"Miss, I know!" Lily raised her hand enthusiastically. "Colby caught the fish, and he's not letting anyone else eat it." Wait, what? Really? Nadia was stunned. How could such an adorable dog be so possessive? "Woof!" Colby tugged on her sleeve, pulling her over to the table. A bowl of crispy fried fish chunks sat there, the smell so delicious it could make anyone's mouth water. Colby stood on his hind legs, paws resting on the table, nudging the bowl toward her as if saying, Go on. Eat! Nadia looked around at Jasmine and the others, totally puzzled. Jasmine and the rest looked weary. After marinating the fish and waiting for Nadia to come back, they'd figured they couldn't rely on her for everything. So, the three of them had worked together to fry the fish.But Colby, with a fierce look in his eyes, had kept watch over the fish, letting no one even get close. He was drooling over it himself, but wouldn't allow anyone to touch it. On the 18th floor, they had a sort of unspoken democracy; after all, it was Colby who caught the fish. Besides, Colby was now a top-tier survivalist dog—no one wanted to cross him. They were all starving, but they held back. Caleb teared up. "Please, eat already. We're all starving here." Nadia laughed mischievously. "Our Colby is the best. He's even taking care of us now." Colby barked excitedly, "Woof!" His eyes sparkled as if saying, I'm taking care of you, aren't I? Nadia picked up a piece of fried fish and took a bite. It was crispy, fresh, and delicious. It hadn't been easy, but Unit 1803 had finally nailed it. Watching her clever dog, Nadia decided to have a little fun. "Colby, I've eaten. Who's next?" "Woof! Woof!" He wagged his tail wildly, drooling. Nadia got the hint and tossed a piece into his bowl. "Who's after this?" Colby tugged on Lily's pant leg. One by one, he went down the line: Jasmine, Caleb, Levi, and finally, Harrison. The dog looked satisfied with his arrangement and started eating. Last in line, Harrison was completely speechless. He could accept Nadia taking priority, and he understood Colby's fondness for kids. As Colby's trainer, he'd been strict, though he always rewarded Colby for completing tasks. Yet, he never expected… to end up as Colby's least favorite. Harrison felt a bit disillusioned, questioning his whole approach.Everyone burst into laughter as Jasmine brought over bowls of congee, and they began eating. After discussing the next day's plan, they yawned and headed off to their rooms. Enjoying Colby's possessive affection, Nadia felt a deep sense of joy. She took out two smart bathtubs filled with hot water from her domain, scattered some dried rose petals, turned on soothing music, and closed her eyes to enjoy a relaxing bath. Colby lay back in his own tub, bubbles on his head, gazing at her with starry eyes. Yes, he was a dog who'd experienced a petal bath. After her bath, Nadia wrapped herself in blankets and drifted into a comfortable sleep. Half-awake, Nadia heard a crackling sound. "Nadia, are you up?" Her eyelids felt too heavy to open. The deep voice was fading in and out. Ever since Colby had come along, her sleep quality had improved. Then, her alarm jolted her awake—it was 4:30 a.m. Still groggy, she got up to change, as the walkie-talkie crackled again. It was likely Harrison reminding her it was time to leave. She searched everywhere, but the walkie-talkie was nowhere to be found. That's odd... Where did it go? Seeing Colby lying still in his bed, she muttered, "Colby, stop lying around and help me find it." The dog remained unfazed, stretched out, and relaxed. Bzzz...Bzzz... Huh? I left it right by my bedside—so how did it just disappear? She searched on and around the bed, next to Colby's spot… "Move over a bit."Colby didn't budge, lounging as comfortably as ever. Nadia squinted, suspicious. She bent down and lifted him up. Aha, there it is—the walkie-talkie, right underneath him. The caught-in-the-act dog blinked his innocent eyes as if saying, Oops, how did that get there? Nadia hesitated. Oh great... after a whole night as the dog's cushion, is this walkie-talkie even safe to use? She was tempted to toss it, but she really needed it right now. She spritzed it with alcohol spray, wiped it down, and spoke into it. "Got it. On my way." Dealing with her mischievous dog so early in the morning left Nadia both exasperated and amused. "Are you watching the place, or coming with me?" Colby dashed into the living room, dragging his gear over. Nadia quickly dressed him in it. They hurried out the door. Harrison and Caleb were already waiting, while Jasmine held a still-sleeping Lily, whispering, "Stay safe, everyone." They slipped quietly out of the complex. Austin and her family waited nearby in a rubber shaft. It was hard to see in the dark, but by flashlight, Nadia could make out Austin's parents—both around forty, with gentle features. They tied the rubber shaft to the inflatable board and headed toward the hillside villa area. It was nearly seven by the time they arrived, with the first hints of dawn in the sky. After getting their gear in order, the group started trekking through the rain, crossing hills and valleys. Colby led the way, bounding ahead confidently. For him, a new day meant getting more meat for his people! Visibility was poor, and the mountain path was rough.Nadia's foot slipped, and she started to fall backward. Harrison, right behind her, instinctively reached out and caught her by the waist. "Careful." Nadia steadied herself and quickly grabbed onto a nearby tree. She couldn't help but marvel at him—what strong support! He was carrying the inflatable boat on his back, supporting her and her loaded rubber shaft. He truly was the "King of Core Strength." Harrison called out to those behind, "Watch your step; it's slippery on the mud slopes." He then issued a command to the front, "Colby, don't show off. Keep the path steady." The path became smoother after that. The rain slowed their progress, and after nearly two hours, they finally saw the large reservoir amidst the mountains. Colby, fired up, signaled Nadia to take off his raincoat and dove into the water.A few minutes later, he surfaced with a wriggling, fresh fish in his mouth. He trotted up to Nadia and dropped it into her hands. Here you go, my human! "There's fish!" Austin's mother, Marilyn, spoke with a quivering voice, her eyes glued to the fish. "Let's eat first. Work can wait till after." Exhausted from the hike, the group took shelter under a tree to eat. Nadia put the fish into a plastic bag and pulled out some steamed buns to share with Colby. Harrison ate an energy bar, and Caleb munched on a rice ball. Austin's family each took out a sweet potato, eating slowly without peeling the skin, savoring every bit. It seemed that his family truly was at the end of their supplies. However, Nadia wasn't moved by pity. She knew that small favors, given for too long, often breed resentment. She had no intention of bailing them out—they'd have to work for their keep. Once they had eaten and regained some strength, Austin loaded a fishing machine onto the inflatable boat. "Let's give it a try. It's a bit loud, so if it bothers you, cover your ears." Nadia put in earplugs and held Colby close. Dogs had sensitive hearing, and the noise would affect him even more. She covered his ears and held him tight.