My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 177

Aston quickly clarified, "Don’t misunderstand. The drone’s battery is extremely limited, and with our restricted access to electricity, as you’ve seen from our equipment, we wouldn’t have even had an upgrade if we hadn’t raided the Coltons’ base for supplies.

We stumbled upon some heat-detecting drones in their camps and hoped to utilize them, but without a way to recharge them here, I thought it best to save them for when they’re truly needed. Luckily, one of my men brought one along in his backpack, but that’s all we have."

Aston spoke quickly, his nerves masked behind a facade of calmness. He was keen not to be misunderstood by Kisha and her team, wanting to maintain a positive connection with them even as they got back to the shelter.

Knowing Aston from her previous life, Kisha understood that he meant no harm and quickly accepted his explanation. She raised the question primarily for transparency, ensuring Duke wouldn’t misunderstand or feel jealous. Glancing at Duke, the imposing figure who could be both endearing and intimidating when jealous, she found it both amusing and slightly unnerving.

This side of him was new to her, something she hadn’t encountered before.

Duke’s behavior stemmed from his lack of experience in relationships. Despite witnessing the close and loving bond between his parents, he had never experienced such feelings himself. Consequently, when it came to Kisha, he found himself overwhelmed by emotions, often becoming possessive due to his deep-seated love and longing for her. _{freёwebnovel.com}

His reactions were driven by a passionate desire to protect and cherish her.

Kisha understood this, and that’s why she was also making an effort to protect his feelings as much as he wanted to protect her.

Now that they had the drone—a tool Kisha also possessed in her inventory but couldn’t utilize at the moment—she pondered a strategy. "How long do you think the drone’s battery will last before it runs out?" she inquired, fingers pressed thoughtfully against her chin.

One of Aston’s men, with a bulky backpack strapped behind him, stepped forward to provide details. "If we use it strictly for reconnaissance, the battery could last up to two hours, not including the time needed for return. However, if we’re willing to drain the battery fully without retrieval, it might last up to four hours," he clarified, before going back behind Aston.

"That time frame might be too short for the drone to explore the central area effectively. We need to take several factors into consideration too," Kisha remarked thoughtfully, feigning contemplation. She understood Aston’s determination to find the Winters, but she also knew there was nothing left here. To save time, she needed to guide them towards her desired outcome.

She was reluctant to leave Duke’s family in the shelter on their own for too long, knowing he would grow increasingly concerned about their safety with every passing moment, especially with the ongoing threat looming.

"How about this: I’ll send Sparrow for reconnaissance in one-third of the central area, and the drone can cover the rest. To do that effectively, we’ll need to advance a little closer to the central area to give the drone ample access and time for exploration. This approach also provides us with a clearer retreat strategy," Kisha explained, considering their options carefully.

Despite feeling like they were searching for a needle in a haystack, she knew they had no choice. Revealing that she had the Winters all along would only arouse suspicion, making their course of action to hide the Winters futile.

What if the Coltons still have a spy there who can communicate with them? They could potentially turn the whole shelter upside down searching for the Winters while Kisha and Duke are away.

In such a scenario, the Winters would be at a disadvantage, being unfamiliar with the terrain and lacking the manpower and equipment to mount a defense would surely lead to the Winters falling into the Coltons’ hands.