My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 183

Aston and his team were still bewildered by the recent events and Kisha’s statement. They felt as though they hadn’t fully grasped her words.

"The Winters are safe?" Aston repeated, seeking confirmation of Kisha’s words. However, Kisha was busy discussing the escape route with Sparrow, and Duke, seemingly unconcerned with anything else, was preoccupied with keeping an eye on his wife as if she might run away if he looked away even for a moment.

Vulture took the liberty to briefly explain to Aston. "We already saved the Winters during our initial mission here. And before you ask, yes, we were also responsible for what happened to the Coltons’ camp, but I’m not in a position to explain the whys."

"Is it because you don’t trust us yet, or are you afraid we might betray you?" Aston asked, his voice tinged with shame and mixed emotions. He hadn’t anticipated being surrounded by traitors and now feared there might be more among his team.

Vulture shook his head. "No, not that. As far as I can tell, what the young madam did to you earlier seemed like a binding contract. Given her cautious nature, it was probably a safety measure to ensure no one could betray us. What would happen if you did, I don’t know. It’s ultimately up to her whether she wants to share more information." He shrugged, following his instincts.

If Kisha heard him whispering this to Aston, she might kick his ass for disclosing such information. Luckily, he had kept his voice low, speaking only to Aston.

Initially, Aston was brooding with anger, but as he parsed Vulture’s words, a sense of realization dawned on him. "Binding contract?" His brows furrowed deeply, then shot up in incredulity. "Did we somehow sell our souls to the devil?" he gasped, turning to Vulture for answers.

The memory of the faint, translucent flame that had emanated from their bodies flashed through his mind, reinforcing his concern. Vulture responded with a nonchalant shrug, leaving Aston with more questions than answers.

Then Vulture added, "How would I know? We didn’t go through anything like that." His innocent remark inadvertently rubbed salt in Aston’s wounds, unknowingly mocking him.

With those simple words, Vulture implied that he and his team were inherently trustworthy, suggesting that Kisha didn’t need to resort to drastic measures to ensure her safety—unlike Aston and his men, who apparently required such a contract to prevent potential betrayal even while they slept.

This revelation further disheartened Aston, adding to the exasperation of his already dismal situation. He realized he had been kept in the dark, while his own people had been taking advantage of him until they discarded him once he was no longer useful.

As a soldier of higher rank, he managed to keep his emotions in check and regain his composure. Having pledged his allegiance to Kisha and her team, whether or not there was a binding contract, he was committed to following them. Especially now that he knew of their connection to the Winters, he trusted that no one with ill intentions would be associated with them, as Duke would not allow it.

Reflecting on this, he felt much better about their mission. It wasn’t just successful—it was remarkably fruitful. They had gathered a wealth of information and had also removed the weeds that had infiltrated their ranks, those rotten apples who had called themselves his comrades.

However, Kisha’s sharp gaze then fell upon Reeve, who was attempting to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, as though fearful of being noticed. Kisha had observed his suspicious behavior for some time; if anyone aroused her suspicion, it was him. Despite her initial doubts, life was full of surprises, and Reeve was not among the traitors—but he was clearly hiding something.