Chapter 44: King and Bronze

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: King and Bronze

The answer they gave was that the two of them were injured and couldn’t continue, and were just about to leave. They could lend the tool bag to Zara Chapman, on the condition that they’d be escorted to the exit; otherwise, they weren’t comfortable handing over the tool bag yet.

Zara Chapman didn’t expect the negotiation to go so smoothly. She was overjoyed for a moment and turned back, asking the others: "Who wants to come with me to take them to the exit just ahead? It’s only a few minutes round trip, won’t take much time."

Because it was two girls, Lynn Miller and Wendy Aldridge ended up supporting one, Renee Morgan and Zara Chapman supported the other, with Lionel Lincoln and Kyle Beckett following behind to protect them. The rest waited where they were.

Renee Morgan supported the girl’s right arm, step by step toward the exit. She suddenly felt something was off—why did the weight feel heavier and heavier?

She frowned at Zara Chapman, who was supporting the girl’s left arm. Zara was sweating heavily, her arms showing muscular lines. When she looked at the girl they were aiding, the girl’s brows were tightly knitted, pain written across her face, occasionally letting out painful noises.

Everything seemed fine. Was she just being paranoid?

At the fork in the road, Zara Chapman finally couldn’t hold out, let go of the girl’s arm with an "ouch," and stopped to catch her breath.

Renee Morgan followed suit, letting go and stepping back. She was just about to warn Lynn Miller when she heard a scream and quickly looked over.

Lynn Miller and Wendy Aldridge, supporting the other girl, were on a steep slope. They accidentally tumbled down, all three landing hard on the ground.

The scream was from Wendy Aldridge.

Lionel Lincoln and Kyle Beckett rushed forward to help them up.

Lynn Miller managed to get up herself, Lionel Lincoln supported Wendy Aldridge, and Kyle Beckett assisted the girl, who was limp and almost hanging onto Kyle Beckett.

Kyle Beckett looked awkward, frozen stiff and afraid to move.

The girl suddenly leaned weakly onto Kyle Beckett’s arm, her chest trembling, causing Kyle’s eyes to pop wide open.

Chatroom viewers all exclaimed together:

[Little Kai is living the dream, I’m jealous!]

[That girl isn’t exactly a kid either~]

[Are we even allowed to watch content with this level of intimacy?]

[What did you see? I don’t get it at all. Any experts wanna give me a hint?]

[...]

Before the experts could explain, the livestream picture suddenly changed.

The girl hanging onto Kyle Beckett wrapped her arms around him, slipped her hands past his shoulders, quickly unfastened his straps, and snatched his tool bag.

Kyle Beckett cried out and lunged after the departing girl, but couldn’t catch up. The girl who moments ago needed help walking now moved like a wild monkey in the forest, darting around and vanishing with the backpack in the blink of an eye.

As everyone’s hearts raced, the livestream cut again, this time zooming in on Renee Morgan.

Renee Morgan had already sensed something was wrong. The moment Kyle’s bag was stolen, the other girl, who was very close to Renee, suddenly leaped toward her.

Renee Morgan had her bag strapped in front—obviously, their target was the tool bag.

Renee Morgan gave a cold snort inwardly. If they wanted her tool bag, they’d have to see if she was willing.

The girl moved fast. Renee Morgan settled herself, didn’t dodge, but raised both hands defensively. As the girl crashed into her, Renee braced against the force, then lifted her long leg and swung at the girl’s stomach.

The stomach isn’t tough— the girl cried out in pain, clutching her belly and rolling on the ground.

Renee Morgan prepared to move in, lock the girl’s limbs, and interrogate her about why she was trying to steal their tool bag.

The girl had already scrambled to her feet and turned to bolt.

Renee Morgan sprinted after her, grabbing the backpack from behind and reaching to lock her wrist, trying to keep her in place.

The girl suddenly struggled fiercely, broke free from the backpack and Renee’s grip. Realizing the backpack had fallen, she went to snatch it back, but Lynn Miller’s loud voice rang out: "Morgan, I’m coming to help!"

The girl gritted her teeth, unwilling but forced to run, disappearing into the deep forest.

"Wow, Morgan, you actually got their tool bag!" Lynn Miller ran over to Renee Morgan and exclaimed in amazement.

Renee Morgan swung the bag as she walked back.

Earlier, Zara Chapman had been hiding nearby, watching Renee Morgan’s fight with the girl. Now, with a smile on her face, she stepped up and reached to take the bag from Renee’s hand, grinning broadly and praising: "Renee Morgan, you really are the best! Let me see what’s inside..."

Renee Morgan dodged her hand with the bag, ignored her astonished look, and walked right past her.

Kyle Beckett had already returned, dejected and annoyed: "Damn it, we got tricked. Their injuries were fake— the whole point was to rob us."

He suddenly noticed the bag Renee Morgan was holding and asked in surprise: "Where did you get that bag?"

Renee Morgan shook the backpack in her hand: "Stole it."

Kyle Beckett’s wide-eyed shock showed he had no idea what just happened.

The livestream chat couldn’t help but laugh at Kyle Beckett’s clueless look. Both faced off with two girls— one lost his bag, one stole theirs. Is this the difference between a champion and a rookie?

Kyle Beckett was stunned for a few seconds, then blurted out: "Those girls aren’t ordinary. How did you manage to grab it?"

Renee Morgan didn’t know how to explain, just tossed him the bag: "See if it’s usable."

Although bummed his backpack was stolen, Kyle Beckett knew survival in the woods meant a tool bag was essential, so he quickly shook off his disappointment and checked the backpack.

The bag turned out to be a tool kit; its contents were similar to theirs, except the biggest difference was the absence of any rations.

Kyle Beckett remembered there had been a compressed biscuit in his own tool bag, but this one didn’t have any food.

Renee Morgan saw his disappointed face and comforted him: "Now’s not the time to dwell on that. With tools, we can still forage in the forest."

Kyle Beckett’s gloomy eyes lit up, he quickly packed things, zipped the bag shut, and copied Renee, strapping it in front. Gratefully, he looked at Renee Morgan: "Thank you, I’ll treat you to dinner when we get back home."

They say adversity reveals true friendship, and that’s exactly how Kyle Beckett felt.

Renee Morgan didn’t refuse, nodded in agreement.

The two started to head back, when Zara Chapman blocked Renee Morgan’s way, looking upset and questioning: "Renee Morgan, do you have something against me? I was the first to notice that tool bag—why did you give it to Kyle Beckett?"

Kyle Beckett hesitated, wondering if he should hand the backpack to Zara Chapman.

But Renee Morgan’s cold voice cut in: "Just because you were the first to notice it, does that mean it’s yours?"

"You!" Zara Chapman’s face changed with anger.