Chapter 2

I laughed.

Of course I could be that heartless.

An hour later, my father and stepmother found where I was being detained.

I calmly watched the emergency rescue news of the "Deep Diver" being broadcast live on the wall-mounted TV through the cold iron bars.

In the news, the host was dramatically introducing the list of missing personnel, portraying them as heroes who had sacrificed themselves for the country.

The atmosphere was perfectly set.

I raised my handcuffed hands and shrugged helplessly at them outside the iron bars.

"As you can see, I'm in no position to help anyone right now."

"I've been detained for allegedly leaking core technology secrets of the 'Deep Diver'."

Fiona's expression transformed from shock to bewilderment to venom in a matter of seconds.

Her well-maintained face twisted with anger as she accused in a shrill voice: "It was you! Lucy Snow! You did this on purpose!"

"You're jealous of your sister! You're jealous that she became the chief designer of the 'Deep Diver' at such a young age!"

"If you can't have it, you want to destroy her! What a vicious heart you have!"

Each of her accusations matched word for word with the media press releases from my previous life.

It seems they had prepared this script long ago.

My father, Harrison Land, was much calmer than her. He was anxious, but still maintained the dignity of a director.

He stared at me intently: "What's really going on?"

"Not sure," I leaned against the wall, my posture lazy, "Last night, the disciplinary department burst into my workshop, saying someone had reported me by name for selling the structural diagrams and underwater sonar identification codes of the 'Deep Diver' to foreign agencies."

Harrison's face instantly turned ashen.

He knew this was a frame-up, yet didn't utter a single word of concern.

Half of the core technology of the 'Deep Diver' came from my research results. How could I possibly leak my own life's work?

"Damn it!" He growled lowly, immediately pulling out his phone, "I'll find someone right away, use every connection, and definitely get you out on bail within the day!"

"Don't waste your effort," I flatly refused.

"What do you mean?"

"Before the official investigation results come out, if I leave here, it will only confirm the charges." I looked at him, my gaze calm yet sharp, "Dad, you and I both know that once this charge is confirmed, my life is over."

Harrison's movements froze.

Of course he understood.

I slowly asked him a question, "Dad, if today, only one of me and Stella could live."

"Who would you choose?"

He opened his mouth, but couldn't make a sound.

Just then, Harrison's phone rang.

He grabbed onto it like a lifeline and immediately answered.

The call was from the Arctic Research Center.

"Director Land, we've just managed to contact Commander Zhou!"

Harrison's eyes instantly lit up.

"That's great! What did he say? Does he have a solution?"

"Commander Zhou said he has already interrupted his Arctic mission and is trying to remotely connect to the 'Deep Diver's' operating system using a backup channel! But..."

"But what?"

"But the submarine's physical interface is locked, and the remote signal can't fully access it! Someone must pilot a rescue vessel, reach the accident site in the deep sea, and perform a physical connection to have any chance of restarting the system!"

"And this physical connection operation can only be completed by Engineer Lucy Snow!"