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Because of this, no one has ever successfully removed a demonic insect from its host.

However, since 008 was the one who proposed this solution, Kisha was confident in their success, especially since they had plenty of vials of the blue liquid prepared.

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged wide-eyed glances, their mouths agape, but the excitement in their eyes was unmistakable.

They too longed to be free from the torment they had endured.

It felt as though sharp needles were stabbing into their chests, and something sinister was writhing within their hearts, tightening its grip with unrelenting force.

The pain was worse than anything they had ever experienced before.

Now that Kisha had decided to rid them of this abominable demonic insect, a wave of relief surged through them.

They rejoiced with vigor, Kisha could feel their collective joy, knowing just how deeply they had suffered from the insect’s relentless stirrings.

Without the antidote to keep it dormant, the demonic insect had wreaked havoc within their hearts, and now, finally, they would be free.

With the problem resolved, all they needed to do was wait for 008 to complete the purchase before they could proceed.

"Quiet down, please," Kisha said, her gaze sweeping across everyone’s faces.

"I’m speaking to you as someone Duke considered family, which means you are also part of mine. So, I expect none of you to bite the hand that feeds you."

"I can assure you, even if my husband chooses to tolerate betrayal, I will not. And I will ensure you answer for any treachery." Kisha’s voice was stern, her tone unwavering.

"Now, I need to gather the materials for the demonic insect’s extraction. In the meantime, you may return to your tasks. I’ll call you back when I’m ready."

"Do not worry, Madam, we understand," Sparrow said, stepping forward with respect.

"The Master has always been our Master since he took us in. If anyone dares to betray him, we will ensure that they face the consequences."

"You need not stain your hands with such matters—we will deal with the traitor, ensuring they meet a cruel and regretful end. And, Young Madam, as the Master’s wife, you are our master as well. Please allow us to serve both of you without concern."

Sparrow bowed deeply in front of Kisha and the Duke. Duke, standing behind Kisha like a lion guarding his lioness, watched with pride as his men showed the respect his wife deserved.

A smile spread across his face, knowing that his loyal subjects recognized Kisha’s rightful place.

After Sparrow, Vulture stepped forward, his voice steady and filled with reverence. "Young Madam, from the moment you helped our Master bear his burdens in City A, we recognized you as his true partner."

"We knew only you could stand by his side. Our respect and admiration for you is no different than the loyalty we feel for him."

"You are now one of us, and we will never betray the hand that has fed us, clothed us, and given us a future. Those who dare to do so deserve nothing less than a thousand needles pricking their skin, followed by a death so agonizing that they will regret their betrayal."

"That’s right!" Everyone echoed in unison, their voices filled with unwavering support for Sparrow and Vulture’s words.

Their loyalty was clear, and it was enough to make Duke’s heart swell with pride. He couldn’t help but smile widely, a grin that spread across his face like a satisfied lion.

As soon as his men left, Duke wasted no time. He wrapped his arms around Kisha from behind, his grin widening as he held her close.

"I’m so happy to hear my wife acknowledge me in front of so many people," Duke chuckled, the sound rich and deep, vibrating in Kisha’s ear and sending a warm, melodic hum that lingered in her senses.

Duke openly flirted with Kisha, his affection evident for all to see.

Sensing the intimate moment, everyone tactfully excused themselves, giving the couple the space to enjoy each other’s company.

The Winters’ men quietly returned to their work, leaving without a word, while the STAU team, inspired by the display of loyalty and unity, felt a surge of motivation.

Witnessing the pain the Winters’ men had endured from the demonic insect’s attack on their hearts, the STAU members knew they would soon face the same fate.

Yet, before that day came, they were eager to ensure they, too, would be part of the group Kisha would help extract the demonic insect from.

Their dedication grew stronger with each passing moment, as they knew the cost of delay could be far greater than they had imagined.

After all, they were only human, longing for a better life.

They had merely stumbled upon a secret they weren’t meant to know, and in truth, they hadn’t done anything to wrong Kisha or her people.

So, as they worked tirelessly, they hoped that Kisha would show them mercy and not forget to help extract the demonic insect from their bodies as well.

With everyone working together, fueled by renewed enthusiasm, they quickly filled the STAU’s space, utilizing the resources they had gathered from Kisha’s domain—logs, boulders, clay, and more.

Once they finished, they all headed to the farm to assist Marcus with plowing the land in preparation for the next batch of crops.

Some of them helped Mike care for the pregnant animals, while others milked the cows and goats that had recently given birth, storing the milk in clean metal buckets.

With Marcus’s assistance, they carefully stored everything in the territory’s warehouse.

Next, the others helped collect fresh eggs from the chicken coop and duck house.

The STAU members who remained to watch couldn’t help but be astonished, no matter how many times they witnessed it.

With the space’s altered time flow, they had already seen Mike harvest countless eggs, milk, and other resources from the livestock, all while the outside world had barely seen a full day pass.

The sheer abundance of supplies was nothing short of remarkable.

Some of the Winters’ men were assisting Gant with the fisheries, setting up nets around the lake to separate the larger fish from the smaller ones.

This allowed them to harvest the adult fish more easily, preventing overcrowding in the lake and other bodies of water.

They had also begun fishing in the vast ocean surrounding Kisha’s territory.

Some managed to catch octopus and squid, while others, lucky enough, spear-fished a massive tuna far from off the shore.

To their surprise, they also caught fresh lobsters, each one three times the size of those typically found in the market before the apocalypse.

With all the work and excitement, the Winters’ men quickly forgot about the gloom brought on by the demonic insect, treating their tasks more like an adventure or a playful excursion.

Eventually, after everyone had their fill of fun, 008 returned with good news.

"Host, I’ve located the materials we need to create the smoke that will drive the demonic insect out of their bodies."

"We can gather everyone around a bonfire, dampen it with water to produce smoke, and let them inhale it. After some time, the demonic insect will crawl out on its own."008 excitedly explained as it presented the material information to Kisha.

A series of system interfaces appeared before her eyes, each showcasing different items.

One was a strange-looking flower, but the price left Kisha momentarily speechless—10,000 system points for just that single flower.

Next appeared a seaweed-like mass, curled into a ball, its brownish hue and some parts resembling black trash accumulated under the sea.

The disgusting seaweed-like mass was priced at 5,000 system points.

Then, there was a luminous pearl—a pearl the size of two adult fists placed together.

Although it was called a pearl it was u nlike a typical white pearl, it glowed softly like a tiny moon, emitting a gentle, non-glaring light.

However, it came with a hefty price tag of 30,000 system points, making it the most expensive item on the list.

There were other items as well, but just seeing their prices made Kisha swallow hard.

She wasn’t sure if her remaining system points would be enough to cover everything. In the end, her total purchase amounted to a staggering 90,000 system points.

[Do you agree to spend 90, 000 system points to buy the items above?]

[Yes] or [No]

As soon as she clicked "Yes," the item interface disappeared, and the purchased materials were instantly transferred to her inventory.

"Now, host, we just need to synthesize all these materials to create the ’Heavenly Tribulation Bone’," 008 explained.

Kisha raised an eyebrow but refrained from asking further questions. Instead, she opened the synthesis tab. Before her, ten empty boxes formed a circle, with one large box in the center, its contents grayed out.

The tab was empty except for the bluish boxes, with nothing else visible.

[Please put the materials in the boxes and start the Synthesis.]