Chapter 268

Aria Bennett caught the frustrated look on Ronan Caldwell's face and instantly knew he'd considered recording the clues too—just a second too late.

"Move!" she urged sharply. "The horde's coming back."

Ezra Vaughn lingered, eyeing the vintage computer with longing.

"If we could just smash it..." he muttered under his breath.

Declan Ross wore a similar expression of regret.

Ronan saw right through them.

"Don't even think about it," he said, already striding toward the exit. "Even if the rules allowed it, we shouldn't."

Ezra scratched his head. "Why not?"

Instead of answering, Ronan glanced at Aria. "Explain it to them."

Aria nodded. "Ever heard of 'shoot the outstanding bird first'?"

"If we're the only ones with complete intel..." She paused meaningfully. "...the other 199 teams would unite against us."

Ezra and Declan exchanged glances, realization dawning.

"Right," Declan clicked his tongue. "Getting ganged up on would suck."

Aria added, "Besides, just the five of us..."

"Completing three main missions in a zombie apocalypse?" She shook her head. "No way."

Ezra's eyes suddenly lit up. "Wait—you recorded it, didn't you?"

"That recording..." He rubbed his hands together. "How can we use it?"

Aria smirked. "Oh, it'll be very useful."

Ronan picked up the thread: "This is downtown. The horde will only grow."

"The later teams arrive..." He let the implication hang. "...the harder it'll be for them to get clues."

The five scrambled into their armored SUV. Miles Sutton floored the gas, plowing through lunging zombies.

"You're not thinking..." Declan's eyes widened. "...of selling the intel?"

Aria snapped her fingers. "Bingo!"

"Trading for points," she waved her comm device. "I checked with the system—totally legal."

Four sharp intakes of breath echoed in the vehicle.

"Th-that's allowed?!" Ezra stammered.

Even Ronan looked genuinely stunned.

Aria blinked innocently. "No rule against it."

She shrugged. "Took a shot in the dark. Worked better than expected."

An awed silence fell.

[OMG! This is next-level genius!]

[Queen Aria playing 4D chess out here!]

[Other teams are still clue-hunting while she's monetizing intel]

[The sheer IQ gap is brutal]

[LMAO their faces! Priceless!]

[Classic Aria—always innovating]

[11/10 would watch again]

Ezra finally choked out, "Aria, I bow to you."

Declan silently raised both thumbs.

Ronan rubbed his temples. "I yield."

Aria's grin turned razor-sharp. "Oh, this is just the beginning."

Outside, the setting sun bathed the apocalyptic city in blood-red light.