《Gathering Wives with a System》 Chapter 1: Proposing Marriage Chapter 1: Proposing Marriage "Stop sucking me, dammit!" Isaac swung his hand to kill the mosquitoes. The buzzing stopped. He hoped he had killed at least a few of the bloodsuckers, but he didn''t get up to confirm. The buzzing returned soon. Grumbling, Isaac pulled the blanket up and covered himself from head to toe. He wanted to sleep desperately. Tomorrow was the Awakening Ceremony. Students would get access to the Awakening Crystal and awaken their [Talents]. Their futures would be decided by the Talents they received. Ninety percent would not awaken anything. They would have to live mundane lives, go for 9-5 jobs, and depend on the government who protected the walls, stopping monsters from invading their fortified cities. The rest of the ten percent who would awaken Talents would become privileged members of society. They would gain the power to go out into the wastelands, level up, and gain treasures. Even those with the lowest F-rank Talent would gain immense benefits, like being able to enter good universities with scholarships. Isaac hoped he could get something better than that. A C-rank Talent, or maybe even an A-rank Talent. As for an S-rank Talent, it was so far beyond that Isaac dared not imagine it, thinking he might not get anything if he was too greedy. "Gaaah! I can''t sleep like this!" Isaac sat up straight. He looked around for the mosquitoes and tried to kill them. Silence appeared, only for it to be broken by the buzzing of mosquitoes a few seconds later. "Let me sleep, please. I haven''t slept for a few days already. "Just let me sleep today. I need to be in perfect condition, both physically and mentally, to increase the chances of awakening." The mosquitoes continued to buzz around. Isaac covered his face, wondering why he had bought the stupid apartment. Many people had warned him that this place was haunted. But it was all a hoax. Isaac had searched carefully. He found no conclusive evidence of the apartment being haunted except for the rumors. The cheap cost had turned him blind. "Dammit, just let me sleep!" Only a week had passed since he came to this apartment, and he was regretting choosing this place already. Just then, the clock struck twelve. [Bonded Blessings System binding in process.] [Bonded Blessings System has been bound.] A holographic screen suddenly materialized before Isaac. He swung his hand instinctively, and it phased through the screen. "What...." Isaac''s eyes widened. He was a reincarntor from Earth. Naturally, he knew what the screen before him was. "Holy shit, I awakened a system! "What can it do?" [Host can share the abilities, skills, and progress of his wives with himself.] "Can you tell me in detail¡ª" Isaac''s words were stuck in his throat when he sensed the cold gripping his neck. He froze. An unnatural fear invaded his heart, and he felt as if someone was whispering in his ears. "I... am.... hungry." "I... am.... hungry." Isaac''s heart sank. There was a ghost in this house! The rumors had been right! A powerful sleepiness attacked his mind. He started to feel weak, as if someone was draining his life out from him. His vision blurred, and his eyelids became heavier than mountains. ''Dammit, I just awakened my system! I''m not dying without getting its benefits!'' He struggled to stand. The feeling of lethargy was pulling him into the abyss of sleep. ''System, can you help me?'' ''System!'' There was no response. Isaac dug his nails into his palms. He hoped the pain would help him stay awake. If he passed out now, he was dead. Suddenly, an idea struck him. "W-Wait!" he gasped. "Miss ghost, please, marry me before you kill me!" The cold, invisible force that had been draining his strength froze, as if caught off guard. "Please marry me," he repeated. It was a shot in the dark. The system told him he would gain benefits from having wives. If he married the ghost, the system might give him a powerful reward that could help him save his life. The ghost remained silent. ''Fuck, is it even a female ghost?'' Isaac suddenly realized he might''ve made a grave mistake. The ghost could be a man. Or maybe a ghost of a monster. Isaac shivered as he thought of marrying a zombie-like corpse with three legs. He clenched his teeth. If it was for survival, then¡ª A screen interrupted his thoughts. [A suitable target detected in host''s vicinity.] Followed by the first screen, Isaac saw a pop-up appear in the air far from him. [Emily Warren] [Age: 19 (At time of death)] [Rating: 95] [Personality: Gentle, kind.] [Likes: Piano music, scent of old books, rain, honest and hardworking people, feeling of nostalgia even if bittersweet.] [Dislikes: Loud noises, being forgotten or ignored, cold drafts that make her presence known too easily, the whispers in her mind that aren''t her own.] [Status: Flabbergasted by your question, starving.] The screen stunned Isaac. ''This thing looks like an Inspect skill.'' ''It must be showing me the identity of the ghost.'' ''Emily Warren... A female ghost?'' The screen started to move around the room. Isaac realized the screen was following the ghost. "I''ve been single my whole life," he said quickly. "At least let me experience what it feels like to have a wife. Then you can suck all my energy, completely." "...You can see me?" A soft, feminine voice echoed from the darkness. Isaac should''ve been happy that he got a response. However, the voice brought a biting cold with it. An unnatural, overpowering sense of fear started to seep into his mind. Isaac''s lips trembled. His heart pounded like a war drum as he felt the chilling cold cut into him. As he kept staring at the moving screen, it stopped, and moved closer to him. Isaac could not see the ghost. But judging from the screen, she must be standing in front of him. "I''m hungry," she said. "W-What about the marriage?" he replied. Chapter 2: Selling Myself Off Chapter 2: Selling Myself Off "Why do you want to marry me?" "It was a love at first sight!" "Love at first sight...?" The ghost seemed to think Isaac could see her. He decided to take full advantage of the misunderstanding. "Yes. I feel in love as soon as I saw you. In fact, I came to this place just to get more chances to meet you." He continued with a sincere expression. "Look, I know how to cook, clean, wash clothes. "I can keep the house spotless, make you delicious meals, and even give you massages after a long night of haunting people! I''d be the best husband you could ask for!" "...You''re seriously selling yourself to me?" the voice asked. "Absolutely! You won''t find a more devoted husband than me! Just give it a shot, and if you don''t like it, well... you can still eat me later." The ghost said nothing for a long time. Isaac grew nervous. But he kept his act up. "Haha, I guess I''m bound to be rejected." He did his best to fake a sad expression. The ghost remained silent. But since she hadn''t eaten him yet, his sales pitch had to be working. Or so, Isaac hoped. He doubled his efforts and made the most melancholic expression that ever appeared on his face. "I''m an orphan. Ever since I was a child, I always longed for love. But I had no one. I thought maybe that would change with you. I guess I was being delusional," he said with a pitiful expression. Silence again. ''Why isn''t she saying yes? Don''t tell me she will refuse?'' Isaac started to sweat. He should''ve taken some acting classes, dammit! Just when he thought it was the end, the status screen moved towards him. "Do you really like me?" "I do," he replied, hoping she wasn''t a monster ghost with spider-like body. "Okay, fine." The ghost spoke as if she had made a tough decision. "But don''t think for a moment I won''t drain your life." A cool sensation brushed against his lips, silencing his response. Isaac''s eyes widened. He couldn''t see her, but he felt her. Her soft lips, cold as death, melded against his. The sensation was strangely pleasant. Despite the chill, a tingling sensation ran down his spine. His heart pounded, and an inexplicable warmth spread through his chest. [Bonded Blessings System Activated.] [Marriage Contract formed with Emily Warren, the Ghost Bride.] [Host has received a Newbie Gift Package for his first kiss with his wife.] The system notifications flashed before his eyes, but before he could even focus on them, a sudden wave of weakness crashed over him. His limbs felt heavy, his vision dimmed, and his heartbeat slowed. Her soft, supple lips were still pressed against his. And she was sucking the life out of him. Isaac tried to pull back, but his body wouldn''t move. His energy was draining too fast. ''Newbie package!'' Isaac called within his mind, knowing he couldn''t escape the ghost unless he had a trick up his sleeve. [Opening Newbie Gift Package.] [SSS-rank Appearance upgrade received.] Isaac felt a light source appear within his mind. He could use it with a thought, and his appearance would receive a tremendous upgrade. The reward was good. But.... ''What the hell?'' ''Give me something to escape this situation!'' Isaac felt wronged. This system was a scam! It wasn''t helping him at all! His consciousness blurred. "W-wait." He barely managed to eek out a few words. "I need to breathe." She pulled back slightly. He could feel her ragged breaths against his skin. They made his heart beat faster. She kept her hands wrapped around his neck, as if to make sure he couldn''t escape. "Why stop?" Followed by her voice, the darkness before him shifted, and a figure emerged. Isaac''s breath caught in his throat. She was picturesque. Platinum-white hair cascaded down her shoulders like strands of silk. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, glowing faintly in the dim light. Her eyes were a mesmerizing azure, like the oceans. She was dressed in an elegant, flowing gown that seemed to be woven from moonlight itself. A faint blush covered the tip of her ears as she stared into his eyes. Isaac''s mind blanked for a moment. He had never seen anyone so beautiful. "Are we doing something wrong? You said this was what you wanted," she questioned, misunderstanding his gaze. "I did?" Isaac was stunned. He wondered when he asked for a minute-long kiss. "You said you wanted us to be husband and wife. Isn''t what we are doing something only couples do?" she asked hesitantly. Her innocent expression almost made him say yes, and take advantage of her. However, his survival instincts kicked in. "There are steps to everything. We should get to know each other first, then move to things like kiss¡ª" "We are married already. We can do kisses and more." Isaac clamped his mouth shut. He really wanted to cry. Since when did ghosts become so logical? While he was trying to think of an answer, she mistook his silence as a sign of approval. Her arms pulled him in for another kiss. Seeing her now, touching her, made everything feel more vivid. Her lips were sweet like marshmallows. Isaac found himself losing in them. He pinched himself hard and used the pain to remain clearheaded. His eyes darted around for a way to escape. He suddenly noticed something. An arrow symbol existed on system''s status window of Emily. He willed to click on it, and Emily''s status window changed, as if a page was being flipped, and a new screen appeared. Name: Emily Warren Title: None Species: Netherborn Phantom Empress Rank: Initiate, Lv. 9 (Share) Stats (Share): Strength: 22 Agility: 40 Constitution: 25 Spirit Power: 45 Mana: 60 Skills (Share): Spectral Claws (SSS rank) ¨C Can extend razor-sharp spectral claws that ignore physical armor. Life Drain (A rank) ¨C Drains vitality from the target, restoring Emily''s energy. Phantom Step (SSS rank) ¨C Moves through physical objects and attacks by phasing between realms. Demonic Eyes (S rank) ¨C Allows Emily to see souls, illusions, and weak points in enemy defenses. ''W-what is this status?'' Isaac had trouble believing his eyes. Initiate was the first rank. A Level 9 Initiate would typically have an average of 19 in all stats. It made no sense that some of her stats were near and above 50. Her skills were even more frightening. In human terms, only an Awakener with an SSS-rank Talent could have SSS-rank skills. These Awakeners were the pride of a nation. They were treated as royalty! But they would have only one SSS-rank skill before they reached Level 10 Initiate. Emily had two SSS-rank skills, one S-rank skill and one A-rank skill! She was only Level 9! ''Her Life Drain skill is A-rank. She should be instantly able to kill me.'' ''She is serious about letting me feel like I''ve married her before she kills me. That''s why she is slowing the draining.'' Although her actions spoke of her kindness, it didn''t change Isaac''s situation. He was still dying. Just then, Isaac noticed the (Share) option that was present in multiple parts. ''What is this¡ª'' His thoughts were cut short as a screen sprang before him. [Would you like to share your wife Emily Warren''s experience points with you?] Chapter 3: Sharing Stats And Skills Chapter 3: Sharing Stats And Skills Isaac was surprised by the notification. If he chose yes, would Emily lose her experience points, and her level would fall as they went to Isaac? Or would she keep her level? There was no time to hesitate. Isaac chose ''yes''. [Sharing experience points.] [You have leveled up x9.] [All Stats +9.] He felt a surge of power within himself. Name: Isaac Hargraves Title: None Talent: Unawakened Rank: None ¡ú Initiate, Lv. 9 Stats: Strength: 8 ¡ú 17 Agility: 9 ¡ú 18 Constitution: 7 ¡ú 16 Spirit Power: 10 ¡ú 19 Mana: 00 ¡ú 09 Isaac was stunned when he saw the screen. It almost made him forget he was dying. ''How did I get a status screen? I thought only those who have awakened their Talents could get it.'' The increase in stats made him incredibly powerful. The life drain slowed, but only by a small amount. ''Constitution is directly related to life force, and so is the Rank.'' ''If I can increase them, I should be able to resist her drain skill!'' His eyes moved towards the Share option. ''I shared the Rank already.'' ''But I haven''t shared Stats.'' ''Share! Share everything with me!'' Isaac had no idea how many Constitution stats he needed to resist the A-rank Life Drain skill. He could only hope the stats he would gain were enough. A powerful surge of warmth bubbled within Isaac, much stronger than before. His muscles grew denser and leaner. His physique improved, and he could feel he had grown stronger and faster. Name: Isaac Hargraves Title: None Talent: Unawakened Rank: Initiate, Lv. 9 Stats: Strength: 17 ¡ú 39 Agility: 18 ¡ú 58 Constitution: 16 ¡ú 31 Spirit Power: 19 ¡ú 64 Mana: 09 ¡ú 69 His eyes widened. The stats he gained from her were combined with his earlier stats. It made him stronger than Emily! Emily was surprised. If she had been sucking water (life force) from a bottle before, now it felt like she was trying to drain a pool. The life force within Isaac had grown suddenly abundant. Isaac''s happy expression was snuffed out quickly. He realized something. ''Dammit, the Life Drain slowed, but it''s still pretty strong.'' Constitution had been one of Emily''s weakest stats. Although he gained a lot, it was far from enough to save himself. Isaac, having expected this, moved quickly. ''Share skills!'' Name: Isaac Hargraves Title: None Talent: Unawakened Rank: Initiate, Lv. 9 Stats: Strength: 39 Agility: 58 Constitution: 31 Spirit Power: 64 Mana: 69 Skills: Spectral Claws (SSS rank) ¨C Can extend razor-sharp spectral claws that ignore physical armor. Life Drain (A rank) ¨C Drains vitality from the target, restoring your energy. Phantom Step (SSS rank) ¨C Moves through physical objects and attacks by phasing between realms. Demonic Eyes (S rank) ¨C Allows you to see souls, illusions, and weak points in enemy defenses. Isaac was sure he could fight against any Initiate-rank Awakener with his stats and win. With the skills, he might be able to fight even Adept-rank Awakeners! Those Awakeners, while not at the top, were still respected. Isaac''s academy ranked 3rd in his Sector, thanks to the principal, who was a Level 11 Adept-rank Awakener. A single Adept-rank Awakener was enough to push their academy into the top 3. That was the power of Adept-rank Awakeners! He could now fight them! Isaac quickly suppressed his excitement and got to work. He used the Life Drain skill to suck Emily''s life energy. Her eyes widened, and she swiftly pulled back. "How did you do that?" "Did I do anything wrong?" he asked innocently. "That... you took my energy, and now I feel more hungry..." Emily stopped speaking. She tilted her head and put her hand on her stomach. "I don''t feel hungry?" The Life Drain skill allowed her to drain life energy from others. Since ghosts didn''t have life energy of their own, Emily had to use the skill to stay alive. "Do you usually feel hungry?" Isaac questioned. "Yes. Whenever I am low on life energy, I feel starved, my mind becomes muddled, and I start to act on instincts like other ghosts." Isaac recalled how she had talked in broken sentences when she first appeared. Then, she spoke normally after draining his life energy. ''So there was a reason behind it.'' "T-that...." Emily blushed. "I''m sorry." "For what?" "For kissing you like that." Her face was flushed. In hunger, she accepted his deal easily, but she now realized what she had done. "I was never going to kill you. "I would''ve stopped draining your energy when it reached dangerous levels and disappeared. It shouldn''t have been a problem since anyone can recover Life Energy over time. "But when I heard you would let me eat as much energy as I wanted if I let you live, I thought, why not?" She floated before him and apologized. "I''m sorry for tricking you. It''s just, whenever I''m hungry, it''s hard for me to control my urges." Emily explained her situation. The rumors of the apartment being haunted prevented anyone from coming there. She had nothing to eat and became starved. After Isaac came, she had been eating his life energy every day in small quantities. It was not enough, but she never went overboard. Today, her hunger and instincts finally overcame her sense of reason, and she attacked him. "It''s okay. You don''t need to apologize so much. "I''m surprised as is that an Initiate-rank monster like you has sentience. As far as I know, monsters aren''t supposed to be intelligent," Isaac said. He attributed Emily''s loss of reason to her identity as a monster. ''My life energy must''ve filled her stomach for now. That''s why she isn''t feeling hungry,'' he thought. "Monster? Are they different from you?" Emily asked curiously. "You don''t know about monsters?" It was Isaac''s turn to be surprised. "No, I can''t leave this room. Ghosts can''t leave their domain...." Emily blinked, surprised. She floated around the room and came back to Isaac. "What did you do?" "Pardon?" "My link with the room''s domain was severed and connected to you." Chapter 4: Professor Lorrain Chapter 4: Professor Lorrain Did the System do that when it confirmed their marriage? Isaac could only think of it as the reason. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a knock on the door. "I''ll check it," he said before Emily disappeared, and went towards the apartment''s entrance. A tall woman dressed in a silk nightgown stood on the other side. Her long, dark brown hair was slightly messy. Her mature appearance, sharp cheekbones, full lips, and piercing golden eyes gave her a commanding presence. The nightgown clung to her curves, accentuating her well-endowed figure and a waist so slim it could make any man drool. In her hand, she held a cigar, the tip glowing faintly as she took a slow drag. The scent of tobacco mixed with the faint floral fragrance of her perfume. Catherine Lorrain, his teacher, and the owner of the building. Her room was on the floor above. She was the one who had helped him get this apartment for a ridiculously low price. Isaac glanced at the cigar, then back at her. "Professor Lorrain," he greeted, keeping his voice relaxed. "It''s pretty late. Shouldn''t you be asleep?" Catherine smirked, exhaling a thin trail of smoke. "I could ask you the same." She stepped inside without waiting for permission. The way she carried herself made it clear she was used to doing it. Isaac closed the door behind her, watching as she glanced around the room. She took another drag from her cigar, tapping the ash into a small metal case she carried. "I was making preparations for tomorrow," she said casually. "Preparations?" Isaac asked, following her with his eyes. "For the Awakening Ceremony. Big day, after all." Isaac stiffened slightly. Right. Tomorrow was the day when he and the other students would awaken their Talents. That was the whole reason he had been trying to sleep desperately¡ªto keep his mind fresh and increase the chances of Awakening. Catherine walked around slowly. Her gaze swept over the room as if searching for something. Isaac stayed still, trying not to look nervous. Her timing was strange. Brash as she was, coming to meet him in the night was not like her. "Something wrong?" he asked. "Yes." Catherine turned to him, her golden eyes narrowing. "The spiritual bond tying the Ghost to this room... it''s broken." Isaac was shocked. He forcefully calmed the storm of thoughts that was about to erupt and acted naturally. "I have no idea what you''re talking about." "Isaac," she said, stepping closer to him. "Did you forget about my skill?" "...Lie Detection." "That skill tells me you just lied." "Okay, okay, I''m sorry for lying." Isaac quickly decided to change his approach. "I know about the ghost. Found about it today. But I don''t know how the bond broke. I don''t even know what a bond is," he said. "You have no idea how the bond broke?" "I do have an idea, but honestly, chances are high I''m wrong." "That''s understandable. You haven''t been taught about beast bonds, so you wouldn''t know how they work." Catherine nodded. She took another look at the room before turning around to leave. "I came here to see if the ghost had escaped. Good night," she said, wondering if the bond had malfunctioned. "Professor, how did you know about the ghost, and why did you give this room to me?" he asked quickly before she could leave. "You asked for a cheap room." "But you should give a safe¡ª" "You got a room, and she got food. It was a win-win for both sides. It''s not like she kills anyone." ''Then give your own life energy to her, you stinky fox,'' he grumbled mentally. Catherine stopped at the door and turned around to face him. "Don''t do anything weird to her. I''m going to make her my tamed beast." Isaac suddenly had an ominous premonition. "May I ask how are you planning to do that?" "I will transfer her bond to me." "That''s it?" "That''s it." Isaac started to sweat. Catherine would kill him if she knew he had received Emily''s bond. "Why do you suddenly look nervous?" "..." "Answer me, brat." ''Dammit, not that question! How am I supposed to lie to a direct question like that!?'' Isaac gritted his teeth. "I kissed her." "...what?" "I kissed Emily." His words diverted Catherine''s attention from the bond to the kiss. "You kissed a ghost? Are you sexually frustrated?" Isaac''s eyebrow twitched. "Whatever," she said, exhaling another puff of smoke. "You can do whatever you want with her as long as she consents. Just don''t help her escape." "Escape?" "If she escapes, I can''t make a bond with her. Make sure that doesn''t happen." She flicked the last bit of ash from her cigar into her case and turned toward the door. "I''ll be back tomorrow with something to do about the bond. Goodnight." She shut the door behind her, and left. Isaac let out a slow breath. His body relaxed now that she was gone. ''I barely managed to dodge a disaster.'' Emily reappeared, and floated in front of him. Her translucent form shimmered faintly in the dim light, and her silver hair flowed like mist. She had a thoughtful look on her face. Isaac''s eyes were involuntarily drawn to her fingers placed on her pink lips. He gulped recalling the kiss they had shared. "Isaac," she hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers. "That kiss... I liked it." "Uh, okay?" Emily''s eyes became serious, as if she had made a choice. She looked at him straight in the eye. "We''re husband and wife now, right?" "Technically, yeah." "Then... should we do what husbands and wives do?" Isaac almost choked on his own breath. "What?" "I mean... I liked kissing you, and I want to do it again. More than just kissing. You also said you loved me." The tip of Emily''s ears was red as a tomato. She was embarrassed. But maybe because she had not lived in human society and was not well-versed with it, she was able to speak about her needs without the thought of hiding it due to embarrassment. Isaac stared at Emily. She had a generous bosom that strained against the thin, translucent fabric of her dress. Her waist was slim, perfectly accentuating the curve of her hips. The dress she wore clung to her just enough to highlight her shapely thighs. The sight was enough to make any man loose control. "Isaac?" she flew closer to him. "Is that a no?" Isaac''s mind churned. Doing the deed with a ghost, even as beautiful and alluring as Emily, would cement his identity as a sexual deviant. But... ''Won''t I get rewards for it?'' His mind drifted back to how he had received a reward for their first kiss. Chapter 5: Soulbind Pendent Chapter 5: Soulbind Pendent Maybe intimacy had some kind of effect? If so... wouldn''t it be stupid to refuse? ''Yeah. I''m doing this for rewards. For getting stronger. It''s not because I want to do it.'' Isaac shivered as Emily''s cold body pressed against his. Their movements were slow at first, hesitant, but as the night stretched on, instinct took over. Emily clung to him, and asked for more kisses with a dreamy expression. Her sweet voice, soft touch, and the pure innocent neediness in her voice pierced through all hesitation Isaac had. The room filled with quiet gasps and lingering touches until, finally, exhaustion claimed them both. [Host has received Soulbind Pendant x1, Random Gift Box x1] The morning light streamed through the window, casting soft golden hues across the room. Isaac blinked awake. The space beside him was empty. "Was that a dream?" He clasped his face. Was he so desperate that he was fantasizing about sleeping with a ghost? A sudden noise from the kitchen broke his thoughts. Isaac turned his head sharply, only to see utensils floating in midair. Plates and cups moved on their own. A pan sizzled on the stove. He rubbed his eyes, but the sight didn''t change. As he tried to ''see'' what was happening, he felt an unfamiliar energy stirring in his eyes. [Demonic Eyes] activated. He heard a voice in his head, and he looked at the kitchen again. Emily was there. She floated around with a determined expression, and prepared the meal in an apron. It made her look strangely cute. She turned to him and smiled. "Good morning." "....Morning." "Come let''s have breakfast." Isaac sat down at the small table. He was still coming terms to reality as he eyed the steaming plate of food Emily placed before him. She sat next to him, and watched him with an eager expression. "Try it." "What about your share? There is only one plate here." "I don''t need to eat. Food doesn''t give me energy." She smiled lightly. "I''d prefer that you eat. I can take the energy from you later." "You should still eat. Quite a lot of people eat for taste." "Your lips taste better," she murmured. Isaac smiled as he took a bite out of the food. "It''s is delicious." "Thank you." Emily smiled sheepishly. He called his System as he ate. His Constitution had increased by one after the last night''s exercise. So had Emily''s. He shared her stat with himself, and his Constitution increased by a total of 2 after the night. He checked the notification history. [Host has received Soulbind Pendent x1, Random Gift x1 for his first marital night with his wife, Emily Warren.] A pendant appeared beneath his shirt. He took it out and examined it. The pendent was a small slab of black stone. Its surface was polished but had faint, ancient-looking cracks running through it. He could sense a large empty house within it. The building was fully furnished with multiple bedrooms, kitchen on both floor, and a small garden outside. "Isaac, what is that?" "Something''s wrong?" He noticed the strange way Emily looked at the pendent. "Nothing. It just feel like I can enter it." Isaac raised his brow. The pendent was the size of his thumb, and Emily was at least 168 cm (5''4). She could enter the pendent with her size? Incidents like these made him realize he was in another world. His train of thought came to a screeching halt when he heard the doorbell. He instantly realized who was at the door. Professor Lorrain. "Get inside the pendent," he told Emily, and swiftly moved. She nodded before turning into a ray of light and entering the pendent. He could sense her appear within the house. Then, Isaac opened the door, greeting Professor Lorraine. Unlike last night, she was dressed properly in a button-up shirt and well-tailored pants, but that didn''t do much to hide her figure. The shirt clung tightly to her chest. The fabric seemed one wrong move away from giving up , and the way her pants hugged her waist and hips only emphasized her curves. "Morning, Professor." "Morning." She stepped inside without waiting for an invitation. Her nose wrinkled slightly, as she sniffed the air. "I noticed a board outside Blackmire Pond few weeks back," she said, referring to a small, murky body of water near the city walls. "It had a notice saying, Please don''t molest the crocodiles, they are afraid." Isaac blinked, confused. "I was wondering what kind of person would try to touch a crocodile. They are aggressive monsters after all." Her eyes locked onto his. "Now I know." His brow twitched. She ignored his reaction and continued looking around the room. "Where is Emily?" "She wasn''t next to me when I woke up," he replied, then deliberately spoke in a slow, nervous tone. "Maybe she escaped?" "She can''t escape. There is a barrier around the room that stops all spectral enties from moving through it." Isaac''s stomach tightened. He realized Professor Lorrain was serious about making Emily her Beast pet. He had looked up about Bonded Beasts during the breakfast. They were slaves. Their so-called masters tamed them, and forced them to obey. Some rumors said the masters could manipulate the Bonded Beast''s mind and feelings. They could force the beast to like them. "So, where is she?" Isaac remained silent, but he felt incredibly nervous. Professor Lorrain came to defeat a ghost, who was as strong as Adept-rank Awakener, in her usual teaching attire, as if it was just another Tuesday for her. ''If she tries to take Emily from me forcefully, I would have no choice but to fight. I''m not giving Emily to someone who can manipulate her mind.'' He could escape even if he couldn''t win. He had Phantom Step (SSS rank). An SSS-rank movement skill was nothing to be underestimated. Lorraine smirked as if she could see the thoughts running through his mind. "It''s fine if you don''t know where she went," she said casually. "You should focus on Talent Awakening. It''s an important event in your life." Isaac frowned. "You know what?" she continued. "Get ready. I''ll drive you to the academy. Think of it as a special service from me." ''What is she¡ª'' A cold sweat ran down his back when he saw her faint smile. Chapter 6: Talent Awakening Chapter 6: Talent Awakening ''There is no way she planned that far ahead.'' ''I must be overthinking it.'' As much as he wished against it, he understood he was correct. Talent Awakening could change a person''s fate. A fool could become a genius. A beggar could turn into a king. Talent determined everything¡ªstatus, power, future. ''She wants to see what Talent I''ll awaken.'' If it was high-ranked, she''d try to use Emily as a bargaining chip. After all, she couldn''t see Emily''s stats. To her, having someone with an S-rank Talent or higher in her debt was likely more valuable than a single ghost. ''And if I awaken a weak Talent...'' A chill crawled down his spine. She could imprison Emily, her to-be Beast Bond, in a room as if it was the most natural thing in the world. There was no need to wonder what she would do to him. He would be lucky if he was not tortured. Isaac stepped into the shower while Lorraine remained in the hall. Warm water cascaded over his skin. ''Isaac, what is happening?'' Emily''s voice echoed in his head ''Nothing serious,'' Isaac said while holding the pendant. He was thankful for this inbuilt function of the pendant. It helped him communicate easily. ''Rest for now. I''ll call you out when there''s time,'' he told her. ''Okay,'' she replied cheerfully. After finishing up, he got dressed and followed Lorraine to her car. The ride to the academy was silent. Radiant Crest Academy was one of the oldest academies in the city. It used to be ranked in the Top 10 within the city, but over time, its performance had declined. Now, it barely held a spot in the Top 3 of Sector 14, which was barely average, considering there were 40 sectors in the city. The car rolled to a stop in front of the academy gates. They were massive. Their age was evident by the weathered stone walls and towering gates. Thousands of students flooded the entrance. Excited chatter filled the air. Some looked eager, others nervous. "Good luck. I hope you get a high ranked Talent." "Thanks." Professor Lorrain drove the car towards staff gate after dropping him off. Isaac took a deep breath and followed the crowd toward the ground where the awakening would take place. The path led to a large open field where thousands of students were gathered. A massive test tube-like structure was placed at the very forefront. It had a faintly glowing white crystal floating above it. Isaac heard the murmurs of the students. "I hope I awaken a D rank Talent!" "I''m happy with any Talent. Just make it a combat-type please." "Hahaha, today, I will awaken S-rank Talent!" "Isaac!" He turned around when he heard the familiar voice. Peter and Alice were approaching him. Peter was a round-bellied guy with an easygoing smile. His eyes were filled with mischief as always. Alice, on the other hand, had a cold, indifferent expression. She was the campus belle of Radiant Crest Academy, known for breaking many hearts. Peter grinned as he walked up. "Are you nervous?" "I am." "Hahaha! Don''t joke! If you''re nervous, what about the rest of us? You''re our role model, man!" Isaac rolled his eyes at Peter''s words. As a reincarnator, he had always worked hard to achieve the best results. But no matter how strong he was physically or how sharp his mind was, it wouldn''t mean much if he awakened a weak Talent. Of course, he never planned to blame his failure on luck. That was why he had always pushed himself harder than anyone else. ''But now I have the System.'' He clenched his fist. Determination burned within his gaze. At that moment, the crowd quieted as the principal appeared stepped onto the stage. The elderly man with graying hair and sharp eyes surveyed the students before speaking in a steady voice. "Today marks the beginning of your future. Talent Awakening will decide your path, but it is only the first step. Whether you rise or fall depends on your determination and hard work. Now, let the Awakening begin!" The students erupted into cheers. The first student stepped forward and entered the massive test tube-like chamber. A few seconds passed, and the Awakening Crystal floating above shimmered with a faint glow. "Shielder, Combat Talent, F-rank!" the principal announced. The student stepped out. He was crying tears of happiness, relieved to have a Combat Talent. The principal had a disappointed look in his eyes. An F-rank Talent wouldn''t take him far. If he had a Life Talent, it might''ve been a different story. Life Talents, even F-rank, were in high demand. "Combat Talent, I wish I get one too." "Dear god, I don''t need a Life Talent. Just don''t give me a Support Talent. Even Combat Talent is fine!" "Only 1% of Awakener gets them. I doubt anyone among us will get that." "Don''t jinx it, or I will tickle your hole!" "This time our school''s has two geniuses! Alice, and Isaac. We are definitely getting a Life Talent!" The students shouted amongst themselves. Isaac shook his head. He was explaining everything to Emily while the ceremony proceeded. Hearing about new things excited her. ''Are Life Talents that good, Isaac?'' ''They might not be strong in direct combat, but they are the most in demand, and without Awakeners with Life Talent, no city can be maintained,'' he said. ''The only reason humanity is still surviving is because of them.'' ''Isaac is going to awaken the strongest SSS-rank Life Talent!'' Emily encouraged him. ''Thank you. I hope for the same.'' Isaac laughed, knowing the chances of awakening an SSS-rank Life Talent were lower than winning a lottery. He shifted his focus back to the ceremony. "No Talent!" "No Talent!" "Super Tongue, Combat Talent, F-rank!" "No Talent!" "No Talent!" "Wind Ranger, B-rank Talent!" Gasps echoed through the crowd. The girl with twin ponytails stood frozen for a moment on the stage. She let out a sharp breath before grinning. A B-rank Talent! She was almost guaranteed a spot in the Top 10 Universities with her B-rank Talent! Her future became bright in just one afternoon! "Guys, it''s my turn. I''ll be back shortly," Peter winked and jogged toward the stage. He was slightly out of breath as he stepped before the Awakening device. The moment he entered, the Awakening Crystal shone brightly. The glow forced the students standing close to the stage to close their eyes. "Golem Master, Life Talent, S-rank!" A roar of cheers erupted, far louder than earlier. An S-rank Talent! A Life Talent at that! Peter was bound to become one of the most influential people in the city. He even had a chance to become an Explorer¡ªan elite who ventured beyond the city to hunt monsters. Only the strongest could do that! It was the highest status one could achieve! "Congratulations, Peter Parkinson." The principal clapped him on the shoulder with a wide smile. It had been decades since their academy produced an S-rank Awakener. As long as Peter got a good rank in the Unified University Exam, the Radiant Crest Academy could return to their former glory days! They would no longer be called a washed up Academy! Peter stepped down, grinning ear to ear, as more students were called. No one awakened an A-rank Talent, let alone coming close to Peter. "Coming through! Step aside, please." Peter made his way back to Isaac and Alice. He shook hands and thanked those who congratulated him. He stopped in front of his friends, still grinning. "I got an S-rank Talent, baby!" "Congrats," Isaac said. "Good for you. Now you don''t have to worry about losing the baby in your stomach," Alice added. Peter patted his belly and laughed. "I think I can afford another one here now." Alice''s brow twitched at his shamelessness. It was her turn before she could say anything. "Go break a leg!" Peter cheered. Alice walked forward, her piercing red eyes fixed on the Awakening Machine. The crowd naturally parted for her, overwhelmed by her charisma. She had long legs, a slim waist, and just the right amount of muscle. Her arms and legs, while lean, were toned from years of training. Her skin was milky white, smooth, and flawless¡ªenough to make models jealous. She stepped into the Awakening machine and waited with bated breath. "No Talent!" The principal''s voice rang out. Murmurs spread instantly. Alice came from a wealthy family, had a sharp mind, and was an incredible beauty. Everyone had expected her to awaken a powerful Talent. Whispers. Snickers. Pitying glances. She ignored them all and walked back to Isaac and Peter. "Uh... are you okay?" Peter asked hesitantly. "I am," she replied without any change in expression. "Only 20% of people awaken a Talent. It all depends on luck. It''s normal to be part of the majority." Her voice was steady, but Isaac noticed the faint tremor in her hands. "Isaac, it''s your turn!" the principal called him before he could comfort Alice. He took a deep breath and walked up to the stage. "Isaac, good luck," the principal said, his voice filled with expectation. Isaac nodded and stepped into the Awakening machine. A powerful force invaded his mind. It was forcefully stirring his soul. Chapter 7: Isaac’s Talent Chapter 7: Isaac''s Talent Isaac grunted. The power from the Awakening Crystal was forcefully stirring his potential. It started to hurt. ''I don''t think... this is supposed to happen...?'' He had heard the rumors that Awakening Crystals were made from the hearts of Overlord rank monsters. It was why some people refused to use them, afraid they would become part monster themselves by using its power. They often rallied that Awakening Crystals were dangerous. Isaac never believed those cultists. Now, though, he wasn''t sure anymore. Pain was a great eye-opener. Even if Awakening Crystals weren''t made from the heart of monsters, they were dangerous. A screen flickered before him when he felt the power surge within him from the depth of his soul. Talent: Unawakened ¡ú Genesis Farmer Rank: SSS The pain disappeared leaving behind a soothing feeling. Isaac was surprised when he noticed the name of his Talent. Genesis Farmer. In the apocalypse, food was the most precious resource. It made Farmer one of the most coveted Talents. Their city was currently being supported by a B-rank Farmer. Isaac had heard the B-rank Farmer was receiving better benefits than S-rank Talent Explorers. That was how valuable a farming Talent was. First Talent Skill: Seed of Providence (Unlocked when user reaches Lv. 5 Initiate rank) Skill Level: 1 Effect: Can instantly germinate a seed, and make it sprout. (24-hour cooldown) Cost: 5 Mana (Scales with rarity of seed) The skill pleasantly surprised Isaac. Instantly sprouting a seed was too overpowered. Moreover, the skill would grow stronger as it leveled up! His train of thought broke when he heard Emily''s voice. ''Isaac...'' ''It hurts...'' Isaac grabbed the pendant and looked into it. He realized the Talent Awakening Machine was affecting Emily. ''It looks exactly like how my Talent Awakening looked. How can ghosts awaken Talents? Aren''t they monsters?'' He couldn''t help but wonder. ''Emily''s status screen said she died at 19 years old, so maybe she was a human and can awaken a Talent because of it?'' He thought to himself. Since he could control which thoughts to transfer to Emily, he spoke his next thoughts to her, ''Emily, just hold on for a bit. It looks like you are awakening a Talent.'' ''O...okay.'' The Awakening Crystal''s energy rushed into Emily like an avalanche. It stirred her potential and awakened it forcefully. Emily was left drenched in sweat, and she was breathing heavily. Isaac checked her status. He focused only on the parts that had changed. Name: Emily Warren Title: None Species: Netherborn Phantom Empress Talent: Unawakened ¡ú Spirit Conductor Rank: Initiate, Lv. 9 (Share) He focused on her Talent, and another screen popped up. Talent: Spirit Conductor Rank: SSS (Share) First Talent Skill: Phantom Parade (Unlocked at user Lv. 5 Initiate Rank) (Share) Skill Level: 1 Effect: Allows the user to summon up to three ghost types that can follow simple commands. Each ghost has a unique trait: Wisp ¨C Emits a soft glow, illuminating dark areas. Can harmlessly phase through walls. Ember ¨C Can release small ghostly flames, dealing minor spirit damage. Zephyr ¨C Moves swiftly and can create small gusts of wind to push objects or disrupt enemies. (Summons last for 5 minutes. Cooldown: 6 hours. Mana cost: 5 per ghost, scales with summoned number and strength.) Isaac saw he could share the rank of Emily''s SSS-rank Talent. He wondered what that would do. He was not too bummed out for not being able to share her Talent, since he could share the skills she gained from the Talent. It would bring the same result. Isaac grinned. ''Emily, congrats! You got an SSS-rank Talent!'' ''T-thank you?'' she answered, still disoriented from the events. ''What about Isaac?'' ''I got something good too.'' Isaac wanted to talk more, but the door of the machine was opening. He quickly used his SSS-rank appearance upgrade card. He had just awakened his Talent and could chalk up his improved appearance to it. Or so he hoped. After all, it would be weird if he suddenly became handsome with no reason. He stepped out of the Awakening Machine and noticed everyone staring at him in silence. Shock, envy, admiration. The students had a myriad of expressions on their faces. His results had not been announced, but the brightness of the Awakening Crystal was far higher than Peter, who awakened an S-rank Talent. Clearly, Isaac had awakened something infinitely more powerful. The principal approached Isaac with a hearty laugh. "Good, good, as expected of an honor student like you, Isaac!" He placed his hand over Isaac''s shoulder and turned to the crowd with a beaming smile. "Genesis Farmer, Life Talent, SSS-rank!" The students erupted in cheers and chaos. "SSS-rank Farmer Talent? Wasn''t A-rank the highest recorded rank for the Farmer Talent in history!" "Dammit, why did only he awaken an SSS-rank Talent? I wanted it too!" "Isaac, please let me bear your children!" "Is it me, or does he suddenly look more handsome?" "My mom was right! Successful people always look more handsome!" "This is big news! I bet Isaac and our university will be in the news tomorrow!" The appearance of a high-rank Farmer Talent brought immense happiness to most. With an SSS-rank Talent, the food quality in their city would see a tremendous rise. It would allow them to barter better goods from other cities, which would lead to overall growth. "Now, now, calm down. The Awakening Ceremony has not ended," the principal said, regaining his composure. "Isaac, you can return to your seat, but remember to stay back after the Ceremony. "Our Academy has an offer for students like you. It would help you level up quickly for the United University Exam." Isaac nodded. He left the stage and walked towards his friends. On the way, he thanked the students congratulating him. However, his mind was on something else. He wanted to know what would happen if he shared the Talent rank of Emily. He looked around. As far as he knew, Talent awakening would not create shockwaves or anything like that. It should be safe to share the Talent rank here. He opened Emily''s status and clicked on the option, ''Share!'' Chapter 8: Sharing Emily’s Talent Chapter 8: Sharing Emily''s Talent ''Share!'' Isaac felt a sudden surge of power rush through his body, stronger than anything he had felt during his awakening. It vanished just as quickly as it came. A notification appeared before his eyes. Talent: Genesis Farmer Rank: SSS ¡ú SSS+ He was so stunned that he forgot about the students around him. Since no shockwave or anything similar happened, no one realized great changes had occurred within Isaac. ''SSS+ rank?'' ''There was a rank like that?'' He wondered what changed along with the rank. When he saw what it was, it made his jaw drop. First Talent Skill: Seed of Providence (Unlocked when user reaches Lv. 5 Initiate rank ¡ú Lv. 1 Initiate rank) Skill Level: 1 Active Effect: Can instantly germinate a seed and make it sprout. (24-hour cooldown ¡ú 12-hour cooldown) Passive Effect: Seeds planted by the user grow twice as fast and yield higher-quality crops. User instinctively senses fertile land, hidden water sources, and nutrient-rich soil. Cost: 5 Mana (Scales with rarity of seed) Isaac remained frozen from shock. The cooldown for the active effect was cut in half, but that wasn''t all. The skill now had passive abilities¡ªpowerful ones. The biggest change wasn''t just the upgrades. The skill''s unlock requirement had dropped from Lv. 5 Initiate rank to Lv. 1 Initiate rank. Everyone else awakened their first Talent skill at Lv. 5 Initiate rank, their second at Lv. 10 Initiate rank, and so on. But Isaac? He had awakened his first Talent skill at Lv. 1 Initiate rank. Since he was already Lv. 9 Initiate rank, that meant a second skill! Isaac would have one more skill than what others got from their Talent! He checked the second skill he received. Second Talent Skill: Reaper''s Bounty (Unlocked when user reaches Lv. 5 Initiate rank) Skill Level: 1 Active Effect: The user can extract hidden properties from plants, turning them into potent potions, tonics, or alchemical ingredients. Passive Effect: When harvesting crops, the user absorbs a portion of the vitality and natural energy within them. Cost: 10 Mana (Scales with size of harvest) While the active effect was useful, Isaac focused on the passive effect. Natural Energy... did it mean Mana? Mana was one of the most important stats. All skills required mana to function. But since awakeners also needed to fight physically, they couldn''t invest everything into the mana stat. This was a major limitation that forced them to use their strongest skills only as trump cards. But what about Isaac? He increase his Mana just by harvesting crops! When his stat reached a high level, he could spam the combat skills he gained from Emily without worrying about Mana cost. Isaac couldn''t wait to start farming. Fighting monsters? Bah, why would he waste his energy when he could sit back and relax on the farm while growing stronger? All he had to do was make Emily stronger and share her progress with himself. Coupled with his Talent, and System, he could grow stronger with ease! ''I wonder if I can get more wives? That would speed up my pace.'' Isaac shook his head, erasing the thought. While he did want to be stronger, he wouldn''t marry just any girl. The situation with Emily had been urgent. Back then, he was weak and had no other choice. But now Isaac had a powerful Talent and Emily. ''All said and done, the system doesn''t recognize just any girl as a wife candidate.'' ''I won''t be able to take wives recklessly even if I wanted to, not that I was planning to do that.'' He had been checking the system after he came to the academy, but it didn''t show him any other girl''s profile. Even if he were to marry them, he could not share their skills and benefits. ''The system must only recognizes women that are meet a certain standard.'' ''I wonder what that standard is. If it was appearance alone, Professor Lorraine and Alice would definitely have been candidates.'' ''Since they are not, looks clearly aren''t the deciding factor.'' While he was lost in thoughts, Peter threw an arm around his shoulder. "Look at Sir Honor student. It hasn''t been five minutes since he got his talent, and he is already thinking hard about how to level up," Peter grinned. "It''s nothing much," Isaac replied. He wasn''t about to admit that he had been thinking about potential wives, not leveling up. Peter laughed, and Alice congratulated him. Her face remained indifferent, but Isaac could see the genuine joy in her eyes. At the same time, he noticed the way she compared herself to him and Peter. He didn''t comfort her. It would feel like mockery if a person with an SSS+ Talent tried to console a person who remained unawakened. The ceremony ended without any more surprises. Isaac and Peter were called by the principal. As the crowd began dispersing, Alice turned to them. "Come to the cafeteria after meeting the principal. I''m throwing a party for all the students on behalf of you two." Isaac hesitated. He didn''t like taking advantage of his rich friend like this. However, he knew Alice wouldn''t listen to him today. He thanked her before heading toward the principal''s office with Peter. The room was long and quiet. The principal sat at the end of a long oval table. Professor Lorraine sat beside him, her sharp eyes watching them as they entered. A girl with twin ponytails was already seated next to the professor. Isaac remembered her having a B-rank Talent. "Please, have a seat," the principal said. Isaac and Peter sat in front of Professor Lorrain and the girl, Luna. Isaac''s seat was directly next to the principal. The three of them were the only students with the a Talent higher than C-rank. "Firstly, I would like to congratulate you three. You have awakened powerful Talents that will become the foundation of your bright future." His words were calm but carried weight. "With the greeting out of the way, I won''t waste your time and directly say the reason I called you here. "The United University Exams will start within a week. "With your Talents, you have a good chance to enter the Top 10 Universities. However, it would be best if you could reach Lv. 5 Initiate rank before the test." The principal''s gaze swept over the three of them "You won''t gain a skill until you reach Lv. 5 Initiate rank. While your Talents make you valuable resources that most universities would want to nurture, they won''t accept someone who didn''t even put in the effort to unlock their first Talent skill before taking the most important exam of their student life." He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing. "Laziness and arrogance have been the fall of many geniuses. Most academies wouldn''t want you until you show you have the ambition to make proper use of your Talents." Isaac, Peter, and the third student, Luna, nodded. The principal then explained the two basic methods to level up. First option was to kill monsters. It required leaving the city, and people who had yet to unlock their first Talent skills were not allowed to do as such. That ruled out hunting monsters as a possibility for them. Chapter 9: Free Ticket, Top 3 Universities Chapter 9: Free Ticket, Top 3 Universities The second option, and their only option in the current situation, was to use their skills. Using skills increased skill level, and awakener level. This method was faster than killing monsters and also much safer, especially for non-combatants like Isaac. Though it was not easier. Most of the time, Life Talents required enormous amounts of money to create the right environment or gather the necessary tools to practice their skills. Peter''s Talent, [Golem Master], was one such example. Golems were incredibly difficult to create. They required time, money, and a great deal of effort. While Golems were highly versatile and could serve countless purposes, crafting even a single one could take weeks or even months. Because of that, most Golem Masters¡ªwhether they had a low-ranked Talent or a high-ranked one¡ªpreferred to create only a few specialized Golems rather than mass-produce an army. A few well-crafted Golems were cheaper, easier to maintain, and far stronger when built with proper materials. Isaac didn''t need to worry about such things. His Talent was very easy to level up. He didn''t need to buy expensive materials or rare resources. All he needed was seeds and land. Seeds were cheap and easy to acquire, and with his Soulbind Pendant, he had plenty of space to farm. "I''ve explained everything. I hope you will take my advice to heart and focus on leveling up. You can leave now," the principal said. "Isaac, stay behind. There is something I would like to talk with you about." Isaac nodded. Peter grinned and patted him on the back. "Don''t be too late, or you won''t get anything to eat." After Luna and Peter left, Isaac was left alone in the meeting room along with the principal and Professor Lorraine. She had not spoken a single word since the beginning. Unlike at home, where she had barged into his apartment wearing a nightgown, she was perfectly professional here. The only problem was her calm, mysterious smile, which irked Isaac. "Isaac, I would like to congratulate you once again. Awakening such a high-rank Farmer Talent is not something that I''ve ever heard of before. "I told you to stay back as the Top 3 Universities have all sent their entrance letters to you." "...?" "You don''t need to participate in entrance exams or level up. You can enter the university as you are. They will give you a party, carry you, and teach you about how to best use your Talent." Isaac didn''t know it was possible to be stunned so many times in a single day. The Top 3 lofty academies didn''t allow admission to even S-rank Talents unless they met the entrance requirements. All of those harsh requirements were removed for him? "You don''t need to be surprised. An SSS-rank Life Talent is something everyone will kill for. Putting aside the rank and type of your Talent, you are a Farmer, Isaac. "You need to understand that food is the most important commodity. And having you means having someone who can possibly produce an endless amount of food." The principal waved his hand. Three letters shot out from his sleeves and flew towards Isaac. He noticed the name of the university printed on their cover. [Aeternum University], [Horizon Institute], [Sanctum of Masters] Isaac held the university admission letters. [Aeternum University]. Among the Top 3, it was the most prestigious, the one every genius dreamt of attending. It was renowned for its resources, its professors, and most of all, its ability to nurture students into true powerhouses. [Horizon Institute] was famous for its combat-oriented curriculum, producing warriors and battle-hardened awakeners. If Isaac were aiming to become a frontline fighter, it would be the best choice. [Sanctum of Masters], on the other hand, specialized in unique and unconventional Talents. It was known for its tailored guidance, ensuring that even the strangest or most difficult-to-master Talents could be honed to their fullest potential. People would die to enter any one of them. "While there are more universities who sent their entrance letters, I would recommend you to choose from these three. "These Universities have Class Advancement Quests for S-rank Classes and higher. "To break through from Lv. 10 Initiate to Lv. 11 Adept, you would need to complete a Class Advancement Quest and receive a Class. "Unlike Talents, you can get a powerful Class as long as you can find a Class Advancement Quest for a high-rank Class. "These Universities will provide you with those Quests." Isaac nodded. He had always known which university he would enter if he could get a chance. Just when he thought the meeting had ended, the principal spoke again, "Isaac, our Academy would like to make a deal with you." "...I''m listening." "We want you to allow us to advertise you as our alumni. It would help us increase the number of admissions next year and improve the overall quality of students." "That''s it?" Isaac thought they would ask for something like slaying a legendary beast when he was stronger, and in return get a powerful weapon or some hidden quest. "I don''t mind the Academy using me as an advertisement. After all, everything I''ve learned, from martial arts to knowledge about monsters, is something I was taught here," Isaac said. "Haha, you are being too humble. Most students don''t even study properly since they believe Talent is all that matters. "There are only a few who put in effort to improve themselves and reach new heights instead of just hoping to awaken a powerful Talent. "Honestly, I think someone as hardworking as you deserves an SSS-rank Talent," the principal said, then continued. "Of course, since this is called a ''deal,'' I have proper compensation for you." "That is?" "Information," the principal smiled. "You can get money and resources from the university. What you need right now is information that will be of immediate help to you." Isaac noticed the principal looking at Professor Lorraine. He didn''t have a good feeling about this. "Isaac, do you know about Guardians?" The principal took his silence as a no and explained. "Each Academy is given a powerful Guardian by the Central Sector. The job of these Guardians is to protect students with powerful Talents until they can enter the universities." "Are you saying that..." "Yes, not everyone wants humanity to have powerful Talents. They would try to eliminate students like you before you get too strong. The best time to do that is now." The principal pointed at Professor Lorraine. Chapter 10: Guardians Chapter 10: Guardians "Professor Lorraine here is the Guardian assigned to our Academy. I would recommend you to stay with her until you go to the University. After that, you don''t need to worry about your safety as each University has Champion-ranked guards." Isaac didn''t know how to feel about that. He had been trying to get away from Professor Lorraine, and now he got news like this. "What''s the earliest time I can enter the University?" he asked, hoping to get away from Professor Lorraine. "That would be today. The universities will send their scouts to talk with you. You can go to the University with any one of them." Isaac nodded. It was already afternoon, so the scouts would come by within a few hours. "What about Peter and Luna? Don''t they need to be protected like me?" "Their families have Adept-rank Awakeners. Those awakeners would be guarding them already. The only one unprotected here is you." "Thank you for the heads up. I will stay within the Academy until the university scouts arrive." Isaac left the meeting room. Since Professor Lorraine didn''t follow him, he believed she could guard him from anywhere within the academy. On one hand, he knew he should stay with her for the protection. But he was worried she might try to dig up information about Emily or force him to do something in exchange for Emily. ''I don''t know Professor Lorraine''s rank, but I doubt I would have to worry about her after I enter one of the Top 3 Universities. I just need to make sure I don''t meet her until the scouts come.'' He moved towards the cafeteria where the party was going on. Alice had paid for everyone''s food. It was an all-you-can-eat buffet. Peter was drunk. He was laughing while he danced in the center of the cafeteria where the students had pushed aside the desks. The music was on full blast. Almost everyone who was graduating didn''t come to the cafeteria. They were drowning in their sorrows of not awakening a Talent. A few lucky final-year students who did awaken Talents and juniors who hadn''t had their awakening ceremony were the ones enjoying the party. Isaac looked around. He left the cafeteria after confirming Peter was too drunk to talk with, and Alice was nowhere to be seen. ''I haven''t opened the Random Gift Box the System gave me.'' ''Might as well do it now.'' He looked for an empty classroom near the cafeteria and entered it. The noise of soft sobs entered his ears. He looked around the classroom and noticed Alice sitting there with her head buried in her hands. "Alice?" She flinched and raised her head. Tears streamed down her puffy red eyes, and her hair, which used to be always tied in a high ponytail, was disheveled. "I-Isaac? What are you doing here?" She swiftly tried to hide her face and wiped her tears. Isaac moved without thinking and hugged her. He had thought that he didn''t need to console her as Alice was strong. He realized his mistake too late. "W-wait, why are you hugging me? I''m fine." She became flustered. But Isaac didn''t let her go. Her protests stopped slowly, and she began to cry. "My life is destroyed, Isaac. I didn''t awaken anything. Not even an F-rank Talent. I¡ª" He listened to her silently and kept patting her head. Alice, who always maintained a cold and indifferent expression, cried her heart out, covering his shoulder with tears and snot. Without Talent, people had no hope. They could learn and excel in something, but anyone with a Talent in that field would always be better than them. Alice found out all her hard work until today had been useless. Isaac stayed with her until she calmed down. "What am I going to do now, Isaac?" she didn''t seem sure of her future, which was a stark contrast to her confident self. "Without a Talent, I..." "Are you going to give up then?" "What?" "The Alice I know trained with me until her palms bled, and her limbs trembled from exhaustion. She did that all while knowing almost every student was laughing behind her back, saying her efforts didn''t matter. "She wouldn''t give up so easily even now," he said. Alice didn''t reply. Her hands wrapped around him turned into fists as she gathered her resolve. Then, she pulled back, trying to smile. "You are right. It''s not like everything is over. I can still take over my family business. That way, I won''t have to worry about money at least." Isaac was momentarily taken aback by her beautiful smile. During the three years they spent together, this was the first time he saw her smile. She stood up and cleaned her face. "I was trying to stay in the academy until now because I didn''t want to meet my family, but I will go talk to them now." "Alice." Isaac called out to her before she could walk through the doors. "What?" "If, and I know your family treats you nicely, but just in case, they do anything to you for not awakening a Talent, use my name. Tell them they will be my enemies if anything happens to you." "You know my family is one of the top families in the city, right? Are you saying you will fight them for me?" "I will." Alice had only asked the question to lighten the mood. Her family was too strong. They had Champion-rank Awakeners. Isaac couldn''t and shouldn''t fight them. However, the resolve behind Isaac''s words stunned her, and warmed her heart. "Isaac, you shouldn''t say those things even as a joke¡ª" "I''m serious. I would do that for Peter too." The only reason Isaac could continue to study in the academy was due to Alice paying his tuition fees. She did that despite his constant refusal for help, saying if someone as talented as him didn''t study, then there was no point in having academies. Chapter 11: Alice’s Resolve, Sharing SSS-rank Skill Phantom Parade Chapter 11: Alice''s Resolve, Sharing SSS-rank Skill Phantom Parade Peter was the same. The guy had fought with a lot of people when they made fun of Isaac for training as if it mattered and tried to bully him. "Thank you," Alice said and left. The fear and anxiousness in her eyes had decreased a lot. Isaac rested against the chair. "Who would''ve thought the cold queen Alice could cry and smile like that?" "Right? It was a surprise to see the heir of the Callowey family bawling her eyes out." Isaac swiftly reacted to the foreign voice. But before he could stand, an arrow shot through his leg and pinned him to the chair. A brutal scream left his mouth. It was less of a result of pain and more of a calculated move. Loud noise, especially a student''s scream, was the best way to call for reinforcements. Isaac had been injured a lot during his training at the academy. He was used to pain, and he would never scream from an injury of this level unless it was on purpose like right now. His mind instantly started churning at high speed. Assassins? They must be strong, at least Adept if they dared to enter the academy and attack a student in daylight. Why arrows though? Assassins would mostly use knives, darts, or bullets to eliminate human targets. Arrows were weapons to hunt monsters. They could be lodged inside the body for greater damage. That was when it hit Isaac. They used arrows to maximize the pain and injury. It would cloud his judgment and make him easier prey. Sure, they could''ve used bullets, but arrows were better if they planned to incapacitate him without killing him. They had to be in a hurry if they wanted to make him an easier prey and be done with the job quickly. The assassins must know about the existence of Guardians. ''I need to buy time for Professor Lorraine to come rescue me.'' Another arrow hurtled towards him at a swift pace. Isaac was ready this time. He used Phantom Steps. The movement skill caused his body to blur and appear ten meters away, near the door. The arrow lodged in his leg was brought along. Isaac didn''t pull it out. He stumbled. The leg injury made it hard for him to walk or run. Ten meters was the best he could use the movement skill for with his injury. He rolled out of the classroom and noticed the campus was scarily empty. Not a single soul was present. It was as if everyone was snapped out of existence, leaving only Isaac and his assassins behind. Isaac suddenly felt lethargic. ''There was poison in the arrows!'' Two more arrows arrived from different directions. Isaac dodged the one aimed at his shoulder and took the hit by the one aimed at his stomach. ''Good, I can react to their attacks with my Agility, meaning they are only Lv. 11~13 Adept rank.'' ''But my movements are growing slower, probably due to the poison. Not to mention my injuries are bad.'' ''I need to finish this quickly or escape as soon as possible.'' He was injured, and immense pain coursed through his body. But Isaac''s mind remained calm like a serene lake. He didn''t panic or feel afraid. "Are you going to keep attacking from the shadows? Fight me, man to man," Isaac taunted. The assassin¡ªor assassins¡ªdidn''t react¡ªobviously. Isaac realized he needed to train his trash-talking skills. He activated Spectral Claws. Purple wisps of energy materialized around his hands in the shape of claws. Isaac dodged another arrow and attacked the pillar supporting the building. His hand cut through it like butter. A moment later, the pillar started to crack like glass. The air and the ground near the destroyed pillar also became covered in cracks. "Like I thought, we are in the Mirror Dimension," Isaac muttered. He had heard from Alice about them. Mirror Dimension was one of the most favored skills of Assassins. It allowed them to pull their targets into unique dimensions of reality. They could complete the assassination in that place, and no soul would catch a whiff of it. ''I want to buy time, but leaving everything to Professor Lorraine is dangerous.'' ''What if she doesn''t come on time, or what if she is in cahoots with these people?'' ''Whatever it is, it''s best if I fight like no one is coming to rescue.'' Isaac made his decision and grabbed his pendant. ''Share Emily''s Talent Skill!'' Skill: Phantom Parade (Unlocked at user Lv. 5 Initiate Rank) Skill Level: 1 Effect: Allows the user to summon up to three ghost types that can follow simple commands. Each ghost has a unique trait: Wisp ¨C Emits a soft glow, illuminating dark areas. Can harmlessly phase through walls. Ember ¨C Can release small ghostly flames, dealing minor spirit damage. Zephyr ¨C Moves swiftly and can create small gusts of wind to push objects or disrupt enemies. (Summons last for 5 minutes. Cooldown: 6 hours. Mana cost: 5 per ghost, scales with summoned number and strength.) Isaac ignored the notification and called out, "Zephyr, come!" He burned 50 Mana to summon ten Zephyrs. The cute little green fairies were quite a contrast to the current situation. "Cover me with the strongest tornado you can create!" The spirits nodded cheerfully and raised their hands. They were not very strong at their current level individually, but when ten of them were put together, they worked wonders. A powerful tornado materialized around Isaac. It hid his figure and bent the paths of the arrows aimed at him. ''This would force them to either use powerful skills to penetrate through the tornado or come close to me to fire stronger shots.'' ''Both cases will reveal their location.'' Isaac didn''t celebrate. The assassins would definitely have more tricks up their sleeves. And Isaac''s body was starting to stop functioning, thanks to the poison. ''Emily, can you come out?'' ''Of course.'' Emily''s happy expression froze when she materialized before him and saw him in a bloodied state. He was rapidly losing blood, his eyes were barely open, and he was pale. "Isaac!" She rushed to him, but Isaac spoke firmly to calm her down. "There is no time to explain. Summon all Zephyrs you can and strengthen this tornado." Emily looked anxious. Still, she heeded his words. The tornado grew larger and fiercer under the addition of 10 more Zephyrs. ''My Zephyrs will disappear in roughly 3 minutes. I will also become unconscious from the poison by that time,'' Isaac thought. ''I have only three minutes to locate the assassins.'' He held Emily''s hand before and reassured her with a smile. "I''m perfectly fine," he said, and added. "Keep this tornado up. It will serve as a smoke screen and allow me to hit the assassins from the back." Chapter 12: Strange Tastes Of My Wife Chapter 12: Strange Tastes Of My Wife "Keep this tornado up. It will serve as a distraction and allow me to hit the assassins from the back." "How will you do that, Isaac? You are injured. Let me¡ª" "Have you killed people before?" Her silence answered him. "Relax," Isaac said, softening his voice. "It won''t take me long." Truthfully, Isaac had never killed anyone either. But the assassin was determined to end his life, and Isaac wasn''t about to let that happen. He would fight back, no matter the cost. Emily was still anxious. Smiling, Isaac interlocked his fingers with her. "Isaac?" Before she could say more, a glowing screen materialized in front of her. [Isaac Hargraves has sent you a party request. Accept/Deny?] "Accept it," Isaac said. Only humans with awakened Talents could form a Party. Isaac had a hunch Emily could do the same. His guess had been correct. "Okay." [Invite accepted.] [How would you like to adjust the experience point sharing?] [1. 