American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness.

Chapter 406 The Source of Lin Yu'an's Anxiety

A crazy, audacious idea struck her mind like lightning and took root instantly.

She quickly got up and took a syringe from her desk drawer; these things were easy for her as the logistics manager.

"Since we've already decided to have a child, a mixed-race baby—that seems even more interesting!"

Then the substance containing deoxyribonucleic acid was sent into...

But that's not enough; this woman's madness lies in her insanity beneath her extreme rationality.

She didn't use up all the "samples" and found a sterile glass sample collection bottle.

Carefully pour the remaining liquid into the bottle, tighten the cap, and watch the liquid flow slowly in the glass bottle, as if you have grasped a bargaining chip for the future.

She then walked to a corner of the office, entered the password, and opened the small medical temperature-controlled refrigerator used to store vaccines and special medicines.

A wisp of cold white air emerged, and the temperature display showed 4°C.

She carefully placed the glass bottle on the innermost shelf of the refrigerator, right next to several expensive cardiac stimulants.

Victoria's fingers lingered on the cold glass bottle for a second: "Get a good night's sleep."

"While this temperature is not suitable for long-term preservation, it is sufficient to maintain a fairly high level of activity in the sample for several hours."

"Don't be afraid~ Soon, I will transfer you to the liquid nitrogen tank at -196 degrees Celsius in the base's medical center."

After completing this stimulating action, a jolt of fear, like an electric current, shot straight up my spine to the top of my head!

It's not just the physical afterglow, but also the unparalleled pleasure that comes from doing something extremely crazy!

Victoria felt like a desperate gambler who had just won all the chips at the table.

Every cell in the body was cheering with excitement at this astonishing act, and even the fingertips were slightly numb with excitement.

The thought of what the hunter would face filled her with excitement. "How interesting!"

Heh heh—the real game isn't until a year from now, Hunter.

She walked to the dressing mirror, looked at the woman in the mirror with a flushed face, and a triumphant sneer curled at the corner of her mouth. Then, she smoothed out the wrinkles in her flight suit, tucked her messy blonde hair behind her ears, and then buttoned up the top button of her collar one by one.

As the uniform tightly enveloped him, the soul that had just been trembling violently was once again locked within the cold and imposing military regulations.

She took out a wet wipe and carefully wiped away the remaining genes on her cheeks.

Finally, I twisted on the lipstick and smeared a scarlet streak across my lips, the color of blood.

She raised an eyebrow at the woman in the mirror, the madness in her eyes quickly cooling, freezing, and then disappearing.

One second later.

The crazy, morbid, and paranoid Victoria has disappeared.

He was reinstated as Major Anderson, the logistics chief feared by countless soldiers.

When she opened the office door, Lin Yu'an was leaning against the opposite wall, calmly watching her.

"Let's go." Her voice was devoid of any emotion. "I must carry out the colonel's orders."

"Also, you'd better spread the word about what happened today. I guarantee you'll reap unexpected rewards!"

"Major Anderson, your raid test today was a success. I will keep the details of this operation confidential."

Victoria glanced at him, a slight smirk playing on the right corner of her mouth, a gesture that seemed to express both mockery and casualness.

Then, the two walked silently down the long corridor to the supplies distribution area.

Looking at the woman's back, Lin Yu'an felt no remorse or regret.

He had never been so directly insulted since his rebirth.

He had merely returned the insult she had inflicted upon him tenfold. Dignity is something you must reclaim with your own hands, not by begging and groveling.

Moreover, he felt that this woman was definitely sick! Her behavior was not how a normal woman should react.

Faced with such a counterattack, she saw not fear or shame, but an almost manic excitement.

Her crazy act of setting a death countdown was more like enjoying a game on the verge of destruction.

A word flashed through Lin Yu'an's mind: morbid.

This woman's behavior defied all logic; he realized he had just encountered a madwoman more unpredictable than any wild beast.

Victoria, like an emotionless robot, precisely retrieved the complete ECWCS system from Level 1 to Level 7 for Lin Yu'an, as well as two pairs of polar military boots.

Throughout the entire process, she did not look at Lin Yu'an once more.

