Chapter 1

Chunk Cook lay on the edge of the crevasse and shone a powerful flashlight into the depths.

“Captain Shaw, Linda’s stopped responding. Should we lower a rope and check on her?”

Joshua Shaw did not even turn around. He was carefully adjusting Wendy Jones' windproof collar.

"Check on her for what? Linda is one of the country's top glacier rescue experts.

"The crevasse is only a dozen meters deep. Even if she fell in, she would be fine. She could spend the night down there without the slightest problem.

"She's only pretending to be dead because she wants everyone to think Wendy hurt her."

Wendy huddled in Joshua's arms and timidly tugged at his sleeve.

"Josh, is Linda angry with me again? Should I go and apologize to her?"

Joshua reached out and ruffled Wendy's hair. His expression instantly softened.

"Ignore her. If only she were half as considerate as you. Let her freeze down there for a while. Once she has suffered enough, she'll learn her lesson."

Chunk's voice cracked with urgency.

“But Captain Shaw, it’s already forty below zero! We'll have a serious problem if we delay any longer!"

Joshua spun around and cut him off sharply.

"Are you the captain, or am I? Everyone, keep moving! Anyone who dares to stop and help her can pack up and leave the moment we get back!"

The team exchanged uneasy glances, but under Joshua's pressure, they could only force themselves to keep moving.

I floated in midair and watched coldly as they disappeared into the distance.

At that very moment, my body had completely stopped showing any signs of life.

The system's cold, mechanical voice sounded again.

[Host's vital signs have reached zero.]

[Disengagement protocol initiated.]

[Proceed to the new world immediately?]

I watched Joshua walk away while holding Wendy's hand tightly.

"Delay it."

I wanted to see how he would react when he learned that I was truly dead.

Joshua kept Wendy safely tucked in his arms all the way back to the expedition camp.

The snowstorm outside suddenly intensified, and the fierce wind made the corrugated metal building rattle loudly.

Chunk shoved open the control room door and rushed inside, clutching the tracking terminal.

"Captain Shaw, Linda's location hasn't moved at all! She's still at the crevasse!

"The storm is so severe now. What if something happened to her? I request permission to take a team out and rescue her!"

Joshua's eyes instantly turned cold.

"Chunk Cook, have you lost your mind? How many times has Linda pulled that 'crying wolf' stunt? She deliberately removed her tracker and threw it there.

"She's probably hiding in some sheltered spot and laughing at us."

Wendy quickly rubbed Joshua's back.

"Don't be angry, Josh. Linda has always been very proud. She must have felt humiliated earlier, so she deliberately stayed out to sulk. She'll come back on her own once she calms down."

Joshua snorted, his face full of impatience.

"She's just petty and always looking for ways to target you. You're so kind, yet she keeps trying to bully you. We have to teach her a lesson and cure her bad temper once and for all."

He turned toward the personnel on duty and issued a harsh order.

"Lock the camp gates. If she refuses to admit her mistake, no one is allowed to let her in!"