Chapter 65
Chapter 65 Section 035 Who the hell fired the gun
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The dense grove, where branches intersected, allowed specks of moonlight to filter through and faintly lit the dark jungle.
The moment Willie Ash saw someone falling from above, he knew he had made a mistake.
He shouldn’t have fired that shot.
The hillside was steep and high, covered with protruding rocks and prickly weeds. Falling from there was certainly no joke.
Everything happened too quickly for Flossie Wright to react. In the fleeting second as her body hung in mid-air, her instincts kicked in, frantically searching for obstacles to slow her descent, she simultaneously pulled out the military knife tucked in her waistband.
Amidst Janice Wood’s cries, Flossie’s body hit the hard hillside. The protruding rocks caused a searing pain on her skin, but her preparedness allowed her to use her palms to soften the blow slightly.
The sharp blade of her knife plunged into the thick earth, the ground tearing apart in line with the blade’s trajectory. Gradually, only half the knife’s length remained visible, embedded deeply in the earth.
Soon, she came to a complete stop.
Before Flossie could sigh in relief, however, she focused her sight meticulously, scanning her surroundings for a place to secure her footing.
Unfortunately, the soil nearby was filled with pebbles and withered weeds, none suitable for her to land. The dim lighting further impeded her vision, making the distant areas obscured. For the time being, she dared not venture forward recklessly.
Simultaneously, Janice Wood, Willie Ash, and even the sniper hidden in the shadows who had been closely monitoring her, let out subconscious sighs of relief. However, before the sigh of relief was over, concerns about Flossie’s impending situation began to surface.
"Come here."
A deep, potent voice slashed through the silent night, a beacon, attracting everyone’s attention.
Flossie, upon hearing the voice, turned her head and was startled to see a hand extended towards her. The long fingers and broad palm, lit by the white moonlight, stirred a sense of palpitation within her.
There was a hint of familiarity in the hesitation, and as she slightly lifted her gaze, she was caught off guard by a pair of deep, dark eyes reminiscent of a cold lake. The handsome outlines of the face that bathed in the moonlight were now clearer to Flossie.
Glenn Hutchinson.
The dagger embedded in the earth flickered slightly. Although Flossie was surprised at his intervention, she didn’t have any defiant thoughts of preferring death over accepting his help, quickly reaching out to grasp the extended hand.
Glenn Hutchinson’s hand was firm, effortlessly hauling her to his side. Flossie had expected to be led to a safe landing place, but to her surprise, as she neared him, he loosened his grip. Before she could react, she lost her balance and he immediately wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tightly into his embrace. This firm and robust hold made Flossie momentarily forget to resist.
The slightly chilly evening breeze brushed past their faces. The scarce light that played upon the right side of his face brought an unexpected allure. Her eyes found a spot of entertainment in the male figure’s expression of surprise, comfortably nestled in his camouflage uniform.
Before she knew it, Flossie was guided to a narrow, winding path.
The moment she landed, Flossie’s eyes gleamed with a hint of delight. While patting the man’s shoulder, she gracefully extricated herself from his embrace.
Glenn Hutchinson gave her a once-over, his eyes squinting with laughter, completely unbothered by the preceding dangerous events.
"Flossie, it’s so good that you’re alright!" Janice Wood’s voice bordered on a cry, as she rushed down towards Flossie. Her face was flushed, and her eyes glistening with moisture as she reached Flossie’s side. Her hands fumbled in the moment, her lips pressed into a tight line, guilty, "I really... I’m really sorry."
When Flossie fell down the hill, Janice’s heart had lodged in her throat. Flossie’s instantaneous reaction on the slope was far beyond her anticipation. She was gripped with fear until Flossie was brought back up safe and sound.
If something had happened to Flossie...
"It’s fine, it has nothing to do with you."
Flossie answered casually, pulling off some leaves to wipe the earth-stained military knife and then slid it back into its sheath indifferently.
It was merely an accident with no relation to anyone.
The one who fired the shot certainly took them as "enemies". Since she was trying to threaten the sniper hiding in the tree, it was only logical for him to retaliate. She knew Janice wouldn’t purposefully push her, so if she had to blame someone, it would be her bad luck for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Nevertheless, the process didn’t matter. What was important was that she was standing here, safe and sound, without any limbs missing.
"Captain, someone’s approaching."
The sniper’s voice echoed in the earpiece. Glenn Hutchinson shifted his gaze from Flossie and lifted his hand to the device.
"Boom——"
Although the gunfire from the hilltop had yet to settle, the fierce combat was slowly fading. The gunfire began to scatter and seemed to be spreading downhill.
"How many?"
Glenn Hutchinson asked calmly in a declarative tone, obviously not too concerned about the incoming individuals.
"Two," the sniper answered in a hushed voice.
Upon hearing Glenn Hutchinson’s nonchalant voice, Flossie and Janice could somewhat guess the situation. Janice, instinctively, fell silent, her face stern as she positioned herself in front of Flossie, appearing ready to fight off anyone who dared to harm Flossie.
However, in front of this group, she didn’t even have the chance to strike back.
As two figures appeared on the winding path, Glenn Hutchinson, who already had a hand on his pistol, glanced at them casually. With a lift of his hand, two bullets were discharged.
"Boom, Boom——"
Two successive shots, two targets.
Before Janice’s stunned gaze, two trails of red smoke slowly rose.
Meanwhile——
Rowdy Brightwill, who was in shock at his sudden brush with death, subconsciously froze in place, taking a moment to register the surreal event.
Meanwhile, his companion nearby, who also couldn’t accept the reality of their situation, completely lost his composure. Raising his voice in a hoarse shout, he began to rant.
"Damn, who the hell fired that shot?!"
— End of Chapter 65 —