At Marcus Monroe’s command, everyone got out of their vehicles.

Only then did Paige Summers belatedly realize that Nora Lowell and her two companions had left long ago. Two of their own team members were missing as well... ’They must have packed up and joined the group ahead of us,’ she thought. ’I didn’t sense a thing!’

’Does that pocket dimension have some kind of cloaking effect?’

She broke out in a cold sweat. ’Good thing I noticed this early. From now on, I’ll only use my ability when I’m completely alone!’

Besides them, Flying Eagle had also arrived, bringing several other Hunting Parties.

To Paige Summers’s surprise, Sean Raines was walking side-by-side with Claire Chapman!

She then glanced at Erin Quinn beside her, a look of understanding dawning on her face. "I wasn’t thinking straight. I should have let you leave with the people from Glimmerlake Base. He’s most likely here to pick you up. Go on. I’ll come find you after I’ve taken care of things here."

Before Erin Quinn could respond, Sean Raines strode over and said, "We’ll stay. I may not be a Superpower User, but I can hold my own in a fight. As for our little apprentice-to-be... it’ll be a good experience for her!"

Paige Summers grumbled to herself, ’Easy for you to say! We have no idea how many Mutant Beasts are coming. I don’t have what it takes to guarantee Erin Quinn’s safety. If anything were to happen to her, I’d regret it forever!’ But it was her own carelessness that led to this, so she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. She was in a truly difficult position.

She didn’t let it show on her face, but Sean Raines seemed to guess her concerns. He said gently, "I’m here. You don’t have to worry about the safety of our little apprentice-to-be."

While they were speaking, everyone else gathered, and Marcus Monroe began to assign roles.

Of everyone present, Marcus Monroe was the only High-level Superpower User, and his subordinates were highly competent. Anyone with eyes could see he had an extraordinary background.

Besides, most of the people from these Hunting Parties had dealings with Flying Eagle and had some idea of how discreet yet powerful they were. Since even Felix Chapman was willing to serve under Marcus Monroe, they naturally found the man all the more profound and inscrutable. As a result, there were virtually no objections to him taking the lead in this battle.

And so, things proceeded smoothly.

Marcus Monroe had already discussed the number of people and their superpowers with Forrest Chapman, so he had a rough plan in mind, which he now began to lay out.

He divided the fifty-plus people into five squads. Three squads would intercept from the front, while two would close in from the flanks to envelop the enemy. For the most part, he kept the original Hunting Party structures intact, as those who had fought together long-term were sure to have better chemistry. The importance of such synergy in team combat could not be overstated.

At the same time, however, he also considered how to coordinate between Superpower Users with different specialties, like ranged and melee combat.

He outlined the general strategy, emphasizing the importance of inter-squad coordination, and added contingencies for unexpected situations that might arise during the battle.

In his years of traveling the wastelands, he had long ago organized his own team, and it was a considerable size.

He was also remarkably skilled at commanding battles against Mutant Beasts.

His skill was immediately apparent. After listening to his simple yet clear instructions, everyone was convinced he was a capable commander, and a sense of confidence settled over them.

Two people among the group were special cases: one was Paige Summers, and the other was Sean Raines.

Marcus Monroe assigned Paige Summers to a mobile support role, responsible for assisting the three squads at the front.

This arrangement took into account her Speed Superpower, which would allow her to rush between the squads, as well as the lethality and support potential of her Poison Arrows.

As for Sean Raines.

His decision to join was last-minute, and Marcus Monroe was unfamiliar with his abilities. Rather than randomly assigning him to a squad, it was better to let him operate freely under Paige Summers’s supervision.

Sean Raines just smiled and nodded.

Getting to interact more with Paige Summers was one of the reasons he had decided to stay.

’He still hadn’t decided whether to report back to the madam. Observing her up close would help him determine if Paige Summers’s character was truly what she presented it to be. If she turned out to be too greedy, or if there were other issues... then the best course of action would be to let this matter remain a secret forever!’

After Marcus Monroe finished speaking, everyone quickly moved into position.

Those tasked with the vehicles drove them a safe distance away, while the ambush teams fanned out to the sides.

The terrain here was no longer flat plains but was beginning to resemble a mountainous region. While the wide path down the middle remained relatively even, its sides were flanked by layers of weathered, stacked rock.

This was precisely why Marcus Monroe had chosen this spot for the ambush.

There was only one path through, with sides that were difficult to climb. Any approaching Mutant Beasts would be forced down the middle, keeping them concentrated. This was undoubtedly a huge advantage for an ambush.

Sean Raines was also impressed by the choice of location.

While effortlessly leading Erin Quinn up one of the rocky slopes, he struck up a conversation with Paige Summers, subtly probing for details about Marcus Monroe’s background.