As Lin Yu'an, carrying his full set of equipment, prepared to leave through Gate 3, he turned back out of politeness and said, "Thank you, Major."

Victoria stood motionless in the shadows of the warehouse.

Just as Lin Yu'an was about to push open the door, her cold and hoarse voice came from behind.

"Hey."

Lin Yu'an stopped and turned around.

He saw Victoria watching him quietly, a strange smile on her face that he couldn't understand, a mixture of pity and smugness.

"Don't think you've really won. Our game has only just begun..." Her voice was as light as a breeze, yet carried the weight of a thousand pounds.

"I'm really looking forward to... what will you choose when we meet next time? —"

After saying that, she didn't give Lin Yu'an any further questions and turned to disappear into the darkness deep within the warehouse.

Lin Yu'an stood there, his brows furrowed.

Looking at the pile of valuable military equipment in his arms, and recalling the woman's last inexplicable words and her strange gaze, he realized he was deeply moved.

A strong sense of unease quietly crept into his heart, but he didn't know the source of it.

Is she looking for someone to take revenge on her? No, that can't be it. Given her crazy personality, she's bound to do something far more unexpected.

"But what could it be?" Lin Yu'an shook his head, not wanting to think about it any further.

He was carrying a huge pile of equipment when he waited at the door for a short while. A military Humvee pulled up in front of him and took him back to the market area.

When the Hummer stopped next to the Hunter convoy, almost everyone cast curious glances at it.

When Lin Yu'an unloaded the mountain of military equipment, which exuded a brand-new industrial feel, from the car, the surrounding air instantly fell silent.

Audak seemed frozen in place, his mouth slightly agape, "Sila above—"

He didn't look at the boots and backpacks, but reached out and touched the topmost gray-green hooded coat, which looked extremely bulky.

"This is—l7—" Odak's voice trembled, "The marshmallow suit—it's really brand new!"

He looked up, staring at Lin Yu'an with an incredulous expression.

"I tried to trade ten seal pelts for an old one but couldn't get it. Lin, what kind of spell did you cast on that colonel?"

Lin Yu'an smiled and placed everything in his arms on the fur of the sled, like an arms dealer displaying his top-of-the-line goods.

"It's not just this one piece of clothing, Odak." Lin Yu'an picked up all the clothes and showed them to the old hunter how extraordinary they were.

"This is ECWCS, the third-generation Extended Cold Climate Clothing System. It has seven layers from the inside out, and each layer has its own function."

He picked up a sand-colored undershirt from the bottom; it was made of polyester mesh fleece and felt as light as if it weighed nothing.

"Level 1, the close-fitting moisture-wicking layer, is not for keeping you warm, but for getting your sweat away from your skin instantly and keeping your body dry."

"Level 2, medium-weight insulation. It's a dark brown undershirt made of the same mesh fleece material. It provides basic warmth on top of Level 1 and is extremely breathable."

"Level 3, the core insulation layer. This is the main fleece layer, and it's sufficient for most of the time in the camp."

"Level 4, windproof layer. Ultralight, water-repellent, yet breathable. Specifically designed to combat the relentless winds of Greenland."

"Level 5, soft shell. This is the main outer layer when in active mode. It is windproof, snowproof, and abrasion-resistant, and it is quiet when moving, making it the hunter's favorite clothing."

"Level 6, hard shell. Made with Gore-Te fabric, completely waterproof. Specifically designed to withstand blizzards and freezing rain. It's a bit noisy, but it can be a lifesaver."

Finally, he picked up the "marshmallow suit" that Odak had been eyeing the most.

"Level 7, the ultimate static insulation layer, is filled with Primaloft fiber, which provides almost the same warmth as top-grade down, but its greatest strength is that it is waterproof."

"Even if you fall into an ice hole while wearing it, you can still keep warm after you get up and wring it out. It's a portable sleeping bag worn when camping in the Arctic or waiting for prey."

Lin Yu'an laid out the seven different garments in front of Audak, forming a modular system that could perfectly adapt to temperatures ranging from minus fifty degrees Celsius to plus ten degrees Celsius.