50-50] [2. Performance-based] [3. Decide manually.] "Give all experience points to Emily," Isaac said without hesitation. Giving all experience points to Emily now would allow them both to level up. After all, he could share her experience points with himself. Then, Isaac waited for a powerful attack to rip through the tornado and reveal the assassin''s location, even if only briefly. ... Two assassins, a man and a woman, stared at the tornado from a distance with narrowed eyes. Their bodies were hidden by a Stealth skill, making them nearly invisible. The woman, Jinha, wielded a giant sword that was as large as her. She wore an intimidating armor beneath her cloak. The man, David, carried a longbow. He had pulled the bow taut and was aiming at the center of the tornado. The air around the arrow''s tip shimmered with condensed green mana. "What the hell is this kid?" Jinha muttered, her voice laced with frustration. "He''s too strong for someone who just awakened. And wasn''t he supposed to be a Farmer? I saw him summon wind spirits!" David remained silent. He released the arrow with a swift motion. The arrowhead flew straight, far faster than previous attacks, and shot through the tornado. It created a momentary opening and allowed the assassins to see the arrow lodge into Isaac''s forearm as he raised his arm to shield his forehead. The gap in the tornado closed almost instantly. David and Jinha moved, repositioning themselves for the next attack. "He has to be the kid''s body double. Let me finish him off. Then we''ll find the real one," Jinha growled. David opened his mouth to respond but froze. He sensed movement behind them. Jinha reacted instantly, swinging her broadsword toward the empty space. But Isaac was already there, his movement skill deactivating as he ducked under her swing. "You are here! Good job coming to us and making our job easier!" Jinha snarled, her body glowing with orange energy as she lunged at Isaac. Her movements were faster, stronger, but Isaac didn''t retreat. Instead, he activated his Demonic Eyes, spotting the weakness in her defense. With a swift motion, he summoned Spectral Claws and struck towards the weak point. The claws shattered her sword and pierced her chest. Jinha''s equipment was strong, and she was using a skill to bolster her defense and attack power. However, those were no match for Isaac, whose stats were as high as Adept-rank Awakeners and had an SSS-rank combat skill, Spectral Claw. The clash ended so quickly that Jinha didn''t even realize she had died. David was no better. He barely had time to process what had happened before Isaac was on him. The assassin activated his stealth, disappearing from sight. Jinha''s corpse fell to the ground with a dull thud. David didn''t even spare it a glance. ''Whoever this guy is, he has to be a Guardian. That''s the only way to explain his strength.'' ''How is a Guardian here? Captain should be holding this academy''s Guardian back while we eliminate the boy who awakened the Farmer Talent!'' David was an assassin with 30 years of experience. He quickly calmed his mind and looked around. His gaze landed on the tornado. Only now did he realize that Isaac had used the tornado as a smoke screen and circled from behind it to catch them off guard. Normally, such an ambush would never work on David. But Isaac''s movement skill had allowed him to move faster than what David could react to. ''I need to call for reinforcements and¡ª'' David''s thoughts were cut short when Isaac dashed straight towards him, greatly surprising him. The Stealth skill was counted as an illusion, and Isaac could see through it with Demonic Eyes. Earlier, Isaac had not known where the assassins were attacking from. The stealth had never been the problem; he just didn''t know where to look. But now that he found them, David had no chance to escape. David fired three arrows in rapid succession, only for Isaac to destroy them with ease. Realizing he was outmatched, David began to charge his strongest skill. A ball of light formed at the tip of his arrow, growing brighter with each passing second. But before he could release it, a cold hand gripped his head. Emily''s voice echoed in his ears, icy and menacing. "Were you the one who hurt Isaac?" "What¡ª" David''s eyes widened in terror as Emily''s Life Drain skill began to sap his strength. He struggled helplessly. There was another person here? How many Guardians did this academy have?! Just as Emily was about to finish him, Isaac stopped her. "I need to talk to this guy," he told her and grabbed David''s collar, who could hardly move. "Why did you attack me? And who ordered you to do so?" David sneered, his voice trembling. "You think I''d answer¡ª" David''s head exploded before he could finish his words. "A prevention method to stop them from leaking information," Isaac muttered, wiping the blood off his face. Although his emotional state wasn''t perfect after killing two people, he could think calmly. He rummaged through David''s body and found an anti-toxin vial. "What is that, Isaac?" "Antidote for the poison. Assassins and anyone who uses poisons carry them on their body. If you encounter them next time, remember to search their bodies in case you were poisoned." He drank the antidote. After taking everything of value from the corpses¡ªa box, some rations, and a pitch-black badge¡ªIsaac transferred the items and the corpses to his Soulbind Pendant. "Thanks for the help, Emily. It would''ve taken me a long time to defeat those assassins without you." "It''s no problem." Emily floated around him with a smile. She didn''t seem bothered by the gore around them. If anything, she... seemed to like it? The faint blush on her cheeks made Isaac wonder if ghosts had strange tastes¡ªor if it was just Emily. Chapter 13: A Scarily Accurate Guess Chapter 13: A Scarily Accurate Guess The Mirror Dimension started to crack after losing its creator, which had to be one of the assassins. The sub-dimension shattered, and Emily and Isaac returned to their world. Isaac was still within the classroom, seated on the chair. He groaned, the pain from his injuries hitting him full force now that the adrenaline had worn off. "Emily, get back in the pendant," he said, his voice strained. She obeyed, and disappeared into the pendant as Isaac dragged himself toward the door. The hallway outside was chaos. Students ran in every direction, their shouts echoing off the walls. The smell of blood filled the air, mingling with the acrid scent of something burnt. "Isaac!" Peter''s voice cut through the noise. The big guy ran toward him. His face was pale with worry. "Did those guys get to you too? Damn it, I shouldn''t have left you alone. My bodyguards could''ve protected you." "It''s okay. I''m fine." "Fine!? How do you think you are fine¡ª" Peter''s words were cut off when something crashed into the ground nearby, sending a shockwave through the air. Dust and debris filled the hallway as Professor Lorrain stepped out of the newly created crater, leaving behind a corpse covered in countless sword slashes. Her clothes were pristine despite the chaos. She pressed a finger to her earpiece, and spoke in a calm tone. "I have eliminated the leader of Assassins, and don''t sense any more signs of foreign life inside the academy. All of the assassins have been taken care of. Yes, do not worry, no student died." After finishing the brief report, she turned to Isaac and Peter. "Good job surviving the assassinations." "It''s all thanks to you, Professor. If you hadn''t protected us from those dozens of assassins in the cafeteria, I don''t think we would''ve survived," Peter said in a voice filled with gratitude. Peter knew he was weak. He might''ve awakened a powerful Talent, but he had yet to level up. He was no different from a regular human. "Same to you, Isaac. I''m glad you are alive," Professor Lorrain said with a mysterious smile. Isaac didn''t respond. He knew she would soon question him, and try to figure out how he''d survived the assassins. She took out red pills from her coat''s inner pocket and gave them to Isaac. "They are healing pills. Eat them." Isaac nodded and gulped one of them. A soothing energy started to flow inside his body, slowly but surely repairing his injuries. The city guards and Guardians arrived. They took care of the corpses, brought healers to treat the injuries of the students, and investigated the students at the same time. Isaac was given a personal room to recuperate. His injuries had been healed completely after an Adept-rank Healer cast a spell on him. "This fight taught me quite a lot. Even if I have combat skills, I need something to heal my injuries, and I need to have antitodes for basic poisons at the minimum." Isaac held his chin. "I can grow a plant with healing properties and then use my skill Reaper''s Bounty to create a healing potion from it." While Isaac lay on the bed, he opened Emily''s Status Screen. Name: Emily Warren Title: None Species: Netherborn Phantom Empress Talent: Spirit Conductor Rank: Initiate, Lv. 9 ¡ú Initiate, Lv. 10 (Share) Stats (Share): Strength: 22 ¡ú 23 Agility: 40 ¡ú 41 Constitution: 26 ¡ú 27 Spirit Power: 45 ¡ú 46 Mana: 60 ¡ú 61 Skills (Share): Spectral Claws (SSS rank) ¨C Can extend razor-sharp spectral claws that ignore physical armor. Life Drain (A rank) ¨C Drains vitality from the target, restoring Emily''s energy. Phantom Step (SSS rank) ¨C Moves through physical objects and attacks by phasing between realms. Demonic Eyes (S rank) ¨C Allows Emily to see souls, illusions, and weak points in enemy defenses. Phantom Parade (SSS rank) ¨C Allows Emily to summon three ghost-type spirits. Emily had reached Level 10 after the battle. Since they had fought Adept-rank Awakeners while being Initiate rank themselves and used their skills quite a lot, it brought plenty of experience points. Isaac grinned and spoke in his mind, ''Share Emily''s experience points!'' [Sharing experience points.] [You have leveled up x1.] [All Stats +1.] Name: Isaac Hargraves Title: None Talent: Genesis Farmer Rank: Initiate, Lv. 9 ¡ú Initiate, Lv. 10 Stats: Strength: 39 ¡ú 40 Agility: 58 ¡ú 59 Constitution: 33 ¡ú 34 Spirit Power: 64 ¡ú 65 Mana: 69 ¡ú 70 Skills: Spectral Claws (SSS rank) ¨C Can extend razor-sharp spectral claws that ignore physical armor. Life Drain (A rank) ¨C Drains vitality from the target, restoring your energy. Phantom Step (SSS rank) ¨C Moves through physical objects and attacks by phasing between realms. Demonic Eyes (S rank) ¨C Allows you to see souls, illusions, and weak points in enemy defenses. Seed of Providence (SSS rank) - Can instantly germinate a seed and make it sprout. Reaper''s Bounty (SSS rank) - The user can extract hidden properties from plants, turning them into potent potions, tonics, or alchemical ingredients. Phantom Parade (SSS rank) ¨C Allows the user to summon three ghost-type spirits. Isaac''s grin widened as he felt the surge of power. The feeling of getting stronger was addictive. He looked over the status and spoke again, ''Share the stats!'' Strength: 40 ¡ú 41 Agility: 59 ¡ú 60 Constitution: 34 ¡ú 35 Spirit Power: 65 ¡ú 66 Mana: 70 ¡ú 71 He could share all new stats Emily gained from leveling up along with her experience points. It allowed him to gain thrice the stats from each level compared to other Awakeners! [User has reached the level cap.] [Complete a Class Advancement Quest to continue leveling up.] Isaac was pondering about the Quest issue when the door opened, and Professor Lorraine entered. She sat on the chair next to him and checked his pulse. "How did you defeat the assassins?" she asked, not beating around the bush. When Isaac remained silent, she flicked his forearm with force. "That''s quite the defense you''ve got," she said. It took Isaac a moment to realize she had hit him to check how high his Constitution stat was. She did it so casually that Isaac was late to react. "It''s around Lv. 10 Initiate, but I think you can take more? Let me try again¡ª" Isaac pulled his hand back before she could flick his forearm again. Awakeners'' skin was normally soft and no different from normal people. However, when attacked, it would act as a defensive shield. The strength of the shield depended on the Constitution stat. Isaac''s lowest stat was his Constitution. A measly 35. It was low compared to his other stats, but in reality, it very high. Only Adept-rank Awakeners could have a stat as high as 35. "If you aren''t going to talk, let me guess what happened. You somehow are able to bring Emily everywhere you go. She was with you when the assassins attacked, and she saved you." Isaac''s heart tightened when he saw Professor Lorraine''s smile. She seemed to be sure of her guess. "But," Professor Lorraine continued, "that doesn''t explain how you are so strong. Level 8, or Level 9, maybe even Level 10? It''s too high for someone who awakened only today." Isaac remained silent. He knew whatever excuse he would give would only backfire. The best option was to wait for the university scouts. They had reached the academy and would be coming to meet him anytime now. He could escape Professor Lorraine''s reach if he was with them. "The only way to explain your high level is that you made a Party with Emily, and she transferred all experience points she gained after killing the dozen or so Adept-rank assassins. What do you think of my theory, Isaac?" "....Sounds far-fetched to me. Emily is a ghost. Ghosts are monsters, and they cannot join a Party." "They can, Isaac. If a half-human, half-monster awakens a Talent, they can form or join a Party with no restriction. To be honest though, this is quite surprising. I never knew Emily was a human-ghost hybrid. "As for her Talent, it has to be S-rank at the minimum," Professor Lorraine said. "There were no corpses where you fought the assassins. "Only S-rank and higher Drain skills can do that. If Emily had an S-rank skill before awakening her Talent, then her Talent is S-rank, and possibly even higher." Isaac felt cold sweat drip down his back. Some of her guesses were wrong, but most were quite accurate. Chapter 14: Misunderstandings Chapter 14: Misunderstandings "Your theory sounds baseless." "Is that so?" Professor Lorrain''s lips curved into a sly smile. It made Isaac tense, and he was prepared to run at a moment''s notice. ''If I try to escape from a Guardian, what will happen?'' ''Professor Lorrain is a Guardian. She must have connections with the government.'' ''She could turn me into a criminal with a single word.'' As Isaac''s mind raced, Professor Lorrain suddenly broke into laughter. It caught him off guard. "You''re thinking about running away, aren''t you? It''s written all over you." "...What?" "You are really fun to tease," she chuckled. "I know I have a hand in fueling the misunderstanding, but you really do think I am some kind of villain who had kept Emily locked away." Isaac stood frozen. The situation was too confusing for him to make head or tail of it Professor Lorrain''s expression softened as she continued. "I kept Emily in the room to protect her. She only recently gained sentience. Before that, she was vulnerable. "If she had wandered freely, someone could have taken advantage of her ''Beast Bond.'' I was simply waiting for her to become aware enough to protect herself." Isaac blinked, struggling to keep up. "You don''t believe me, do you? Have you even asked Emily about me? Or were you too caught up in your assumptions of me being a villain?" "I..." Isaac hesitated. He hadn''t asked Emily about Professor Lorrain for a reason. If the professor had mistreated her, bringing it up might have touched her trauma. Besides, the clues had seemed clear to him. He thought he had figured everything out. ''Was it all a misunderstanding? Is Professor Lorrain not an enemy after all?'' "If you think I''m lying, call Emily. She can confirm what I''ve said." "Then why didn''t you let her go after she gained sentience?" Isaac asked, avoiding her suggestion. "She was already sentient when I met her. You could have released her." "Where would she go, Isaac? She knew nothing about the world. I was planning to teach her about society, and then get her admitted to a university. "Unfortunately, I got busy with the Awakening Ceremony tasks. That''s why I couldn''t feed her myself three time a day and had to find tenants." She massaged her temples, recalling the past. The previous tenant, a young girl, had fled as soon as Emily tried to feed on her. It had sparked rumors about the apartment being haunted. If Professor Lorrain hadn''t tricked Isaac into becoming a tenant, it would have caused her serious trouble. "Monsters can go to universities?" Isaac asked in disbelief. He wasn''t sure what shocked him more. Her explanation or the idea of Emily attending a university. "Sentient monsters can. But only those from allied tribes or nations. It''s not something the public needs to know about, of course. Can you imagine the chaos?" Isaac nodded with a thoughtful expression. ''It seems a lot of information is hidden from the public. Only Awakeners have access to it.'' "Well, it''s fine if you don''t believe me. You can ask Emily later. "Remember to communicate with her from the next time, or you might fall into pits of misunderstandings again," Professor Lorrain said, standing up. "Wait," Isaac called out. "If everything you said is true, why are you taking care of Emily, a monster? And why did you trick me into thinking you were an enemy?" "Emily is important to me. As for your second question, you looked cute trying to protect her. I couldn''t resist having a little fun." Her eyes gave way to a coy smile. Before Isaac could respond, she added, "Oh, and one more thing. If I were you, I''d keep your relationship with Emily quiet. "She comes from a rather complicated background. Her vassals might think you bonded with her before she gained sentience. "That would be very, very bad for you. Oh, and Emily is going to join the Sanctum of Master University." "Vassals? What do you mean? Professor Lorrain, answer me! Hey, don''t go!" But she was already gone, and the door closed softly behind her. Isaac sighed and collapsed onto the bed. He grabbed the pendent. ''Emily, can you come out?'' "I''m here!" she chirped, appearing on top of him with a bright smile. "Why did you call me?" "Professor Lorrain... who is she?" "Professor Lorrain?" "The owner of the place where you were before." "Oh, that''s Auntie!" "What? Are you related by blood?" "What''s ''blood-related''?" she asked, tilting her head. "When I woke up, she told me to call her Auntie. We''ve been together ever since!" Isaac stared at her. ''It was all a misunderstanding on my part.'' He wanted to slap his last''s night''s overthinking self. Maybe meeting a ghost, getting a system, then kissing the ghost had short circuited his judgement skills back then. "Emily, do you have vassals? They are people who follow your orders like servants or followers." "Auntie said I have someone like that, but I haven''t met them yet. She said they''re really nice, and I''ll meet them when I go to study!" Isaac covered his face upon hearing her answer. ''It seems Emily lost her memories after becoming a ghost. She might be a princess or something originally.'' ''I''m fucked, aren''t I?'' "Isaac." Emily leaned closer. Her face was inches from his. Her innocent eyes sparkled with concern. Before he could respond, she closed the gap and kissed him. "I didn''t have breakfast or lunch. Can we... can I get some food?" "This way? If you are too hungry, you can take the energy normally. It should be faster." "But I like it better this way," she said, giggling. "Your energy tastes sweeter when we kiss!" Her cute smile melted his worries. He had already crossed the line, and her vassals would likely come after him regardless. ''No point stopping now.'' Isaac leaned towards her, and indulged in her. Emily''s skills improved visibly after last night. Maybe it was why Isaac couldn''t stop even after multiple rounds, or maybe it was due to how she asked for kisses in a needy voice. They only stopped after an hour. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Professor Lorrain''s voice came from the other side. "If you two are done, get dressed. The scouts from the University have been waiting for half-an-hour. "A word of advice. Wear defensive equipments if you have any, Isaac. "The scout that came from [Master of Sanctum] is one of Emily''s vassal, and she wants to know which hand you used to touch her." Chapter 15: New Wife Candidate Chapter 15: New Wife Candidate Isaac sweated. Why was she asking which hand he used to touch her? ''Don''t tell me she is going to cut it?'' He had used both hands and a lot more! Just then, another voice, calm and dignified, came from the other side of the door. "There is no need to tease them like this, Catherine." After talking to Professor Catherine Lorrain, she addressed Isaac, "Young man, get dressed. We can talk after that." "Just give me a minute." "Tell the young lady to not hide." Isaac wondered why the voice felt familiar as he got dressed. He found his answer when the door opened, and Professor Lorrain entered along with an elderly woman. Her silvery hair was tied in a bun, and her blue eyes stared at Isaac and Emily with gentleness. Despite being old, she carried herself with grace and authority. She wore white and gold academic robes. Just by looking at her, one could tell she must''ve been an incredible beauty when she was young. "Eleanor Weiss?" "It''s Miss Eleanor for you, young man." Isaac couldn''t believe she was the scout who came from the Master of Sanctum. Eleanor Weiss was one of the strongest awakeners. She had transcended humanity and reached the status of an Overlord. The ranks of an awakeners were easy to remember. Initiate Adept Elite Master Champion Overlord Eleanor was at the peak of power, and she was the vice principal of the Master of Sanctum. She stepped forward and bowed to Emily. "It''s good to see you, my lady." "Thank you?" Emily tilted her head in confusion. "She is one of your vassals," Professor Lorrain whispered in her ear. "Oh," Emily''s face brightened, and a gentle smile appeared on her face. "I''ve been hoping to meet you for so long." An expression of pain flickered across Eleanor''s eyes. She hid it quickly. "I''m happy to see you again too, my lady." Eleanor stood back and turned to Isaac. "It''s good to finally see you, young man. Catherine told me a lot of things about you." Isaac could see the smiling face of Professor Lorrain from the corner of his eyes. It didn''t take a genius to realize she had painted him in a nefarious light. "Miss Eleanor, I never forced myself on Emily¡ª" "I know it. If you had done anything like that, Emily wouldn''t have been happy to stand next to you." "....Weren''t you going to cut my hands just now?" "It was one of Catherine''s bad jokes. I hope you get used to them soon, or you will be troubled a lot by her." Isaac''s eye twitched when he realized he was tricked twice by the damned foxy woman. Suddenly, a screen appeared before him. [A suitable target detected in host''s vicinity.] [Eleanor Weiss] [Age: 167] [Rating: 97] [Personality: Dignified, Unbreakable Will.] [Likes: Swordsmanship, honest and hardworking people, challenges, collecting swords.] [Dislikes: Laziness, complacency, arrogance without strength, unnecessary violence, disrespecting the Sword, being called old.] [Status: Sad that Emily does not remember her anymore, happy that Emily found someone who cares for her and would go to any length to protect her.] Isaac almost puked blood. ''What do you mean she is a suitable marriage candidate?!'' He shouted at the system. Isaac was an open-minded person. He wouldn''t mind his partner''s age if she looked young. But Eleanor looked older than his grandmother! And his grandmother was dead! "Is there anything wrong, young man? You are staring quite intently at me." "I simply was amazed by your beauty, Miss Eleanor." Isaac almost said he was amazed how she was stubbornly clinging to life even after living a century. Fortunately, he recalled she hated being called old and changed his words. "Hoho, you are quite the smooth talker." Despite her words, she was visibly pleased. "Catherine, you can call the others now. This much is enough for a meeting with the young lady." "As you wish, Vice Principal." Catherine went outside and came back with two men a few minutes later. The first one was Dante Riven, the Dean of the Combat Department at Aeternum University. He was quite famous and known as the ''Scarred Wolf''. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man. Scars were visible on his arms and face. He wore a reinforced combat coat with metal plates and carried a greatsword on his back. The other one was a tall, lean man with sharp features, slicked-back dark blue hair, and golden eyes. He had an easygoing smile on his face and looked very friendly. "Nice to meet you. I''m Dante Riven, a Dean of Aeternum University." "And I''m Lucian Vale, the Principal of Horizon Institute. I must say, I didn''t expect our history''s first SSS-rank Farmer to be so handsome." "Thank you for taking your time and coming here to visit me. I''m Isaac Hargraves." Isaac shook hands with them. He was surprised to see the ''scouts'' were not some random people. They were people with the highest authority in their fields. Normal people could never get a chance to meet them. Yet they came themselves to meet Isaac. "Please have a seat." As they settled, the first one to speak was Dante Riven. "Isaac Hargraves, our university believes we are the best suited for you. We boast the highest number of students who successfully completed their Class Advancement Quest. "If you were to join us, we would like to congratulate you with this." He took out a wedding ring box and opened it. There was a mesmerizing blue tear inside the box. Isaac could feel the gentle power within the ''item'' calling out to him. "This is an Astral Lotus Seed. It can gather the vital energy from the air and use it to nourish the land, effectively increasing the growth speed of the crops by two times. "It will be an invaluable resource for you as a farmer. After all, your skill levels will grow rapidly if you can grow and farm crops at a high speed, and this flower will help you with that." Isaac eyed the blue tear, now knowing it was called Astral Lotus. Lucian Vale, the Principal of Horizon Institute, chuckled. "Dante, are you really tricking Isaac? Astral Lotus takes five years to mature and show its full effect. If you want to cajole him, give him something of this level at least." The man took out a tiny scarecrow from his spatial ring. "Don''t mind the appearance, please. It will grow in size when you use it." Isaac noticed everyone in the room was shocked when they saw the scarecrow. "You are giving that to him? It''s a Mystic-grade Treasure your university''s task force found in the depths of the Akaza Ruins. It''s too priceless to given to someone who isn''t even Adept-rank," Dante Riven said. Isaac eyed the treasure with renewed expectations upon knowing its rank. Treasures were divided into three ranks: Mortal-Grade Spirit-Grade Mystic-Grade The scarecrow Lucian wanted to give was the highest-ranked treasure! It was Mystic Grade! "This is the Deathwood Guardian. It will protect your farm from anyone up to Champion-rank. "It will kill the intruders and absorb their life essence to nourish your crops, thereby increasing their growth speed and quality," Lucian explained. Chapter 16: Akaza Ruins Chapter 16: Akaza Ruins Lucian smiled. "A Mystic-Grade treasure is something that only the strongest Champion-rank Awakeners get to use. Our Horizon Institute will gift this to you if you were to join us." "You told me not to trick him, but aren''t you doing the same? Deathwood Guardian can protect only a small area," Dante Riven commented. "When did I trick him? Isaac is a Farmer, and he doesn''t have combat abilities. He needs someone to protect his crops, and the Deathwood Guardian is perfect for the job." Isaac looked at the treasures carefully. It was astonishing that universities were giving him rare treasures to recruit him. However, he didn''t let himself get swept away by their gifts. He weighed his choices calmly. "Ahem, since I am the last one, I will explain what Master of Sanctum has prepared for Isaac." Eleanor looked at Isaac in the eye. "Our University has a way to get you a Class Advancement Quest for a Class best suited for you. "Others have a limited number of Class Advancement Quests. They can give you Berserker Class, Sword Saint Class. "But do those Classes suit your Talent? No, they don''t. A wrong Class will waste the potential of your Talent. "This is why you should join us. Master of Sanctum is known to raise ambiguous and difficult-to-master Talents to their full potential. "We can provide you a Class that suits your Talent." Lucian and Dante frowned upon hearing her words. They knew Master of Sanctum had an advantage compared to them when it came to raising non-combat Talents. They brought gifts to counter that advantage and get Isaac for themselves. "And...." Eleanor continued. "We will give you a piece of land from the territory our University gained in Akaza Ruins." "What!?" Dante''s eyes widened. "You are giving him that? People will pay any price to get a small piece of a Ruin, and you''re giving land to him for free?" "Yes, we are planning to do that. Akaza Ruins have rich soil, and it will be incredibly beneficial to Isaac." "What is Akaza Ruins?" Isaac spoke up. He couldn''t follow their conversation. "Do you know about the history of Fortified Cities, Isaac?" Eleanor questioned. "Yes, Fortified Cities were built by the Lost Civilization. These cities protect us from mana poison rain and wild monsters. "Since the city walls and city dome have automatic repair ability, they get fixed on their own, which saves us a lot of trouble." "Very good. I''m happy to see you kept up with your studies diligently." Isaac felt a bit embarrassed for being praised for such a small thing. Nonetheless, Eleanor was correct. Barely any student paid attention to studies or training, since awakening a powerful Talent was the only thing that mattered in their eyes. Diligent students like Isaac and Alice were rare. "Mana poison rain has devastated the world beyond repair. Trees, crops¡ªnothing grows on land where mana poison rain has fallen. "The only exception is Fortified Cities, which have purification spells built into them. They can purify the land. This is why we can only live in Fortified Cities. Food can be grown only here. "Akaza Ruins is the unclaimed Fortified City 89 that was recently discovered. "Currently, the top three universities of our City are working together to claim Fortified City 89 from the wild monsters." Isaac was amazed. He always wondered how new Fortified Cities were built. After all, they could not copy the technology of the Lost Civilization with their current technological standards. He believed it was done by people with Architect or similar Talents. Turns out, it was done by recapturing Fortified Cities that had yet to be discovered and had become nests of wild monsters! After the cities were recaptured, the people would power them up and activate their self-repair function. Isaac was already thinking of the benefits of having land. If the land was in a good area, he could build apartments on it and put them up for rent. He could even sell them to rich folks. Money would no longer be a problem for him. Or he could use the land to grow crops. If the land was as rich in nutrients as Eleanor and others made it out to be, it would give him a good yield and help him level up his skills rapidly. "We have put forth our offers. Which University are you going to join?" Eleanor asked. ... Sector 6C, Unclaimed Fortified City 89 "W-we failed, sir. We couldn''t eliminate the newly awakened Farmer." Godric stared at his quivering subordinate in silence. The subordinate, covered in blood, was the only survivor among the group of assassins sent to Radiant Crest Academy. "I let you have a Spatial Mage. He gathered all the assassins that were placed in different universities in the Sector within minutes, and together you attacked Radiant Crest Academy. "There were multiple Adept-rank Awakeners in the group, and two were Elite-rank Awakeners. "On the other hand, Radiant Crest Academy''s principal is only a Lv. 11 Adept, and the Guardian would have been Lv. 20 Adept at best. "How did you lose against them?" Godric''s gruff voice sounded like stone scraping against stone. It sent shivers down the subordinate''s spine. "Answer me." "T-that... We were tricked. The Academy''s defense was too lax. At first, we thought it was because their preparations had been inadequate, but it turned out that was a trap to lower our guard. "Almost all of us were slaughtered as soon as we entered." "Who attacked you? It couldn''t be a normal Awakener if they could defeat you all single-handedly." "I...." the subordinate hesitated before he spoke. "It was the Evil Sword. She was the guardian of Radiant Crest Academy." Godric''s brows creased. Evil Sword was the disciple of one of the Overlord-rank Awakeners, the Sword Empress. Why was someone strong like her acting as a no-name academy''s guardian? Just then, cold hands wrapped around Godric. The space behind him twisted, and a woman appeared. She had a beautiful face and an extremely alluring figure. However, the most eye-catching part about her was her hair. The ends of her green hair transformed into snakes. The woman smiled, flicking her long tongue in the air. "Was Evil Sword there by coincidence, or did they already know the boy would awaken a powerful Talent?" Chapter 17: Bet, Trickery Chapter 17: Bet, Trickery "I- I do not know! Please forgive me!" The subordinate''s expression relaxed when the woman appeared. He had been worried Godric would kill him for the mission''s failure, but that wouldn''t happen anymore. Everyone in their rank knew of Vespara''s kind nature. She would surely protect him from Godric''s rampage. "It must be a coincidence. A lot of Awakeners act as a Guardian for a short period of time after signing a contract with the Central Sector." "That must be it." Vespara nodded and looked at the subordinate. "You can go now. Good job surviving. It wasn''t your fault your team failed." "T-thank you." The subordinate stood up to leave when suddenly his legs grew weak, and he fell. His vision blurred, and a strange itchiness spread over his body. He scratched slowly at first, then began to do it with force. His nails dug into his skin and peeled it off, drawing blood. "You have disgusting tastes," Godric spat. "I wonder what you mean? I''m just punishing a deserter who ran away to protect his life while his team was on a mission. I don''t want to do this either, but I have to follow your orders." Vespara''s smile was chilling. While everyone thought she was Godric''s subordinate, only he knew it was the opposite. After the man killed himself by peeling his skin and bleeding to death, Vespara spoke to Godric, "Kill that Farmer no matter what. We are currently overpowering the universities because they are facing a lack of provisions, which forces them to stop expeditions before they enter deep into the Akaza Ruins. "The situation would change now that they have an SSS-rank Farmer. "We need to eliminate him before he supplies the universities'' task force with endless provisions." Vespara looked Godric in the eye. "We have to be the ones who gain authority over Fortified City 89, and no one else. Make sure we don''t fail if you don''t want to suffer the consequences." ... Radiant Crest Academy, Sector 14, Fortified City 50 "I''ll join Master of Sanctum." Lucian shook his head with a bitter smile, and Dante clicked his tongue. Their expressions said they had expected this outcome. "Guess I lost the bet." "Tch, should''ve known." They took out an ancient gold coin from their pockets and flicked it towards Eleanor. She smiled and grabbed it with a single graceful move while remaining seated. "It was my pleasure doing business with you." Dante harrumphed at Eleanor''s words. Lucian pushed his scarecrow towards Isaac with a bitter smile. "Congratulations, take this as a gift from me." "Think of this Astral Lotus as the same." Isaac frowned when Dante gave him the box too. "I said I''m joining Master of Sanctum, not Aeternum University or Horizon Institute." "We know. Think of our gifts as an advance payment. It''s not every day we meet an SSS-rank Farmer and can have him owe us a favor." The reluctant expression didn''t disappear from Lucian''s face. It was clear he didn''t want to part with his Mystic-Grade Deathwood Guardian. "Don''t be like this, Lucian. The bet had decided that we would give our gifts to Isaac no matter whom he chose. It''s your fault for choosing such a precious gift to use in the bet." Eleanor was all smiles. A student of her university, and Emily''s boyfriend, had gained a lot of treasures. Her smile gave shivers to Isaac. ''She should''ve known I had a high chance to choose Master of Sanctum due to Emily, and she still made the bet.'' ''In other words, Miss Eleanor tricked them into losing their treasures.'' ''Somehow, I think I know who prepared this plan and told Miss Eleanor to use it.'' His gaze shifted to Professor Lorrain. Her coy smile affirmed his doubts. "We will take our leave now." Dante and Lucian left. "Here, take this." Eleanor gave him a ring. "It''s a spatial ring. You can keep the Astral Lotus Seed and Deathwood Guardian in it." She stood up and waited for Isaac to store the treasures. Isaac held the spatial ring. The space within it was far smaller than his Soulbind Pendant. However, he kept the pendant hidden, and used the spatial ring. "Would you come to the university now or later?" "Now." "Then follow me; our ride is waiting outside." Their group of four left the academy and sat in a luxurious sedan. Professor Lorrain drove, and Eleanor sat next to her. Isaac and Emily sat in the backseats. Emily was excited as they drove past large and magnificent buildings. Isaac explained about them to her with a smile on his face. The city was divided into three concentric circles. The Central Sector, Sector 0, was located in the centermost circle. It was where the politicians, conglomerates, and high-ranked Awakeners lived. It had the largest area, measuring up to half of the entire Fortified City. The second circle had Sectors 1-9, and it was where wealthy people and mid or low-rank Awakeners lived. It measured up to one-fourth of the city. After that was the third circle. These Sectors, numbering from 11-49, had to live within the measly one-fourth of the remaining city. It had poor infrastructure compared to the second circle and Central Sector and less liveliness. Isaac couldn''t help but be amazed at how different the second circle was when compared to his Sector 14, which was present in the third circle. His surprise only increased when they entered the Central Sector. The air there was much fresher than in other places. "All Top 3 Universities are in the Central Sector. The others are in the second circle, and those below Top 10 universities are in the third circle," Isaac told Emily. He could feel excitement bubbling within him. Normal people could never enter the Central Sector. Entering this place was a sign of authority. The car drove on the clean, wide roads and stopped before large, opulent gates. Isaac could read "Master of Sanctum" written on the banner above it. Chapter 18: Class Advancement Quest Chapter 18: Class Advancement Quest They stepped out of the car and entered the main gates. Beautiful shrubs and flowers were lined across the path. The group followed the path towards the administrative office. "Catherine will take you guys from here, and after you receive your Class Advancement Quest, come find me." Eleanor took her leave. The remaining three entered the administrative building. They climbed to the empty second floor. "This is where the students come to take there Class Advancement Quests. This facility is only available to those affiliated with Master of Sanctum." Catherine took them to the counter. A beautiful woman with light green hair and pointed ears stood behind it. "Greetings, Miss Catherine. It has been a long time since we met. I suppose you are acting as the guide for these special class students?" "You are right. The Vice Principal told me to get them Class Advancement Quests from you." The receptionist raised her brow and looked at Isaac and Emily in surprise. "They are Lv. 10 Initiates already? That''s quite fast even for special class students." "Special class students? What are they?" Emily asked. "Special Class students are classes made for demihumans and humans with S-rank or higher Talent." Ruby noticed Emily''s confusion and clarified, "Some monster species can gain sentience. They can awaken Talent along with their bloodline abilities. We call these sentient monsters demihumans. "The child of a demihuman and a human is also called a demihuman." Isaac nodded from the side. Emily had awakened a Talent, and she had a few skills which probably came from her Netherborne Phantom Empress Bloodline. She was a demihuman. While Isaac wanted to ask more about demihumans, there was another pressing matter at hand. "What type of Class Advancement Quest will I receive?" "Show me your hand. I will give you the Class best suited for you." "...?" "Do as Ruby says. She is the AI Assistant of our City and the one who controls the City. It''s thanks to her that the Master of Sanctum can provide a perfect Class for every Talent," Catherine said. Isaac nodded and showed his palm. Ruby held his hand. She closed her eyes. Her eyes moved furiously behind her closed eyelids. "That is an interesting Class. It''s my first time seeing something like this." Ruby opened her eyes and looked at Isaac with newfound interest. "You can see my status?" "No, I can only see your Class. It is one of my inbuilt functions that was added to help me choose the perfect Class for the visitors. "Give me a minute; I will bring you the Class Advancement Quest." She retreated to the back and opened one of the small cabinets standing next to the wall. The insides of the cabinet was pitch black. The darkness seemed to be sucking the light out of its surroundings. She put her hand inside it and, after a lot of shuffling, took out a large stack of documents. The documents were too big to be stored inside the cabinet. Ruby ignored the dissonance as she brought the documents back to the counter. Isaac read the title on the front page. [Class Paths for SSS+ Genesis Farmer.] Isaac noticed Emily and Catherine did not react upon seeing the rank and name of his Class. Seeing his confusion, Ruby clarified, "They can''t see the title and content of these documents. It''s a privacy protection skill." Isaac was impressed by the technology. Ruby opened the document and looked through the index. Genetic Harvester, Ruinblood Conqueror, Worldroot Sage... Ruby flipped through the page before Isaac could read more. She tore the first page and gave it to Isaac. "The other Classes are for when you reach higher ranks. This is the one you need to get for your Adept rank." Isaac took the paper. Following Ruby''s instruction, he tore it. The page broke into clusters of light and entered his chest. [Class Advancement Quest found] Class: Genetic Harvester Rank: SSS+ Requirements: Enhance one of your Talent skills to perfection. Find or create a Tier 2 Seed and harvest it. Absorb a Genetic Catalyst. Survive the Evolutionary Trial. ''An SSS+ rank Class...'' ''It was a good choice I came to Master of Sanctum.'' ''Other universities would have given be an S-rank Class at best, and it would not have suited my Talent.'' ''Just by looking at this Quest, I can tell it''s for my Talent.'' Isaac wondered what Fortified Cities were. Ruby was the City''s AI assisstant, which must''ve been the reason she could get a Class Adavnacement Quest for an SSS+ rank Class. "I''m as surprised as you. I didn''t think you would''ve recived a Class of that rank." "You didn''t know?" "The cabinet I took out the Class Quest from is an Lost Civilization Relic. It gives the Class Quest according to its recipients'' Talent. I have no control over it." She turned to Emily. "I will give the Class to you now. Show me your hand." Emily received a Class in a similar fashion. Isaac noticed he couldn''t read anything on the documents that were brought out for her. Afterwards, Catherine took them to Eleanor''s office. "My job here is done. See you guys later." She left quite quickly. Isaac believed he would see her soon, or else she would''ve been a bit emotional due to her separation with Emily, given the two were close. Isaac knocked on the office door and entered after he got permission. A faint lavender scent wafted in the air. There was an office desk in the center and a sofa in the close left corner. The window was open, allowing the cool night air to enter the office. A few potted plants were placed on the windowsill beneath the window. Eleanor sat behind the office desk. She welcomed the two of them. "Come sit." "Thanks." "Do you know why I called you two here?" she asked after they took their seats. Isaac shook his head. "It''s quite simple. I wanted to tell you that this is a university. It is a place where we help you master your skills, level up, and reach your full potential." "I don''t understand what you are trying to say." "I want you to be completely honest. What are your current stats and skills? We can create a nurturing program suited for you only when we know these details. "I know you have high stats. Catherine told me about your Constitution, and even if she didn''t, it was quite clear. "There is no way the lady disposed of the assassins by herself. She has no training. You must have helped her, and for that, you need high stats. "So, what are your stats and skills?" Chapter 19: Third Talent Skill, Body Tempering Potion Chapter 19: Third Talent Skill, Body Tempering Potion Isaac remained silent. He had a thoughtful look on his face. "Isaac, I know what you are worrying about. ''What if my skill information is used against me?'', and it''s a valid concern. "I am not asking you to reveal everything to us. Just the important bits we need to create a curriculum suited to you." Her face bore a serious expression. "Think of this: you have a skill that needs an expensive material to be used. If you hide that skill, you will need to collect materials for it yourself. "But if you tell us about it, we can procure it for you for free. "Moreover, the professors here have years of experience. We can teach you the best way to enhance your skills and the ways to speed up your skill level ups. "And if you don''t tell us your stats, it will affect your training regime. You will be forced to hold back during training, and it will rob you of stats you could''ve gained after pushing your body to its limits." Isaac had to agree with her. He could get a lot of benefits if he revealed his stats and Talent skills. The assassins might also return later. Isaac doubted they would let him go after a single failure. He needed to seize this chance and grow as much as he could. If he missed this opportunity, he could blame only himself when the assassins attacked him next time and he got hurt again. ''Still I can''t trust anyone else completely.'' ''I will keep my system and the skills I gained from others hidden. That way, even if they backstab me, I will have a trump card to overturn the situation.'' Isaac made his decision. "My Class is SSS+ rank. I have three Talent skills that I gained at Level 1, Level 5, and Level 10. "My Strength is 41, Agility is 60, Constitution is 35, Spirit Power is 66, and Mana is 71." Eleanor, the Overlord-rank transcendent, was confused. She wondered if she had heard something wrong. "You didn''t hear anything wrong. Those are my stats and class rank." "O-oh?" Eleanor blinked. "An SSS+ rank Class? That''s the first time I''m hearing about it." She calmed down after a few seconds. Not that it reduced the shock she received. "I''m one of the strongest humans. If I don''t know anyone with an SSS+ rank Class, it''s safe to say no one ever got it. You are the first person to have awakened it. "Your stats are quite high too. They are at the upper end of Adept rank for mid-rank species. "If we are talking about humans, your stats are already beyond Adept rank and have reached the territory of Elite rank," she explained. "Mid-rank species?" "Yes, species are mostly divided based on their inherent talent and abilities they get. Humans don''t have anything other than Talents. We are low-rank species. "Those who get bloodline abilities along with Talent are mid-rank species. The high-rank species have an even better starting point." She added, "The highest Talent awakened is SSS rank among all species. If we are counting only Farmer Talent, the highest-ranked one was an S-rank Farmer from the mid-rank species, Bloodhunter Stinger." "It was not from a high-rank species?" "A high-rank species might have a better starting point and have a higher average of Talent ranks, but that doesn''t mean lower-ranked species cannot awaken stronger Talents. There have been plenty of such examples. You are one of them." What Eleanor did not say was, since Isaac had high stats, he probably was not a human, and instead was a demihuman. However, she had her own doubts. Isaac was confused when he heared about demihumans, which proved he did not know of their existence. It shouldn''t have been possible, as a demihuman''s species was written in their status page. He should''ve known he was not a human. ''He is either a good actor, or he is actually a human.'' A human with those stats? It didn''t make sense. Eleanor believed it had to do something with him being the first SSS+ rank Talent awakener. ''If we can find why he awakened an SSS+ rank Talent, maybe humanity can finally make a breakthrough in its precarious situation.'' ''I can only hope we find something useful. Because if nothing changes, humanity won''t survive for long.'' Eleanor opened her drawer and took out two wristwatches and two vials with glowing red liquid. "These wristwatches are your Cadet Devices. You can see the University''s map and get announcements for your classes on it. If you want to call a faculty member, you can do it through the Cadet Device. "These potions are Body Tempering potions. They can be used only once in each rank. Using them will improve your mana circulation and increase your stats by 5-10%. "The improvement isn''t much for Initiate-rank Awakeners, but it will be a huge boost for you two," she explained. "These potions are only given to top-performing students from normal classes. "For special class students like you two, they are given to everyone." She added, "You can leave now. After you get some rest, mail me your Quest Advancement Details and skill details." "Can''t we give them to you now?" Isaac was from Earth, and it made him worrry about things like hacking. He believed it was best to not depend on technology where people had supernatural powers. Who knew if someone had a Hacking Talent? "If you want to do it now, you can." Eleanor took out two sheets of paper from a file placed on her desk. She passed them to Isaac and Emily. Isaac took a look at the skill he gained at Lv. 10 as he wrote the details. Third Talent Skill: Sovereign of Land (Unlocks at Lv. 10 Initiate rank) Skill Level: 1 Active Effect: Temporarily claim an area as user''s personal farmland, making it hostile to enemies (roots slow enemies, ground drains their stamina). Beneficial to allies (natural healing, and recovery). More fertile (crops and plants grow at 5x speed while in this domain). Passive Effect: The land the user has personally cultivated becomes an extension of himself. Control over territory, soil manipulation, and land empowerment become possible. Cooldown: 24 hours Mana consumption: Scales with the area of effect. "That''s... quite a useful skill." Eleanor could not hide her surprise. "Each skill is more useful and powerful than the previous one, but to have something like this at only Level 10, I guess this shows how powerful an SSS+ rank Talent can be. "I am having trouble believing it even after seeing it with my own eyes." Chapter 20: Genetic Catalyst Chapter 20: Genetic Catalyst Her brows furrowed as she looked at the Quest Advancement details. "Those are harsh requirements. Just finding a Genetic Catalyst can be a lot of trouble." "Are they rare?" Isaac questioned. "A Genetic Catalyst is made from the core of Overlord-rank monsters. The Body Tempering Potion and the Awakening Crystal both use the core of Overlord-rank monsters, but only in small amounts. "A Genetic Catalyst, on the other hand, is formed by condensing a complete core. "Something like this is only needed when human awakeners advance to Overlord rank. It''s shocking to see you need it for Adept-rank Advancement, honestly," she said. "How long until I can get a Genetic Catalyst?" "Tomorrow by the earliest." Isaac nodded. If he had been by himself, God knew how much time it would have taken him to find a Genetic Catalyst. "What about the land I was promised?" "We will take you to Akaza Ruin tomorrow. You can choose any land that is in our territory there." After he got his answer, Isaac took a look at the skill details Emily was writing. Second Talent Skill: Phantom Ward (Unlocks at Lv. 10 Initiate rank) Skill Level: 1 Effect: Summon a protective spirit that lingers around you, absorbing 20% of incoming damage until it breaks. (Lasts 10 minutes.) Cooldown: 5 minutes Mana Cost: 30 Eleanor took a look at it. This was how skills were supposed to be. Powerful, but within the realms of imagination. Isaac was the absurd one for having skills with active and passive effects already. Emily continued to write. Class: Abyssal Empress Rank: SSS Requirements: Have three powerful ghosts swear fealty to you and gain their Beast Bond. Subjugate five different ghost types using Spirit Conductor abilities. Defeat a vengeful spirit that has slaughtered at least 100 people. Survive a death trial, where you face the spirits of those you''ve slain. The two gave the paper with details to her and were about to leave when Eleanor called out to them. "You must be hungry. Go visit the cafeteria; it is open 24/7. Keep in mind you need to return to your rooms before the curfew starts, which is by 11 pm." "We have different rooms?" Emily asked. "Yes, my lady. Each student has their personal room, and they are allowed to sleep there only." "But I want to¡ª" "It''s not allowed, my lady." Emily stared at Eleanor, then at Isaac, hoping he could persuade Eleanor. But it was clear she was not going to listen. "We will take our leave," Isaac said and held Emily''s hand. He could see her sulk, and he knew he would have to do something about it soon. "Make sure to use protection from the next time," Eleanor reminded them. Emily was confused, not knowing what she meant, and Isaac almost choked on his spit. "Don''t be embarrassed. It''s my job as your elder to guide you two on the correct path." "Thank you for the advice." He pulled Emily away before Eleanor could give another blunt piece of advice. The evening air was cool, and the sun had completely set. The path to the cafeteria was silent. "Why do you need to live in different rooms? We were living together until now," she complained. "This is a university, Emily. It has different rules than our apartment." "Then let''s go back to our apartment." Emily seemed to hate the idea of being separated from him. Seeing Isaac hurt today had given her a scare. He was fighting for his life while she was checking the house inside the Soulbind Pendant, not knowing what he was going through. She did not want a repeat of that. She wanted to be there with him and protect him from getting injured. "We can''t," Isaac said. He smiled when she squeezed his hand and held it tightly. "Also, I will be going to the Akaza Ruin tomorrow, and I might settle there to maintain the farm. "You can come and visit on holidays, and we can spend our time together there. I doubt that place will have a curfew." "What? No!" Emily became aggravated. She thought they would be together during the classes at least, but he was going to a different place. Isaac patted her head. "I don''t want this either, Emily. But you saw what happened today. "We need to focus on our studies and level up, or else we will have to live each day while worrying when we might get attacked." Emily had no reply to that. She could only nod with a crestfallen expression. The two entered the first-year student cafeteria, which was empty except for the girl sitting in the far corner. The food was free. Isaac ordered a hearty meal and sat at the nearby table. Emily took a strawberry shake under the advice of the serving staff. Emily''s somber expression changed when she took a sip. "It''s good," she muttered before she took another long sip. Isaac smiled faintly, seeing her mood improve. ''She likes strawberry shakes. I''ll keep that in mind.'' It was almost ten when they reached their dormitory. It was a combined-gender boarding house. The first-year dormitory had three buildings. Each student was given a single room, and the rooms were fairly decent. Or so they were told by the warden. The warden informed them about the laundry timings and a few things they needed to keep in mind before giving them keys to their rooms. "Room 402 and 403. Our rooms are adjacent ones. The Vice Principal must''ve done it on purpose," he said. Emily might''ve been happy if she heard the news before she knew Isaac would live in Akaza Ruin. But not anymore. They took the stairs to the fourth floor after failing to find elevators. "Good night," Emily said as she stood before her dorm room door. "You are not coming with me? You still haven''t had anything to eat, and there is time before the curfew starts," Isaac said. "I''m not hungry. I had my fill during the evening." Isaac stood helpless as she entered her room. He waited for a few seconds, and when she didn''t return, he entered his dorm. It opened into the bedroom with a table and a cabinet to keep his things. The door to the left led to the bathroom while the front of the room led to a small balcony. The window had no curtains. The bed was missing bedsheets. Isaac would''ve needed to go shopping if he was not going to leave for Akaza Ruin tomorrow. He heard the doorbell and went to open the door. A male staff member had come to give him bedsheets, a toothbrush, curtains, several pairs of clothes, and other basic necessities. Isaac noticed a female staff member giving similar things to Emily. ''They sent a male staff member to my room and a female to Emily''s. I guess they are paying attention to details like that.'' He thanked the staff and closed the door. After setting up his room, he took a shower. The cold water refreshed him. He changed into the new clothes before he grabbed the Body Tempering Potion and sat on the bed. Chapter 21: Digesting Body Tempering Potion, Sharing The Benefits Chapter 21: Digesting Body Tempering Potion, Sharing The Benefits He uncorked the vial. A faint sweet aroma leaked out of its mouth. He took a sip as a test before he downed it. Nothing happened for a few minutes. Just when he was starting to wonder if something was wrong with the potion, a searing heat surged within his abdomen. His muscles started to twist. The heat traveled through his bones and organs and increased the agony. Cold sweat flowed down Isaac''s body. He refused to scream or writhe around in pain. He tried to calm the rampaging energy within him and fuse it into his muscles, organs, and bones. The pain turned into a soothing feeling as time passed. Isaac opened his eyes and noticed his vision had improved. He felt stronger, and his body was more flexible. The flow of mana within him had transformed from a dirty river to a clean river without the hint of impurities. He used Spectral Claw. Energy claws appeared around his hands. "I can feel that I can circulate the mana much more smoothly, and it helped reduce the skill activation time from three seconds to one second." The improved mana circulation made him feel as if his body was made of clouds. "Show me my stats." Strength: 41 ¡ú 47 Agility: 60 ¡ú 69 Constitution: 35 ¡ú 40 Spirit Power: 66 ¡ú 76 Mana: 71 ¡ú 82 "The stats increased by 15% instead of just 10% that the Principal said. I guess having a higher Talent improves absorption ability." Isaac looked down at his clothes. They were covered in a black tar-like substance. The tar was probably the impurities that were expunged from his body after he consumed the potion. The bedsheet had been soiled. Just when he was about to take off the bedsheet, a screen popped up before his eyes. [Your Wife, Emily Warren, has digested Body Tempering Potion (Mortal-Grade). Share?] "Even this can be shared?" Isaac muttered in surprise. He realized Emily had returned to her room in a hurry not because she was sad, but because she wanted to consume the potion. It would help her grow stronger and allow her to protect Isaac. "Would sharing this have any effect? The Principal said we can consume the potion only once in each rank." He clicked the share option with apprehension. His doubts were answered immediately. A soothing warmth appeared in the center of his abdomen. It slowly spread throughout his body. "I see, what I shared was the ''benefits'' of Emily''s potion, not the potion''s content. It''s like the difference between sharing the knowledge of the exam and sharing the marks we get on the exam." Isaac closed his eyes and tried to sense the flow of mana within him. The river of mana within him was tranquil. It flowed with calmness and did not let a single drop splash, as it would''ve led the mana to leak from his body. He activated Spectral Claws. The skill activated in half a second. The activation time had been halved again! Isaac checked his stats with a smile. Strength: 47 ¡ú 52 Agility: 69 ¡ú 76 Constitution: 40 ¡ú 44 Spirit Power: 76 ¡ú 84 Mana: 82 ¡ú 90 "My stats increased by another 10%. It must be because Emily gained a 10% boost from the Body Tempering Potion." She must''ve not been able to consume the entire potion like Isaac due to the difference in their talents. "System, show me Emily''s stats." Stats (Share): Strength: 23 ¡ú 25 Agility: 41 ¡ú 45 Constitution: 27 ¡ú 30 Spirit Power: 46 ¡ú 51 Mana: 61 ¡ú 67 "As I thought, her stats increased by 10%." He looked at the share option and grinned in anticipation. "Share!" Strength: 52 ¡ú 54 Agility: 76 ¡ú 80 Constitution: 44 ¡ú 47 Spirit Power: 84 ¡ú 89 Mana: 90 ¡ú 96 Isaac could feel himself growing stronger, faster, and more durable. The addictive rise of strength made him smile. After a simple calculation, he found his stats increased by roughly 20%! All he had done was drink one potion and share the effects of potions from Emily! "According to the stats I told the Vice Principal, she said I was on par with early Elite-rank Awakeners, which are Level 21 or Level 22 rank awakeners. "I don''t know how many stats Elite-rank awakeners get with each level up, but I should be able to fight Level 24 Awakeners with this." Only now did Isaac realize he had downplayed his stats in the morning when he thought he could fight early Adept-rank awakeners. He made the mistake as he didn''t know how many stats each rank got with a level up. Smiling, he took another shower and washed the bedsheet before laying another bedsheet in its place. He hung the washed bedsheet on the balcony to dry. While he could use the laundry, he was more used to washing his clothes by himself. He opened the window to air the room. The black tar that his body expunged had a strong smell, and it made his room uncomfortable. Just then, a white ball of light came through the wall that was connected to Emily''s room. The creature had a thin, hair-like tail and a tiny ball, one tenth of its body size, was attached to the end of the tail. It had similarly thin arms with which it gave him a small white paper. "I digested the Body Strengthening Potion. It was sweet and made me feel light." Isaac read the letter. "Why is she telling me this?" he chuckled. "I guess I''ll write something back to her." He wrote, ''Me too. But mine just stinks.'' The ball of light, which Isaac assumed to be a Wisp, a spirit summoned by Emily through her Phantom Parade skill, took the letter back. Isaac could imagine Emily giggling after reading his note. The ball of light returned a few seconds later. "I noticed." He laughed, knowing she meant the bedsheet he had hung on the balcony, not that he smelled so bad that it reached his room. The two exchanged letters until a few hours later when the ball of light suddenly disappeared while it was in Isaac''s room. He realized Emily must''ve fallen asleep, which canceled her spell. "Come, Wisp." He summoned his own Wisp. After sending a ''Goodnight'' note to Emily, he called back his summon. "I bet she is going to be confused when she sees the note in her room and wonders how she doesn''t remember her Wisp carrying it back," he thought with a smile. Unlike Emily, Isaac was not feeling sleepy. The boost of stats and improvement in mana circulation made him feel energized. He grabbed his Soulbind Pendant and willed to enter it. His consciousness blurred for a split second. The living room where he appeared was large. Sunlight entered through the windows, and a gentle breeze went around. Isaac noticed a few empty potted plants at the window sill and the porch. He shifted his gaze to the box placed on the table that was present in the center of the room. "Random Box. I wasn''t able to open this yet." He grabbed the Random Box he had received from the system after his first night with Emily. "Open." Chapter 22: Isaac’s Personal Hoe, Gym Chapter 22: Isaac''s Personal Hoe, Gym The box shone and transformed into a hoe. It had a wooden handle with a sturdy metal blade at the end. The hoe looked normal but carried an ancient, powerful aura. Harvest Bane Mystic Grade, Upgradable Can harvest all crops instantly and grant 5x yield. Makes the land 2x fertile. Crops grown on land tilled by Harvest Bane never wither and are immune to diseases. Mana Consumption: Scales with area Upgrade Condition: Tilt 50 hectares with Harvest Bane. Isaac raised his brow. The effects of the hoe were perfect and would work nicely with his Talent Skills. "Why is it showing Upgradable when it''s already at Mystic rank?" That confused him, but knowing there was no use thinking about it, he moved on. "If I''m not wrong, 50 hectares is roughly ten thousand square meters or..." He made quick calculations. "107,639 square feet according to my previous worlds standards. That''s quite a lot of area." He moved the hoe a bit, feeling it fit perfectly in his hand. It seemed to be made for him. Placing it on the table, he looked the other objects. It was the loot from the assassins. A box, some rations, and a pitch-black badge. The box had a beautiful red flower inside it. Its petals looked like blood droplets. Isaac couldn''t understand why an assassin would keep something like this. The rations were standard rations used by Explorers, and the badge had an insignia of a snake wrapped around a sword. He failed to recall seeing anything of the sort before. He made a note to himself to search for the insignia on the badge and the flower and exited the house. The garden outside was covered in gentle sunlight. Isaac walked ten steps beyond his porch before he was met by an invisible wall. He put his hand before him and looked for any gap. After a few minutes, he was sure the whole area was sealed by the invisible wall. He returned to the house. The electricity and the water worked, and there was gas in the kitchen. It made him wonder if the gas would be refilled on its own or if he would have to bring some from outside. "I wonder if this place has a day and night cycle." The empty pots on the windowsill were quite large. He could use them to grow rare herbs. Unfortunately, he would have to give up on farming in large masses as the porch was too small. The bedrooms were well maintained and had soft mattresses. Isaac slept on the bed of the ground floor''s main room. It felt only a second had passed when his internal clock woke him up. He opened his eyes and noticed something soft embracing him. "Emily?" Her ears twitched, half-asleep. It took Isaac a full moment to wake up. Emily was snuggling into his arms, and she was in her nightwear. He checked the clock at the bedside as he sat up. 6 am. "So she entered my room as soon as the curfew ended, which means she''s been here for two hours." The wall between their rooms was easy to phase through with her Phantom Step. She only had to look at the empty room and at the Soulbind Pendant on the bed to conclude Isaac was inside the Soulbind Pendant. ''She hates being alone. That much is clear by the dislikes on her status. But I never thought it would be to this extent.'' His heart stung knowing she would be alone after he left for Akaza Ruin. He decided to dote on her while they were still together. Emily stirred awake by his movements. "Isaac?" Her long eyelashes fluttered. "Hungry." She spread her arms towards him while still half-asleep. Isaac chuckled. She didn''t seem to mind they had just woken up. He was let go only when she had her fill. "Where are you going?" "Gym." Isaac dressed up. "Gym?" "Yeah, I missed a day yesterday. I don''t want to miss it again today." "Is that important? You can level up now." "Extraneous physical exercise increases our stats without leveling up, my lady. It''s also important to be used to moving the body under strain. It helps during battles." "Then, I''ll come too!" Emily left eagerly and came to his dorm room''s doorstep after she changed. She wore a short black tank top that revealed her shoulders and bellybutton, black gym leggings that accentuated her curves, and had her hair tied up in a ponytail. "How is it?" "It looks good on you." She giggled at his compliment and felt glad to have chosen this one among all the clothes she had. The two walked down to the gym at the first basement floor. It was quite large and was equipped nicely. The staff member at the door entered their names in the register before they were allowed entry. Isaac looked around. The equipment and weights were normal. They could not be used by awakeners, let alone him and Emily, who had high stats. Just then, the door opened, and Professor Catherine Lorrain entered. Her gym clothes were quite similar to Emily''s, and Isaac had a sneaking suspicion it was because her likes and dislikes had rubbed off on Emily during the time they had spent together in the past. Even in similar clothes, she had a different, mature charm compared to Emily. Her sharp golden eyes stared at Isaac with amusement. The black sports bra clung to her curves and didn''t leave much for the imagination. Isaac noticed the gym staff member at the door staring at her long, shapely legs with a faint blush. Professor Catherine whispered to the staff member before sending her out. "Fancy meeting you two here. It''s quite a coincidence." "Yeah, sure. You came to the student dormitory''s gym early in the morning by coincidence." "Don''t sweat the small details, Isaac. Ladies don''t like a man like that." Isaac had the urge to roll his eyes. She knew his timetable since the apartment and the building he used to live in was owned by her. They used to go gym together. Her appearance at here was deliberate. "Why are you in our gym?" "The Vice Principal sent me to show you two the ropes. Your diet and exercises need to change now that your stats have increased." She went towards the shelf next to the right-side wall of the gym and brought back two bracelets. "Wear these." Isaac and Emily both took one. They felt a sudden weakness wash over them as soon as they put the bracelet around their arms. Isaac checked his status and found his stats had been sealed to 10. Only Spirit Power and Mana were left normal. "The university can provide you machines to train with at your current stats. However, training while lowering your stats will put more strain on you, and the stats you gain this way will be higher. "It''s something we learned after years of experimentation." Professor Catherine noticed Isaac''s gaze at the bracelet. She knew what he was thinking. Would these be usable to restrain enemies? Seeing that he never changed brought a smile to her face. Chapter 23: Tier 1 Spirit Type Genetic Catalyst Chapter 23: Tier 1 Spirit Type Genetic Catalyst "These Physical Stat restraining bracelets are delicate. They can break if you put even a tiny amount of mana into them. "It''s good for safety since you can simply use mana to remove the bracelet when you are about to get injured due to a heavy weight. "However, that also means they cannot be usable for restraining anyone." The workout was mainly Professor Catherine guiding them with better forms. She offered to prepare a diet and the exercise set for them later. Isaac couldn''t help but be amazed by her knowledge and get irritated at the same time. ''So she used to follow me into the gym back in our apartment, see me work out, knew she could''ve given good advice, and still kept silent.'' He did not show the disappointment on his face, which let down Professor Catherine. With Professor Catherine''s guidance, his Strength increased by 1. He couldn''t help but be surprised. He has a Strength stat of 8 before he used system, or levelled up. His years of hardwork at gym had earned him 8 stat in Strength. Just a single day of Professor Catherine''s guidance gave him +1 Strength stat. The effect of her guidance was as clear as day. ''Maybe the food I ate yesterday has a hand in this too. The food here must be made from monsters meat and vegetables rich in nutrients and mana. Those things are good for growth.'' He told about the stat increase to Professor Catherine. "You gained a Strength Stat already?" "Yes, it must be because of the diet." "The diet wouldn''t show it''s effect so fast. This must be a result of your talent. "The higher someone''s Talent rank is the faster they grow." They returned to their rooms after the gym and decided to meet up in Isaac''s room. Professor Catherine brought breakfast for Isaac, Emily, and herself