, but Hellfire? She knew its power—that raw force could rival a mini nuke!

She had to get it.

So, she "borrowed" two masks and empty crates from the warehouse. Disguised like this, no one noticed they were outsiders.

The factory was huge, packed with workers no one could memorize. Besides, supervisors never complained about extra hands.

Would anyone dare raid this place?

The answer lay in the guards patrolling nearby, armed with strange weapons—they clearly feared no suicidal intruders.

Others might not recognize those weapons, but Xia Xin, once a modern human, knew instantly: flintlock guns! Technology far beyond this "medieval" world.

Flintlocks explained the massive steel factory. No surprise there.

Xia Xin suspected big corporations—and the Empire's elite—hid advanced tech from commoners.

Workers here likely knew nothing of the factory's layout or the guards' weapons. To them, the former was irrelevant; the latter, deadly.

"This just made the quests way harder."

No wonder the system offered such great rewards.

Sending her—a Sorceress bad at magic and physically weak—straight into gunfire was suicide!

"Gotta find a safe way to finish both tasks..." Xia Xin pondered for seconds.

Given the factory's scale, destroying it with her limited magic seemed... slightly challenging.

Better start with the second quest.