Chapter 279

To Miles Sutton and the others, Aria Bennett was nothing short of a godsend.

Who would have thought she'd be this capable, effortlessly carrying them to victory?

Honestly, their former teammate who had quit couldn't hold a candle to her.

Not that they looked down on their ex-teammate—it was just that stumbling upon Aria felt like striking gold.

Now, they had to keep her happy. If she decided to bail, they'd be left with no one to turn to.

[LOL, the desperation from these three is practically oozing through the screen.]

[They're terrified of pissing off Aria.]

[How dare they lay a hand on her? These guys have some nerve.]

[Gotta admit, I love Aria's smug attitude.]

[Too easy would be boring. Only Aria can humblebrag like this.]

Ronan Caldwell wholeheartedly agreed with Aria's assessment.

"True. If it's too simple, it works against us. A challenge makes it exciting."

If he were still leading a team of three on his own, he'd have given up at this difficulty level.

But with Aria—whose intellect outclassed everyone else—they actually stood a chance.

Miles rolled his eyes and slung an arm around Ronan's shoulders. "Damn, Caldwell. You're getting bold."

Ezra Vaughn teased, "That's what happens when you roll with Aria. You start talking big."

Aria sighed. "Alright, enough."

Ignoring their banter, Ronan turned to her. "What's next?"

Though he was the captain, he'd grown accustomed to deferring to her judgment.

Aria pondered for a moment. "We already have a crucial lead right in front of us."

"What lead?" the three asked in unison.

"Dr. Emmett Shaw's lab."

"The fact that the final clue is here is a major hint in itself."

"Don't forget—this is a top-tier biomedical research facility, staffed by the brightest minds in the field."

She paused. "Lieutenant Carter kept emphasizing that Dr. Emmett Shaw's team was the most likely to crack the zombie virus."

"Flip that around—they're also the most likely to have created it."

"It's just a theory, but I think we should explore this angle."

Her words were like a lightbulb moment for the group.

Of course—those who could cure the virus could just as easily have engineered it.

And the fact that the production crew planted the clue here? That was practically a neon sign.

Aria was always the sharpest.

Ronan had sensed something off but couldn't pinpoint it until now.

"Aria's logic is solid. Unless the crew is deliberately misleading us, the virus probably originated here."

Miles and the others nodded. "Let's dig for more clues."

They split up, ostensibly helping Lieutenant Carter search for survivors while secretly gathering intel.

Aria and Ronan stayed behind, quickly scanning the bookshelves before inspecting the lab equipment and materials.

Aria made sure to thoroughly examine the private room where Dr. Emmett Shaw had been found.

Before long, Lieutenant Carter returned.

He was noticeably more respectful toward Aria now. "Aria, we're heading back. You done here?"

Earlier, she'd claimed exhaustion and asked to rest in the lab.

Aria slid the notebook she'd been reading back onto the desk. "Yeah, let's go."

As they left, Carter locked the lab doors per his superiors' orders.

With Aria around, getting back in wouldn't be an issue.

Still, the lab housed critical research that needed safeguarding.

Before departing, Colonel Barrett had privately instructed Carter to keep a close eye on Aria's team, ensuring they didn't access sensitive equipment.

They were still unknowns—caution was necessary.

Aria and Ronan had deliberately avoided guarded archives and untouched devices during their search, a discretion that eased Carter's concerns.

As long as they weren't after classified intel, it was fine.

On the return trip, Carter rewarded Aria's team with seats in the armored SUV.

Ronan seized the opportunity. "Is Dr. Emmett Shaw okay now?"

Carter sighed in relief. "His fever broke. Thank God we got there in time."

Since it wasn't classified, he answered honestly.

Ronan nodded. "Losing him would've been a huge blow to humanity."

"How many casualties in the lab?"

Carter grimaced. "About a third. Only a few turned initially, but many more got infected from bites."

Ronan probed further. "Anyone leave the lab before the outbreak?"

Unaware of the fishing expedition, Carter replied, "A few were on leave. They're fine."

"Lucky them," Ronan remarked, mentally filing the intel.

He swiftly changed the subject before Carter could grow suspicious.