Due to the recently caused havoc, a crowd had gathered around what once had been the lava lake. Despite the soldiers’ best efforts to keep bypassers at bay, they had been largely unsuccessful.

After all, they were in Venus’ capital, Magmorious, a city that had become famous due to the lava lake positioned in close proximity.

It was only given that when rumors started to spread that two monsters had emerged from its depths, draining the magma underground, curious gazes would gather.

With the lack of information, the capital’s officials hadn’t been able to respond to the populace’s burning questions, causing theories to develop.

Among the gathered crowd, a duo of reporters did their best to document the events.

"Hello everyone, glad to have you back with us!" Skylar’s expression was radiant despite the overall gloomy mood.

"Several days have passed since the sudden draining of the lava lake, yet the government has yet to release an official statement!" Skylar exaggerated her voice, fulfilling her role as a reporter to a tee.

"Naturally, this has caused quite the controversy! Some believe that this incident and the plague that is believed to have started from the felines are connected! Others take the magma’s drainage at face value, believing that every planet actually has a hollow exterior! What could the truth really be?! Stay tuned to find out!"

Abruptly, the camera began to shake, causing Skylar to frown.

"Luis, hold the camera properly!" She hissed. The shakier their footage, the less viewership they tend to have.

The man grunted.

"You think it’s easy to keep it stable?! Why don’t you try to hold it amidst all the heat!" Luis fired back.

Although the surroundings had gradually cooled off with the vanishing of the heat source, Venus still possesses an overly hot atmosphere. Since they had exited the safety of the capital’s dome, the reporters’ duo were subjected to the hostile climate.

Though Skylar had it easier, she was wearing a charming skirt, allowing the breeze to pass, while Luis wore heavier attire since it required him to operate the filming equipment.

In actuality, the two were perhaps the only reporters in the area that had a clue what had been going on. Given that deal they had struck with Michael, he had informed them that he planned to visit the planet.

Naturally, the two followed, expecting grand spectacles.

While the two were bickering, bypassers began to point to the sky in awe.

"Look! People are coming out of the hole!"

Skylar’s eyes immediately shone with greed, telling Luis to focus the camera on Michael’s face.

Michael, meanwhile, was slightly startled when he noticed how people were gathered around him like he was an animal in a zoo.

"Was it this chaotic when you came?" Michael threw a glance towards Nicole.

She shook her head. "No, it’s a new development."

Because none of them wanted to bother with interviews at the moment, the Lords ignored them, flying over the reporters.

Though Ruby, still cradled in Michael’s hands, made sure to wave towards Skylar in the far distance, giving them unique footage they can use later on.

"Are you going to meet up with Livia?" Michael studied Robert.

"Yes." Robert nodded. "Someone has to brief her on what happened underground... Plus, she must be quite worried."

Michael didn’t ask further questions. Given that the two had recently become engaged only for Robert to disappear, Livia must have feared she would become a widow.

Separating, Robert continued towards the center of the capital, while Michael, along with Nicole, headed to the feline district.

Unwilling to waste time, neither he nor Nicole bothered with the otherwise mandatory check-up with the doctors.

With the cure of the plague in his mind, there wasn’t a need to dress up in a physician’s attire either.

Their destination was the familiar soup kitchen they had once saved from a terrorist attack.

Michael’s plan had been for the crew to gather there, yet the place, which should have been bustling with activity, was alarmingly closed.

Frowning, Michael gently let Ruby go from his embrace, entering.

"No one?" His grimace only deepened when he didn’t find any of the staff.

"Did going mad cause you to turn even more paranoid or what?" Devil, still resting on Michael’s shoulder, chuckled.

"Of course I will be worried." Michael retorted. "These aren’t soldiers but civilians that work in charity to help their kind."

At that moment, a boy came out of the backrooms.

"M—Michael?" Zachary needed a few seconds to recognize that this was the man who had saved him from the cultists.

Seeing the child unharmed, Michael was able to let out a sigh of relief.

"Zachary, what happened?"

However, rather than welcoming Michael, the child took a step back.

"D—Don’t come any closer! We... also got infected by the plague." Zachary stuttered, tears falling from his eyes. "P—Please, you aren’t wearing protective attire... I don’t want to infect you!"

Amid the public unrest caused by the plague, the felines had been isolated from the general population. However, within their district, it was impossible to distinguish the healthy from the sick... A critical flaw.

While the government played a role, it wasn’t solely to blame. The cultists’ operations had severely depleted resources, turning the area into a living hell.

Meeting Zachary’s gaze, Michael flashed him a warm smile, stepping forward.

"It’s fine." He reassured with a steady voice.

Zachary clearly begged to differ, yet given how much he owed Michael already, he didn’t find the strength to argue.

Closing his eyes, palms clenched into fists, Zachary prayed that Michael would leave before contracting the vile plague.

Stopping before the kid, Michael gently put his hand over his head.

"Let’s see if my theory is correct."

His spiritual energy seeped into the kid’s body. Just like the Hreh’tar spawn, the plague tended to bury itself very deep.

Several seconds passed in silence. Zachary wasn’t sure what was going on, yet he started to find breathing easier. His body felt lighter with each passing heartbeat.

Once Michael lifted his hand, Zachary realized he was capable of absorbing the spiritual energy like normal.

It was as if he had never contracted the plague in the first place!

Still in awe, Zachary glanced upwards, wondering if Michael really was just a mortal man or a god in disguise.

"Congratulations." Michael praised. "You just became the first feline in history to be cured of the plague."