to the room with the help of a dorm staff member. They used the table in the room and brought extra chairs from Emily''s place to have something to sit on for all of them. Isaac had a full meal, the same as Professor Catherine and Emily. Emily was given a blood-drop-shaped red gemstone as dessert. "What is this?" "Life Stone. It has life force stored inside it. For Emily, it''s food." "You had something like that?" Isaac questioned. "I got my hands on it quite recently." "From where?" Isaac pressed. The blood-drop-shaped gemstone reminded him of the red flower he found in the box on the assassin''s corpses. "From the assassins who attacked the Radiant Crest Academy. This gemstone is a byproduct of the Death Blood Flower. "It''s a rare flower that grows by eating corpses completely, and it used to sell for quite a bit until recently. "The assassins had it on them. I don''t need to explain why, do I?" she said. Isaac nodded. The flower was a perfect tool to dispose bodies. "This reminds me, why are you here? Don''t you need to do your job at the Radiant Crest Academy?" "I came here because I missed my dear Isaac and couldn''t live without him." Her words and teasing smile made Emily react. She dragged her chair close to him and held his hand as if she wasn''t going to give Isaac to her. "Emily, why that reaction? You will refuse your auntie?" "Yes." "But I thought we were close?" A small doubt appeared in Emily''s eyes, only for it to disappear the next second. "I won''t share Isaac." "Not even for a bit? I''m already past my early twenties, and I haven''t even had a boyfriend. Won''t you take pity on me and give him to me for only a bit?" Emily seemed to be recalling her time with Professor Catherine. Her nails dug into Isaac''s skin as she struggled between different choices. She gritted her teeth, and spoke, "If it''s only for a bit¡ª" Professor Catherine burst into a chuckle, seeing Emily''s serious expression. "Relax, I''m just joking. No one is taking your Isaac away." Her words stunned Emily. She had a pout for the remainder of breakfast. Later, Professor Catherine dialed the dorm staff and had them take the empty dishes away. She then took out an orb from what Isaac believed to be a spatial bracelet. The orb had a ghostly green flame inside it. "This is a Spirit-type Genetic Catalyst." "Genetic Catalysts have a type?" "Yes, they do. Absorbing the Genetic Catalyst that resonates with you, even if it''s not for ranking up, brings great benefits. They are precious, though, so people only use them if they are needed for ranking up." "What if we absorb a Genetic Catalyst that doesn''t match our type?" "Nothing happens. It''s normal to absorb any random Genetic-type Catalyst you can get your hand on. These things are hard to find, and you can''t be picky when you finally get one." She turned her eyes toward Emily. "This Genetic Catalyst is Emily''s inheritance and it is a perfect match for her. The Vice Principal said you can use it if Emily gives the green light. "Though, you will have to sign an agreement that you will help her find a Genetic Catalyst in the future." Isaac was apprehensive about the idea of absorbing a Genetic Catalyst that was not of his affinity. If a Genetic Catalyst could only be absorbed once like the Body Strengthening Potion, he wanted to choose the Genetic Catalyst best suited for himself. Anything else would be harming his future prospects. After knowing the Genetic Catalyst was for Emily, he made up his mind. He would give it to Emily secretly and have her absorb it. "I got it," he lied. "But Professor, how do we know what Genetic Catalyst suits us?" "You don''t." "...?" "Knowing your affinity needs a rare device. The place where it was... can no longer be visited, so we don''t have any way to know if this one suits you. "But as I said, don''t worry. Absorbing a different type of Genetic Catalyst doesn''t harm you." ''It doesn''t give any extra benefits either,'' Isaac thought to himself. Professor Catherine left after giving the Genetic Catalyst to Isaac, and have him sign the agreement. She told him to absorb it by evening. They would leave for Akaza Ruin after that. "Here, take this, Emily." "What? Why are you giving this to me? Auntie said this was for you." "She also said it originally belonged to you." "But you need it for your Class Advancement Quest." "You will need it in the future." "You need it now. As for myself, I will find a Genetic Catalyst for myself when I need it." "''We'' will find a Genetic Catalyst for you, not you alone, but that''s beside the point. You can take this. I actually don''t need it. I asked for it to test how far they were going to go to nurture me." "Huh?" "Yes, so take it. Actually, absorb it now; it should give you a good boost. We will find the Genetic Catalyst for your rank-up in the future. This will also be better for us since we won''t need to worry about hiding this Genetic Catalyst from others." Emily looked at the Genetic Crystal, then back at Isaac. He had to convince her a lot to make her believe he didn''t need it for his Class Advancement Quest. Later, she returned to her room to absorb it, leaving Isaac alone. He told her she could do it in his room. She refused. It made him wonder if she was worried about stinking like they had after using the Body Strengthening Potion. "Last night confirmed that I will share the ''benefits'' if she consumes the Genetic Catalyst. This means I can still consume a Genetic Crystal myself." Isaac waited for two hours before he saw a screen pop up before his eyes. [Your wife, Emily Warren, has absorbed a Tier 1 Genetic Catalyst (Spirit-type). Share?] "Share!" Chapter 24: Increasing Skill Rank, Apex-Rank Species Chapter 24: Increasing Skill Rank, Apex-Rank Species A soothing warmth bubbled in Isaac''s abdomen. It traveled throughout his body and seeped into his cells. Isaac''s vision improved. He could see the tiniest of cracks on the walls that were otherwise invisible. His mind became clearer and sharper, and he could think faster. He tried to recall small things like what he had eaten during lunch a week ago. "I ate vegetable stir-fry with rice six days ago, pasta twenty days ago, and potato curry thirty three days ago." A smile appeared on his face when he recalled everything with ease. "System, show me what changed." Spirit Power: 89 ¡ú 97 Mana: 96 ¡ú 99 Life Drain (A rank ¡ú S rank): Drains a large amount of vitality from the target, restoring your energy. Excess stolen vitality can be converted into a temporary healing aura. Demonic Eyes (S rank ¡ú SS Rank): Allows you to see souls, illusions, and weak points in enemy defenses. You are able to see through obstructions and can gaze upon Mana. [Genetic Catalyst absorbed. Class Advancement Quest requirement ''Absorb a Genetic Catalyst.'' completed.] Isaac was overjoyed. His Spirit Power increased to 97. Spirit Power determined the recovery rate of Mana. Currently, Isaac could recover 9.7 Mana per minute. Spirit Power also determined one''s mental defense, willpower, and thinking capacity, which affected problem solving ability and memory. A higher stat would make Isaac resistant to attacks that could affect the mind. His Mana had also increased to a whopping 99. "The best gain is the skills. I never thought skills could be ranked up." Isaac stepped into the balcony of his dorm room on the fourth floor and used Life Drain. The grass next to path leading to the dorm building began to shrivel up. "The range increased by four times." He then activated his Demonic Eyes. He could see faint threads floating in the air, which he thought to be Mana. Turning his head, he noticed he could see through walls, and as he laid his eyes upon Emily in the next room, the skill made her clothes see-through. Emily blushed heavily when she looked in Isaac''s direction. She likely saw him naked thanks to the skill. Isaac chuckled and canceled his skill. He congratulated Emily when they met later and spent his time with her until Professor Catherine came to pick him up. Professor Catherine told him they would be using a warp gate to travel to Akaza Ruin. Emily came with them until the entry point of the building inside which warp gates were built. "See you later!" Emily waved her hand with a smile. She did not look sad, but Isaac could tell it was a front she put up to make him not worry about her. "Goodbye! Call me on the wristwatch when you are feeling bored!" Isaac followed Emily''s example and did not show any sadness. He entered the restricted area along with Professor Catherine after saying his goodbye. The large building had no windows. After taking a lift downward for thirty seconds, they stepped into a white-painted corridor. Professor Catherine led the way. "How did your breakthrough go?" "It was nice. I completed one of my Class Advancement Quest requirements." "Good. Now take this, and fill this form with your latest stats." She passed him a paper on a clipboard. Isaac wrote his stats, which earned a raised eyebrow from Professor Catherine. "Those are quite high stats. The Body Tempering Potion and Genetic Catalyst gave you a good boost. I suppose you could aborb the full potions unlike others. It must be thanks to your Talent. But if you continue to grow like this, you might hit the stat limit." "Stat limit?" Isaac had an ominous premonition. "Initiate rank awakeners cannot have a stat higher than 100. This is the same for every race." "That''s bad news." "Not really." "...?" "When you reach the stat limit, you get a nice Title." She smiled mysteriously. Isaac wanted to ask what the Title for reaching 100 in Mana would be, but her expression said she would not tell him. "Professor, is there any way to break past the stat limit?" "Why are you asking a question like that?" "It''s due to my skills. Reaper''s Bounty gives me the natural energy of the crops I harvest, which I suppose means the Mana stat. I would lose tons of Mana if the stat limit is at 100." "The natural energy could mean something other than Mana, though I suppose you are right." Her heels clinked against the white tile floor, and she seemed to be in deep thought. "No, I can''t think of anything that can break past the stat limits." "Nothing? Not even a clue." "Well, there is a clue, but I wonder what I will get in exchange for it." "...what do you want?" "How about this? If you soothe this lady''s heart for a night, I will answer your question." Isaac almost puked blood in anger. He was in a serious trouble, and she was joking with him. "Okay, okay, don''t look so angry. My cute Isaac doesn''t look good with that expression." "Can I charge you for sexual harassment?" "You can, but the Disciplinary Committee Head Professor was just changed. You need to wait until the new Professor takes the office." "How many days do I need to wait?" "I was thinking of joining the office tomorrow. You can drop by my office then." Isaac was left flabbergasted. Who the hell was Professor Catherine? She left Radiant Crest Academy, joined the Master of Sanctum the next day, and became the Disciplinary Committee Head Professor. Her status had to be high if she could do things like that on a whim. Professor Catherine''s smile grew bright when she saw his deep in thought expression. They entered a hall through the corridor. Its size was larger than a football stadium, and it had four large platforms. A dark cloud floated above each platform, and quite a few people were present in the area, each busy with their own task. Professor Catherine and Isaac approached the platform on the far right side. On the way, her expression became serious, and she spoke to him, "Whether they are Low-ranked species, Mid-ranked species, or High-ranked species, all have the stat limit of 100 for Initiate rank. But in the past, there was a higher rank species above High-ranked species, the Apex rank species. "It is said that Apex rank species could have up to 1000 stats in Initiate rank. However, they were wiped out during the early stages of the Apocalypse, and we can never know the truth," she explained. "Is this the clue you were talking about? That''s useless for me." "Is it? Maybe you have the bloodline of an Apex species like Dragons. That would explain your high Talent," she said, her teasing smile back. Chapter 25: Meeting The Second Wife Candidate, Master Of Sanctum Stronghold Chapter 25 - Meeting The Second Wife Candidate, Master Of Sanctum Stronghold "What are you two talking about?" The woman in front of the platform asked. She had dark blue hair that almost looked black under the dim lighting. Her stoic expression and tall figure gave off a contrasting charm with her feminine grace. Isaac could not take his eyes off her. He was not staring at her due to her beautiful figure and face, but because he felt he had seen her somewhere. "I''m Leora Nisse, a 4th-year student, and I''ve been appointed as your bodyguard." "Good to meet you, I''m Isaac Hargraves." He shook hands with her. "Leora is Champion rank. She will be your maid from today and take care of all your needs while protecting you," Professor Catherine said from the side. Isaac could not hold back his surprise. Talented students would reach Adept rank during the second half of the first year. They would become Elite rank somewhere by the end of the second year. Elite rank was the limit of most ''talented'' awakeners. They would remain stuck at it for their lives. Only the geniuses could go beyond Elite rank. These geniuses would reach Master rank by the time of their graduation, which meant the last months of their fourth year. Leora was a prodigy to have reached Champion rank while the fourth year was starting. "Is it okay to have someone as important as her be my bodyguard?" "It''s for her training too. At her rank, she needs to train against powerful enemies, but they aren''t easy to find unless you go deep into the wilderness. "By staying with you, she can fight the enemies who could come after your neck. It''s a safer option than entering the wilderness." Isaac nodded. He looked at Leora with a new light. A screen suddenly popped up before him. [Eleanor Weiss] [Age: 167] [Rating: 97] [Personality: Dignified, Unbreakable Will.] [Status: Feeling smug that you cannot see through her disguise despite being an SSS+ rank awakener, slightly grumpy that her position was degraded from bodyguard to maid by Catherine.] Isaac had to look twice to make sure his eyes were not playing a trick on him. "You are staring quite hard at her. I guess it''s because this is your first time seeing her?" Professor Catherine questioned. He almost spoke yes when suddenly he realized it was her trap and shut up. ''If I said yes, her lie detection would tell her that I lied.'' ''It will be the same as saying I have seen her before. I highly doubt Leora Nisee existed until two days ago, my lie will reveal I know Leora is Vice Principal Eleanor.'' Isaac felt wronged. Why was this damned Professor Catherine always laying traps for him? She did it so naturally that he almost always got tricked by her. Thankfully, he was getting used to her traps and was able to avoid it this time. "I was just surprised to know a fourth-year student reached Champion rank," Isaac answered. "Is that so?" Professor Catherine smiled. She let go of the topic and moved away to talk with the technician who would handle the warp gate. "The Warp Gates were all built by the Lost Civilization. Every Fortified City have Warp Gates and they connect the adjacent cities. These Warp Gates are how we locate the new cities," Leora explained. By the time she finished explaining, Professor Catherine returned. "The coordinates have been set. We can go now." She climbed the steps and stood in the center of the platform. Leora and Isaac followed her. The technician, who was mashing buttons on a giant box with hundreds of buttons, gave them a thumbs up. "Just keep walking!" "...?" Before Isaac could question the meaning of the technician''s words, the dark blue cloud that was above their platform rumbled. It grew haphazardly towards the ground and swallowed Isaac, Leora, and Professor Catherine. Isaac looked around. His vision was blocked by the dark clouds, and he could barely see beyond his arms. "Don''t worry. Just keep walking." Professor Catherine''s voice echoed. Isaac could not pinpoint where the voice was coming from, but he followed her advice and marched straight ahead. After ten seconds of walking, he stepped onto dirt ground. Wisps of fresh air hit against his clothes. Dozens of people were busy with their tasks. Some shouted commands, while some controlled gigantic robots the size of a house to carry huge containers. The young-looking people were wearing Master of Sanctum uniforms, while the older ones wore a badge with the insignia of a sage hat and sage wand. It was the official insignia of Master of Sanctum. Isaac noticed he was standing on a platform built in an open area. Several houses were being constructed nearby. The dark cloud that brought him here receded and became a small cloud floating above the platform. "You look alright." He turned towards Leora. She was inspecting him with a curious gaze. "When someone enters the Warp Gate for the first time, they feel nauseous due to the high Mana density present inside the Warp Gate. Yet you are perfectly fine." "That means I have a high affinity for Mana, no?" "Yes, you are right. I suppose it''s my fault for still being surprised by this very ''you'' like event." Leora shook her head and stepped down from the platform. Her words had a huge slip-up, but Isaac knowingly ignored it. Professor Catherine was already waiting for the two of them below the platform. A massive man in military combat uniform stood next to her. He had a shield and a spear on his back. "Welcome to the Master of Sanctum''s Stronghold in Fortified City 89. I''m Magnus Veldt, the leader of this stronghold," he spoke in a deep, gravelly voice. "Isaac Hargraves." "Hahaha, I know your name. It''s quite a trendy topic these days. You should know how excited the people here were to meet-" He stopped speaking and pressed his mini earpiece. "Hold the line. I will be there shortly," he spoke to the earpiece before turning to Isaac. "I apologize, but I need to return to the frontlines. "As for your accommodations, you can choose the farmland anywhere, and we will build your house next to it." He shook his hand with Isaac before taking his leave. "General Magnus is a Lv. 50 Champion. He is one of the strongest leaders of our Fortified City 50. Honestly, it''s surprising he treated you so nicely. "General Magnus normally hates upstarts like you who are given preferential treatment due to their Talent," Professor Catherine said. "General Magnus is an old friend of the principal of Radiant Crest Academy. I believe the principal must''ve praised Isaac''s work ethic, which is why General Magnus likes him," Leora suddenly said. Isaac looked at her weirdly. Did she forget she was in disguise? A student wasn''t supposed to know personal information of higher-ups like that. Leora seemed to have realized what she said. She coughed and said, "I was told this by Vice Principal Eleanor Weiss. She is a good friend of General Magnus." "Let''s go and check which land you would want," she hurriedly added before he could point out the holes in her logic. Isaac shook his head and followed her along with Professor Catherine. Chapter 26: Farming! Chapter 26 - Farming! The stronghold had over two thousand combatants and four hundred non-combatants. They had created wooden buildings to serve as their camps and they were slowly turning the area into their base. "Master of Sanctum''s Stronghold is roughly 10,000 hectares. You can choose any place to serve as your base. Since your skills are low level, you will have to do with a farm of 0.5 Hectare." Isaac nodded. 0.5 Hectare is roughly five thousand square meters or fifty-four thousand square feet. The farm size was big enough for him. Anything larger, and he wouldn''t have enough Mana for the whole field. "Which place do you like?" Professor Catherine asked after the tour. "How about that one?" Isaac led them to the far west-side area of the Stronghold. His Seed of Providence skill told him this area was the best in the Stronghold to grow crops. It was rich in nutrients, and the land was easy to tilt. "Can''t you choose something else?" Leora questioned with a frown. "Why?" "This place is near the border of our Stronghold. A farm here will leave you prone to attacks from outside." Isaac had a pondering expression before he shook his head. "This place is rich in nutrients and it is good for crops. Other places aren''t half as good as this place." "You don''t need to worry about the soil at other places having low nutrient content. The land in the Fortified Cities is rich in mana, and the mana can compensate for the lack of nutrients," Leora explained. "Then that''s all the more reason to choose this place. With high mana content, and naturally rich soil, the crops will be healthier at this location." Leora''s brows furrowed. She was deep in thought. "Okay, then we will choose this place," Professor Catherine spoke up with a smile. She left to bring back construction workers, and left behind Professor Catherine and Isaac. "I will start tilling the farm," Isaac said. A light flashed through his pendant, and flew over his hand, transforming into the Harvest Bane Hoe. Leora was surprised. "Where did you get that?" "I was able to summon this when I reached Level 10." "Is it a skill?" "No." "Where did it come from?" "I don''t know," Isaac put on his most genuine expression. "It was suddenly with me. I am confused myself." Leora stared at his sincere eyes, and believed he was saying the truth. She took out a notepad. "What are you doing?" "Noting down your abilities. SSS+ rank is a first in the history. We need all information we can get to create a proper curriculum for you." Isaac tilled the soil. The hard soil became soft under the hoe''s effect. He did not feel any substantial drain on his mana pool as he worked. The process made him wonder if the mana consumption was linear, or parabolic. He became absorbed in the process and only stopped when he had tilled the entire land. "Haah, somehow this feels refreshing." He wiped the sweat and placed the hoe over his shoulder. "Leora, can I get some seeds...." His mouth clamped shut when he saw the three-story house next to the field. It was not there when he started farming. Professor Catherine sneaked behind him after noticing his work was done, and whispered into his ear. "Surprised?" "Yeah, somewhat." He moved away from her. Professor Catherine pouted when he did not show much reaction to her whispering in his ear. If it was when he had moved into the apartment, he would''ve been flustered. "Here. Got something for you." She tossed the sack his way, and Isaac caught it, feeling the weight of seeds shift inside. "They are Ration crop seeds. Each plant grows ten fruits, and each fruit''s enough to keep you going for a day. They taste like mud, fair warning, but they are the best for cost performance ratio for Ruin Explorers." Isaac opened the sack and peeked at the dull gray seeds. "By the way, I''m clocking out for today. I''ll be back tomorrow, and I''ll bring some gym equipment for you." She gave him a quick wink, then waved a hand. "Leora''s staying here to keep an eye on things. Don''t run her ragged, okay?" Isaac nodded. He watched her go, then turned back to the field, adjusting the hoe on his shoulder. Before he could get started, Leora''s voice broke through the quiet. "Isaac, you should meet her." A woman came up to him along with Leora. Her tan skin was dusted with sawdust, and her worker''s overalls were practical and worn. Her curly hair was barely held back by a bandana, and she had a confident look in her eyes. "Isaac, she is the one who built your house." "Name''s Mara, chief constructor ''round these parts. Built this beauty in record time¡ªthree hours, twenty-two minutes, and a half a sandwich break. You''re welcome, by the way." "Thanks for the house. It''s impressive despite being built in such short time." Isaac shook her hand. "Impressive? Pfft!" Mara slapped her knee like he''d just told the funniest joke. "This ain''t just impressive, kiddo¡ªthis is a goddamn masterpiece! Triple-layered oak, mana-infused beams for extra oomph, and a little somethin''-somethin'' I threw in for fun. Second floor''s got a trapdoor to the roof¡ªy''know, for stargazin'' or hurlin'' rocks at invaders. Your call." She winked, then pulled a wrench from her pocket and twirled it like a baton. "Anywho, she''s all yours. Don''t break her too fast, yeah? I''ve got a rep to maintain." Mara gave an exaggerated salute, spun on her heel, and marched off, whistling a tune that sounded suspiciously like a drinking song. Leora finally put down her notepad and approached him. "You''ve been at it for hours, Isaac. The field''s done, and the house is up. You should rest now." "I''m fine," Isaac said, kneeling down to plant the first ration seed. "I''ve got energy left, and I want to get these in the ground before I sleep." He pressed the seed into the soil with a steady hand, starting a neat row. Leora frowned slightly but more than anything she looked impressed by his diligence. "Alright, if you''re sure. I''ll stay close. I need to note your progress anyway." She flipped open her notepad and started writing as Isaac kept planting, moving through the rows. He was slightly awkward in the beginning, this being his first time doing farmwork, but with time, he moved like a professional who has been working on farms for years. When he reached the center of the field, he stopped and pulled out a different seed. The Astral Lotus Seed. It shimmered faintly in his palm, glowing with a soft, otherworldly light. He dug a small hole, placed it carefully, and closed his eyes. With a push of his Seed of Providence skill, mana flowed out of him, and the ground trembled. A miraculous scene unfolded before their eyes. Chapter 27: In The Middle Of Night Chapter 27 - In The Middle Of Night The Astral Lotus shot up. The growth was visible to naked eye. A small, radiant plant with petals that looked like starlight sprouted in full bloom. Its warm energy spread across the farm, sinking into the soil. Leora''s eyes scanned the flower as she stepped closer. "It''s fully mature already, and it will double the growth speed of crops. Right now, the area of effect of Astral Lotus is 0.5 Hectare, but it''ll increase as the plant grows." "That''s good to know," Isaac said, standing up and brushing dirt off his knees. He felt a wave of tiredness hit him. His mana was down to 40, and a slight headache hit him due to using too much mana quickly. But he kept his expression steady. "The ration crops need three to nine months to grow. Their growth rate is mostly affected by the quality level of soil. Though the time should decrease with the Astral Lotus helping, and you have a passive skill that increases growth speed by another two times," Leora explained. She walked with him toward the house, adding, "I''ll make some tea and bread for you." Isaac nodded as they stepped into the cool interior. "It will still take half a month to two months. Is there any way to speed it up more?" "There might be something we can do," Leora said, setting her notepad on a table. She moved to the small kitchen area nearby. "We''ll test some ideas tomorrow during class." She came back a few minutes later with a tray containing hot tea and thick slices of bread and handed it to him. "Thanks," Isaac said, taking the tea and sipping it. The warmth helped ease the ache in his muscles. Leora went to the kitchen and returned with tea, bread, and a small plate for herself. She sat across from him at a wooden table. They made small talk and she told him the vegetables, meat, and other cooking essentials will arrive tomorrow. Then, they wouldn''t need to sleep on bread. Isaac smiled. Bread used to be his staple food, and sometimes he would sleep on an empty stomach. He was able to leave that bleak life behind after receiving a system, and awakening a Talent. After having his fill, he headed upstairs to his room with Leora following him. He glanced back. "Where are you going?" "To the room next to yours. I''m sleeping on the first floor, same as you." "Next to me?" Isaac stopped, surprised. "I''m your bodyguard. I need to be close in case of an emergency. It''s a risk being too far if something happens." Isaac nodded in understanding. He moved towards his room while Leora''s footsteps came behind him. Settling in his room, he pulled out his device and called Emily. "Hey, you there?" "Yep," she said, cheerful. "How''d the farm go?" A smile came on his face when he saw her bright expression. "I planted some ration crops and got the Astral Lotus up. My house is done too. It''s surprising how fast it went up. What about your day?" They talked until Emily''s words started to slur with sleep. "Goodnight, Isaac," she mumbled. "Good night," he replied, waiting until she was out before hanging up. Only then did he let himself lie down, the day''s work pulling him into sleep. ... Leora jolted awake in the dead of night. Something was off. She could hear faint movements outside. She sat up in her bed, and listened. There it was again: soft footsteps, too systematic to be wind or animals. Her hand slid under her pillow, closing around the hilt of her sword. As Isaac''s bodyguard, she couldn''t afford to ignore this. She slipped out of bed, wore her slippers, and moved to the window. Peering through the gap in the curtains, she spotted five shadowy figures creeping through the darkness toward the house. Assassins. They were spreading out. Two headed for the trapdoor on the roof, three circled to the first-floor windows. They knew the layout too well. Despite the danger, Leora''s gaze had remained impassive. Leora grabbed her sword fully, and jumped out of her room through the window. She struck fast. The first assassin didn''t see her coming. A quick slash cut across the throat, and he crumpled without a sound. The second turned just as her blade pierced his chest, and a muffled gasp escaped before he fell. Leora darted to the side, catching the third as he climbed toward Isaac''s window. She drove her sword through his back, pulling it free as he slumped to the ground. The two on the roof dropped down, alerted now, but too late. She lunged, cutting one''s legs out from under him, then finished him with a thrust. The last swung a dagger at her, but she parried and countered. Her blade sunk into his gut. Five down in under a minute. Leora knelt by the bodies. It wouldn''t be good to leave the corpses here as it would create unnecessary commotion. She pulled a small vial of dark red seeds from a pouch at her waist: Death Blood Flowers. She sprinkled them over the corpses, and within seconds, red crystal petals bloomed, spreading fast. The flowers consumed the flesh and blood, dissolving the bodies into nothing but faint stains on the grass. No trace left. She sheathed her sword and pulled out her phone, dialing Professor Catherine. It rang twice before the familiar voice answered, "Something happened?" "Five assassins just tried to kill Isaac. I''ve dealt with them. But they knew the house layout, and aimed straight for his room. Only me, you, Isaac, and Mara should have the blueprint right now. Imprison Mara. She''s the leak." "Alright, I''m on it," Catherine replied. "I''ll handle Mara myself. What about the bodies? Should I send a cleanup crew?" "No need. I dealt with the corpses already," Leora said. "Tell me when you get any information from Mara." "Understood," Catherine said, then hung up. Leora scanned the night one last time. There were no more movements, or traces of the fight. The Death Blood Flowers had done their job; the ground was clear. She picked the new flowers into a bag, and slipped back inside, locking the door behind her, and returned to her room. Her sword went back under the pillow. She lay down and closed her eyes. ... The next morning, Isaac woke to loud noises. He became alert, ready to activate his skills at a moment''s notice. ''Assassins? Or did the monsters break through the border?'' The stronghold''s edge wasn''t far. There was a possibility the border had been breached. He peeked through the window to look at the scene outside, and his heart froze from the shock. Chapter 28: First Harvest! Chapter 28 - First Harvest! His farm was bursting with fully grown crops. Tall stalks swayed in the breeze, heavy with round, fist-sized fruits that glinted faintly in the morning light. It wasn''t possible. Leora had said the crops would take three to nine weeks to mature, even with the Astral Lotus and Seed of Providence skill''s passive. This was... overnight. Outside, the field was swarming with people. Military personnel in dark uniforms moved between the rows, inspecting the plants with handheld scanners. Fourth-year students from the Master of Sanctum darted around, taking samples and scribbling notes. Everyone looked frantic, excited, and a little confused. Isaac pressed his face closer to the glass, trying to make sense of it, when a knock came at his door. "Isaac," Leora''s voice called, steady but urgent. "You need to come out. The crops¡ªthey''re fully grown. That''s why everyone''s here." He pulled on his boots and grabbed the Harvest Bane Hoe as he stepped into the hall. Leora waited just outside, her serious face softened by a hint of awe. "I checked the field at dawn," she said. "They were like this by then." "So eight hours since I planted them?" "Yes." Isaac followed her downstairs and out the front door. The moment he stepped into the open, every eye turned to him. The chatter died down, replaced by a heavy silence. Military officers paused mid-step, students stopped writing, and even the wind seemed to hold its breath. A tall figure broke through the crowd, limping slightly as he approached. General Magnus, the leader of the Stronghold, looked like he''d just come from a fight. His uniform was dusted with dirt, one sleeve torn, and a fresh cut marked his cheek. "Greeting, General Magnus," Isaac said. "Greetings," Magnus replied with a slight chuckle. "I came straight here when I got the report. Didn''t even stop to clean up since I had to see this for myself. You''ve got every officer and scholar in the stronghold losing their minds over this." Isaac glanced at the field, then back at the general. "I don''t get it either. They weren''t supposed to grow this fast." Magnus let out a short, dry laugh. "Fast? Boy, this isn''t fast. This is impossible. We''ve got crops here that should''ve taken months, and they''re ready in a night. You''ve done something no one''s seen before. This..." He gestured to the field. "This is going to change history. Mind if I take a closer look with you?" "Sure," Isaac said, leading the way. The crowd parted as they walked, whispers following them. He stopped at the nearest stalk. The fruits hung heavy and ripe. He counted twelve, not ten like the ration seeds were bred for. "Twelve fruits per plant. That''s 20% more than they''re supposed to give." Isaac held the fruit. It was a smooth, pale orb about the size of his fist. He bit into it, and a burst of sweetness hit his tongue, crisp and refreshing, like a mix of apple and honey. His eyes widened. Magnus took a bite of his own, chewing slowly. A look of surprise crossed his weathered face, and he swallowed, standing a little straighter. "Well, I''ll be damned. That''s not just good, it''s also wiping my tiredness away. I''ve been on my feet for two nights straight, and this feels like a full night''s rest." He stared at the fruit, then at Isaac. "You are going to make history, boy." He clapped Isaac on the shoulder, then turned to the crowd. "Alright, everyone. Clear out. I know all of you are excited by these results, but give Isaac some space. It''s hist first day here." The military and students filed out, leaving the field quiet again. Isaac stood alone with Leora amidst the gently swaying crops. He tightened his grip on the hoe, then swung it once in a smooth, deliberate arc. A ripple of mana pulsed through the field, and in an instant, every stalk was harvested. The fruits rolled neatly to the side, piling up in a tidy heap. His mana dropped by 20, leaving him at 79, but then a notification flickered before his eyes. 100 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +10. Constitution + 10. You have obtained 600 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. The numbers caught Isaac''s eye. "Six hundred?" he muttered. The hoe''s ability had boosted the yield again, turning 120 fruits into 600. Another notification popped up: Constitution: 47 ¡ú 57 Mana: 99 ¡ú 100 [9] The extra 9 sat in brackets were locked stats he couldn''t use yet. He felt a small relief knowing they weren''t lost, just waiting for his limit to rise. His shoulders relaxed a bit, and the tension of the morning eased. Leora stepped up beside him, eyeing the pile of grains. "The fruits increased. Is that the hoe''s doing?" "I think so," Isaac said, holding it up. "Seems like it''s got more tricks than I thought." She stared at him in doubt. However, seeing his sincere eyes, her doubts lessened. "Can I try it for a moment?" she asked, reaching out. "Sure." She barely touched the hoe before a sharp *zap* sparked her fingers, and the hoe flew back to Isaac''s hand, settling there like it belonged. Leora pulled her hand back. "It''s a bonded item. These types of items can be used only by their users," she said, frowning. After making more notes, her serious face softened. "While this is a big news, we need to look into your skills and understand the cause. For now, let''s get these grains stored. I''ll help." They hauled the grains inside, and stacked them in a corner of the ground floor. According to Leora, the grains belonged to Isaac, and the Master of Sanctum needed to sign a contract about distribution rights if they wanted to have the grains. Until then, Isaac could store them for himself. They had a shelf life of five years. Storing them was no problem. "Leora, the Master of Sanctum gave me this land for free, right? They''re not gonna take a cut of these crops or anything?" "No, they won''t. The land was your scholarship benefit for choosing Master of Sanctum over the other universities. "The land and its yield are yours, no strings attached. Now, if you want to buy more land later, that''s a different story. You''d have to negotiate terms then." Isaac nodded, relieved. Leora set her notepad down on a nearby table. "That''s settled then. I''ll get to cooking. Some staff dropped off vegetables and meat this morning while you were still asleep. We''ll have something better than bread today." She moved to the small kitchen area, pulling out a basket of fresh produce¡ªcarrots, potatoes, a slab of pork¡ªand started prepping with quick, efficient motions. Isaac grabbed the Harvest Bane Hoe and headed outside. The field was empty now, the Vitality Grains harvested, but the stalks remained. They were tall, dry, and useless for more fruit. They couldn''t bear again, and leaving them would just clog the soil. He swung the hoe once, a smooth arc that sent a ripple of mana across the field. In an instant, the stalks were uprooted and piled to one side. His mana dipped slightly, but he barely noticed. His focus shifted to the Seed of Providence skill that hummed in his mind. A faint instinct tugged at him: These stalks could improve the land if used correctly. He stepped back inside the house. "Leora, the stalks out there, can they be used as fertilizer?" "Yes, you can burn them. The ashes make good fertilizer. That''s how these ration crops are usually handled after harvest. Burn them, spread the ash, and the soil gets richer." She didn''t look up from chopping carrots. "Perfect," Isaac said, heading back out. He grabbed a flint from a supply box near the door and set to work, piling the stalks in the field''s center. As he struck the flint, sparking a small flame, his wristwatch buzzed. He propped it on a rock. Emily''s gentle smile appeared on the hologram floating above the watch as the fire caught. "Hi, Isaac," she said. "What''s with the fire? You starting something big out there?" "Just working. The crops I told you about grew up by this morning. I harvested them earlier, and now I''m burning the leftovers for fertilizer." Her eyes lit up, and she tilted her head slightly. "Oh, wow, already? Didn''t you say it would take a few week even with your skills?" "Yeah, I did. It looks like there was some sort of synergy between the skills," he said, watching the flames spread. "There was quite a commotion about it. Even the General showed up." "That''s so cool! You''re always doing amazing things. How''s it going now?" She giggled, a light, sweet sound. Chapter 29: Extracting Silverbloom, Skill Reaper’s Bounty Level Up Chapter 29 - Extracting Silverbloom, Skill Reaper¡¯s Bounty Level Up "Improving the field," he said, nudging the pile with the hoe. "How''s your day?" "Oh, it''s nice," she said, her tone warm. "Just the usual, but I wanted to see how you''re holding up. Looks like hard work!" They talked as he worked. She told him about a book she''d read, a little story about her morning. By the time the stalks were ash, the call had stretched nearly an hour. "Gotta wrap this up, Emily," he said as the flames died. "Talk later?" "Sure," she said, smiling softly. "Take care out there, okay? Bye!" She waved, and the screen went dark. Isaac spread the ashes across the field. The Seed of Providence skill confirmed the soil''s quality ticking up with every pass. The air smelled of smoke and earth, and he felt a quiet satisfaction settle in. He was wiping sweat from his brow when a shadow loomed behind him. Professor Catherine, strolled up with her usual grin, followed by a hulking robot carrying gym equipment on a flatbed. "Sorry I''m late, farm boy," she said, hands on her hips. "Had some work to wrap up." "What kind of work?" "Oh, you know, making sure my makeup was perfect. I had to look my best for my dear Isaac." She winked, leaning in just a bit. He rolled his eyes, but something in her tone felt off. ''Leora was tense this morning too.'' he thought. ''Something''s up.'' Before he could press, the robot beeped, unloading its cargo, weights, a treadmill, a punching bag, onto the grass. A few military personnel who''d tagged along started hauling it toward the house. Professor Catherine clapped her hands. "Alright, enough standing around. Go exercise and freshen up. Breakfast''s next, then classes. I brought special materials for one of your class advancement quests, so don''t slack off." Isaac glanced at the equipment, then back at her. "Special materials?" "You''ll see," she said, shooing him toward the house. "Move it, hotshot." He didn''t argue, heading inside with the hoe over his shoulder. The basement was a wide, empty space, perfect for the gym setup. The staff worked fast, installing the gear while Isaac hit the treadmill for a quick run after wearing the Physical Stat restraining bracelets. His muscles burned pleasantly. The Vitality Grain''s energy still lingered in his system. After a shower, he felt refreshed. Upstairs, the smell of food hit him. Roasted pork of a mana monster, mashed potatoes, and steamed carrots. Leora had outdone herself. She then set the table with three plates. Professor Catherine was already seated, holding at a carrot with a grin. Isaac knowingly ignored her. Leora brought the last dish over, then took her spot. "Eat up," she said simply. "You''ll need it for today." They ate in comfortable silence. When they finished, Professor Catherine led the way to the second-floor study, a cozy room with bookshelves and a wide desk. Leora followed, standing in the corner like a guard. Professor Catherine dragged a large box to the center of the room. The robot had brought it alongside the gym gear. "This is for you. Part of your next step." "What''s inside?" "Before we open this, we need to figure out why those crops grew so fast. Overnight growth like that? It''s not normal, even for someone like you." Isaac nodded. "Alright, go ahead. What''s your take?" Professor Catherine crossed her arms, tilting her head. "First, my Seed of Providence skill. It''s got a passive effect that doubles crop growth speed and boosts crop quality. That''s a solid base." "That''s two times faster already. Next?" "The Astral Lotus. It doubles growth speed too, and it''s been boosting the crop growth rate since it was planted yesterday." "So we''re at four times the normal speed now. Keep going." Professor Catherine''s objective of the question was to help Isaac be aware of his skills, their effects and limitations. "The land itself," Isaac said. "When I picked this spot, Seed of Providence flagged it as high-nutrient place, better than anything around here. Plus, the stronghold''s soil is rich in mana naturally. That''s gives another boost to crops." "It does. High nutrient content and mana give a constant boost. It''s hard to measure exactly, but it''s significant. Anything else?" Isaac stayed silent. He knew the real kicker: the Harvest Bane Hoe doubled land fertility, stacking with everything else. But he kept that to himself for now. When he remained silent, Professor Catherine tapped her chin, thinking it over. "So, Seed of Providence doubles it, Astral Lotus doubles it again, and the land''s natural state¡ªnutrients and mana¡ªpushes it further. That could shrink months into days, maybe hours with the right conditions. You picked a goldmine of a plot, Isaac." "The synergy makes sense. Exceptional land amplified by exceptional skills." Leora nodded from the side. "Alright, enough crop talk. Time to open this up." Professor Catherine lifted the lid of the box, revealing dozens of small potted plants. Their leaves were a mix of green and faint silver. Isaac leaned forward, curious. "What''s this for?" "Your Second Talent Skill: Reaper''s Bounty." Professor Catherine pulled one pot out. "The skill has no cooldown, so it''s the fastest to level. We''re training it today. I''ve also got special seeds for you, but those come after the lesson." "Wait, you''re my professor? I just realized that." Professor Catherine grinned, leaning on the desk. "Took you long enough. Yep, I''m your one-woman faculty. First half of the day: theory and indoor skill training. Second half: physical combat and outdoor skills. Full schedule." "Why just you? No other professors?" Isaac narrowed his eyes. She did not answer him. Her grin softened into a silent smile. Isaac rolled his eyes. He was not going to get an answer. He understood that much from her smile. It did not matter to him, however. As long as she taught him properly, he was fine with her being his professor. Professor Catherine held up the potted plant. "This is a Silverbloom. It is used to create Mortal Grade mana potions. Low-quality potions give 5 mana per minute for ten minutes. Good ones do 10 mana per minute for twenty. Today you will use Reaper''s Bounty to extract its properties and make a potion." Isaac took the pot, feeling the skill stir in him. "Alright, let''s see." He focused, mana flowing into his hands. A faint green liquid shimmered up from the plant, trembling as the leaves paled slightly. Before it could slip, Professor Catherine handed him a flask, and he guided the liquid inside, sealing it with a cork. The plant shivered. Professor Catherine inspected the flask. Her eyebrows lifted slightly, though she hid her surprise well. "Not bad for a first try. Leora, test it." "Her? It''s my first try, the potion could be off." "Leora''s Champion rank," Professor Catherine said, all smile. "A defective potion won''t faze her. Go on." Leora stepped forward, took the flask, and downed it in one smooth motion. A minute passed. Her face shifted subtly. "12 mana per minute," she said. They waited, and after twenty minutes, she added, "Effect''s gone." Professor Catherine nodded, impressed. "The skill is Level 1, and you''re pulling 12 mana per minute for twenty minutes. That''s better than most alchemists. "From the observation, it seems Reaper''s Bounty extracts more properties than normal and condenses them, which results in higher quality potions being created instantly." They continued the training. His 100 mana let him work nonstop, and when it dipped low, he drank one of his own potions. The 12 mana per minute kept him steady. Four hours flew by, pot after pot, until a notification flickered in his vision. [Reaper''s Bounty has reached Level 2.] He tested it again on a fresh Silverbloom. This time, the green liquid was thicker, and Leora''s test came back: "14 mana per minute, twenty-one minutes." Professor Catherine noted down the details and glanced at the clock. "That''s it for the morning. Let''s have lunch." They headed downstairs, where Leora had already set out a simple meal of bread, leftover pork, and some fruit. They ate at their own paces. When they finished, Professor Catherine stood, brushing crumbs off her hands. "Alright, farm boy, outside. I''ll show you those special seeds before we start combat training." Chapter 30: New Seeds! Chapter 30 - New Seeds! Isaac followed Professor Catherine outside. Leora trailed behind them. The afternoon sun hung high, casting sharp shadows across the cleared field. The giant robot from the morning stood parked nearby. Its flatbed was empty except for a small, locked case that Catherine carried with a faint grin. "After a proper discussion, the university''s Grand Council decided to train you into a special combat. The ones that suits you" Professor Catherine pulled out three small pouches from the case. They were tied with a colored cord: red, blue, and black. She untied the red cord first, revealing tiny seeds flecked with crimson. "These are Dreadbloom seeds. Their flowers release a gas that triggers intense fear. It makes even the toughest fighters freeze or run screaming." She moved to the blue pouch, spilling out seeds with a faint shimmer. "Miragepetal seeds. The gas released by flowers of this causes hallucinations, vivid enough to trick anyone into fighting shadows or worse." Finally, she opened the black pouch, showing glossy seeds that seemed to absorb light. "And these are Viperthorn seeds. Their gas is pure poison, and its as lethal as Drake Viper''s Kiss." "Poison flowers. They would have an incredible synergy with my skills." "Exactly," Catherine said, tying the pouches back up. "Let''s test them with your skills. But first¡ª" She reached into her coat''s inner pocket, pulling out three sleek masks, each a dull gray with a curved filter over the mouth. "Put these on. This will block the gas so we don''t end up poisoned ourselves." Isaac took one, slipping it over his face. It fit snugly, the filter cool against his lips. Leora and Catherine did the same. "Now," Catherine said, voice slightly muffled, "don''t plant the seeds properly yet. Just toss them on the ground. We''re testing how your skills work with these." "...?" "Your Seed of Providence skill''s passive doubles growth speed for plants you plant, and the active effect of your skill, Sovereign of Land, boosts it five times. Ten times total. It will make the poison flowers bloom quickly. "But in a fight you won''t have time to plant these seeds, and your skills work only when the seeds that are planted. "So, we are testing what is counted as ''planting''." Isaac nodded, and grabbed a Dreadbloom seed from the red pouch before flicking it onto the soil. It landed with a soft thud, sitting there unchanged. He frowned, glancing at Catherine. "Nothing''s happening." "Figured as much. Now push the seeds it into the ground, just a little. Rub them in with your boot." Isaac pressed the seeds into the dirt with the toe of his boot, grinding it down until it sank slightly. Then he activated Sovereign of Land, mana surging through him. A faint connection snapped into place. an area about five meters square around him, tingling with energy. The ground shivered, and in under a minute, a small, twisted flower sprouted, its red petals unfurling. A thin mist seeped out, curling in the air. Catherine pulled a handheld device from her belt. It was a square scanner with a glowing screen. She waved it over the flower, then checked the readings. "The fear gas is 40% stronger than standard Dreadbloom output. As expected, the quality was amped up by your skills." Isaac tested the others. A Miragepetal seed went in next. Blue petals bloomed, releasing a shimmering haze. Catherine''s scanner beeped. "Judging by the amount, it can create 40% stronger hallucinations than the normal Miragepetals." The Viperthorn seed followed, sprouting black thorns that oozed a sickly green vapor. "Viperthorn," she confirmed. "It''s also roughly 40% more potent, and lethal in half the time." Catherine handed Isaac the pouches. It had 20 seeds of each poison flower. "Use them sparingly. They''re expensive. One''s enough to drop a Level 20 Adept-rank awakener if you time it right." Isaac took them, and stored them them into the spatial ring, the Vice Principal Eleanor gave him days ago. "You might not know it, but that''s a Mystic-grade treasure, same rank as your Deathwood Guardian from Lucian. Spatial storage is rare. Any relic with it doesn''t is Mystic-grade," Professor Catherine told him. "Oh, I actually didn''t know that." "Speaking of Lucian, why haven''t you used the Deathwood Guardian yet? Last night, assassins hit this place. Leora handled it, but it woke her up at midnight to clean up five of them. That guardian could''ve saved her the trouble." Isaac kept his face steady, though the news hit him like a punch. Assassins here, while he slept. It made him realize that not everyone appreciated his Talent. "I didn''t know about the assassins," he said evenly. "As for the Deathwood Guardian, I''ve got an idea to boost the it''s ability. I''ll try out my plan after class." Catherine studied his expression. His calm, confident tone told her he wasn''t bluffing. He had something in mind. "Alright. Let''s see this last one then." She reached into the case, pulling out a final seed. It was larger than the seeds prior, round like a Core, with a rough, bark-like surface that pulsed faintly with green light. "What''s that?" Isaac asked, leaning in. "Plant-type Genetic Catalyst. It came from the Tyrant Verdant Treant. Fifty years ago, it led a monster wave that nearly leveled our city. It took every fighter the city had to bring it down. This seed''s what was left." Leora shifted slightly at the side, uncomfortable. Isaac noticed her reaction, but he kept quiet. "Our scans showed this Genetic Catalyst is a ''seed'', a dormant one. We''ve tried planting it, however nothing happened. "We also took it to the city''s B-rank Farmer, and even he couldn''t do anything with it. "If you can use it, Isaac, it''s yours. If not, we will take it back." Isaac took the seed, and planted it. He focused, channeling Seed of Providence. Mana poured out, and sunk into the Genetic Catalyst. The ground trembled, and a shape erupted from the soil. A Treant, towering at eight feet. Its bark was dark and gnarled, branches thick with jagged leaves, and an heavy oppressive aura rolled off it. Catherine froze, her hand twitching toward a weapon. Leora snapped into action, sword half-drawn, stance low and ready. But the Treant ignored them. It bent forward, branches creaking, and it bowed silently to Isaac. Chapter 31: Tyrant Treant And Deathwood Guardian Chapter 31 - Tyrant Treant And Deathwood Guardian The heavy aura it gave off pressed against the air, yet it remained bowed as if it was a knight greeting its king. Isaac felt a connection tugging at him through his Seed of Providence skill. The Treant wasn''t a wild monster; it belonged to him. The skill told him. "Stand up," he said. The Treant straightened slowly. Its eight-foot frame towered over them, but it didn''t lash out. "Walk to the left." It obeyed, branches swaying as it shuffled a few steps, the ground trembling faintly under its weight. "Stop." It halted instantly. Professor Catherine lowered her hand, exhaling slowly. "Well, I''ll be damned," she said, her tone a mix of surprise and relief. "It''s following you like a loyal dog." Leora sheathed her sword with a sharp click. Her expression remained unreadable but her stance easing slightly. "It''s obedient," she observed. "For now, keep it outside. We''ll post some scouts to watch it, and make sure it''s truly under your control and not just putting on a show. Though..." Professor Catherine tilted her head, studying it. "It might be a Bonded Beast. You grew it, so the bond could''ve formed with you right then and there. Do you feel anything like that?" "Yes, it feels like it''s tied to me." Professor Catherine smiled faintly. "Thanks god. Though we''ll confirm it tomorrow for security purposes. I''ll bring equipment to measure its stats, rank, and level. For now, give it a name." Isaac looked up at the Treant. Its imposing form somehow fitting the moment. "Tyr," he said. "Tyr, huh? Short for Tyrant, like in Tyrant Verdant Treant. Clever, or maybe a little childish." Professor Catherine teased. Isaac shrugged. He didn''t care if it was simple; it felt right. Professor Catherine''s smile lingered, but she shifted gears, nodding toward him. "Alright, since this marks the end of today''s class. Let''s check the Deathwood Guardian now." Isaac reached into his spatial ring, and pulled out the small, wooden doll. It was intricately carved, no bigger than his hand, with hollow eyes and a stitched mouth that gave it an eerie look. "Once you plant it in the ground, it''ll protect a one-hectare area, and it can''t be moved once it''s set, so decide carefully where you want to place it," Professor Catherine explained. "I''ve got a plan for that," Isaac said. He turned toward the house, jogging inside to grab a large clay pot from the kitchen. It was heavy, wide enough to hold a decent chunk of soil. He carried it back and set it down between them. "You said it can''t be moved once planted, right? What if I plant it in this pot instead? Can I move it then?" "That''s... not something we''ve tested with Deathwood Guardian." Professor Catherine frowned, crossing her arms. "Here''s my thinking," Isaac said, tapping the pot. "This could turn the Deathwood Guardian from a static shield into a mobile weapon. It''s Mystic-grade, strong enough to fight Champion-rank awakeners. Tying it to one spot feels like a waste when it could be chasing down threats." Professor Catherine raised an eyebrow. "While the reason behind your idea is good, we can''t be sure it works. "After all, if we follow your logic, we could plant the Deathwood Guardian in the ground, then dig up the soil and move it. "But that doesn''t work. We had similar relics in the past, and they stopped working when they were moved from their original spot." Isaac nodded, recalling lessons from his academy days. "Yeah, I''ve studied this stuff. From what I understood, moving is relative to the original location. If you shift it from the land, the land stays put, and the object''s position changes. "But in a pot, the whole thing moves¡ªpot, soil, guardian¡ªso the relative position stays the same. If it works, the hectare limit might not even apply." Leora spoke up from the side. "It''s possible. Our knowledge comes from past experience with these relics, but they''re rare. No one''s risked testing this because losing a Mystic-grade item isn''t worth it. "Here, though, we can try. The Deathwood Guardian is precious, but I am as strong as it. If we lost it, then there would be no problem." Professor Catherine rubbed her chin, considering it. "Alright, the choice is yours, Isaac." Isaac set the Deathwood Guardian doll in the pot, scooping in some soil from the field to pack it around the base. Professor Catherine handed him a small knife from her belt. "Drop your blood on it. That''s how you activate it." He took the knife, pricking his finger with a quick cut. A few drops of blood fell onto the doll''s wooden head, soaking into the grain. The air shifted, and the doll twitched. Roots sprouted from its base, digging into the soil, and it grew into a seven-foot scarecrow. Its arms were long, whip-like vines tipped with thorns, and its hollow eyes glowed faintly red. The stitched mouth twisted into a jagged grin, making it look downright terrifying. Before Isaac could react, Professor Catherine moved blindingly fast, and swung a fist toward Isaac''s back. The Deathwood Guardian reacted instantly. It rocked the pot, and the scarecrow lunged, its whip-like vines stretching out to wrap around Professor Catherine''s arm, yanking her back mid-strike. It reared up, ready to lash out, but Isaac raised a hand. "Stop." The scarecrow froze, then retreated, settling back into the pot with an eerie stillness. Professor Catherine stepped back, shaking out her arm with a nod. "That confirms it. The Deathwood Guardian works by sensing the bloodlust against you. It''s keyed to protect you specifically." "Good to know. Let''s test the range." Professor Catherine moved away. At about 20 meters, she stopped. "I''ll start slowly," she called back. Professor Catherine drew a dagger, and glared at him. She kept her bloodlust subdued. The scarecrow twitched and turned towards Professor Catherine. She kept walking away, counting steps. No matter how far she went, the scarecrow''s gaze was locked onto her. "Okay, that''s enough distance. I''ll start in earnest now," Professor Catherine said. At 50 meters distance (164 feet), she released her bloodlust, no longer keeping it hidden. The scarecrow''s vines whipped out, stretching long and thin, and the pot rocked as it pulled itself forward. The vines dug into the soil like claws, dragging the pot along in a lurching, nightmarish gait¡ªhalf-walking, half-crawling, its thorny limbs slashing the air. "Let''s try it again!" Professor Catherine shouted. "Stop!" Isaac told the scarecrow, and Professor Catherine moved away swiflty while she kept her bloodlust active. The scarecrow looked like a leashed dog, waiting for Isaac''s order to unleash hell upon its prey. Seventy meters, then hundred, then one hundred fifty, and finally two hundred meters. The Scarecrow never stopped glaring at Professor Catherine''s retreating figure. They did a few more tests. "50-meter sense range," Professor Catherine said as she walked back. "But it''ll chase past that if the threat''s active." She nodded, impressed. "The Mobility is thanks to the pot. Since it can keep its relative position intact, there is no limit on the area once it senses the threat. Its long, thick and stretchy vines are good for hunting down targets." Isaac stared at her with deadpan eyes. Long, thick, and stretchy. Really? Professor Catherine smiled as she she did not understand what was the problem. Chapter 32: The Power Of Title! Chapter 32 - The Power Of Title! Leora stepped closer, inspecting the pot and the scarecrow. "Your theory worked. It''s a weapon now, not just a shield." Isaac grinned, wiping dirt off his hands. Tyr, the Deathwood Guardian, and the poison flowers. He had an impressive and powerful arsenal to fight his opponents. "Tomorrow, we''ll measure Tyr''s stats and fine-tune this setup," Professor Catherine said. "Now let''s have some snacks. We''ve been at this for hours, and I''m starving." They walked toward the house when Catherine paused, turning back to him with a curious look. "By the way, Isaac, you must''ve have hit 100 Mana in the morning when you harvested the crops. Did you check the title?" Isaac blinked, then scratched the back of his head. "Honestly, I forgot to look. I was too busy with all this." "I suppose you couldn''t take your eyes off me, and forget about everything else." Isaac rolled his eyes at her exaggerated shy expression. He called up the system interface. Title: None ¡ú Mana Resonance "It''s called Mana Resonance. It doesn''t say what it does, though." Catherine''s smile widened, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You will have to figure it out yourself. That''s your homework for today. I''ve got to head out now, but I''ll see you tomorrow." They had some snacks later after which Professor Catherine left. Isaac watched her go, then headed inside, settling into the second-floor study with a stack of theory books Catherine had left. They were thick volumes on plant properties, mana interactions, and soil enhancement. He spent the next few hours poring over them. The quiet scratch of pages turning filled the room as the sun dipped lower. The texts were dense, but they sparked ideas about his skills and how far he could push them. By evening, he closed the last book and stretched, feeling the itch to get back to the field. He grabbed a pouch of Vitality Grain seeds and stepped outside. The cool air brushed his skin. The original 0.5-hectare plot was still fresh from the ash fertilizer, so he planted the seeds there, pressing them into the soil with steady hands. As he finished, a thought struck him, and he called out to Leora, who was tidying up near the house. "Leora, what happens if I pour a mana potion on the ground?" he asked, brushing dirt off his knees. "Wouldn''t that boost the soil for crops?" "No. The mana would distribute unevenly. It would be too much in some spots, none in others. It''d make the land toxic for crops, and kill them off instead of helping." Isaac tilted his head, thinking it over. "That''s not a problem for me. My Sovereign of Land skill has a passive¡ªsoil manipulation and land empowerment. It allows me to feel and control the nutrients in the dirt, the mana too. I think I could spread it out evenly." "Skill descriptions are often vague, Isaac. You''d need to be careful. Even if it works, fine control over that much mana might be tricky¡ª" She paused, as if she''d remembered something, then continued. "Go ahead if you''re set on it. Use those potions you made in class, just not on the crop field. If it goes wrong, you''ll ruin what''s already growing." Isaac frowned, glancing at his planted plot. "I don''t have cash to buy more land here yet." Before he could say more, Leora cut in. "You can take another 0.5 hectare for free." "No price? How''s that work?" "Your discovery with the Deathwood Guardian about the relative position trick. It''s valuable intel. We can apply it to flag-type relics or similar items. The knowledge is worth enough to cover 0.5 hectare." Isaac knew a student wouldn''t have the pull to hand out land like that. Besides, an entire 0.5-hectare in a new City was too sweet for the discovery about relics that were rarely found. She was using her authority to help him for free. "Alright, I''ll take it," he said, grabbing ten mana potions from his spatial ring. These were the ones he''d made earlier in the class. He marked out a new 0.5-hectare patch next to his first and poured the potions slowly, letting the liquid seep into the soil. If this worked, he''d double his farmland. The thought sent a thrill through him. The mana sank in, and a faint shimmer spread across the dirt. He activated Sovereign of Land, reaching out with his senses. It was tough. Threads of mana were tangled beneath the surface. His high Spirit Power stat helped, but it was still a slog. He switched on his Demonic Eyes skill, and the world sharpened. Thin, glowing lines of mana appeared in the soil, jumbled like a mess of yarn. Seeing the mana made things easier. But the process would take long, and using the skill for too much time put strain on his eyes. Suddenly, something clicked. There was a hum, a pulse deep in his chest. The mana in the ground felt like it was *his*, moving with his will. He shaped it, smoothing the threads into an even flow, and the effort lightened. "Mana Resonance," he muttered, realizing the title''s effect. It let him wield ambient mana as his own, like an extension of himself. Powerful. He wondered what titles his other stats might unlock as he finished the task easily with the help of Mana Resonance. The soil was now packed with balanced energy. He planted more Vitality Grains, eager to see the results by morning. Back at the house, he washed his hands and feet in a basin by the door. Leora approached, holding a glass of cold juice. "Here," she said, handing it over. "Thanks," Isaac said, and took a sip. The chill was refreshing after the day''s work. Inwardly, he couldn''t help but smile. Leora, the Vice Principal, had gone from grumbling about maid duties to pulling it off flawlessly. She didn''t even seem to mind anymore. Dinner was ready soon after. Leora cooked a mana-rich meal with grilled steak from a high-rank mana beast, seasoned with herbs, paired with roasted potatoes and a thick, savory broth. Isaac dug in, feeling the food''s energy seep into him. The aching muscles felt like a thirsty man in desert finding water. They were being turned stronger. The mana in the meat boosted his body in small, steady ways. "This is good," he said between bites. "Doesn''t vegetables do this too? It feels like all the body-improving stuff is meat." "Yes, some do. But mana-rich vegetables are rare and expensive. They are harder to source than beast meat. You won''t find them easy around here." Isaac nodded, finishing his plate. After cleaning up along, he headed to bed, pulling out his phone to call Emily. She picked up. Her soft voice and warm smile made Isaac smile too. "Isaac, guess what? My Spectral Claw skill leveled up today! Even my strength went up a little." "That''s awesome. Congrats, Emily." They talked for hours. She told him about her day, and he shared about the field experiments until her voice grew sleepy. "Good Night, Isaac," she murmured, drifting off. "Good Night," he said, waiting until her breathing steadied before ending the call. As he set the phone down, he called his Bonded Blessing System. Chapter 33: The Power Of Mana Enhanced Field, Second Title Chapter 33: The Power Of Mana Enhanced Field, Second Title "Share the stats and skills!" he grinned. Strength: 55 ¡ú 56 Spectral Claw (Level 1 ¡ú Level 2): Damage increased to 150%. He willed for the system to show only the aspects that improved and it complied. While he was checking the stats, he noticed his Constitution had increased another 2 after hours of farm work, reaching a total of 69. Isaac slept, and he was jolted awake soon after. He reached for his phone, and noticed it was 4 a.m. He rubbed his eyes, confused. His internal clock usually kept him solid until 6, giving him a full night¡¯s rest after long days. So why was he up now? He sat up, stretching his neck, and felt a strange tug deep inside. It was as if something was calling him, telling him it was ready. "Maybe it¡¯s my skill?" he joked, and peered out of the window. His smile froze. The new 0.5-hectare plot¡ªthe one he¡¯d doused with mana potions¡ªwas bursting with fully grown Vitality Grains. The original plot beside it looked close, but not quite there. He frowned, thinking it over. Yesterday, the first batch took eight hours to mature. This one? Only six hours. It was two hours faster. He pulled on his boots and headed for the door. As he opened it, Leora stepped out of her room next door, rubbing sleep from her eyes but already alert. Her hair was slightly mussed, a rare crack in her usual discipline. "Sorry," Isaac said, pausing. "Did I wake you?" "It¡¯s fine," she replied. "Wait for me. I¡¯ll change, and we¡¯ll go out together." She turned back into her room, leaving the door ajar. Isaac leaned against the wall. Her dedication hit him then. Vice Principal or not, she took the bodyguard role seriously. There were no complaints, even with her sleep interrupted, and even with Tyr and the Deathwood Guardian patrolling outside, she wanted to stay with him to make sure he was protected. She was back in minutes, dressed in her usual practical gear, sword at her side. They headed downstairs and stepped into the cool morning air. The Deathwood Guardian stood rooted in its pot, exactly where he¡¯d left it. Tyr, though, was on the move. He patrolled the field with a massive slab of jagged metal in its hands, probably scavenged from some wreckage nearby. The Treant turned as they approached. He raised a hand in a slow wave, and a faint cheery smile appeared on its wooden face. Isaac waved back, and Tyr resumed its rounds, guarding the crops and house. "He seems to like you." "Is that so?" Isaac walked to the new plot, and inspected the Vitality Grains. The plants were tall and sturdy, each bearing twelve fruits. ¡¯Twenty percent more than the standard ten, just like yesterday¡¯s first batch.¡¯ He plucked one, rolling it in his hand before taking a bite. Sweetness flooded his mouth, crisp and rich, far better than the bland ration crops they were supposed to be. "Leora, you said mana speeds up the growth time of these crops, right?" "Yes." "That means they grew two hours early thanks to the mana potion." He looked at the field, then mumbled to himself. "Might as well harvest now." He lifted the hoe and two swings later, mana rippled across the second plot. Six hundred fruits from the mana-enhanced land were piled neatly to the side. 120 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +10. Constitution + 10. You have obtained 600 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 69 ¡ú 79 Mana: 100 [9 ¡ú 19] His brows creased. While it was good that the Mana was not being wasted, it did not help if it was just stored. He needed to find a way to remove his stat limit. Leora helped him carry the grains inside, stacking them with the others. They burned the stalks in the field, and scattered the ash over the original plot as fertilizer. Two hours passed in the meantime. The sky lightened to a soft gray, and when he checked again, the first plot had matured too. Isaac stopped, staring. These plants bore fourteen fruits each, not twelve. "Quality improved again," he said, plucking one to taste. Still sweet, maybe even richer. Leora stepped closer, her brow furrowing slightly. "That¡¯s twice now. The genetic mods on Vitality Grains were maxed out with the best strain we had. Improving them once was surprising. Twice? And it might keep going?" She shook her head, genuinely puzzled. "How far can this stretch?" "No clue," Isaac said, grinning. "But I¡¯m not complaining." He swung the hoe again, harvesting the first plot¡ªanother 700 fruits, thanks to the boosted yield. 