Chapter 70: Restless night

Jack ducked his head and scurried out into the cold like a streak of lightning.

Bundled tight inside her sleeping bag by the fire, May kept only her eyes exposed, pretending to be fast asleep.

[System Alert: Surrounding male pheromone concentration is dangerously high. Host is advised to take the initiative—target affection progress will increase significantly.]

May rolled her eyes internally. Take the initiative my foot! These men were each more difficult to handle than the last; all she wanted right now was to keep her head down and survive.

Sigh, I could really use a health inhancer right about now... Though knowing this ridiculous system, it would probably just hit me with a tenfold sensitivity multiplier instead...

As the night deepened, the howling gale rattled the auditorium’s broken windowpanes continuously.

Ray didn’t sleep. Holding his tactical trench knife, he sat right beside May’s sleeping bag, his sharp gaze constantly scanning every corner of the vast hall.

Theo leaned against a stage pillar while quietly sharpening his scalpel, and Alex sat with his arms wrapped around his knees, nodding off intermittently. A short distance away, Ace sat cross-legged, casually twirling a piece of fuse wire between his slender fingers.

"I’m on watch tonight. All of you get some sleep," Ray said in a low tone, his eyes shifting between Theo and Ace. "Especially you two—keep your distance from her."

Theo adjusted his glasses in silence, discreetly shifting half a meter further away without a word.

Ace, however, stood up smoothly.

He strolled over to Ray’s side and pointed a long finger toward the prominent crack running along the auditorium’s ceiling. The fracture stretched from the ceiling beam all the way down to the wall corner, letting cold gusts draft straight inside.

"Ray, look at that fissure," Ace offered with a gentle, refined smile, his tone as warm as casual banter. "The wind direction has shifted, and it’s carrying a distinct metallic scent of blood."

Ray frowned instantly. "What are you getting at?"

"This terrain is surrounded by mountains on three sides," Ace analyzed at an unhurried pace, though his eyes lingered on May’s sleeping bag for a fraction of a second. "If a horde moves along the wind gap, there’s a high probability they will pass right through this area tonight."

He continued smoothly, "While the main entrance down here is barricaded, the rooftop terrace offers the absolute best vantage point. Setting up a perimeter grid up there will allow us to spot any incoming swarm far in advance."

Ray looked up at the ceiling fracture, then peered out into the pitch-black night beyond.

"Jack sealed the lower doors shut, so standard infected won’t break in easily," Ace pressed on. "However, if we encounter high-tier threats like an Acid Eater, its corrosive acid could easily breach our defenses and draw the entire horde right to us. You and Mitch have the best marksmanship—take the high ground to provide sniper cover. Theo and I will guard the lower hall. Nothing will go wrong."

Ray tightened his grip around the hilt of his trench knife.

The last thing he wanted was to step a single pace away from May—the lingering frustration from that pink harness earlier was still burning in his chest. Yet Ace’s tactical assessment was undeniably sound, and his combat efficiency was indeed the highest among them.

"No," Ray refused flatly. "I’m staying right here on guard. I’m not going anywhere."

"Ray," Theo chimed in at that moment, his tone calm and detached like an automaton. "Ace is correct. The air currents shifted moments ago, and the sudden drop in temperature will stimulate aggressive movements from the infected. Proactive suppression from an elevated position is far safer than passive defense."

Ray gritted his teeth, turning his gaze sharply toward Ace.

Ace met his piercing stare directly, his almond-shaped eyes curving into a gentle, pleasant smile.

"Rest easy, Ray. We brought May back together, and I even administered her medication personally—she’s practically a younger sister to me. As long as I’m drawing breath, I won’t let a single foul creature come within ten paces of her."

"Who the hell is your sister?" Ray scoffed coldly as he stood up, spinning his combat knife effortlessly before pointing the tip straight at Ace.

"Ace, I’m giving you a fair warning: keep your hands to yourself. If you try anything slick while I’m upstairs, I’ll break both your legs when I get down."

"You jest, Ray. My feelings for May are purely familial," Ace replied, his gentle smile deepening slightly.

Cursing under his breath, Ray marched toward the exit and shoved the heavy door open:

"Mitch! Stop trying to look broody out there in the cold and get your ass up to the roof to set up defense!"

Out in the snowstorm, a shivering Mitch stomped back inside, grumbling furiously.

"What now?! I just managed to cool my temper off!"

"Upstairs. We’re setting up a sniper line," Ray shoved him toward the staircase. "Move it, don’t waste time."

"Tch, always dragging me into extra work!"

The two men vanished into the dark stairwell one after the other, their heavy footfalls quickly swallowed by the howling storm outside.

The main door slammed shut with a heavy BANG.

An absolute quiet settled over the auditorium, broken only by the crackle of the wood fire.

Theo cast a silent glance toward Ace, said nothing, and turned away toward the far corner to sit down and close his eyes.

Ace remained standing in place, motionless.

Slowly, the gentle smile faded from his face. His refined, pleasant eyes gradually took on a dark, sickly shade of crimson.

He looked down at the sleeping bag beside the fire—where only half a delicate face remained visible—like a collector inspecting an exquisite piece of porcelain that was about to become his personal property.

Having pretended to sleep for a long while without hearing any movement, May cracked one eye open ever so slightly—only to collide directly with Ace’s dark, crimson-tinted gaze.

Her heart skipped a beat. Is this really the gentle, smiling Ace? Why does he look like he’s about to devour me whole?!

Noticing her subtle movement, Ace’s lips curved back up into a soft, comforting smile, yet the dark red hue deep within his eyes only intensified.

He took a long stride forward, stepping closer toward May one deliberate pace at a time.

With every step he took, the oppressive tension in the air seemed to weigh heavier upon her chest. The cool, distinct fragrance clinging to his body drifted closer like creeping vines, tightening around her senses until breathing felt difficult.

"May," Ace’s soft voice echoed from above.

May instantly squeezed her eyes shut, trying her absolute best to keep her breathing steady and rhythmic.

Oh no... with Ray’s insane stamina earlier... I can’t even bring my legs together properly right now...