Gerald stared at Clifford with a serious look. “Cathy Shaw’s team is our biggest threat.

    *For now, conserve energy. If we run into them, avoid fighting. Our odds aren’t great.”

    Taking down Mr. Lewis and knocking out two teams in a row-none of us could pull that off, Gerald thought to himself.

    Clifford nodded. “Got it.”

    With Aria on their team, Cathy’s team waspletely unbeatable. And Fabian Mabry’s squad was another serious contender.

    We had to y it safe. Clifford thought.

    Zoey said, “Doesn’t mean it was definitely them taking out…”

    Things went quiet all of a sudden.

    Jason finally spoke up, “Better safe than sorry.”

    Clifford yawned. “Come on, let’s just get some sleep. Jason and I will take the first watch.”

    Fabian’s team was just as shocked.

    Weyne analyzed calmly, “This year’s evaluation has more traps thanst year, and more patrols too. Maybe both teams fell into ambushes.”

    Bruce frowned, “Even if they did, could they really all get taken out like that?”

    “You’ve got a point,” Weyne said, turning to him. “Any other exnation?”

    ‘Actually, there is. The biggest wild card this year was Aria! Bruce thought to himself.

    Bruce didn’t say it out loud. His captain and Weyne had always looked down on Aria. If he said anything, they’d justugh. Better to just stay silent.

    Fabian spoke with a low and steady voice, “No one touched our supply station tonight. Rest up. Team round starts.

    tomorrow.”

    It was already three in the morning. They still had two hours to sleep.

    ire nced at Geoffrey. “You’re going to be a game-changer in the team round. Gerald’s team moves fast-we can’t let them get ahead of us.”

    Decoding encrypted intel required cooperation between the intelligence agent and the technician. Only then could they obtain the final boss coordinates and clear the game as soon as possible.

    Geoffrey nodded seriously. “I’ll do my best.”

    Cathy and her team waited for the State Security Bureau toe and take ke’s team away.

    ke, still fuming, grumbled, “The rules say no equipment allowed. So where did you guys get that?”

    Allison gave a little smile. The was set up by the State Security Bureau themselves. We just moved it, that’s all. No rules

    broken.”

    She winked. “You could’ve done the same thing, you know.”

    “We’re already eliminated. How the hell are we supposed to do that?” ke was shaking with rage.

    Allison shot back with a mocking smile, “Not really our problem, is it?”

    ke was so furious he nearly passed out from rage.

    Just then, Aria strolled over, and ke freaked out, wriggling on the ground like a bug. He stammered, “W-What do you want?”

    “Just putting your arm back in ce,” Aria replied.

    With two sharp cracks, Aria snapped ke’s dislocated arm back where it belonged.

    Soon, the officials arrived and took all seven of them away.

    On the way back, one of the teammates grumbled, “ke, I’m never teaming up with you again. Not even 24 hours in and you led us right into a trap.”

    ke’s face was livid. “Don’t me me. Gerald and Cathy clearly set us up.”

    “And you just believed him? That’s on you. You underestimated them,” the teammates replied.

    “Big talk for someone who said nothing earlier, hindsight genius.” ke snapped.

    They argued non-stop until the senior assigned to escort them finally snapped, “What are you all arguing about? Brandon’s team got wiped even earlier, and they’re notining.”

    ke froze. “Wait, Brandon’s team got eliminated by Cathy’s team too?”

    The senior shook his head. “Not exactly.

    “Liz took out one, and Aria wiped out the other six,” he added.

    ke thought, ‘Aria took out six people all by herself?

    ‘No wonder I gotpletely steamrolled by her.’

    Suddenly, ke didn’t feel so bad about losing anymore.

    At least someone else had it worse and earlier.

    The senior added one more jab, “Honestly, neither of your teams deserved to make it past Day One. Brandon’s team will be thrilled to hear you guys joined them.”