Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 465: Chapter 465

Shawn had come here to put an end to these inhumane acts once and for all. His reign of terror was finally coming to an end.
Kadeem's expression darkened as Shawn approached. "You're sorely mistaken if you think this is somewhere you and your lackey can just waltz in and out as you please."
Kadeem kept retreating until his back hit the wall. Just as he pressed the bronze lion head statue beside him, two trapdoors instantly opened beneath where he and Shawn stood, sending them both plummeting downward.
With lightning reflexes, Shawn grabbed the edge of the trapdoor just in time. But the mechanism was on a timer—the opening would seal shut any second.
The slick edges gave him no grip, and even for someone of Shawn's abilities, it was impossible to escape before it closed. He had no choice but to let go and plummet into the darkness below.
By the time Zoe arrived at the spot where Shawn had fallen, the trapdoor had vanished, leaving only solid ground.
As the gunfire died down, Dimitri led his team over. "Zoe, we wouldn't have breached Kadeem's stronghold this smoothly without your intel. The perimeter's mostly clear, just as you ordered. What's next?"
Zoe paid no attention to Dimitri. Her only concern was the whereabouts of Shawn and Kadeem. With three of the Top Four already out of commission, only the Hunk was left to interrogate. She seized him by the throat and demanded, "Where is Kadeem? Talk!"
Hunk came to and was shocked by the scene—especially when he saw Zoe glaring at him with murder in her eyes.
Dimitri leveled his gun at Hunk and snarled, "Talk, or I'll blow your brains out."
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Hunk caved in. "Okay, I'll talk."
The surface base was merely Kadeem's pleasure palace—his true power structure lay hidden underground.
Hunk said, "Your man fell down there—he's as good as dead. If I were you, I'd get out of here fast. Once the King comes back with his men, you'll all be blown to pieces."
Zoe released Hunk and strode toward the bronze lion statue, determined to open the passage and descend herself.
Dimitri put a bullet through Hunk's head and stepped in front of Zoe. "Zoe, you really think the 'King' who controls half the exclusive district would only have these lackeys? I believe what he said—going down there is suicide."
Zoe shoved Dimitri out of her way. "My man is down there. I have to go."
Shawn might still be in danger, and with Kadeem—the mastermind—still at large, their efforts would be for nothing if they didn't wipe out this organization completely. Unable to stop Zoe, Dimitri resolved to follow her.
Once the passage opened, Zoe turned to Dimitri and said, "Don't follow me. Go mop up Kadeem's perimeter forces—leave no stragglers." With that, she leaped into the passage.
Dimitri knew Zoe meant business, so he quickly rallied everyone to intercept and surround Kadeem's remaining forces.
Zoe stepped into the passage and realized it was indeed an underground tunnel—spacious and expertly designed.
She ran her fingers along the wall—blast-proof material. This was likely Kadeem's true stronghold; stepping in here meant she had entered the real danger zone.
Zoe entered the passage, searching desperately for Shawn. But this wasn't the route he'd fallen through—she was following Kadeem's path instead.
Zoe had barely taken a few steps when several men wielding heavy weapons appeared, blocking her path. Clad in full-body armor, they were clearly prepared for their own protection.
"It's her. The King ordered us to kill her on sight," one of the guards shouted.
"How the hell did a mere woman turn the whole place upside down? What were those Top Four even good for?"
These guys had always been lurking in the shadows, never getting any of the glory. It was always the Top Four living it up in the spotlight. Now, finally getting their chance to shine, they were positively buzzing with excitement.
One of the gunmen hoisted his machine gun and grinned, "Just one woman—not nearly enough for all of us. Let my baby show off and turn her into Swiss cheese!"
"With that toy of yours, one burst would blast her to kingdom come. Then what's left for the rest of us?" one of the men grumbled.
"Hell yeah! Finally, some action—let us have our fun with her."
The guards started bickering back and forth, their argument getting so heated they nearly came to blows—completely ignoring Zoe, the very woman they were supposed to deal with, standing right in front of them.
Zoe had no time for these guys—she had to find Shawn. She strode straight toward them, and the moment they saw her coming, the others immediately tensed up, snapping to attention.
"Stop right there!"
"Well, this woman's got guts—not even scared of us? Let me handle her."
"Count me in!"
Two of the guards stepped forward to face Zoe, ready for a fight.
One said, "So you beat the Top Four, huh? Let's see what you're really made of."
"Come on, how tough can that woman be? She must've used her looks to seduce the Top Four. No way those useless sacks would've lost otherwise," another sneered.
"Women are a dime a dozen. With enough cash, you can get any piece of ass you want."
"Damn right. After we take her down, let's go have some real fun."
The two guards, chatting and laughing, sauntered up to Zoe—then, without warning, they lunged at her.
They thought they could take Zoe down in one move, but the moment she ducked to avoid their attack, she grabbed both their heads and smashed them together with brutal force, leaving both men dazed and reeling.
Zoe flung them to the ground and advanced on the remaining guards.
The remaining guards howled with laughter as they watched their buddies get knocked out.
"Pathetic losers! Getting fooled by a weak woman."
"Let me at her. I'll take her down myself."
"Cut the crap! Let's finish this and go get our reward from the King."
The guards were closing in on Zoe, their faces full of contempt. They clearly underestimated her—after all, what could an ordinary woman possibly do, no matter how skilled? Surely she was no match for their weapons.
As three guards rushed forward to pin Zoe down, the heavy gunner took aim and opened fire, unleashing a relentless barrage of bullets at her.
"You're finished!" the gunman taunted as he lowered his weapon, ready to flaunt his victory. But to his shock, he saw that Zoe had used his three teammates as human shields. She tossed their limp bodies aside, then with a brutal kick, sent one crashing straight into him.
With a heavy thud, the limp body of his comrade slammed into him, knocking the gun from his grasp and sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Y-You..." All his earlier bravado vanished; he was no longer the arrogant man he had been.
In less than a minute, he was the last one standing among those who had mocked Zoe. All his buddies were down. 'This woman is a freaking beast!' he thought, stunned.
Just then, someone shouted, "Go to hell!"