140 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +12. Constitution + 12. You have obtained 700 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 79 ¡ú 91 Mana: 100 [19 ¡ú 31] He noticed he gained 12 Mana and Constitution, instead of just 10. "Looks like harvesting better crops give higher stats." They hauled the new batch inside, then burned the stalks and spread the ash across both plots. He held off on adding more mana potions to the first one, though. "Let¡¯s test the mana-enhanced fruits in the labs first," he said to Leora. "We need to make sure they¡¯re safe before I juice up the first plot." She nodded. The field lay empty now, and Isaac glanced at it, feeling a twinge of restlessness. "Seems a waste to wait till night to plant again," he said. "I¡¯ll do it now." Keeping the land empty was no different from wasting the extra stat points he could¡¯ve gotten if he planted crops. He grabbed more Vitality Grain seeds and set to work, planting both plots with steady hands. When he finished, the sun was just peeking over the horizon. He headed to the basement gym, and after an hour, he showered and joined Leora upstairs. Breakfast was waiting. He saw a plate of scrambled eggs with herbs, crispy bacon, and warm bread, one of his favorites. He smiled as he sat down. "This smells great." "Catherine mentioned you liked it," Leora said, setting a glass of water beside him. "Since you have been working hard, let¡¯s say I made this to praise you." "Thanks for spoiling me." Isaac laughed, digging in. He had to agree her cooking his favorites to encourage him was quite sweet of her. That reminded him of her handing out free land to him yesterday. It felt like something a sugar mommy might do. The thought made him chuckle again, though he kept it to himself. Morning class followed, same as yesterday. Isaac trained Reaper¡¯s Bounty in the study, this time extracting from two Silverbloom plants at once. It was twice the work, but it was worth it. Several hours later, he received a notification. [Reaper¡¯s Bounty has reached Level 3.] He tested the skill, pulling a thicker green liquid into a flask. Leora drank it. "14 mana per minute, 22 minutes." "That skill of yours, it¡¯d make alchemists and potion makers green with envy. Instant, top-quality potions? They¡¯d hate you," Professor Catherine smirked. Isaac shrugged. Lunch came next. It was simple sandwiches with mana-rich beast meat and fresh greens. Afterward, they headed outside. The crops in both plots were fully grown again, ripe under the midday sun. Isaac harvested them with two swings, earning another 12 Mana and 12 Constitution from second plot and 14 Mana and 14 Constitution from the first plot. 140 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +12. Constitution + 12. You have obtained 700 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. 160 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +14. Constitution + 14. You have obtained 800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 91 ¡ú 100 [17] Mana: 100 [31 ¡ú 57] Constitution stat has reached the limit. You have gained title Formlock. A strange force covered Isaac¡¯s body. He felt as if his body was held together more cohesively, if that made sense. While wondering how that would benefit him, he burned the stalks, and spread the ash across the fields. He realised the fertilizer¡ªmade from his own improved crops¡ªwas part of the growth cycle now. Better plants made better ash, which made better plants. It was a loop he could ride higher. While he worked, Professor Catherine approached. "I got the grains from the mana enhanced field tested. They are edible and do not have any unwanted mutations. "Also, equipment¡¯s here to measure Tyr¡¯s stats," she said, pointing to a large crate nearby. "It came while you were at it." Isaac nodded, brushing off his hands. Chapter 34: Seed of Providence And Sovereign of Land Level Up, Land’s Contract Papers Chapter 34: Seed of Providence And Sovereign of Land Level Up, Land¡¯s Contract Papers "We can start in a bit. Just let me deal with the field first," Isaac said. "That¡¯s fine. It¡¯ll take us a while to set this gear up anyway. Calibrating it for a Treant isn¡¯t quick. You can handle your crops in the meantime," Professor Catherine replied. She returned to help the others set up equipment. Isaac grabbed ten mana potions from his spatial ring. He walked to the original 0.5-hectare plot that he hadn¡¯t boosted yet. He uncorked the vials, and poured the shimmering liquid slowly across the soil. A faint glow spread across the ground. He could feel the mana seeping into the land unevenly. He activated Sovereign of Land and Demonic Eyes, and felt the familiar tug of control. The mana threads beneath the surface were chaotic at first, jumbled like yesterday, but Mana Resonance kicked in, making them his to wield. He smoothed them out before distributing the energy evenly across the plot. Then he widened his focus, reaching for both fields. He could sense the nutrients and mana in each. As expected, the old plot was richer due to its earlier boost. He willed them to balance, pulling mana, vitality and nutrients from one to the other until the two plots felt like a single, unified stretch of land. "There," he said, opening his eyes. "Now they¡¯ll grow together. No more hour gap." Catherine glanced over from where she was untangling a cable. "Good job. You¡¯re getting the hang of that," she praised him. Isaac nodded. He grabbed a pouch of Vitality Grain seeds and started planting. He worked methodically across both fields. By the time he finished, dusting dirt off his hands, the staff had the equipment ready. He saw a cluster of metal poles linked by wires, screens blinking with data, all aimed at Tyr. The treant remained rooted on the spot, waiting for Isaac¡¯s instruction. Despite being larger than the staff and the equipment, he seemed nervous like a child. "Ready when you are," Catherine called, beckoning Isaac over. Isaac joined them, standing beside Leora, who watched with her usual sharp focus. Tyr looked at him. "Go on." Isaac encouraged. Tyr lumbered forward. He reminded Isaac of a character from the Guardian of a Galaxy movies, but Tyr was broader, tougher, with a wilder edge. The staff began the tests. "Strength first," one said, adjusting a pole with a heavy weight attached. Tyr gripped it with a branch, lifting it effortlessly. The machine beeped as it recorded the force. "30 Strength." "Agility next," another chimed in, setting up a grid of lights that blinked in patterns. Tyr had to touch the lights before they disappeared. He moved quickly. The screen flashed numbers, and the staff nodded. "21 Speed." "Constitution," the first staff said, stepping up with a small hammer-like device. He tapped it against Tyr¡¯s trunk, and a sensor pulsed, measuring resistance. "38 Constitution." "Mana and Spirit Power," the lead tester added. She waved a handheld scanner over Tyr. The device hummed, then beeped loudly. "27 Mana, and 21 Spirit Power." "It has Adept rank awakeners stats for humans. If we compare his stats to a normal Treant, they are two times that of a Level 10 Treant. That isn¡¯t saying much though, since we don¡¯t know Tyr¡¯s level. "Tyr could be Level 9 or 10, or even Level 5. "And since he can¡¯t talk yet, we can¡¯t just ask. From what I can see, he understands us a little, up to basic commands, but that¡¯s it," Professor Catherine said. "I see," Isaac nodded. "I have a question, Professor. If you have devices to measure stats, why did Vice Principal ask about mine and Emily¡¯s stat?" "Tests are only for Beast Bond monsters. While humans can use them on human, we don¡¯t. It¡¯s a privacy concern." The staff packed up, bowed slightly to Catherine and headed back. Isaac watched them go, then turned to Tyr. The Treant¡¯s glowing eyes were fixed on him, expectant, almost eager. "You did good," Isaac said, offering a grin. Tyr¡¯s wooden face shifted, and a wide, jagged smile split its bark. He looked downright terrifying, but Isaac could tell that Tyr was trying to smile genuinely. It made the Treant all the more endearing. Isaac chuckled. Tyr was big, bulky, and loyal. He liked that. Catherine approached, holding out a small pouch. "Here," she said, handing it over. "More seeds for you." Isaac took it, peering inside at the small, orange-flecked seeds. "What are these?" "They are for your Seed of Providence skill. It¡¯s got a 12-hour cooldown, so it¡¯s precious. If you are going to train it, it¡¯s better to use it on crops better than Vitality Crop Grains." "I¡¯ll try one now." He walked to the side of the house, away from the main fields, and knelt by a patch of bare soil. He pressed one seed into the ground, then activated Seed of Providence. Mana surged through him, warm and sharp, and the ground trembled. In seconds, a tangerine tree sprouted, stretching upward until it stood ten feet tall. Its branches were heavy with bright, juicy fruit. The oranges gleamed, plump and inviting, but they hung high, just out of reach. "Nice," Isaac said, eyeing the tree. A screen appeared before him. Seed of Providence: Level 1 ¡ú Level 2 Passive effects strengthened by 120%. Cooldown: 12 hours ¡ú 11 hours Sovereign of Land: Level 1 ¡ú Level 2 Active and passive effects strengthened by 120% Isaac raised an eyebrow. An increase of 120% was huge. It would increase his crop quality, and their growth speed. The reduction in cooldown was good too. Isaac shifted his gaze to the fruits after closing his status screen. Before he could jump to grab one, Tyr lumbered over. The Treant tilted its head, and Isaac could feel the question in his gaze¡ª Want help? Isaac smiled. "Go for it." Tyr stretched out a thick branch. Its wooden fingers curled gently around a cluster of tangerines. With a soft snap, it plucked them free and lowered them to Isaac, dropping them into his hands. The fruit felt cool and firm, and the scent was sharp and citrusy. "Thanks, buddy," Isaac said, peeling one open. The flesh was sweet, and bursting with flavor. It was better than any store-bought orange he¡¯d ever had. He shared them with Leora, Professor Catherine, and Tyr. The big buy looked especially happy, not just because of the fruit but because it was something Isaac gave him. "This fruit can improve your blood circulation, skin, hair, even helps you sleep better, and it speeds up recovery. It¡¯s perfect for your condition right now, Isaac, with how hard you¡¯ve been pushing," Professor Catherine spoke, chewing the tangerine slice. Isaac raised an eyebrow, peeling another segment. "That good, huh? Guess I¡¯ll keep this tree around then." "You should." She glanced at the field, then back at him. "Come on, let¡¯s head inside for snacks." Snacks again? Isaac, of course, did not speak his thoughts aloud. He had learned in his childhood that it was rude. Isaac looked out at the Treant, who had already resumed patrolling the fields. As he moved, a low, rumbling hum vibrated from his wooden form, almost like a cheerful tune. The three of them walked back to the house, leaving Tyr to its rounds. Inside, Leora set out a plate of bread and cheese while Catherine rummaged in her bag, pulling out a folder of documents. She slid it across the table to Isaac. "Before we get too comfortable, here¡¯s something for you. The land signing papers." Isaac opened the folder, scanning the pages. "One hectare, completely free," he read aloud, glancing up at her. "No payment to Sanctum of Masters, and all crops from it are mine?" "Signed by the Principal himself," Catherine confirmed, tapping the signature at the bottom. "Once you sign it, one copy goes to you, and the other will return to Sanctum of Masters." Isaac took the pen she offered. He signed his name with a steady hand. He slid one copy back to her, keeping the other. "Thanks. That¡¯s a big deal." "It is," she said, tucking her copy away. "Now, about your stock. How many Vitality Grains are you sitting on?" "Exactly 3,400 as of now." Catherine nodded, pulling out a small notebook to jot it down. "Market rate¡¯s usually 3,000 to 5,000 Obols for one Vitality Grain. The exact price depends on demand, but they¡¯re famous among the Explorers. They earn big, but they need reliable food like Vitality Grains to survive out there." Chapter 35: Millionaire Chapter 35: Millionaire ¡¯5,000 Obols. That¡¯s half a month¡¯s worth of living food for me before I awakened the System and my Talent.¡¯ Isaac mused. Catherine took out glasses from her pocket and wore them. She flashed him a business smile, as she continued, "Sanctum of Masters is offering 6,000 each for your whole stock." Isaac nodded with an expressionless face. The price was low. His Vitality Grains were much better than the ones on market. According to the market research Isaac did on internet, his crops should go for 8,000 Obels at the minimum. "Before you say it¡¯s low, remember we¡¯re supplying the seeds for free. It keeps your costs at zero." "What¡¯s the seed price normally?" "500 Obols per seed," she replied. "It¡¯s cheap on paper, but no one is selling them in bulk to a newbie without connections¡ª to you. That¡¯s where we come in. We handle the supply, and makes it hassle-free for you." "Fair enough," Isaac said, tapping the table. "I¡¯ll sell half to you. 1,700 grains." "Half? What¡¯s the plan for the other 1,700?" Catherine raised an eyebrow, setting her pen down. "I¡¯ll sell them to a third party," he said, meeting her gaze evenly. A faint tension rippled through the room. Catherine¡¯s smile didn¡¯t fade, but her eyes sharpened. Isaac was taking land, seeds, and support from Sanctum of Masters for free, then turning around to profit elsewhere. It wasn¡¯t wrong, not technically, but it could strain the relationship between him and Sanctum of Masters. He leaned forward, giving a business smile back to Professor Catherine. "I¡¯m doing this for Sanctum of Masters too, you know." "Oh? Explain that one." "I¡¯m SSS+ rank," Isaac said. "If Sanctum of Masters hoards all my crops, other organizations¡ªguilds, academies, traders¡ªwill riot. "They will say you¡¯re locking me up, and forcing me to churn out food just for you. Rumors like that spread fast, and they don¡¯t care about the truth." Leora¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, but she stayed quiet, letting him continue. "I¡¯ll back Sanctum of Masters," Isaac went on. "You¡¯ve got my support, always will. But if you monopolize me, you¡¯ll paint a target on your back. I¡¯m a resource right now¡ªa gem mine. "Everyone wants a piece of the profit from it. If they don¡¯t get it, they¡¯ll turn on you, and claim you¡¯re hogging me for power. "Best way to avoid that? Let some of my stock flow out. It will keep the others satisfied, and in peace." "And Sanctum of Masters? You¡¯re not worried we¡¯ll feel shortchanged?" Catherine leaned back, folding her arms. "Not at all," Isaac said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "My growth speed¡¯s top-tier. You want 1,700 grains? You¡¯ll get them, no problem. Need more? I¡¯ll grow it. I¡¯m not cutting your supply. I¡¯m just selling the surplus elsewhere. You lose nothing, and I keep the balance." Catherine studied him for a long moment, then glanced at Leora. The Vice Principal gave a subtle nod. Catherine¡¯s smile returned, wider this time. "You¡¯re quite the thinker, Isaac. Smart play¡ªkeeping everyone happy while you rake it in. I like you more now." "So it¡¯s a deal?" he asked, ignoring the last part. "It¡¯s a deal," she confirmed. "Sell your half to us, do what you want with the rest. We¡¯ll handle the 1,700 at 6,000 each. "Some people would come to get the grains soon, and you will get 10,200,000 Obols in your bank account when by the time they leave." "Works for me." Catherine tucked her notebook away, then leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "One question, though. How¡¯re you planning to reach those third parties? You don¡¯t have the connections yet." "I know someone who does," Isaac said, keeping it vague. Alice¡¯s family was one of the top three business empires in their City. They had ties to Explorer networks, and he¡¯d bet she could link him up. If everything worked properly, he could help her too. Isaac still remembered Alice paying for his tuition fees for the entire Academic duration. She had helped him while he was poor and had nothing, now it was his turn to return the favor. "Alright, I¡¯m heading out, and, Isaac, you should take a proper rest today. Tomorrow you will have a real combat training." "Got it. Thanks for everything." "Save the thanks for when you survive tomorrow. See you." She gave him a smile, and left after grabbing her bag. Isaac lingered for a moment, then grabbed the Harvest Bane Hoe and headed outside. Both plots were fully grown again under the evening sun. He stopped to inspect them, noticing each Vitality Grain plant now bore eighteen fruits, up from sixteen and fourteen that morning. "Number¡¯s climbing again. The skills¡¯ level up must¡¯ve helped," he muttered, plucking one to taste. The refreshing sweet taste was still there. "How much can they be improved?" He swung the hoe twice. 360 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +32. Constitution + 32. You have obtained 1800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [17 ¡ú 49] Mana: 100 [57 ¡ú 89] Leora joined him, and they carried the grains inside, stacking them neatly with the rest. Back outside, he burned the stalks, turning them to ash. He spread the fertilizer across both plots, then planted new seeds. By the time he finished, the sun was dipping low, and he wiped sweat from his brow, staring at the empty fields. ¡¯Maybe I should set an alarm for midnight. The crops would be fully grown by then,¡¯ he thought. "You should sleep instead of planning to wake up at night for farming." Leora, who¡¯d been watching from the porch, stepped forward, cutting through his thoughts. "What, you got a mind-reading skill now?" Isaac chuckled, turning to her. She shook her head with a serious expression. "I don¡¯t need one to see what¡¯s on your mind. It¡¯s good you¡¯re diligent, Isaac, but overdoing it can make everything worse." He opened his mouth to reply, but she held up a hand, her tone firm yet kind. "Stats don¡¯t fix everything. Constitution helps with stamina, sure. It makes your endurance recovers fast. But blood circulation? Only a little. Muscle aches? Barely touches them. "Same with your mana pathways. If you overuse skills too long without rest, they¡¯ll weaken. You¡¯ll burn out." Isaac went quiet, her words sinking in. He hadn¡¯t thought about it like that. Pushing hard felt natural with his stats so high. "According to the stat report you submitted yesterday in class, your Mana¡¯s already at its limit. Constitution must be close, or maybe it hit after today¡¯s harvest. "Extra stats won¡¯t do anything right now. You¡¯re not building strength; you¡¯re risking collapse. Rest matters more than grinding needlessly." Isaac couldn¡¯t argue, not when she was laying it out so plainly. Besides, he could see she was genuinely worried. "Alright," he said, exhaling. "You win. I¡¯ll sleep." Soon after, a truck rumbled up to the house. They were Sanctum of Masters¡¯s people, and here for the 1,700 grains. They loaded the crops into crates. Isaac¡¯s phone buzzed as they drove off: [10,200,000 Obols deposited in your account 123X XXX XXX XXX]. He stared at the number with a smile. It was more money than he¡¯d ever dreamed of before awakening. Shaking his head, he thought of Emily. He wanted to buy something for her with his first real income, something special. But what should he buy? Chapter 36: Diet Plan, Alice’s Situation Chapter 36: Diet Plan, Alice¡¯s Situation He wandered into the kitchen, where Leora was prepping dinner. "Hey, Leora," he said, leaning against the counter. "What do you think Emily would like? A gift, I mean." She paused, chopping carrots with her usual precision. "She used to love big teddy bears until recently. She could hold them at night, and it would help her sleep. Not sure now, though." Isaac caught the slight shift in her tone, but before he could ask what that was, she changed the topic. "Buying her a gift with your first earnings, huh? That¡¯s sweet of you." ¡¯I¡¯m not a kid, Vice Principal. You don¡¯t need to praise me like that.¡¯ He groaned, exasperated. "Well, I¡¯ll get her a teddy bear. But shouldn¡¯t I buy something expensive as well?" She gave him a sidelong glance. "Gifts aren¡¯t about money, Isaac, not for Emily at least." The air tightened a bit, and Isaac wondered if she was annoyed. Thinking again, he¡¯d accidentally implied Emily was materialistic. "I didn¡¯t mean it like that," he said. "I just want the gift to be something that makes her happy." Leora didn¡¯t respond, focusing on the stove. ¡¯She is protective of Emily,¡¯ he thought, smiling inwardly. Emily had good people around her. Leora, Professor Catherine. To shift the mood, he asked, "How much would land cost here in the Stronghold?" "Hard to say. Depends on the situation. This is a military zone. Selling land here complicated. It¡¯s not a simple transaction." She stirred a pot. "Normally, we won¡¯t ever sell it, but your case is unique. So until you apply for land, where we will revalutate your performace, we can¡¯t estimate a cost." Isaac nodded, turning his gaze to the kitchen. "Do you need some help?" "No. Go sit in the living room. The food is almost ready." She shooed him off with a wooden spoon. Dinner came soon after, and Isaac¡¯s eyes widened at the spread. Roasted Dire Boar ribs, glazed with a spicy mana-infused sauce, paired with Stormroot vegetables, their faint blue glow hinting at their potency, and a side of Griffin Claw broth, rich and hearty. "This is... a lot," he said, sitting down. "Catherine gave me a diet plan for you," Leora said, setting a plate in front of him. "I¡¯ll be cooking from it from now on." She hesitated, then added quickly, "Don¡¯t think bad about Catherine. She is worried about you in her own way, even if she doesn¡¯t show it." Isaac nodded. He took a bite of the boar. The meat was tender and bursting with flavor. A subtle mana tingle spread through his tongue and entered his body. "It¡¯s perfect," he said, meaning it. After dinner, he stepped onto the porch. The cool night wind brushed his face. Tyr waved a branch from the field, humming its rough tune, and Isaac waved back, smiling. He pulled out his phone and dialed Alice. The time was 10 p.m., early enough since she slept at 11 sharp. The line rang, and rang, and he frowned. "Weird. Is she asleep already?" Just as it nearly went to voicemail, she picked up. Silence stretched for a few seconds before her voice came through, calm and aloof. "Hello, Isaac." "Hey, Alice," he said, leaning against the railing. "Everything okay?" Another pause, then, "Yes. What¡¯s up?" He frowned. His grip on the railing tightened. He could sense something off. But pushing over the phone wouldn¡¯t work. She¡¯d brush it off. "I need a distributor for my first batch of crops," he said instead. "1,700 Vitality Grains, and I¡¯m planning to sell more in the upcoming days." "You want Calloway Corporation to handle it?" she asked, confirming. "Yeah," he said. "Can you set it up?" "I¡¯ll talk to the chairman and arrange a meeting soon," she replied. "Anything else?" "Come with them," he said lightly. "When they come for the deal. I¡¯d like to see you too." There was a beat of silence before she responded, "Okay." Her voice softened just a touch. "Goodbye, Isaac." "Bye," he said, ending the call. He stared at the screen, unease gnawing at him. Alice used to say that her family was quite good to her even though her parents were dead. But as expected, once they found out she did not inheret one of the unique Talents of Calloway family, they became cold to her. ¡¯This is one of the time I¡¯m really hoping I misunderstood everything, and Alice was just tired right now.¡¯ ¡¯And that her family is treating her nicely.¡¯ ... Central Sector, Fortified City 50 Alice sat at her desk in the small office. Piles of documents towered around her¡ªshipping manifests, inventory logs, supplier contracts¡ªall signs of the workload that had piled up since she¡¯d returned from the awakening ceremony. Her eyes ached, heavy with fatigue, and her shoulders slumped under the weight of hours spent hunched over papers. The entry-level logistics job wasn¡¯t glamorous, but it was hers, assigned quietly after she came back Talentless. No one had scolded her, no one had mocked her, at least not to her face. But no one had offered help either. She didn¡¯t need it anyway. The clock on the wall ticked past 10:10 p.m. She pushed her chair back, and stood, stretching her stiff limbs. The offices outside her cramped room were dark and empty. The rest of the staff had long gone home after their shifts ended hours ago. She grabbed her suit coat and headed for the elevator. With her family name granting her clearance, she rode up to the top floor. At the chairman¡¯s office, she knocked softly. "Come in, " a deep voice called from within. She pushed the door open, stepping into the spacious room. The chairman¡ªher uncle¡ªsat behind his wide desk, a stack of reports spread before him. His gray hair was neatly combed, his suit crisp despite the late hour, and his stern features softened into a warm smile when he saw her. "You¡¯re still here, Alice? I told you to leave on time." "I just finished up." She said with a neutral expression, then added, "Isaac called earlier." The chairman¡¯s eyes sharpened, his posture straightening as he leaned forward. "Isaac? What did he say?" "He¡¯s got 1,700 Vitality Grains. It¡¯s his first batch of crops," she said. "He wants Calloway Corporation to distribute them for him." The old man¡¯s face lit up with interest. The shift from familial warmth to business alertness was almost instant. He reached for his phone, pressing a button. "Margaret," he said to his secretary, "set up a meeting with Sanctum of Masters and Isaac. Soon as possible." He hung up, his mind already turning over the opportunity, then looked back at Alice. "Good catch. This could be big." She didn¡¯t leave right away, lingering by the desk. After a moment, she spoke again, quieter this time. "Can I go meet him too? When we do the deal?" The chairman¡¯s gaze settled on her. He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands together, and took a slow breath. When he spoke, his tone was gentle but firm. "Alice, I know you¡¯ve always liked the boy. But now... you haven¡¯t awakened any Talent, and he¡¯s got the best in history¡ªan SSS rank Farmer. "If you try to get close to him, people will hurt you. They¡¯ll say you¡¯re taking advantage of his kindness, clinging to him for what he¡¯s become." Alice¡¯s hand tightened around her forearm. The chairman noticed, his heart twisting at the sight, but he didn¡¯t back down. He¡¯d rather see her face this now than suffer worse later. Rumors, insults, the kind of cruelty that followed gaps in power, it was the horrible. He did not want Alice to become a subject of that. She looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know. I¡¯ll just meet him. Nothing else." He studied her for a long moment. Finally, he sighed. "Okay. If that¡¯s what you want." A faint smile flickered on Alice¡¯s face, and she turned to leave. The door clicked shut behind her, and the chairman sighed again. His fingers pressed against his forehead. A wave of regret washed over him. He wondered if he should¡¯ve stepped in years ago, back at the academy when Alice and Isaac grew close. Isaac had been poor then, a nobody by most standards, but Alice never cared¡ªshe¡¯d paid his tuition, stood by him, treated him as an equal. He had not seen any problem with that. Maybe, he thought, he should¡¯ve stopped it then, drawn a line when their worlds were still similar. But now? The gap was a chasm, and he feared what it might cost her. Contrary to his worries, Alice¡¯s complexion improved as soon as she got the permission. She returned to her office with light steps, and a small smile. Chapter 37: Third Title, Velumbra Lily Chapter 37: Third Title, Velumbra Lily Isaac woke up to a pleasant surprise. Spirit Power: 97 ¡ú 100 You have reached the stat limit of Spirit Power. Unlocked title Mind Echo. "Guess going to bed early really paid off." As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, Isaac thought back to the previous night. He had fallen asleep quickly, and his mind was unburdened for once. Maybe that was it. His mind had finally relaxed. Good thing he listened to Vice Principal¡¯s advice of taking proper rest. That, and the nutrients from his mana-rich meals probably helped his body stabilize. He felt sharper somehow, clearer. But was that the effect of the new title, or just the increase in stats? "Hopefully today¡¯s combat training will help me figure out what exactly Formlock and Mind Echo do," he mumbled. He dressed quickly and stepped out into the fresh morning air with Leora trailing close behind. The field greeted him with a familiar shimmer, but something else caught his eye. "Again?" he blinked. Each plant now bore twenty fruits. He approached with a quiet sense of awe. "They doubled again..." Without wasting time, he swung his hoe twice. The motion was now second nature to him. 400 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +36. Constitution + 36. You have obtained 2000 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [49 ¡ú 85] Mana: 100 [89 ¡ú 125] The grains were stored inside with Leora¡¯s help. The stalks were burned, their ashes scattered to rejuvenate the soil, and new seeds were planted in careful rows. After finishing his chores, he washed up, then made his way toward the basement gym. Professor Catherine joined him just before breakfast, and together, they enjoyed a hearty meal. With the new diet, Isaac could feel his fatigue dissolving bite by bite. Class followed in the study. Today, Professor Catherine had brought a new type of flower. It was delicate, with pale lilac petals that shimmered slightly in the light. A faint, soothing fragrance lingered around it. "This," she began, holding one up for him to see, "is a Velumbra Lily. A rare flower. It naturally grows near dangerous flora such as Dreadbloom, Miragepetal, and Viperthorn. Those are the poisonous flowers you have. But unlike them, the Velumbra Lily contains compounds capable of acting as an antidote to all three. "However, the extraction process must be done with extreme care. Each antidote is unique, and any mixing during extraction renders the results ineffective." Isaac nodded, focusing his Reaper¡¯s Bounty skill. Mana flowed into his hands, and he reached for the first Velumbra Lily. The process was more complicated than extracting two Silverbloom at once. Each antidote had to carefully extracted. His breathing slowed, and he worked methodically. During the class, Isaac received another valuable piece of information from Professor Catherine. The effect of Dreamblood, Miragepetal, and Viperthorn could be increased when they were used in large number. When used only one of each, they could affect Adept rank awakener. When used three of each, they could poison Elite rank awakeners. When five, they could destroy Master rank awakeners. Their ability to increase the effect when used in large numbers was what made them rare and expensive. It was also the reason Professor Catherine chose them as Isaac¡¯s weapon instead of any other poisonous flower. By the end of the session, sweat beaded Isaac¡¯s brow, and his fingers were cramping from the delicate work. He had only managed to extract ten Velumbra Lily. [Reaper¡¯s Bounty has reached Level 4] "It leveled up... from just ten?" he muttered. Professor Catherine smirked, finding pleasure in his surprise. "That¡¯s the benefit of having a high-rank Talent. Skills tied to it will grow faster as well. And considering how complex this task was, it¡¯s no wonder you saw such growth." Isaac nodded slowly, absorbing the words. High difficulty, high reward. They had lunch together. The mana-rich dishes revitalized him instantly. His body, tired from the morning¡¯s work and class, now buzzed with energy. After lunch, he returned to the field. The plants had grown again. Each one now bore twenty-two fruits. 440 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +40. Constitution + 40. You have obtained 2200 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [85 ¡ú 125] Mana: 100 [125 ¡ú 165] He harvested them all again, storing and burning as before. This time, however, a new message appeared. Sovereign of Land has reached Level 3 Active and passive effects strengthened by 120%. Cooldown: 24 hours ¡ú 20 hours He grinned. With his energy still high, he made his way to the backyard and planted another tangerine tree. The first tree, which he had planted only yesterday, had already borne fruit again. Tyr, the Treant, appeared quietly and plucked the fruits from both trees, offering them to Isaac. Isaac smiled and handed a few back to Tyr, who accepted them with what looked like a pleased nod. As he stored the rest inside the house, Professor Catherine appeared again. "Are you done?" she asked. "Yes," he replied. "Good. Your break is over. Let¡¯s head out for your combat training." Isaac perked up. He had been waiting for this. "You can bring Tyr with you," she added casually. Isaac blinked, then glanced at the eight-foot-tall Treant beside him. "How am I supposed to bring¡ª" Before he could finish, Tyr¡¯s body trembled. The thick branches and limbs retracted. The bark folded in on itself. In mere seconds, Tyr had shrunk down to the size of a small, leafy child, no taller than Isaac¡¯s palm. Isaac blinked again. "Well... that solves that." He hoisted the miniaturized Treant onto his shoulder, and the four of them¡ªIsaac, Tyr, Professor Catherine, and Leora¡ªleft the stronghold on foot. Thanks to their high stats, they moved at incredible speeds, barely winded even after covering miles. As they reached the outer edge of the stronghold, Isaac noticed something. A faint, shimmering dome encased the entire Stronghold. It became clearer as he neared the border. "A transparent barrier." A city in ruins lay beyond it. Crumbling buildings, claw marks slashed across shattered concrete, and entire towers uprooted and stacked atop one another. It was like staring into the aftermath of a thousand-year-old war. At the barrier¡¯s edge, another professor stood waiting, surrounded by nine students. "Ah, you must be Isaac," the professor greeted him with a nod. "I¡¯m Professor Ren from the Sanctum of Masters. These nine are fourth-year students. You will be joining in on their practical combat training." The students, dressed in more combat-ready gear, eyed Isaac with curiosity and mild disinterest¡ªuntil Professor Ren spoke again. "This young man is an SSS-rank Farmer. He awakened just a few days ago, yet he¡¯s already Level 10 Initiate tier and has unlocked the Mana Resonance title." The temperature in the air seemed to shift. Some students looked surprised, others skeptical. One of them narrowed his eyes, clearly not expecting someone with a Life Talent to have such growth. Professor Ren smiled to himself, watching the shift in their expressions. Then he clapped his hands. "You¡¯ll be split into two groups of five. Isaac, you¡¯ll join Team A. Each team will head to a different starting location. Somewhere nearby, a monster is lurking. It¡¯s dangerous, but manageable if the entire team works together. The first team to defeat it wins." "What kind of monster?" one student asked. "That¡¯s for you to find out," Professor Ren replied with a shrug. "Intercepting the other team is allowed. Don¡¯t worry about other monsters. We¡¯ll be monitoring everything. If anything gets out of hand, we¡¯ll step in." Chapter 38: Elite rank Molten Hornbull, Isaac’s Plan Chapter 38: Elite rank Molten Hornbull, Isaac¡¯s Plan With that, he gestured, and the teams were formed. Professor Catherine led Isaac¡¯s team through the shattered streets until they reached a wide square surrounded by skeletal buildings, and left. Isaac exhaled, scanning the terrain. Lots of cover. Cracked pavement. Rubble everywhere. Four students approached him. The first was a boy with spiky hair and an eager grin. "Yo, name¡¯s Broon. Elite Rank. You really an SSS Farmer?" Isaac nodded. "Cool! Never fought with a Farmer before." "I¡¯m Thalia, and I¡¯m also Elite Rank." The second, a red-haired girl with confident eyes, nodded. "Looking forward to seeing what you can do." The third, a darker-skinned boy with a mechanical arm, introduced himself as Elric. Also Elite. The fourth said nothing at first. He was pale, with stark white hair and eyes that gave away nothing. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Nero. Master Rank." He stood still, arms crossed, unreadable. Isaac returned the nod. "Alright, since we¡¯re all here," Elric said. "This is the information about the monster." He raised his mechanical arm. A small aperture opened along the wrist, projecting a glowing blue hologram into the air. The image was of a massive bull-like creature. It stood like a titan, broad and solid, with thick muscle bulging under dark, metal-plated skin. Its horns curved like sharpened scythes, glowing faintly with an eerie orange hue. Its eyes were dull, mindless pits of hunger, and its maw was large enough to crush a man in a single bite. The thing looked like it had crawled out of an iron furnace. Steam hissed out from its joints with every step. "You already know the monster?" Isaac questioned. Thalia gave him a side glance and smirked. "Elric¡¯s good at what he does." "Combat training was scheduled for today," Elric said casually, tapping the hologram to rotate the monster¡¯s angle. "So I hacked the internal database last night. This guy is what they¡¯re dropping on us. ¡¯Molten Hornbull.¡¯ Elite rank." Isaac¡¯s expression must¡¯ve revealed his thoughts as Elric smiled and spoke, "I know what you are thinking. How can this guy hack into the database? Shouldn¡¯t it be heavily protected by Technomancers? "Answer is no," Elric admitted. "Professor Ren knows about what I did. It¡¯s part of the test. If you can plan ahead, and hack past the security wall, you deserve the advantage. Seizing every advantage, it¡¯s one of the first lesson in combat training classes that we were taught." Thalia folded her arms. "That¡¯s probably why Professor Ren didn¡¯t give us any details. We were expected to gather our own information." Isaac mulled that over. It made sense. "So... what do we know about it?" "I¡¯m sure you know monsters are much stronger than us despite being the same rank as us." Elric turned back to the projection. "But this thing is a monster among monsters. Strong defense, fast as hell, but in a straight line. Size of a small house. Can bulldoze through trees like they¡¯re paper. It¡¯s got a nose for mana¡ªit eats mana-infused metals, so it can sniff us out if we flare too much power." "Any ideas for a plan?" Nero crossed his arms. "Do we have a way to locate the monster?" Isaac asked. "Nope. The only guy with a scouting talent is in the other team," Broon answered. "Yeah, their scout can release a mana pulse to detect nearby concentrations of mana. People, monsters, traps. He can detect anything with mana. We don¡¯t have that luxury," Thalia nodded. Elric added, "Nero can mask our mana signatures, which helps us stay hidden from them, but it won¡¯t fool the Hornbull." Isaac turned that over. "Do they know what they¡¯re facing?" Broon laughed. "Nope. Everyone knew Elric had the info. But he didn¡¯t say a word until after teams were made. That¡¯s why everyone was tense when the lineup was about to be revealed, everyone wanted Elric on their side." Thinking it over, Issac noticed the teams were balanced. Deliberately distributed. Probably to force conflict on multiple fronts. Strong members divided between two groups with their weaknesses and strengths aligned to clash. And that gave him an idea. He knelt and picked up a small pebble from the forest floor. The others watched in silence as he held it between his fingers and focused on using Mana Resonance. Ambient mana around him stirred and flowed into the stone, fusing tightly to its structure. The stone began to hum with invisible energy, a soft glow building in its core. The others looked confused. Only Nero¡¯s eyes flickered with realization. When Isaac was done, he stood and held the stone up. "There¡¯s about eighty mana condensed inside this stone. Based on Elric¡¯s notes, that¡¯s close to what the Hornbull gives off." "Okay..." Broon said slowly. "What now?" Isaac pointed to a cluster of trees in the distance. "I¡¯m going to leave this mana-charged stone there. The other team¡¯s scout will detect it. They¡¯ll think this is the monster." "It will be a bait," Nero explained. "While they go there..." "We set up an ambush and take them down, which will guarantee out victory as only we will be able to fight the Hornbull after they are defeated," Isaac finished. Thalia raised an eyebrow. "And what about you?" "I¡¯ll intercept the monster. Alone," Isaac said. "What?!" Broon looked horrified. "You¡¯re a first-year! You awakened less than five days ago! That thing¡¯s an elite!" "He unlocked Mana Resonance. That means his mana stat is already at 100. He¡¯s a monster, Broon. And if his other stats match, then... this plan¡¯s not as crazy as it sounds." Thalia sighed. Broon still looked unsure. "It¡¯s still dangerous! Shouldn¡¯t we all ambush the other team first and then go after the monster?" "No," Thalia said. "The monster will sense Isaac. With his mana levels, he¡¯ll be its number one target. If it shows up while we¡¯re fighting the other team, it¡¯ll turn into a chaotic free-for-all. But if we follow Isaac¡¯s plan, we isolate the threats." Broon wasn¡¯t done. He looked at Isaac then at Nero. "How do we know the other team will even go toward the bait?" "We don¡¯t. But Isaac will stay in contact. If something goes wrong, we regroup." Elric chimed in. "And what if the other team gets to the monster first?" Broon asked again, frowning hard. Thalia just blinked at him. "You¡¯re not getting it." This time Nero answered. "That creature is powerful. It won¡¯t go down easy. We¡¯ll have time to intercept them. And Isaac..." He turned to Isaac, his gaze sharp. "You¡¯ve got a backup plan, don¡¯t you?" Isaac nodded. "I have some toxic plants. I¡¯ll plant them around the battlefield before the fight. I¡¯ve prepared the antidote already. If the other team reaches me, they¡¯ll get poisoned before they even realize what¡¯s happening." The others went quiet. Finally, Elric gave a low whistle. "Alright. Not bad. Not bad at all." Thalia nodded once. Nero gave a short grunt of approval. Broon sighed but didn¡¯t argue further. The plan was set. Nero hid everyone¡¯s mana signature, and they split. Isaac moved north, toward a distant cluster of old trees, far from both his team¡¯s path. He stopped at park with open area. "This place is good for fighting the monster, and if the other team arrives here, they won¡¯t be able to ambush me before I see them too." He planted five seeds of each flower in a spread-out pattern. Then, he used the hoe to till the land. This would make the ¡¯crop¡¯ twice as fertile, which meant that the potency of the posion would shot through the roof. Then he drank the antidote from a small flask strapped to his belt. It had a strong aftertaste¡ªbitter, metallic¡ªbut it would keep him safe for the next twelve hours. Chapter 39: First Fight Against A Monster Chapter 39: First Fight Against A Monster He gave a antidote to Tyr too. The treant drank it happily. As he stood in the center of the soon-to-be trap location, Mana Resonance allowed him to resonate with the flow of ambient Mana, and feel changes in it. He listened to the soft rustle of leaves, and faint buzz of insects. And behind it all there was a distant, rhythmic thuds of Mana. He could feel the tremors in the ground. It was coming. But Isaac didn¡¯t move. The real reason he¡¯d crafted this plan wasn¡¯t just for victory in the combat practical class. It was for Tyr. Defeating an elite-ranked monster would push Tyr¡¯s level straight to, or near, Level 10. Tyr was born from the Genetic Catalyst ¨C Core ¨C of the Overlord rank Tyrant Verdant Treant, and Tyr had exceptional potential. He would evolve into a powerful species upon reaching Adept rank. Isaac wanted to make Tyr evolve as quickly as possible. "Tyr, make sure to cover me in the fight." ... Nero¡¯s POV Nero stayed low behind a half-collapsed wall. Across the street, the others were in position. Thalia had taken cover behind some rubble. Broon was crouched near an old pillar. Elric was on the second floor of a ruined building. The mana-infused stone was placed where they wanted it. Inside another building. It had just enough mana to draw attention. Nero clicked the comm once. "We¡¯re set," he said. "Same here," Elric replied. "You really think Isaac will be alright on his own?" "He¡¯s not bad, but stats aren¡¯t everything," Broon said. "Fighting¡¯s more than numbers." Nero glanced at the stone across the road. "I get it. I¡¯m not thrilled about it either. But you saw how arrogant he was, saying he would fight the Molten Hornbull alone. He thinks having an SSS rank Talent makes him the strongest. "We know Talent doesn¡¯t mean anything unless we train properly. "If Isaac doesn¡¯t realize this soon, it will limit his future. This is why it¡¯s best to let him do what he wants. When he is defeated by the Molten Hornbull, it will set him on the right path." Academies trained the students in combat, but most students never took it seriously. They thought having a Combat-type Skill was enough. But only those who fought on field knew skills needed proper training to be used. Slash, for example, boosted the next attack by 250%. But it took a split second to activate, which wasn¡¯t mentioned in the skill description. The small time lag could get one killed in a battle unless they were accustomed to it. "Only way to gain battle experience is to let him have a real battle," Nero said. "Still doesn¡¯t feel right leaving a junior like him alone," Broon muttered. Nero sighed. "Let him mess up. Better now than later. He needs to see his limits." There was a pause, then Nero added, "But... he did manage Mana Resonance after unlocking it just days ago. And he made a better plan than what anyone could create in a short amount of time. It¡¯s clear is isn¡¯t like the raffle from the academies who are drunk on their Talent. So maybe he¡¯ll pull it off." Just then, Elric spoke up. "I¡¯ve got movement. They¡¯re close." Nero looked through a crack in the wall. The entire opposing team was walking toward the building with the stone. "All of them?" Thalia asked. "They¡¯re not even being careful," Broon said. "This feels too easy," Nero muttered. Elric launched his spell. A barrage of fire missiles hit the building. Broon and Thalia rushed out. Nero stayed back a moment, watching. There was a loud roar from the smoke. Then silence. As the dust cleared, Nero could see only one person standing. The others had vanished like smoke in the wind. The man was calm. Pale-haired. He had a slight smile on his face, and he held the stone in his hand, spinning it slowly. "I figured you¡¯d try something like this," the Kael said. "But I can¡¯t say it was a smart move." Thalia frowned. Kael. Master-rank. Illusion Mage. Not stronger than Nero, but tricky to defeat even if they all fought against him together. "Where¡¯s the rest of your team?" Thalia demanded. "Something¡¯s off," Elric said. "They were all here a second ago." Nero didn¡¯t speak. His mind was already piecing it together. "Dammit," he muttered. "Kael used his illusions to trick us. They knew about our plan. Dammit, Professor Ren, you set us up because we had an advantage due to the Elric." "What?" Thalia asked. "Their scout¡ªZeke. He can detect mana within five hundred meters. If he sensed the monster first, they¡¯d chase it. If he sensed the stone, they¡¯d come here. But if he picked up both..." "Then they¡¯d figure out which one was moving," Elric¡¯s muttered. "Exactly. We stayed still to set the trap. The monster kept moving. They figured it out." Kael chuckled. "You¡¯re not wrong. We sensed both. One mana source was still. The other was on the move. Since your guy has Mana Resonance, we guessed you used it to create a decoy." Professor Ren had purposefully revealed Isaac had Mana Resonance. It was to let the smart ones know what kind of plan Isaac could implement with Mana Resonance, and Kael, being an Illusion Mage who had mastered the craft of deception and trickery, had always been first to pick up clues like that. Kael tapped the stone lightly against his palm. "It wasn¡¯t hard to work out who the bait was." Nero didn¡¯t say anything. He activated Invisibility and started moving. "Elric," he said through the comm. "You three handle him. I¡¯m going to Isaac." "I¡¯ll warn Isaac about the ambush¨C" Elric stopped. They could suddenly not contact Isaac. "No signal," Elric said. "They¡¯re using a disruptor." "Of course we are." Kael laughed. Elric shook his head. "Fine. We will hold back Kael. You go to Isaac before the other team finds him. I will also try to disable the disruptor, and warn Isaac." They did want Isaac to lose to the monster, and understand that he needed to train. But being targeted by a team of seniors and a Elite monster at once was too much. It would no longer teach Isaac a lesson, and instead it would become a traumatic experience. It wasn¡¯t why Nero and others had sent Isaac alone. "Don¡¯t worry. I will go to Isaac quickly," Nero said. He activated Seven Wind Step skill and bolted towards Isaac¡¯s location. The rest of the team moved to engage Kael. Nero was already gone, running through the ruins, hoping he wasn¡¯t too late. ... Isaac¡¯s POV Isaac stared at the system interface projected in front of him. "Party Invite: Tyr." Monsters had status screens too. He found that out only recently. It was part of the World System itself. Not all of monsters were smart to make use of the System, but the System did the heavy lifting. It fed the information from interface directly into their minds. If they had intelligence even close to a newborn human child, they could use the System. This allowed monsters to level, and evolve. Isaac sent the party invite, unsure if it would even work. Tyr blinked once. Then twice. A screen appeared before Isaac. [Invite accepted.] [How would you like to adjust the experience point sharing?] [1. 50-50] [2. Performance-based] [3. Decide manually.] Isaac¡¯s eyes widened. "You can understand that?" Tyr tilted his leafy head, then stood straighter, like he¡¯d acknowledged something. "Okay," Isaac muttered. "Give all exp to Tyr." [Experience point distribution: Tyr (100%), Isaac Hargraves (0%)] A deep rumble echoed in the distance. Isaac raised his head. Smoke trailed in the air, and a hulking figure barreled through the ruined district. Steam hissed off its horns. It moved in a straight line, tearing through concrete walls like they were made of paper. Bits of burning rubble bounced off its armor-like hide. The monster stared Isaac in the eye. Isaac took a steady breath and activated Sovereign of Land. Mana pulsed beneath his feet. The land responded like it had been waiting. A five-hectare radius lit up in his mind. Raw information was fed into his mind¡ªsoil density, moisture levels, root structures, buried stone, broken metal. He felt everything. It was draining. Not enough to knock him out, but it pulled hard on his reserves. Still, he needed that much space. The Hornbull was too fast to be caged in a small arena. As the monster neared, Isaac raised his hand. He began using the active effect of Sovereign of Land. Massive roots erupted from the ground, entangling the charging beast¡¯s legs. It stumbled, skidding, digging furrows in the earth with its hooves. While it was interrupted, the poisonous flora bloomed. Dreadbloom. Miragepetal. Viperthorn. The poisonous gases wrapped around the Hornbull¡¯s limbs, and climbed toward its orifices. ¡¯The start was good. Now I just need to survive until poison finishes it.¡¯ ¡¯But that¡¯s easier said than done.¡¯ The roots strained to hold the Molten Hornbull down. The monster roared. Fire bloomed from beneath its hide, and suddenly its body flared with heat. The smell of burning bark and scorched air hit Isaac in the face. ¡¯That... looks like a skill,¡¯ Isaac noted. The roots were reduced to ash in seconds. The Molten Hornbull charged. Its molten hooves left glowing footprints behind. Steam rose with every step. Cracks formed in the road as the heat warped the ground. Isaac threw his arms forward, summoning more roots. These were thicker, and larger. They grabbed at the beast¡¯s horns and legs, but it burst through like a comet. Isaac braced, ready to dodge, when something massive slammed into the Hornbull¡¯s side. Chapter 40: Ambush! Chapter 40: Ambush! Tyr had grown in size. He was twice his 8 feet original size. The treant rammed his full body weight into the Molten Hornbull, sending it staggering and crashing sideways. Isaac stared. He expected Tyr to burn, but that did not happen. Scorch marks appeared, yes, but there was no fire, not even a smoke. "Fire-resistant bark..." he muttered. "As expected, Tyr is miles better when compared to normal Treants." Tyr turned his head slightly, as if asking to be praised. "Good job." A smile broke into Tyr¡¯s visage. The Molten Hornbull recovered fast. It released a scream that sounded like a boiling kettle. Then it rushed Isaac. The charge hit. Isaac flew back several meters, hitting a broken support beam. Pain shot through his chest, but there was no change in his expression. "Nothing broke," he said as he moved his body. "A high Constitution is really a cheat. I tanked a skill from a Elite rank monster with my bare body." It did hurt a lot though. Heat burst outward from the Molten Hornbull¡¯s body as it moved. The surrounding air shimmered, turning into a furnace. Tyr leapt in again, lashing out with tree-limb arms and vines. Isaac felt the land respond and raised thick roots to wrap the monster again. They weren¡¯t meant to hold, just slow it. Distract it. Let the poisons do their work. Already, the Hornbull¡¯s steps had slowed slightly. It moved with power, but not as cleanly. A misstep here. A stumble there. Its breath had become louder. The Miragepetal¡¯s dust began taking hold. The Hornbull roared at something to its left¡ªbut nothing was there. It turned, wildly swinging its horns at illusions. Then came the Dreadbloom¡¯s touch. It hesitated mid-charge, its shoulders twitching. Its hooves scraped backward. Isaac recognized the look. Fear. The Hornbull screamed again. Its eyes were bloodshot. Foam leaked from its mouth. Its body still moved with insane strength, but each step was slower, clumsier. The flames covering it dimmed. Isaac summoned more roots, and wrapped them around its neck, pulling it head-first into the ground. The Hornbull roared. It had a lot of life left. Isaac could feel the monster trying to escape. He burned Mana to keep it down until the poison finished it. Another few minutes and it would collapse fully. That¡¯s when Isaac felt it. Two sharp pulses of mana slicing through the air. He snapped his head up. Two firebolts. One coming straight at him, the other heading toward the Molten Hornbull. They wanted to kill the monster. He sprinted. His boots cracked rubble and dry earth as he pushed forward, but he was too far. The second firebolt closed in on the monster faster than he could reach. Then something crashed into it mid-air. Tyr. The treant had leapt between the bolt and the Hornbull. He was flung backward, slammed into a wall far away, and buried under debris. Isaac¡¯s jaw tightened. But there was no time to check on Tyr. From across the clearing, a voice echoed. "The first attack failed! Switch to Plan B!" A wind surged over the battlefield. It howled past Isaac¡¯s ears, and swept through the flowers. The lingering toxins were blown away. The battlefield was clean again. Three figures dashed through the broken street. Isaac recognized them immediately as the members of Team B. Vax. Heavy armor, tower shield. A pure tank built to take attacks. Renji. Long coat, twin scabbards, posture upright and balanced like a swordsman from the old world. Zeke. Lean and silent, already melting into the shadows. A ninja-type with a dangerous aura. They moved fast and without hesitation. Vax led the charge, shield up, eyes focused. Renji broke left, low to the ground. Zeke was already airborne. Isaac narrowed his stance. Roots stirred around him, but he couldn¡¯t summon much. Summoning roots needed mana control, and most of his focus was into holding the Molten Hornbull down. That was the enemy¡¯s plan. Force him into a fight while his ability to manipulate roots was tied up. Zeke threw two kunai. Isaac leaned back to dodge the first and knocked the second out of the air with a sharp backhand. Vax closed the gap. His shield came forward like a wall. Isaac sidestepped, twisted, and slammed his palm into the edge of the shield, redirecting the charge. Vax stumbled a step, more from surprise than force. Renji was already there. His right hand was drawing the blade from the scabbard. Mana crackled along the hilt. One more inch and the katana would fly. But Isaac didn¡¯t move to dodge. He stepped in and grabbed Renji¡¯s elbow, twisted his own body under the attack, and flipped the swordsman with a clean shoulder throw. It was a standard academy technique, to taken down swordsman. But it was rarely used in real fights due to the difficulty of mastering it and using it an combat. Renji crashed into the ground with a grunt, stunned. Vax recovered quickly and slammed his shoulder into Isaac¡¯s back, locking him in a crushing grip. Isaac¡¯s arms were pinned. "Got him!" Vax barked. Renji stood up, shook off the dust, and stepped forward again. His hand went to the sword. But as he pulled, the blade didn¡¯t move. Isaac had slammed his leg on the hilt. Renji froze. Vax was no different. "How did you even think of¡ª" Reacting fast, Renji released the hilt and raised his free hand. A glowing blade of condensed energy formed in his palm, an Aura Blade. He slashed down at Isaac¡¯s exposed leg. The blade hit. And bounced off. "What the hell...?" Renji¡¯s eyes widened. Isaac stabbed his elbow into Vax¡¯s abdomen and broke free from his grip. "Formlock," Vax said, gasping. "The title keeps the body together. Skin won¡¯t be cut, bones won¡¯t be broken. Any damage that forces a physical change is resisted." "So your Constitution is 100 too?" Renji blinked. "Is this guy even a farmer?" Isaac didn¡¯t answer. He moved. In a blink, he was behind Renji. He shot a hook to the side. Renji raised his arms just in time to block but was forced back. Isaac¡¯s combat ability shocked them all. Not only were his stats high, he was well experienced in combat too. They needed a trump card. Vax tried another charge, shield-first. Isaac slid low, used his momentum to throw Vax off-course, and stood between both men again. Then the air changed. A crackling of lightning. Zeke appeared. Steam poured off his body, and mana surged around his form. Ice platforms formed in the sky, appearing at sharp angles. Those were not Zeke¡¯s doing. Isaac could feel it. The mana flowing unnaturally in the air belonged to someone else, who was casting from afar. A mage. The fourth member hiding in the distance. Isaac¡¯s eyes traced the flow of magic through the sky. He couldn¡¯t leave, and attack her. If he moved now, these three would finish the Molten Hornbull while he was gone. Zeke crouched, then launched upward. Lightning wrapped his limbs as he activated the Sky Vein Acceleration skill. He moved like a blur, hopping across the floating ice platforms. To him, the world slowed to a crawl. Debris hovered in midair. The others were frozen like statues. He twisted mid-jump to glance back at Isaac, already confident. ¡¯Thanks to everyone, I had enough time to activate the skill. Now he can¡¯t catch me. This fight¡¯s ours¡ª¡¯ Zeke¡¯s grin froze. Isaac was watching him. Not blurred. Not lagging. His eyes were following Zeke at normal speed. Zeke¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Isaac mouthed something. ¡¯L O O K B E H I N D.¡¯ Zeke turned instinctively. Nothing was there. By the time he turned back, Isaac had closed the distance between them. A solid punch met Zeke¡¯s jaw mid-air. The ninja flipped, crashed into the ground, and didn¡¯t get back up. Chapter 41: Combat Genius Isaac, Tyr’s Double Ambush Chapter 41: Combat Genius Isaac, Tyr¡¯s Double Ambush Isaac didn¡¯t gloat. He didn¡¯t have time. Vax and Renji stared, stunned. They had underestimated Isaac. If he could follow Zeke¡¯s accelerated skill with his normal speed, then they might not have a chance at victory. ¡¯No, we still have a trump card!¡¯ Vax thought. Isaac didn¡¯t move forward. He just stood there, thinking. His eyes studied them again. His mind recalled their fight. Every twitch of muscle. Every breath. Their footwork. Their weight distribution. He analyzed everything. ¡¯Vax shifts more weight onto his right leg before a shield bash. He¡¯s hesitant when surprised, late on counters. Vulnerable from behind.¡¯ ¡¯Renji is trained more for monsters than people. His swings start high, which means he¡¯s used to aiming upward. Must¡¯ve fought larger opponents often. Probably adjusts mid-strike when dealing with humans.¡¯ Isaac completed his thoughts in less than a split second. He didn¡¯t realize he was doing it until the details settled in his brain like puzzle pieces snapping into place. ¡¯So this is the effect of Mind Echo title.¡¯ He could mentally replay his memories. It allowed him to observe what others did in combat, and reconstruct their technique and mistakes frame-by-frame. Vax glanced sideways. "Plan D." Renji nodded. Plan D was to fight as if their opponent was a monster. Isaac might be a natural-born combat genius, but he had no experience in fighting those who fought monsters. People who fought people, and people who fought monsters were completely different. Their style changed. No more tight, dueling stances. No more positioning like they were fighting another human. They would defeat Isaac before he could adapt to their new style. Vax¡¯s shield came low, sweeping the ground. Renji moved like a predator. Broad arcs. Wild footwork. Every strike aimed like they were cutting through hide, not flesh. Their attacks were aimed at vital points. But Isaac moved first. He knew the habits even they were not aware of. New combat style or not, they were now nothing more than headless chickens. He dashed in low, struck Vax in the ribs before he could raise his shield. Renji tried to intercept, but Isaac caught his wrist mid-swing, twisted it, and sent the katana flying. Renji stumbled back, breathing hard. Vax stepped in again. Isaac caught him with a short punch to the stomach. It was a clean hit. Vax grunted, and fell to one knee. Renji attacked Isaac from behind. Isaac dodged without looking back, and swiftly turned, his fist about to hit Renji¡¯s nose with enough force to break more than a few bones Renji instincts screamed at him to avoid the attack at all costs. But Isaac was too fast for him to dodge. "I yield!" Renji raised his hands in surrender. Isaac stopped mid-strike. "Good choice." Silence returned to the ruined battlefield. Then Isaac felt it. The air trembled. Mana gathered in the sky. Dark clouds coiled above, and lightning swirled around them like a hungry beast. Isaac looked toward the Molten Hornbull. It was still alive like a cockroach. Isaac was too far. He might be able to block the lightning with Formlock, and his high Constitution, but he wouldn¡¯t make it in time. Vax chuckled from where he sat. "We got you. That lightning¡¯ll finish the Molten Hornbull. It¡¯s Freya¡¯s strongest skill. You can¡¯t stop it." "You really think I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d try something like this?" Isaac smiled faintly. Vax¡¯s grin wavered. He looked around. It took him him a moment to realize what they had been missing, and the realization made his smile disappear. The treant¡ªTyr¡ªwas gone. ... Tyr POV Few minutes earlier. Tyr crouched low behind a mound of broken concrete. From the rooftop, hidden behind scattered rubble and broken stone, he watched the battlefield unfold below. Isaac was fighting. The Molten Hornbull was half buried in the ground, being pulled by the roots, and barely alive. Three enemies had come charging in and Isaac was already handling them. Tyr didn¡¯t move. He simply observed. He remembered Isaac¡¯s words before the battle. "Make sure to cover me during the fight." Tyr hadn¡¯t understood all of it. But the meaning was clear enough. Protect Isaac. So at first, when he was thrown away from the battlefield, he almost jumped back in. He wanted to fight beside Isaac. But then he saw something. Isaac wasn¡¯t struggling. He was winning by a large margin. He was stronger, faster, and more durable. Tyr had seen the Molten Hornbull. Seen how powerful it was. Even now, its mana trembled beneath the roots Isaac commanded. The beast was stronger than these people. And yet Isaac had fought it and defeated it. There was no way these people would trouble Isaac. So Tyr shifted his attention. If Isaac didn¡¯t need help with the fighters, then what about the mage? He scanned the edges of the battlefield. He shrunk his body to a small size to avoid detection and moved. There. He spotted the mage near the top of a crumbled building. Her robes shifted in the wind, and she stood near the edge, overlooking the fight from above. They had ambushed Isaac earlier, and now it was their turn to get ambushed. She raised one hand, casting quick pulses of mana toward the sky. Tyr stayed hidden. The ice platforms formed first. They hovered mid-air, and created a path in the sky that the ninja leapt across moments later. Only after that did the sky begin to darken. The clouds gathered above the battlefield, shaped and controlled by the mage¡¯s skill. She didn¡¯t seem to notice Tyr as he moved towards her. Tyr was much weaker than her, but he had a plan. In his hand, he carried the flowers. Miragepetal, Dreadbloom, and Viperthorn. Three flowers each. He picked them from the battlefield when he moved away from Isaac. He¡¯d kept them hidden, tucked beneath his vines. They had begun to wilt, but they had enough toxin for a few breaths. The ice platforms had served their purpose. The ninja had attacked and fallen. Tyr had seen the punch from a distance. As expected, Isaac didn¡¯t miss! He was the best! Tyr felt giddy watching Isaac¡¯s spectacular performance. Go! Show them who is the strongest! Excited, Tyr cheered for Isaac loudly. Isaac was too far to hear him, but the mage was near. She flinched, and her head snapped towards Tyr. "Y-you! A monster? H-how? They said there was only one monster." She staggered. Her hands trembled and the skill was interrupted. The clouds dispersed from the sky. Her head snapped around, eyes wild, and panicked. She was already affected. The Miragepetal¡¯s hallucinogens had taken hold. Shadows twisted in her vision. The rooftop shifted under her feet. She gasped and took a step back, searching for something that wasn¡¯t there. The Dreadbloom hit next. Her knees buckled. A sob slipped from her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes. Tyr stood fully upright now, growing to his natural size. She looked at him, and screamed. Under the toxins, she didn¡¯t see a treant. She saw something else. Something monstrous. A horror. She turned to flee but her footing slipped. One boot landed on the edge of the broken railing. It cracked beneath her weight. She fell. Tyr didn¡¯t flinch. He heard the scream, then the crash. Dust rose up from the street three stories below. He stepped toward the edge and looked down. No blood. A crater had formed in the fractured pavement. The mage lay inside, twitching, barely conscious. Still breathing, but clearly unable to fight. Yay...? Tyr couldn¡¯t decide if he should be happy he won, or be worried about the mage. Chapter 42: Tyr Reaches Level 10 Chapter 42: Tyr Reaches Level 10 Isaac POV Isaac watched the clouds unravel. The mana in the air eased, and the battlefield grew quiet. He was quite pleased by Tyr for understanding his intentions. The main reason Isaac entered melee was to divert everyone¡¯ attention from Tyr, and allow him to search for the mage. Vax slumped to the ground with a long sigh. Renji, standing nearby, had a tired but amused look on his face. His lips twitched into a bitter smile, the kind that came from accepting defeat with grace. Zeke was still out cold, sprawled awkwardly across the ground. Sovereign of Land: Level 3 ¡ú Level 4 Active and passive effects strengthened by 120% He tried using the skill. Now, he could summon roots without problem while still holding down the Molten Hornbull. The numbers of roots had increased along with their strength, and size. He found he could summon larger or smaller roots if he wished. If he was ambushed again, he could defeat Vax and his team with Sovereign of Land alone. He would not need to enter melee. The Molten Bullhorn stopped breathing. Isaac felt a warm feeling surging through his link with Tyr. A sense of fullness filled the link. It was the sign Tyr had reached level 10. "As expected. An Elite-ranked monster was enough." That was how the system worked. The higher the opponent¡¯s level and rank, the more experience was rewarded. The reverse was just as harsh. Kill something with lower level than you, and you¡¯d get close to nothing. That was why strong monsters in the wild didn¡¯t bother attacking cities unless it was out of spite. "Now comes the hard part. I need to find out the evolution conditions for Tyr." Beasts didn¡¯t have classes like humans. They evolved when they made a breakthrough in rank. To do that, they needed to meet special requirements. "I¡¯ll ask Professor Catherine if she knows someone who can help me with finding out evolution conditions for Tyr." Before he could think further, footsteps echoed from the far end of the ruined street. Professor Ren approached, carrying Freya carefully in his arms. Tyr trailed behind, smaller now, with his head down and shoulders slumped. "The combat training has ended," Professor Ren announced as he reached them. "Team A won." Isaac offered a quiet nod. Professor Ren glanced at Freya, then at Isaac. "She fell of a building. We¡¯ve treated her injuries with the healing potions, but the poison is still in her bloodstream, and it would take us time to return to Stronghold, and get the antidote. "Do you have an antidote? I can pay." "There¡¯s no need," Isaac said, already opening his pouch. "You can have the antidote for free." He pulled out a vial of Velumbra Lily antidote. While antidotes of Dreadbloom, Viperthorn, and Miragepetal weren¡¯t cheap, he knew Professor Ren could easily get them from the Sanctum of Masters for free. It would¡¯ve been short-sighted to ask for payment now. Gaining someone like Ren¡¯s favor was worth far more than a few thousand Obols. Besides, Isaac had watched how he set this whole training up. The split between teams was well balanced, and well thought of. And by revealing Isaac¡¯s title out loud before the fight, he made sure no one underestimated him. He framed the whole fight before it began, challenging Isaac while also giving him the space to prove himself. A genius tactician. Isaac had seen through his plan, but he followed it as it was an easy way he could get to fight Molten Hornbull alone. If it was someone else other than Isaac, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to see through the plan of Professor. He handed the vial over, and Professor Ren took it with a small smile. Then he extended his hand. Isaac shook it. Nothing was said, but the message was clear. Professor Ren accepted his token of friendship. Freya drank the antidote with help. She didn¡¯t speak, only winced, then exhaled and slipped into unconscious sleep. The pain was gone. "Where¡¯s Professor Catherine and Leora?" Isaac asked, glancing around. "They¡¯re busy," Ren replied smoothly. Something about his tone was off. Isaac didn¡¯t press. But he filed the thought away. His attention shifted to Tyr. The treant stood quietly, gaze fixed on the ground. He looked unsure. Almost... guilty. "What¡¯s wrong, buddy?" Tyr didn¡¯t speak. Isaac followed his line of sight. Freya. Tyr was afraid. He thought he¡¯d done something wrong, and Isaac would scold him. Before Isaac could respond, Vax stood up, stretched, and clapped a heavy hand on Tyr¡¯s wooden back. "Don¡¯t stress about it, big guy. Getting hurt¡¯s normal in combat. Honestly, if you¡¯d gone easy on her, she¡¯d be more pissed." Tyr blinked. Slowly, he stood straighter. Then Vax turned to Isaac with a grin and extended his hand. "You¡¯re a damn good fighter." Isaac shook it firmly. Zeke stirred, groaned once, and started to sit up. He rubbed his jaw, the bruises already starting to darken. "That was something," he muttered. "I never knew farmers can throw hands." Renji joined them a second later. His bitter smile hadn¡¯t faded. A shout rang out from across the battlefield. "Isaac!" Nero sprinted toward them, sweat dripping, breathing heavy. His coat was dusty with one sleeve torn. He spotted Renji and Vax standing around Isaac. "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help¡ª!" His voice trailed off as his eyes landed on Professor Ren, who stood quietly at Isaac¡¯s side. "Professor Ren...? Why are you here?" Professor Ren nodded toward him. "The combat training ended. Your team won." The words hung in the air. Nero stared blankly. He looked at Isaac, standing upright without a scratch, then at the corpse of the Molten Bullhorn, then at Freya, clearly unconscious. Vax bruised. Renji beaten. Zeke dazed. "You defeated them alone?" Nero asked after a pause. Isaac gave a small shrug. "Tyr helped." Nero didn¡¯t respond. He just stood there, frozen in disbelief. Later, when the full group reassembled, the mood had shifted. Broon and Vax were showering Isaac with praise, grinning like fools. "You have to visit the barracks," Vax said, slapping Isaac¡¯s back. "Fourth-years would love to meet you." Broon laughed too loudly. "Yes, that¡¯s a good idea!" "You just want them to suffer like we did," Renji said, chuckling. Vax didn¡¯t even try to deny it. Nero was still in daze. His usual stone-faced calm was gone. He hadn¡¯t said a word since. Thalia stared at Isaac, shocked. Her blank expression matched Nero¡¯s. Freya was still out cold, but breathing steadily. Zeke sat on a stone block, staring at the ground. Kael stood over him, arms crossed, pacing. "How did this happen?" Kael demanded. "All of you were defeated by a single student who hasn¡¯t had his Talent for a week!" Zeke didn¡¯t answer. He couldn¡¯t. Because it wasn¡¯t a defeat. It was a demolition. Professor Ren followed behind the group, floating the massive corpse of the Molten Bullhorn in the air with a casual gesture. The body bobbed slightly, steam still faintly rising from the hide. He told Isaac the corpse was Isaac¡¯s as he took it down alone. Isaac had nothing to carry something so large. Professor Ren decided to help him bring it to his house. Isaac planned to sell everything but the meat. The rest¡ªhorns, hide, organs¡ªwould bring in close to three million Obols. If this was what a single Elite rank monster¡¯s corpse gave, Isaac understood why everyone wanted to be an Explorer despite the danger. ¡¯I already have 11.6 million Obols, and with this I would have 14.6 million Obols.