"This—this is a complete set—" Odak's breathing became rapid.

That wasn't all; Lin Yu'an then took out two pairs of distinctive military boots from his backpack.

Rabbit boots have multiple layers of air pockets and felt between the inner and outer rubber layers, which insulate against the cold like a high-performance insulated box, making them specifically designed for use in extremely cold and humid environments.

Mukluck boots feature a thick wool felt lining and a breathable canvas or nylon outer layer, designed for long hikes in dry, extremely cold weather.

18:30 PM.

As the sun set, the base's loudspeakers began broadcasting a notice urging people to leave.

The hunters, returning with their catch, began to put leashes on their dogs.

The sled was now at least twice as heavy as it had been on the way there. The furs and ivory carvings were converted into canned goods, generators, whiskey, and brand-new American military boots.

"Is everything packed? Check the ropes! Don't spill the liquor!"

Odak carefully wrapped the wine chest in reindeer hide and placed it in the middle of the sled.

Lin Yu'an took one last look at this magical base.

Warm lights emanate from the dormitory building, a temptation of modern civilization; but beyond the gate lies an endless, blue ice field at minus thirty degrees Celsius.

This barbed wire fence separated two worlds. And they, in the end, belonged to the cruel yet free world outside.

"Let's go, Mars."

Lin Yu'an stepped onto the pedal and pulled down his goggles.

"Huk!!!"

With shouts and commands, hundreds of sleds started moving again.

This primitive army, laden with the spoils of modern industry, drove out of the gates of the US military base and disappeared once again into the vast twilight of the Arctic.

The iron gate behind him slowly closed.

The Easter festivities have ended, but the hunter's life must go on.

At Thule Air Base, the commander's office was filled with the smell of expensive Cuban tobacco.

The bustling market had long since dispersed, and only the enormous radar outside the window continued to spin silently, like a giant eye watching over the end of the world.

Colonel Ike Jones sat behind a large mahogany desk, a Cohiba Beyco cigarette given to him by Lin Yu'an tucked between his fingers, puffing out smoke with a look of enjoyment on his face.

Opposite him, Major Victoria Anderson—or rather, Victoria Jones—was standing ramrod straight at attention.

She had tidied herself up, the zipper of her flight jumpsuit was pulled up to the top of her chin, and her short, golden hair was neatly combed.

His face was now only etched with a cold, businesslike mask, as if the madness that had occurred in the lounge that afternoon had never happened.

"Sit down, Victoria. There are no outsiders here, so don't be so tense."

Colonel Jones gestured to the chair opposite him, his tone less authoritative and more weary, like that of a father.

Victoria didn't sit down; her back was as straight as a javelin. "What do you need me for, sir?"

"If it's about those winter coats that were inexplicably lost, I've already taken care of it, and there are no problems on the books."

"It's not about that, just a few clothes." The colonel flicked his cigarette ash, his gaze falling on a photo frame on the corner of the table.

It was a faded old photograph. Young Lieutenant Jones was holding a little girl dressed in cowboy clothes, riding a Quarter Horse, and smiling broadly.

Those were some of the few tender moments between the father and daughter, and they took place before Victoria was "sold".

"How's your divorce from Anderson going lately?" the colonel suddenly asked, scrutinizing his daughter through the smoke.

Victoria's eyes flickered, and a self-deprecating and resentful smile curved her lips: "What? Are you trying to persuade me to continue enduring for the sake of the family's interests? And are you going to tell me how important Senator Anderson's support is to your career?"

"No, quite the opposite." Colonel Jones sneered, his eyes revealing a politician's coldness and calculation: "It's time to end this."

He looked at his daughter, his tone offering no comfort for her unhappy marriage, only a pure calculation of self-interest: "You've had a tough time all these years, Victoria. Thirteen years—"

"Since you were twenty, you've been clinging to a gay man, playing the perfect officer's wife, to secure the Anderson family's support on Capitol Hill for the Jones family."

"I know it's disgusting, but he did pave the way for me at the Pentagon."

Hearing her father so bluntly define her life as a transaction, Victoria clenched her fists tightly behind her back.

