Chapter 4

I watched as the nozzle on the spray bottle automatically opened, dispersing a cloud of mist.

“Seraphina? Do you know how many times concentrated chili extract I put in there?”

Seraphina’s brow furrowed slightly; before she could answer,

The ten bodyguards at the edge of the pit suddenly collapsed, writhing on the ground. Two even tumbled down.

On the video call, the previously arrogant Seraphina suddenly coughed violently. Damien’s smile vanished.

“Seraphina? Why did those guys faint?!”

Seizing the opportunity, I quickly pulled my wife’s brother upwards. Ten years of mountain climbing experience made it less difficult for me.

But Seraphina’s enraged voice came through the phone.

“Alex, do you think you’re so clever?”

The video feed on the phone shook. Seraphina retrieved a water bottle from her car and capped my spray bottle.

Then, she picked up a military shovel from the ground and violently swung it down towards us.

I couldn’t let go. If I fell from this height, my wife’s brother would be crushed to death.

My wife’s brother was on my back; there was no time to dodge.

The shovel slammed directly onto his arm, accompanied by a scream, a bloody mess.

My wife’s brother passed out from the pain.

“Bastard, daring to provoke Seraphina and stop Alex from signing! Let’s see how many shovels you can take.”

Seraphina swung two more shovels our way.

I endured the searing pain in my hands, barely dodging them.

My wife’s brother wouldn’t be in this miserable state, trapped in this pit, if he hadn’t been trying to help Seraphina stabilize the company and comfort the disaster victims.

I roared into the phone:

“Seraphina! At this rate, Caleb will really die!”

Seraphina calmly took a puff from a cigarette, slowly exhaling a smoke ring.

“Still lying to me when you’re on the verge of death? If you really want to save him, sign the document.”

“Fine! I’ll sign it. I admit it’s my fault.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, I quickly descended to the lowest level to retrieve the document and pen that had been thrown down.

“I’ve signed it! Now get us out!”

My wife’s brother, roused by the jostling, saw my signature and couldn’t help but curse.

“You’re not human, Seraphina! I’m your own brother!”

Seraphina used a thin string to pull the document up.

After reading it, she drew a throwing knife from her belt.

“Still daring to curse me at a time like this? You two need a lesson.”

She aimed for my head, and just as we relaxed our guard, she threw it with all her might.

My wife’s brother, on my back, saw her move and lunged forward, blocking the knife with his hand.

“Ah!”

With a sickening thud, his hand was directly severed.

“No!”

I went insane, frantically pulling emergency bandages from my bag, trying to stem the bleeding as calmly as possible.

“It’s okay, it’s okay…”

“Alex, keep begging me. Why didn’t you save Damien’s brother when he begged you?”

Damien’s head popped out, a gleeful smile on his face.

“Seraphina, quickly! Kill them! Just get rid of them all!”

My wife’s brother was completely numb from the pain, staring at his severed arm, unable to even cry out.

But Seraphina didn’t stop. She and Damien began to fill the pit with quicksand again.

I quickly tied my wife’s brother tightly to my back. This time, I *had* to reach the top.

I climbed step by step, trying to match their shoveling speed.

Seraphina suddenly stopped.

“Alex, I’m done playing with you.”

She suddenly pulled a handful of throwing knives from a bag, aiming them at us.

Damien, tired, immediately dropped his shovel and began to massage her shoulders.

“Go, Seraphina! Stab those two bastards through!”

There was a slope halfway up the pit. If we could just reach it, we’d have cover and could hold out until rescue.

Just one more step…

A sharp pain shot through my back. I gritted my teeth and pushed my wife’s brother onto the slope.

Then I fell heavily, letting the quicksand engulf my body.