¡¯ Chapter 43: Selling Molten Hornbull Parts Chapter 43: Selling Molten Hornbull Parts Leora POV Leora stood on top of a broken skyscraper. She narrowed her eyes. From this height, she could see the entire sector clearly. Isaac and the others had gathered at the area near the border of the stronghold. Their movements were clear to her despite the distance. Behind her, someone landed softly on the rooftop. Leora didn¡¯t need to turn to know who it was. Catherine walked over with light steps. Her segmented sword hung loose, partially extended in its whip form, still dripping with fresh blood. Blood stained the edges of her coat and streaked across one side of her face, but she was smiling like nothing was out of place. "It was just as we predicted," Catherine said casually. "The moment Isaac stepped out of the stronghold, the assassins came." Leora turned her head and frowned at the sword. "Did you find out where they¡¯re from?" Catherine shook her head and pulled her sword back into its compact shape. "No. They all self-destructed the second I tried to interrogate them seriously." "So it¡¯s the same as last time?" Leora¡¯s frown deepened. "Exactly the same. Death Blood Flower in the corpse. Rations. And this." She reached into her coat and tossed Leora a small, flat object. Leora caught it. A black badge. Engraved on its surface was was an emblem of a snake coiled around a sword. "They really don¡¯t want to leave behind any trail," Leora muttered. Catherine nodded. "This group¡ªor organization¡ªcame out of nowhere the moment we started exploring Akaza Ruins. They¡¯ve tried to sabotage us at every turn. They seem hell bent on taking the Akaza Ruins, and this city from us." "They¡¯ve gone after high-talent Awakeners too," Leora added. "Cutting off potential before it grows." "Whoever they are, they¡¯re dangerous. Efficient. And clearly well-funded." Catherine said, wiping her blade clean on a scrap of cloth," Leora thought back to the girl from before. Mara. The one who built Isaac¡¯s house and was found colluding with the assassins. "She didn¡¯t have a self-destruct skill like these guys, did she?" Catherine¡¯s expression dimmed. "No. But she killed herself before we could get anything useful out of her. If she hadn¡¯t, we wouldn¡¯t have to waste time chasing these assassins." Leora nodded silently. Then she looked back at Catherine¡¯s face again. "Why haven¡¯t you wiped the blood off?" Catherine blinked and touched her face. "Oh. I didn¡¯t realize it was still there." Leora sighed. "You should be able to take care of assassins cleanly. How¡¯d you end up covered in this much blood?" "It wasn¡¯t from the fight," Catherine replied simply. "It was from when I was trying to get information out of one of them." "You said they exploded when you tried to interrogate them. That¡¯s means the blood comes from when you were fighting¡ª inflicting injuries on them." Leora crossed her arms. "When will you stop enjoying torturing people?" Catherine smiled. She said nothing. "At least clean up before we meet back with the others." Leora sighed and turned away. "Fine, fine." Catherine wiped her face with a cloth, barely trying. The blood came off in streaks, staining her glove. Once done, they moved. Leora jumped first, leaping from the edge of the building and landing on the next structure without a sound. Catherine followed immediately. They dashed across rooftops, crossing broken beams and shattered steel at breakneck pace. The ruined skyline flashed past them, rooftops vanishing behind as they closed the distance. In just a few minutes, they reached the border of the stronghold. The others were already gathering. Isaac stood in the center of the group, surrounded by the rest¡ªVax, Broon, Renji, Thalia, and a few others. Professor Ren was near the back, floating the massive corpse of the Molten Bullhorn with telekinesis, guiding it gently along the path like a balloon made of stone and heat. Leora landed beside them and slowed her steps. Professor Catherine stepped up behind her. Isaac turned toward them. "Welcome back. You guys were gone for quite a bit of time." "We had some work." By the time they reached Isaac¡¯s house, the sun had begun to dip behind the crumbled skyline. Golden light fell across the cracked stones and broken roads. The 4th-year students were getting ready to leave. Some were stretching tired limbs. Others were already walking toward the door. Even Kael, the Illusionist Mage and team leader of opponent team, still clearly annoyed about losing to a first-year, was preparing to go without a word. "You all should stay for dinner," Professor Catherine spoke. The words caught them mid-step. Kael stopped and turned around slowly. "Will that be okay?" he asked, expectant. "Of course. We¡¯d be happy to have you. Besides, Leora¡¯s a good cook." Leora, who was about to enter the house, froze mid-step. She turned her head slowly and stared at Catherine. Cooking for this many people was no small task. Catherine pretended she to not notice Leora¡¯s gaze. She smiled pleasantly. Everyone else did notice, but they seem hesitant to refuse the offer. Leora let out a slow breath. "It¡¯s no problem." "I¡¯ll help," Isaac said, stepping forward. That was enough to trigger a chorus of voices. "I can chop!" "I¡¯ll set the fire!" "I¡¯ll carry water!" Everyone moved at once, throwing themselves into the task like their lives depended on it. The subtle pressure leaking from Leora had been growing more dangerous by the second. Helping in the kitchen was less about generosity and more about self-preservation. "I can handle it myself," Leora tried again, though less firmly this time. Kael stepped up, hands raised. "Absolutely not. Please, let us help." And so they did. Renji took over butchering the Molten Bullhorn meat. Freya, Isaac and Professor Catherine dealt with the poison in the meat. Isaac wasn¡¯t bothered about the meat. He¡¯d planned to eat it, sure, but sharing it didn¡¯t cost him much. The academy already gave him high-grade meals every day. Throwing a feast without spending a coin of his own wasn¡¯t a bad deal. Thalia joined Leora in the kitchen, preparing sauces and other essentials. Zeke cut the vegetables. Broon crouched near the outdoor stove, building a proper fire after setting his hand on flames with Fire Fist skill. The rest joined in where they could. Fetching tools, setting tables, grinding ingredients. Professor Ren approached Isaac. Several sealed crates of Molten Hornbull parts floated behind him. "I¡¯m off to sell these before the shops close," he said. Isaac walked over. "Thanks for taking them to the shop for me." "Think of it as repayment for the antidote. And I¡¯m good at moving things. Telekinesis makes me a natural delivery service," Professor Ren gave a casual shrug. He smiled, then left, the crates gliding silently behind him. Not long after, a notification blinked across Isaac¡¯s device. [Deposit Received: 3,000,000 Obols] [Balance: 14,601,789 Obols] He stared at the number for a moment before tucking the device away. Just as he was returning, he noticed someone slipping past the doors. Freya. She moved quietly. Not running, just leaving, as if she had somewhere she needed to be. Professor Catherine appeared beside him. "She¡¯s going to talk to Tyr." Isaac turned toward her. "She found out he was upset. That he blamed himself for her getting hurt. She wants to tell him it wasn¡¯t his fault, and that accidents like that happen in combat training." Isaac watched the crops sway gently as Freya approached Tyr. "Now," Catherine said, "Isn¡¯t it time you thank me?" Chapter 44: Tier 1 Vitality Grains, Price Of Land Chapter 44: Tier 1 Vitality Grains, Price Of Land "Thank you?" Isaac looked back at her. ¡¯Were they really taking care of assassins during the combat training class? I thought it might happen since I had left the stronghold, but to think it actually happened.¡¯ Catherine smiled faintly. "These students will remember this. The food. The hospitality. The kindness. They¡¯ll be your friends because you treated them well, not just because you¡¯re strong. I¡¯m helping you build connections." "Oh, you were talking about this." Isaac paused for a moment, then gave her a simple nod. "Thank you." Catherine blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity. "I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actually say it," she murmured. The fire crackled. The smells rising from the pot were rich and layered with smoke, spice, and the faint fiery essence of the Molten Bullhorn meat. As the food finished cooking, the mood shifted again. Chairs were pulled close. Plates were passed. Conversation slowly returned. And then the food hit. It didn¡¯t take long. Kael went first. He set his bowl down, eyes wide, then dropped to his knees in front of Leora. With tears in his eyes and both hands clasping hers, he looked up at her like she was a saint. "Thank you," he said, trembling. "This food... I can die happy now." Thalia followed seconds later. She wrapped herself around Leora¡¯s leg and wept openly. "They stopped giving us proper food after we came here," she sobbed. "Those Sanctum of Masters bastards charge us so much in name of fees and feed us garbage. Leora, you¡¯re my godmother now. I¡¯ll do anything for you. No, let¡¯s just marry instead." Leora stood still. Her expression said she was calm. But only Professor Catherine knew she was quite flustered. Moments where her master¡¯s calm fac?ade broke were rare. Catherine nodded, feeling content seeing the rare sight. Vax, now leaning back in his chair, looked toward Isaac. "Seriously," he said. "Thanks for this. If you ever need anything¡ªanything at all¡ªyou¡¯re welcome at the barracks." "Is food really that bad?" "It¡¯s bad enough that everyone was fighting for the sweet Vitality Grains that appeared in the barrack¡¯s cafeteria," he said. "To be honest, I think you have already a few worshippers there. Just today I saw three friends of mine praying that you sent more Vitality Grains." Nero gave a nod. One by one, the students stood, thanked him, and left the house with full stomachs and quiet smiles. Isaac watched them go before he returned to the house and helped Leora clean up the place. Then, Isaac took his hoe and went to his field to harvest the Vitality Grains. He quickly noticed something was different. The Vitality Grain Crops looked... off. Each crop, bearing twenty two grains last time, now bore only ten. The Vitality Grains were smaller. Their greenish hue had deepened into a richer, darker shade. Isaac crouched next to one and picked it up, weighing it in his hand. "Did I overdo it?" he muttered to himself. Maybe too many nutrients. He¡¯d been pumping the land with nutrients to increase the growth of the crops. Pushing growth was good, but excess wasn¡¯t always rewarded. "Nothing is good in excess," he said softly. Behind him, a familiar voice answered. "Let¡¯s just harvest them today. We¡¯ll test them in the lab tomorrow. Then we¡¯ll know if they¡¯ve gone bad... or changed." Isaac turned. "You¡¯re still here?" Professor Catherine strolled up with a cigar in her hand. Her sharp golden eyes glinted with amusement, and her hair was tied up loosely. A loose blouse draped off her shoulder, hinting at curves, while the snug jeans traced her hips and long, shapely legs. "Of course I¡¯m here," she said. "You¡¯re not going to send a defenseless woman out at night, are you? What if someone with impure intentions attacked me?" She pressed a hand to her chest dramatically. "For my safety, I decided to stay the night." Isaac rolled his eyes. He turned back to the field and swung his hoe twice. A pulse of mana rippled through the soil. The grains were harvested along with the stalk. 200 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +100. Constitution +100. You have obtained 1000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [125 ¡ú 225] Mana: 100 [165 ¡ú 265] The stat increase was downright ridiculous, but that was not what he focused on. ¡¯Tier 1? But the previous crops were all Tier 0.¡¯ Professor Catherine tilted her head. "What happened?" "These are Tier 1 Vitality Grains while the previous ones were Tier 0." "And how exactly do you know that?" "I wonder how much these will sell for. They¡¯ve clearly undergone some kind of qualitative change," Isaac muttered. It was a blatant dodge. Anyone could see it. But to her credit, she didn¡¯t press. Every Awakener had secrets they didn¡¯t want to explain. And Isaac clearly had plenty of them. "I can¡¯t tell you how much they¡¯ll sell for," she said. "Actually, we didn¡¯t even know crops could be divided into Tiers until you mentioned it during your Class Advancement quest." "We searched our archives, asked the top agricultural researchers, but no one had a clue." "That¡¯s why you haven¡¯t brought a Tier 2 seed yet," Isaac said. "Exactly." Isaac looked over the darker crops again. "Maybe I can upgrade my current seed into Tier 2 like this..." He didn¡¯t sound convinced, even to himself. Evolution wasn¡¯t usually that simple. But he had to start somewhere. "We¡¯ll test these Tier 1 Vitality Grains tomorrow," Catherine said. "Once we get the results, I¡¯ll tell you what they¡¯re worth." She paused, glancing over the field. "Speaking of money," she added, "I have an update on the land price." Isaac turned toward her again. "You can buy one hectare for 50 million Obols." His brows lifted. "That cheap?" He had expected the number to be at least in the billions. This was inside the Stronghold. Owning land here meant he¡¯d be under the protection of the Sanctum of Masters. No risk of monsters wandering through the streets. No risk of looters or mercenaries. Catherine grinned. "You¡¯re being given a discount. You¡¯ve proven yourself to be worth investing in." "What¡¯s the catch?" Isaac crossed his arms. "That¡¯s the right question," she said. "It¡¯s good you know how business works." She pointed toward the crops. "We want you to sell us 5,000 Vitality Grains each week." She paused. "Tier 0 ones. The number can be negotiated if you offer Tier 1s instead." Isaac considered it, then nodded. "That¡¯s doable." He was harvesting nearly two thousand fruits in a single session now. Three harvests a day meant he¡¯d meet the quota in one day. Besides, as he got more land, he could grow more crops, profit more, and maybe increase the number of Vitality Grain he harvested at once. "You¡¯ve got a deal," he said. "I¡¯ll draw up the contract once you have the money ready." Money. That reminded him he had something else to prepare. He turned toward Professor Catherine. "Are there any shops around here? Or will I need to go back to the city?" "Why?" "I need to buy a gift." "For Emily?" "Yes." A small smile curled on her lips. "We do have shops here. In fact, there¡¯s already a functioning society growing inside the Stronghold¡ªshops, inns, market stalls, even a few cafes. The goal was always to expand society into Akaza Ruin." Isaac nodded. "Can we go tomorrow?" "We can." They began walking back toward the house. Just before reaching the porch, Isaac spoke again. "Tyr reached Level 10." Catherine looked at him. "That¡¯s fast." "I want to know if there¡¯s a way to check his evolution condition. He can¡¯t level up until he evolves." "I don¡¯t know a method for that... but," she frowned slightly, "have you tried asking him?" "Asking?" Catherine turned fully to face him. "Tyr was smart enough to understand your combat plan. He followed instructions, hid himself, moved independently. He clearly has basic intelligence. You can ask him to write down what he sees on his status screen." Chapter 45: Result Of Emily’s Training Chapter 45: Result Of Emily¡¯s Training Isaac stared at her for a second, then nodded slowly. "Let¡¯s try it." Professor Catherine and Isaac walked side by side toward the treant, who patrolled the field¡¯s edge. Tyr stopped and turned to them. "Tyr, can you see your evolution conditions on your status screen?" Tyr blinked once, then nodded slowly. That caught Isaac off guard. He hadn¡¯t expected such a quick answer. "That¡¯s... good news. Can you write it down?" Tyr gave another nod. He extended his right hand, letting it stretch into a long, flexible branch. The wood twisted and sharpened at the end, forming a writing tip. He leaned down and began scratching into the dirt. Letters formed, uneven but legible: Current Race: Verdant Grove Treant Evolution Requirements: Ash Bark from a Centenarian Flame Tree. Bloodfruit Core. Spirit-Fused Mycelium. One liter of Pure Lakewater from a Mana Convergence Spring Evolution Race: Ironwood Sentinel of Life "Ironwood Sentinel of Life..." Professor Catherine leaned forward, one brow raised. "You really are a bottomless pit of expenses." Isaac looked at her. "Is this going to be that expensive?" "Yes," she replied with no hesitation. "But since Tyr is related to increasing your combat potential, and Tyr¡¯s potential by itself is enormous, I doubt Sanctum of Masters will make you pay. I¡¯ll send the request tonight." She folded her arms. "Hopefully, they reply quickly. Though the logistics might take longer." Isaac nodded and turned to head back inside. Catherine followed him toward the house, over the stairs, and almost into his room. He glanced over his shoulder. "Why are you coming with me?" "I¡¯m afraid of the dark and being alone. So I wanted to sleep together with you," she said innocently. He shut the door in her face. Just then, Leora stepped into the hallway. Her door was adjacent to Isaac¡¯s. Catherine approached her. "Master, can I sleep with you?" Leora paused halfway through closing her door. She looked straight at Catherine and said, "Hope you enjoyed dinner." Then she slammed the door in her face too. Catherine stood there for a second, expression blank. "...Maybe I teased her too much today." In his room, Isaac settled onto the bed and tapped his wristband. Emily¡¯s face appeared on the screen. Her expression was unusually bright. Her smile was wider, and her eyes glowed with quiet excitement. "You seem cheerful," Isaac said. "Something good happen?" "It¡¯s a surprise. I¡¯ll tell you when we meet." She put a finger to her lips. He raised a brow. "Alright." Their conversation was short. Emily looked tired. She said she had to sleep early tonight, and within minutes, her breathing evened out and she drifted off. Curious, Isaac pulled up her status screen. He asked the status screen to show what had changed since the last time, and it complied. Strength: 26 ¡ú 30 Agility: 45 ¡ú 49 Spirit Power: 59 ¡ú 61 Mana: 70 ¡ú 73 Spectral Claws (SSS rank) Level 2 ¡ú Level 3 Life Drain (S rank) Level 1 ¡ú Level 2 Phantom Step (SSS rank) Level 1 ¡ú Level 2 Demonic Eyes (SS rank) Level 1 ¡ú Level 3 Phantom Parade (SSS rank) Level 1 ¡ú Level 3 Phantom Ward (SSS rank) Level 1 ¡ú Level 2 "Huh?" Isaac had to double-check to make sure he wasn¡¯t hallucinating. "...How hard is she training to see a growth rate of this level?" Emily had leveled multiple skills to level 3. While one could say her growth rate was slower than Isaac since two of Isaac¡¯s skill were already at Level 4, it did not diminish her achievement. "She must be fighting against multiple opponents, which is helping her level up all her combat skills together." Isaac wondered if she was pushing herself too much, but he knew Emily would say she was training normally if he asked her about it. He messaged Professor Catherine. You: Prof. Catherine, sorry for messaging you late at night, but is Emily¡¯s training going okay these days? She seemed to be tired a lot. Landlord: Emily? Don¡¯t worry about her training. It¡¯s nothing too difficult. She is training under Vice Principal, and going through special training for ghost lineage demihumans. Her reply came within a minute. "Under Vice Principal? But vice principal is here." His brows creased. "Maybe she has a skill that allows her to create clones." Landlord: Are you curious about her training? It¡¯s related to the surprise Emily is going to give you soon. You: ....how you know about the surprise thing already? She told me just a few minutes ago about this. Landlord: Hehe, secret. Isaac asked her about the training, but she diverted the topic. Their talk went from Emily, to his combat training, to his crops, to mundane things like which food he liked, and what crop would he grow to make the crop better when he had more land. Then, the topic shifted to Professor Catherine¡¯s favorite food, to her likes, and other mundane things. By the time Isaac realized it, they had been talking for three hours. You: It¡¯s late. So let¡¯s end this here. Good night. Landlord: Goodnight Landlord: FyingkissEmoji Isaac¡¯s smile vanished when he saw the emoji. A moment later, he laughed. It was so much like her. Smiling, he brought up the System. "Share!" Strength: 56 ¡ú 60 Agility: 80 ¡ú 84 Spirit Power: 100 ¡ú 100 [2] Mana: 100 [265 ¡ú 268] Spectral Claws (SSS rank) Level 2 ¡ú Level 3 Life Drain (S rank) Level 1 ¡ú Level 2 Phantom Step (SSS rank) Level 1 ¡ú Level 2 Demonic Eyes (SS rank) Level 1 ¡ú Level 3 Phantom Parade (SSS rank) Level 1 ¡ú Level 3 Phantom Ward (SSS rank) Level 1 ¡ú Level 2 While the skill level increase was nice, Isaac could not help but look at the locked stats. They were useless right now. "If only I can find a way to break the stat limit." The next morning started early. Isaac went through his routine, stepping outside to the field. His eyes scanned the Vitality Grain Crops. Still ten seeds per plant. "The numbers didn¡¯t increase," he said, crouching beside one. "Is this the limit?" He closed his eyes, reaching out with his mana. He let his senses sink into the earth, following the pulse of Sovereign of Land. He could feel the nutrients moving, flowing to each root. But something was off. Most of the nutrients weren¡¯t being absorbed. He opened his eyes. "It¡¯s not the soil. It¡¯s the seed. "It¡¯s like trying to pour water into a bucket that¡¯s already full. These seeds have reached their cap." He stood and began harvesting. 200 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +100. Constitution +100. You have obtained 1000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [225 ¡ú 325] Mana: 100 [268 ¡ú 368] He burned the stalks, spread the ash, tilled the soil, replanted the seeds. Once he was done, he brought the harvested grains back into the house. Professor Catherine was already sitting in the living room, lounging in a chair and waiting for breakfast like she lived here. Isaac walked over. "How do you get the seed of a Vitality Grain?" Catherine turned slightly. "Why?" "The crops I¡¯m growing can¡¯t improve anymore just by giving them more land or nutrients. If I could plant the seed-producing tree in my own land and enhance it, I could increase the seed quality directly." She nodded thought about it and shook her head. "I don¡¯t think we can give you that." "How so?" "Vitality Grain Seed Trees are artificially enhanced to produce the seeds," she explained. "It makes them delicate, and difficult to grow. Their immune systems are extremely weak, so even a few harmful microorganisms can kill them." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "They have to be grown in sterile environments. Even Sanctum of Masters can only maintain five. If we move one out of its protected chamber, it dies within a few hours." Isaac rubbed his chin. "So... if I can fix the ¡¯disease vulnerability¡¯ part, then I can have one?" Chapter 46: Business Negotiations Chapter 46: Business Negotiations With the hoe¡¯s ability to make his crops immune to disease, Isaac did not need to worry about the Vitality Grain Seed Tree dying. "If you can do that," she said, "then we can give you the material through which the Seed Tree is born. It¡¯ll take time, but it¡¯s possible." "Why time?" "They come from another race in a far off city. Sending a message to them, getting a reply, preparing the item, negotiating payment¡ªit all takes time." "How much will I need to pay?" Catherine waved her hand. "Don¡¯t worry about it. This is an investment from our side. You just need to grow crops, and give some of them to us." Isaac nodded. Not long after, a few people arrived to collect samples of the Tier 1 Vitality Grains. They packed them carefully, handling the grains with gloves and metal containers. His morning class was short. Surprisingly short. At the end of the lecture, Isaac looked up. "That¡¯s it?" "Your class ends early today." "Why?" "You have an appointment. People from the Calloway Conglomerate will be arriving in half an hour." She added, "Take this meeting seriously." "I plan to," Isaac replied. "These negotiations will decide how much I can earn from the crops." "I¡¯m not talking about that." She glanced at him. "Do you know about the Calloway Family¡¯s bloodline and their Heritage Talent?" "I¡¯ve heard their Talent is special, but never really understood why." "That¡¯s normal," Catherine said, waving a hand. "Information about demihumans is usually restricted from non-Awakeners." She led the way toward the living room as she continued. "The rumors I told you before, about stat limits for apex species? Those came from the Calloway family. Their lineage traces back to dragons. Or so it¡¯s said." Isaac raised a brow. "But over generations, their blood¡¯s thinned. Still, depending on the concentration, they can awaken as demi-humans with Wyvern, Drakeling, or even Drake bloodlines. "All of those are lesser dragon species, but they are still mid-ranked species. That gives them a huge advantage in power." "And the Talent?" he questioned. She smiled faintly. "Their Heritage Talent¡¯s even rarer. The Calloways awaken holy-type paths¡ªCleric, Paladin, Priestess, Exorcist, Templar." "That sounds like they are set for life if they manage to awaken their Talent." "You are correct," she said. "The first matriarch of the Calloway family was a true dragon with the Saintess Talent. She married a human, and their bloodline never recovered from that." They reached the living room. "Today," she added, "you¡¯ll meet Selena Calloway. She¡¯s the daughter of the current chairman. She has the Drake bloodline and the Priestess Talent. That combination makes her the strongest potential heir since the matriarch. Treat her with respect. This meeting could shape your future more than you think." Isaac nodded silently. Seven visitors arrived soon. Five testers in uniform, and Alice and Selene Calloway. Selene shook hands with Isaac, and Professor Catherine. She wore a tailored dark coat with golden embroidery. Her posture was elegant and firm. Silver hair fell down her shoulders in a long braid, and her crimson eyes smiled lightly. While she was beautiful, Alice¡¯s beauty dwarfed hers. Alice wore tailored blazer hugging her toned physique, and slim trousers that accentuated her curves. Her blonde hair cascaded like golden honey, and her cold red eyes stared around with icy detachment. The iciness melted when her gaze met Isaac¡¯s. He noticed she was wearing make-up. Something she never did. ¡¯Trying to hide the fatigue,¡¯ he thought. ¡¯She must¡¯ve been working overtime.¡¯ "Thank you for receiving us," Selene said. Her voice was calm, businesslike but polite. Isaac returned the gesture. "Thank you for coming." Leora brought in tea without a word, placing it on the table for everyone. Professor Catherine took a seat beside Isaac, completely silent. The people from the Calloway Conglomerate sat in front of them. Selene began with polite small talk. She asked how the Stronghold suited him, how his training was going, light comments about the land. Isaac kept his answers short but courteous. There was a steady presence to her. She spoke softly, but with confidence. After a few minutes, Selene decided to touch the main topic. "Can we check the grains? That would help us determine their price." "Okay." Isaac reached into his spatial ring and retrieved three Tier 0 Vitality Grains. He placed them on a tray, and the testers took them without a word. As they ran their evaluations, Selene continued to speak casually. Isaac learned that she¡¯d awakened just a few days ago. Previously, she¡¯d studied at Yveria Academy in Sector 3, and was now attending Aeternum University, one of the top 3 universities. In ten minutes, the tests were done. One of the staff handed the results to Selene. She read the paper, then gave Isaac a polite business smile. "These grains are quite good. I believe 10,000 Obols per grain would be a fair price." Isaac raised an eyebrow. Her words had been quick. That meant she¡¯d already had an internal estimate in mind before the test were done. ¡¯She must have brought one of the grains I sold to Sanctum of Master.¡¯ ¡¯That means she did a proper research before coming to meet me.¡¯ Isaac kept a neutral expression, as his mind processed all information. Selene realized she had told him the price too quickly. She didn¡¯t worry too much though. A detail like that would only be noticed by someone who was well-experienced in this field, which Isaac was not. "What will be the Calloway Conglomerate¡¯s cut?" he asked. "Thirty percent," Selene replied. Inside, she was watching his every move. His blink rate, his posture, his tone. She wanted to gauge his reaction precisely. She knew the price was low. This was how business worked. It was a game of push and pull. Both sides would try to pull and gain the maximum profit. Pushing would allow you to let the other side have some profit. Most believed you should never push, but Selene begged otherwise. If you pulled too hard, you strained the partnership. That was a no-no. You needed to pull just until the other side¡¯s limit, then push some profit their way to keep them happy. This way, you gained the upper hand without losing long-term goodwill. She expected Isaac to resist. That was the plan. She¡¯d start high, and he¡¯d talk her down. Then she¡¯d "concede," giving him what he thought was a win. But Isaac simply nodded. "Alright." "I understand if you were expecting more. But the demand for Vitality Grain is tied to its affordability. Raise the price too high, and people will¡ª" She cut herself off. "Wait. Did you just agree?" Isaac nodded again. "Yes." Selene stared at him. His face was unreadable. All he had was a faint smile. It was the smile of a veteran businessman who knew he had won the game. Selene¡¯s thoughts churned. Did she make a mistake somewhere? Or was he just clueless about the potential of his Vitality Grains? That was not possible. She had reviewed his entire background. Isaac wasn¡¯t an idiot. He was a once in a century genius. During his academy days, he had broken the previous records and created a new record for the top academic and combat scores. He had received perfect grades in academic and combat exams. It was a record that could never be broken. A brilliant mind like his should know the worth of his grains. As she tried to analyze it, Isaac calmly reached into his spatial ring again and pulled out another Vitality Grain. This one was smaller, and it was a deeper, richer shade of green. There was a faint sweet scent coming off it. "This is a Tier 1 Vitality Grain," he said. "The previous ones were Tier 0. I¡¯d like to sell these too. What¡¯s your offer?" For a second, Selene¡¯s expression broke. Alice shook her head before picking up the teacup. Selene¡¯s mind clicked back into motion. ¡¯He baited me.¡¯ The realization gave her a shock. Isaac accepted a bad deal on Tier 0s just to flip the table when it came to the Tier 1s. She had pulled too hard at the start. Now, to preserve balance, she would need to push now. She had to offer him a better deal. That was the rule of business. A rule only the veterans were supposed to know. ¡¯He gave up the battle to win the war.¡¯ She looked at the grain in his hand. It was clearly superior. He would gain massive profit from Tier 1 Vitality Grains, since he had decided to concede his profit on Tier 0 Vitality Grain. Comparing both profit and loss, he had netted a major overall profit. Chapter 47: The Effects Of Tier 1 Vitality Grain Chapter 47: The Effects Of Tier 1 Vitality Grain Selene sat straighter and spoke calmly. "We¡¯ll test the grain. Once we¡¯ve confirmed the results, we¡¯ll propose a price." The testers stepped forward and carefully collected the Tier 1 Vitality Grain. They ran a few scans, then one of them looked up. "These are quite potent. Full testing will take some time." Selene didn¡¯t seem bothered. She smiled slightly and turned to Isaac. "That¡¯s fine. In the meantime... do you have anything interesting to do?" Isaac caught her meaning. She was more than capable of carrying on conversation to pass the time, but it was clear by the way she phrased that question that she was of asking him if he could show her around. Isaac nodded. "Would you like to see the fields? It¡¯s nearly time to harvest anyway." "Sounds good," Selene replied. They made their way outside. The sun had climbed high by now. Alice followed a few steps behind. As they reached the rows of crops, Alice finally spoke up. "How long do these crops take to grow?" "Six hours," Isaac replied. Alice gave a quiet nod. She didn¡¯t say anything else, but Isaac could tell that surprised her. Not that she¡¯d ever show it outright. Selene, on the other hand, didn¡¯t hold back. "Six hours? That kind of speed could shift the entire market dynamic. With volume like this, even low supply bottlenecks would vanish." Isaac smiled and stepped into the field. He swung his hoe twice, letting mana spread through the ground in gentle waves. The grains detached cleanly from the stalks, while the rest loosened for burning. 200 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +100. Constitution +100. You have obtained 1000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [325 ¡ú 425] Mana: 100 [368 ¡ú 468] Selene noticed the 200 Grains had turned into 1000 when they were harvested. She was curious but she didn¡¯t ask about it. It was considered impolite to probe into someone¡¯s skill unless offered directly. Once the harvesting was complete, Isaac moved to carry the grains inside. Alice and Selene exchanged a brief glance. "We¡¯ll help," Selene offered. "You don¡¯t need to," Isaac replied. But Alice was already picking up a basket. "Guess I don¡¯t have a choice now." Selene quipped and picked up another. They brought the grains inside the crates, and put them next to the other crates inside the the house. Isaac, already moving into habit, stepped back outside and began burning the leftover stalks. He spread the ash across the soil and started replanting. He was deep in the work and didn¡¯t notice when Selene quietly excused herself and returned to the house, likely to escape the glaring heat. But Alice remained. When he straightened from finishing the last section, she was there. She handed him a damp towel and a cold glass of juice without saying anything. "Thanks," he said, wiping his face. "Thank Leora," Alice replied. "She prepared them. I just delivered." Isaac gave her a long look. She was always quiet, at least in front of others. But today there was something missing. Normally, her silence brought tension and a suffocating pressure for others, which was why most classmates avoided her. But now... she looked distracted. He tapped the cold glass to her cheek, and she flinched. "Kyaa¡ª!" She jumped back, and eyes went wide as she glared at him. Isaac chuckled. "There we go. That¡¯s the Alice I remember." "If you try that again, I¡¯ll beat you like I always did during training." "Wait, what?" Isaac spoke. "Don¡¯t act like you were ever stronger. I¡¯m still leading our duels. 533 wins to your 470." Alice raised an eyebrow. "Are you getting more shameless out here? It was 550 to 453. In my favor." "Calling me a liar with that balant lie and a deadpan face at that... You should¡¯ve been called the ¡¯Shameless Princess¡¯, not the ¡¯Mad Princess.¡¯" Isaac smirked. Alice blinked. "What nickname? No one called me that." "Well, not to your face. No one wanted to get their noses bashed in after the first few examples." They stared at each other, neither backing down, until Isaac broke the tension with a low laugh. His smile faded when he noticed Alice... smiling too. Just a little. But it was there. "Stop acting like you saw the sun rise from the west," she said. He shrugged, sipping from the juice. A few quiet moments passed. Then he asked, "So what¡¯ve you been doing lately?" "Logistics," she said, twirling her hair. "Since I did not awaken a Talent, I¡¯ve been trying to prove myself through work. I could get a better position through nepotism, but that would be harmful in the long run." Isaac nodded. "That suits you." Her shoulders relaxed a little more. Her complexion looked healthier now, color returning to her cheeks as they chatted. The tension she¡¯d been carrying when she arrived was slowly melting. Alice had heard how people changed overnight after awakening a powerful Talent, and became arrogant. She was glad that Isaac was not one of them. A few minutes later, a courier carrying a sealed folder approached the field. He handed it to Isaac. "These are the result of the grain test. General Magnus ordered them to be delivered to you." Isaac took it with a nod and sat on the crate. He opened the report and began reading. Tier 1 Vitality Grain ¨C Evaluation Summary: - Passively restores 2 Mana per minute for 72 hours - Detoxifies lowest-tier poisons - Compatible with potion use; effects do not conflict - Restores fatigue equivalent to deep rest - Satiates hunger for 72 hours Isaac whistled. "Two mana per minute for three days, and poison detoxification?" That was no joke. A typical Initiate would need two level-ups to gain that kind of Mana Regeneration. And these grains stacked with potions? Even with high mana compatibility, stacking two recovery sources was rare. Most people couldn¡¯t even attempt it without risking a backlash. But these grains didn¡¯t interfere with potion intake at all. They worked in parallel. Alice peeked at the report. "Selene will offer around 40,000 Obols per grain for these," she said. "And if you count the ¡¯trick¡¯ you pulled with Selene earlier, you¡¯ll walk away with 50,000 per grain after the conglomerate¡¯s cut." Isaac looked up from the paper. "Fifty thousand?" He looked back toward the field. He could harvest over a thousand grains every six hours. That was fifty million every harvest. It was way more than hunting elite-ranked monsters for ¡¯only¡¯ three millions. He laughed quietly. "Farming really is better than fighting." Then he looked at her. "Is it alright for you to tell me this? You¡¯re part of the Calloway side." "Keep your mouth shut, and no one will know. Besides, you probably figured this out already." Isaac headed back inside with Alice in tow. She seemed to have recharged. By the time they arrived, Selene was sitting at the main table, reviewing a similar report from her testers. Her eyes were wide for a moment but then she regained her usual expression. Leora stood in the corner. She had a subtle smile. Professor Catherine looked relaxed, one leg over the other with satisfaction. Isaac sat quietly across from them, glancing at all their faces. Was it him or did the two of them look proud due to the result of Tier 1 Vitality Grains? Chapter 48: Two Hundred Millions, New Planting Method Chapter 48: Two Hundred Millions, New Planting Method The negotiation went on for a long time. In the end, both sides settled on 7,000 Obols per unit for Tier 0 Vitality Grains, and 53,000 for Tier 1. This was the amount Isaac would get for the Grains after all cuts. Isaac could tell Selene had conceded more than she intended. She¡¯d lowered Calloway Conglomerate¡¯s cut on the Tier 1s, which led to Isaac earning 53,000 Obols per Grain instead of 50,000 Obols. Selene had a calm smile. The loss could be considered big, but she felt it was worth it. Isaac had a huge potential, and if gaining a foothold with him meant letting go of a bit of profit, she knew she¡¯d make it back in the long run. They signed the contract. Isaac would supply 5,000 Tier 0 grains and 1,000 Tier 1 grains per week, for the next month. He had insisted on keeping the duration only a month long. "These are just the first crops I¡¯m growing," he¡¯d explained. "I might switch to something else soon." Selene didn¡¯t press. She understood that he would wish to dabble into other crops to see how his abilities effected them. The contract allowed Isaac to keep or sell any excess grains however he pleased. If the Calloway Conglomerate couldn¡¯t meet his price for extra supply or if they lowered the promised price, he could refuse to deliver without consequence. After signing, Isaac sold off everything he had stored up. 7,700 Tier 0 Vitality Grains and 3,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. The funds hit his bank account immediately. [212,900,000 Obols deposited in your account 123X XXX XXX XXX]. Two hundred millions from just several days of work. Hurray, for farming! Despite his bubbling happiness, he kept a neutral expression. "Thank you for the meeting today. We will take our leave now," Selene said. "How about you have lunch with us before you leave?" Professor Catherine suggested. "I¡¯m sure you will love Leora¡¯s cooking." Leora was staring daggers at her back, but Professor Catherine ignored her. "Thank you for he offer. But I¡¯m afraid we would have to refuse. We need to return to the stronghold¡¯s market and set up distribution before peak trading hours." Selene, Alice and the testers left. Once they were gone, Isaac, Leora, and Catherine had the lunch. Afternoon came, and with it, skill training. Professor Catherine took her usual seat on a stone, while Isaac stepped into the center, already syncing with the land. "We will train with Sovereign of Land for today," Catherine said, crossing her arms under her blessed bosoms. "Actually, there is something I want to try first," Isaac replied. "Go on then." Professor Catherine nodded. He dropped a seed into his hand and flicked it into the air. A thick root burst up from the ground, snatched the seed mid-air, and pulled it down into the soil. The movement was quick, smooth, and fluid. The root then curled around the impact zone and vanished beneath. Catherine raised a brow. "You can plant seeds like that?" "Yeah, I noticed this during the combat training. The roots ¡¯slow¡¯ the enemy. They do this by pulling the target into the ground. It made me thinks, why not use it for planting." Professor Catherine¡¯s lips curled, though she hid it behind her palm. Isaac was truly a genius to come up with such an innovative way with only a single combat training session. They continued training for two more hours. "I want to visit the market," Isaac said, brushing dust from his hands. "We¡¯ll come too," Professor Catherine said, already pulling out her comm. "Send us a vehicle." Isaac blinked. "Why not just run there? We¡¯re faster on foot." He didn¡¯t say it out loud, but the thought came anyway¡ªAwakeners didn¡¯t need vehicles. Their bodies were stronger than most machines. His own senses had sharpened so much that if he focused, he could hear insects a hundred meters away. If he was focusing on human conversations, then the range was even larger. "You don¡¯t go running into a market like that," Professor Catherine said. "You¡¯re not a wild beast. You¡¯re a person. Try to maintain some level of dignity." "So it¡¯s about appearances?" "It¡¯s about not crashing into people accidently and turning them into a tomato paste." She waved her hand again. "When we went to the training grounds, that was monster territory. Running was fine. But we¡¯re entering human space now. Use a vehicle." A few minutes later, it arrived. The armored jeep had broad chassis, wide tires with reinforced treads, and gunmetal gray plates over the engine and sides. The windshield was reinforced glass that could block light magical blasts. It showed signs of extensive use, and it was well-maintained. The driver handed over the keys, saluted Catherine, and, as he was told, stayed behind to watch the house. Isaac climbed into the back while Leora took the passenger seat. Catherine drove. They headed out. The market came into view after twenty minutes. It had been built over the ruins of broken buildings. Old concrete shells had been cleared out and replaced with long, broad stalls and small houses. Most of the structures were wooden. Only a few were built from weak concrete. Not a single one had metal frames or high-tier defenses. The entire place looked like a young town, hurried into existence. Vendors stood under cloth awnings, calling out offers. Smoke rose from food carts. Steam hissed as meat hit hot stone griddles. There were potion sellers, scrap dealers, mana crystal traders, gear crafters, and a few rare scroll peddlers. Most wore dust-stained clothes, and the smell of mana, sweat, and spices hung in the air. Isaac watched as a pair of young Awakeners haggled with a seller over purified water potions. Another group was examining a bag of monster bones. A girl, no older than twenty, shouted at someone over a price mismatch for a used core blade. "There aren¡¯t many awakeners here." Isaac noted. "Yes," Leora answered. "That¡¯s because the resources here are rare until we can bring in more investors. The biggest problem was food shortage. Though..." She looked at him. "That might be solved soon." Professor Catherine parked near the end of a row and stepped out first. "Let¡¯s go. There¡¯s a general supply store nearby, and a few specialty shops past that. We can buy Emily¡¯s gift there." Chapter 49: Small Date With Leora, Meeting Alice Again Chapter 49: Small Date With Leora, Meeting Alice Again They roamed the area, and stopped at a small shop tucked between a mana lamp vendor and a used-gear reseller. The sign read "Thread & Fur". Inside, warm yellow light fell on shelves stacked with plush toys, hand-woven cushions, and trinkets that hummed gently when touched. Leora walked ahead. Isaac followed, still unsure what Emily would like. He paused near the back wall. His eyes landed on a large teddy bear sitting upright in a wooden crate. Its fur was a soft, golden-white, with a chubby belly and stubby limbs. A green ribbon was tied neatly under its neck. The bear¡¯s round eyes had a slight droop, and its face was frozen in a grumpy frown. Leora stepped beside him. "That one." "This one?" She nodded. "It looks just like you when someone wakes you up early." "I don¡¯t look like that." He frowned and looked at the bear again¡ª Wait, how the hell did Leora know how he looked after waking up? ¡¯It must be Professor Catherine. She used to enter my apartment with her master key whenever she felt like it.¡¯ Isaac almost had a resigned expression. Behind them, Professor Catherine stood silently with her arms crossed. She looked like she was trying to remain composed. But her lips twitched. Her eyes darted from the bear to Isaac, then back again, and her shoulders trembled slightly. She looked away, barely containing her laughter. "Is this bear enough?" Isaac muttered. "It feels too simple. Should I get something else with it?" Leora turned, hands resting on her hips. "This is fine. Besides, Emily will like it more since it looks like you" Isaac thought about it. He could imagine Emily giggling and hugging the plushie while she slept. They picked it up and headed to the front counter. The shopkeeper, an older woman with thin-framed glasses, wrapped the bear in a soft sheet, tied the ribbon carefully, and placed it in Isaac¡¯s arms. It was lighter than it looked. Though maybe that was thanks to his stats. Catherine followed them while looking at her device. "I¡¯ve got some business to check on. I¡¯ll meet you two in an hour." She vanished down the street before Isaac could respond, and by how she walked quickly he guessed she needed to laugh somewhere in peace. Left with Leora and a bear under one arm, Isaac exhaled and suggested, "Coffee?" She didn¡¯t argue. They stopped at a nearby cafe? with a shaded terrace. It was one of the better buildings in the area, clearly built for wealthy awakeners. The drinks came quickly. Leora sipped something floral, while Isaac settled for a light roast. The table was quiet, and peaceful. The bear sat beside them on its own chair, its face still frowning at nothing in particular. They wandered the market after that. Isaac followed Leora¡¯s gaze toward the small shop filled with sweets and frozen treats. She said nothing, but her eyes lingered on the colorful display of ice cream behind the glass. Isaac didn¡¯t speak. He turned, walked into the shop, and returned two minutes later with three cones¡ªvanilla, blueberry, and mint chocolate. He handed the vanilla to Leora. "If you insist." She took the cone. "Thank you." She smiled. With the last cone in hand, Isaac turned towards the familiar figure he had spotted before he entered the shop. Alice stood across the plaza with a small bag in her hands. He walked over with Leora at his side. The teddy was still in his arm, slightly squished. "You¡¯re still here?" Isaac asked. Alice looked up and gave a slight nod when she noticed them. "I was waiting for the retailers. They¡¯re late." He handed her the mint chocolate cone. She took it without a word. There was no hesitation in her movements. She took it like they¡¯d done it hundreds of times. "Long day?" Isaac asked, sensing her mood. "Could be worse," she replied, already biting into her ice cream. Her eyes moved to the teddy bear, and her face didn¡¯t change, but Isaac caught the flicker of amusement behind her voice. "You having trouble sleeping lately, princess?" "Excuse me?" Isaac asked exasperated. She was calling him names because he called her Mad Princess earlier this morning. She gestured lightly toward the bear. "Actually, you are right. But I think I can sleep better if I hold you instead." It slipped out before he realized it. He froze. Then cleared his throat and looked away. ¡¯What the hell was that? Is Professor Catherine rubbing off on me?¡¯ He could almost hear Professor Catherine laughing in the distance. Alice didn¡¯t say anything, but she arched a brow. The corners of her lips twitched once. She didn¡¯t smile, but she didn¡¯t say no either. Isaac shook his head, moving on. "Where are the others?" "In that shop," Alice said, gesturing over her shoulder. "Clothing store." "And you¡¯re out here by yourself?" "I finished early." She held up a paper bag. Isaac nodded. Alice¡¯s eyes kept drifting back to the bear. It was obvious that it was a gift. For a girl, at that. She wondered who it was for. It definitely wasn¡¯t for her. He wouldn¡¯t keep quiet about it if it was. Isaac wasn¡¯t shy like that. But the idea of him giving it to someone else made her chest tighten in a strange, unpleasant way. She turned her eyes to the melting cone in her hand. Took another bite, and cleared her mind. ¡¯No. That isn¡¯t possible.¡¯ She knew Isaac had never dated anyone at the academy, and there was no way he got a girlfriend in the short time he left the academy after graduation. Meanwhile, Isaac was focused on the conversation happening inside the clothing shop. The building was made of polished wood and canvas sheets. It was not soundproof by any means. The interior wasn¡¯t more than ten meters away, and with Isaac¡¯s hearing, even whispers weren¡¯t hard to catch. Inside the shop, Selene¡¯s voice rang clear through the thin wall. "That bitch Alice... sticking to Isaac like a lost dog. You should¡¯ve seen her trying to get him to pity her." Another voice snorted with laughter. "Didn¡¯t you leave them alone for some time though? Why are you acting like you hated it?" Isaac recognized her as Marien, one of the tester who came to his house. "Of course I did. Isaac clearly wanted some quiet time with her. I gave him that. It¡¯s things like this that build goodwill. He¡¯ll think better of me, and in business, that¡¯s all that matters." "Haha, you¡¯re a sneaky bitch." "I prefer ¡¯strategic,¡¯" Selene replied. "Still better than Alice groveling at Isaac¡¯s feet like some discarded pet." Another laugh from Marien. Selene went on, "He probably has some leftover crush on her. You know how guys are. But once he gets a taste of her, he will get bored. Then, he will see she¡¯ has no Talent, and he¡¯ll toss her aside." "I¡¯d pay to see that happen." Marien¡¯s voice was laced with amusement. Isaac exhaled. Alice didn¡¯t hear a single word of it. Only Isaac did, thanks to having 100 in Constitution. Despite what he heard, his face was calm. But if anyone looked at him at the moment, they would flinch from fear. "You remember Patrick?" he asked. Alice tilted her head, then nodded. "Of course. Why?" "I¡¯m surprised you remember. He wasn¡¯t exactly memorable." "He insulted you," she said. "He said you were cursed for what happened at your orphanage. Of course, I haven¡¯t forgotten him, or forgiven him for that." "Right. That¡¯s the one. And then you broke his nose." Isaac gave a small laugh. Alice smiled faintly. "He deserved worse." "He was the son of a high-ranking Awakener. If I¡¯d punched him, it would¡¯ve caused a whole mess. I¡¯m still thankful to you for it. You always help me when my hands are tied." "Because that¡¯s what friends do," she said. "They cover each other¡¯s backs." Isaac nodded slowly. "Right. That¡¯s why I brought him up." Alice¡¯s expression changed. She understood something was off. But Isaac didn¡¯t elaborate. He turned back and entered the shop. Chapter 50: Isaac Snaps Chapter 50: Isaac Snaps Isaac pushed open the door to the clothing shop. Leora did not stop him, despite having an idea of what he was about to do. With her sharp hearing, she had heard Selene and Marien¡¯s whispers through thin walls. Alice, however, reached out as he moved forward. "Isaac, wait¡ª" She didn¡¯t know what was going on. But the look in his eyes told her enough to worry. He didn¡¯t stop. Inside, the shop was quiet. The soft music blended with the low hum of mana-infused lights. Rows of dresses, robes, and tailored uniforms lined the racks. Near the center, Selene and Marien stood by a mirror, laughing over something. Selene noticed him first. "Oh?" she said, tone teasing. "I didn¡¯t expect to see you in a women¡¯s store. Are you looking for something for your girlfriend?" Isaac didn¡¯t smile. His gaze slid to Marien. "Both of you. Grit your teeth." Selene blinked. "What?" Marien, confused and standing closer, tilted her head. "What are you¡ª" Isaac stepped forward. Then his fist moved. It connected with Marien¡¯s face. Her nose crunched under the impact. Blood exploded outward as her eyes widened in shock and pain. She screamed, stumbled back, and clutched her face. Alice entered behind him, startled. "Isaac¡ª!" She froze, seeing Marien on the ground and Isaac now staring at Selene. Selene stepped back. Her voice was shaky. "Wait¡ªwhatever this is, it¡¯s a misunderstanding." "Grit your teeth," Isaac repeated. Selene raised her hands slightly. "Just calm down, Isaac. Can we just talk? You¡¯re being irrational¡ª" "I¡¯m calm," Isaac said, taking another step. "If I wasn¡¯t, your head would¡¯ve popped already." Selene¡¯s mouth snapped shut. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her body wouldn¡¯t move. The fear settled in. She tried to find a way out, anything to explain this away, but nothing came. Her mind kept circling back to one thing. He must¡¯ve heard everything. But how? His Constitution stat... it must¡¯ve already passed 60. "I didn¡¯t mean it," she tried. "I was just¡ª" His fist cracked into her face before she could finish. She dropped hard, blood pouring from her nose. Her body crumpled on the floor. Suddenly, the look behind her eyes changed, and she glared up at him through tears. "You think you can hit me and get away with it?" she snarled. "You might have Talent, but Calloway Conglomerate is massive. We have Champion-ranked Awakeners. I¡¯m the Conglomerate¡¯s heir and you dared¡ª" Isaac punched her. She lost her consciousness. Behind him, the shop door opened again. A man stepped inside¡ªSelene¡¯s guard, by the looks of his gear. His eyes widened. His hand moved to his waist, but before he could pull his weapon, Leora was already in front of him. Her palm slammed into his chest and sent him staggering back against the door. Another attack, and he was out cold. Alice stood frozen. Hearing Selene, she pieced the clues together and understood why Isaac acted the way he did. Her worried gaze bounced from Marien, to Selene, to Isaac. Isaac turned to her. "You said your situation back home wasn¡¯t too bad. If your own cousin is laughing at you behind your back with her friends. How is that not too bad? I can already tell that the others must be treating you worse than her." Alice looked down. "It¡¯s just for now. Things will get better. I just have to wait¡ª" Isaac snapped. "So you¡¯re just going to suffer until whenever that happens?" He stepped forward, took her hand gently but firmly, and pulled her toward the exit. "I¡¯m not letting you stay in that toxic place anymore." Alice looked shocked, but didn¡¯t resist. They left the shop. Leora followed behind. By the time they returned to the jeep, Professor Catherine was already there. Her smirk grew wider as she noticed the way Isaac was still holding Alice¡¯s hand. "Well, well," she said, lifting an eyebrow. "That¡¯s a pretty tight grip. I didn¡¯t know you were the type to have multiple girlfriends." Isaac ignored the teasing. "We need to go to the Calloway Conglomerate HQ. I¡¯m taking the jeep." Catherine¡¯s grin faded slightly. "It¡¯s something serious?" He nodded. She didn¡¯t press him. Instead, she walked to the driver¡¯s side and slid into the seat. "Alright. If you are going to do something fun, I¡¯m coming. Also, with me behind the wheel, we¡¯ll reach in half the time." Isaac and Alice got in the back. Before Catherine started the engine, Leora stepped up. "Give me the teddy bear." Isaac blinked and handed it over. Without a word, Leora turned and disappeared down the market. A few minutes later, she returned empty-handed. "It¡¯s with a staff member," she said. "They¡¯ll deliver it to the house. We can¡¯t risk it getting torn if a fight breaks out at the HQ." Isaac gave a small nod. "Thanks." The jeep rolled out. The portal station was already opening for them. Rows of Sanctum of Master guards stood on either side of the teleportation platform. Dark blue mana swirled, forming a cloud that hovered above the platform. They got off the jeep and climbed the platform. Alice glanced at Isaac. "You shouldn¡¯t go there. The news must¡¯ve have reached the chairman already. It¡¯s no different from walking into a tiger¡¯s den." "It¡¯s good if he knows I¡¯m coming. We won¡¯t need to waste time on making an appointment." She stared at him, stunned. Professor Catherine just smiled and spoke over her shoulder. "Relax. I¡¯m Champion-ranked. So is Leora. We won¡¯t let anyone touch him." The portal activated. The mana cloud engulfed them. Inside the portal was darkness and mist. They moved forward, as if walking on air. Then, in a blink, they stepped out. They were inside Sanctum of Master¡¯s building with teleporters. Everything was pristine. Black tiles shone underfoot, and white corridors branched out from the portal room. They passed through without stopping. A sleek black vehicle was already waiting in the exit bay. It was a combat-grade civilian model with smooth plating, armored windows, and faint mana lines running across its surface like glowing tattoos. Inside, the leather seats were reinforced with pulse gel to absorb impact in emergencies. They drove. Outside, Central Sector stretched out in lines of shimmering barriers and high-rise towers. The roads were clean, fortified. Defense drones patrolled the skies. Then the Calloway Conglomerate building came into view. Chapter 51: Gaslighting 101 Chapter 51: Gaslighting 101 It was a massive towering spear of black metal and blue crystal that seemed to pierce the clouds. The dragon sigil spun slowly above it, casting its shadow over the city below. Security checkpoints waited ahead. The car slowed. Every checkpoint scanned the vehicle, then waved them through. At the third gate, a squad of guards in full gear stood ready, but didn¡¯t raise a hand. They knew who was inside. The final gate opened, revealing a wide stone courtyard and the massive doors of the Conglomerate¡¯s inner tower. The inside of the Calloway Conglomerate¡¯s tower was just as imposing as its exterior. Marble floors gleamed under the soft lighting, and the elevators ran silently, guided by mana arrays embedded into the walls. Margaret stood near the lobby¡¯s center. She was tall, sharply dressed in a tailored gray suit with a red brooch shaped like a fang pinned to her chest. Her brown hair was tied back in a sleek braid, and her gaze was cold and steady. Alice tensed slightly beside Isaac. "That¡¯s the Chairman¡¯s personal assistant," she murmured. "Margaret." Margaret¡¯s eyes scanned the group. "The Chairman is waiting. Follow me." She turned without waiting for acknowledgment and led them to the elevator. The ride was quiet. Margaret didn¡¯t speak, and Isaac didn¡¯t feel the need to either. They reached the top floor. The elevator doors opened to a wide corridor with dark paneling and tall glass windows revealing the full stretch of Central Sector. At the far end, double doors of deep blue steel stood half-open. Margaret gestured toward them. "Only the boy and Lady Alice." Professor Catherine raised a brow but smiled, stepping back without argument. "Alright, I¡¯ll wait here." Margaret tried to stop Leora from following them inside, but she froze when Leora glanced at her. Isaac entered the room with Alice and Leora close behind him. The office was massive. A wall of crystal glass ran behind the central desk, showing the sky and the city below. Bookshelves lined the sides, and there were two silent guards standing by the corners. Behind the polished black desk sat a man with gray hair and sharp eyes. His presence was commanding. His calm, dignified aura made it easy to see how he¡¯d ruled the corporate empire after it lost its previous owner. Lucius Calloway, Chairman of the Calloway Conglomerate. Isaac took the seat across from him. Alice sat only when Lucius gave her a nod, but even then, she was stiff. Her fingers were interlocked, and her face held the same neutral expression it always did. But Isaac could see the slight tension in her shoulders. Lucius glanced at Leora, standing silently behind Isaac¡¯s left shoulder, and then turned his attention back to the boy in front of him. "I assume you know what kind of trouble you¡¯re in," Lucius said calmly. "You walked into my tower after beating up my daughter. It¡¯s not something anyone would dare to do." Isaac tilted his head. "Why would I be in trouble?" Lucius¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. "You nearly killed her." "I did it for your sake," Isaac said without hesitation. Lucius blinked. For the first time, there was a flicker of confusion in his gaze. "My sake?" Isaac nodded. "Selene insulted Alice, the Calloway Conglomerate¡¯s heir. In public, and in front of your own people. She¡¯s your daughter, and her actions reflect on you. "If the people around you won¡¯t show Alice any respect, how long until the rest of your company follows?" Lucius was silent. Isaac went on. "When Alice becomes chairman while her subordinates are already treating her like she¡¯s beneath them, the Conglomerate will suffer. Eventually, it¡¯ll collapse from the inside. "Selene didn¡¯t just disrespect Alice, she nearly sabotaged the Conglomerate¡¯s future. I, having a helpful disposition, stopped her. You¡¯re welcome." Lucius leaned back in his chair, watching Isaac with quietly. The boy was amusing if not a daredevil. Beside him, Alice spoke quickly. "Chairman, he¡¯s... usually well-behaved. Please don¡¯t be angry with him." Isaac gave her a sidelong look, then sighed. "Alright," he said. "I¡¯ll sweeten the deal." Lucius raised a brow. "Selene called herself the heir," Isaac said. "In public. There¡¯s CCTV footage from the shop. You can check." "What are you getting at?" "Officially, Alice is the heir. But Selene is already claiming the title. That means she¡¯s either planning a coup or expects to get rid of Alice somehow. If Alice resists, Selene might try to have her eliminated." Lucius¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but his fingers stopped drumming on the desk. Isaac continued. "Even if Selene doesn¡¯t plan to go that far, someone else will. It¡¯s normal to target the heir of one of the three business empires to eliminate competition. "And when something happens to her, everyone will point to Selene. They¡¯ll remember what she said. What she did. That footage will become evidence." Isaac shrugged. "Now that you know this, you could have the footage erased. I came here to tell you before anyone else finds out. That¡¯s two favors I¡¯ve done for you. You¡¯re welcome again." Lucius let out a breath and leaned forward slightly. "I must say," he said, "this is the first time I¡¯ve had a conversation like this. You¡¯re daring. I¡¯ll give you that." He folded his hands and fixed Isaac with a level gaze. "Alright. I won¡¯t kill you before hearing your demand. What do you want?" "I want Alice." Silence. Lucius didn¡¯t react for a moment. Then he blinked, slowly, as if trying to figure out if he¡¯d misheard. His mind, sharp from decades in business, tried to dissect the statement, but Isaac¡¯s expression gave nothing away. "I... see." Lucius locked gaze with Isaac. "I¡¯m helping you," Isaac clarified. Lucius narrowed his eyes slightly. "Explain." "There are two possibilities," Isaac said. "You¡¯re either on Selene¡¯s side or Alice¡¯s." Lucius didn¡¯t answer. Isaac raised his index finger. "If you¡¯re on Selene¡¯s side, then giving me Alice works in your favor. She¡¯ll be out of the picture. You can claim you respected her decision to leave. "That will appease the board. And I¡ªan SSS-rank Awakener¡ªwill owe you a favor, so there is almost zero chance anyone will try to stop you from sending Alice to me." Then, Isaac raised the middle finger as he kept his index finger up. "If you¡¯re on Alice¡¯s side, then you should definitely give her to me. For her sake. "This place is toxic. Even if she survives it and becomes the chairman, she¡¯ll break from the inside. She¡¯s already overworking herself. Her smile doesn¡¯t reach her eyes. She¡¯s hollowing out just to prove herself." Alice looked down at the floor. The situation was making her heart beat loudly. She was afraid, but hearing Isaac¡¯s words, knowing he cared for her, warmed her heart. "This isn¡¯t a toxic environment. It¡¯s hardship. And hardship builds strength." "Hardship¡¯s fine. But what you¡¯re doing isn¡¯t hardship. It¡¯s slow suffocation." Lucius didn¡¯t reply right away. His gaze shifted to Alice. For a long moment, the office was silent. Lucius tapped his finger against the desk slowly, as if weighing every thought that passed through his mind. Then, finally, his eyes flicked to Leora for barely half a second. Then he turned back to Isaac. "You should be grateful I¡¯m not having you killed for what you did," Lucius said evenly. "And instead, I¡¯m sitting here. Listening." Isaac didn¡¯t flinch. He shrugged. "There¡¯s no way you can kill me." Lucius¡¯s brow twitched. "Confident, aren¡¯t you?" He leaned forward slightly, voice turning just a little colder. "You think your bodyguard will jump in before I can snap your neck?" Isaac shook his head. "No. It¡¯s not that." He met the Chairman¡¯s gaze calmly. "I trust you." Lucius didn¡¯t hide his surprise. "Trust me?" "I trust you," Isaac repeated, "because you¡¯re the Chairman of the Calloway Conglomerate. You run one of the largest business empires in this region. You wouldn¡¯t be here if you were the kind of man who acted on impulse." Lucius remained quiet. "You¡¯re smart. Smart enough to understand loss and profit. And killing me would bring a massive loss. I¡¯m supported by the Sanctum of Masters. "Even if you could hide it¡ªwhich you can¡¯t¡ªit would sour your relationship with one of the strongest forces in the region. It¡¯s not worth it when I¡¯m offering you a better deal." Chapter 52: Deal With Lucius Calloway, Taking Alice Home Chapter 52: Deal With Lucius Calloway, Taking Alice Home One hour earlier Leora took the teddy bear from Isaac. She handed it to the gate guard at the stronghold¡¯s market. "Deliver it to the house," she said, passing him a note with the address. The man gave a short nod and jogged off. Leora didn¡¯t return immediately. Instead, she pulled out her device. It was a rectangular, thin slab rather than a wristwatch. She tapped a name and waited for two rings. "Miss Eleanor," came Lucius Calloway¡¯s voice. "Seems like you got the news already." "I did." There was a pause. "If you can, could you tell me what exactly happened? I did get a overview of the situation from my people, but it¡¯s rather obvious they are painting Isaac in bad light, and Selene in a good one." She told him everything without softening the facts. Lucius listened in silence. When she finished, he let out a long sigh. "Selene... how could you." Leora spoke again. "Isaac wants to meet you. He¡¯s going to try to take Alice with him. Away from Calloway." Lucius murmured something to himself. "Maybe that¡¯s the answer." His voice had lost its usual steadiness. "Despite having the skills to start a new business by herself, she is trying to stay in the hostile environment of the Conglomerate to repay us for everything that has been given to her. She¡¯s chained by the responsibilities." He was quiet for a moment longer, then added, "The problem is, even if I let her go... I don¡¯t know if she¡¯ll agree to leave. "And I can¡¯t give her to someone just because he feels strongly. Not unless I¡¯m sure he¡¯s capable. Not unless I know he¡¯s more than just another overconfident talent." ... Present Lucius sat calmly, his hands resting on the polished desk. "You¡¯ve been going on about taking Alice away," he said, eyes on Isaac. "But have you asked her what she wants? Has she even agreed?" The room stilled. Alice shifted in her seat. Her fingers trembled ever so slightly, resting against the chair¡¯s arms. Isaac reached under the table and gently squeezed her hand. "I¡ª" "I¡¯ve had enough of this farce," Lucius said suddenly, cutting her off. "Let¡¯s say I¡¯m on Alice¡¯s side. Let¡¯s say I even ignore what you did to Selene, and she brought it on herself. Still. How could I let Alice go with you?" His gaze sharpened. "So far, all I¡¯ve heard from you are criticisms. Faults. Shortcomings. But what about you?" He leaned forward. "What makes you worth trusting? Don¡¯t talk to me about potential. Potential means nothing. I¡¯ve seen too many talented people being buried after they thought they were destined for greatness. "I¡¯m not interested in your future power. I want proof of your competence now." Isaac said nothing. He waited. Lucius didn¡¯t look away. "Here¡¯s the deal," he said. "Earn ten billion Obols in one week. Without help from the Sanctum of Masters." Leora inhaled quietly. Alice¡¯s was shocked, but she remained silent. Isaac had humiliated Selene in public. The news would¡¯ve spread by now and everyone in the market would know. Every merchant wold think Calloway was now targeting Isaac. Even if they liked money, no one wanted to risk being blacklisted by the Calloway. And since Sanctum won¡¯t openly support Isaac due to Lucius¡¯ terms, no merchant would want to do business with Isaac. By the time he found a distributor, one week would¡¯ve been long gone. "Now, tell me, can you prove yourself, or are you all bark nor bite?" He expected hesitation, or a demand to lower the amount. Maybe even some prideful protest. But Isaac only smiled. A quiet, confident smile that didn¡¯t match the pressure of the challenge. Lucius blinked. Isaac had been leading everything towards this moment. It was all for Lucius¡¯ permission. "That¡¯s good enough for me," Isaac said. "When