Chapter 145: Catching Feelings?

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Catching Feelings?

Jay Monroe: "..." Damn, that’s infuriating!

But is he really the kind of guy to lose his cool so easily?

Heh, people seriously underestimate him.

Hugh slung his hands over his shoulders, took the sniper rifle off his back, his voice ice-cold: "Jay, did you forget why we’re here in the base?"

Jay heard this, moved his sniper gun, frowned with distaste: "This is a competition, you and I are rivals. Don’t give me that crap."

Hugh’s body instantly relaxed when he heard those words, he put his gun away, and walked down the steps one by one.

Jay held his gun, suddenly aimed it straight at Hugh’s forehead, but saw Hugh’s weapon still slung behind his back, sneered, "Hugh, you think I won’t blow your head off?"

Hugh glanced sideways at him: "If you shoot me, can you grab the highest score in the competition zone?"

Jay: "..."

He didn’t want to admit it, but the fact was Hugh’s score was closer to overtaking the current leader, Renee Morgan.

They had entered the base together, both aiming for the base pass.

Originally, they thought it would be easy, just pass through the base forest and get the base pass.

But they failed, so now their only hope was the base competition zone — as long as they won the highest score, they’d be accepted as advanced base members, indirectly getting the base pass.

Jay stared at Hugh for a few seconds, then laughed out loud, pulled back his sniper rifle, walked down the stairs, moving closer with a grin: "Honestly, I don’t feel like killing you."

Hugh stared at the suddenly enlarged face in front of him. The two had grown up together, years of friendship — he knew Jay Monroe’s attitude better than anyone.

As expected, Jay leaned in with a bright smile at the corner of his lips: "If I can’t get the highest score, I’ve got other ways to borrow a base pass. But you? That’s a whole different story..."

"You really that confident you’ll get the top score?" he retorted, goading him.

Hugh knew Jay wouldn’t just bring up two random, unrelated things unless...

"You mean Renee Morgan has a base pass?" Hugh’s face was utterly unmoved — asking didn’t mean he believed it.

People capable of passing through the base forest and getting a base pass are rarer than rare.

He knew exactly what Renee Morgan could do. If she had that kind of skill, the night they ran into him and Jay, she wouldn’t have acted so meek.

As for being an excellent sniper — probably trained all her life in shooting.

Jay saw right through his thoughts, but didn’t bother to explain — just raised his brows and whistled: "Go ahead, guess."

Hugh didn’t linger on the topic, spoke bluntly: "Help me get the highest score, name your terms."

Before Jay could refuse, he added: "Any terms."

The offer was so tempting, you could see the shifting expressions on Jay’s face.

Hugh was certain Jay would say yes, didn’t even wait for an answer, started to turn away...

"Hold on..." Jay suddenly spoke.

Hugh stopped in mid-step, looked back at him with a faintly mocking gaze: "Business before everything, Jay. Don’t tell me you’d never betray a teammate, that’s such bullshit."

Their backgrounds decided their paths — one political, one commercial.

Their identities determined the difference between ruler and subject.

If Jay wanted to get more privileges out of Hugh, he’d have to give up more interests and value in return.

No need to spell it out, both understood perfectly.

Jay smiled, deeply mysterious, clicking his tongue: "Cousin, cousin. Helping you is my job, but this time, that’s just not gonna happen."

Hugh looked thoroughly disgusted by his tone.

"As you can see, even if I helped you cheat, it’s still unlikely you’d get the highest score." Jay felt a little guilty talking like this, but the truth stings.

"No need for reminders, I know exactly what I’m doing. Just follow my orders." Hugh’s eyes were icy and calm, lit up with the ruthlessness of someone used to power.

For anything else, Jay would’ve gone along, their interests tied together long ago.

But this time, he didn’t want to.

Because of interests again — he felt managing his relationship with Renee Morgan was way more valuable and direct, compared to whatever Hugh was offering.

When Hugh saw Jay not responding, his face instantly darkened, his lips curling up sarcastically: "Heh, you can’t even choose between me and her?"

Ridiculous, but painfully true.

Jay listened to the snide words, smirked: "Yeah, that’s right..."

Under Hugh’s icy glare, he spoke slowly: "She’s stronger than you."

In this kind of military competition zone — an unknown girl, stronger than a nation’s crown prince?

If word got out, people would laugh their heads off.

Utter nonsense, what a huge joke.

But Jay’s face was dead serious.

The air around Hugh dropped to its lowest pressure.

Jay felt the heavy atmosphere, the smile fading from his face, already prepared for a fight.

Suddenly, the surrounding pressure eased, the suffocating feeling evaporated. The man in front of him seemed to adjust his emotions in the blink of an eye, returning to normal instantly.

Hugh’s eyes were cold and detached as he spoke to Jay: "Hope you won’t regret your choice today."

Jay let out an inexplicable sigh of relief — if they really started fighting, they’d both be bedridden for days.

But then, this was the Hugh he knew — dictatorial but never reckless, always in control of his emotions.

Otherwise, how could he stay the crown prince for years?

Hugh finished his words, turning and leaving decisively.

"Wait..." Jay called out.

Hugh paused mid-step, but didn’t turn around, his slender back straight and his aura aloof and icy.

Jay walked forward a couple steps, speaking behind him: "If she really wins the highest score, I want you to treat her with the utmost respect, no matter if she’s friend or foe, whether she wants to help us or not."

Hugh glanced back, expressionless: "What, she’s got you hooked?"

Jay: "..."

His face twisted, then he spat out deadpan: "I respect power, thanks!"

Hugh withdrew his gaze, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he turned halfway: "If she’s really like you say — holding the base pass and the highest score, a senior base member — not only would I need to treat her with the highest respect, even my mother and the entire Royal Family would have to bow to her as well."

The base pass is enough for any royal family to treat its holder as top VIP, let alone being a senior base member — calling her a rare, top-level guest would be no exaggeration.

Jay: "..."

He clicked his tongue; so all that groundwork he laid for the girl was totally unnecessary?