Ryan Bennett also glanced at his communicator.

　　[1470.8.05 04:41:31]

　　This was not the time coordinate they were supposed to arrive at.

　　Claire Harris had clearly noticed this as well. He immediately ordered, “Eric Morgan. Check the main control panel for any data errors or information hijacking, and contact the command center right away.”

　　“Yes.” Eric Morgan reported, “Captain Harris, it seems our equipment has been locked.”

　　Ryan Bennett walked over.

　　The equipment was locked?

　　Claire Harris’s profile was striking, his brows tightly knit: “What do you mean by locked?”

　　Eric Morgan said, “The main control panel is offline, and we can’t reach the command center. The capsule pod isn’t working either. It might be due to the electromagnetic waves or magnetic field being a bit different here, but I’m not sure. Maybe the recent jump is related. Right now, only the communicator works—we’re trapped here.”

　　The surrounding team members all perked up their ears, and upon hearing this, they all started cursing.

　　“So what about the mission?”

　　“I was planning to ask out the new girl I met after tomorrow’s mission.”

　　“You’ve already messed around with so many, can you ever stop?”

　　As soon as the words fell, footsteps suddenly sounded from the woods.

　　The Guardians operated under strict low-profile principles—unless absolutely necessary, they could not let the local inhabitants of the current time discover their identities. So everyone immediately went silent.

　　Eric Morgan, who was in charge of controls, quickly shut off the glowing capsule pod and switched it to stealth mode.

　　Everyone stood motionless in the woods.

　　As the chaotic footsteps drew closer, Ryan Bennett suddenly had a strong premonition... Sure enough, once his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he could clearly make out that the newcomer was a filthy vagrant.

　　“Huh huh—”

　　The vagrant lunged at Emily Thompson, but Emily Thompson threw him to the ground. The vagrant then sprang up and attacked again.

　　“What the hell?!” Emily Thompson was caught off guard and tackled, letting out a scream, “Shit!!!”

　　The vagrant actually bit down hard on Emily Thompson’s shoulder!

　　Claire Harris kicked the vagrant three or four meters away with a loud “thud.”

　　Eric Morgan pulled Emily Thompson up, anxiously asking, “Emily! Are you okay?!”

　　There was an armor layer on the combat suit’s shoulder. Emily Thompson grimaced in pain, but fortunately, the bite only left a dental mark and didn’t cause any injury.

　　In the darkness, Claire Harris swiftly subdued the vagrant, then lifted his chin at Emily Thompson: “Emily, is this one of your new exes? Chased you all the way here.”

　　Amid the laughter of his teammates, Ryan Bennett seemed especially silent. He stood to the side, looking... distracted.

　　By the time he snapped out of it, Emily Thompson had already tied the vagrant to a tree.

　　So Ryan Bennett turned on his flashlight and walked straight toward the vagrant.

　　Under the harsh beam, there appeared grayish, cloudy eyeballs, deathly pale skin laced with blue, web-like veins, and a body covered in dark red blood and bits of flesh, exuding a strong, nauseating stench.

　　“Huh—” The vagrant’s expression was barely human, mouth agape, still trying to bite at the living people around him, struggling madly.

　　The teammates all had different expressions.

　　The scene was so shocking, yet Ryan Bennett stared without blinking, as if completely unaffected.

　　Emily Thompson could be heard muttering, “I told you all the air here stinks.”

　　Claire Harris’s brows furrowed deeply. He observed the vagrant for a while before turning off the flashlight and said, “Great, should’ve checked the almanac before heading out. We just broke the record for the fastest discovery by locals in Guardian history. No one is allowed to report this when we get back, or else Team Nine’s bastards will overtake us.”

　　He stood up and continued, “Let’s leave him nearby for now—someone will find him and call the police. It’s pitch black, we can’t see anything. We need to get out and find a way to contact the sky dome of this timeline. Be alert for the surroundings as we leave; we might pass by a crime scene.”

　　Everyone: “Yes!”

　　When collecting equipment, everyone moved quickly and efficiently.

　　Soon it was Ryan Bennett’s turn to pick his gear. He chose a handgun he’d used in the training room over the past few days.

　　Claire Harris stood beside him and named the gun: “Diamond Bird.”

　　This man was very tall, and when he wasn’t smiling, he had a sharp, intimidating presence that was hard to ignore.

　　Being looked down on like this, Ryan Bennett inexplicably continued his words: “Modeled after the last century’s PPK, used by both Hitler and Bond.”

　　Claire Harris probably wanted to say the same thing, but after being preempted, he raised his eyebrows slightly, showing a bit of rebelliousness: “Consultant Bennett, you’re quite the retro type.”

　　Ryan Bennett was slightly taken aback: “……”

　　What on earth is going on?

　　Claire Harris’s words interrupted his odd train of thought: “If it were me in this situation, I’d try to pick a weapon that offers more protection.”

　　Ryan Bennett couldn’t help but look up at him.

　　“Just a little suggestion.” Claire Harris raised his eyebrows slightly, picked out his own weapon, “But, it suits you.”

　　Claire Harris first chose two military knives. Ryan Bennett watched him slide them into his calf straps, then select a pair of gloves, a pair of knuckle dusters, and finally a shotgun, all in the order Claire Harris seemed to have imagined.

　　“Godsleep?” Ryan Bennett asked.