Chapter 273

The ten-minute deadline was approaching when Lieutenant Carter spotted flashlight signals flashing in the distance.

"Everyone, out!" he commanded in a low voice. "Prepare to move!"

Miles Sutton watched as the team retrieved firearms from the trunk, his eyes widening.

"Can we get guns too?" he asked eagerly, rubbing his hands together.

Hacking zombies with knives was downright uncivilized—especially during a livestream.

Lieutenant Carter shook his head firmly. "Sorry, limited supplies."

After a pause, he added, "Once the mission's done, I'll put in a request for you."

These newcomers were still unvetted—no way he was handing out weapons recklessly.

Miles sighed in disappointment. "Fine. Don’t forget to request them, okay?"

Then Aria Bennett spoke up. "Can I at least have one for self-defense?"

She was done swinging that ridiculous machete.

Lieutenant Carter hesitated before handing her a pistol. "Watch the trigger. Stick close and only fire if necessary."

Miles’s jaw dropped. "Hey! I thought we were short on gear?"

Lieutenant Carter didn’t flinch. "She needs protection."

"Sexist much?" Miles protested.

"Call it what you want." Carter checked his watch. "Move out!"

"Go!"

At his signal, multiple squads surged forward from different directions.

Gunfire erupted. Blades flashed.

Miles and his team had no choice but to keep hacking away at zombies.

Aria didn’t charge ahead. Instead, she stood guard, pistol ready.

Every time a teammate was cornered, she’d take the shot—bullseye, every time.

Bang!

Another zombie dropped mid-lunge.

The rescued soldier turned, stunned to see an unfamiliar beauty holding the smoking gun.

Carter fought back-to-back with his men when a sneaky zombie lunged from the side.

"Look out!" he shouted.

A single bullet punched through the zombie’s skull just in time.

"Thanks," the shaken soldier nodded at Aria.

Only then did Carter realize—her aim was terrifyingly precise.

"Boss, you misjudged her," a teammate muttered. "That’s sniper-level accuracy."

Carter immediately radioed logistics. "Get her a rifle!"

With Aria’s cover fire, the assault team plowed through like a storm.

An hour later, the horde was wiped out.

Miraculously, not a single soldier on the perimeter had fallen.

"Thank you!" The rescued team swarmed Aria with gratitude.

Carter approached her and snapped a formal salute. "I misread you earlier. You saved us all."

Aria smiled faintly. "Just doing my part."

"Your shooting—" Carter trailed off.

"Just a hobby," she said lightly.

His eye twitched. "..."

Miles and the others crowded around.

"Teach us, Aria!" they begged.

She nodded. "Sure."

Carter cut in. "Surveillance team’s arriving soon. You ready?"

"Always," Aria said confidently. "Won’t let you down."