The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!-Chapter 325: Enemy’s Enemy Is My Friend

The trio moved carefully.

After the retrieval of the first mask and after recovering from the shock, Aaron’s jaw tightened. He signalled with a barely visible flick of his chin toward a narrow pathway where two more guards paced, they were after the masks, they needed two more.

Aaron struck first—an efficient, practised blow just like he did earlier. The second guard fell with a soft grunt. Layla moved in close and quickly removed the mask from the fallen man’s face.

Adeline’s fingers brushed the other guard’s collarbone as she pinned him down, she would cover his mouth to prevent him from screaming, but he had no mouth. She pressed her knee into his neck to knock him unconscious.

Her reasoning was that if they did not have a mouth, they communicated through different means, and she did not know what those means were, better to knock them out before they had the chance.

"One more mask, let this guy be the decoy," Adeline told them.

Aaron chose to give the masks to Layla and Adeline first. He could take care of himself.

They pressed on, footsteps muffled, shoulders brushing. The corridor opened into a low-ceilinged chamber with a tangle of ropes and crates, the smell of oil and damp wood clinging to everything. It was surprisingly empty, and not the bustling base they expected it would be.

Adeline’s heart beat hard against her ribs as she watched Aaron move around without a mask.

"So, what is our plan?" Adeline asked.

Aaron shrugged like it was obvious. "No idea."

Layla blinked. "What do you mean ’no idea’?"

Aaron shrugged again, "The hit on you came from here. We can either figure out who sent them and why — trap them, question them — or just slaughter everyone and be done with it."

Adeline’s stomach dropped at the second option. She had never killed anyone. Back where she came from, people didn’t just decide to off strangers. The idea made her queasy. But she knows that it was something that had to be done. There were tough decisions to make.

"Let’s get info," she said. "We take prisoners, we ask questions. We learn who’s pulling strings."

Layla looked between them and gave a small nod. "Yeah. Better alive. They talk more when they’re breathing."

"I wonder how they breathe," Aaron remarked. Adeline shot him a look as if to say, ’that was funny, but this is not the time.’

"Fine. Spread out. We take each direction, not counting the direction of the entrance, of course." He clarified.

Adeline almost chimed in to say ’Actually, there are four directions and three of us.’

She coughed, "Make sure to find a mask, you don’t look lowkey."

"No heroics. If you can’t do it, don’t do it. We need a signal." Aaron taught him a standard military signal that they could use to inform the others that they were in danger. It was a simple gesture, but that gesture could very well save their lives.

They split up, slipping into shadows. Adeline went toward the west, counting her steps in her head to keep calm.

She found a small storage nook first and a guy tied up there, wide-eyed and muttering nonsense. He almost looked relieved to see another face.

Adeline crouched, meeting his eyes. "You’re going to sit tight and answer questions," she said, trying to sound tougher than she felt. "We don’t want to hurt you if you cooperate."

The prisoner swallowed and nodded so fast his whole body shook.

She glanced back toward where Aaron and Layla had gone. The night was tense, but it had a weird energy to it. Things were going well, a little too well. She had felt a kind of fear she could not put into words. She took a deep breath.

She felt more confident if she was with them. She could protect them and heal them if anything happens. How could she do that if she is away from them? She turned her attention towards the prisoner. Why was there no guard here? Why was there no one here?

Adeline crouched down so she was eye level with the prisoner. His hands were bound, his hair a mess, and his lips moved like he was trying to form words but couldn’t settle on any.

"What is your name?" she asked softly, keeping her tone even.

The man blinked at her, his eyes darting around like a trapped animal. "I—Ev—I don’t..." His voice cracked, and he shook his head hard, as though fighting himself. The fact that he couldn’t answer made him agitated. He started to kick and wail.

Adeline watched him carefully. Something was wrong with him. He didn’t look like a fighter, didn’t even look like he belonged in this place. He seemed... Broken. That meant getting information could be hard, it also meant she had to handle him carefully.

The fact that he couldn’t answer made him agitated. He started to kick and wail.

If he shouted, they would all be in trouble. She had to do something.

"Easy," she said, raising her hand slowly, she showed that she had nothing on her, her hands were empty, she was ’surrendering’. "Keep your voice down. It’s okay."

The man’s chest heaved. He started muttering nonsense under his breath, louder and louder. Panic was bubbling up in him, and Adeline’s heart raced. She couldn’t use her holy powers here—not without giving her location away. "Please, trust me. I don’t mean any harm... I am Adeline. My name is Adeline. Take in a deep breath with me, okay?"

She took a deep breath and made sure to show him how to do it, hoping he would copy her.

His gaze flicked to her. After a long pause, he did it. He copied her once, then twice, though his breaths were shaky.

"That’s it," she said. "Good. You’re doing fine."

Her mind was working as quickly as her mouth. If this man was a prisoner here, then he wasn’t on the enemy’s side. He might even know something useful—if he was still capable of answering. For now, though, she had to keep him calm.

"I’m Adeline," she said gently, lowering her tone so only he could hear. "I’m your friend."