Chapter 283

"Beep—" The horn of the military armored SUV blared at the base entrance.

Two foreign teams turned simultaneously, just in time to see the Chinese squad emerging alongside armed forces personnel. Their eyes gleamed with recognition—the special broadcast announcement hadn't escaped their notice.

"Captain Caldwell!" The blond team leader strode forward, intercepting Ronan Caldwell before he could board the vehicle. "A word?"

The brunet leader from the rival team closed in. "We've got questions too."

Ronan exchanged a glance with Aria Bennett before turning with a diplomatic smile. "Of course."

The three teams formed an uneasy triangle at the gates.

"That's Lieutenant Carter, isn't it?" The blond leader nodded toward the SUV. "Running an op?"

Ronan confirmed with a tilt of his head. "Just assisting with a minor military request."

"The broadcast mentioned you found the second clue?" The brunet cut to the chase. "Where's Professor Emmett Shaw's lab?"

Miles Sutton muffled a snicker behind them until Aria's elbow found his ribs.

"We did locate it." Ronan produced a folded slip from his pocket. "However..."

Every rival operative leaned forward.

"Let's make a deal." He waved the paper. "One point for the lab's coordinates. Two points for the actual clue."

Silence descended for three heartbeats.

"You're joking." The blond leader's eyes widened. "Points are transferable?"

Ronan's smile turned cryptic. "The system confirmed it. Just initiate the transfer via captain's watch."

The rival teams immediately huddled, voices rising in heated debate. Aria leaned against the SUV, watching their flushed faces with quiet amusement.

"Deal!" Both teams ultimately opted for the one-point intel.

Ronan accepted their point transfers and handed over the note with a "helpful" addendum: "Fair warning—the lab's got a biometric lock. Might need... specialized skills."

The rivals departed in high spirits. The moment they disappeared, Miles exploded with laughter. "Captain, that's brutal! Even the military couldn't crack that lock—"

"Business strategy," Aria corrected coolly. "When they hit that dead end, they'll return for the real clue."

Lieutenant Carter revved the engine. "Move out! We need to reach the armory before nightfall!"

The convoy rolled through apocalyptic streets—cars strewn like broken toys, zombies shambling through rubble. Every few hundred meters required stopping to clear roadblocks.

"Ping!" A stray bullet ricocheted off their window.

"Ambush!" Carter wrenched the steering wheel.

Aria rolled down her window and fired in one fluid motion. A distant scream preceded a body tumbling from a rooftop.

"Push through!" Carter floored the accelerator.

By the time the armory's silhouette appeared, full darkness had fallen. Moonlight glinted off the reinforced concrete structure—a slumbering behemoth awaiting their arrival.

"Here." Carter killed the engine, turning to Aria. "Your show now."

Aria flexed her fingers, studying the intricate electronic lock glowing coldly under the moon. "Leave it to me."