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Aston and his men initially assumed that Kisha and her people, despite their intimidating appearance, would be easy to get along with. They were even planning to share all their supplies so that no one in the team would go hungry.

In contrast, Aston’s team had very limited provisions, as they had exhausted their allocated supplies and the Minister of Defense was blocking any attempts to obtain more from the warehouse.

Aston’s men cheerfully helped Kisha and her group load the supplies onto the truck.

Despite there being only ten of them, they brought along a large military truck—the only vehicle Aston could secure.

Their ammunition was scarce, and the firearms were outdated and noisy.

However, Aston preferred having these old models over going unarmed.

All the soldiers who accompanied Aston felt their commander was being openly bullied, and some of the other soldiers already regarded them as eyesores. Shortly after they finished loading the supplies onto the truck, another person carrying a military backpack came running towards them.

"Commander McMillan!" he shouted as he rushed towards them. "I also want to join you guys." He hoisted his backpack and added, "I brought additional supplies," beaming like the sun.

The newcomer had a typical boy-next-door charm, radiating friendliness and approachability. His smile exuded an innocence and purity that could easily be mistaken for naivety. He appeared quite young, likely around 20 to 22 years old.

"Why did you come? Didn’t I tell you to wait for our return and stay inside the shelter, doing minor tasks?

" Aston berated the young man, sounding like a mother hen nagging her son.

However, the newcomer just smiled foolishly at Aston, his stubborn expression making it clear he had no intention of going back.

"Commander, you saved me, gave me a new life, and even provided me with a position in the army so I could have my own provisions. It’s only right for me to accompany you on this dangerous mission.

" Seeing Aston about to explode with anger, he quickly added, "Besides, without you and the others here, they would only bully me, and my life would be even more miserable.

Out there, it might be dangerous, but I would gain experience and become more reliable in the future." The young man spoke with conviction, his youthful, handsome appearance reminiscent of a teen idol.

Or perhaps he truly had been an idol before the apocalypse descended on Earth.

Despite his seemingly weak appearance, he had a well-toned physique, suggesting he wouldn’t be entirely useless in the field as long as he stuck close to them.

His words were also reasonable, leaving Aston with no grounds to blow up at him.

However, Aston couldn’t bear the responsibility of taking another inexperienced person onto the battlefield. He had only sought help from Kisha and her group for this mission. He glanced at Kisha, standing nearby with Duke, who had his arm wrapped around her small waist.

Duke’s long spear was strapped to his back, while Kisha’s long and short katanas were also secured behind her, with daggers at their waists.

Observing Kisha and Duke, Aston sensed their confidence, as if venturing outside was as routine as stepping into their backyard.

He glanced at Kisha, seeking her approval to bring another person along.

Catching his gaze, Kisha met his eyes squarely.

She had clearly heard the young man’s plea but remained indifferent.

"Why are you looking at me? We’re simply paid as escorts.

Your team’s lineup is your responsibility," she stated matter-of-factly before returning her attention to the horizon.

In reality, Kisha was surveying their territory, assessing its development firsthand using the territory pack’s hologram feature.

Meanwhile, Melody continued her efforts to win over the people on the base, striving to leave a better impression by working diligently, much like her brother did in the kitchen.

Kisha anticipated Melody’s actions; despite any princess-like tendencies, she knew Melody was far from foolish. Kisha was certain that Melody would use the time while she and Duke were away from the base to further demonstrate her suitability for Duke to be his wife.

She was a princess raised in a greenhouse, accustomed to socializing and engaging in charitable works—activities common among wealthy ladies. Kisha suspected that Melody, raised by her parents in this manner, would certainly attempt to pull off such a stunt.

Upon Kisha’s return, she anticipated finding the people in the base siding with Melody, her words carrying greater weight and authority in their hearts, while Kisha would be relegated to the sidelines.

Yet Melody seemed to have overlooked a crucial detail: Duke remained the overlord of the place.

Kisha’s return signified his return. Even if Melody managed to win over the hearts of the civilians in the base, the majority of them were not Duke’s people.

As the landowner, Kisha held the power to drive them away at any time, rendering their efforts futile.

She could easily enforce a ban, preventing them from entering the vicinity indefinitely. They would remain barred until she chose to lift the ban, like an invisible net restricting their access.

With Duke’s people missing and their territory in need of attention, Kisha resolved to make the most of the resources at her disposal.

Recognizing that their fate rested in her hands, she felt no fear.

When she reunited with Duke and the rest of the group at their base, assuming their roles would be a straightforward task.

Now, as Duke’s wife, approved by his family, even if Melody were to throw a tantrum, she wouldn’t be able to seize the position, no matter her actions. Should she step out of line, Kisha wouldn’t hesitate to make her regret it tenfold.

She then shifted her focus to Keith and her grandparents.

Despite the upheaval of the apocalypse, their lives remained relatively normal, resembling their pre-apocalyptic routines.

However, Keith was diligently honing his Illusion Mental Ability.

Over time, his illusions had grown in size and duration, becoming increasingly lifelike.

Kisha observed that Keith’s control over his illusions had improved significantly, evident in the heightened mental capacity required for such manipulation.

His dedication to training extended beyond his mind; he also devoted time to physical training, joining Ethan and the others on patrols while setting aside moments to develop his awakened ability.

Kisha felt a swell of pride as she observed her younger brother’s determination and the remarkable progress he had made in such a short span of time.

Her grandparents were following suit, diligently maintaining their physical training while tending to their duties around the territory.

Although they had yet to awaken their superhuman abilities, they were prepared for when that moment arrived.

With Keith by their side, Kisha felt reassured and confident about their readiness for whatever challenges lay ahead.

It might take some time for her grandparents to awaken their abilities, but Kisha was confident that they would, and their abilities would prove incredibly useful.

Currently, her grandmother was tending to the laundry under the clear sky, while her grandfather worked diligently on the farm alongside the others.

In just over a week, the vegetables had already begun to sprout, thanks in part to the use of animal waste turned into fertilizer. Kisha’s territory was flourishing. Although the supplies, animals, and land allocated from her territory pack were minimal, they were the best option.

Not only would this prevent suspicion, but it also allowed her to gradually expand her territory’s size and redistribute supplies between the territory and the warehouse as needed.

"What’s got you smiling about?" Duke’s husky, magnetic voice echoed from above as he gently rested his chin on top of her head.