Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, Xtreme Survival's shooting day was only a week away. Before leaving, Evangeline treated Arthur and his friends to a meal. Finnegan couldn't join; he was out of town for a patient consultation. Only Arthur, Hugo, and Steven showed up.

At the hotel, Steven sighed upon seeing Evangeline. "Evangeline, you're secretly doing something huge! I can't believe you signed up for Xtreme Survival! How could you hide it? We only found out online!"

Evangeline tilted her head. "I wasn't hiding it. You never asked. Besides, Arthur was with me when I signed up. Didn't he tell you?"

Steven immediately pointed at Arthur, fist raised. "You jerk! You knew! How could you not tell us?"

Arthur dodged a punch and kicked Steven. "Use your words. What's the need for violence?"

Steven glared. "Why didn't you tell us Evangeline was participating?"

Arthur replied calmly, "You didn't ask."

Steven growled, "We're close friends! You should share secrets, even if we don't ask!"

"I just want to make money," Arthur said. "I have no other desires."

Steven's mouth twitched. He thought, This guy is obsessed with money. He's already rich!

Hugo frowned at Evangeline. "Evangeline, you rejected this! Why participate again? It's dangerous, especially for Clusians. The internet is already against you. If you don't do well, the criticism will be worse. You could disgrace Clusia and hurt your career." He was extremely worried.

Evangeline said calmly, "Then I'll win first place. If that doesn't stop them, I'll shut them down."

Hugo was speechless.

Steven pushed Arthur aside and approached Evangeline, worried. "We hope you win, but it's not easy. A famous mercenary is competing—a ten-year veteran who live-streams from battlefields. He's dangerous. And the other international players aren't easy."

Evangeline nodded calmly. "Yes, I know. But I'm better."

Steven was speechless. Evangeline raised a fist. "Want me to show you my strength?"

Terrified, Steven hid behind Arthur. "A whip, maybe, but not your fists!"

Evangeline pondered. "So you have that desire. I wouldn't have guessed."

Steven denied it vehemently. "I'm not a pervert! I'm a gentleman!"

Evangeline gave a dubious half-smile. Unable to explain, Steven dragged Arthur and Hugo into it. "Actually, they're much weirder than me! They made me this way!" Arthur and Hugo then teamed up and beat Steven.

Steven, battered, cried out from a corner, "Evangeline, save me! They're furious because I exposed them! They're perverts and violent! I'm just a simple pervert! Ouch! Don't hit my face! Spank my bottom!"

Evangeline laughed. While they bickered, she ordered food and wine. The four ate and drank.

With swollen eyes, Steven raised a glass to Evangeline. "Since you've decided, I won't dissuade you. Good luck!" Evangeline clinked glasses. "Thank you."

Hugo toasted her. "Evangeline, you're confident. I'll bet everything on you winning!"

Evangeline smiled. "You're destined to make a lot of money."

Arthur said, "I'll wait for your return."

Evangeline was silent. The Gallagher family's downfall had been faster than expected—less than two months. Jungle Survival had helped significantly; Dallas's actions against Meghan and Samson had irrevocably damaged the family's reputation. It was pure luck.

She drank with them late into the night. Arthur, Steven, and Hugo were all poor drinkers. Evangeline remained sober while the others became increasingly inebriated. Arthur, after getting drunk, collected pebbles from potted plants, claiming they were gold. Evangeline had to call his assistant, Gerald, to deal with him and the resulting hotel damage.

Steven and Hugo, equally drunk, had a bizarre urination contest in the bathroom, much to the hotel staff's horror.

Evangeline was silent. Now I understand their close friendship, she thought.

She had Gerald contact Steven and Hugo's assistants to pick them up, then left the hotel alone.

The next day, Arthur, waking with his pebbles, called Evangeline, who was already in Lumonburg, at a mansion on the outskirts. She descended into an underground facility where scientists in white coats greeted her. She entered a locked room using her fingerprint, revealing a VIP ward where a thin girl, Naomi, lay in a bed with feeding tubes.

"Naomi, I'm avenging you. Dexter and I have been preparing. We'll make them pay. When we return, please wake up. If you don't say anything, I'll take it as a yes," Evangeline said, her gaze darkening. She touched Naomi's cheek and left for the airport, boarding a plane for Nardor.

Seven days later, Season 18 of Xtreme Survival officially began.