Chapter 263 The Sniper Hidden in the Shadows

Chapter 263 The Sniper Hidden in the Shadows

"Go get the gem," Christopher ordered Cecilia, his voice leaving no room for argument as his eyes, hidden behind a mask, locked onto the eerie blue gem at the center of the altar.

Cecilia sneered, standing her ground. "Why me? I already led you here. If Mr. Taylor wants it so badly, he should get it himself. Or is Mr. Taylor scared?"

Ten Eyes suddenly drew his gun, pressing the cold barrel against the back of her head. "Don't make Mr. Taylor repeat himself."

The icy touch of the metal made Cecilia stiffen. She suppressed her fear and mocked, "If you kill me, you won't make it off this island."

Ten Eyes snorted. "Wanna bet?"

Seeing that Christopher didn't stop Ten Eyes, Cecilia frowned, slowly raised her hands, and gritted her teeth. "Fine, I'll go."

She began to walk towards the altar, Ten Eyes' gun still trained on her.

Her boots made soft sounds on the damp earth.

60 feet, 40 feet, 20 feet...

As she got closer to the gem, her breathing grew more rapid. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, a primal sense of danger washing over her.

Just as her fingers were about to touch the gem...

A bullet whizzed through the air, striking the ground three inches from her foot, sending shards of stone flying past her ankle.

Cecilia flinched, instinctively stepping back.

"Get down!" Christopher shouted, moving like a phantom to her side, grabbing her wrist and yanking her down.

A second bullet grazed Cecilia's shoulder, sparking off the altar.

Christopher half-embraced Cecilia, and they fell heavily behind a large rock. Cecilia's ribs slammed into the stone, causing her vision to blur with pain. She heard Christopher whisper in her ear, "Don't move."

His breathing was eerily calm, his voice steady, as if he was used to such ambushes.

Ten Eyes hid behind another stone pillar, squinting as he searched for the sniper. His gun moved slowly with his gaze. "Ten o'clock direction, 600 feet away, in the tree."

He lowered his voice, continuing to report to Christopher. "Two people, one sniper, one spotter."

Cecilia couldn't help but feel a mix of surprise and admiration.

To pinpoint the enemy's location so quickly, Ten Eyes was more skilled than she had imagined. No wonder Christopher had only brought him to such a dangerous place.

Christopher released Cecilia's wrist, his voice cold. "Stay here as bait."

"What?" Cecilia snapped back to reality, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"They're after you. Haven't you noticed?"

Cecilia was about to retort when Ten Eyes darted out like a leopard. His movements were incredibly fast, disappearing into the bushes in a few bounds.

Two more shots hit the rock Cecilia was hiding behind, sending debris flying.

The sniper had noticed Ten Eyes' actions and began to suppress him furiously.

Before Cecilia could speak, Christopher suddenly drew a silver handgun from his waist and handed it to her. "Can you shoot?"

Cecilia gripped the cold handle, her eyes hardening as she nodded.

"Good." Christopher's smile was a dangerous curve. "I'll count to three. Roll left and cover me."

"One." Cecilia's throat tightened, her palms sweating.

"Two." A muffled sound came from the distant bushes, followed by the snapping of branches. Ten Eyes had engaged the enemy.

"Three!" As soon as the word left his mouth, Cecilia rolled left, firing two shots cleanly.

The gunshots echoed across the empty altar. Though she didn't hit the target, she successfully disrupted the sniper's aim.

Christopher seized the moment, moving like a shadow. Cecilia saw a blur of black, and the next second, a piercing scream came from afar.

Branches shook violently, and a figure in camouflage fell from the tree. Another shadow leapt to a neighboring tree, firing a burst of bullets.

Bullets rained down, forcing Cecilia to curl up behind the rock. A stray bullet grazed her arm, and blood flowed instantly. She bit back a cry of pain, suddenly hearing urgent footsteps to her right.

Someone was circling around!

Cecilia held her breath, gripping the gun tightly. The footsteps grew closer, 15 feet, 9 feet...

Now!

She spun around, aiming at the intruder's chest, only to meet a pair of golden eyes.

Ten Eyes was covered in blood, his hair a tangled mess, obscuring half his face. A military knife was lodged in his left shoulder, but his right hand was tightly gripping the throat of a man in camouflage.

Ten Eyes swiftly snapped the man's neck, tossing the body aside like trash.

He spat blood, his gaze falling on Cecilia's bleeding arm. He sneered, "Still alive, huh?"

Cecilia frowned, about to retort, when a deafening explosion sounded from afar.

"Mr. Taylor got it." Ten Eyes wiped the blood from his face, grabbed Cecilia, and ran towards the explosion.

Through the bushes, the scene made Cecilia gasp.

Christopher stood before a sea of flames, a blood-stained dagger in his hand. He had his foot on the chest of a third attacker, who was barely alive.

The most chilling sight was the tattoo on the man's neck—a snake entwined with a butterfly.

"Who sent you?" Christopher lifted the man's face, his voice terrifyingly gentle. "Sophie, Royce? Or that idiot doctor?"

The man spat blood, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Cecilia, grinning. "Madame... offered a good price... Ha!"

Christopher frowned, crushing the man's throat with his foot.

Turning, his gaze met Cecilia's. His eyes behind the mask were as cold as ice, yet burned with an indescribable madness.

Cecilia's heart raced. She had clearly heard "Madame."

Were these people sent by Brielle to kill her? But in the files she had seen, that tattoo was unmistakably the mark of Kingsnake Laboratory. How was Brielle connected to Kingsnake Laboratory?

She unconsciously clenched her hand, nervously asking, "Isn't Kingsnake Laboratory yours?"

"Yes, and no. I don't follow such boring orders." Christopher surprisingly answered her, shaking the blood off his dagger. "Now, go get the gem."

Ten Eyes roughly shoved Cecilia.

This time, she didn't resist.