?Chapter 1620:


    A pair of soldiers cried out as bullets tore through their legs, sending them sprawling into the mud. Automatic fire hammered down from the tree line, forcing everyone to press t behind whatever little cover they could find.


    Face pressed to the earth, Gary swept his infrared scope across the dense undergrowth and picked out a cluster of moving shapes. He steadied his grip on the sniper rifle, his voice cold. “I’ve got a visual. Cover me; I’ll take them down.”


    Most of the crew wore infrared goggles too, so they could make out the enemy positions. Still, the suppressing fire was so fierce that no one dared peek above the barricades. Anyone who tried could immediately end up getting shot.


    Neville had Brenna’s pack tucked at his feet as he crouched behind another armored truck.


    “Throw me my bag, Neville!” Brenna yelled.


    Neville didn’t hesitate. He flung the bag toward her.


    Brenna caught it and unzipped it, revealing a sleek metal case about a foot long.


    Gunfire poured in as the enemy pushed harder, aiming to rip the vehicles apart.


    Inside the box sat four small spheres, each about ten centimeters wide, now exposed after Brenna lifted the lid.


    She pressed a button, and one started to whir softly in her palm.


    Everyone was curious. “What do you have there?”


    Brenna grinned. “These are my helpers. Mini gas grenades. Each one’s loaded with ten pellets. The gas knocks out anyone in a fifty-meter radius; no one’s getting hurt, just put to sleep for hours.”


    A wave of excitement rippled through the group. Even Ethan, usually calm, raised his eyebrows in admiration. “That’s genius. Did you make these yourself?”


    Brenna gave a quick nod. “Yeah. I came up with the design a while back when I was working on fighter jets. I drew up the schematics for fun, and the military liked them enough to make a few. I never expected to actually use them.”


    With practiced aim, she tossed one of the spheres toward the brush at the jungle’s edge, then pulled out her phone, her thumb flying across the screen, controlling it.


    The device zipped across the clearing, its movement hidden by the tangle of grass. In just a couple of minutes, it had reached the enemy’s position.


    Brenna tapped a button. Momentster, silence fell as the gunfire stopped.


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    Gary let out a wild whoop and dove right back into the action, expertly dropping enemies with his sniper as red outlines flickered through his scope.


    Brenna and the others joined in.


    Thanks to the gas grenades, the fight was over in five minutes.


    While others scoured the area for stragglers and secured the perimeter, Brenna knelt beside the injured, tending to bloody wounds with practiced hands.


    On the sidelines, Gracie sat shivering and sweating, her eyes locked on Brenna’s steady work. Quietly, she slid her fingers to her holster. In a single swift motion, she drew her pistol and aimed it at Brenna’s back.


    Brenna was too focused on stitching up the wound to sense the danger behind her.


    Gary hovered nearby, always keeping an eye out for trouble. He spotted Gracie’s movement just in time and threw himself toward Brenna, shielding her with his body.


    But no shots rang out.


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