Chapter 161: Victory

Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Victory

Before leaving, Jay Monroe, with bandages wrapped around his head, bumped fists with Dane and the others. But when it was Renee Morgan’s turn, he fell silent and didn’t move.

Seeing him struggling, Renee sighed, stepped forward, and gave him a big hug, whispering with a slight smile, "Wait for our good news."

Jay’s eyes suddenly turned red. This emotion came out of nowhere. He blinked hard, calmed himself down, and half-joked, "You better keep your word. If you don’t come back, I’ll come looking for you."

When Hugh returned with the remaining squad to the tower, Team Red’s commander knew they’d already lost.

Guessing Team Blue would act tonight at the earliest, Team Red’s commander mobilized everyone, told them to gather at the entrance and wait for Team Blue to come.

He had the guts of a warrior ready to break his own arm.

After Hugh came back from the border territory, he never showed up again.

Team Red’s commander didn’t blame him too much.

Everyone understood it wasn’t about Hugh’s or Team Red’s abilities—it was because they’d run into a "joker" in the rival squad.

Under the moonlight, when footsteps echoed in the street, the remaining fifty or so armed troops of Team Red raised their guns, rushed out the door, and pointed right at the street.

Dane was surprised. He’d thought Team Red would lock the doors tight and hold the tower, but instead they waited for them at the entrance.

When Team Red’s squad charged into the street, Dane and Bama quickly ducked back into the corner, trying to calm their pounding hearts as they waited for their leader and the bulk of their squad to arrive.

Just a few guys against dozens? What, are they idiots?

Dane’s face was deadly serious as he glanced at the tall buildings surrounding the street.

Tonight, the sniper was acting alone. Dane didn’t know exactly where Renee was hiding, but guessed she was nearby somewhere.

Snipers played a critical role in squad combat. Sometimes, when two squads were stuck, whichever sniper was more accurate and ruthless could break the deadlock and wipe out the enemy.

This was the slogan used when they had introduced the sniper role during assessment.

Dane thought for a few seconds, took out his comms, and dialed Renee.

Beep.

Renee reached out with her long nails, pressed her earpiece like she always did, and responded coolly, "I’m here. Talk."

"Renee..." Dane looked up at the moon, called her name, and ground his toes on the ground, asking, "Where are you?"

"..."

Renee described her location.

"Can you watch over me?"

Renee: "?"

"I’m scared to die!"

"..."

The Bama four were watching Team Red up front, but when they heard Dane say that, they almost staggered and fell. They all turned to look at him, with eyes that seemed to say, ’Dane, did you secretly learn from Monroe? You got so shameless without telling us?’

After hanging up, Dane’s face was no longer tight and serious. That handsome troublemaker look blatantly said, ’I’ve got a boss covering me, I’m not afraid to die.’

Damn! Bama and Boland looked away, sour as hell.

Dane and Bama were quick on their feet, but the leader had the entire squad and lagged behind. When they caught up, Dane shouted, and the whole squad rushed out for a face-off firefight against Team Red’s force.

Dane charged in front, fighting the wildest.

The rest of Team Blue got infected by his attitude—one bolder than the next.

After all, there’s no real danger. You get knocked out, you’re just out of the game. Knock out the other guy, you get points. Helping the team win? What’s not to like?

"Dane’s not afraid of dying—what are you scared of? Get out there!" The leader, fired up by the effect, pushed even harder, shouting for the squad to surge ahead.

"Dane’s leading us—we’re winning this!" Someone shouted to the sky, the squad’s morale soaring.

Bama, Boland, Hart, Vance: "..."

He’s not afraid of dying?

He’s got a boss backing him up, so of course he’s fearless!!

Now that they knew the truth, they were about to cry.

Both teams took losses in the firefight. Numbers constantly came through the earpieces—sometimes Team Blue, sometimes Team Red. But there was always one person, who kept popping up at a steady rate, on everyone’s comms.

"Team Blue sniper, Renee Morgan scores one point. Total: 126."

"..."

"..."

"Team Blue sniper, Renee Morgan scores one point. Total: 129."

Some Team Red players got knocked out before they even knew where the shots were coming from.

The squad’s rallying cry started out as: ’Dane’s leading us—we’re winning this!’

Gradually, it turned into: ’With Renee covering us, we’re winning!’

Dane, Bama, Hart, Boland: "..."

Guess it’s true what they say—people’s eyes really are sharp.

Team Red’s morale tanked; they weren’t as strong as Team Blue, and their sniper wasn’t covering them. They were quickly defeated—fifty or so troops were whittled down to zero.

When Team Blue stormed into the tower, the scoring reports suddenly cut off.

Renee had racked up 140 headshot points, reigning at the absolute top—a champion without suspense.

Team Blue’s numbers shifted too—over seventy started, fewer than fifty left standing.

But crushing Team Red’s fifty-plus main force, losing only twenty-some people, was already an awesome win.

Team Blue rushed into the tower, heading straight for Team Red commander’s office.

Team Red’s commander heard them coming, and stood up from his chair. Didn’t need them to act—he took off his helmet himself.

As for Hugh...

Dane led a search all over the tower, but they never found him. Not that it mattered anymore.

They’d already captured Team Red’s tower, with the commander taking off his helmet—Team Blue had officially won.

When two voices sounded at once on their comms, Team Blue erupted in cheers.

"Congratulations to all Team Blue members for winning this match."

"Congratulations to Renee Morgan for scoring 140 points and winning the championship."

The thrill of victory had them crying with happiness.

Bama hugged Boland, sniffling: "Did I hear that right? We won! Heard we get a ton of prize money!"

Boland shoved him off, grossed out: "Winning’s what we do! Why are you crying, grown man? No wonder Monroe made you sit at the kids’ table."

"Boland, you don’t get it. This is the first time I hit it big!" Bama shot back, madly excited.

The base’s team bonus, once split up, was enough to let them slack off for years. Who wouldn’t get hyped?

Boland looked down on him: "The champion’s prize is even bigger than the team’s bonus."

Bama scoffed: "Of course. They’re the champ, shouldn’t they get more money?"

Boland, with a cold tone: "Not just a bit more—it’s bigger than the team bonus itself."

Bama looked dazed. It took him a long while to realize that "bigger than the team bonus" wasn’t just "they get more"—it was literal, the champion’s prize beat the whole team’s bonus.