Chapter 52: Admitting Defeat

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Admitting Defeat

Renee Morgan: "?" She was surprised to learn that her name had already become famous in the base forest?

The others were just as baffled, not understanding how these people knew Renee Morgan.

Wendy Aldridge worried that these people would expose her and Zara Chapman’s conversation in the grove, so she quickly jumped in with Chinese, which the others couldn’t understand: "We just got into the base and met two girls there, definitely their people. Renee Morgan snatched her tool kit, so they’re here for revenge."

What Wendy said seemed flawless, but there was still one question: how did they know Renee Morgan’s name?

Renee looked at the burly man before her, whose expression was full of excitement, and spoke: "I am Renee Morgan, not really a fighter."

The other person: "..."

The other person: "Alright then, let’s fight."

Renee glanced at them, honestly said: "I can’t beat you."

The other person: "..."

Seeing Renee so reasonable, they didn’t force her to fight anymore, and said: "Then hand over your food."

Renee’s face remained calm, showing no reluctance as she told them to wait a moment, her attitude incredibly cooperative.

The big guy’s excitement gradually faded, and he released Kyle Beckett, letting him stand quietly to the side.

Renee breathed a silent sigh of relief, then turned to Zayed and the First Team members, her voice cool and steady: "Trust me. Take out your food and give it to them."

The First Team members weren’t convinced. Sure, they couldn’t take these big guys in a fight, but if it really came down to it—blades in, blades out—the other side might not walk away happy either.

And this was exactly the outcome Renee didn’t want. Food was crucial—it determined survival in the base forest and whether they could earn a base pass—but life mattered more, personal safety mattered more.

If they couldn’t get a pass, leaving Merrick Base wasn’t the end—their futures were still bright. But if someone ended up crippled, or even dead, what would a base pass mean then?

"I’m giving you thirty seconds to decide. Either you hand over your food and give it to them, or we split up and go our separate ways." Renee stayed cool, eyes steady on Zayed and his team members.

The First Team members’ brows drew tight, not knowing what to do for the moment.

In their minds, sticking with Renee’s group was about surviving better in the base forest; their real goal was the base pass. If saving one of Renee’s people cost them their food and made survival impossible, that would betray their original goal.

Instinctively, they shook their heads and took a step back, refusing the demand.

Wendy Aldridge saw this and secretly smiled; she knew it. No matter how well people got along with Renee Morgan, once it came down to interests, they’d turn on her without mercy. If ordinary people were like this, mercenary guilds obsessed with money and missions wouldn’t be any different.

Since Renee was about to cave in, she might as well fan the flames a bit. Tonight, those people had to teach Renee Morgan a hard lesson.

"Renee Morgan, maybe we should figure out a way to save Kyle Beckett first." Wendy pinched her voice, sounding anxious, then deliberately lowered her tone—but everyone could hear her: "If we don’t give them food, we’ll have to think of something else."

The last sentence switched to English, and her worried expression made it look like she accidentally changed languages under stress.

Renee’s group didn’t know that Wendy and Zara Chapman had deliberately led these people into the woods to steal their food; naturally, they had no idea this line would mean something else to their opponents.

When the others heard Wendy’s words, realizing Renee didn’t really want to hand over food, her apparent cooperation was actually a deceit meant to buy time, which instantly enraged them.

"Renee Morgan, you’re making me very angry." The big guy clenched his fist; his knuckles cracked audibly. A hint of contempt curled his scruffy lips, and his deep-set eyes flashed dangerously.

Their anger seemed to come out of nowhere—even a fool could sense something was off—but now, the priority was to solve the immediate problem.

Renee closed her eyes, silently counted to thirty, then opened them, her gaze icy as she looked at Zayed and spoke in English: "Thirty seconds are up. If you’re still unwilling, then we’re no longer a team."

Zayed looked at Renee, who stayed rational and calm the whole time. Where he had hesitated before, now he suddenly had an answer.

With half a compressed biscuit, maybe they could survive the hunger—but could they really hold out tonight?

Dealing with these people left them only two choices: fight for their lives, or else. If they got hurt, could they last until the end?

If injured, not just in the base forest—even the training base would be impossible; they wouldn’t be able to keep filming the show.

As for losing their food, it would just mean going hungry for a day or two—they’d survived worse. So, maybe it wasn’t as fatal as it seemed.

"We agree to hand over our food." Zayed raised his hand, signaling his surrender.

The First Team didn’t really understand his reasoning, but since they were an organization, Zayed’s decision was final for them.

Soon, they took out their tool kits and placed them in front.

Renee saw this, and had Miles Yates, Julian Prescott, Lionel Lincoln, and Kyle Beckett all bring out their tool kits, including Kyle’s.

"Renee Morgan..." Wendy sensed something was off and was about to speak.

"Don’t say anything yet." Renee cut her off, and instructed Lynn Miller to go retrieve her own and Renee’s tool kits.

Lynn quickly ducked into the tent, grabbed both kits, the names on the bags ensured she wouldn’t grab the wrong ones.

Now, only Wendy Aldridge hadn’t handed her kit over.

Zara Chapman and Wendy stood quietly, Wendy not moving an inch.

Lynn didn’t need Renee to say another word; she slipped back into the tent, grabbed Wendy’s kit, and tossed it in front of her.

With everything together, Renee told everyone to empty their kits and let them inspect the contents, then hand over the remaining half biscuit.

After Lynn emptied her own kit, she emptied Renee’s too, then went to look for the last half biscuit between them, but couldn’t find it.

Her puzzled look turned to Renee; their team now had six members without food: Kyle Beckett, Lionel Lincoln, Julian Prescott, Miles Yates, Wendy Aldridge, and Zara Chapman.

Lynn and Renee each should have had half a compressed biscuit left—so where had they gone?

Renee recalled that only the four of them had slept in the tent, and instinctively looked to Zara Chapman and Wendy Aldridge.

Zara kept her head down, avoiding her gaze.

Wendy, sharp as ever, realized that if Renee was upset, she and Zara would be accused of theft—she couldn’t let that happen.