Chapter 274

The elevator doors chimed open ten minutes later.

A colonel with three silver stars on his epaulets strode out, flanked by two fully armed soldiers. Their combat boots clicked sharply against the tiled floor.

"Reporting, sir!" Lieutenant Carter snapped to attention with a crisp salute.

Colonel Barrett returned the salute, his gaze piercing. "Mission accomplished well."

"Just doing my duty!" Carter's voice boomed.

The colonel gave a slight nod before turning to Aria Bennett standing nearby. "This must be Ms. Bennett?"

Aria stepped forward, lips curving. "Good to meet you, Colonel Barrett."

Their handshake surprised the colonel—her slender fingers held unexpected strength.

"Surveillance room's on the seventh floor." Barrett gestured. "Ready now?"

"Lead the way." Aria's response was crisp.

Ronan Caldwell and his team fell in step automatically. Noticing this, Carter hurried to join them.

The colonel's mouth twitched imperceptibly as he observed the young group.

During the elevator ascent, Aria's composed reflection showed in the metal walls. Her fingers tapped an unconscious rhythm against her thigh, as if simulating code entry.

The surveillance room's dark monitors stood out starkly.

Aria went straight to the main console. Her hands hovered momentarily before dancing across the keyboard like butterflies in flight.

Lines of code cascaded down the screens.

"Virus purge in progress." She didn't look up. "System reboot in thirty-two minutes."

Colonel Barrett narrowed his eyes. Her typing technique surpassed even their tech division's best programmer.

The minutes ticked by.

With a soft beep, all monitors flickered to life simultaneously.

"Holy shit!" someone blurted.

Over twenty camera feeds displayed crystal-clear images, down to the emergency lights in distant corridors.

The colonel lunged toward the screens.

Lab-coated researchers scrambled away from shambling zombies. One young scientist slumped against a wall, lips cracked and bleeding.

"The biometric locks..." Barrett whirled toward Aria. "Can you bypass them?"

The overhead lights reflected twin stars in Aria's eyes.

"Take me there."

Sublevel Three. A silver door gleamed coldly.

Aria pressed her palm against the scanner. After three seconds, her eyes closed, then she smiled.

"Give me five minutes."

Live comments exploded:

[Here it comes! Aria's gonna show off!]

[Full marks for that dramatic flair!]

[Five minutes? Military experts couldn't crack it in three days!]

[Popcorn ready! Waiting for the big reveal!]

The lock clicked.

Everyone held their breath.