Free Web NovelChapter 77: [Bonus Chapter: 3/3] An Unlikely Alliance (1)
The night was enveloped in eerie silence as Shinon and Selena crouched behind a cluster of trees, peering out towards the distant glow of the bandit camp.
Selena raised her binoculars to her eyes, scanning the area meticulously. Shinon stood just a few steps behind her, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.
After all, no one would’ve liked getting bitten by zombies just because they were busy spying on others.
Selena could see the camp clearly through the magnified lenses of the binoculars. It was situated in a small clearing, surrounded by tall trees that seemed to sway ominously in the night breeze.
The camp was a haphazard collection of makeshift tents, flickering campfires, and crude wooden structures. Shadows danced on the fringes, casting an unsettling atmosphere over the entire area.
Selena lowered her binoculars, retracting her legs to give her more elevation.
"There are about ten bandits in the camp," Selena whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves. "I’ve observed their movements for the past hour. They seem to be on edge, probably aware of the increased zombie activity in the area."
As Selena moved sideways, Shinon’s gaze inadvertently fell upon her figure, momentarily stirring memories of their past encounters. A subtle blush crept up his cheeks, but he quickly averted his eyes, focusing on the task at hand.
"Any sign of their leader?" he asked, his voice steady.
Selena shook her head. "Not yet. He could be inside one of the larger tents, or he might be keeping himself hidden. We’ll have to proceed with caution."
Selena reached into her bag as they spoke and pulled out a small map. She unfurled it, pointing to a marked location. freёweɓnovel.com
"Once we take out the guards near the entrance, we’ll move in from this side," she explained, tracing her finger along a winding path. "If we can catch them off guard, we might have the element of surprise."
Shinon studied the map intently, committing the details to memory. His analytical mind assessed the situation, calculating their chances of success.
The path Selena suggested was indeed the best way to infiltrate the camp based on the map she had. However, Shinon had a better map hidden inside his eyes that gave him the exact number of enemies they’d have to face and showed the traps across the camp.
Silently, Shinon devised a better plan in his mind. He couldn’t share the information from his internal map with Selena, as he didn’t fully trust her yet, and needed to protect his secrets from getting leaked to the Phoenixes.
Clearing his throat, Shinon leaned over the map and pointed to a different route.
"I think we should approach from the west," he suggested, trying to sound convincing. "A dense forest runs parallel to their camp. It should provide ample cover for us to sneak in undetected."
Selena raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on Shinon.
"But the north path seems more direct," she countered, scepticism evident in her voice. "Moreover, there seem to be lesser guards there."
"That might be true, but think about it," he replied. "Why would they leave one side barely guarded while the others are packed with people?"
Shinon could see the wheels in Selena’s head turn as she came to a conclusion herself. So, he pushed forward with his agenda.
"My instincts tell me the bandits might have set up traps along that path since it is the most obvious way into the hornet’s nest. Who knows what’ll happen if we fall into their trap."
Selena considered his words, weighing the options in her mind. Ultimately, she nodded in agreement.
"Alright," she conceded, "we’ll take the western route. But we need to be cautious and stay alert. Something tells me these bandits won’t go down without a fight."
Shinon nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He was pleased Selena had bought into his plan without asking useless questions.
As they folded the map and prepared to move, Selena glanced at Shinon, her eyes filled with trust towards him. She didn’t voice her thoughts, but she realised Shinon had grown quite a bit since the Phoenixes forced him out of the settlement.
"Shinon, I must say you’ve grown stronger since we last went on a mission together." She finally spoke.
"Survival has a way of changing people," Shinon replied cryptically. "I’ve had to adapt, learn new skills."
Selena’s gaze dropped to the ground, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the map.
"I’m sorry, Shinon," she murmured, barely audible. "I should have never let them kick you out of the settlement. I should have fought for you."
"You’re still on about that?" Shinon rolled his eyes. "Apologies won’t change the past, Selena. We’ve both made choices that led us down different paths."
He continued. "However, I already forgave you for that; after all, my anger was misplaced on you. But that doesn’t mean we are back to being what we were before... and I’m afraid that time will never come back."
Selena looked up, meeting Shinon’s gaze with sincerity. "I know, and I can’t undo the mistakes I made. But I want to help you now, and I want to make things right between us."
"Actions speak louder than words," Shinon replied cautiously. "Prove your loyalty by fighting alongside me, and maybe someday we can have a semblance of a friendship."
"I will, Shinon." Selena nodded, determination shining in her eyes, not realising Shinon had just placed her in the infamous friendzone. "You’ll see."
As they finished their conversation, they set off towards the bandit camp, following Shinon’s subtly chosen path. Selena carefully followed Shinon’s lead, not wanting to cause any trouble for them. freewёbnoνel.com
As they neared the bandit camp, the sound of distant voices and the flickering glow of campfires came into view. Shinon’s grip tightened on his sword, his determination intensifying.
He glanced at Selena, a silent understanding passing between them. They were in this together, whether Shinon liked it or not.