do the seven days start?" Lucius turned slightly, looking out the tall window. The sky had dimmed. "Tomorrow." "Then let¡¯s write up a contract." Lucius studied him for a few seconds. Then, without a word, he pressed a button on the desk. Margaret entered. "Draft a contract for one week. Isaac needs to earn ten billion Obols. He would take no support from the Sanctum. If he succeeds and Alice agrees to go with him, he gets to take her." Margaret nodded and left. Ten minutes later, two copies of the contract were laid out. Both men signed them without delay. As Isaac, Alice, and Leora left, Lucius remained seated. He looked at the signed contract for a while. Then he smiled, just a little. "He¡¯s more clever than Alice gave him credit for," he said softly. Margaret returned to his side, eyes flicking between the papers and the door. "Sir... the contract says that if Isaac fulfills the condition and Alice agrees, she¡¯ll go with him. Does that mean they¡¯re going to be married?" "Marriage already?" Lucius chuckled under his breath. "But yes, I thinks so. They¡¯re old enough. And she¡¯s liked him since long ago. It¡¯s obvious he cares for her too." Margaret blinked. "But Isaac already has a girlfriend." "...What?" Lucius turned to her slowly. "The Evil Sword told me." Lucius sighed, rubbing his temple. "Of course she did. That woman can detect a lie but tells them every other breath. Never trust anything she says unless it¡¯s stamped and sealed." He stood. "I¡¯m going to see Selene. Where is she now?" "In the medical ward." They rode the lift down in silence. Two guards opened the medical suite¡¯s doors without a word. The room was more lavish than most wealthy peoples¡¯ home. It had gold fixtures, clean tiles, a private mana-field generator quietly humming in the corner. Selene was lying on the bed. Bandages covered her nose and upper cheeks. Her eyes were open, but she didn¡¯t speak. Lucius walked in and gestured for everyone else to leave. Margaret stayed by the door outside. Selene looked ready to speak, probably to defend herself. "I heard what happened." Selene¡¯s mouth clamped shut. He knew everything already. There was no way her lies would work. He sat beside her with a disappointed look in his eyes. Minutes passed. Then, finally, he spoke. "Selene... what did I do wrong?" Her brows furrowed. Lucius continued quietly. "Was I too soft? Was I too absent? Did I raise you wrong because I couldn¡¯t give you a mother?" She opened her mouth. But no words came out. She realized he wasn¡¯t disappointed with her, but with himself. Lucius looked forward, not at her. "Alice is struggling. Just days ago, she received news that shattered her. She¡¯s hanging on by threads, and yet... you insult her behind her back." His voice lowered. "I don¡¯t care what excuse you have. I care that you¡¯re hurting your sister when she needs help most." "Dad¡ª" Her voice cracked. The weight of her actions was settling in. He didn¡¯t look at her. "Was it really about the chairmanship? Were you trying to humiliate her so no one would follow her?" "No! I didn¡¯t¡ª!" she tried. "Then maybe you should¡¯ve just assassinated me and taken my place." She froze. That line struck deep. Her thoughts scattered. Her pride cracked. Tears fell silently as she realized how deeply she¡¯d hurt him. Lucius stood without another word and walked out. Margaret was waiting in the hall. She fell into step beside him. "Was that really necessary?" "Yes," Lucius said. "I spoiled her too much. Maybe this should¡¯ve happened years ago." ... Isaac POV The jeep¡¯s engine rumbled as it carried them through the dirt-streaked roads of Akaza Ruin. The sky overhead had settled into a cool orange, and the breeze outside the windows carried the scent of dust and growing things. Inside the vehicle, Isaac turned slightly to face Alice. "I hope you are okay with staying at my house?" he asked. Alice gave a small nod. Her expression remained calm, but inside, everything was a mess. Her heart was hammering so hard she barely registered Isaac¡¯s words. Her thoughts kept circling back to Isaac, walking into Calloway Conglomerate, standing before her uncle without a hint of hesitation. That man wasn¡¯t just a chairman; he was a storm in human skin. Almost no one could maintain their composure in front of him. And yet, Isaac had looked him straight in the eye for her. Recalling it made Alice feel strangely happy. Alice shifted her gaze out the window. She needed the wind on her skin. Something to cool the warmth spreading through her chest. Up front, Professor Catherine caught the flicker of emotions in Alice¡¯s eyes through the rearview mirror. A knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Then she glanced at Isaac. "So," she said, "what exactly did you mean earlier, when you told Lucius you¡¯d ¡¯take Alice¡¯?" "It¡¯s simple. I¡¯ve been thinking about starting my own business. Since I¡¯ll be growing more crops, it doesn¡¯t make sense to hand them off to someone else and lose profit every time. It¡¯s better to sell directly." He continued with a relaxed tone. "With Alice handling the accounts, and her business skills, I figured we could get started right away." Catherine chuckled softly. "Ah, so what you really meant was you¡¯d take her away from the conglomerate and give her a job." "Exactly." Alice blinked. That warmth from earlier? It was doused like a candle in rain. She turned sharply to Isaac. "So when you said you¡¯d take me... you were offering me a job?" "Why, did it sound like I meant something else?" Isaac smirked. Alice¡¯s jaw tightened. The way he said it, the glint in his eye... he knew. He absolutely knew what she¡¯d thought. Shameless, she thought. Utterly shameless. She turned her face toward the window, not looking at Isaac anymore. Professor Catherine coughed into her fist, trying to muffle her laugh. Chapter 53: Buying Land For Shop And Farming Chapter 53: Buying Land For Shop And Farming By the time the jeep entered the market district, night had fully arrived. Lights glowed softly from inside wooden shops built from the remains of Akaza Ruin¡¯s shattered buildings. They came to the market at Alice¡¯s advice. Since Isaac was planning to start his own company, it was best if he started from a small scale like a shop. "We should go see if anyone¡¯s willing to lease out a shop," she added. They split up, spoke with several shopkeepers, and were met with polite rejections every time. "They¡¯re being cautious," Alice said as they regrouped. "We can¡¯t blame them. They¡¯re probably worried the conglomerate might retaliate since Selene was injured by you." Isaac turned to Professor Catherine. "Then I¡¯ll buy land. Can I do that?" "You can," she replied. "But no help from Sanctum. That was part of Lucius¡¯ conditions. You will have to find a builder for your shop yourself." "That¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll handle it." "The deal is still the same. One hectare for fifty million as long as you keep selling 5,000 Vitality Grains a week to Sanctum." Isaac nodded. "Yeah. That contract was already in play before Chairman Lucius¡¯ challenge. It doesn¡¯t violate anything." Professor Catherine left to get the paperwork while Leora guided Isaac and Alice to the available plot. It was located near the end of the market zone. The land was still littered with broken beams, shattered stone, and collapsed rubble from long-forgotten buildings. "This is it?" Isaac asked, stepping over a jagged chunk of stone. Leora nodded. "Once it¡¯s bought, we¡¯ll get the rubble cleared. It¡¯s a standard support for landowners." The area was large. Quiet. Tucked away but not so far it¡¯d lose foot traffic. Isaac could already picture the store with simple walls, neat design, a cooling system to preserve the grains, and space for expansion. By the time Professor Catherine returned, he was already imagining how it¡¯d look. She handed him two contracts. One for the weekly supply agreement, and one for the immediate land purchase. Isaac skimmed the first document. "Valid only until I buy twenty hectares?" "After that," Catherine said, "we¡¯ll have to renegotiate. Sanctum of Masters would lose money if we kept selling land to you that cheap forever." Isaac nodded. "Makes sense." He reviewed the second contract more thoroughly. It was straightforward. He signed both and transferred the money. [50,000,000 Obol debited] [Balance: 176,100,000] They piled back into the jeep. Isaac leaned back and pulled out his device. He dialed Nero¡¯s number. The call connected quickly. They exchanged greetings. Nero sounded calm as ever. Then came Vax¡¯s voice, shouting in the background, "Isaac!? You¡¯re on the line!? Let me talk to him!" The phone switched to speaker mode. "Isaac!" Vax said, half-shouting. "Man, you¡¯ve been quiet. How are things?" "Good," Isaac replied with a smile. "Just going with the same old things." "By the way, the guys here wanted me to ask something from you. You think you can sell us a few Vitality Grains? People here are going feral eating the garbage from the cafeteria. It¡¯s tragic." "You¡¯re in luck," Isaac chuckled. "I¡¯m opening a shop tomorrow. You¡¯ll be able to buy them straight from the market." There were several cheers in the background. Isaac recognized a few voices. Broon. Thalia. Even Kael. Nero cut through the noise. "Isaac, was there something you needed?" "Not really," Isaac replied. "Just wanted to catch up." They chatted for a bit. Then, Isaac casually shifted the conversation. "Oh, by the way, do you guys know any builders? I need someone to construct the shop." There was a pause. They seemed to be asking each other for the contact. Then Vax came back. "We¡¯ve got Mara¡¯s number. She built your house, right? She went home recently, though." "Still, send me her contact," Isaac said. "She¡¯s good." Professor Catherine whistled when the call ended. "I didn¡¯t know my Isaac was shrewd. You got early customers and a builder¡¯s contact in the same call. All while making it look like their idea." "That¡¯s just basic conversation skills." As the jeep rolled to a stop outside the house, Professor Catherine unbuckled her seatbelt and glanced at Isaac with a strangely casual tone. "There¡¯s just one problem, though." Isaac narrowed his eyes. A quiet throb of unease stirred in his chest. "What problem?" Catherine didn¡¯t look at him. She opened the door and stepped down. "Mara¡¯s dead." Isaac froze mid-movement. "What?" "She was working with the assassins who attacked you. We haven¡¯t made it public. People think she went back to her hometown." Alice turned to Isaac. Her eyes searched his face. "You were attacked?" Isaac nodded and grabbed his bag from the back seat. "It wasn¡¯t that serious. Leora took care of it." Alice stared at him. "You shouldn¡¯t brush off things like this." He offered a shrug, and said nothing. There wasn¡¯t much point arguing when she was right. They entered the house. After a while Isaac came outside and harvested the fields. You have obtained 1000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [425 ¡ú 525] Mana: 100 [468 ¡ú 568] This time, he didn¡¯t move to plant new seeds. Instead, he approached Professor Catherine. "I want to buy more land." She smirked. "I figured you¡¯d say that. Here¡ª" She reached into her satchel and pulled out a sealed scroll. "Three more hectares. Contract¡¯s ready." He unrolled it, skimmed through the contents, and signed it as he sent the money. [150,000,000 Obols debited] [Balance: 26,100,000] He took out thirty mana potions, and poured them over the land. After evening out the mana, he burned the harvested stalks and spread the ashes carefully across the soil. Then he paused. "If I split the nutrients equally across all four hectares, the concentration won¡¯t be enough to grow Tier 1 Vitality Grains, and it will take a day before the concentration reaches that level. "Should I even out the nutrients or keep them as is?" Behind him, Alice stepped into the field. "What are you thinking so hard about?" "Just debating how to distribute the nutrients. If I spread them out, I¡¯ll lose Tier 1 Vitality Grains for a day. It might deal us a huge blow." "How?" Isaac explained the situation to her. She thought about it, and nodded slowly. "You should spread them." He raised an eyebrow. "This market¡¯s filled with students," she explained. "Most of them are tired and hungry. They can¡¯t afford expensive crops, but Tier 0 Grains? They¡¯ll buy them immediately." She pointed toward the distant stronghold. "Word will spread fast through the students since all of them live together. And when it does, high-end clients will follow. By then, your land will be back in shape for Tier 1 crops." Isaac gave a thoughtful nod. "So target students first, let them promote the product for us." "Exactly." He tapped the ground with his foot and activated Sovereign of Land. Nutrients surged evenly across the five plots. He planted seeds one by one with practiced and clean movements. The process drained him slightly, but with Constitution at 100 and Spirit Power recovering his mana at 10 Mana per minute, he recovered quickly. Dinner was almost ready when he walked back in. Professor Catherine was already seated at the table, looking suspiciously comfortable. "You¡¯re staying again?" Isaac asked, dropping his gloves on a nearby shelf. She grinned. "Blame Leora¡¯s cooking." Isaac shook his head. Once cleaned up, he joined the others at the table. Alice took one bite and froze. "This... this tastes almost as good as the master chefs from our estate," she said, blinking. Leora didn¡¯t respond. But Isaac noticed her subtle smile and the way her shoulders lifted ever so slightly. She was proud, no doubt about it. After they finished eating, Isaac stood up. "I¡¯ll wash the dishes." "No," Alice said quickly. "You should rest. You must be tired from the farmwork. I¡¯ll handle the dishes." He raised an eyebrow. "The princess of Calloway? Doing dishes? You¡¯ll probably break half of them." She shot him a look. "What does my family name have to do with dishes? I¡¯m good at housework." "Oh yeah?" He crossed his arms. "Since when?" "Isaac Hargraves, I¡¯ll have you know I am perfect in all types of housework. I learned all of it for¡ª" She stopped mid-sentence. "For?" "It doesn¡¯t matter," she muttered, turning away. "I¡¯ll wash the dishes." The two of them were still bickering when a soft clatter drew their attention. Leora was already drying the last plate. Isaac and Alice exchanged glances, wordless agreement passing between them. ¡¯Let¡¯s never speak of this again.¡¯ Later that night, they showed Alice to her room, which was next to Isaac¡¯s. As he turned back, he noticed Professor Catherine leaning against the hallway wall, arms folded and a mischievous grin on her face. "What¡¯s so funny?" he asked. "I¡¯m just thinking about tomorrow." "What about it?" "It¡¯s the weekend. Emily¡¯s coming." "I know that. So?" Catherine laughed. "So, how exactly are you going to explain another girl staying in your house? You think Emily¡¯s going to buy that whole ¡¯just a friend¡¯ line?" He froze. Catherine stepped closer, still smirking. "You punched Selene in public, risked a fight with her entire family, and declared you were going to take Alice away. You think Emily¡¯s not going to be upset?" Isaac frowned. "It¡¯s not like that." "Of course not," Catherine said, patting his shoulder. "But you¡¯ll still need to explain it properly. Or else, Emily will think her boyfriend cheated on her as soon as he moved away. It would definitely make her cry." Chapter 54 - 7200 Tier 0 Vitality Grains, System Upgrade, Emily’s Return Chapter 54: 7200 Tier 0 Vitality Grains, System Upgrade, Emily¡¯s Return She walked off with a smile. Isaac stood in the hallway for a moment longer, eyes drifting toward Alice¡¯s closed door. He exhaled and headed for bed. Isaac slept well, and woke up when the soft chime of his alarm echoed through the quiet room. 5:30 a.m. The crops would mature in half an hour. He got up, changed, and quietly made his way downstairs. In the living room, he found Alice already awake. She sat at the table with a few loose papers and a clipboard, writing something while occasionally sipping from a warm cup of tea. He stepped closer and leaned slightly to peek over her shoulder. "What are you working on?" Alice jolted, but regained her composure swiftly. "I¡¯m drafting a plan. A rough outline of what we need to do to reach that ten billion target." "Is that so?" Isaac raised an eyebrow, impressed. "There¡¯s no time to waste." She pointed to one part of her notes. "Our most immediate issue is the lack of a proper shop. No matter how skilled the builders are, no one¡¯s going to construct anything by evening. And if they do, it¡¯ll cost far too much. We can¡¯t afford to waste money right now." Isaac nodded slowly. "We can keep it simple for now. A table as a basic stall setup." "Exactly." Alice tapped the board. "Once we¡¯ve got stable footing, we can worry about appearances." He studied her a moment. The dark circles under her eyes stood out more in the morning light. "You didn¡¯t sleep, did you?" "I did," she replied automatically. "Alice." He gave her a flat look. She looked away. "Maybe not much." Without another word, Isaac turned to the kitchen, pulled open a drawer, and grabbed a tangerine from the basket. He peeled it and held it out to her. "Here. Eat this, then go sleep." "I said I¡¯m fine." "You¡¯re not. You¡¯ll be dealing with people all day today. If you¡¯re tired, you¡¯ll miss details." She frowned. Then finally, with a quiet sigh, took the fruit. "Just a nap," she muttered. "I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t oversleep." He waited until she disappeared into her room before heading outside. As soon as he stepped past the front door, Leora joined him silently. "Good morning," he said, not surprised. "Morning," she replied. "Ready for the day?" "Yup. We¡¯ve got work to do." The crops stood tall, lined up neatly in the field. He scanned them quickly, counting grain clusters. "Eighteen grains per stalk this time." He raised his hoe and swung it twice. A pulse of mana spread outward, and the crops were harvested instantly. The stalks followed. He felt the slight tug in his chest. His mana had taken a hit, but his recovery was quick thanks to his high Spirit Power. 1440 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +80 Constitution +80. You have obtained 7200 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [525 ¡ú 653] Mana: 100 [568 ¡ú 696] "7200 Tier 0 Grains? Well, I guess that number does make sense since I have 4 hectare now. As for the stats, I got 80 stats in Const and Mana. If I compare it to previous times..." Isaac made quick calculations. For every 0.5 hectare: 12 Tier 0 Vitality Grain per stalk = 10 Mana and 10 Constitution 14 Tier 0 Vitality Grain per stalk = 12 Mana and 12 Constitution 16 Tier 0 Vitality Grain per stalk = 14 Mana and 14 Constitution And so on. "This time, these crops had 18 Grains per stalk so I got 16 stats, which is 80 for 4 hectare. "So I can get a lot of stats even by growing Tier 0 crops as long as I grow enough of them." After storing the yield, he burned the remaining stalks, spread the ashes, and began planting again. It was mechanical now, like muscle memory. But his thoughts wandered. Leora stayed nearby, helping where she could without disrupting the flow. Once they were finished, Isaac completed his gym routine, washed up, then sat on the porch, towel draped around his shoulders. He rested his elbows on his knees, watching the sky. Emily was coming today. A subtle pressure drew his gaze upward. A figure circled in the sky. It was faint, semi-translucent, gliding without flapping wings. A bird? Its feathers shimmered with silver edges, its form slightly blurred at the edges like mist. Violet rings glowed in its eyes. Isaac frowned. "That¡¯s a monster..." The avian circled above his house. Leora must¡¯ve sensed it, and since she didn¡¯t attack it, it was likely someone¡¯s bonded beast, and not harmful. The quiet hum of an approaching engine interrupted his thoughts. A military jeep pulled up at the farm¡¯s edge. The doors opened. And then she was there. Emily jumped out, gliding across the short distance before launching herself into his arms. She hugged him tightly, burying her face into his chest. "Welcome to my humble abode." Isaac smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "I missed seeing my Emily for the last few days." "Mhm." She looked up, her face close, and without hesitation, stood on her toes to press her lips to his. A soft chime rang in his mind. [Your wife, Emily Warren, affection for you has crossed 95.] [Hidden Condition for System upgrade met: At least one wife¡¯s affection must exceed 95.] [Bonded Blessing System has been upgraded.] [Host can now share bloodlines.] [Host can now share companions.] [Inspect skill has been upgraded.] [Shop can now be accessed] Isaac blinked, momentarily stunned by the flood of notifications. The kiss ended as both of them pulled back, drawing Isaac¡¯s attention. He could feel Emily¡¯s cold touch on his lips as she hurried into the house, her soft laugh of embarrassment echoing behind her. He followed inside. The kitchen was lively, filled with the smell of fresh bread and sizzling meat. Leora was at the stove, turning slices of mana-rich bacon, while Alice, now awake, arranged plates. Professor Catherine lounged in the living room as if working was beneath her. "Good morning, everyone," Emily said. She brushed a strand of hair back, her cheeks still a little flushed. Catherine looked at her then turned to Alice. "She is my niece, Emily, and she¡¯s here for the weekend." Alice gave a small nod. "Nice to meet you, Emily." Leora brought over crisp bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, and thick bread, with a side of glowing mana-infused berries. As they ate, Emily¡¯s chatter made the mood light and comfortable. She told a story about a clumsy bear she¡¯d seen in the university, and Isaac couldn¡¯t help smiling. Alice stayed quiet. Her gaze drifted between Isaac and Emily, and she caught the soft looks they shared. A thought flickered in her mind. Was there something more between them? ¡¯No, I¡¯m probably overthinking it.¡¯ Halfway through breakfast, Isaac explained Alice¡¯s situation to Emily after asking for permission from Alice. Emily¡¯s eyes widened after she hear everything. She puffed her cheeks out, a habit he found endlessly cute. "How can they do that to her?" she said, her voice full of conviction. "We should definitely help her!" Isaac let out a breath of relief. He¡¯d worried since last night that she might feel uneasy about Alice, but the idea seemed silly now. Emily, jealous? Hating anyone? That was impossible. Her kindness was too pure. Alice didn¡¯t hear them talk. Her attention was on how Emily leaned into Isaac, and how he smiled back at her. Chapter 55: Testing The New System Functions, Sharing Bloodline And Companion Chapter 55: Testing The New System Functions, Sharing Bloodline And Companion After the lunch, Isaac stretched, and looked around. "There is no class today since it¡¯s weekend, so I¡¯m planning to go to the market right now and see if I can buy the woodworker to build a table for the shop." "I¡¯ll come," Alice said. "Include me too." Catherine grinned from her chair. She couldn¡¯t miss the drama when it happened. "Alright," Isaac said. "Let me change, and we¡¯ll head out together." He went upstairs, and Emily followed. She slipped into his room behind him and closed the door with a gentle click. Isaac turned, raising an eyebrow. "You are changing too? Go ahead then, you can do it first." Emily stayed put, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. A blush spread across her face, and she mumbled, "Hungry." He tilted his head and a teasing smile formed. "Hungry? We just ate." She stomped her foot. Her cheeks turned brighter. His grin told her he knew what she meant, but he was teasing her, and waiting for her to say it. Her shy glare, mixed with stubbornness, only made her cuter. Isaac was starting to see why Professor Catherine enjoyed teasing people. "I want to kiss you," Emily said, her voice loud with embarrassment. "Can I?" Isaac stepped closer, chuckling. "That¡¯s it? Could¡¯ve just said so." She opened her mouth to argue, but he leaned in, his lips finding hers. He pressed her gently against the door. The kiss was soft at first, then deeper. Their breaths blended. Their tongues met, playful and warm, and Emily¡¯s hands slid up to his neck, pulling him closer. Her body felt cool against his, and her softness stirred something in him, and he held her tighter. Her breaths grew quick, her legs shaky, but she didn¡¯t pull away, her fingers tightening in his hair. Isaac too felt a rush that clouded his thoughts. Emily was adorable, like a kitten, but her curves were anything but innocent. Touching her was enough to make him forget everything else. The kiss stretched on, and soon they crossed lines they hadn¡¯t planned to. A sharp knock broke through the door. "Isaac, I get that you missed Emily, but it¡¯s still morning. Market¡¯s waiting, or we¡¯ll be late." Professor Catherine¡¯s voice came from the hall, laced with amusement. Isaac froze, glancing at the door, then at Emily, then at clock. ¡¯It¡¯s been an hour already?¡¯ "Sorry, I didn¡¯t notice the time," he called back, keeping his voice steady. "I got caught up in choosing what clothes to wear." He could swear he heard Professor Catherine smirking. Professor Catherine¡¯s fading footsteps soon followed. Emily sat up fast. Her bare skin caught the light as she grabbed her clothes. "I¡¯ll get ready," she said, her voice rushed but warm. Isaac nodded. He wanted to pull her back¡ªher every move tempted him¡ªbut they were short on time. At night, he promised himself. As she darted into the bathroom, he sat back, and pulled up his system interface. It was time he checked what exactly had changed after system upgrade. "Share the bloodline!" [Bloodline: Human ¡ú Human (Main), Netherborn Phantom Emperor (Sub)] He let out a slow breath. "Thank god it¡¯s not Netherborn Phantom Empress..." he muttered. He flexed his fingers, letting mana trickle through his veins. Something was different. The sensation was subtle, but undeniable. His body felt lighter, like the pull of gravity had loosened slightly. He activated Spectral Claws. It came out instantly. He tried Phantom Steps. His body flickered for much longer than before. Then he used Demonic Eyes. Despite using it for minutes, he did not feel burn in his eyes. "Interesting," he whispered. It was obvious now. The Netherborn bloodline was enhancing his body¡¯s affinity with ghost-type abilities. They were still the same skills, but now smoother, faster, more natural. Like a part of him had always known how to use them. He took a casual step forward as he tested Phantom Steps. His foot didn¡¯t touch the floor. He blinked and looked down. He was hovering half an inch off the ground. "...What the hell?" He thought of walking, and his body returned to the ground. Then, he tried to float, and his body rose into the air. A grin formed on his face. "Float, huh? So this is the main effect of sharing the bloodline." Out of curiosity, he reached toward the bed. Then, without thinking, he walked into it. His body phased through with no resistance. He came out the other side, wide-eyed. Then he tried something else. Standing in front of the mirror, he stared at his reflection. "Invisibility," he said under his breath and willed it. He could still see himself, but his reflection was gone. Now this was game-changing. Not all racial abilities were skills. Humans could walk and talk, but that wasn¡¯t a skill, just biology. Similarly, ghosts could float, phase, vanish. Now he could too. He dropped the invisibility and chuckled, pleased. Then another thought hit him. "System. Share Companion!" A glow pulsed beside him. Before he could react, a familiar figure appeared midair. It belonged to a large bird, semi-transparent, almost glowing faintly in the morning light. It hovered gracefully, wings gliding without effort, its feathers glimmering silver, a faint mist rolling off its body. Violet rings circled its eyes. [Companion Bond Formed] ¡¯Master,¡¯ the soft and feminine said inside his head. Isaac blinked. "You are...?" ¡¯Tirra is your beast bond now. Since you summoned Tirra, the contract formed,¡¯ she said calmly. He walked to the window, and lifted the curtain slightly. Outside, he saw another ghost bird circling the farm. The original. "Holy... Did the system just copy-paste a living being?" This was more than skill-sharing. This was duplication. That bird outside was Emily¡¯s summon. And now he had the exact same thing. Tirra, the ghost bird, jumped on his shoulder and, copying his action, peeked out of the window. She followed his line of sight, and saw the other bird. ¡¯Huh... that one looks like Tirra.¡¯ She fluttered down to land in front of the mirror. With a tilt of her head, she stared at her own reflection. Then she shifted, posing, turning left and right as if it was a magazine photoshoot. ¡¯Mmm... as expected, Tirra is more beautiful than the bird outside,¡¯ she said proudly. Isaac pressed a hand to his face, unsure whether to laugh or be concerned. "Tirra, come here," he said quickly, sensing that Emily would soon return. She chirped followed his words. He took out the Soulbind Pendant, where those who had formed a bond with him could enter, and she vanished into it. Then he opened his system again. "Show me the shop." There were two options inside the shop: [Items] [Time-Limited Items] He selected the first. Iron Sword (Mortal) ¨C 1,000 AP Basic Recovery Potion ¨C 1,200 AP Spirit Recovery Potion ¨C 2,000 AP Shadowsteel Daggers (Spirit) ¨C 8,000 AP Mystic Rank Spear ¨C 18,000 AP Arcane Chainmail (Mystic) ¨C 20,000 AP Genetic Catalyst (Tier 1 ¨C Phoenix) ¨C 100,000 AP Genetic Catalyst (Tier 1 ¨C Earth Dragon) ¨C 100,000 AP Genetic Catalyst (Tier 1 ¨C Zombie Wyrm) ¨C 100,000 AP Isaac scrolled, eyes widening slightly. This shop had items of all ranks and potions too. At the end, he noticed that it said new items would be added regularly over time. He then looked toward the corner of the screen. AP Balance: 23.011 "...What¡¯s AP?" he asked. Affection Points: Your wives¡¯ positive emotions toward you are converted into AP. Isaac blinked. He watched the number tick. 23.012 23.013 23.014 "...0.001 per second? Seriously?" He almost choked. Chapter 56: Upgraded Inspect, Date With Emily Chapter 56: Upgraded Inspect, Date With Emily At this rate, he¡¯d get 86.4 AP in a day. He needed 100,000 for a single catalyst. Even the cheapest weapon was out of his reach. He leaned back against the wall, sighing. "This greedy system..." He closed the item tabs, and opened the Time-Limited Item tab. The time-limited section in the system shop made Isaac blink twice. Tier 1 Sun Dragon-type Genetic Catalyst ¨C 1,000 AP Bloodline Upgrading Elixir (from mid-rank to high-rank species) ¨C 2,500 AP Phantom Core Extractor ¨C 1,800 AP Celestial Spirit Pact Token ¨C 2,200 AP *All items in this shop section are under 90% discount for 7 days. Items will refresh after one week and may or may not reappear. *Items in both shop sections can be used only by host, his wives, and his bonds. "So I¡¯ve got one week to grab whatever I need." He rubbed his chin, already forming plans. Then, he thought about testing out the upgraded Inspect, but there was no one around. The bathroom door opened. Emily stepped out, drying her hair with a towel. "I¡¯m done," she said. She was wearing a white blouse tucked into soft blue high-waisted jeans. Her silver-white hair complemented her style. "You look good." "Thank you." Emily smiled at his praise. +0.1 AP Isaac blinked. ¡¯Wait... did that just...?¡¯ He tried again. "That color really suits you. It makes your eyes stand out." Emily blushed faintly, still smiling. "Thanks, Isaac." +0.3 AP He narrowed his eyes slightly. So that was it. AP gained at once could be increased. The happier she was, the more AP he earned. ¡¯Happiness-to-AP conversion... it wants me to make my wives happy, huh?¡¯ They all left for the market shortly after. Isaac, Emily, Leora, Professor Catherine, and Alice. Isaac noticed Alice was quieter than usual. She was keeping a bit of distance. He didn¡¯t need to guess why. At the market, they tried looking for a carpenter or builder. No one agreed to help despite Isaac offering them twice the market price. Isaac sighed. "I knew this would happen." "We¡¯ll just look through the rubble near the house," he said. Leora nodded. "We can scavenge something for now. It won¡¯t be pretty, but it¡¯s enough, and it should be easy to find too." Since they were already in the market, Isaac figured they could at least enjoy themselves. "Let¡¯s go shopping," he said, holding Emily¡¯s hand gently. Emily smiled. "Are you asking me on a date?" "Yup." He bought her a casual summer dress at a roadside clothing stall. It was light green with floral accents. Then they hit a small cafe? where Emily ordered a strawberry shake. They walked a bit, and stopped to watch a street performance. They got a couple of local snacks down the road. +0.2 AP +0.3 AP +0.4 AP The AP gains kept trickling in. As they spent time together, Isaac tried using Inspect on various random women in the crowd. It did not work. He frowned. What changed in the skill if it wasn¡¯t showing him status of others when asked? He checked Emily¡¯s status. There was no extra detail. The skill finally triggered when he regrouped with others and used it on Alice. Alice Calloway Rating: 84 (To be a wife candidate, 95 rating or above is required) Personality: Short-tempered, slightly introverted, overthinks a lot, closet pervert Likes: Smashing things, Isaac, fighting, sweaty Isaac, family, cool Isaac Dislikes: Bitches who thirst after Isaac¡¯s handsome face and body, Isaac when he flirts with other girls, people who badmouth her family or friends, cheap coffee, overly flirty guys, talking to strangers Status 1: Currently wondering if she had proposed back at the academy, would she be Isaac¡¯s girlfriend instead of Emily. Status 2: Thinks Isaac¡¯s a cheating bastard for flirting with her for three years and then dating someone else the day he left the academy. Debating whether to punch Isaac¡¯s face or look for a hidden corner where no one will see her crying. Isaac blinked. ¡¯That¡¯s... a lot to take in.¡¯ He, being the gentleman he was, respectfully ignored the more chaotic entries. Then another screen popped up. Alice Calloway¡¯s rating is low. Rating is based on current strength, future potential, emotional alignment, and compatibility factors. Awakening conditions for Alice Calloway: Absorb Tier 1 Fire Dragon-type Genetic Catalyst (awakens bloodline) Absorb Tier 1 Life Dragon-type Genetic Catalyst (awakens Talent) Absorb Tier 1 Sun Dragon-type Genetic Catalyst (awakens potential) Estimated rating after awakening bloodline: 95 Estimated rating after awakening Talent: 95 Estimated rating after awakening Talent and Bloodline: 96 ¡¯Alice can awaken?¡¯ Isaac felt a rush of excitement as if it was him who could awaken not Alice. He quickly decided to do whatever it took to help her awaken her bloodline and Talent. It was the least he could do for her. ¡¯All three Genetic Catalysts are in the shop,¡¯ he thought. ¡¯And the Sun Dragon one is in the time-limited section.¡¯ He pieced it together fast. ¡¯The system is pushing me to support Alice. Probably because of her dragon bloodline. If she becomes my wife, I can share that bloodline, and remove my stat limit. Makes sense, considering the system¡¯s job should be to support me, it¡¯s host.¡¯ He checked his AP again. 49.031 AP ¡¯I earned nearly 29 AP from just a two hour date with Emily. If I keep this up, I can gather 1,000 AP before the item in time-limited shop refreshes.¡¯ The problem wasn¡¯t the AP though. It was Alice. ¡¯If I ask Alice to be in a relationship now, she¡¯ll either cry and refuse or break my jaw. Since I never saw her cry except one time, I guess it will be my jaw.¡¯ He sighed. When they returned home, Isaac started the farm work again. He harvested the grains. 1600 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +144 Constitution +144. You have obtained 8,000 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [653 ¡ú 797] Mana: 100 [696 ¡ú 840] He whistled when he saw the numbers. Buying more land had been the perfect choice. ... A few hours ago If Alice still had been clinging to the hope that Emily and Isaac were just friends, that hour they spent together in his room crushed it. Alice hadn¡¯t seen what happened inside. But she didn¡¯t need to. They stayed in there. Alone. For that long. There was no denying it anymore. Emily wasn¡¯t just just a friend. That bitch... she had taken him. Just like that. Alice clenched her fists at the memory. She wasn¡¯t even sure if she was angry at Emily, for taking Isaac so easily, or herself. She and Isaac had spent years together. He always looked at her. Talked to her like she mattered. Back in the academy, she¡¯d convinced herself it was just friendship. But somewhere deep inside, she knew. Isaac had liked her. Even now, he was helping her. Going to bat against the Calloway Conglomerate. Facing off against her own family. If that wasn¡¯t proof, what was? But as soon as that thought came, another followed. ¡¯I sound pathetic.¡¯ She hadn¡¯t confessed. She never made a move. All she did was wait, assuming he¡¯d always be there. Now he wasn¡¯t. She sat quietly in the jeep while they returned from the market. Her head lowered just enough to hide her face. She didn¡¯t want them to see the tears she was barely holding back. Emily was smiling beside Isaac. That soft, happy smile that made Alice feel like she¡¯d lost a battle before she even began. Isaac gave her all his attention, gentle words, small glances, casual touches. Emily was everything Alice wasn¡¯t. Sweet, cheerful, and cute in that effortless way. Alice knew she was beautiful, but her face was always cold. Her voice was always firm. She barely smiled. And worst of all, she had waited too long. It was easy to understand why Isaac preferred Emily over her. They got back home. Isaac started working on the farm again. Normally, Alice would¡¯ve watched him with amoral gaze. She liked seeing him like that. Sweaty, focused, working hard. It made her heart flutter. Chapter 57: Super Tyr, Building A Shop Chapter 57: Super Tyr, Building A Shop But now, all she could think was... how Emily must¡¯ve seen this too. From his arms. From his bed. From the place Alice had always imagined herself in. She felt like something was tearing inside her. "Um, are you okay?" The voice made her freeze. It was Emily. Alice didn¡¯t answer. Her throat felt tight. One word and she knew the tears would come. She gave a short nod instead. Emily, clueless as ever, smiled and handed her a glass of juice. "I know you¡¯re probably stressed about everything, but don¡¯t look down, okay? Since Isaac promised to help, everything¡¯s going to go perfectly!" Her voice was sweet. Her intentions were good. But the timing couldn¡¯t have been worse. Alice tightened her grip on the glass. Then Professor Catherine appeared behind them. Her eyes scanned Alice for a moment before she said, "Emily, go give one to Isaac too." Emily nodded, cheerful as always, and left. Professor Catherine stepped closer. She didn¡¯t speak at first, just stood beside Alice and stared at the field. "I know this is tough," she finally said. "But try not to look like you¡¯re about to cry. If you do, even Emily will figure out what¡¯s going on." Alice stiffened. Her eyes darted to Catherine. "W-what are you talking about, Professor?" Catherine looked at her, smiling slightly. "You like Isaac, don¡¯t you?" Alice flinched. She didn¡¯t answer. She couldn¡¯t. "I thought so," Professor Catherine said, almost gently. "Then why are you acting like it¡¯s all over? You can still tell him. Our society allows polygamy. It¡¯s not like you¡¯ve lost your chance." Alice opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. "Isaac would say yes in a heartbeat if you asked. I¡¯m sure of it." Professor Catherine gave a short laugh. She turned to leave, then looked back once. "But if you keep waiting, he might lose interest." ... Present Isaac wiped the sweat from his neck with a towel. Emily approached him with a chilled drink. "Here," she said, handing it to him. "Thanks," Isaac replied, taking a long sip. The cold liquid was refreshing. He glanced toward the ruined part of the buildings in the distance. "I¡¯ll head out to scavenge a table. We¡¯ll need something basic for the stall." Emily tilted her head. "Isaac, you¡¯re looking for a table to use as the shop¡¯s stall, right?" "Yeah." "Then... why don¡¯t you ask Tyr about it?" "Tyr?" "I think he can help." "You think?" Isaac asked. He paused. "Are you going off intuition?" She nodded again, slower this time. Isaac rubbed his chin. "Well, he did reshape his hand when writing his evolution conditions, and he can change his size. Maybe he can do more." They walked together to where Tyr was resting in the shade of a tree. The small treant perked up as Isaac approached. "This is Emily," Isaac said. "My wife." Tyr¡¯s leafy head tilted slightly, his expression¡ªif it could be called that¡ªturning cheerful. He waved his viney arm like a child being introduced to a friend. Emily had a heavy blush from being called a wife. +0.5 AP Isaac smiled. "Tyr, I want to ask you something. Can you grow wood and manipulate it to build things?" Tyr nodded. ¡¯That was... simple.¡¯ "Okay, can you build something like a table?" Another nod. Then Tyr tilted his head, a gesture Isaac was starting to understand. He wanted to know where to build it. "I¡¯ll go to the market with Tyr." Isaac turned to Emily and the others. "We¡¯ll be back soon." Emily looked a little down at being left behind, but Isaac gently patted her head before stepping away. +0.6 AP Isaac blinked as the notification popped up. ¡¯Alright, she really likes the head-pat. Good to know.¡¯ The jeep rumbled to life with Leora behind the wheel. Tyr had miniaturized himself again to sit comfortably in the back. They drove toward the market. The streets were quieter with people taking a lunch break during this time. Tyr stared out the window, taking in the surroundings with wide eyes. As they reached the cleared land where Isaac¡¯s new plot had been established, the rubble had already been moved off. A flat patch of dirt waited. Isaac stepped out and held up a small screen. A simple image of a table hovered on it. "Think you can make this?" Tyr nodded without hesitation. He crouched down and placed his palms on the soil. From the ground, roots slithered upward like fast-growing vines. They twisted and merged, shaping into legs and a surface. A table. Then it kept going. More wood sprouted, forming vertical panels, then walls. A roof grew, layered with overlapping wooden leaves. A sturdy frame shaped itself into doorways and interior walls. One side stretched into a back room. Another went up, creating a rooftop area with railings. A sign sprouted above the entrance, waiting for a name to be etched onto it. Leora stood silently beside Isaac, arms crossed, watching it unfold. Isaac looked at Tyr, blinking. "I asked for a table, but this...." Tyr turned to him, his leafy expression proud, and pointed at the completed building. Isaac sighed, then smiled. "Well, I guess we¡¯re skipping the stall phase. "Good job." Tyr¡¯s expression turned bright. They walked into the shop and opened the door¡ªTyr even made a working wooden hinge system. A breeze passed through the interior. There were three rooms, including one with shelves that could be used for storage. The wood had a natural warmth, not too polished, but smooth and solid. "Tyr, really is an SSR character," Isaac muttered. "He is smart, strong, have an exceptional potential, and he can build things for me too." "Yes, even I didn¡¯t expect Tyr to be this capable. It makes one wonder how much he will improve when he ranks up," Leora replied. Tyr¡¯s chest swelled like he¡¯d understood their compliments. Isaac looked up at the shop. A full store built from the earth in minutes. "Now, we just need customers." Chapter 58: Naming The Shop, First Sale Chapter 58: Naming The Shop, First Sale After the shop was complete, Isaac, Leora, and Tyr returned home. The others were already waiting at the table. Lunch was quiet at first. Alice didn¡¯t look great. She was barely touching her food. Then, Leora casually slid next to her, grabbed her plate, and started feeding her like a mother fed a child. "Eat," Leora said, not giving her a chance to say no. Alice tried to stop her but gave up after a few bites. Leora talked to her throughout the meal, shifting topics quickly, keeping her engaged. By the end of lunch, Alice looked a little more grounded. Isaac gave a small sigh. ¡¯Yeah, this won¡¯t be easy.¡¯ He didn¡¯t head to the market right away. Most of the students¡ªhis main customers¡ªwouldn¡¯t be back until early evening. They entered the ruins early in the morning and usually returned between 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm. Instead, he spent time with Emily. They hung out in the small garden behind the house. They just talked. Nothing too serious. And spent time together. +0.2 AP +0.3 AP +0.1 AP By the time it was close to harvest, Isaac checked his AP again. AP Balance: 50.069 ¡ú 71.241 It had jumped quite a bit. He smiled a little before heading towards the farm. He swung the hoe twice, harvesting everything. 1760 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +160 Constitution +160. You have obtained 8,800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [797 ¡ú 957] Mana: 100 [840 ¡ú 1000] His Mana reached the rumored stat limit of Apex-rank species. But that didn¡¯t matter. His rank limit was only 100. His could feel the drained mana after harvesting four hectare, and he had to take a short break to recover it. After storing the grains, he burned the stalks, spread the ash, and replanted. They headed for the market next. At the shop, Isaac planned to unload the crates of grains. Just as he was about to lift the first one, Emily stopped him. "I¡¯ll take care of it," she said. Isaac, although confused, nodded. "Go ahead." She raised her hand and used Phantom Parade skill. Twelve Zephyrs appeared. They were cute little green fairies. Isaac blinked as they zipped around her. Emily gave them a silent look. "Can you carry those inside?" The Zephyrs nodded and grouped up. Four each went to a crate, floating near the bottom corners. They summoned tiny whirlwinds and lifted the crates together. One by one, they floated the crates into the shop. Isaac watched, curious. "You didn¡¯t say anything other than just basic instructions. How¡¯d they know what to do?" Emily pointed toward the sky. "Tirra¡¯s skill links my thoughts to my spirits. I don¡¯t need to speak when she¡¯s around." Isaac glanced at the ghostly bird flying overhead. Once the crates were placed, Emily praised the Zephyrs. They giggled, and vanished. Then, Emily looked at Isaac expectantly. He got the message. "You¡¯ve been training hard. Good work." She smiled. +0.9 AP Professor Catherine leaned against the wall and glanced up at the plain nameplate. "What¡¯s the shop¡¯s name going to be?" she asked. Isaac looked up. "Family." "Family?" she repeated. He nodded. "It¡¯s like saying we treat our customers like family. And we give them the best, because family takes care of each other." Then, he asked Tyr to draw the name on the nameplate just as he had created the shop. Tyr stepped forward and used his ability to shape the wood. The word ¡¯Family¡¯ rose from the board in elegant, flowing lines. It looked nice, but something was missing. The wood and lettering were too close in color. It didn¡¯t stand out. "Want us help to help you paint that?" a familiar voice called out. Isaac turned. Broon, Thalia, Elric, Nero, Zeke, Kael, Freya, Vax, and Renji were approaching. They looked excited. "Nice shop," Freya said. She stepped forward. "I can paint the sign, if you want." Isaac nodded. "Sure. You have paint on you?" "Yes." She pointed at Professor Catherine. "Professor Catherine told us to bring it." Isaac gave Professor Catherine a surprised look. She must¡¯ve told Freya to bring the paint several minutes ago. Her quick thinking saved Isaac time. She noticed Isaac¡¯s gaze. "You can thank me later. By doing you-know-what." She winked. He just shook his head. "Thanks." Freya pulled a small paint set from her spatial ring. Isaac noticed it and thought, ¡¯If she has a spatial ring, she must be from a well-off family.¡¯ They quickly got to work. Tyr grew larger and lifted Freya up gently so she could paint the name. She worked with practiced motions, adding contrast with bold white and soft gold. Once it was done, she hopped down. "Thanks," Isaac said. "How much should I pay for it?" Freya waved it off. "You guys treated us to dinner, and now you¡¯re selling the grains in the market. Helping out here is the least we can do." With everything arranged, Isaac and Emily sat behind the counter inside the shop. Isaac leaned back, glancing at the neatly stacked crates behind them. He had counted 1,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains and 24,000 Tier 0s. The numbers were good, but they made him wonder if it was possible to sell all of them in a single day. Leora stood silently in one corner, arms crossed and eyes scanning the street. Near the entrance, Nero, Kael, and Thalia leaned against the wooden walls. Nero looked relaxed, and Thalia was flipping a small knife in her fingers, bored. Kael, on the other hand, was doing all the talking, bouncing between stories and jokes, trying to keep the atmosphere light. Professor Catherine had slipped away some time ago without a word. Knowing her, she was likely scheming something. Alice approached the counter holding a camera. "I¡¯ll be clicking photos," she said. "Of the shop, of you two, the customers, and the market. We¡¯ll need them later." Emily tilted her head. "Photos?" Alice nodded. "They¡¯ll be important for promotions. We¡¯ll need good visuals." She still didn¡¯t look like she was completely fine, but Isaac could tell she had chosen to push forward and focus on the work. For now, that was enough. Finally, footsteps echoed outside, and the first group of customers walked in. They wore the dark gray combat uniforms marked with the emblem of a sage¡¯s hat and wand¡ªSanctum of Masters. Four students, each carrying gear. Their expressions were curious and eager. "Hey, Kael! Nero! Thalia!" one of them called out with a grin. Kael waved them in. "Hi." They laughed and stepped up to the counter. The tallest one, a guy with dark brown hair and a vertical scar over his nose, looked directly at Isaac and Emily. "So, it¡¯s true? You¡¯re selling the grains?" Isaac nodded. "Yeah. Prices are up front. Tier 0s are 9,000 Obols." Their eyes widened. "That cheap?" Rhea, one of the girls in the group, said. "The other shop is selling them at 13,000!" Isaac wasn¡¯t surprised. The Calloway Conglomerate had distributed stock to several retailers. Limited supply had probably pushed up prices. Still, because of his contract, he wasn¡¯t allowed to undercut 9,000, so this was already the best price in the market. "Can we check them first?" Eren, the student with the scar, asked. Isaac nodded and reached into the crate, pulling out a single Tier 0 Vitality Grain. He handed it over. Eren took a small bite, chewed, then blinked in surprise. Freshness exploded in his mouth. He hasn¡¯t eaten anything this good in months. The surprise did not stop there. From the chewed piece, a thin stream of warm energy poured out and flowed into his body. His shoulders relaxed, and he let out a breath. "How did this...?" Eren looked at his body in surprise. "Hey, what happened?" Rhea asked, concerned. "I... feel like I slept ten hours. And the soreness in my legs is just... gone." Eren looked like he had seen a miracle. "Is this your first time eating these?" Isaac asked. Eren nodded. "We never got a chance before. They¡¯re always gone from the cafeteria before we even get there." "Same at the shops," Rhea added. "The good stuff disappears the moment it arrives." "I will take 11 of these!" Eren suddenly said with enthusiasm. "Five for me." "I¡¯ll take six." "Nine for me. I need those things to study for the upcoming exams." They took the grains with happy expression. A notification came on Isaac¡¯s device [279,000 Obols deposited in your account 123X XXX XXX XXX] It was a good start. He earned nearly three hundred thousand Obols with the first sale. As the students walked out, talking excitedly, Isaac looked toward Nero by the door. "I did expect some of your friends to come, but did you tell those four early timing so that they can get the grains first?" he asked. Thalia turned to look at him, surprised. "Wait¡ªhow¡¯d you guess that?" "No way. You just figured that out from the way they talked?" Kael was flabbergasted finally believing that the plan Isaac used to defeat them during the combat training was no coincidence. Isaac just shrugged. "Seemed obvious." "You¡¯re right. But it wasn¡¯t just that," Nero said. He turned toward the street, where the students were already chatting with another group that had noticed the activity. "Those guys are well-connected, and are good friends with the popular kids in our year. Once they start talking, word will spread fast. That¡¯s why we wanted them to come first." Isaac nodded slowly. "Thanks. That¡¯s a big help." "Don¡¯t thank me. That was all Professor Catherine¡¯s idea." Nero waved it off. Chapter 59: General Magnus Makes An Appearance, First Day Sale Chapter 59: General Magnus Makes An Appearance, First Day Sale After the first sale, it didn¡¯t take long for more students to arrive. Two came together, one asking for two grains, the other for three. "Thank you for doing business with us." Isaac waved them off with a smile. Then came a larger group with eleven students in total, chattering as they approached. Each of them asked for four or five grains, and Isaac got to work serving them. The line hadn¡¯t even cleared when two smaller groups showed up. One with three students, the other with two. Another lone student followed soon after, looking a little hesitant but clearly curious. Emily handled the sales with them. By the time the large group was halfway done, more students had already started trickling in. And they didn¡¯t stop. Within the next half hour, the number doubled. Isaac had to pause for a moment when one student, after swallowing his first bite, teared up and mumbled, "Finally... finally some good food." He didn¡¯t think much of it until he saw more students reacting the same way. A few held back tears, some didn¡¯t. Many were simply muttering words of thanks to him and Emily. "...Is the food really that bad at the cafeteria?" Isaac asked one of them. "You wouldn¡¯t believe it, dude. But to be fair, it¡¯s not the university¡¯s fault. During long exploration trips, good food is rare. Most of us survive on raw monster meat or whatever fruit we can find in the wild. The cafeteria¡¯s food is just to help us adjust to that reality." One student answered with a tired smile. Another voice rose from the crowd, this one louder and angry. "That¡¯s a damn excuse! This stronghold is still new, and they can¡¯t distribute supplies properly yet. That¡¯s why we¡¯re stuck with trash food while paying sky-high tuition! It¡¯s the management¡¯s fault!" The grumbles from others made it clear that not everyone agreed with the adjustment philosophy. Isaac didn¡¯t mind it, since the problem with cafeteria food worked in his favour. Over the next two hours, the crowd only grew. A proper line formed outside the shop, stretching beyond the entrance and around the block. Isaac watched the line build with a quiet smile. "This is more than I expected." Emily nodded, a slight smile on her lips. "It thanks to Vax and the others. Tirra¡¯s sending me visual telepathy from the border. They are promoting us out there." Isaac nodded slowly. He hadn¡¯t asked them for help. But they did it anyway. "Professor Catherine was right about making friends with them," he muttered. "We should invite them to eat with us later." Leora shot him a stare, which he could only avoid. He wondered how Professor Catherine was able to ignore that hawk-like stare. By eight, the shelves were nearly empty. Almost every grain had been sold. Isaac looked at the crates, then at Emily. She smiled back at him, tired but clearly pleased. Then came a sudden wave of whispers outside. There was a commotion. Isaac stepped outside and saw General Magnus was standing in the line. Students instinctively stepped aside, making space for him to walk through. But the General raised a hand and shook his head. "I¡¯m here as a buyer," he said in a calm and firm voice calm. "Not as General Magnus. No need to give up your place." Everyone fell quiet. They looked at each other, and stayed their place. When General Magus¡¯ turn finally came, he stepped up to the counter. Isaac met his gaze calmly. "I¡¯d like to buy Tier 1 Vitality Grains," General Magnus said. Isaac had been waiting for this. He knew someone from Stronghold would come to buy his Tier 1 grains and that¡¯s how he planned to prove it¡¯s effects to the students. He reached under the counter and brought out the product. The Tier 1 grain was smaller than the others, with a darker hue and a deeper scent. He placed it gently on the table and began speaking. "This grain passively restores two mana per minute for seventy-two hours. It detoxifies low-tier poisons, can be used with potions without issues. It also keeps you full for seventy-two hours, and restores fatigue equivalent to deep sleep." A gasp came from somewhere in the student crowd. They started whispering. "...Is that true?" "No way it is." "Idiot, why would he lie to General Magnus?" "He¡¯s an SSS-Rank Farmer. Something like this is completely possible." "Damn it, I wish I had a farming talent instead of combat..." Magnus didn¡¯t react to the noise. He looked at the grain, then nodded. "Alright. I¡¯ll take your entire stock." Isaac shook his head. "Please don¡¯t monopolize it, General. This is a shop. The reason I opened it wasn¡¯t to make money, but to make sure students and others who usually don¡¯t get access to high-quality resources can have them." It was a lie. A clean, practiced one. But the students did not need to know that. One student in the crowd teared up again. "Damn... so that¡¯s why he¡¯s not supplying to the Master of Sanctum directly... Vax was right. He¡¯s a good guy." Magnus chuckled, clearly amused. "Alright, how many can I take?" "Fifty," Isaac replied. "They will be 61,000 Obols each." Magnus didn¡¯t even blink. He paid instantly and stored the grains in his spatial ring before nodding and walking away. The next student in line hesitated. He didn¡¯t ask for the grains right away. Instead, he bowed slightly. "...Thank you." Isaac frowned. "For what?" "That Tier 1 grain you just described? In the market, something like that would cost seventy to seventy-five thousand Obols each. Most of us mage students would still buy them, even at that price. But you¡¯re selling them for so much less. You even stood firm against General Magnus, even though it doesn¡¯t benefit you, since you¡¯d get the money either way." Isaac smiled faintly. "Don¡¯t mind that. You¡¯re all working hard for the city by exploring ruins. It¡¯s the least I can do." The student thanked him again and bought two grains. From that moment, Tier 1 grains sold faster than anything else. In less than half an hour, both Tier 0 and Tier 1 grains were completely sold out. Even then, a few students remained in line, clearly hoping. Isaac looked at them and spoke gently, "That¡¯s all for today. But if you come tomorrow, you can skip the line." Their faces lit up. They thanked him and left, still empty-handed, but visibly happy. After all, even though they couldn¡¯t buy anything, Isaac still allowed them to skip-lines, which had no benefit for him. Later, Isaac finally sat down and checked his account. [Money Credited (Today): 277,000,000 Obols] It was a staggering amount. Far beyond what he¡¯d expected for the first day. But it was not enough. To beat Chairman Lucius¡¯ bet, he needed to earn at least 1.4 billion every single day. Only then he could earn 10 billion by the end of the week. Isaac closed the screen, leaned back in his seat, and stared at the empty shelves. "Is there a problem, Isaac? I thought we had good sales today," Emily said, sitting next to him. "Nope, there is no problem. I was just wondering how much land I need to buy to win the bet with Chairman Lucius," Isaac said. "And thanks for today, Emily. Without you, it would¡¯ve tough to manage the shop alone." "Hehe, don¡¯t mind it." Her cute smile recharged Isaac. He stood up and turned to others. "Do you guys want to come at my house for dinner?" Chapter 60: Hard Cap, Sovereign of Land Double Level Up Chapter 60: Hard Cap, Sovereign of Land Double Level Up Author¡¯s Note: The price of Chapter is pre-determined by the word count. Authors don¡¯t determine the price. Long Chapters are automatically expensive, and vice versa. ... Kael grinned. "Of course¡ª" He was about to add something else when Thalia¡¯s elbow jabbed into his side. Nero grabbed Kael by the back of his collar and started pulling him toward the door. "We should head back." Thalia gave a polite nod to Isaac. "Thanks for the offer, but we need to leave now. Curfew¡¯s close." Kael tried to resist once they were outside. "Why¡¯d you stop me? We were about to get some good food!" Nero replied without looking back. "Did you not see Isaac¡¯s maid? Her hand was twitching toward her sword when you said that." Kael froze mid-step. "...I didn¡¯t notice." He gave up and followed them silently, slightly pale. As Isaac¡¯s maid and bodyguard, she must be extremely strong, probably peak Master rank or maybe even Champion rank. Kael would rather not anger someone as dangerous as her if he could avoid that. ... Professor Catherine¡¯s POV Catherine crouched in the shadow of a half-collapsed wall. Ahead, almost three hundred meters away, two figures moved swiftly through the debris-lined path. ¡¯Good thing I didn¡¯t eliminate the assassin spies I found working inside the Stronghold,¡¯ she thought. ¡¯Now that Isaac¡¯s shop is open, they¡¯re rushing back to report it as quickly as possible.¡¯ It was exactly what she¡¯d hoped for. They crossed the invisible Stronghold boundary, travelled through the relatively safe territory just outside the stronghold, and entered into the proper Akaza Ruins. The air was denser here, packed with pungent mana. Dozens of Master and Champion rank monsters roamed the streets. One ruin guard loomed in the distance, patrolling like a silent giant. From how the monsters avoided it, the ruin guard was peak Champion rank, or maybe even higher. The two assassins navigated the environment expertly, ducking behind broken walls, slipping past the monsters, weaving through danger. Then they vanished. Professor Catherine halted. Her eyes narrowed. ¡¯Did they notice me, or is there a hidden entrance here?¡¯ ... Isaac¡¯s POV Isaac returned home with Leora, Alice, and Tyr. The air had cooled, and the night had descended long ago. Isaac stretched his back and exhaled. "Thanks for today, everyone," he said. They gathered in the kitchen. Isaac unpacked the ingredients he bought from the market. Monster meat, fresh vegetables, high-grade seasonings. The bill had been steep: 40,000 Obols. But he wanted to treat everyone, since today was the opening of his first shop. It was a new beginning for him. That was why invited Nero and others, but they refused. Leora offered to help in the kitchen, but he waved her off. "I got it. You all can take a rest." By the time dinner was ready, Professor Catherine returned, brushing dust from her coat. Isaac greeted her without looking up from the table. "Welcome back. Wash up, then come eat." She gave a cheeky smile. "Not going to ask why I¡¯m staying again?" "No," Isaac replied. "You can stay as long as you want." ¡¯Not like you¡¯d leave even if I asked,¡¯ he added in his head. "Oh? Is that you trying to flirt with me now?" she teased. He shot her a glance, but before he could answer, she pressed on. "Since you¡¯re being so accepting, how about a massage? I¡¯ve been working all day, and my shoulders are stiff." "Okay." He nodded. "It must¡¯ve been rough chasing down those assassin spies." Her smile slipped. Just for a second. She recovered quickly. "Assassins? What are you talking about? I just slipped away because I didn¡¯t feel like working." Isaac didn¡¯t press. But he felt he was right. The way she started staying around after his crops reached Tier 1. The way she quietly kept watch without saying anything. It was clear to him that she still blamed herself for what happened back at Radiant Crest Academy. The assassination incident had left its mark. She might act easygoing, but she was always watching. The reason she started staying behind was to make sure Isaac was protected. "You want that massage or not?" Isaac asked finally. "Now that I think about it, no." She grinned again. "You don¡¯t get to touch my body for free. If you want me in your harem, you¡¯ll have to work harder." He rolled his eyes. Dinner passed with quiet conversation. Isaac noticed Alice barely spoke, but she cleaned her plate. Leora was, as she did during the lunch, helping Alice by initiating conversations. Emily helped with cleanup while humming softly. After the meal, Isaac studied until 12, then he stepped outside to harvest the newly grown crops. He saw the fields filled with Tier 1 Vitality Grains, and a smile appeared on his face. 800 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +400. Constitution +400. You have obtained 1800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [957 ¡ú 1000] Mana: 100 [1000 ¡ú 1000] Sovereign of Land has reached Level 4 ¡ú 5 Active and passive effects strengthened by 120%. Cooldown: 20 hours ¡ú 16 hours Isaac blinked when he saw the Constitution and Mana. "The stats capped at 1000?" A frown appeared on his face. He had lost hundreds of stats because of the cap. "Is this a hard cap, or will the limit be lifted if my stat limit increases to 1000?" He approached Professor Catherine to ask about it. "Oh, you reached 1000 in the backlog? Congrats," she said, then thought about his words. "I don¡¯t know about it, but I would expect the apex-rank species to have a higher backlog limit, since their base limit is 1000." "Yes, Apex¡¯s backlog limit is much higher." Leora said from the side. Isaac nodded. Making Alice a wife and helping her awaken her bloodline just shot up in his priority list. ¡¯The only relief is that while I¡¯m losing tons of stats, the loss is actually not that much. I can recoup my loses with a single harvest. I just need to raise my stat limit.¡¯ After he got his answers, he turned to Professor Catherine. "Professor Catherine, I want to buy more land." "How much?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "Five hectares." "Are you sure? The total land you will have now will force you to recover mana multiple times to work on all of it." She crossed her arms. "I know you want to win your bet against Chairman Lucius, but don¡¯t push yourself too hard." "I¡¯m fine," he said. "I can recover Mana quickly with my high Spirit Power." "It¡¯s not all about stats, Isaac. I¡¯m talking about mental exhaustion." "As I said, it¡¯s fine." She stared at him for a few moments, then went to her room to bring land contracts. They were already filled out and signed, except for the land amount. She scribbled in the number and handed him the pen. He signed. Then came the work. He took out fifty mana potions and poured their contents into the soil. These potions were the ones he¡¯d created himself using the Silverbloom plants Professor Catherine left behind for him to train with as his homework. He wasn¡¯t allowed to sell them though. Just as he was about to start evening out the land, Professor Catherine spoke again as she approached him. "Alice asked me to tell you. Grow Tier 1 grains on three hectares, and the rest Tier 0." He paused. That made sense. Word about Tier 1 grains would spread soon, and when it did, they needed supply ready, but since Tier 0 were the most popular, they couldn¡¯t skip it. By the time he finished planting seeds across the now nine hectares, it was well beyond midnight. His chest rose and fell heavily. This was the first time the exhaustion had really hit him. Working nine hectares was no joke. Still, it was worth it. He stared at the screen before his eyes with a grin. Sovereign of Land has reached Level 5 ¡ú 6 Active and passive effects strengthened by 120%. "Two level ups in a single day. This speed is honestly amazing." The students who awakened with him would be struggling to reach Level 5 Initiate and their highest leveled skills would be Level 3 at best. Isaac, on other hand, was already Level 10 Initiate, had a Level 6 skill, unlocked three Titles, earned hundreds of millions, and had a cute wife. "I can get this much and more, then all of this hardwork is worth it." Isaac stepped back into the house. The quiet hum of a laptop reached his ears from the living room. Alice was there, surrounded by papers. Notes filled every inch of the sheets, some scribbled hastily, others marked with arrows and corrections. Her focus didn¡¯t waver as her fingers danced over the keyboard. She was using the laptop she¡¯d borrowed from Professor Catherine. He didn¡¯t speak. Just stood at the edge of the room, watching. Alice clicked and scrolled, uploading pictures of the shop, the shelves, a few group shots with early customers, and the huge line outside the shop. She tagged the students who had visited earlier, and they, clearly pleased to be part of something, were liking and resharing them. Each like pushed the posts higher in the Fortified City 89 social feed algorithm. Isaac smiled faintly. This world¡¯s communication systems were unique. Each city had its own centralized network, acting like an isolated internet. Only those registered within the same city could interact through messages or calls, and when you left the city, communication would become slow. She sipped her coffee again, briefly rubbing her temple before resuming her work. Isaac watched her quietly. He had wanted to propose to her back in the academy. The idea was simple: awaken a high-level or useful Talent, earn a stable career, then confess. But then the system came. That changed everything. Plans got delayed. Priorities shifted. But even now, watching Alice like this, working hard to help him without being asked, he knew his feelings hadn¡¯t changed. "I¡¯ll talk to Emily first," he muttered to himself. "Then I¡¯ll ask Alice out." Chapter 61: Emily’s Acceptance, Wingwoman Professor Catherine Chapter 61: Emily¡¯s Acceptance, Wingwoman Professor Catherine He returned to his room. There he found Emily near the bed, crouched over a sealed package. Her eyes lit up when she saw him. "Oh, you¡¯re back!" she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him closer. "What is this? A gift? I found it under the bed, I swear I didn¡¯t open the gift itself, but... I couldn¡¯t help it and took it out from the bed!" The grin on her face was pure excitement. +1 AP +1.2 AP +1.1 AP The points kept coming. Isaac blinked. That was the biggest AP surge he¡¯d seen in one go. She really was that happy. Isaac forced a smile. "You¡¯ll find out soon." Emily hugged the box gently and swayed a little. "Can I guess what¡¯s inside? No¡ªdon¡¯t tell me. I want it to be a surprise." He nodded but said nothing more. His throat felt dry. How was he supposed to tell her? How could he explain to the girl who smiled just from seeing his gift that he wanted to marry someone else too? He groaned under his breath and turned away for a moment, just to get his thoughts straight. ¡¯I wish I was a shameless bastard,¡¯ he thought. ¡¯If I was, maybe I could say it without hesitating.¡¯ But he wasn¡¯t. He pulled open the system panel and checked her profile, hoping for some clarity. Emily Warren Age: 19 (At time of death) Rating: 96 Personality: Gentle, kind. Likes: Seeing Isaac happy, piano music, scent of old books, rain, honest and hardworking people, feeling of nostalgia even if bittersweet. Dislikes: Loud noises, being forgotten or ignored, cold drafts that make her presence known too easily, the whispers in her mind that aren¡¯t her own. Status: excited, happy, wants to know what is inside the gift, wants to cuddle you. Isaac stared at the new "like" that wasn¡¯t there before¡ª"seeing Isaac happy." That said enough. He closed the screen. His chest felt heavy. It wasn¡¯t just guilt. It was the fear of breaking something that had already become precious. ¡¯What am I even supposed to say?¡¯ he wondered. ¡¯Hey, Emily, I know you love me, and I love you too, but I also want to marry someone else?