Thirteen years.

A woman's most beautiful youth is wasted not only enduring the loneliness of a sexless marriage, but also covering up various scandals for her bastard husband, and even pretending not to see him bringing male prostitutes home.

This is the root of her madness—she has been repressed for too long and too deeply.

"But now, things have changed. Anderson has become a liability, and you can drop the filthy Anderson surname." The colonel stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray.

"The Anderson family's biggest backer in Washington collapsed in his office yesterday from a sudden heart attack."

His faction is being purged, and the Anderson family will soon lose power.

"When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. The photos of your gay husband messing around with male prostitutes in the club have been leaked to the media by your political enemies and will be published when the time is right."

Ike leaned forward and began to outline the tactics for this public relations battle: "We must get you out of there before he completely sinks."

"You have to play the perfect victim in front of the media, a traditional military officer's wife who has been deceived for thirteen years but is still trying to save her marriage."

"You have to pretend you know nothing about his dirty deeds, and you have to cry in front of the camera and say that you have longed for a child for the past thirteen years."

"She even underwent countless tests because of this, believing that her lack of attractiveness was the reason why her husband was unwilling to touch her."

"This will garner great public sympathy and completely clear you of any suspicion of a marriage of convenience."

At this point, the colonel paused, then added meaningfully, "Furthermore, as we discussed before, in order to solidify this persona of someone who yearns to be a mother..."

"You can announce to the public that you've decided to stop waiting for a man. You'll go to a sperm bank in the United States to select the best genes and have a child of your own as a single mother."

"This new image of an independent and strong single mother can not only help you win a divorce case, but also gain you the support of feminist groups."

"Their votes are very useful to the bigwigs behind me, which will be very advantageous for my upcoming hearings."

Hearing her father's meticulous calculations, Victoria clenched her fingers tightly behind her back.

From his past marriage to his current womb and future children, everything his father had planned for him was part of his political blueprint!

"A single mother? —" A flash of madness crossed Victoria's eyes. "Then I'll do as you say, Father. I really like this script."

Hearing his daughter's reply, Colonel Ike's tone softened somewhat. "You don't need to actually have a child, just the act itself is enough, because you have more important things to do in the future."

He leaned back in his chair, regaining his composed demeanor, and unveiled the future he had planned for his daughter: "After this rotation ends, I'll likely have an extra star on my shoulder (promotion to brigadier general)."

"After I get promoted, I'll use my connections to get you out of this freezer. Go to Europe, to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The climate there is good, and the social circle is clean."

The colonel pointed to the gold oak leaf major's badge on Victoria's shoulder and said meaningfully, "Your resume already has a gilded record of service in hardship areas. Once you're in Europe, that gold leaf should be replaced with silver."

U.S. Army majors wear gold oak leaves, and lieutenant colonels wear silver oak leaves. This suggests she is about to be promoted to lieutenant colonel, joining the ranks of senior officers!

Victoria remained silent for a moment.

Lieutenant Colonel!

At 34 years old, she is a lieutenant colonel, which means she will surpass 90% of her peers and officially enter the senior command level of the military.

But the price of this glory was thirteen years of her youth and a marriage that was discarded like trash.

She raised her head, a cold, emotionless smile on her face. "I will follow your arrangements, Father. After all, hasn't my life always been just a pawn on your chessboard?"

"Everything I've done, except for your marriage, is for your own good!" Colonel Jones frowned, seemingly unwilling to dwell on this topic that made him uncomfortable.

"Also—there's this." The colonel opened a drawer, took out a document sealed in a file folder, and gently pushed it across the table.

Victoria glanced at the file folder, which was stamped with a red "Confidential" mark.

"The disciplinary record from three years ago in Afghanistan for shooting that bastard's wingman into the hospital is now in the Pentagon's system; that incident never happened."

Victoria was somewhat surprised, as she knew all too well what the suspension investigation meant.

In the hierarchical air force, this is tantamount to giving a pilot a suspended death sentence.

But this didn't pique her interest; it was merely a byproduct of the rank upgrade.

