Byrne recalled the three rules Marcus had stated. The third rule explicitly forbade seeking outside help, even prohibiting cooperation between different groups.
While the description of the rule was clear—preventing groups from banding together—it said nothing about one group using coercion to force another into a de facto collaboration. This was the loophole Byrne had overlooked in his moment of carelessness.
Stronger groups didn't need to get their own hands dirty; they could use force to threaten weaker candidates into scouting or launching sneak attacks, allowing the predators to sit back and reap the rewards.
Byrne's heart hammered against his ribs, sand spraying behind his heels. His mind raced, imagining the scene currently unfolding at the camp. Selena, left alone to face an ambush—the crystal batteries might already be in someone else's hands.
He strained his ears as he sprinted. As he drew closer to the camp, he noticed it was eerily quiet, save for his own footsteps and the whistling wind. This silence only deepened his unease.
"Selena!"
With dozens of meters still to go, Byrne couldn't help but shout. He raised his pistol, ready for a sudden confrontation. But as he burst into the campsite, he was stunned to see the fire still burning, the ore crate resting undisturbed by the tent, and Selena sitting calmly by the flames.
Everything looked exactly as it had when he left.
Hearing his footsteps, Selena looked up at the panting Byrne and asked with concern, "You're back. Not hurt, are you?"
"I'm fine."
Byrne scanned the perimeter with his gun raised, then hurried to the ore crate. After confirming the casing was intact, the weight on his chest finally eased.
Everything is normal. Did I overthink it?
Byrne shook his head and returned to Selena's side. "Did anyone come by while I was gone?"
Selena nodded slightly, reaching out to toss a stick into the fire. The wood crackled, the sparks illuminating her profile in shifting light and shadow.
"Yes. Not long after you left, two people arrived."
Byrne's brow tightened. "Are you okay? Where are they now?"
"Don't worry, I'm fine. Those two... I've already dealt with them."
Selena pointed toward a mound of sand not far from the camp that looked suspiciously like a fresh grave.
Good grief. She just buried them.
Seeing Byrne's dumbfounded expression, Selena brushed the dust from her hands and recounted the encounter.
"Shortly after you left, two people tried to sneak up on the camp. I detected them, but I didn't want to alert them, so I pretended to be staring blankly at the fire. They were cautious. One crept toward the ore crate, likely intending to steal the battery from the hover-unit first. The other circled behind me for a sneak attack.
"The moment he raised his hand, I lunged to the side. I grabbed the shovel beside me and swung it hard. He didn't expect a sudden counterattack; the blade caught him square in the knee, and he went down instantly. I took the opportunity to crack him over the head with the shovel, and he stayed down."
"And the one stealing the battery?" Byrne pressed, his eyes drifting toward the mound of sand. Though he had guessed the answer, he wanted to hear it from her.
"That one assumed the noise I made was caused by his partner. By the time he realized something was wrong and turned around, I was already behind him with my gun drawn. He started shaking like a leaf, begging for mercy and saying he was forced into it.
"I asked who forced him. He stammered for a while before saying it was a pair of large, muscular men. They threatened to kill him and his partner if they didn't manage to steal some batteries."
Selena paused, poking at the firewood and looking toward the mound with a resigned sigh.
"I didn't want to kill them at first. But then I thought, leaving them alive is just a lingering threat. If they came back later with reinforcements, we might not be able to handle it. Marcus did say we can use any means to survive. I only did what I had to do."
Byrne looked at the woman before him, suddenly feeling a sense of strangeness. To remain calm under ambush, devise a strategy in seconds, and eliminate enemies so cleanly—this was not the behavior of a typical noble lady.
Combined with her knowledge of machinery, Byrne felt more certain than ever that Selena's participation in this exam was no mere whim. What was she really after?
An intense curiosity bloomed in Byrne's mind. He wanted to unearth the secrets this girl was hiding. It wasn't about romance; it was a pure, instinctive drive to know.
Regardless, for Byrne, the outcome was positive. He breathed a sigh of relief, tucked his pistol into the small of his back, and remarked, "I didn't know you were such a fighter. I thought..."
A faint smile played on Selena's lips, and she gave a playful wink. "Did you think that, normally, someone of my background would be pampered and helpless? A 'damsel in distress'?"
Byrne rubbed his nose, feeling a bit awkward and unsure of how to respond. Seeing his embarrassment, Selena let out a soft laugh. Under the firelight, her usual coldness dissipated, replaced by a flash of vivid life.
"It's no wonder you thought so. In most people's eyes, the eldest daughter of the Lawrence family should be in a luxurious room learning noble etiquette, not fighting for her life in a sandstorm. That stereotype actually became my camouflage. It makes people think I'm weak and easy to bully. For this mission, it's actually a good thing."
Byrne nodded. He had to admit she was right.
Sigh. Stereotypes really can be deadly.
Selena's smile faded, and her gaze turned deep again as she watched the flickering flames. Her voice was as light as a breeze.
"But nothing in this world is as it 'should' be. To maintain a family's status, who knows how much filth is handled behind the scenes? It's probably more foul-smelling than the sewers of the Lower District."
Her voice carried a trace of bitterness. The fire reflected in her eyes, showing a weight of character that didn't match her age.
Is she about to pour her heart out? Great, keep going.
After a long silence, Selena suddenly turned and smiled at Byrne.
"Sorry. I got carried away and talked too much. To be safe, we should take turns on watch. I'll take the first shift. Go get some sleep; you'll need your energy for the road tomorrow."
Byrne caught the intentional pause. She had clearly been on the verge of saying more but forced herself to swallow it back down.
He didn't press her. Some secrets are like quicksand in the deep desert; once you step in, you never know what kind of vortex will pull you under. They were partners bound by life and death now; forcing the issue would only damage the trust they had managed to build. When she wanted to talk, she would.
Byrne didn't decline. He stood up and headed for his tent. After the day's exertion, he was indeed exhausted and needed to sleep.