My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 149

But all this was just speculation. Kisha wouldn’t know what really happened unless she went on the mission with them. Regardless of whether she agreed or not, they might still pursue the mission to find the Winters. If she and Duke didn’t go, Aston and his team could still be in danger.

Despite taking care of the Coltons’ camps, there was still the traitor, and it wasn’t certain that all the Coltons were dead.

"Given the increased danger and the fact that the zombies have become stronger, three times the reward isn’t particularly appealing to us," Duke said, beating Kisha to the negotiation. True to his businessman nature, he never agreed to a deal that didn’t favor him and always aimed to gain the upper hand.

Aston was dumbstruck by Duke’s boldness. Duke didn’t resemble a special agent; instead, he seemed more like a loan shark shamelessly increasing debt through interest rates. However, Aston truly needed their help to find what he was after.

"What’s your suggestion?" Aston asked, his expression indifferent.

Duke’s smile faded as he made his proposal, causing Aston to fight the urge to punch him in the face. "Ten times the amount with a lower tax rate, exclusively for our group’s use," Duke said, his smug expression suggesting he was offering Aston an irresistible deal. Even Kisha was taken aback by Duke’s audacity; it seemed less like a negotiation and more like extortion.

Unbeknownst to Aston, Duke’s sudden boldness stemmed from jealousy, triggered by Kisha’s intense focus on Aston since he had offered the mission.

Duke gritted his teeth, pondering, ’Is he really that good-looking? Better looking than me?’ He eyed Aston with menace. As one of the young masters of City A, Aston exuded a similar air to Duke, albeit with a slight difference. Despite his stern appearance, Aston was undeniably handsome.

If not for his serious demeanor, he would likely have had socialites clamoring to marry him, just as they did for Duke, who sat at the pinnacle of the business circle.

Now, the so-called number one bachelor was as sour as a lemon, but he couldn’t let his dissatisfaction show. Aston gritted his teeth and thought carefully. He recognized that Kisha’s group was more familiar with the terrain and the zombie activities in the area, having completed their scouting mission.

The reason he wanted to employ them was also their fighting prowess; while he and his team might not require it, the people they needed to rescue definitely would.

With a heavy heart, he decisively agreed. "Alright, but I would like to emphasize that your group must do everything in your power to protect everyone. If we encounter survivors, they must be your primary concern," he added with conviction, embodying the spirit of a righteous soldier.

He must have been attempting to conceal the fact that he was searching for specific survivors, but his inquiries and actions had already exposed his intentions. He was as easy to read as an open book. While he might excel at completing assigned missions and tactical measures, he remained far inferior to the snakes lurking around him.