Chapter 1736:

🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙 🍙

Though she’d spent years away from the battlefield, living quietly, the training from her past never truly left her.
Her reaction to Barton wasn’t calculated—it was automatic. Muscle memory kicked in before conscious thought.
In moments like that, survival didn’t wait for permission from the mind.
Mandy murmured thoughtfully, “I’ve seen death up close too many times at the base. Staying alive always comes first.”

Corrine glanced at Mandy. “That’s the first time I’ve heard you speak so emotionally,” she remarked.

“I’m human too,” Mandy replied with a wistful smile. “It’s just… over time, I’ve gotten used to this cold-blooded facade.”

The two continued their idle conversation, exchanging a few more words.

As night settled in, the sky grew darker, scattered with a few stars and a solitary moon casting a quiet glow.

Nate, dressed in a sleek black suit, returned under the cover of night. When he spotted Corrine standing by the window, his brow furrowed. “Why are you standing in the drafts?” he asked.

Noticing the faint concern in his expression, Corrine offered a soft smile. “Because from here, I get the best view of you returning safely,” she responded.

Nate’s eyes flickered, and he tightened his grip on her hand. “Have you eaten?” he asked.

“I was waiting for you,” Corrine replied, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

“You must be starving. Let’s go eat together.”

“Let’s go,” he said, leading her hand-in-hand toward the canteen in the base. After the base personnel assisted the police in collecting evidence, the scene was quickly cleaned up.

ℓ@т€ѕт ςнαρтεяѕ íη ğαĺñøνεℓѕ.¢σм

Corrine walked alongside Nate, seeing no signs of injury or chaos. It was a clear indication that the plan to trap the enemy had succeeded. The adversary had been severely weakened.

After dinner, Nate received a call and had to leave early. Corrine, left with nothing to do, wandered the area aimlessly.

Then, suddenly, her phone rang.

It was Leif.

“Are you on the Independent Continent?” he blurted out before she could speak.

“Yes,” Corrine answered calmly.

It wasn’t hard to figure out how he found out. With Lone Ranger leaking her location, it was only a matter of time.

“You’re really pushing your luck,” Leif snapped, his voice tinged with frustration. “Do you even understand the strength of the mercenary group you’re up against? You risked everything for a man. Did you even think about the consequences?”

Corrine pinched her earlobe, unfazed. “Whatever the risk, I’m fine now, aren’t I?” she responded.

Not only was she unharmed, but Nate was safe too. And that was all that mattered to her.

It wasn’t until Nate had gone missing that she realized how much he meant to her. He had barged into her life so forcefully and relentlessly. Before she knew it, he had become an irreplaceable part of it.

.

.

.