The solution to Anna Hathaway's ailment surely exists.
Given the current conditions, Su Nian could only attempt one method at a time.
Whether the Intermediate Insight or a more advanced version of the skill could truly identify Anna's problem and provide a solution was merely a guess on Su Nian's part.
If he were to pour a large number of system points into it all at once and still fail to solve the issue, it would spell disaster.
After all, Insight does not enhance combat power.
At that point, he might not even have the ability to cross the ocean with Anna.
Upgrading Insight was a last resort, but one thing was certain: the Sakura Island players had to be harvested swiftly, without any mercy.
A few obedient ones could be spared to grow potatoes.
The rest would be slaughtered—none left alive.
Holding the petite and soft Anna in his arms, Su Nian gently rested his chin on her head, his thoughts racing.
The dragon's lair grew quiet, with only the faint sound of the wind audible.
The dragon and the half-elf remained silent. Though their minds were preoccupied with different thoughts, they both enjoyed the tranquil moment together.
Outside the dragon's lair, the sun was setting.
Dusk retracted its tangled threads of contemplation, and the crimson pupils gazed upon the earth, reflecting in the swamp black dragon's golden eyes, which glimmered with a murderous red hue.
...
"By the heavens! This is the largest potato I've ever seen! Truly astonishing!"
Jinada Kamizawa held a potato the size of a car tire in his hands, his face filled with shock and bewilderment.
But as a descendant of eighteen generations of potato farmers from Sakura Island, his way of handling the potato, and even the appreciative look in his eyes, exuded one word—professionalism.
"Can you... plant... these potatoes?" Grey Wolf asked, lifting Jinada Kamizawa by the back of his collar as if he were a gas canister.
"Of course," Jinada Kamizawa replied confidently.
After carefully examining the roots, stems, and leaves of the potato, he concluded that these in-game potatoes, aside from their size, were no different from the ones on Blue Star.
"Good. Teach them to plant!" Grey Wolf set Jinada Kamizawa down and waved his claw, ordering the gnolls to drive the humans toward the wasteland.
"Great Gnoll Lord," Jinada Kamizawa hesitated, looking at Grey Wolf with some difficulty, "although I know how to plant these potatoes, I still need suitable farmland."
"Farmland?"
Grey Wolf turned his head to look at him.
Clearing wasteland required tools.
However, the black dragon master had explicitly ordered that no farming tools such as hoes should be provided to the humans, as they might use them to commit suicide.
Why not just live? Why choose death?
Grey Wolf couldn't understand, but he would unconditionally follow the black dragon master's orders.
So, he coldly told Jinada Kamizawa, "No farmland? Then clear it."
"But, Great Gnoll Lord, we don't have farming tools. How can we plow the land?" Jinada Kamizawa asked, stunned.
"You... have... hands," Grey Wolf replied, baring his menacing teeth in a twisted grin. He then added a chilling threat, "No excuses. Or... eat... dung!"
...
Moments later, under the warm glow of the setting sun.
Near the experimental field by the dragon's lair, over a hundred Sakura Island players were laboring diligently.
Some were digging into the ground with their hands and feet, while others used water magic to moisten the parched soil. When their mana ran out, they fetched water from a nearby stream.
"Boss, I want to go home," a blonde-haired player, his face covered in mud and sweat, muttered in despair. Exhausted and starving, his vacant eyes were filled with hopelessness.
"Ugh... Find a chance... ugh... to kill yourself. If you don't farm, you'll... ugh... have to eat... dung... ugh, bleh!" Yamamoto Nanjirou retched as he clawed at the ground.
In truth, he had nothing left to vomit, but his stomach continued to convulse instinctively.
Several other Sakura Island players were in a similar state. Among them were those who had been force-fed Stinky Bug Dung during interrogations and others who had attempted to resist or escape.
These monsters neither intended to eat them nor allowed them to commit suicide. Whether farming potatoes or fetching water, gnolls were always watching. Any hint of suicidal intent would result in punishment—if they succeeded, fine; if they failed, they would have to eat the dung.
Under the looming threat of the dung, the Sakura Island players had no choice but to dig the soil, as if they had returned to ancient times when humans had yet to invent tools.
Around the experimental field, a group of gnolls stood in a circle, their eyes cold and vigilant.
Patrolling nearby were numerous Fireflame Rabbit guards.
It was mealtime. The kobold chefs, wearing carefully washed chef hats, pushed a simple wooden cart with an air of professionalism.
The cart carried a delicious stew of potatoes and rock sheep meat.
The gnolls lined up, each holding a wooden bowl. Every gnoll received a generous serving of the stew.
As for the Fireflame Rabbits, they had their own food: a refreshing soup of carrots and leafy greens.
The monsters gathered together.
As they ate, they watched the laboring humans, pointing and commenting.
Under the warm sunset, the scene was peaceful and picturesque.
If a bard happened to pass by, they would surely immortalize this moment in song, spreading tales of this idyllic pastoral life far and wide. """