As James Lone approached within about ten meters of the swimming pool, the mutated frog suddenly sprang up, leaping onto the ground above him.

"Ribbit! Ribbit!" The frog croaked loudly, as if issuing a warning.

Sensing danger, James quickly retreated deeper into the earth, descending several dozen meters before the frog settled down, returning to its slumber in the pool.

James furrowed his brows. "This thing's perceptive abilities are pretty strong. Now this is a problem." He glanced longingly at the black Nephelium but decided to retreat for now. Without absolute certainty of success, he wouldn't take unnecessary risks.

Back home, Monroe Anne was already awake, busy making breakfast. Seeing James return, she beamed, "Master, you're back! Breakfast will be ready soon. Please wait a moment."

Whatever she'd done to convince herself, the green hue of her aura shone as brilliantly as jade. Pleased, James produced a phasing fruit. "A reward for you. It's a phasing fruit; go ahead and eat it."

Monroe was elated by the unexpected treat, thanking him profusely before gulping down the fruit.

[Ding! Monroe Anne consumed 1 Enlightenment Fruit - Phasing, refunded 700! It has been stored in your spatial backpack.]

James then guided her through her first wall-walking experience, her eyes filled with admiration, the green glow around her growing even purer. Settling into the sofa, he idly munched on a handful of Enlightenment Fruits.

"Woof, woof, woof!" Suddenly, his husky, 'Byakuga n', began barking. James looked over to see the dog wagging its tail near the hole in the wall leading to the next room. Since its mutation, it seemed smarter. James never let it enter this room, and it obediently complied, which eased some of the women's initial fear of it.

Watching the dog fixated on his Enlightenment Fruit with eager anticipation, James chuckled. "You want some too?"

"Woof!"

Contemplating its recent behavior, James figured 'Byakuga n' deserved a reward. He gestured, "Come here."

The husky dashed through the wall opening, bounding before him, its eyes never leaving the fruit, drool pooling beneath it. James, curious about how animals might mutate from the fruit, wondered if they too changed from consuming Enlightenment Fruits. Placing a handful of phasing fruits on the floor, he commanded, "Go ahead, eat."

Lowering its head, 'Byakuga n' scarfed them down eagerly.

Moments later, the dog began feeling strange, cocking its head at James. Suddenly, it phased through the floor with a yelp, scrabbling frantically, vanishing below.

"It works on animals too!" Intrigued, James phased through the floor, landing on the 31st level. There stood 'Byakuga n', bewildered, scrutinizing both James and its paws. Trying to fathom what happened, the dog tested its newfound ability, pawing through the floor.

Embracing its instincts, 'Byakuga n' soon mastered wall-walking, gleefully charging at a wall and disappearing through it.

"Woof, woof, woof!" It barked joyously from the next room. Days confined had left it stir-crazy, now frenetically phasing between walls.

"Keep it on this floor, no going downstairs," James admonished, unsure if the dog understood. Even if it didn't, it would hardly matter—no one lived above the 28th floor. And if anyone did spot it... well, there wasn't much they could do against such a creature.

Minutes later, exhausted, 'Byakuga n' returned, sprawling with legs splayed, tongue lolling. Wall-walking had worn it out, the mutant husky's energy depleted.

James then laid out more phasing fruits and a handful of perception fruits. Overjoyed, 'Byakuga n' gobbled them up. Afterward, as it consumed the perception fruit, the dog noticed a change—it could perceive James glowing.

With a satisfied pat on the head, James returned upstairs through the ceiling.

--

Meanwhile, Lydia Johnson dashed home, excitement bubbling. Her brother, Jay Johnson, lay in bed, his face ashen. Their mother, Asa, scolded, "Out playing first thing in the morning? What were you up to? Your brother's sick, and you still run around!"

Jay glared weakly at his sister, too ill to speak.

Feeling wronged, Lydia explained:

"I went to find food," Lydia explained, tears welling up in her eyes as she bit her lip.