Colonel Ike looked at his daughter and said in a low voice, "Darling, put away that deadpan look you're going to have to sit in an office. Don't think that giving you a lieutenant colonel position is a retirement job."

"I've lost count of how many times I've worried about you over these past three years..."

"You were flying that LC-130 that was supposed to be delivering supplies to the research station, and instead you were doing those damn low-altitude penetrations in the ice sheet canyons."

"Using one of those bulky four-engine transport planes to drill through a ravine less than fifty feet above the ice, you're really daring, really crazy!"

He then gave a cold snort, but there was no blame in his eyes; instead, there was a father's pride in his daughter: "If it weren't for me suppressing those illegal alarms for you under the guise of 'extreme weather testing,' and even personally issuing exemptions from liability..."

"Based on those outrageous altitude figures in the ground crew's report alone, the Security Committee would have sent you to a military court long ago."

"

"But now, there's no need to sneak around like that anymore."

"Given the current tensions in Eastern Europe, the air force stationed in Europe urgently needs experienced pilots with combat experience."

"I've already reached an agreement with the commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing. You can report to the 480th Fighter Squadron, and your ride will be their squadron's signature F-16CM Wild Weasel."

"You will be specifically responsible for suppressing enemy air defenses, the most dangerous but also the freest mission."

"In other words, Victoria, you can rightfully return to heaven."

"Whether it's intercepting the Russian Sukhoi in the Baltic Sea or conducting supersonic cruise over the North Sea."

You can continue to go crazy up there, ten thousand meters in the air, as long as you want!

A different kind of brilliance finally ignited in Victoria's icy blue eyes.

Ike Jones was very pleased with the look in his daughter's eyes at that moment; the lifelessness was gone, replaced by a burning ambition!

But the surprises and compensation go far beyond that.

"Your position will be—Squad Leader."

Victoria's icy blue pupils contracted sharply, and her breath stopped for a moment.

Company Commander!

This means that she has not only returned to the skies, but also returned to the core of power!

She will have her own private fighter jet and command dozens of top pilots, which is the pinnacle of every fighter pilot's career!

But she subconsciously felt it was impossible: a logistics officer who had been grounded for three years and was sitting on the sidelines, was directly parachuted in to command the proudest and most unruly fighter pilots?

The colonel seemed to see through her concerns. "Don't look at me like that. Do you think I'm just pulling strings for you?"

"Victoria, look at your resume. Even if you put it on the Pentagon's wall of honor, it's an impeccable record of excellence."

The colonel opened the file, pointing to the densely packed combat logs, recounting them with great familiarity: "In 2016, during the Red Flag exercise in Nevada, you were the only female pilot in that cohort to achieve a 1:8 kill ratio in simulated air combat and survive within the Red Army's air defense network."

"In 2017, during Operation Resolute Resolve over Syria, when Russian Su-35s and Syrian government warplanes attempted to disrupt coalition bombing, you led the charge."

"Although it wasn't made public in the official battle report for political reasons, the intelligence agency's files clearly record that you fired that AIM-120, turning that Syrian MiG-23 that was trying to attack the US military into scrap metal."

"That's an extremely rare combat kill record for a female pilot in the U.S. military since the Gulf War!"

"Afghanistan, 2019. Even though you broke three of that bastard company commander's ribs, don't forget why you did it."

"At that time, the SEAL team on the ground had been cornered by the Taliban and requested immediate air support."

And that guy who was the mission commander—”

The colonel scoffed dismissively: "That coward, only thinking about securing his pension before retirement, is afraid that if your plane is shot down, it will leave a stain on his resume for 'command failure.'"

"He actually used the absurd reason of 'rules of engagement prohibiting low-altitude flight in areas threatened by anti-aircraft missiles' to strictly forbid anyone from descending to provide support."

"It was you! You defied the order to return, turned off the radio, and ventured alone into the valleys of the Hindu Kush Mountains."

"Using aircraft cannons at a deathly height of only three meters above the ground, braving the heavy machine gun fire from the mountaintop, they carved a bloody path through the encircled assault team!"

