A Second Life, A New Power novel Chapter 67

"Not bad! This morning, Nigel and I debated whether to wake you guys up, but we thought you younger people might want to sleep in. We didn't expect Demi and Ana to be up even earlier than us." Wendy smiled as she sat down.

She hinted that they didn't plan to work out and dismissed the idea that they had intentionally left out Ana and Thomas.

Only then did Ana and Thomas relax. So, they hadn't been left out after all.

"Why don't we agree on a time next time?" Ana suggested with a grin.

"That won't be necessary. Everyone's wake-up time is different. It's great if you can get up early. But it's not a big deal if you can't." Nigel smiled.

…

After breakfast, Matt approached them once the staff had cleared the tableware. "This morning's task is a bit unique. You'll be sourcing your lunch ingredients yourselves. You'll also need to gather firewood and build a stove for cooking, not just the ingredients. Here are the rules.

"First, you can't take ingredients from the villa, ask the local villagers, or take anything from their fields, even if you get their permission! Second, remember that some wild plants and animals are protected and can't be collected or hunted. If you're unsure, you can look it up online."

"What? You should've said so earlier! I would've had another bun!" Maria groaned dramatically.

Maria wasn't optimistic. She couldn't identify edible vegetables, let alone catch wild animals. And she certainly couldn't distinguish whether the fruits or mushrooms were poisonous.

Her partner probably wasn't much better. They were doomed to go hungry!

Everyone else shared the same sentiment. It might have been better if they had been sent to work for food.

Well, everyone except Demi. She remained calm and stared calmly at Matt.

"Don't be so pessimistic! I haven't shared the good news yet." Matt grinned.

Everyone perked up, their eyes shining with anticipation.

"The staff have released some chickens and rabbits into a small grove near the villa. You're free to catch them. The show has already paid for them. These animals are marked with special tags, so make sure not to catch the wrong ones," Matt explained with a grin.

"Are there tools provided?" George asked.

"The show will provide some tools, but not everything. Additionally, there's a lake in the south. It's full of fish, and the water is clean," Matt added with a smile.

The group's expressions lightened up at that.