The toads that appeared this time had smaller, more densely packed bumps on their skin. Their color had changed from the previous dark brown to a blackish green, and their already bulging, round eyes seemed to protrude even more.
Evelyn Ford wasn't sure if these new toads were still edible or if they had mutated. She caught one and brought it back, preparing it the same way as before: cutting off the head, skinning it, and removing the poisonous glands. The color of the broth after cooking didn't change, but the aroma had grown much richer. Evelyn desperately wanted to catch a rat to test it on, but ever since the torrential rain began, all the rats had drowned. It was impossible to find one.
She tested the broth with a poison detection strip and found no issues, but Evelyn still didn't act rashly.
Just then, a faint, fragrant aroma drifted from the floors above and below.
