Chapter 471: It’s Probably The Skirt
"Hello. Nice to meet you."
The prisoners exchanged bewildered looks before turning back to Ashley.
All they saw was the bright smile on her bloodstained face.
That was the boss?
Their gazes shifted to Red and Gin, who stood beside her.
That woman?
"Just... who is she?" one of them wondered aloud. "Is she really the one those two answer to?"
"Don’t forget about Johnny Rambo," another muttered. "He looks crazy, but he also looks capable."
With gunfire and explosions still echoing throughout the base, they were certain there were more people fighting alongside them. That alone had lifted their spirits.
But what they couldn’t understand was why all of them answered to Ashley.
Was she insanely rich?
Was she paying them an outrageous amount of money?
The question they had brushed aside earlier suddenly resurfaced.
Just who were these people?
While the prisoners stared at Ashley in stunned silence, she leaned toward Red.
"Say, Red," she whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "are these guys okay? They’ve been staring at me this whole time." She tilted her head innocently. "Am I really that pretty?"
Red scrunched his nose as he looked at her.
Her face wasn’t completely drenched in blood, but it was close. Only a few patches of skin remained visible beneath the dried blood and dirt.
What beauty was she talking about?
"Where do you even get that confidence?" he blurted out before glancing back at the prisoners. "They’re probably shocked by how short your skirt is."
Gin shook his head.
"I doubt it. They’re probably surprised Madam is smaller than they expected."
Red and Ashley turned toward him.
Gin raised an eyebrow.
A second later, Red and Ashley both looked up at the sky as though expecting the answer to fall from above.
"...Or maybe what I said," Red mumbled.
The two of them nodded at the same time.
"It’s probably the skirt." They spoke in perfect unison.
Gin stared at them in disbelief. "I still think my answer makes more sense."
Ashley simply waved him off while Red completely ignored him.
"Anyway," Red said, pointing at the building behind her, "what are you doing here? Rappelling down like that. Doesn’t look like anyone’s inside anymore. You could’ve just used the front entrance."
"Meh," Ashley shrugged as though the entire situation wasn’t life-threatening. "I was trying to avoid running into more headaches."
She tilted her head. "So, where are you guys headed?"
"Where else?" Red sighed as he motioned for the others to come over. "Look at our numbers. We can barely squeeze everyone into a single truck, and it’s packed with unarmed men."
Gin straightened his posture.
"Numbers alone won’t win us this fight without firearms. We’ve looted every weapon we could find, but it’s still nowhere near enough." He tapped the rifle resting on his shoulder. "And I’m almost out of ammunition."
"Oh," Ashley nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense."
At the same time, Charm and the others stopped a few steps away.
"Anyway," Red continued, gesturing toward the group, "these are the guys. I’ve already assigned them roles."
He pointed to the men in front.
"This is Charm. That old guy is Old Fool." He pointed at another man before scratching his cheek. "And... uh... I forgot his name."
The man stared at him. "But he’s one of ours too."
Red only gave Ashley the briefest introductions. He wasn’t doing it for himself; he was doing it for them.
If these men felt like they were part of the operation instead of disposable extras, they’d fight harder to survive.
Ashley noticed.
She had expected Gin to take the lead on something like this.
Still, it didn’t surprise her.
This was exactly why she had chosen Red to infiltrate the prison.
"Hello," Ashley greeted with a nod once Red finished. "You can call me Super B."
"Bee?" Gin frowned.
"As in the letter B, not the insect," she corrected before shrugging. "Although... Queen Bee doesn’t sound bad either."
Then she turned her attention back to the prisoners. This time, she truly looked at them.
Malnutrition showed plainly on their gaunt faces. Yet the fire burning in their eyes hadn’t dimmed.
She could almost feel their determination.
A small smile tugged at her lips.
Red really did a good job.
From the moment she’d first seen them until now, she could already tell this wasn’t forced. They hadn’t been manipulated into following them.
This was their own choice.
Even if not everyone survived tonight, they still wanted to fight.
She understood that feeling because she carried that same fire herself.
"No turning back now," she murmured with quiet pride.
Then she glanced at Red with a smile.
"What?" Red frowned. "Don’t smile at me like that. You’re seriously creeping me out."
"Hehe," Ashley poked his side. "I’m just really proud of you."
Before Red could respond, Ashley suddenly skipped toward the prisoners.
Instinctively, several of them took a step back; even Charm did. Only Old Fool remained where he stood. Mostly because Ashley looped an arm around his.
"Grandpa," she asked with a tilted head, "aren’t you a little too old for this operation?"
Old Fool chuckled. "I may be old, but I promise I won’t slow everyone down."
"But you’ll slow him down." She pointed at Red. "He looks like he’d bite someone’s head off, but he’s actually soft-hearted."
"Oy—" Red was cut off when Old Fool spoke.
"I am old," he admitted with a gentle smile. "And I don’t have much time left anyway."
His gaze shifted toward the other prisoners. "If I can help these men get out of here alive... then please let me join this operation, Madam."
His mind was overflowing with questions about Ashley and her people, but he understood hierarchy.
Red and Gin addressed her with unquestionable respect. The moment they saw the blood on her, both of them had reacted immediately.
That alone told him everything he needed to know.
This woman was the top of their chain of command.
Old Fool lowered his head. "Please, Madam."
Red clicked his tongue.
"No wonder they call him Old Fool," he muttered. "The old man really is a fool."
"Can you blame him?" Gin replied quietly, smiling at the old man’s resolve. "I respect that."
"Hm..." Ashley hummed thoughtfully before releasing Old Fool’s arm.
She didn’t answer him immediately.
Instead, she leaned closer with a grin stretching from ear to ear.
"Mind if I borrow this for a second?"
Before Old Fool could respond, she snatched the rifle from his hands. At the same time, she effortlessly plucked another rifle from the man standing beside him.
The poor prisoner blinked.
One moment he was holding a gun. The next, his hands were empty.
"Fine!" Ashley spun around with a rifle in each hand. "But on one condition."
Red and Gin froze.
"Hey..." Red slowly raised a hand. "Madam..."
Gin’s breath hitched. "Madam... why are you pointing those at us?"
Ashley only smiled and said, "Stay where you are."
Then she pulled the triggers.
BANG! BANG! BANG!