¡¯ He rubbed the back of his neck and exhaled hard. "Goddamn it," he muttered. "I really wish I was a scumbag." "Isaac?" Emily tilted her head, her eyes full of gentle confusion. He snapped out of his thoughts. "Nothing," he said quickly. With a breath, he picked up the wrapped package from the bed and peeled back the paper. Inside was the teddy bear. Its fur was a soft, golden-white. The belly was round, the limbs short and stubby. A green ribbon was tied under its chin, and its small, drooping eyes sat above a grumpy little frown that seemed oddly familiar. Isaac held it up. "Since I can¡¯t be there with you at the university," he said, "you can hold this when you sleep. It¡¯ll help you sleep normally." Emily hugged the teddy bear to her chest. Her eyes lit up as she looked at him. "Thank you for the gift," she said softly. +2 AP Then she giggled. +1.5 AP +1.4 AP Isaac blinked. "What happened?" Emily smiled. "It looks just like you when you wake up. That same grumpy expression. If I think of it as you, I won¡¯t feel scared sleeping alone anymore." "Do I really look like that in the morning? I don¡¯t... right?" Emily laughed instead of answering him. Later, the two slept together. The morning sun hadn¡¯t risen yet when Isaac stirred. His eyes opened to the familiar ceiling, and he reached to slip out of bed, but a pair of arms wrapped around his torso and pulled him closer. "Sorry," he said, "did I wake you?" Emily shook her head and tugged him back onto the bed. She shifted, lying on top of him, her face inches from his. "I don¡¯t like sad Isaac," she said. "Huh?" Emily looked at him silently, then shook her head. "It¡¯s about Alice, isn¡¯t it?" He blinked, caught off guard. Before he could reply, she continued. "It was obvious yesterday. The way she looked at you... and the way you looked at her. I figured you were thinking too much about it, so I brought it up first." She paused, then added quietly, "I don¡¯t mind it." "...Don¡¯t mind what?" Emily rested her head against his chest. "I don¡¯t mind if you propose to Alice. I don¡¯t want to see you sad, Isaac. I want you to be happy. So, if having her by your side makes you happy, then do it." "Hey, I am happy with you¡ª" "I know Isaac is happy with me. I know Isaac cares about me. But you are sad when you see Alice being sad just as you see me sad, don¡¯t you?" Isaac¡¯s lips parted, but no words came out. "...But," she added. "But?" Emily looked up, meeting his eyes with a cheeky grin. "You can propose to her. Just don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m your number one wife." His stunned expression slowly turned into a smile. A genuine one. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead. "Of course. You¡¯ll always be my number one." "Good." Emily smiled back. "If you forget about this, I will haunt you in your dreams." Isaac laughed, feeling a weight off his chest. After a moment, he asked, "I thought you were against sharing me. What changed?" "I had a dream," she said then scratched her cheek as she explained. "My memories before I met Auntie... they¡¯re blurry. But sometimes, I get dreams. Auntie said those dreams are my memories from when I was alive. I¡¯ll remember more over time." She paused, then added, "Recently, I dreamed about living in a big castle. I had lots of moms, and they were all happy. Papa was always smiling. It was fun. Warm." Her voice softened. "If you can be as happy as he was then I¡¯m okay with it. I¡¯ll share you, Isaac, and..." "And?" "Auntie said men are happy when they have a harem," she said innocently. "So, she told me to tell you that you can propose to Alice." Isaac stared at her innocent smile. ¡¯...Let¡¯s keep Emily away from Professor Catherine.¡¯ Chapter 62: Alice’s Plan Chapter 62: Alice¡¯s Plan Walker Smithy, Sector 35, Fortified City 50 "Dad! Look at this!" Paul burst into the smithy, phone in hand, barely catching his breath. His father, Darius, looked up from the forge, wiping sweat off his forehead. "What is it this time?" he muttered, clearly not in the mood for one of Paul¡¯s energetic rants. Paul shoved the screen in front of him. "FC89_Forum. Check this out." Darius squinted at the screen, then gave Paul a flat look. "You better not be showing me cat videos again." The other smiths in the shop laughed. They knew it must be some new ¡¯genius¡¯ idea of Paul to help their shop grow. Just like every other idea, this was going to be a bust too. "No, listen!" Paul ignored the jab. "We need to open a branch in the Akaza Ruin stronghold." Darius raised an eyebrow. "Have you lost your mind? Land there costs an arm and a leg. Even if we sold both, we¡¯d be short." "It¡¯s around 400 to 500 million," Paul admitted, "but if we pull everything¡ªpersonal savings, shop profits, unused accounts¡ªwe can cover it." Darius almost smacked the back of his head, but Paul¡¯s determination made him pause. "...Explain." Paul tapped the screen and pulled up a new profile. "This. Look. This guy, Isaac Hargraves, is an SSS-rank Farmer. He is the one whose rumors are going around that he awakened a week ago in some academy in Sector 15." "SSS rank Farmer? Haven¡¯t those rumors yet to be confirmed." "That¡¯s because it has been only one week since he awakened. Of course, they are still preparing for official announcement," Paul said. "Anyway, look at this already!" The account was named ¡¯Family¡¯. Its bio simply read: We grow. We feed. We care. Darius leaned in as Paul swiped through posts. The photos showed a sharp-faced young man working in a lush field, crates overflowing with glowing grain. There were candid pictures too of students lining up, buying, smiling, even tagging the shop on the local network. "See that crowd? That¡¯s not normal. And this," Paul flipped to a clip, "is the line outside the shop. Those kids are buying five, ten grains each. Some bought even more." Darius rubbed his chin. "And what does that mean for us?" Paul grinned. "That means this guy sold over 20,000 grains in a single day. You know how long it takes to grow 20,000 grains the normal way? Months if you use 100 hectare. But he did it in one week and only on five hectares. Do you get what this means?" Around the shop, the background laughter quieted down. 20,000 grains in a week? That was a number that defied common sense. Some of them thought the account was a troll, but for the moment, they listened to Paul. Paul didn¡¯t notice them. He was already walking circles. "Right now, people avoid the Akaza Ruins because of three things¡ªno food, no weapon smiths, and strong monsters. No one wants to enter unless those three problems are solved. But this guy..." He pointed at the screen. "He¡¯s solving the food issue alone." Darius frowned. "That still leaves weapons and monsters." "Exactly. Which is why most small explorers still won¡¯t go. But big guilds? They already have top-tier gear. All they needed was steady support of food. Now that food¡¯s handled, they¡¯ll make the move." Someone from the back finally spoke up. "And when the big guilds go there, others will follow." Paul turned to him and grinned. "Bingo. Once the guilds settle, traders will rush in. Shops, banks, logistics¡ªall of it. Akaza Ruin Stronghold is about to bloom. "The land price is 400 to 500 million. It¡¯s cheap? No, it¡¯s expensive for us. But once those businesses smell the money, that price will triple. "So we need to go there now. We buy the land while it¡¯s still cheap, and then we profit when the Stronghold community booms." Darius was quiet. He leaned back against the workbench, deep in thought. Paul didn¡¯t wait. He turned to the smiths and raised his voice. "We¡¯re expanding. I want applications from everyone by tonight. Whoever¡¯s serious, submit your form. Top three get sent to Sanctum of Master Stronghold in Akaza Ruin." A murmur passed through the room. They could tell that this time Paul¡¯s genius idea was actually good one. Paul looked back at his father. "This is it, Dad. This is our chance. You always said we needed a chance to make it big. Isaac just gave it to us. So stop wasting time, and let¡¯s start moving." ... Sanctum of Masters Stronghold, Akaza Ruin, Fortified City 89 "Go rest for now," Isaac said softly when Emily was about to follow him to the hallway. "I¡¯m not sleepy," she replied. "I¡¯ll come with you." He reached out and patted her head gently. "We¡¯ll go on a date later. Rest while you can." Her eyes lit up, and she finally agreed to his request. +0.7 AP AP Balance: 71.241 ¡ú 141.945 The number had doubled since the last time he checked it. It made sense. He¡¯d spent the day with Emily at the shop, which for some reason made her smile a lot. He gave her a gift, and they¡¯d slept together. All those small things added up. ¡¯Almost 150 AP in a single day,¡¯ he thought. ¡¯At this rate, I can definitely buy the Genetic Catalyst. The Bloodline Upgrading Elixir is going to be hard though.¡¯ The Elixir costed 2500 AP. But Isaac wanted it. He could use it on Emily, upgrade her Bloodline, and share it to upgrade his human bloodline too. ¡¯2500 for Bloodline Upgrading Elixir, and 1000 for Sun-type Genetic Catalyst.¡¯ ¡¯Earning 3500 in a single week seems impossible.¡¯ ¡¯But it will be possible if I can marry Alice. Two wives mean double the affection. Twice the AP.¡¯ He shook the thought away for now and walked downstairs. In the living room, Alice had fallen asleep at the table, face half-buried in papers and the soft glow of the laptop screen. Isaac walked over quietly and placed a blanket on her shoulders. He glanced at the screen. It was the business account she had made ¡¯Family¡¯. Some users had called it a troll page. Alice had been replying to them with composed, professional responses. Her words were tactful and polite. There were also positive comments from students who had already bought the grains. Many of them shared photos, tagging the shop. Alice had been organizing it all. "The network she¡¯s building..." Isaac muttered with a faint smile. "She¡¯s amazing." He closed the lid gently, then stepped outside. Leora appeared beside him right as he walked toward the field. "Good morning." "Morning." Isaac swung his two times. 600 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +300. Constitution +300. You have obtained 3000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. He took a rest to recover the mana and swung his hoe again. 2160 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +192. Constitution +192. You have obtained 10,800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [1000 ¡ú 1000] Mana: 100 [1000 ¡ú 1000] "Three thousand Tier 1 Grains, and Ten thousand Tier 0 Grain in just one harvest. The numbers are finally reaching a good point thanks to buying all that land." He stored the grains in the crates, then burned the stalk, spread it, and planted new seeds. By the time he was done, the sun had risen a little higher and Alice had woken up. She came out with her device in hand. "If you¡¯re done, let¡¯s go to the shop," she said. "Already?" Isaac asked, surprised. She held out the device and showed him a photo Freya had sent. A crowd lining up in front of their shop in the picture. "In the mornings, students rush toward the ruin, and normal they wouldn¡¯t come to the market. "But if they¡¯re waiting outside the shop, it means they really need the grains for either their taste or for their effect," she explained. "I expected this rush to come by tomorrow or day after tomorrow, not today. But it¡¯s a good thing. Let¡¯s go." Isaac nodded. If they left now, they could return in two hours. He, Alice, and Leora drove to the market. As they arrived, Isaac noticed new plots had been cleared. Construction was starting. Leora followed his gaze. "Traders are coming in. It¡¯s because of Alice." She explained what Alice had done behind the scenes. Isaac nodded slowly. Alice had posted pictures of students buying grain, but cleverly avoided stating how many they had sold. ¡¯She really is a genius.¡¯ Isaac sucked in a sharp breathe. Anyone with a sharp eye would estimate the numbers of the grain and realize how profitable the business already was. But only the smart ones would catch that detail. And those were exactly the people Alice wanted. "She¡¯s strengthening the foundation," Isaac realized. "By luring only the serious ones first, she¡¯s making sure the stronghold grows properly." As the stronghold grew, more people would come. More people meant more customers. More customers meant more profit for Isaac. Alice was playing the long game. She was subtly helping the Stronghold grow. So that Isaac could benefit from it. When they reached the shop, a large crowd had already gathered. Students looked visibly relieved at the sight of them. Freya jogged over. "Thanks for coming. I know you didn¡¯t have to open so early, but we really needed this." "It¡¯s no problem," Isaac said. "If it helps students, I¡¯m glad to do it." Inwardly, he was thinking differently. ¡¯With curfews limiting how many students can shop in the evening, morning rushes are perfect. This helps reduce the crowd and boosts our reputation.¡¯ Chapter 63: Second Day Sale Surpasses The First Day Easily, Jealous Alice Chapter 63: Second Day Sale Surpasses The First Day Easily, Jealous Alice They opened the shop and the sales began. Grains flew off the shelves. With the crowd growing fast, Alice joined him at the counter to ease the burden on him. Much to Isaac¡¯s surprise the crowd soon doubled. Students had messaged their friends, and told them the shop was open, and within minutes, everyone came running. "Sniff! Sniff! Finally, something tasty to eat." "Mr. Shopkeeper, please, never close this shop." "Fuck the cafeteria! I¡¯m never going there back again." "Food. Sniff. Good, tasty food." Students tasted the grain and teared up in happiness. The grains¡¯ effects refreshed them, allowing them to be in their top condition before they entered the ruin. One girl walked up shyly. Her cheeks were red, and she held a small basket. "How many grains do you need?" Isaac asked. The girl held out the basket instead. Inside was a flower and some neatly wrapped sandwiches. "I made these for you this morning," she said, almost whispering. Isaac blinked, confused. Still, he kept a smile on his face. "Thank you." "I think... you¡¯re really handsome," she stammered. "Could I have your number?" Before Isaac could respond, Alice¡¯s voice rang out, sharp and loud. "Please order quickly. The line is long." The girl jumped, startled, and quickly ordered five Tier 0 grains before rushing off. The line didn¡¯t slow down. In two hours, every crate was empty. Isaac looked at his account. [Money Credited (Today): 280,200,000 Obols] "Yesterday, I earned 277,000,000 Obols and that was from the entire day¡¯s harvest. "Today, I earned 280,200,000 from just one harvest. I can still harvest the grains three more times today." Isaac was still behind the daily goal of 1.4 billion per day. But now, the goal was no longer a impossible dream. He could earn it. A smile appeared on his face. Tension he had been carrying while hiding it from everyone finally disappeared. He leaned back and rubbed his stomach. "I¡¯m starving." He muttered with a faint smile. That¡¯s when he remembered the sandwiches the girl had given him. He reached for the basket. But before he could grab it, Alice snatched it away and sat down with it. "I¡¯m hungry too," she said. "Then let¡¯s share it" "Nope," she replied while unwrapping a sandwich. "I¡¯m eating all of them. Besides, aren¡¯t you ashamed accepting food from another girl when you already have a girlfriend?" Isaac gave a bitter smile. "I¡¯m just hungry..." Alice ignored him and took a big bite. "It¡¯s bad." "Then can I¡ª" "No." After Alice finished the sandwiches, they prepared to leave. Just as they were closing the shop, a young man jogged up to Isaac with visible excitement on his face. "Good morning, big bro!" he said, offering a salute with a wide grin. "I¡¯m Paul, owner of the Walker Smithy branch here in Akaza Ruin Stronghold!" Isaac blinked. He hadn¡¯t even opened his mouth before the guy launched into his next sentence. "We bought land here thanks to you! Our family finally has the chance to grow big, all because of what you¡¯ve done! Really, thank you!" Paul handed Isaac a bottle of nicely labeled booze, then stepped back. "Anyway, I gotta go. Still have to get the forge running before the crowd starts pouring in. See ya!" And just like that, Paul vanished into the street. Isaac stared at the bottle in his hands, still confused. "What just happened?" "He is one of the people who brought land here after seeing the post on social media from your ¡¯Family¡¯." Leora folded her arms. "He probably doesn¡¯t know you punched Selene Calloway though. That¡¯s why he was so cheerful, and openly friendly to you." Isaac let out a small sigh and nodded. "Yeah. Once that news spreads, people like him will steer clear." They packed up and returned home. "Welcome back, Isaac, Alice, and Leora!" Emily greeted them from the kitchen. She was in her apron, floating between counters and cutting boards. "Wait just a few minutes," she said with a bright smile. "It¡¯s almost done!" "Take your time," Isaac replied, storing the bottle in one of the cupboards. In the living room, Professor Catherine was already lounging like she owned the place. She sat cross-legged on the couch, sipping tea and watching them all with amused eyes. "Good morning, Professor," Isaac greeted as he walked past. "Is it me or you look happy to see me?" Her eyebrows rose slightly. "Is Isaac finally falling for my charms?" Isaac gave her a flat look. "Thanks for guarding Emily while we were away," he said, dodging the comment entirely. Breakfast arrived not long after. Emily served everyone, setting plates down with a light hum. Isaac, meanwhile, stayed seated and called out to her. "Emily, let me feed you." She froze. The flush on her cheeks was instant. She glanced around the room. "There¡¯s so many people here..." "It¡¯s fine," Isaac said with a gentle smile. Above her head, Isaac saw the familiar glow. +0.3 AP +0.2 AP Despite her embarrassment, the AP told him she definitely wanted it. He held up a spoon. Emily leaned forward, cheeks still pink, and took the bite quietly. The moment the spoon left her lips¡ª +0.5 AP +0.5 AP +0.5 AP +0.5 AP It was small, but consistent. Every bite added up. Isaac kept feeding her, pretending he didn¡¯t notice the glances coming his way. Professor Catherine had a coy smirk, clearly entertained. Leora, on the other hand, stayed focused on her food. Alice was stabbing her food with a fork like it owed her money. Her cold glare could probably cut through steel. ¡¯Alice, I¡¯m doing this for you. So that you can awaken. So stop looking at me like you are going to kill me!¡¯ Isaac kept a normal expression despite his chaotic inner thoughts. Emily took another bite, then shyly picked up a spoon. "Then... I¡¯ll feed you too." Isaac leaned forward. She gave him a small portion, and after chewing, he smiled. "This is amazing. As expected of my Emily." She glowed with happiness. +0.6 AP Seeing the points rain, Isaac decided to make feeding Emily by hand his permanent duty. After breakfast, Alice quietly excused herself and went to rest. Emily stayed back to help Leora with the dishes, and while they worked in the kitchen, Professor Catherine leaned back on the couch and called out. "Isaac, come here for a second." "Yeah?" She pointed her thumb over her shoulder. "The materials for Tyr¡¯s evolution came this morning while you were out. I had them moved to the back. Let¡¯s take care of it now." Isaac nodded. "Got it." They headed outside, where two long metal boxes were resting beside the wall. Professor Catherine helped him lift the smaller one while Isaac carried the larger. Once they set them down near the field, Isaac looked up toward the farm. "Tyr!" he called. The response was immediate. Tyr came with swift steps. The moment he saw Isaac, his arms waved in that usual excited way. "Come here. We are going to help you evolve," Isaac said. Tyr tilted his head, as if asking what evolution was. "It¡¯s something that will make you stronger, faster, and more durable." Tyr pointed at the box with evolution materials, then at himself, then at Isaac. Isaac smiled. "Yes, if you evolve, I will be happy too." Tyr nodded. He became excited for the evolution. Before they started, Isaac raised a hand. "Hey, Tyr, before we begin can you show me your stats and skills?" Tyr tilted his head again, then one of his arms shifted into a long, pointed stick. Without a word, he began scratching on the dirt. Strength: 40 Agility: 29 Constitution: 49 Spirit Power: 32 Mana: 33 Isaac stared at the numbers. He knew Tyr was strong, but this confirmed it. The Constitution stat alone was nearing fifty, slightly more and it would reach the territory of elite-rank awakened. "Damn," Isaac muttered. "You¡¯re an absolute monster already." Tyr¡¯s body shifted slightly, like he was trying to puff out his chest. Then he began to write again, listing his abilities one by one. Skills: Adaptive Form (S Rank) ¨C Alters body shape at will, enabling offense, defense, or utility-based morphs. Verdant Forge (S Rank) ¨C Grows, shapes, and controls wood from your own body to create objects or weapons. Echo Root (S Rank) ¨C Extends roots underground to sense movement, vibrations, and magical energy. Pulse Bark (SS Rank) ¨C Hardens outer skin and releases shockwaves on impact, dealing area-of-effect damage and knocking back enemies. "Those are some good skills. They are better than 99.8% of awakeners." Tyr became visibly happy from the praise. Isaac smiled. "Alright then. Let¡¯s help you evolve and grow stronger." Tyr stood upright, waiting. Isaac opened the larger box. Inside were four rare and glowing items: A bundle of Ash Bark from a Centenarian Flame Tree, its veins still glowing faintly with residual heat. A pulsing Bloodfruit Core, wrapped in containment cloth to suppress its aura. A sealed pouch of Spirit-Fused Mycelium, faintly glowing with soft white threads of light. And a silver vial containing one liter of Pure Lakewater from a Mana Convergence Spring, its surface rippling despite no movement. The moment he opened the box, a soft hum of energy filled the air. Isaac¡¯s Mana Resonance told him each material was packed with pure Mana. Isaac took out the materials carefully, and placed them before Tyr. "You can eat those," Professor Catherine told Tyr. "The energies will flow into your body. If you can absorb majority of the energies, your evolution will be successful." Tyr looked at Isaac. When Isaac gave a nod, Tyr picked the Ash Bark and took a bite from it. Chapter 64: Tyr Reaches Adept Rank, Three New S rank Skills Chapter 64: Tyr Reaches Adept Rank, Three New S rank Skills A frown immediately crept onto Tyr¡¯s face. The Ash Bark clearly wasn¡¯t tasty. Chewing slowly, Tyr¡¯s expression twisted further in displeasure. After a few seconds, he stopped, looked around, and picked up the sealed pouch of Spirit-Fused Mycelium. Without hesitation, he tore it open and sprinkled the contents over the bark in his hand. Then he ate again. This time, he managed. The bitterness from the bark was still there, but the soft earthy sweetness of the mycelium made it bearable. Still, the flame bark¡¯s origin showed its nature. It dried his throat every few seconds. So, between bites, Tyr reached for the silver vial filled with Pure Lakewater from a Mana Convergence Spring. He sipped from it regularly, using the liquid to soothe the dryness in his mouth and throat. Once he finished both the bark and mycelium, he patted his stomach. Then, his eyes landed on the Bloodfruit Core. It pulsed faintly, the light under its skin growing stronger with each second. He hesitated. His face said he doubted something that moved like that was fit to be eaten. Isaac noticed. "Don¡¯t worry," he said. "It¡¯s safe to eat." Tyr nodded, though his face was still tense. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and bit into it in one quick motion. He froze. Then his eyes widened as the taste spread through his mouth. Sweet, rich, deep. The flavor exploded, and he started chewing rapidly, enjoying it more than anything else so far. Once it was all gone, he licked his fingers and gave a satisfied sigh. A low hiss came from Tyr¡¯s body. Steam, then flame, erupted along his arms and back. His form trembled, his limbs glowing with burning runes. The flames grew larger, completely engulfing him. Isaac¡¯s eyes widened. "Calm down. It¡¯s the evolution process for him," Professor Catherine told him. The flames burned everything. From the ashes, a smaller, humanoid tree figure slowly stood up. He looked like a child, slender and short, about the height of Isaac¡¯s waist. His bark was a smooth iron-gray, with streaks of green light gently pulsing across his body. Eyes glowing softly, he looked up at Isaac. "Did you get the notification for your evolution?" Isaac asked. Tyr nodded. "Congrats," Isaac grinned. "You did it." The little tree child smiled wide and started bouncing up and down, clearly thrilled. "Alright, show me your new status." Tyr happily turned his arm into a writing stick and began scratching on the dirt again. Tyr Title: None Species: Ironwood Sentinel of Life Rank: Adept, Level 11 Stats: Strength: 40 ¡ú 60 Agility: 29 ¡ú 35 Constitution: 49 ¡ú 63 Spirit Power: 32 ¡ú 39 Mana: 33 ¡ú 40 "That¡¯s a massive boost." Isaac stared at the numbers. Normally, a human gained only a single stat per evolution step. Isaac did not know about monsters, but he doubted they gained as much as Tyr. He had gained over five points on average. It was incredible. Tyr continued writing. He first wrote the previous skills, then the new ones. Skills: Feral Bloom (S Rank) ¨C Enters a berserk state that increases all physical stats drastically for a short time. Lifegrove Aura (S Rank) ¨C Strengthens all nearby plants, increasing their growth rate and defense. Flamewreath (S Rank) ¨C Allows partial control over flame. Can imbue attacks or wooden weapons with fire. All skills were S ranks! With this status, Tyr could fight Elite rank human awakeners easily. Even Master rank human awakeners could be brought to a stalemate! "Good job on completing the evolution successfully." Isaac smiled and patted his head. Tyr glowed with joy. Then, without a word, he walked off, returned to his full eight-foot battle form, and started patrolling the fields. Watching him go, Isaac suddenly realized something. Tyr¡¯s small form was his real body. The large one was a transformation, created using the skill Adaptive Form (S rank), and it¡¯s job was probably to intimidate others. When he was first born, he must¡¯ve been terrified and instinctively shifted into his large form to defend himself. He might¡¯ve attacked others too if he did not sense his Beast Bond with Isaac and calmed down. Isaac watched him for a few seconds longer, then turned and went to find Emily. They spent some quiet time together. She clung to him for a bit, laughing at the events he recounted from his academy life. Later in the afternoon, Isaac went to the field to begin the harvest. He worked across all nine hectares, moving carefully but quickly. 600 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +300. Constitution +300. You have obtained 3000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 2400 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +216. Constitution +216. You have obtained 12,000 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [1000 ¡ú 1000] Mana: 100 [1000 ¡ú 1000] Once that was done, he walked to Professor Catherine and told her, "I want to buy more land." She raised an eyebrow. "How much?" "Five hectares." She stared for a moment, then sighed. "You¡¯re not going to stop until you collapse, are you?" He grinned. Without arguing, she brought out the pre-signed papers and filled in the numbers. Isaac signed. Now with fourteen hectares under him, Isaac got to work. He poured fifty mana potions onto the new land, leveled out the nutrients and mana distribution with Sovereign of Land, and burned the old stalks to use them as fertilizer. Then, finally, he began planting. He took several breaks to restore his mana. His Spirit stat helped with recovery, but even then, handling fourteen hectares in one go was exhausting. While planting the seeds, Isaac thought to himself, ¡¯I shouldn¡¯t buy more land until I break the stat limit.¡¯ ¡¯Otherwise, I¡¯ll end up unable to farm it properly.¡¯ His mind went to Alice. ¡¯I should talk to her.¡¯ Isaac entered the house, and stopped in front of Alice¡¯s room. He raised his hand and knocked twice. The door opened a few seconds later. Alice stood there, her neutral expression from the academy days back, though there was a flicker of something else in her eyes. Tiredness, maybe. Or anticipation. "Can I come in?" Isaac asked. Alice stared at him for a moment, then stepped aside. "Yes," she said. "I was just about to call you." He thought she¡¯d ask why he was here. But instead, she turned and walked back to her desk. Her laptop was open, and papers were spread across the bed. "We¡¯re reaching market cap," she said. Isaac blinked. "Market cap?" She nodded. "Almost all the students have already bought the grains. Tier 1 grain effects last three days. So until that time is up, those students won¡¯t buy again." Isaac took a seat across from her. "But Tier 0s will still sell, right?" "They will," Alice confirmed. "But not at a high rate. The students have stocked up. And even if your grains taste great, eating the same thing three times a day gets tiring. Eventually, they¡¯ll slow down." "So what should we do?" he asked, knowing she must have a plan already. Alice pulled another paper from the stack and tapped her pen against it. "First, we keep the shop open all the time. That way we can sell to whoever passes by, no matter when they come." Isaac nodded. "Makes sense." "Second," she continued, "we help the other shopkeepers." "Help them?" "With construction," Alice said. "Shops are appearing fast, but builders are few. They¡¯ll cause delays. But we have Tyr. We can have him build for them. It¡¯ll give us extra money, build good relations, and support the overall goal." "Supporting others will increase our own sales," Isaac muttered. "Because a stronger market brings more customers." "Exactly." Chapter 65: Handsome Isaac, Builder Tyr Chapter 65: Handsome Isaac, Builder Tyr They talked for hours. Plans, projections, strategy breakdowns. Isaac had walked into her room to talk about something else entirely, but Alice hadn¡¯t let him. ¡¯Is this her way of saying she won¡¯t accept polygamy?¡¯ ¡¯Or... is she just afraid I came to tell her that I never had any feeling for her and I only love Emily?¡¯ Isaac glanced at Alice again. She was flipping through a notebook, her expression as unreadable as always. ¡¯Dammit... which is it?¡¯ There was too much at stake now. He couldn¡¯t afford to get rejected. Not when it would help Alice awaken and break his stat limit. ¡¯I guess I¡¯m going to have to seduce Alice...¡¯ The thought made him exhale through his nose. The idea sounded ridiculous. And staring at Alice¡¯s expressionless face, he wasn¡¯t even sure if it was possible. Eventually, he gave up trying to say anything and excused himself. The Sovereign of Land had already pinged him; it was time to harvest. He swung his hoe several times while taking rest to recover his mana. 600 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +300. Constitution +300. You have obtained 3000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3960 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +352. Constitution +352. You have obtained 19,800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Isaac, Leora, Tyr, Alice, and Emily headed to the market. They parked the jeep and walked through the now-familiar streets. But today, something felt different. There were more awakeners roaming around. The market was noticeably livelier. "Maybe it¡¯s because today¡¯s Sunday," Isaac murmured. Once at the shop, he unlocked the door and opened it up for the day. Emily smiled beside him, already slipping into her ¡¯job clothes¡¯, which included a cute apron. She wore a bright, cheerful smile that made her look more charming than usual. Students started gathering fast. Isaac noticed more than half the line was girls. They were whispering, giggling, sneaking glances at him. When he greeted one of them with a polite nod and a casual smile, she turned red. A few minutes later, a girl stepped forward with a small box in her hands. She was the one who gave him sandwiches in the morning. She looked shy, and her eyes darted between Isaac and the floor. She finally handed the box to him. Inside were two sandwiches and a pink flower. "I-I made this for you," she said. "I hope you like the ones from the morning." "Thank you," Isaac said, taking the box. "And those sandwiches were quite tasty." She turned bright red. "Um... Isaac, could I... could I get your number?" "Same! I mean, if it¡¯s okay I¡¯d love to talk sometime." Another girl shouted from the line in a confident tone. Isaac smiled politely. "I¡¯m really sorry, but I¡¯m not allowed to share my number. It¡¯s a security rule." She blinked in surprise, then nodded quickly. "Ah, that makes sense! You¡¯re an SSS rank awakener. I shouldn¡¯t have asked¡ªsorry!" "It¡¯s okay," Isaac said calmly. "Thanks for understanding." It wasn¡¯t only her who asked for his number. But Isaac gave the same response to everyone. ¡¯Having a handsome appearance makes life so much easier with the opposite gender.¡¯ Isaac thought, noticing the girls sneaking glances at him. He sighed. ¡¯If only seducing Alice was also so easy.¡¯ ... Alice POV The sun was dipping behind the horizon. Tyr walked beside Alice. It was easy to see something was bothering him. His small wooden limbs shifted uneasily, and his glowing green eyes darted from face to face as they moved through the growing crowd. Alice glanced at him. "Is there a problem, Tyr?" Tyr didn¡¯t respond. A group of students passed by, whispering among themselves. A few glanced at Tyr. One even pointed. Tyr stopped. Then, without a word, he transformed into his larger form. He stood at eight feet tall as a humanoid figure of bark, vine, and glowing veins. It made some passersby flinch. Others stared. He seemed more nervous than before. Alice stopped and looked up at him. "If you do a good job," she said plainly, "Isaac will be happy." The words had an immediate effect. Tyr straightened his back. His glowing eyes flickered. Then, suddenly, he gave a firm nod. Nervousness was replaced by aim of earning Isaac¡¯s praise. Alice blinked. She herself was introverted. She didn¡¯t like crowds and had always kept to herself. That¡¯s why people thought she was cold, and arrogant. But here she was, walking in a crowded market, giving pep talks to a walking tree child, since he seemed more nervous than her. She sighed softly and kept walking with Tyr until she spotted a familiar face. "Paul?" Paul turned from the half-constructed wall he was glaring at. "Hm? Oh¡ª Miss Alice, right? From the Family shop?" Alice nodded. "I saw your post about wanting to open a smithy. Still having trouble?" Paul rubbed his neck. "Yeah. The builders are all booked solid. The ones who aren¡¯t are charging five times the normal rate." She looked around, then pointed at Tyr. "He can build your shop." Paul raised an eyebrow. "The monster can do that?" "Tyr," she corrected. "He Isaac¡¯s bonded beast. He can grow buildings from the ground, shape wood into whatever you want, and finish the whole thing in minutes." "Right," Paul said, clearly skeptical. "But no offense, wood¡¯s not ideal for a smithy. The heat would ruin the place." "Tyr¡¯s bark is fire-resistant. It¡¯s completely immune to standard forge temperatures. You can test it yourself after it¡¯s built." Alice saw he was hesitating. She decided to deal the final blow. "You can upgrade the smithy later if you are dissatisfied. It will be easy. Also, your goal should be to open your shop as quickly as possible right now, so think carefully if you want to wait for the builders." Paul hesitated. He looked at Tyr, who now stood with arms crossed and a determined glow in his eyes. "How much?" "Forty million for a standard-sized forge. You¡¯ll get a front room, back room, and proper ventilation." Paul frowned. "That¡¯s a bit steep." "Then fifty million," Alice said. He blinked. "Wait¡ªwhat?" "Tyr¡¯s work is fast and clean. You don¡¯t lose time. And if this shop gets built today, you¡¯ll be the first public blacksmith shop in Akaza Ruin. That advantage alone is worth the price." Paul looked at the tools and materials piled up behind him. Then he looked at his unfinished foundation. "...Alright. But if this turns out weak, I want my money back." "Tyr." Alice turned. She knew the main reason he accepted the deal was because he thought he owed Isaac a favor. It was why she approached him first. ¡¯With him, we can show everyone how good Tyr is.¡¯ Tyr stepped forward, crouched, and placed both hands on the ground. From beneath the dirt, thick roots twisted upward, forming the structure of a building. Walls of sturdy bark stretched outward, shaped into planks and beams. Vines hardened into railings. A chimney formed from a tightly bound spiral of fire-hardened branches. The whole process took less than three minutes. Paul stood frozen. Alice gestured. "Test it." Paul walked forward, pulled out a portable blowtorch from his kit, and ignited it. He placed the flame against the wall. The bark darkened slightly but didn¡¯t catch fire. There was no smoke, or smell. He turned around, wide-eyed. "That¡¯s... that¡¯s real," he muttered. "A fireproof smithy built from wood in three minutes." Then he turned to Alice and opened his wrist device. Alice told him her account number. A moment later, there was a ping. [Received: 55,000,000 Obols ¨C From: Paul_Walker] Alice raised an eyebrow. "You overpaid." "Please take it," Paul said. "You guys just saved me days of delay. I¡¯m always being helped by big bro and Family. Thank you!" He bowed to her. Then as he walked inside to inspect further, other shopkeepers who¡¯d been watching from the side started moving. One of them, a woman in a green cloak, approached cautiously. "Is he available for hire?" Another man followed. "Can he do larger structures? Like multi-level buildings?" Alice stood silently as more and more shopkeepers approached. Tyr was suddenly at the center of attention. Tyr looked nervous again, but when he turned to Alice, she gave a small nod. He puffed up his chest¡ªor bark¡ªand stood straight. Chapter 66: End Of Second Day, Eight Hundred Million Chapter 66: End Of Second Day, Eight Hundred Million Isaac put the closed sign on the shop¡¯s door at 9pm. "Good work," Leora said as she handed both Emily and Isaac a tall glass of chilled juice each. Isaac took the glass and downed it in a few gulps. The cool, citrusy flavor spread down his throat, leaving him refreshed. "This is great," he muttered, glancing at Leora. "It¡¯s from the tangerines we grow in the backyard." He let out a satisfied sigh and leaned back in the chair. His muscles relaxed after standing behind the counter all afternoon. A moment later, he moved into the inner room and sat beside Emily on the low sofa. She was holding a tablet, scrolling through something when she turned to him. "So," she asked, "how much did we earn today?" Isaac brought up the transaction report on his device and showed her the screen. [Credited (Within last three hours): 621,700,000] [Balance (Total): 704,960,000] Emily stared at the number. Her eyes widened a little. "That¡¯s... impressive." She paused. "So we just need to earn..." "Nine billion and three hundred million," Isaac finished. Her smile stiffened. Isaac didn¡¯t say anything, but he could almost see the mental calculations flashing in her eyes. They¡¯d been behind during the first two days, and now to make up for the shortfall, they¡¯d need to earn nearly two billion a day. Emily forced a bright smile. "W-Well, we¡¯ll get there if we keep working hard!" Isaac chuckled. She was clearly trying to keep up the energy. In truth, they had finally hit the phase where earnings would accelerate. The upfront costs of land had eaten away their balance, but now with more fields and more production, the real profits would start to show. But there was another problem.... "I just checked the storage. We have 5,000 Tier 1 grains left from today," Leora said as she entered the room. Her voice was calm, but her tone was heavy. "If you can¡¯t sell all of the grains everyday, there¡¯s no chance of reaching ten billion." "We¡¯ve hit the market cap. Just like Alice predicted." They needed to start implementing the strategies Alice and he prepared. First one was to open the shop 24/7. Isaac looked at Leora. "If I want to keep the shop open 24/7 starting tomorrow, can I stay here and manage it?" "No. You have classes starting tomorrow." Leora shook her head. "Can¡¯t he skip class for just a week?" Emily said with a pleading, cute gaze. "No." Leora cut her off mercilessly. "The assassins haven¡¯t disappeared. In fact, after seeing the stronghold grow due to Isaac, they¡¯re likely grow more desperate. We¡¯re protecting him, yes, but he still needs to be ready for anything." She glanced at Isaac. "That means he needs to focus on combat training, and no skipping." Isaac sighed. That made sense. But it also meant they needed someone to handle the store. Just then, Alice and Tyr walked in. Alice opened the upper buttons of her shirt to let the air flow. "I¡¯ll stay at the shop," she said, having heard what they were talking about. "It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve got anything better to do." Isaac hesitated. "It¡¯s not that simple. What if someone targets the store? What if they go after you?" Before he could finish, Leora spoke up again. "Catherine will stay with her. It¡¯ll be fine." Isaac raised a brow. "You sure it¡¯s okay to send Professor Catherine?" "Yes, I¡¯m sure about it. Since you¡¯ll be focusing on combat, I¡¯ll oversee your training. Catherine can help Alice with the shop." She seemed almost... pleased. Curious, Isaac activated Inspect and focused on Leora. [Status: Catherine has been making her work a lot since she is now a maid. Thus, Leora thinks this is a good way of getting revenge by making Catherine work 24/7 too.] Isaac held back a chuckle. "Isaac," Alice called him. Since Inspect was still running, her status screen popped up too. [Status: Doesn¡¯t know why she¡¯s helping you reach ten billion when you two clearly have no future together. Conflicted whether to propose you and accept polygamy, or hate herself for even considering it.] "Isaac?" He quickly closed the screen and blinked. "Sorry. Yeah, what is it?" Alice handed him her device. "We built several shops with Tyr¡¯s help." She transferred the earnings. [Credited: 132,000,000 Obol] [Balance (Total): 836,960,000] Isaac looked up. "That¡¯s good amount." He gave Tyr a pat on the head. "Thanks, buddy. You¡¯ve worked hard" Tyr smiled, and puffed his chest out. Isaac turned to Alice. "You too. Good work. It¡¯s a good idea to help us maintain friendly relations with others, and earn some money at the same time." They returned to the house together. Dinner was prepared by Emily and Leora. Isaac sat at the table with everyone. He picked up a spoonful of rice, then paused and looked at Emily. "Open your mouth." "Again? She looked around shyly before he focused back at Isaac. Then, she slowly opened her small mouth. Isaac smiled, seeing her resistance had waned after having been fed by him in morning and afternoon. He noticed the AP meter flash. +0.3 AP He fed her once. +0.5 AP Isaac didn¡¯t stop. He smiled softly, feeding Emily another bite. Another. And another. +0.5 AP +0.5 AP Emily tried to protest after several bites. "I¡¯m full..." "One more," Isaac said, sliding another bite into her mouth. She didn¡¯t argue after that. As she chewed, her shoulders relaxed. She leaned a bit closer to him, clearly happy. Isaac watched the AP go up. After the dinner, he checked the total AP. AP Balance: 141.945 ¡ú 221.014 AP Operation Feed Emily was showing spectacular results. In just one day his AP increased by roughly 80. It also helped that the more time he spent with Emily, the more AP he got. At first he was receiving only 0.001 AP unless he did something. Now, even if Emily was just sitting, he would receive 0.004 AP per second. The increase in passive AP meant only one thing. Her affection for him had increased. Realizing that, it made him want to spoil her more. After the dinner, everyone followed their routine. Isaac like always, he had to harvest the crops at midnight. Until then, he focused on studying. He went through combat theory, economic planning, and the mandatory coursework from Sanctum of Masters. At exactly midnight, he stood, stretched his arms, and walked outside. The night air was cooler than usual. His breath came out in light fog as he stepped onto the field. The land was quiet, save for the faint hum of mana in the soil. He grabbed his hoe and swung it twice. 600 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +300. Constitution +300. You have obtained 3000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 4400 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +396. Constitution +396. You have obtained 22,000 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Constitution: 100 [1000 ¡ú 1000] Mana: 100 [1000 ¡ú 1000] The vitality grains came loose from the stalk with clean, satisfying cuts. He stored the grains, took a moment to breathe, then burned the stalks, and spread them as fertilizers. He exhaled, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Just as he knelt down to plant the seeds, footsteps echoed behind him. Isaac turned his head and saw Alice walking over. She wore her usual nightshirt, which emphasized her large bosoms. Her hair was a little messy, and her were eyes sharp. "You should grow Tier 1 grains on five hectares tonight," she said directly. Isaac paused. "You sure? We already hit the market cap on those. They won¡¯t sell much until more people come to the stronghold, and that¡¯ll take a few more days." Alice shook her head. "That¡¯s exactly why I said it. Look at this." She held out her tablet. It wasn¡¯t the latest model, and did not have holograms, or voice commands. Just a basic display. Isaac stepped closer to see the screen, and as he did, their shoulders touched. She didn¡¯t flinch at first. But the moment she caught the scent of his sweat, her body stiffened slightly. Her face stayed composed, but her ears were red. Isaac suppressed a smirk and activated Inspect. [Status: Wants to say you shouldn¡¯t stand so close to another girl when you already have a girlfriend. Feeling aroused.] Isaac held back a laugh. Her status hadn¡¯t lied¡ªAlice really was a closet pervert. And apparently, she had a thing for his sweaty body. Isaac wasn¡¯t someone who would point fingers at someone¡¯s fetishes, not when it benefitted him. And right now, he had a goal. If making her flustered helped, then so be it. "Alice," he said, gently. She flinched again. Her shoulders stiffened for a second, then she took a slow breath. "Look at our posts," she said quickly, clearly trying to push past whatever she was feeling. She opened the Family account on the tablet. It displayed photos from earlier that day. They showed Isaac with a polite smile behind the shop counter, a long line of customers, the name board painted brightly, students holding vitality grains like prized treasures. Alice tapped the newest photo and opened the comments. Isaac leaned in a little more to read. A surprising number of comments were from girls. One said he was the "cutest shopkeeper she¡¯d ever seen." Another shared her social media ID and asked him to message her. One went as far as writing she¡¯d feel blessed if Isaac "spent even a single night" with her. "Shameless bitches," Alice muttered under her breath. "Huh?" "Nothing." She cleared her throat quickly and scrolled to the top comment. It had the most likes by far. [CeliaRae: That¡¯s a big line! I guess we¡¯ll have to wait a long time when we come to the shop tomorrow!] Isaac blinked. "CeliaRae? Isn¡¯t she..." "Yeah. That¡¯s Celia Rae. The idol of Fortified City 89." Chapter 67: Idol Of The City, Top Guild, Giving Emily A Massage Chapter 67: Idol Of The City, Top Guild, Giving Emily A Massage Isaac raised his eyebrows. Celia Rae was famous. She was an SSS-rank support-type awakener with an incredibly useful Talent, and a massive online following. Her popularity extended beyond just students. She had fans among regular civilians and awakeners alike. But that wasn¡¯t the main thing of importance here. "She¡¯s the youngest sister of Vale Rae, the guy who leads Titan Edge Guild." Alice nodded. Titan Edge Guild. It was one of the top four in Fortified City 89. Known for its brutal efficiency and solid hierarchy, it had influence in politics, military deals, and elite dungeon clearances. Its members were treated like celebrities. And now, Celia Rae, the little sister of the guild¡¯s leader, was commenting on "his" shop. Alice tapped the screen. "Look at the way she phrased it. ¡¯We¡¯ll have to wait in line.¡¯ She didn¡¯t say ¡¯I.¡¯ She used ¡¯we.¡¯ That means she¡¯s not coming alone." Isaac nodded slowly. "So she¡¯s arriving as a representative of Titan Edge." "Most likely, yes." Alice continued, "In other words, one of the biggest guilds is making a move, which means this stronghold¡¯s value just skyrocketed overnight." Alice crossed her arms. "Expect a rush of new customers. By tomorrow, a lot more businessmen will come sniffing around. Even small-sized guilds, and a few ambitious medium ones will come. They¡¯ll want to establish a foothold before the market saturates." It made sense. Big guilds had that effect. They didn¡¯t just fight monsters; they shifted economies. Their presence guaranteed protection, and that was enough for merchants, smiths, and medics to move in without hesitation. Sanctum of Masters provided the same reassurance, but people trusted guilds more than universities for obvious reason. "I get it," Isaac said. "If I was an investor, I¡¯d be here first thing in the morning." Alice nodded. "That¡¯s why we should be ready." Isaac rolled his shoulders and turned to his fields. With everything shifting so fast, he couldn¡¯t afford to fall behind now. He took a breath, activated his Sovereign of Land skill, and walked into the fields. He carefully managed the distribution of nutrients and mana. Five hectares were set aside for Tier 1 vitality grains. The remaining eleven were for Tier 0. By the time he was finished everything, including planting the seeds, sweat clung to his back and forehead. He looked around, and noticed Alice was gone. She had quietly left sometime while he was working. Isaac wiped his hands on a towel, then made his way back to the house. The hallway was quiet. He reached the room and gently pushed open the door. Inside, the soft light from the desk lamp illuminated the space. Emily was curled up on the bed, hugging the teddy bear he¡¯d given her. She was awake. Her eyes blinked sleepily as he entered. "Welcome back," she said softly. Isaac smiled. "You didn¡¯t have to wait." "I wanted to," Emily said. She shifted to sit up, still holding the bear. "Did everything go well?" "Yeah. Got the grains planted." He sat on the edge of the bed, and she scooted closer, resting her head on his shoulder. For a few moments, they didn¡¯t talk. The room felt still and quiet. Then Emily whispered, "You¡¯re working so hard lately." Isaac didn¡¯t respond immediately. He had been busy. Between farming, dealing with the shop, planning around assassin threats, and managing growing relationships... it was a lot. But it wasn¡¯t something he regretted. Not when it was for people who mattered to him. "I¡¯ll work harder," he said. Emily closed her eyes. "Just don¡¯t burn yourself out." He looked down at her face. Her expression was calm, but her grip on the bear was firm. Isaac leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "I¡¯ll be fine," he said. "Promise?" He chuckled. "Promise." They stayed like that for a while before he gently helped her lie down. "Isaac?" she said, her voice soft and a little confused as she shifted to look at him. He smiled, leaning closer. "Since my dear wife¡¯s tired after all the work today, I¡¯m going to give her a massage." Her eyes widened slightly, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks. "A massage?" she repeated, her tone caught between surprise and curiosity. "Then, maybe I should massage Isaac instead?" "I¡¯m fine. I have high stats," he smiled, standing up. He crossed the room to his bag, pulling out a small bottle of massage oil with a faint herbal scent he bought today. ¡¯This should give me a lot of AP.¡¯ Isaac should¡¯ve been worried about AP since Emily was supposed to return to university tomorrow. But he was relaxed. ¡¯Emily isn¡¯t sad at all even though she is supposed to go return tomorrow. It¡¯s almost like she will stay here.¡¯ ¡¯Moreover, she said she had a surprise for me, but she hasn¡¯t revealed it yet.¡¯ ¡¯If I¡¯m not wrong, she is waiting for tomorrow, where I¡¯ll think she will go back, and then she will reveal she is going to stay here.¡¯ ¡¯That would be her surprise.¡¯ Knowing he was certainly correct, he smiled a little. He turned to Emily and held it the massage oil, giving her a playful grin. "You in?" Emily hesitated, her fingers tightening around the teddy bear. She looked nervous, her gaze flickering from the bottle to his face, but she didn¡¯t say no. After a moment, she nodded, setting the bear aside. "Okay." Isaac sat back on the bed. "Face down first." She moved slowly, stretching out on her stomach, her head resting on her folded arms. Her shirt rode up slightly, exposing the small of her back, and Isaac poured a little oil into his hands, warming it between his palms. The scent of lavender and mint filled the air, subtle but calming. He started at her shoulders. His fingers pressed gently into the tense muscles. Emily let out a small sigh, her body softening under his touch. "That feels nice," she murmured, her voice muffled against the pillow. +0.4 AP +0.4 AP "Good," Isaac said, keeping his movements steady. His hands worked down her shoulders, kneading the knots he found. He moved to her upper back. His thumbs traced slow circles, and she relaxed further. He added more oil, his hands gliding along her spine, working out the stiffness. Her skin was warm under his fingers, and he couldn¡¯t help but notice how small she seemed like this. "Turn over," he said after a while. Emily shifted, rolling onto her back with a shy glance at him. Her cheeks were still pink, but she settled down, her arms resting at her sides. Isaac poured more oil, starting at her shoulders again, his hands moving carefully over her collarbone and down her arms. She closed her eyes. +0.6 AP +0.7 AP He worked down to her hands, massaging her palms, then moved to her legs, starting at her calves. Her muscles were tighter here, probably from standing at the shop counter, and he took his time, easing the tension out. "You¡¯re good at this," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Glad you think so," he replied, chuckling. His hands moved to her thighs, keeping his touch gentle but firm, and he noticed her breath hitch slightly. He glanced at her face, catching the way her lips parted, her blush deepening. He kept going, careful not to push too far. +0.9 AP +0.9 AP When he reached her feet, he massaged the arches, his thumbs pressing into the soles, and she giggled, squirming a little. "That tickles," she said, opening her eyes to look at him. The massage continued for an hour. By the time he stopped, Emily looked like she had been cooked in a warm bath and wrapped in clouds. She blinked up at him, face flushed and expression dazed. "That was..." she mumbled, "...good." "Glad you liked it." He mentally pulled up the system screen. AP Balance: 221.0143 ¡ú 280.912 Nearly sixty AP from one session. And it wasn¡¯t just the number that surprised him¡ªit was the pace. With how much effort he¡¯d been putting in all day, this was the biggest jump in the shortest time yet. He held back a grin. The massage had been a perfect choice. It had genuine care mixed with just enough teasing. Isaac was about to stand, reaching for the towel to wipe his hands, when Emily¡¯s hand grabbed his collar. She tugged hard, pulling him down with surprising strength. He caught himself just in time, his hands bracing on either side of her, and found her small frame pinned beneath him. Her eyes were staring at him, a mix of shyness and determination. Her cheeks were flushed. He didn¡¯t know who moved first¡ªmaybe it was her, maybe him¡ªbut their lips met. Emily¡¯s hands slid from his collar to his neck. Her fingers curled into his hair, pulling him down until there was no space left between them. Isaac¡¯s heart raced, one hand resting on her waist, the other supporting his weight. Her lips were soft, insistent, and he matched her intensity, letting the moment carry them both. Maybe it was the effect of massage, or it was due to simply teasing her for an hour, the AP came flooding in. +1.1 AP +1.2 AP +1.1 AP +1.1 AP +1.4 AP Chapter 68: Plan Of Assassins, Increasing AP Chapter 68: Plan Of Assassins, Increasing AP Godric POV The subordinate stood at the center of the room, lowering his head in front of Godric. "We lost contact with the hidden outpost near Sanctum of Master¡¯s Stronghold," the man said, his voice steady but subdued. Godric didn¡¯t speak. He sat back in his chair, listening quietly. Behind the him stood Vespara with her arms folded, and a expression blank decorated her face. The subordinate continued, "The bodies of our men were broken. They had crushed joints, clean cuts, nerve damage. They are alive, but none of them could talk properly, let alone move or walk. And they seem to have gained a deep mental trauma." Godric¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. "So they were crippled." "Yes, sir," the man replied. "Whoever did it was superior in skill and strength. They could¡¯ve killed everyone easily. But they didn¡¯t. They made the torture slow, and painful, and let them live as if to warn us." Silence returned for a moment. Then Godric exhaled, leaned forward, and muttered, "That disgusting way of fighting..." He glanced toward Vespara. "It¡¯s Evil Sword¡¯s style," he said flatly. Vespara¡¯s lips curled slightly at the corners. "It is exactly as you¡¯ve said, sir." Godric stayed silent. The subordinate bowed and left after a nod from him, the door closing behind with a soft click. The moment they were alone, Vespara stepped closer. Her heels echoed softly on the metal floor, and her snake-hair hissed. "You should make a move," she said. Godric raised an eyebrow. "Already?" "Yes," Vespara said simply. "You already know what¡¯s coming." Godric¡¯s fingers drummed against the armrest. Vespara noticing his expression smiled. "I received the an interesting news from the spies I have placed inside the Stronghold. The Stronghold is planning to start an aggressive search for all of your bases. And once they find them, they¡¯ll pick you off, piece by piece until there is nothing left of you" He frowned. "I see. Then, we can attack them with the force we have. We will win. But if we want to hit the Stronghold directly and leave them no hope of victory, it might be hard to do it with assassins which are our main force." "That¡¯s not how you should do it," Vespara replied, glancing at the maps on the wall. "You¡¯re still thinking too plainly." He frowned. "Then say what you mean." She tilted her head slightly. Godric narrowed his eyes. "Don¡¯t depend on brute force alone, Godric. It¡¯s your bad habit. Be smart. Try to think of a better, easier plan." He picked up the report on his desk, flipping through it. Charts, timelines, numbers¡ªeverything the scouts had managed to gather. She tapped a section of the report with one finger. "The boy. Isaac Hargraves. That¡¯s their weak link. If you¡¯re going to act, start with him. If he dies, the Stronghold would be thrown into chaos. And, there is another reason he needs to be eliminated." Godric didn¡¯t reply. He kept reading the document. After a few moments, he muttered, "The Titan Edge Guild is moving." "Yes," Vespara said. "They¡¯re preparing to enter the Akaza Ruin all because of Isaac. The moment they establish a foothold, this stronghold¡¯s military power will double. And once that happens..." She didn¡¯t finish the sentence. She didn¡¯t need to. "They¡¯ll start claiming land by force," Godric said. "Then they will locate our bases easily." Vespara smiled and took a step back. "Yes, so you should be careful." Godric¡¯s jaw clenched, and shifted his gaze towards Vespara. He knew she didn¡¯t care if he lost a base, or his men. All she cared about was making sure the humans were kept inside the Akaza Ruin. It was too much of a risk to allow anyone to step into the main areas of the city. Vespara couldn¡¯t allow such a risk to exist. Her smile grew cold. "Don¡¯t disappoint me, Godric. You¡¯ve come far, but I¡¯m the one who helped you crawl out of the dirt. I gave you weapons, shelter, information. I made you what you are." She turned her back to him. "I can unmake you just as easily. So don¡¯t disappoint me, even if it costs you your everything." Vespara stepped out of the room, leaving him alone in the room. Godric stared at the maps again. He ran a hand down his face, then stood and walked to the wall. His eyes moved over the markers, the movement of factions. His fingers hovered over the picture of a young girl. "Selene Calloway," he muttered. "She is the most likely person to become the next chairman of Calloway Conglomerate. "But she antagonized Isaac Hargraves, an SSS rank Farmer, and he favors her cousin, Alice Calloway. This has lowered her chances of becoming the chairman in Alice¡¯s favor." A plan started to form in Godric¡¯s mind. A simple, but effective plan. ... Isaac POV Isaac woke up early. He yawned and opened his system. AP Balance: 280.912 ¡ú 430.061 ¡¯150 AP overnight.¡¯ ¡¯0.004 AP per second is passively now, so around 80 from just sleeping. The rest came from what came after, though the massage really bumped it up.¡¯ He turned his head. Emily was curled up beside him, still asleep, hugging the teddy bear tightly. Her expression was soft and relaxed. ¡¯That¡¯s quite a blissful expression.¡¯ He chuckled. He slipped out of bed carefully, making sure Emily didn¡¯t wake up. Quietly, he walked out of the room and stepped into the living area. As expected, Alice was asleep at the desk again. Papers were scattered across the surface, and her laptop was still open. She hadn¡¯t even removed her shoes. Isaac sighed and walked closer. This time, he didn¡¯t bother with just a blanket. He gently shook her shoulder. "Alice? Wake up. If you sleep like this again, your back¡¯s going to give out." She mumbled something and turned her face toward him but didn¡¯t wake up. Isaac knelt beside her and picked her up. He carried her in a princess hold. Her body was warm, and her head rested against his shoulder. Just to check, he used Inspect. [Status: conflicted, she thought you would just place a blanket over her like yesterday and didn¡¯t expect you to actually pick her up, now that it¡¯s actually happening she¡¯s getting cold feet, feels happy in your arms.] His eyebrows twitched. ¡¯She¡¯s awake. And it seems she was awake yesterday too, and purposely faking sleep in the living room.¡¯ He adjusted his grip slightly and muttered to himself to tease her, "She has gotten heavier." A few steps later, her status updated. [Status: conflicted, she thought you would just place a blanket over her like yesterday and didn¡¯t expect you to actually pick her up, now that it¡¯s actually happening she¡¯s getting cold feet, feels happy in your arms.] [Status: she thinks, of course she now feels heavy, you must have forgotten how normal people weigh after holding that little bitch every night.] Isaac¡¯s lips twitched. ¡¯At least she¡¯s confident in her figure.¡¯ He entered her room. It was clean and mostly plain. He laid her on the bed gently. After removing her jacket and shoes, he used a warm towel to wipe her face, then tucked her under the blanket. Her cheeks had a faint pink hue. Still pretending to be asleep. Inspect updated again, and the screen changed. Chapter 69: Emily’s Surprise, Skills’ Level Up Chapter 69: Emily¡¯s Surprise, Skills¡¯ Level Up [Status: conflicted, feels fuzzy from inside, wants to ask you to stay with her but won¡¯t.] He sat there for a second, watching her. Just a few days ago, her status had been filled with resentment. Now it was changing. There was hesitation instead of anger, and warmth instead of distance. ¡¯At this rate, it won¡¯t take long before she accepts the idea of polygamy.¡¯ ¡¯I just need to make sure it¡¯s clear that I want her too, but I can¡¯t make too open moves or she would say no because of the abruptness.¡¯ Isaac had to be careful. He couldn¡¯t rush things since they were starting to look hopeful. He placed a hand on her head, gave it a gentle pat, then stood and left the room quietly. Once outside, he headed to the fields. The morning air was cool. As usual, Leora appeared right beside him. He picked up his hoe, and he harvested the crops in several swings. 1000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +500. Constitution +500. You have obtained 5000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3960 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +360. Constitution +360. You have obtained 19,800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. He finished spreading the ash and began planting new seeds. It took a while, but he treated it as a form of training. By the end, a message appeared. Sovereign of Land has reached Level 6 ¡ú 7 Active and passive effects strengthened by 120%. Cooldown: 16 hours ¡ú 12 hours Sovereign of Land was reaching staggering levels. Since it was an SSS rank skill, the power it displayed at Level 7, only three levels away from maximum level, was otherworldly. Isaac could feel that he could summon numerous gigantic roots with a single thought. Now, he could control the roots easily. It was also thanks to Sovereign of Land¡¯s boost that the Astral Lotus was growing rapidly. The flower now boosted 15 hectare, rather than the 1 hectare when it was first planted. "Everything is coming along nicely." He took a quick trip to the gym, ran through his workout routine, and returned to clean up. By the time he was done, the smell of breakfast was coming from the kitchen. They had the breakfast early. Emily was seated beside him, smiling brightly as she looked at the food. She had cooked most of it alongside Leora, and the pride in her eyes was obvious. Isaac picked up the spoon and started feeding Emily gently. Each bite brought with it the familiar system prompt. +0.5 AP +0.5 AP +0.5 AP It was almost mechanical now, but Emily¡¯s soft laughter every time she was fed made it feel warmer than numbers on a screen. Still, Isaac¡¯s eyes flicked to Alice from time to time. He used Inspect. [Status: Jealous, conflicted, wants to be fed by you too.] After breakfast, Professor Catherine stood up first and adjusted her coat. "Alright, Alice. Let¡¯s go. We have to set up early or we¡¯ll miss the morning wave." Alice nodded and stepped towards the jeep after Emily¡¯s Zephyrs loaded it with crates. Just before Catherine walked out the door, she leaned toward Isaac. "Come visit the shop during your break," she whispered. "It¡¯ll make Alice happy. Might even increase your odds of pulling her into your harem." Before he could react, she winked and turned away. Isaac sighed and shook his head. "Unbelievable woman." Now only three people remained in the house. Isaac, Emily, and Leora. Isaac looked at Emily. She had a sly smile on her face, like she was waiting for something. "I¡¯m staying here for a week!" she announced suddenly. "Surprise!" He blinked, doing his best to put on a surprised expression. "Really?" Emily nodded enthusiastically, clearly proud of herself. "Yes! I¡¯m not going back to campus until my class advancement trial is done." "Wait," Isaac leaned back in his chair. "How?" Leora answered for her. "Top students from the special classes were brought to strongholds for real-world experience. "Emily¡¯s growth has been exceptional, so she was selected. She¡¯ll undergo training here, and later enter the Akaza Ruin to complete her quest." "So she¡¯s not the only one?" "No," Leora replied. "She¡¯s just the one who ended up here thanks to Catherine¡¯s arrangement. The others are under General Magnus." ¡¯No wonder her skill levels were climbing so fast. She was training for this.¡¯ Isaac thought Emily crossed her arms, grinning. "I worked hard to get selected." Isaac smiled and patted her head. "Good job." +0.6 AP After breakfast, they moved into the study room. Leora stood in front of the board and began the lecture. She covered stat disruption theory, detailed models from Faladay¡¯s skill level-awakener level equilibrium law, and broke down advancement trends from Adept all the way to Champion rank. It wasn¡¯t basic knowledge. It was strategic, technical, and occasionally overwhelming. But Isaac was doing something else in parallel. He activated Reaper¡¯s Bounty, silently extracting antidotes from the Velumbra Lily stocks Professor Catherine had given him earlier that morning along with the ten seeds of Dreambloom, Viperthorn, Miragepetal each. Extracting antidotes while taking notes was tough. But it was a necessary step to push his skill to the limit, and increase it¡¯s level. Mind Echo helped him. It allowed him to store all information from the lecture inside his head like a perfect recording. By the time class ended, he had crafted twelve antidotes. A notification popped up in front of him. Reaper¡¯s Bounty has reached Level 4 ¡ú 5 Isaac closed the notification and stood up. "I¡¯m heading out," he said. Leora raised a brow. "To the shop?" "Yeah. I¡¯ll take the grains and deliver them to Alice." Emily was a bit tired and she had to complete her notes from the lecture. She couldn¡¯t come with him. Isaac turned to Leora. "You should stay here with Emily." "What about you?" "I¡¯m taking the Deathwood Guardian scarecrow with me." Leora paused for a moment, then gave a small nod of approval. Deathwood Guardian could fight a Champion-rank awakeners. So there was no problem of security. Isaac placed the scarecrow inside his storage ring, then harvested grains. 1000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +500. Constitution +500. You have obtained 5000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3960 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +360. Constitution +360. You have obtained 19,800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. He spread the fertilizer, replanted new seeds, and loaded the crates of grains with Tyr¡¯s help. Soon after, they set out for the market, and the moment Isaac stepped into the market district, he noticed the line. It stretched around the block and was longer than what he¡¯d seen yesterday. Only a few among them wore student uniforms. Most were in combat gear. They wore light armor, tactical suits, or custom-made robes. Some wore loose cloaks that looked dusty from long travel. Almost every one of them carried weapons openly. "Mercenaries," Isaac muttered under his breath, "and guild members." He slowed his pace as he looked over the crowd. ¡¯So many awakeners showed up in just one day. This is way beyond what I expected.¡¯ He scanned a few of the crests and symbols worn on their gear. Some of them belonged to mid-level guilds. A few bore no insignia at all. They must be lone freelancers or small teams. ¡¯I guess I underestimated the influence of top guilds.¡¯ In the current era, awakeners weren¡¯t just fighters. They were symbols of strength. Soldiers, idols, influencers, and superheroes all rolled into one. People looked up to them, and wherever they went, crowds followed. And where crowds went, business did too. He entered the shop. Inside, Alice stood at the front counter, dressed in a neat coat and black slacks. She had her hair tied back loosely, strands of it falling across her cheek. She was multitasking by counting grain orders, checking names, and handling payments at the same time. Tyr stood beside her in his tree form. His branches moved smoothly, handing over sacks of grains whenever Alice gave him a number. Professor Catherine was, of course, nowhere to be seen. Not that it surprised him anymore. Alice looked up as Isaac stepped in, surprised for a second. Her eyes flicked to the crate in his hand. "I came to deliver these," Isaac said simply. He didn¡¯t expect a smile or a thank you. He didn¡¯t get either. But having spent three years with her, he could tell she was happy. Alice stepped back from the counter, signaling Tyr to switch roles. Tyr began carrying crates inside one by one while Isaac took over the selling. The line moved quickly. Isaac handed out grains and offering basic instructions on storage and dosage to newcomers. The buyers were polite for the most part. A few recognized him and offered a brief greeting or a compliment. Isaac answered them with short nods or a quick smile. But then, a ripple went through the crowd outside. It wasn¡¯t loud, but it was enough to change the atmosphere. People stopped mid-sentence. Heads turned. A few pulled out their devices to record something. The soft murmur of conversation sharpened into low gasps and whispers. Isaac¡¯s eyes narrowed. He didn¡¯t need to ask what was happening. ¡¯Celia Rae.¡¯ An SSS-rank support-type awakener. Idol of Fortified City 89. Younger sister of Vale Rae, the leader of Titan Edge Guild. Isaac didn¡¯t look towards the door excitedly like everyone. He kept a calm expression. However, his thoughts churned. ¡¯Their timing is strange.¡¯ ¡¯There¡¯s no way they coincidentally came just when I was here.¡¯ ¡¯Why go such a roundabout way to meet me?¡¯ ¡¯They could¡¯ve just asked for an appointment.