Aunt Asa slammed her palm on the edge of the bed in anger. "Don't lie to me! At a time like this, where could you possibly find food?!"

Lydia's eyes shimmered with tears, and she drew a shaky breath before she opened her bag, revealing its contents. "See for yourself!" she said, unveiling not only food but also medicine.

Aunt Asa's brows rose in surprise. "What kind of medicine?"

"Antibiotics," Lydia replied. "They might help with Jay's illness."

Aunt Asa's face lit up with a rare smile. "Hurry, hurry! Give them to your brother!"

Even Jay Johnson seemed to rouse from his stupor, a flicker of energy in his glazed eyes. "Give me the medicine! Now!"

Lydia carefully helped her brother take the medicine before handing him a packet of instant noodles.

"Gimme that!" Jay's eyes sparkled as he snatched the packet greedily, devouring it, crumbs falling everywhere.

With motherly affection, Aunt Asa watched him eat. "Eat up! The more you eat, the faster you recover."

Observing Jay's wastefulness, Lydia felt a pang of distress. Every crumb of food was precious now. Painstakingly, she picked the fallen noodle bits from the sheets, placing them back in the bowl.

After consuming the food and medicine, Jay appeared a little revived. He reclined back into his pillows and asked, "What did you trade for this?"

Lydia hesitated, lost for words. She had promised James Lon not to mention anything about the black Nephelium.

Jay frowned. "Why won't you say? Who gave you this?"

Aunt Asa shared his suspicions, her eyes narrowing. Food was scarce; why would anybody share with an outsider?

Opening Lydia's bag, she saw two packets of instant noodles, three sausages, three chocolates, along with two boxes of antibiotics. Such supplies could amount to a small fortune in these times.

Lydia felt cornered, unable to form an explanation, and looked down, her silence speaking volumes.

Her mother's face darkened, pressing, "Speak up! Who gave this to you?"

Biting her lip harder, Lydia retorted, "It doesn't matter. We have food now, isn't that enough?"

Jay's gaze grew sharp. "Did you sell yourself?"

Taken aback, Lydia stammered, "Brother, what are you talking about?"

Jay smirked coldly, "Well then, if you didn't trade money or items, why would anyone give you food and medicine? Do you realize how valuable those are now?"

His words struck Lydia like a blow, and she turned imploring eyes toward their mother. "Mom, listen to what he's suggesting!"

Aunt Asa scrutinized Lydia, her voice low and eerie. "If you did, admit it. Stop shaming us!"

Lydia felt her world tilt. She couldn't believe her mother could think she'd sold herself, let alone accuse her so bluntly. Unbidden, tears spilled down Lydia's cheeks as she clung to the bag, a lifeline amid the rising tide of accusation.

Deep down, Aunt Asa harbored a belief: no matter what, her son was paramount—Jay was the sole heir of the family name. Lydia, being a girl, would marry out sooner or later.

To save her son's life by using her daughter's, Asa wouldn't hesitate. After all, to her, women were replaceable.

Crushed, Lydia whispered, "Mom, how could you?"

Favoring her son from the start, Aunt Asa had always slighted Lydia, giving the best of everything first to Jay. Yet, Lydia had clung to the hope that her mother cared for her too. But now, everything seemed a cruel joke.

Muffled sobs caught in her throat, Lydia was left clutching her bag, reeling from the injustice of it all—she had risked so much, only to return home to suspicion and blame.

Aunt Asa harshly yanked the bag from Lydia's grasp. "Well, you've got a man to take care of you now. Don't waste this family's supplies!"

"I don't!" Lydia cried, her voice frail with despair.

Aunt Asa jabbed a finger toward the door, her voice slicing through Lydia's protests. "Sleep in the living room. Don't bother your brother while he recovers!"

Triumphant, Jay looked at his sister with a smug expression. With her gone, the supplies would last four or five days.

Lydia's heart shattered, leaving her in a numb fog.