The colonel looked at his daughter, his eyes revealing for the first time the tenderness a general could show towards his soldiers: "Do you know? Even now, every month the Pentagon's mailbox receives a joint letter from the Naval Special Operations Command."

"That was written by the guys from SEAL Team Six that you rescued back then. For three years, they never stopped protesting to higher-ups, even demanding that you be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross."

"So, that old guy from the 52nd Regiment wasn't after my reputation, but rather your combat record and that crazy, reckless drive for victory that's ingrained in you!"

"Those unruly brats in the 52nd Regiment don't need a politician instructor who just memorizes regulations; they need a wolf leader who can lead them out of hell."

"And you are that wolf."

At this moment, a long-lost, heart-stirring flame finally ignited in Victoria's icy blue eyes.

However, just as she was basking in the euphoria of regaining power, the colonel's icy voice came down like a bucket of ice water.

"But don't get too excited yet, Victoria."

The colonel sat back down in his chair, his earlier impassioned emotions subsiding. "All of this bright future is built on a foundation."

He pointed to the colonel's eagle badge on his shoulder, which, though imposing, was still just a silver badge.

"That means I must successfully pass the Senate nomination hearing after this rotation ends, and replace this silver eagle with a silver star."

The colonel's tone became confident and ambitious: "I still have six months before my rotation here ends. Two months later, I'll take a leave of absence to go back to the mainland."

"Then I went to see a big shot, Senator McCarthy, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He was an old comrade of Old Buck and one of our strongest allies in Washington."

"Before that, you must completely sever ties with the Anderson family, establish your persona as a single pilot mother, and ultimately gain the support of feminist groups."

"Their votes will become one of my bargaining chips, and at least senior Congressman McCarthy needs to see that."

"He has promised to personally follow up on my nomination process. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the day I officially return home to report for duty after completing my rotation in six months—I will be a brigadier general."

At this point, the colonel suddenly changed his tone, revealing a stark political reality: "Therefore, your transfer order won't be issued now."

"Victoria, you need to understand the rules of this game. The commander of the 52nd Regiment may be on good terms with me, but he's not a philanthropist."

"His willingness to take the risk of accepting you, a logistics major with a disciplinary record, as the commander of the main squadron was entirely a political gamble on me."

"He was betting that eight months from now, the person sitting in the Pentagon signing the papers would be Brigadier General Jones, not Colonel Jones who had just retired."

The colonel stared into his daughter's eyes, analyzing the implications: "If I succeed in getting that star, then you will be the general's daughter, a true air combat hero like your father."

"Your past will be whitewashed into a legend, and Europe will be eager to open its doors to you, because then they will have another powerful ally in the Pentagon."

"But if I fail—if my political opponents seize on something during the hearing and I fail to get promoted—then it's all just empty talk."

"So, this is a high-stakes gamble, and I've put all my chips on the line."

"For the next eight months, you must remain as calm as ice. Handle your divorce case well, avoid trouble, and don't give anyone any leverage against you."

"This political deal will only be finalized eight months from now, when I officially take office as a brigadier general."

"Do you understand, my future company commander? For the next six months, neither of us can afford to lose!"

As he spoke, Colonel Ike picked up another report from the table, his eyes sharpening. "So, regarding that Chinese man named Lin—"

"The military police report indicates that you were alone in your lounge for a full hour after the market closed."

"During that time, you also conducted a surprise stress test?" The colonel looked up and scrutinized his daughter.

He knew Victoria all too well; her repressive and twisted marriage had made her mental state somewhat pathological, violent, irritable, and full of aggression.

The colonel asked with some concern, "Victoria, tell me the truth. You didn't lay a hand on him, did you? Or threaten him with a gun to his head?"

"I know you're in a bad mood and want to vent. But I don't want to receive complaints about you bullying ordinary people for the next six months."

"How could that be, Father?"

Hearing her father's "concerned" guess, Victoria almost burst out laughing.

Hit him? Threaten him?

The truth is quite the opposite; she was completely "beaten" by that man! He even took photos that were enough to ruin her reputation!

