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"Sorry, we got so caught up in the moment that we lost track of time," Kisha said, her words carrying a double meaning intended to mislead everyone.

And just like that, she successfully made everyone think that she and Duke had engaged in something unthinkable in the forest. The insinuation was particularly effective since almost everyone knew they were a couple.

Of course, everyone pretended not to catch the meaning behind her words out of respect for their leaders. Besides, those words were not meant for them but for those monitoring through the hidden cameras around.

"It’s alright, young madam. We’re just finishing up here, and you were only gone for about an hour.

If you ask me, that’s not nearly enough time for you newlyweds to spend alone, especially with the villa now crowded with people and kids.

It’s only right for you two to have some privacy and enjoy a date.

" Vulture’s words helped make their farce more believable.

By doing so, no matter how many times Duke and Kisha entered the forest, it would only look like they were using it as their little rendezvous point for intimacy and privacy away from the others.

Kisha nodded in satisfaction, appreciating how Vulture picked up on her cues and managed to provide a plausible explanation. She couldn’t help but admire Vulture’s instincts and quick thinking.

However, more intriguing than that realization was the fact that her territory space seemed to operate on a different time scale compared to the outside world — approximately 1 minute inside equated to 10 minutes outside.

They had spent nearly 10 hours in the space, which outside amounted to barely an hour.

Kisha pondered the implications: if she were to spend the entire 15 days required for her mission inside this space, would it affect the countdown timer for completing her mission?

She would have to wait until midnight to find out if the time spent inside the space would count towards her mission duration.

If it did, that would pose a significant problem.

However, tonight they also needed to administer the Heart Gu Pill to Duke’s subordinate, so she decided to focus on that task while waiting.

They had managed to plant a plot of crops during their time inside.

If the system only recognized time according to the outside world, it could work in their favor. But if not, she feared they would be out of options.

Duke and Kisha avoided discussing what happened inside the space, maintaining an air of normalcy. After finishing the farming tasks, Sparrow and Vulture resumed their training with Reeve.

Meanwhile, Kisha and Duke leisurely rested in the living room, snacking on small berries like blueberries and raspberries, which they pretended to have foraged from the forest behind their villa but were actually sourced from Kisha’s space.

Marcus continued to be busy around the villa, tending to the plants and aspiring to become the villa’s gardener and farmer.

Meanwhile, Mike and Gant efficiently cleaned the house, and Daisy joined them in the kitchen, where she was learning to cook for everyone.

Daisy also showed a keen interest in gardening.

Before they could finish preparing dinner, Kisha and Duke’s leisure time was interrupted by the doorbell on the intercom. Without needing to get up, they glanced toward the door as Gant swiftly ran outside to open the gate.

Soon after, he came back with a complicated expression and his head lowered. "Young Madam, Master, you have a visitor." He said before running inside the house to join his brother and grandfather.

Before long, Clyde came into view, followed closely by his group.

"Great to see you again. I heard you had a close call last time you were out," he said as he walked through the Villa’s door.

His friends respectfully bowed to Kisha and Duke, who remained seated on the couch, patiently waiting for Clyde to explain his visit.

Noticing Kisha and Duke’s indifference, Clyde took a deep breath and addressed them directly.

"Guild Leader D and Vice Leader Kisha, my team and I wish to join your group. We leave the reward for our work to your discretion, but a meal would suffice. We believe you’ve observed our abilities," Clyde said confidently.

He wasn’t asking for much, nor expecting three meals a day; he and his friends had experienced firsthand the scarcity of food in the shelter.

However, he refused to betray his beliefs by joining the group or rogue attempting to recruit him and his friends.

Despite understanding the dangers of defying their wishes, he remained committed to following his own judgment.

This resolve was even stronger now that he had reunited with his mother and little sister; the loss of his father only fueled his determination to stand taller for their sake.

To achieve his goal, he sought to join a group that met his moral standards. While staying at the shelter, he and his friends observed the people around them, carefully scrutinizing the guilds and their members’ characters.

With no laws to restrain them, more people were resorting to violence, theft, and even murder for something as basic as bread. He understood that among such desperate individuals, betrayal could happen at any moment.

He feared leaving his mother and sister, now sick from prolonged hunger; his mother had also been emotionally devastated by the loss of his father, who had died protecting his mother and sister.

Now that he is the sole provider and foundation of his family, he desperately wants to provide them with warm meals and peace of mind by aligning himself with trustworthy companions.

Despite Kisha and Duke appearing indifferent and unappealing, they were straightforward and decisive.

He sensed that he wouldn’t be betrayed if he allied with them; his gut feeling reassured him of their reliability.

Moreover, he was confident in his abilities. After successfully guiding his friends from City D to City B safely through great distances and dangers, his reputation spoke volumes, attracting the interest of numerous factions seeking to recruit him and his companions.

His friends had come to trust his judgment and now relied on him, treating him as their leader after enduring hardships together, side by side.

Upon hearing Clyde express interest in joining their group, Kisha felt secretly elated.

She had been considering how to recruit him due to his valuable talent and gift, confident that once he awakened fully, he would become an indispensable member crucial for winning future battles against both humans and zombies.

If Clyde awakened on his own outside of their group, Kisha feared he might form his own faction and lead his own people. In such a scenario, recruiting him would become significantly more challenging.

Now, she saw an opportunity to bring him under her wing. Once he awakened, there would be a greater likelihood that he would remain with them.

Even if Clyde didn’t choose to stay, Kisha had supplies she could use as leverage. She had learned from the Scarlet Bees that he had found his family, making it likely he would seek a secure place to earn supplies or food to support them, given his role as their sole provider.

Despite her delight, Kisha’s expression remained impassive and unchanged as she scrutinized each of their faces.