She lowered her eyes, concealing the lingering taste of reminiscence, shame, and a deeply hidden sense of vengeful pleasure within them. Her tone was unusually submissive: "Lin and I were just—chatting casually. After all, it's not easy to meet someone with a Texas accent in a godforsaken place like this."

"Is it really just a chat?" The colonel clearly didn't believe it. An hour-long chat was too unusual for his daughter, who was sparing with words and had a fiery temper.

Victoria immediately thought of the thrill she had experienced with her astonishing feat!

It was as thrilling as piloting an F-16 at supersonic speeds! So thrilling that it made her heart skip a beat.

But she remained absolutely calm, not even changing her breathing rate. "Yes, it was just chatting. He was very—interesting."

Victoria emphasized the word "interesting" meaningfully, her lips unconsciously pursing slightly, as if she could still feel the warmth left by that man.

The colonel stared at his daughter for a while, then waved his hand, not wanting to delve any further.

In his eyes, although Lin Yu-an had a close relationship with Old Buck, he was ultimately just a passerby for amusement, a useful guide.

"Alright, as long as you didn't have any unpleasantness with him." The colonel picked up his cigar again and casually dropped a bombshell: "I have a good impression of him. I even asked him to visit the Rattlesnake Farm in Texas in six months. You should see him again then."

A glint of light flashed in Victoria's eyes.

Texas? See you again?

"Alright, you can go now. Remember to send the divorce papers to the lawyer." The colonel dismissed him.

"Yes, sir."

Victoria gave a standard military salute and turned to leave.

As she stepped out of the office, the heavy oak door closed behind her.

Only at this moment did she feel as if a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders; every day of that marriage had been torture for her.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket, like a lioness who had just caught her prey, and opened the encrypted photo album.

In that dimly lit photograph, the strong, Asian man looks down at the camera, rough and wild. Below him, his own eyes are filled with a dazed expression.

As Victoria looked at the photo, her left hand unconsciously and gently touched her flat stomach, which was still completely still.

But perhaps, a seed full of wildness and power is already quietly taking root.

She originally planned to play a long and exciting game with Lin Yu'an, but now this exciting game has unexpectedly brought double the excitement!

"Rattlesnake Farm? — This is so exciting —" she murmured, a sickly smile playing on her lips.

Victoria's eyes held a mixture of the arrogance of someone about to return to the skies and the anticipation of a crazy mother: "Father, you've given me two great gifts this time."

For the next eight months, she will be as calm as ice, just as her father said, to get rid of that damned ex-husband and help her father win that star.

Once she arrived in Germany, once she sat back in the cockpit of a fighter jet, and returned to the skies that belonged to her—

On Lin Yu'an's side, where the ears had just been filled with pop music, now only the sound of sleds scraping against each other and the excited, rhythmic panting of hundreds of Greenland dogs could be heard.

The polar winds, reaching minus thirty degrees Celsius, regained their dominance, scraping across everyone's face like sharp knives.

But at this moment, not a single hunter felt cold.

Their faces beamed with the joy of a bountiful harvest; their sleds were piled high with canned goods, whiskey, and...

Cigarettes and various daily necessities.

The weight was strenuous for the sled dogs, but for the hunters, it was a happiness heavier than gold.

The group on the return journey was no longer as tightly packed as when they came, and their mindset was more relaxed.

The sleds spread out in twos and threes, the hunters hummed ancient songs, and occasionally shouted a few vulgar jokes in Inuit from a distance, which drew bursts of hearty laughter.

Lin Yu-an drove his "Mars Team" at a leisurely pace, following behind Odak's sled.

Wearing that brand-new Level 7 marshmallow suit, he was almost completely protected from the cold outside, and the warmth made him feel drowsy.

However, Victoria Anderson's last inexplicable words kept echoing in his mind.

"Your fate—is now in my hands."

The woman's eyes, and her final smile, always gave him a strange sense of unease.

After traveling for about four hours, as is customary, the large convoy stopped at the foot of a leeward ice cliff.

We're getting ready to take a break, feed the dog, and have a hot coffee to warm ourselves up.

Just then, a group of people approached them on sleds.

"They're from Theolapaluk's group." Odak squinted as he recognized them, his tone somewhat surprised.