¡¯ Chapter 70: SSS-rank Wife Candidate, Selene’s Return Chapter 70: SSS-rank Wife Candidate, Selene¡¯s Return The noise grew clearer as someone stepped into the shop. It was her. Celia Rae walked in, drawing the attention of everyone inside. She moved with a natural grace, not forced or rehearsed. Her pastel-pink hair shimmered faintly under the light, and the mole under her right eye only made her more distinct. Her smile was soft. Even without speaking, her presence made heads turn. It wasn¡¯t just because of her beautiful appearance. If Isaac had to say what it was, he would call it her ¡¯star aura¡¯. She walked up to the counter when her turn came. "Nice to meet you," she said warmly. "I¡¯m Celia Rae." A system screen blinked open in front of his eyes. [A suitable target detected in host¡¯s vicinity.] Celia Rae Age: 21 Rating: 96 Personality: Bubbly, Charismatic, Lonely. Likes: Being praised genuinely, singing under the stars, cute harmless monsters, writing secret lyrics in her notebook that she might never show anyone. Dislikes: Fake compliments and flattery, fans who cross boundaries, getting scolded for not living up to others¡¯ expectations. Status: Slightly surprised by your handsome appearance. Thinks you look even better in person than in photos. Wants to complete her job quickly by showing that Titan Edge Guild is planning to come to Akaza Ruin, and return. Isaac wasn¡¯t shocked that the system set her as a target. She had a SSS-rank Talent, after all. But the details still caught him off-guard. ¡¯Rating 96... Even Emily only had 95 despite having SSS-rank Talent and a mid-rank species bloodline. Her rating reached 96 only when she got a Beast Bond.¡¯ ¡¯How is Celia already 96? She should be a human.¡¯ Celia gave a small laugh, breaking his train of thought. "Sorry if I¡¯m being too forward," she said, thinking he was surprised when she suddenly tried to shake hands. "I was just a bit excited to meet another SSS-rank Awakener." "No offense taken." Isaac gave a polite smile. He shook her hand. "I¡¯m Isaac Hargraves." She chuckled again. "So, how many grains can I buy? I need as many as I can get for my guildmates." The people in line behind her stirred. "Did she say guildmates?" "That confirms it then¡ªTitan Edge Guild is moving in." "This is huge..." "Wait, are they flirting?" Isaac stayed calm. "Fifty per person," he said. "Same for everyone." "Only fifty? That¡¯s almost nothing." Celia gave him a playful look. "What if I send others in to buy more for me?" He shrugged. "That¡¯s allowed. But, if you want to buy in bulk, it¡¯s better to make a contract for it with me instead of buying from the shop. It¡¯ll save you some money in the long run." Celia nodded. "That¡¯s true I guess." She pulled out her credit card. "I¡¯ll take fifty Tier 0 and fifty Tier 1 grains each." Tyr quietly moved the crates while Alice rang up the total. Before leaving, Celia paused. "Do you mind if I can get a with you photo? I want to post it on my social media account." "Sure." Isaac saw no reason to refuse a free promotion offered by the city¡¯s idol. They took the photo, and within seconds, she posted it to her social media account. "Thanks again," Celia said. "See you around." She waved and walked out. The shop¡¯s buzz returned almost immediately. Several customers were now whispering about the picture. Some had taken out their device to check the photo Celia uploaded. Isaac ignored most of it. He kept selling. When the rush finally died down, he turned to Alice. "We should close for now. It¡¯s time for lunch." Alice was at her laptop again. She didn¡¯t look up. ¡¯Is she ignoring me?¡¯ Isaac smirked. "Don¡¯t tell me you are jealous?" She froze. "What?" she said slowly. "You¡¯re jealous," Isaac repeated. "Because I was close to Celia." Alice narrowed her eyes. "I am not." "Right," he said with a light laugh. "Because to be jealous, you¡¯d have to like me first." Alice froze. She hadn¡¯t expected Isaac to be upfront like that. Professor Catherine¡¯s voice echoed in her memory: "Isaac would say yes in a heartbeat if you proposed. He likes you very much." "Don¡¯t make him wait for too long, or he might lose interest." Just as she opened her mouth to respond, her device buzzed. She picked it up, answered, then ended the call after a short exchange. "That was Selene," she said. "She¡¯s coming." Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Now?" Alice nodded. "She said she wants to talk. She¡¯s on her way." They packed up and left the shop. Tyr stayed behind to lock things down and secure the crates. When they reached the house, lunch was already on the table. Leora and Emily had finished setting up. Professor Catherine was already seated with a glass of lemon water in hand, looking far too relaxed. "Just in time," Catherine said cheerfully. "Where were you?" Isaac asked her. "Don¡¯t worry. I was guarding Alice. It¡¯s just that I did so from the shadows." They all sat down. The meal was simple but delicious. Isaac noticed Alice was unusually quiet. She seemed to be thinking about Selene. Just as everyone finished, someone knocked on the front door. Leora went to greet her. Selene Calloway walked in, dressed in her usual high-class uniform, lined with deep green and silver. Her expression was missing the usual firm, businesslike calm she carried with her. There was no trace of the confident corporate leader today. Instead, her shoulders seemed tense. Her face looked composed but slightly pale, and she avoided direct eye contact with Alice. They all sat down in the living room. Leora stayed near the hallway wall, her arms crossed, watching without speaking. Professor Catherine leaned back on the couch, half-interested. Emily sat beside Isaac, silent, with a soft frown on her face. Alice sat across from Selene, and Isaac remained next to her without saying anything. Selene clasped her hands on her lap, glanced briefly at Isaac, and then turned her gaze to Alice. "I¡¯m sorry," she said. Her voice was steady but softer than usual. "I shouldn¡¯t have said those things." No one responded. Alice didn¡¯t even blink. Selene inhaled deeply and continued. "It may come across as forced. Pretentious, even. But these past few days... I¡¯ve had time to think." She paused. "Dad¡¯s words made me realize how wrong I was." Chapter 71: Godric Makes His Move Chapter 71: Godric Makes His Move Her eyes didn¡¯t leave Alice¡¯s face. "I know everything I did was wrong, and there is no justification for it. And that it¡¯s something I never should¡¯ve done." Alice finally looked up. Her eyes held a complicated light. She didn¡¯t glare. But there wasn¡¯t warmth there either. They had grown up together. Selene was like her little sister. Even after they grew up, Alice still saw her that way. She had always been strict, but she protected Selene when they were kids, doted on her when they were teenagers. And now? It was still hard to accept what happened. Alice didn¡¯t speak. She just looked. Isaac stayed silent too. He wasn¡¯t going to interfere. The silence dragged for a few seconds before Selene slowly stood up. "I didn¡¯t come here expecting forgiveness," she said quietly. "I just wanted to say this. I¡¯ll take my leave now." She turned, and walked out the door. Isaac glanced at Alice. Her face had returned to its usual neutral expression, but he could tell her emotions weren¡¯t calm. Emily reached out and placed a hand over Alice¡¯s. Just a light squeeze. Professor Catherine let out a lazy hum. "I was half expecting someone to throw a glass." "No point in breaking furniture," Alice replied, standing up. "It wouldn¡¯t solve anything." Isaac followed her to the hallway. "Are you okay?" "Yes." "If you ever want to talk¡ª" "I know." She cut him off, and walked toward her room without saying anything else. "You can also tell me if you want me to break her nose again." Alice¡¯s feet froze. She turned around to look at his smirking face. "...seriously?" "Yup. My hands have been itching these days. I¡¯ll be happy to put them to use for you." Seeing his smile, the corners of her lips rose unconsciously. She shook her head, and returned to her room, her steps lighter than before. ... Akaza Ruin, Fortified City 89 Selene adjusted her collar as she sat inside the private room. Her legs were crossed neatly. She was waiting to meet a couple of businessmen. Nothing major. Just a potential discussion about investment in a small sweet shop project based in the Akaza Ruin Stronghold. It was normal to get approached by small businesses hoping to collaborate. Usually, she wouldn¡¯t handle it personally, but since she was planning to step down from her position, she needed to get used to this type of workload. A polite knock came. "Enter," she said. The door opened and two men walked in. Selene¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. She didn¡¯t recognize either of them. That was strange She knew every executive, manager, and assistant in the company she was visiting today. She had studied the employee list just yesterday. These men were not on it. She reached under the table slowly, pressing a small, hidden switch designed to alert her guards. The light beneath the table flickered once to confirm the signal had been sent. She waited. Five seconds. Ten. No one came. Her hand stilled. One of the men, a tall man with sharp features, smiled. "Please don¡¯t panic," he said calmly. "I didn¡¯t kill your guards. They¡¯re alive. Just sleeping for now. I only did that as I didn¡¯t want anyone to disturb our meeting." Selene¡¯s heart beat faster, but her expression didn¡¯t change. She folded her hands on the table. "Who are you?" The man bowed slightly. "Godric. Just Godric." Selene glanced at the second man¡ªor woman. It was hard to tell due to the robe. He hadn¡¯t said a word since entering. Her attention snapped back to Godric. "What do you want?" "To help you," he said simply. "Help?" she repeated. "Yes. We¡¯ve heard about your unfortunate situation with the Calloway Conglomerate. You are losing the battle for the chairman seat. "It must be difficult. Especially after all you did to build it up. I believe we can offer you a path forward." Selene didn¡¯t answer immediately. She leaned back slightly, measuring him. Her mind was working fast, even as she kept her expression neutral. The guards outside weren¡¯t amateurs. Her strongest guard was Champion-level. Level 41, to be exact. Strong enough to stand against most threats in the city. Yet here she was, isolated. Her guards were defeated. That could only mean one thing. ¡¯He is Champion rank, maybe higher than Level 45.¡¯ Her eyes flicked toward Godric again. He didn¡¯t look like any of the registered Champion-ranked awakeners in Fortified City 89. Selene had memorized details of every major awakeners. There were around fifty Champions in the city. Three hundred total across all the human controlled fortified cities. Which meant¡ª ¡¯He¡¯s not on record. A hidden champion?¡¯ That shouldn¡¯t be possible. The resources needed to raise someone to Champion level were enormous. Not just money, but specific catalysts, rare training environments, battle experience. Doing it under the radar was nearly impossible. Godric leaned forward as he sat across from her. Selene kept her breathing steady. She was listening, but only because moving now would be dangerous. "So what exactly are you offering?" she asked. "You help us," Godric said smoothly. "And we help you return to the top. Back in power. Back where you belong." Selene raised an eyebrow. "And how would you do that?" "You¡¯ve got the brains, the image, and the influence. We¡¯ve got the means. We can be your shadow, and your hidden blade. Together, we can help you hold the Calloway Conglomerate in your palms." Selene smiled, but it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. "That¡¯s a bold claim." "It is, but I believe we can do it." Selene tilted her head. She was only playing along until her reinforcements came. As for the chairman position, she had given up on it. Normally, she would never think of doing that, but when her father said he wished he was dead rather than see Selene what she had become, Selene was shaken to the core. It made her realize how disgusting she has become. After that conversation with her father, nothing else mattered more than fixing things with Alice, her family. But these people didn¡¯t know that. They thought she wanted power back. "Your dreams are big. I¡¯ll give you that. But what will be your first step. Surely, you have a plan to put things into motion?" "You just need to get kidnapped." He smiled. Selene froze. She hadn¡¯t misheard. The words were casual, dropped like they meant nothing. But the implications were chilling. "Excuse me?" "Of course, it¡¯s just a temporary arrangement. You¡¯ll be treated well, and no real harm will come to you. Think of it as a calculated sacrifice. A step back to leap forward." "And how would my kidnapping help ¡¯our¡¯ goal?" "We will shift the blame on Isaac Hargraves. Just the fact you were kidnapped after meeting him would jeopardize his position, since you two already have enmity between yourselves and it could mean Isaac had a hand in your kidnapping. "We will twist the narrative by saying he is trying to take over Calloway Conglomerate through Alice, and that¡¯s why he got you kidnapped to eliminate you. "Then, Alice, who is supported by him, will fall out of favour and her chances of becoming the chairman will plummet." Selene remained calm on the outside, but a cold dread had started to rise in her chest. Her hand trembled slightly beneath the table. She tried to control her breathing. Where were the reinforcements? Before she could speak again, her vision blurred. She blinked. Then again. Godric¡¯s face swam in her vision. She reached up, touching her forehead. Her fingers felt numb. Godric smiled. "We look forward to your cooperation." Selene opened her mouth but no words came out. Her tongue felt thick. Her body wasn¡¯t responding. "Don¡¯t worry," he said. "You¡¯ll wake up soon. Just somewhere else." Selene¡¯s consciousness slipped, and the last thing she saw was Godric¡¯s faint smile as everything turned black. Chapter 72: Training, Faladay’s Skill-Leveling Law Chapter 72: Training, Faladay¡¯s Skill-Leveling Law Isaac POV After Alice and Professor Catherine left for the shop, the rest of the afternoon passed quickly. As the sun rose higher in the sky, Leora called Isaac and Emily to the empty grounds. It was time for their combat session. Isaac cracked his knuckles as he stepped into the open yard behind the house. Emily stood beside him, already stretching and warming up. Leora waited across from them, arms folded, and a calm look on her face. "Today, we¡¯ll spar together," she said. "You don¡¯t need to hold back. Use everything you¡¯ve got." Isaac nodded, activating Sovereign of Land. Emily summoned her spirits. Four of them appeared behind her¡ªtwo Ember, two Zephyr. A calming breeze stirred as they worked together to generate a powerful fireball. "Begin," Leora said. Isaac charged forward. Leora met his attack with a sweep of her leg and a block that stopped his punch mid-air. Her movements were efficient and fluid. Emily gave her support from behind. Whenever Leora tried to trip Isaac, Emily¡¯s spirit Zephyr pushed him forward with bursts of wind, and when there was an opening, the Ember spirit would launch fireballs. Isaac¡¯s attacks weren¡¯t weak either. His high stats, fluid motions, and quick reflexes made him a force to be reckoned with. The match continued like that for nearly half an hour. By the end, Isaac was gasping for breath, sweat dripping from his forehead. Emily had slumped to the ground, catching her breath with her arms resting on her knees. Her spirits flickered lightly before fading. Isaac sat down beside her and a notification came from his system. [Several skills of your wife, Emily Warren, have leveled up.] Phantom Parade has reached Level 3 ¡ú Level 4 Phantom Ward has reached Level 2 ¡ú Level 3 Demonic Eyes has reached Level 3 ¡ú Level 4 Isaac wasn¡¯t surprised from the skill gains. Emily¡¯s skills must have been on the cusp of leveling up, and the brutal training session today helped her push her skills to the next level. ¡¯Show me what else has changed in Emily¡¯s status,¡¯ he said in his mind. It had been days since he shared anything with Emily, so he was looking forward to the good harvest! Strength: 30 ¡ú 32 Agility: 49 ¡ú 50 Constitution: 30 ¡ú 31 ¡¯Her Spirit Power and Mana didn¡¯t increase, but that makes sense. They were already high so they won¡¯t increase from simple training.¡¯ As he stared at her increased stat, a grin broke on his face. ¡¯Share!¡¯ Strength: 60 ¡ú 62 Agility: 84 ¡ú 85 Constitution: 100 [1000 ¡ú 1000] Phantom Parade has reached Level 3 ¡ú Level 4 Phantom Ward has reached Level 2 ¡ú Level 3 Demonic Eyes has reached Level 3 ¡ú Level 4 Just when he closed his status window, Emily announced happily. "Two of my skills reached Level 4, and Phantom Ward reached Level 3!" Leora didn¡¯t respond immediately. She blinked, then slowly nodded. "Level 4 already?" she repeated. Her expression didn¡¯t change, but Isaac noticed something behind her eyes. Surprise. Maybe even disbelief. She took a breath and spoke evenly. "According to Faladay¡¯s Skill-Leveling Law, most skills rise quickly until Level 3. After that, the growth slows dramatically. Past Level 5, it¡¯s almost impossible to keep leveling at a consistent rate." Emily smiled brighter, knowing what Leora would say next. Leora continued. "The only ones who push beyond that are usually high-Talent awakener, and even then, the process is slow. Slower for high-rank skills. Some S-rank awakened purposely pick B or C-rank classes so that their skills level increase faster." She paused and looked at Emily. "But even they can¡¯t reach Level 4 in a little over a week. Good job." Emily smiled, glowing from the praises, then she looked towards Isaac. "Nice going!" Isaac patted her head. +0.6 AP Isaac kept quiet about his own Level 7 Skill. He saw no reason to undermine Emily¡¯s achievement by bragging of his own Level. Leora stared at Isaac for a moment. She saw the roots he summoned were strong, and expected him to reveal its level. But he only smiled. "Anyway, keep it up. Just don¡¯t forget to let your body rest too," Leora said when she realized he wouldn¡¯t speak up. The training ended shortly after. Emily, still sweating, headed for a shower. Isaac returned to the fields and began harvesting the grain. 1000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +500. Constitution +500. You have obtained 5000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3960 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +360. Constitution +360. You have obtained 19,800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. After he stored the grain, he began planting new seeds. But something pulled his attention away. Leora stood near the farm¡¯s edge, speaking into a small black device. Her back was to him, but her posture was stiff. Her free hand was clenched tightly at her side. Isaac didn¡¯t move at first. He simply watched. She finished the call a few seconds later and turned around. Her expression was the same. Calm, collected. But there was tension in her eyes. Something wasn¡¯t right. Isaac walked over. "Something happened?" Leora looked at him, hesitated, then finally sighed. ... Alice POV Alice stepped into the inner room of the shop. "Catherine, why did you call me?" There was a subtle hesitation in the way she said the name. It still felt strange to call Professor Catherine that so casually. Catherine looked up from the table. She wasn¡¯t smiling like her usual self. "Come, sit." That alone made Alice¡¯s stomach twist. She obeyed, lowering herself into the chair across from her. "What is it?" Catherine folded her hands on the table and looked her in the eye. "Selene was kidnapped." The words hit like a slap. Alice¡¯s mind blanked for a moment, then her eyes widened in shock. "What?" Her voice cracked. "She was taken during a meeting," Catherine added softly. "We have to save her!" Alice stood up, the chair scraping loudly behind her. Her fists clenched tightly at her sides. The memory of the past resurfaced without warning. When she and Selene had been children, they were kidnapped once before. It had left deep, lingering scars. From then on, their family had made sure they always had Champion-rank guards. Yet now, somehow, it had happened again. Catherine blinked in surprise at Alice¡¯s reaction. She had rarely seen her this rattled. "Calm down, Alice," she said. "We¡¯re organizing a search party. It will set out soon." Alice shook her head, trying to keep her breathing under control. "Who? Who took her?" "We¡¯re still investigating that," Catherine replied. "But we¡¯ll find her. You need to stay calm right now." Before she could respond, the door opened. Isaac stepped in with Emily and Leora behind him. Isaac noticed Alice¡¯s crumbled expression. He moved toward Alice without a word. He wrapped his arms around her and gently pulled her into a hug. His hand rubbed slow circles across her back. "It¡¯s okay. Everything is going to be alright." Alice didn¡¯t resist his hug. She leaned into him, her voice shaky. "My sister... she¡¯s kidnapped." "I know," Isaac said, voice steady. "We¡¯ll bring her back." Alice froze, pulling away from the hug. Her eyes searched his face. "What do you mean ¡¯we¡¯?" Chapter 73: Mission Briefing Chapter 73: Mission Briefing "I¡¯m joining the search party," he answered. "What?" Her voice rose, almost panicked. "No. You can¡¯t." Before she could continue, Leora stepped forward. "There¡¯s no time for this. The advance party leaves in thirty minutes. General Magnus has already approved Isaac¡¯s involvement." "You can¡¯t just send him¡ª" "Alice," Isaac cut in gently. He reached out, took her hand, and squeezed it. "It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll be careful. I¡¯ll bring Selene back." Alice¡¯s eyes welled up. "What if something happens to you?" Isaac smiled, flashing that usual confident grin. "Leora¡¯s coming with me. She¡¯s Champion rank. And I¡¯ve got Tyr and the Deathwood Guardian with me. I¡¯ll be fine. No one¡¯s getting through that kind of protection." Alice looked like she wanted to argue more but didn¡¯t. She lowered her eyes and nodded slightly. Isaac turned to Emily and gave her a small smile, then followed Leora out of the shop. As the door closed behind them, Catherine exhaled. "He¡¯s going to be fine," she said softly. Alice said nothing. Emily moved closer to her and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. ... Truthfully, Isaac had no personal feelings toward Selene. If she had vanished from the world, he wouldn¡¯t have lost sleep over it. But he wasn¡¯t stupid. The fight they¡¯d had days ago would stir up rumors. If he sat back now, people would whisper that he had a hand in her disappearance. His reputation would take a hit. The image he was building, especially with his business, needed to stay clean. Then there was Alice. Saving her sister would earn Isaac a massive amount of points with her. It wasn¡¯t about seducing her, but rather about giving her peace of mind, proving he could protect the people she cared about, and her when the need arrived. That was worth the risk. Not that there was much risk in the first place. With Leora beside him, his safety was practically guaranteed. Her strength was on another level. Add in Tyr¡¯s and the Deathwood Guardian¡¯s overwhelming combat power, and Isaac was one of the safest people heading out. They arrived at the military camp quickly. It was a wide area enclosed by steel walls and temporary magical barriers. Inside, several tents had been set up. Soldiers and awakeners moved with around. Most wore serious expressions. The tension in the air was thick. General Magnus stood near the central table, going over maps with a pair of Champion-rank awakeners. There were only four Champion-rank Awakeners in the Stronghold. So when three of them got involved in the rescue mission within twenty minutes of receiving the news, it said a lot about how much Sanctum of Master cared. Across the camp, familiar faces were scattered. Kael and Nero stood at one end, checking their gear. They looked focused, dressed in combat-grade uniforms. Their weapons rested at their sides, ready to be drawn at a moment¡¯s notice. A little further away, Isaac saw Celia Rae. She was talking to one of her guildmates but caught sight of Isaac. She smiled and waved at him. Isaac nodded politely in return. Leora guided him to the center of the tent. General Magnus turned to look at him. "Isaac Hargraves, are you sure you want to join the rescue mission?" His voice was gruff. "Yes, sir." "You¡¯ll be under Leora¡¯s command. We¡¯ll be deploying in five teams. Your group will move to the eastern grid." Isaac nodded. "Understood." General Magnus then stood at the center, his hand resting on the edge of the table as he addressed the gathered awakeners. "We¡¯ve identified several hideouts of a hidden organization that¡¯s been interfering with the Sanctum of Masters," he said, voice steady and firm. "We believe they are the ones who kidnapped Selene Calloway. The reason for our deduction is..." He continued his explanation. Isaac listened carefully. A hidden organization? That had to be the assassins. The same ones who attacked the academy. The same ones who tried to kill him. General Magnus continued, "Each of these locations will be attacked simultaneously. Our goal is to throw them off. They won¡¯t have time to regroup or escape." Murmurs spread among the gathered awakeners. "This is not a full-on assault," the General added. "Our primary objective is to locate and extract Selene Calloway. If she is not at any of these bases or if resistance is too high, you are to retreat. The full-scale rescue will begin tomorrow." He paused, letting the information settle. Isaac glanced around. There were at least six Master-rank awakeners present. Two Champions. Several members of Titan Edge Guild. Even though it was called an ¡¯advance¡¯ search party, the group could flatten a Sector if needed. That much firepower for an advance mission? It made sense. The Sanctum of Masters couldn¡¯t afford to look weak. Not when one of the Calloways had been taken right under their nose. Their reputation was at stake. General Magnus continued, "You¡¯ll be split into five units. Each will move to a separate location. Leora and Isaac, you¡¯ll be Team Six. You¡¯ll remain on standby and move only if a location yields solid intelligence or if reinforcement is needed." One by one, the teams were formed and dismissed. The awakeners left the tent to make their final preparations. Weapons were checked, armor adjusted, and final messages were sent out. Only Leora remained beside the General. Magnus turned to her and asked, "Vice Principal, are you sure it¡¯s wise to take Isaac with you? He¡¯s talented, I agree. But this will be dangerous." Leora didn¡¯t hesitate. "That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m bringing him." Magnus raised an eyebrow. "Because it¡¯s dangerous?" "No," she said calmly. "Because this kidnapping might be part of a larger plan to weaken the security around Isaac. "If I left him behind and the assassins attacked while I was gone, it would be worse. With me, he¡¯s far safer than he would be under any protective detail the stronghold can offer." Magnus exhaled. "You talk as if our entire security system can¡¯t compare to you." Leora gave him a small smile but didn¡¯t deny it. Magnus rubbed his forehead. "Why not just stay back then? Guard Isaac here." Leora¡¯s smile faded. "Because this has gone too far. The actions of the assassins have been eroding Sanctum of Masters¡¯ credibility for months. "The attack on the academy, the attempted assassinations... and now this. I¡¯ve waited long enough for Catherine to pinpoint the right target." "You mean... you found their main base?" Leora nodded. "Catherine found what she believes to be their core location. She¡¯s confident." Magnus frowned. "Catherine told me about the smaller hideouts. She never mentioned a main base." "She probably didn¡¯t want to risk spreading the information. But she told me directly." Leora stepped away from the table and turned toward the exit. "While the other teams handle the side bases and stretch the assassins thin, I¡¯ll be heading for the center." "You¡¯re still taking Isaac with you?" Magnus crossed his arms. Leora looked over her shoulder and smiled. "He¡¯s stronger than you think. He¡¯ll be fine." Then she left the tent. Outside, the base buzzed with energy. Final equipment checks were done. Vehicles lined up. Isaac waited beside Tyr, watching the other teams disperse into different directions. He had brought the poisonous flowers, and Deathwood Guardian along inside his spatial ring. Nero passed him and gave a nod. "Stay sharp." "You too." Kael flashed a grin. "If you run into anything fun, save a piece for me." Isaac chuckled and waved him off. Then Celia Rae walked by. She was in light combat gear now, hair tied up, a staff across her back. She smiled at him. "I didn¡¯t know you were already strong enough to participate in missions." Chapter 74: Manipulation Chapter 74: Manipulation "I¡¯ll be only at the backline." Isaac kept his tone casual. "Please thank the Titan Edge Guild for helping us with the search mission." "You are thanking us? I thought you and Selene had bad blood between you two." "There were some disagreements, true. But she is still the sister of Alice. I would never wish any harm to come to her." Celia and others heard Isaac¡¯s genuine tone and saw his serious expression. Knowing he was risking his life by joining the mission as an awakener who awakened only a week ago, they felt their heart move. None of them thought Isaac had any hands in Selene¡¯s kidnapping. Those who had believed differently before now no longer thought like that. "Stay safe." Celia shook hands with him and walked away. Leora emerged from the tent and joined Isaac. "Time to move." Isaac nodded. They headed for one of the waiting vehicles. Tyr transformed into a smaller, compact form and climbed into the back. Leora and Isaac took the front seats. The doors closed with a mechanical click. The engine hummed to life. Isaac watched the stronghold slowly vanish behind them as the vehicle sped off toward the Akaza Ruin. They would go as far as the vehicles allowed them and then move on foot. Since not everyone had spatial rings, the resources like food and extra weapons were kept on the vehicles, and this was why vehicles were used as transportation instead of carrying everything on back and risking losing stamina. ... Selene POV Everything was dark. Not the kind of darkness that comes from a lack of light, but the kind that feels like it¡¯s pressing in from all directions. Selene couldn¡¯t see anything. She couldn¡¯t move. She couldn¡¯t speak. And she couldn¡¯t hear. Her chest tightened. Panic crept in. She didn¡¯t know where she was or how long she had been there. Was she unconscious? Awake? Dreaming? Her body wouldn¡¯t respond. Her limbs felt like they were detached. Her lips wouldn¡¯t part. Even her ears seemed sealed. Like she¡¯d been stuffed inside a shell of flesh that refused to function. The panic grew. A memory surfaced¡ªone she had long tried to bury. That day from childhood. The kidnapping. The silence. The isolation. The fear. She had thought she¡¯d moved past it. But now it was all back. Her breathing¡ªor whatever sensation mimicked it¡ªbecame erratic. Her heart pounded in her chest. Still, there was no sound. Just the darkness. ¡¯This can¡¯t be happening. It has to be a mistake. I¡¯ll be rescued soon. Dad will save me. He will send guards, and make these people regret their actions.¡¯ Minutes passed. Or maybe hours. Time had no meaning here. She couldn¡¯t count her breaths or the beats of her heart. ¡¯Why isn¡¯t the rescue team coming? Where are they!? They let me be kidnapped, and now they can¡¯t even rescue me!?¡¯ Her thoughts grew erratic. Time continued to move, and the fear she was hiding behind the anger slowly began to show. ¡¯Is dad not going to rescue me because of what I did?¡¯ ¡¯Please no.¡¯ ¡¯Save me.¡¯ ¡¯Please... dad... sniff... please...¡¯ ¡¯It¡¯s dark.¡¯ ¡¯I¡¯m afraid.¡¯ She would give anything to go back. She would never talk behind Alice¡¯s back again. She would apologize to her father. She would¡ª She suddenly remembered her father¡¯s words. "I¡¯d rather be dead than see you act like this for power." Maybe this was what she deserved. Maybe this was justice. Her fingers were numb. Her legs felt cold. Her lips couldn¡¯t part. If this was how it ended, maybe it was for the best. Just like the stories her dad used to read to her during her childhood, the princess ¨C Alice ¨C would live happily ever after with her prince, and the witch ¨C Selene ¨C would suffer for everything wrong she had done. It was what she deserved. A long, hollow moment passed. And then, just as quietly as it had left her, her hearing returned. It was a dull buzz at first. More faint, and muffled, then it became sharper, and more distinct. Footsteps. The low hum of electricity. The scrape of a chair on hard ground. Sight returned in flickers. She blinked and realized she could move her eyelids again. She tried to lift her head and saw the room. A bright, sterile, empty white room. She was sitting on a chair in the middle, strapped down. Godric sat across from her. His presence felt out of place in the room, like someone had painted a shadow on a blank canvas. He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, studying her. "I apologize," he said. "The dosage was higher than I intended." Selene could barely hear him. Her body trembled uncontrollably, her breathing shallow. Her mind hadn¡¯t caught up yet. If she were in a better mental state, she would have noticed the intent. The increased dosage of poison that stole her senses, and the forced isolation. It was all done to break her. Shake her enough so that she would be easier to control. But right now, she was too shaken to think. Godric tilted his head and continued, "But you¡¯re awake now. That¡¯s good. I was getting worried." She didn¡¯t respond. He smiled, patient. "I know what you¡¯re thinking. But please, understand¡ªI¡¯m not your enemy." His tone was relaxed, and friendly. He wasn¡¯t mocking her or showing signs of aggression. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. "To be honest, if it wasn¡¯t for me, the others here would¡¯ve let the poison eat you up from inside. My boss... she enjoys pain. If she were here, she¡¯d torture you for days, then kill you just before you broke." Selene¡¯s lips finally moved. "W-why..." Her voice was hoarse, and weak. "Why... are you... telling me this?" Godric¡¯s smile widened. "Because I¡¯m your friend." That word echoed inside her. Friend? "I want to help you, Selene. I know what happened at Calloway. I know you lost your position. I know you¡¯re alone right now. No allies. No influence." He leaned back again, voice soft and persuasive. "But I can fix that. I want to help you regain your power, and your place. The place that rightfully belongs to you." Chapter 75: Manipulation [2] Chapter 75: Manipulation [2] Selene¡¯s body remained tense. Her muscles still hadn¡¯t stopped shaking. Her mind told her she shouldn¡¯t trust him, but the fangs of fear were making it hard for her to think normally. Still, she asked, "How?" That single word made Godric¡¯s eyes light up. "There it is," he said. "That¡¯s the Selene I heard about. Smart, and sharp. I¡¯ve followed your moves for a long time. You¡¯re calculated. You know how things work." He pointed at her with a casual gesture. "I don¡¯t want much. Just capital and influence of Calloway. "The Calloway Conglomerate is big, and they control many important resources. You may not hold the chairman title now, but you still have pull. If we help you, the position can be yours. And then you will open doors for me." Selene listened. She had no other choice. Godric continued, "In exchange, you¡¯ll be protected by us. I¡¯ll make sure that no one can lay a hand on you, or kidnap you. And of course, you¡¯ll be working with me, not my boss." He waited for a few seconds, and let his words sink in. "I¡¯ll be honest with you," Godric said. "My boss doesn¡¯t care what happens to you. She honestly wanted to kill you after kidnapping you. "But I refused her. Because I think you¡¯re special. With the right friends, you¡¯ll realize that you can attain heights far higher than before." Selene didn¡¯t answer. Godric stood up and circled the chair slowly. His footsteps echoed faintly in the room. "You¡¯re wondering if your people will come save you." He stopped behind her. Selene¡¯s hands trembled faintly where they rested on the armrests of the chair. Her shoulders were stiff, her back pressed tight against the seat. She didn¡¯t look up. Godric stood a few steps away, watching her closely. His usual smirk was softened, as though he was trying to look comforting. "I know this must be terrifying for you," he said gently. "And you¡¯ve held up well." Selene didn¡¯t respond. Her eyes remained lowered, unfocused. Godric took a slow breath. "You¡¯ll be happy to know a search party has already been deployed today." That made her look up. Godric raised both palms, as if to ease her tension. "It¡¯s an advance team of mostly scouts. They¡¯re combing a few known outposts we let them find." He circled back to in front of her. "But," he continued, "they won¡¯t find you. Not today." Selene¡¯s expression tensed. Godric noticed and continued softly. "However, tomorrow... tomorrow when the real rescue party moves, we will let you be rescued." Selene¡¯s breath hitched. "We¡¯ll let them find this location," he said calmly. "We¡¯ll make it look like they got lucky, and we will put up a small resistance before you are rescued. You¡¯ll return to your people. Safe and sound." He leaned forward, his voice dropping just slightly. "That¡¯s what friends do for each other." Selene didn¡¯t speak. "Of course," Godric continued, "this will only happen... if you hold up your end of the promise." "What promise?" she asked, voice dry and flat. "That you¡¯ll cooperate," he said simply. "That you¡¯ll be our ally when the time comes. That you¡¯ll be in our corner, even if no one knows it." Selene turned her face away. Godric smiled, patient. "I¡¯m not asking for anything outrageous. I just want you to use your influence for us. "People respect you, Selene. You can guide decisions. Support certain investments. Nudge certain projects. Stay close to your sister, your friends, your business circle. Keep your eyes open. That¡¯s all." Selene¡¯s breath was shaky. "You want me to spy?" "I want you to survive," Godric corrected. "There¡¯s a difference." His expression remained calm, but there was something cold in his eyes now. The friendly mask he wore never slipped, as if he was really trying to help her. Selene, shaken by fear, could hardly see that mask. "Selene," he said, "I need you to understand something important." He stepped even closer. Selene could feel the air shift. "My boss doesn¡¯t care about you," he said in a low voice. "You¡¯re just a tool to her. And if you become useless¡ªor worse, a liability¡ªshe will eliminate you without hesitation." He crouched in front of her, meeting her eyes. "Your Champion-ranked bodyguard?" he said softly. "Not enough. If my boss gets annoyed, not even ten Champions can keep you safe." Selene¡¯s heart thudded once, hard. Godric kept his gaze steady. "So when I say I¡¯m your friend, I mean it. I¡¯m your best option. I¡¯m the only one keeping her from using you like a chew toy." Selene swallowed. Her voice came out quieter than she wanted. "Why are you doing this?" He stood up again. "Because I¡¯ve seen too many people get torn apart because they picked the wrong side. And I think you¡¯re smart enough to choose right." Selene¡¯s shoulders slumped. A long silence passed between them. Godric didn¡¯t press her for an answer. He gave her one more glance, then moved to the door. Before leaving, he looked back. "You¡¯ll be rescued tomorrow," he said. "If you want to stay safe after that, you¡¯ll remember this conversation." Then he left. The door closed with a soft metallic click. Selene sat alone again. Her limbs still trembled. Her mind reeled with everything she¡¯d just heard. Her thoughts darted from one worry to the next. What if her father thought she was working with assassins and got kidnapped purposefully to tarnish Isaac¡¯s image? Normally, he would never think like that. But after what had happened, would he trust her? And even if she was rescued tomorrow, she wouldn¡¯t be free. The assassins had her caught in an invisible trap. They had defeated her Champion rank guards, and they could do it again if she went against their words. There was no way out for Selene. She was caught in a quagmire. The dreadful realization made Selene shake in fear. The loneliness made her curl, and tears slipped from her eyes. ¡¯Dad...¡¯ ¡¯Please... save me...¡¯ Chapter 76: Ambushed By The Assassins Chapter 76: Ambushed By The Assassins Leora ended her call and turned to Isaac. "The other teams have begun their attacks." Isaac nodded. "Alright." Leora paused, then said, "Our mission is to hit the main base of the assassins." She watched him closely, maybe expecting him to protest, but Isaac nodded again without hesitation. "Aren¡¯t you worried?" Leora asked. "It¡¯ll just be the two of us. I might not be able to protect you." Isaac shook his head. "If I didn¡¯t trust you with my life, I wouldn¡¯t have accepted you as my bodyguard." Inwardly, he thought, ¡¯I figured it would come to this. Leora isn¡¯t someone you send out unless you want something finished for good.¡¯ Leora smiled slightly, then handed him a small red switch. "This is a life-saving item," she said. "If you¡¯re in danger, press it. It¡¯ll activate a high-level barrier that can block Champion-rank attacks for a minute. I¡¯ll sense it immediately, no matter where you are, and come to your rescue if we are separated." Isaac tucked it safely in his pocket. "Got it." They set off together, moving silently through the desolate parts of Akaza Ruin. The ground was cracked, broken walls stood like gravestones, and an eerie quiet stretched all around. It took them nearly two hours to reach their destination. They stopped before a large, heavily reinforced warehouse. Its rusted steel walls gave no hint of what was inside. It looked abandoned. But Isaac and Leora both knew better. "Is this the place?" "Yes." Isaac stared at the warehouse for a few seconds longer. "This place is too silent. I suppose they already know we are here." "You are correct," Leora said. "We are already surrounded by more than a dozen Assassins, and more are hiding inside the warehouse, waiting to ambush us." "Since they know we are waiting for us, we should give them a good show." Isaac smirked. He stepped forward. Mana surged through his body and down into the earth. Sovereign of Land activated immediately. The ground trembled as roots as thick as cars shot up, grabbing the front gates and tearing them apart in one powerful yank before pulling them into the ground. But Isaac didn¡¯t stop there. The roots spread outward, smashing through the neighboring buildings. The abandoned structures surrounding the warehouse crumbled under the force of the roots, collapsing into broken piles of stone and steel. Clouds of dust filled the air. ¡¯The assassins hiding in those buildings must be buried now or at least forced to retreat.¡¯ Isaac thought. He wasn¡¯t about to let hidden enemies flank them. The roots twisted and grew, wrapping around support beams, tearing down walls, and leaving the warehouse and its immediate surroundings exposed. Isaac took a step back to observe the destruction. The path to the warehouse was now clear. He and Leora were about to move forward when a sharp voice suddenly echoed behind them. "The plan was perfect... but with you here, it¡¯s even better! Hisss!" Isaac spun around, but it was too late. A woman blurred into view. Her hair writhed like living snakes. In a flash, she grabbed Leora and pulled her into a portal that looked like cracked mirror. The portal closed almost instantly, leaving Isaac alone. "Welcome to my home, I hope you liked that surprise." Footsteps echoed from the ruined warehouse entrance. Isaac turned to face the noise. A man appeared, moving with slow, heavy steps. He was massive, easily over two meters tall, muscles thick and scarred. His short-cut hair and calm, confident expression gave him the appearance of a seasoned fighter. He stopped a few meters from Isaac and grinned. "So you¡¯re the boy causing all this trouble," the man said. Isaac didn¡¯t respond immediately. "I¡¯m Godric," the man continued. His voice was rough, like gravel grinding underfoot. Isaac studied him silently. ¡¯This must be the leader behind the attack.¡¯ Godric spread his arms lazily. "I didn¡¯t expect our plan we concocted to catch one of the powerhouses of Stronghold would snag you too. It¡¯s like catching two birds with one net." Isaac stayed silent. His Mana Resonance told him multiple targets with powerful mana were surrounding him. The assassins had recovered from his initial attack, and were prepared to launch attacks the moment he did moved. ... Leora POV Leora looked around carefully. The place she stood in looked exactly like the ruined street where she had been with Isaac just moments ago. Same crumbling buildings. Same empty sky. Same warehouse standing ominously at the center. But there was one difference. There was no life here. No mana fluctuations from hidden assassins. No monsters lurking in the ruins. Nothing. Just complete stillness. A woman¡¯s voice echoed out, casual and amused. "Seems like you recognize this place." Leora turned slightly. A woman with dark green snake-hair and slit eyes stood a few meters away, arms folded across her chest. "I¡¯m Vespara," the woman said, smiling easily. "Welcome to the Mirror Dimension." Leora stayed silent, waiting for her to explain. Vespara pointed around them. "This world is a perfect copy of the real one. Everything looks the same. But you¡¯re trapped here, Vice Principal Eleanor." Leora¡¯s fingers twitched against the hilt of her sword, but she didn¡¯t move yet. "To escape a Mirror Dimension," Vespara said, "you need to kill the caster." The woman¡¯s smile widened. "And that caster is me." Leora showed no reactions. She just stared at the woman. Vespara continued, almost like she was giving a lecture. "We purposefully leaked the location of our small bases. Then we leaked the main base." She laughed softly. "The plan was simple. We knew the stronghold would act cautiously. They would try to split our forces, attack all bases at once, and send their strongest to the main base to crush us completely, quickly, and silently." Vespara tilted her head, her eyes glinting. "That¡¯s how Sanctum of Masters operates, right? Safe, methodical, perfect." Leora¡¯s voice finally broke the silence. "Their strongest is an Overlord. You think you can defeat an Overlord rank awakener?" Vespara threw her head back and laughed, a bright, mocking sound. "Overlord?" Vespara said, wiping a fake tear from her eye. "An old hag can¡¯t be an Overlord, Vice Principal Eleanor." The air grew heavier. Leora¡¯s hand, resting on the sword hilt, twitched slightly. Chapter 77: Manipulating The Manipulator Chapter 77: Manipulating The Manipulator Vespara didn¡¯t notice, or maybe she did and simply didn¡¯t care. Vespara smirked. "I¡¯m sure you know the secret about Overlords." She raised a finger. "When someone truly reaches Overlord rank, their body undergoes a complete reconstruction. They return to their prime and they look young once again." Vespara pointed directly at Leora. "But you, Vice Principal Eleanor, still appear as an old woman publicly." Leora said nothing. "That¡¯s strange, isn¡¯t it?" Vespara continued, pacing slowly in front of her. "You sometimes appear young in hidden meeting. Publicly you take on an old appearance. Which is the real you? Why the change?" Leora remained silent, her gaze steady. Vespara kept talking, like she was proud of her theory. "Normally, your enemies would think you¡¯re baiting them to attack you by acting old. You were trying to make it look like you were not an Overlord... then when they attack, you will crush them with your Overlord rank strength." She grinned widely. "But what if you were actually old, and it was not a farce? Some people attacked you to find the answers, and you crushed them, didn¡¯t you? Anyone who tried died. Every time. No survivors. No witnesses. No evidence. "It made everyone think that you were an Overlord, and you were purposely acting like you were not one, so that you could bait your enemies to attack you. "When your enemies realized that, they didn¡¯t take the bait anymore." Vespara leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It cemented your reputation as an Overlord rank awakener." Leora¡¯s fingers flexed slightly against the sword hilt. Vespara leaned back, laughing again. "But this Mirror Dimension? It¡¯s only capable of trapping those up to Champion rank." She spread her arms. "And look! You¡¯re here." The smile on her face widened, victorious. "That means you¡¯re not an Overlord at all." Vespara¡¯s eyes gleamed. "Your entire city¡¯s safety was a lie. A clever illusion you built. You made everyone think an Overlord protected Fortified City 89 when in truth, the city had none." She clasped her hands together mockingly. "Bravo! What a beautiful deception. You must¡¯ve struggled to maintain the farce." Leora said nothing. Inside, she was analyzing. The only reason she remained silent was to know about Vespara¡¯s goal, and why they were interfering in Akaza Ruin. Vespara kept grinning. "So, what do you think of my deduction? Impressive, right?" She looked at Leora expectantly. Instead of answering, Leora moved. Her sword slid free from its scabbard with a low, dangerous hiss. The air around her trembled faintly. Leora pointed her blade directly at Vespara. "I am not old," Leora said in a calm but cold voice. ... Isaac POV "I was wondering why the assassins hadn¡¯t used a good plan to kill me yet," Isaac said in a relaxed voice. "But I guess this answers it. You guys were just plain stupid." Godric¡¯s smile faltered for the first time. Isaac was too calm, and composed. Godric frowned. "Our plan was stupid, how?" Isaac didn¡¯t really have to answer. But he did anyway, because he was using this time to keep Godric occupied. While he talked, he had already activated his Mana Resonance, spreading his senses through the entire area, searching for any hidden mana signatures. He was trying to locate Selene. "Of course we knew you leaked the information," Isaac said casually. "Sanctum of Masters couldn¡¯t find your bases for months. And then suddenly, several pop up at once? Including your so-called main base?" Isaac shrugged. "Even a child could tell this was bait." Godric didn¡¯t like how relaxed Isaac was. In battle, shaking the enemy¡¯s mentality was key. Fear, hesitation, panic ¡ª they all led to mistakes. And mistakes led to death. Godric could defeat Isaac through brute force, sure. But if Isaac had a trump card, if he had some life-saving treasure gifted by Sanctum of Masters, things could get messy. Godric knew that even Initiate rank awakeners sometimes hid terrifying cards up their sleeves. And it wasn¡¯t impossible for Isaac to be one of those monsters capable of jumping ranks to fight awakeners who were higher ranked than him. He needed Isaac to lose composure. He needed him to get scared. So Godric smiled and said, "If you knew it was bait, why did you come? You came with Vice Principal Eleanor herself, and now both of you will die." Isaac shook his head. "Wrong. We came because we knew your strongest forces would be waiting here to ambush us." He stretched slightly, as if this conversation was tiring him. "Since no one knew your organization existed until now, it¡¯s clear you¡¯re funded by an outside race." Godric narrowed his eyes. Isaac continued, voice steady. "You guys aren¡¯t the problem. The real threat was the controller sent by the other race. He would be your bodyguard and monitor you at the same time. That person is someone far stronger than all of you." Isaac smiled faintly. "That¡¯s why Leora came herself. Her goal was to eliminate that threat." Godric clenched his jaw. "The Mirror Dimension only traps up to Champion rank. No Champion rank awakener can defeat Vespara." Isaac shrugged again, completely unconcerned. "You can think that." Inwardly, Isaac thought, ¡¯Alice¡¯s potential rating after awakening would be 96. She is an Apex rank species and have Talent. But Leora?¡¯ ¡¯Her rating is 97. Whatever she¡¯s hiding, she¡¯s damn strong. She is not losing to anyone.¡¯ Confidence was one thing. But Isaac¡¯s belief in Leora wasn¡¯t just blind trust. It was calculated. Godric didn¡¯t like it. He could feel it now that Isaac¡¯s mentality was solid, and unshakable. And the more calm Isaac appeared, the more Godric¡¯s own confidence started to crack. Godric didn¡¯t realize he was falling into his own trap due to Isaac¡¯s silver tongue. Godric decided to change the approach. He chuckled. "To be honest, I¡¯m surprised you came. I thought you hated Selene Calloway." Isaac¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, I do hate her." Godric blinked. "I¡¯m not here for her," Isaac said easily. "If she dies, she dies." Of course, it was a lie. But Isaac knew if Godric thought Selene was important to him, he¡¯d use her as a hostage. So he needed Godric to believe otherwise. Godric paused for a moment, watching him carefully. Then he smiled slowly. "Still," Godric said, "you came anyway. Because if she dies, your image would suffer, right?" Isaac snorted. "No." He crossed his arms, looking casual. "I came here to fight assassins. I¡¯ll return with grievous wounds. Everyone will think I risked my life to save her. That¡¯ll wipe away any suspicion that I had a hand in her kidnapping." Isaac tilted his head slightly. "And that," he said, "would only boost my reputation." Godric¡¯s smile stiffened. Finally, he realized. Isaac wasn¡¯t some nai?ve fool thrown into the battlefield. He wasn¡¯t even a righteous hero. He was a devil wearing the mask of a good man. Isaac had come here not out of duty or kindness, but because it served his own plans. Godric gritted his teeth. "You really think you can leave alive?" he said. Isaac smiled faintly. "Of course." And then, Isaac disappeared. Godric¡¯s eyes widened. A sharp gust of wind brushed past Godric. He barely sensed the shift in mana. He turned quickly, scanning the surroundings. ¡¯Where did he go?¡¯ Before Godric could react, a sharp pain bloomed in his side. Chapter 78: Isaac Fights The Assassins, The Power Of Beasts And SSS rank Skills Chapter 78: Isaac Fights The Assassins, The Power Of Beasts And SSS rank Skills He stumbled back, catching a glimpse of Isaac appearing beside him like a ghost. Isaac¡¯s hands were covered in spectral gauntlets made of pure mana, glowing faintly. Godric grunted and jumped back several meters. He stabilized his breathing, summoning his battle aura. His muscles expanded, and thick mana wrapped around him like a second skin. "You¡¯re faster than you look," Godric said, voice low. "And you can turn invisible. But let¡¯s see if you can dodge this... Attack!" From the ruined buildings surrounding them, arrows shot toward Isaac. Mana-imbued arrows, fast and deadly, coming from every direction. Isaac didn¡¯t panic. He turned invisible again, the power of his Phantom Emperor Bloodline activating smoothly. The assassins, now aware of his abilities, immediately unleashed their sensory skills to locate him. And with their attacks imbued with mana, Isaac couldn¡¯t phase through them just by turning ghost-like. But Isaac wasn¡¯t worried. He had more than enough tools at his disposal. ¡¯SSS-rank skills are not decorations,¡¯ he thought. With a sharp breath, Isaac activated Phantom Steps. Combined with his eighty points of Agility, he moved so fast that to the human eye, he was just a flickering shadow. Only Godric could track his movements. Isaac tapped his soulbound pendant. Tirra, the ghostly bird, emerged in a flash of soft light. He gave her a simple order through the mental connection she established. ¡¯Get to the sky. Locate every assassin.¡¯ ¡¯Yes, boss!¡¯ Tirra soared upward without hesitation. Below, Godric tried to rush him, but Isaac was ready. From his spatial ring, Isaac unleashed the Deathwood Guardian Scarecrow. With a thundering crash, the scarecrow landed and immediately engaged Godric. The clash between them sent shockwaves through the broken ground. Each strike of Godric¡¯s fists was met by the scarecrow¡¯s thick, stretchy wooden arms. The noise made one think that metals swords were clashing. Just as Isaac was catching his breath, he felt an intense heat rushing toward him. Above him, a massive fireball blazed through the air. A Champion-ranked mage was targeting him. ¡¯Of course there¡¯s another one,¡¯ Isaac thought calmly. He didn¡¯t move. Instead, Tyr, who had been clinging to Isaac¡¯s shoulder, leapt down. The small creature grew, rapidly expanding into a ten-foot-tall tree-like warrior. Roots coiled around his limbs, and flames licked his bark. With a roar, Tyr smashed the ground with his foot, using Verdant Forge (S rank skill) to conjure a thick shield of reinforced wood. The fireball slammed into Tyr¡¯s shield. The explosion shook the earth, scattering debris and ash. When the flames cleared, Tyr was still standing. Burn marks marred his body, but he remained mostly unharmed. The Champion mage¡¯s expression shifted in shock. Through their mental link created by Tirra that connected all of them, Isaac ordered quickly. ¡¯Tyr, use Flamewreath skill, and counterattack now!¡¯ Tyr roared. He manipulated the fire still clinging on him using the Flamewreath (S rank skill), and used them to form dozens of burning wooden pellets. He launched them toward the Champion rank mage. The mage tried to dodge, weaving between the burning projectiles. But Isaac wasn¡¯t about to let him escape so easily. Roots, summoned from beneath the ground, whipped out at the mage¡¯s legs. The mage stumbled slightly, but it was just enough. Tyr activated another skill, Feral Bloom (S rank), and surged forward, closing the distance in a flash. Even a powerful mage would crumble under close-quarters combat. And Tyr, who could already overpower Master-ranked warriors, was a nightmare in melee. While Tyr kept the mage busy, Isaac stayed invisible, listening intently. ¡¯Tirra, report,¡¯ he sent through the link. Tirra¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. ¡¯Five assassins hidden inside the eastern wall. Three hiding behind the left rubble pile. Two on the second floor of the warehouse. And... one Champion-ranked assassin moving to the basement.¡¯ ¡¯Basement,¡¯ Isaac thought sharply. ¡¯Selene must be there.¡¯ There was no hesitation in his eyes. He sprinted toward the warehouse ruins. On his way, he planted the poison flower seeds with his roots. Mana flared around him. His Demonic Eyes activated, allowing him to see the mana threads hidden in the air. He located traps, tripwires, concealed spells. He weaved through them effortlessly, moving with terrifying precision, his speed boosted by Phantom Steps. As he ran, assassins spotted him. They unleashed arrows, daggers, small bolts of magic. Isaac didn¡¯t slow down. He dodged the attacks with pure agility. Unless the attacks came from Champion rank awakeners, they couldn¡¯t even get close to him. He activated Spectral Claws skill. Long talon-like extensions of his mana formed over his hands. Each time an assassin jumped at him, Isaac flickered through the air like a ghost and sliced through them without mercy. Blood spilled onto the dusty ground, but Isaac barely reacted. To him, this was a race against time. Tirra guided him from above, warning him when hidden enemies aimed their attacks. ¡¯Left wall. Third assassin preparing to shoot,¡¯ she whispered into his mind. Isaac twitched sideways without looking and dodged an incoming arrow, retaliating instantly with a mana spike that impaled the attacker. The warehouse¡¯s interior was a maze of broken walls and unstable debris. But Isaac moved like a wraith, slipping through narrow gaps, climbing over fallen beams without slowing. More assassins emerged from hiding, but they were nothing. Isaac¡¯s training, his SSS-rank skills, and his relentless focus made him unstoppable. Another barrage of arrows came. Isaac blurred forward, slipping through them. An assassin lunged at him with dual daggers coated in venom. Isaac caught the man¡¯s wrist mid-strike, twisted it until it snapped, and plunged his spectral claws into the assassin¡¯s throat. Another fell. Another followed. He was cutting through them like a war god descending onto a battlefield. He saw the stairs to the basement. Isaac didn¡¯t slow down. He summoned his roots with Sovereign of Land, and used them to destroy the remaining barrier. More roots appeared around him, grabbing assassin attacking him from behind and they choked assassins to death. While the roots could only grab and pull, it was more than enough to make them unstoppable given their numbers and strength. Isaac descended through the staircase. Darkness awaited him below, but Isaac¡¯s Demonic Eyes lit the path. At the bottom of the stairs, a heavy iron door blocked the way. Isaac cleaved it using Spectral Claws. Unless the door was enchanted with highest degree of barrier, it couldn¡¯t stop an SSS rank attack skill. The door fell inward. Isaac stepped into the room beyond. There, tied to a chair, looking pale and disoriented, was Selene. Beside her stood a Champion-ranked assassin, blades drawn, sensing the fight had finally come to him. Chapter 79: Champion rank Assassin Chapter 79: Champion rank Assassin Selene POV Several Hours Ago After Godric left, Selene¡¯s eyelids began to droop. She lost control over her limbs again. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t speak, or hear. Panic began to rise slowly inside her chest. ¡¯What is happening to me?¡¯ ¡¯The poison¡¯s effect should have disappeared!¡¯ Unknown to her, the poison gas was being release into the room to make her afraid. Time blurred. She didn¡¯t know if hours or minutes passed. She felt trapped inside her own body, sinking deeper into helplessness. Eventually, her vision returned little by little. She realized she was still seated in a chair. Her body was limp, and her throat was dry. The door creaked open. An assassin entered the room. His steps were quiet. He approached her and pressed a cold dagger against her throat. Selene froze, her heart hammering violently. She thought this would be the end. Then, a sudden crash shook the entire room. The door was kicked open with brutal force, and Selene flinched. Isaac stood at the entrance, bloodied. His body was covered in dust and crimson stains. Selene¡¯s breath caught in her throat. ¡¯W-why is he here?¡¯ Confusion appeared in her mind, along with an inexplicable relief that came from finally seeing a familiar face. "You move one step," the assassin hissed, "and she dies. Don¡¯t even think about pretending you don¡¯t care. If you didn¡¯t, you wouldn¡¯t have rushed here like this." Selene trembled. ¡¯He... rushed here for me?¡¯ Isaac didn¡¯t even glance at the assassin. His gaze was fixed on her, steady and reassuring. "You don¡¯t need to be afraid anymore," he said simply. "I¡¯m here. I¡¯ll protect you." The assassin clicked his tongue and tightened his grip on Selene¡¯s hair. "What the hell are you¡ª" Before he could finish, Isaac gave a mental order. ¡¯Tyr, do it.¡¯ Above them, on the ground floor, Tyr heard the command and activated Pulse Bark (SS rank), his strongest skill. The skill allowed him to release a powerful shockwave with an impact. Tyr punched downwards, and the ground broke. The basement room¡¯s ceiling cracked apart. Chunks of debris rained down. The assassin¡¯s eyes widened and focus faltered for an instant. Isaac bolted forward. Phantom Steps activated under his feet, making him blur. A thick root shot out from the broken wall and yanked the assassin backward at the same time. Isaac threw himself over Selene without hesitation, shielding her from the collapsing ceiling. Selene squeezed her eyes shut as heavy impacts sounded around her. Dust choked the air. A beat later, something warm and wet splashed her cheek. When she opened her eyes, she saw Isaac holding her tightly, his body shaking slightly. Blood was dripping from his arms and onto her. "Y-you... you¡¯re hurt." "Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not my blood." Selene didn¡¯t believe him. She could see the trembling in his muscles. The way he gritted his teeth. Before she could speak again, Isaac grabbed her and rolled them away. A dagger stabbed into the spot they had just been. The assassin was still alive. His gear was strong enough to resist the earlier collapse. Isaac quickly set Selene down and kept her behind him. "Can you move?" he asked, keeping his eyes on the enemy. Selene shook her head, guilt washing over her. "I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m being a burden¡ª" "You¡¯re not," Isaac said, cutting her off. "You¡¯ve survived until now. That¡¯s more than enough. Let me handle the rest." The assassin didn¡¯t hesitate any longer. He charged forward. Isaac summoned a massive wall of roots to intercept him, blocking the path between them. It brought a few precious seconds of breathing space. Just then, Tirra¡¯s voice brushed against Isaac¡¯s mind. ¡¯Boss, Tyr is worried. He thinks he hurt you.¡¯ Isaac chuckled under his breath. ¡¯Tell him I¡¯m fine. If he wants to help, hold off the Champion rank mage for me.¡¯ One¡¯s rank affected the strength of their Title. Isaac was only Initiate, and Formlock didn¡¯t make him invincible. But it was more than enough to tank falling rubble. A moment passed, and Tirra¡¯s voice came again. ¡¯He said okay, Boss!¡¯ Isaac nodded to himself. He could hear distant crashes and roars as Tyr and the Deathwood Guardian continued battling outside. Inside the ruined building, he had to focus. Selene¡¯s safety came first. The wall of roots shuddered as the assassin hacked away at it. Daggers shot through small gaps, aiming straight for Selene. Isaac reacted instantly. More roots sprang from the ground, catching several daggers mid-air. But one slipped through. A dagger wrapped in dark mana whistled toward Selene. Isaac gritted his teeth and threw himself in the path. The dagger pierced through his hand, blood spurting out the other side. Selene gasped and reached out instinctively, but her fingers stopped mid-air. Watching him get more and more injured stabbed daggers of guilt into her heart. She knew she should be ashamed. Being saved by the very person she had treated as an enemy... it should have filled her with shame. But instead, all she felt was a heavy, painful gratitude. The assassin didn¡¯t press the attack immediately. Isaac realized something was wrong. His instincts screamed a warning. Looking at his hand, he saw green veins creeping along his skin. ¡¯Poison.¡¯ A numbing, burning sensation spread through his arm and chest. It felt like the poison was melting him from inside out. He clenched his jaw, keeping his body steady. Of course the assassin had aimed for this. The attacks toward Selene earlier had all been distractions. His real goal had been Isaac. But Isaac wasn¡¯t surprised. He had accounted for this possibility. He activated ¡¯Life Drain¡¯ without hesitation. A dark mist swirled around him and latched onto the assassin. Instantly, vitality was sucked from the assassin¡¯s body, and Isaac¡¯s injuries began to patch up. It wasn¡¯t a full cure¡ªthe poison was still inside him¡ªbut it gave him time. The assassin staggered as his limbs trembled. His vision blurred. He realized what was happening. Life Drain skill. A high-rank one! The assassin didn¡¯t waste time questioning how a human kid could use the ability belonging to spectral entities. He dashed forward instead, desperate to kill Isaac before he lost too much life force. Their blades and claws clashed. Roots sprouted from the ground, whipping toward the assassin, while Isaac¡¯s spectral gauntlets smashed at his defenses. The assassin responded with a flurry of dagger strikes, moving so fast that Selene only saw blur of movements. Dozens of attacks were exchanged in each second. Whenever he couldn¡¯t get past Isaac, he threw daggers at Selene instead, trying to force Isaac to protect her and expose himself. But Isaac didn¡¯t fall for it again. Thick roots intercepted every attack aimed at Selene, forming barriers and shields in an instant. Selene watched, stunned. An Initiate was fighting a Champion rank assassin, and surviving. Isaac was jumping four ranks. It was unheard of. Selene felt awe and shame, but more than those feelings, another feeling, one she had never felt before but was just as strong, squeezed into her heart. Even now, Isaac was risking everything for her. The battle became increasingly dangerous. Isaac grunted when another dagger lodged into his side. Blood trickled down, staining his clothes even more. The assassin pressed harder. The assassin was faster, his attacks were sharper, and the poison was still circulating through Isaac¡¯s system, weakening Isaac bit by bit. Isaac was at a complete disadvantage. Isaac knew it too. He could feel his own movements slowing, even if only slightly. If this kept going, he would lose. But Isaac had no intention of losing. Suddenly, he staggered, making it look like he was about to fall. The assassin¡¯s eyes gleamed behind his mask. He surged forward, ready to finish it. But Isaac¡¯s hand was already moving. A white ¡¯orb¡¯ materialized in his palm. It pulsed softly. The assassin slowed down for just a second, sensing danger. He kept his eyes locked on the orb, trying to figure out what it would do. Was it an explosion? A shield? A teleportation spell? He didn¡¯t know. Isaac whispered under his breath. "Now." The orb, a summoned Wisp from Emily¡¯s Phantom Parade Level 4 skill, suddenly burst with light. Not soft light it gave at Level 1. But blinding, searing white light. The assassin shrieked and instinctively shielded his eyes, and quickly moved back. It was only a second-long gap in defense. But a second was all Isaac needed. He closed the distance instantly, Phantom Steps carrying him forward like a ghost. The spectral claws on his hand shimmered. He stabbed. The claws pierced through the assassin¡¯s exposed face, ripping through where the helmet and armor left a gap. Blood sprayed into the air. The assassin¡¯s body hit the ground, twitching once, then falling still. Isaac stood over him, breathing hard. He bent down, and searched for the antidote on the assassin, but didn¡¯t find it. ¡¯Dammit, why does this guy has no antidote!?¡¯ Isaac winced when he felt the pain. His injuries burned from the poison still inside him. He turned back to Selene. Selene was staring at him, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. "Can you move yet?" he asked, his voice rough. Selene hesitated, then slowly nodded. Her legs were shaky, but she pushed herself up. Isaac moved to support her immediately, careful not to hurt her. "You did good," he said. Selene bit her lip. Her heart was a mess of emotions. Gratitude. Shame. Relief. And something else she had never experienced. It was a warm, fuzzy feeling. "...Thank you," she whispered. Isaac gave a small nod. "Let¡¯s get out of here." He helped her limp toward the ruined exit. The roots blocking the path moved away with a single thought, and the two returned to the ground floor. Chapter 80: Leora’s Anger Chapter 80: Leora¡¯s Anger Tirra¡¯s voice rang in his mind. ¡¯Boss, the mage was killed by Tyr after Deathwood Guardian weakened him!¡¯ Isaac relaxed a little at that. Their team was winning. Still, he didn¡¯t lower his guard. He was short on time. As Isaac and Selene climbed out of the basement, the sight that greeted them was a battlefield. The entire warehouse and the surrounding structures were crushed into rubble. Deep craters littered the ground, and the air shimmered from the lingering heat. The late Champion rank mage¡¯s attacks, combined with Tyr manipulating the flames, had burned away almost all the corpses. Only ashes and blackened stones remained. In the center of the devastation stood Godric. He was barely recognizable now. His clothes were torn to rags. His body was covered in bleeding cuts, bruises, and burns. One of his eyes had exploded, leaving a sunken mess on his face. Yet, he hadn¡¯t fallen. Somehow, through sheer willpower, Godric remained standing. He used the pain from his injuries to stay conscious, forcing his mind to ignore the hallucinations and fear that the poison flowers spread around the area. Isaac watched him carefully, his body tense. ¡¯He¡¯s holding on by a thread... but it¡¯s still enough to be dangerous.¡¯ Isaac didn¡¯t have time to waste. His own body was still poisoned, and his stamina was slipping. He clenched his fists and increased the power of Sovereign of Land. The land drained Godric¡¯s remaining stamina faster. Godric staggered and fell to one knee, gasping for breath. He stabbed his sword into the ground to keep from collapsing completely. "I am Godric!" he roared, blood dripping from his mouth. "The sin born out of this city¡¯s corrupt system! I will not fall here!" The aura around him darkened. It wasn¡¯t normal battle aura anymore. It was twisted and violent, born from sheer hatred. His body shivered as the aura wrapped around him, distorting his figure. "Unless I right the wrong¡ª" Godric shouted, the ground cracking under his feet, "¡ªI refuse to fall!" He pushed off the ground and dashed toward Isaac. He moved far faster than he should have in his condition. Deathwood Guardian swung to intercept, but he was a beat too late. Godric was already halfway across the battlefield, closing in on Isaac. Isaac didn¡¯t flinch. He wasn¡¯t even looking at Godric. Instead, his gaze was fixed on something else. Behind Godric, a crack split the air. And through that crack, Leora stepped into the ruined battlefield. At her feet lay the corpse of Vespara. The woman¡¯s body was mangled. Her snake-like hair was severed and oozed dark blood. Her face was frozen in a look of horror, as if she¡¯d seen something truly terrifying before she died. Leora¡¯s eyes locked onto Isaac¡¯s. Her sword hung casually by her side. "You are injured. Why didn¡¯t you use the switch I gave you?" she asked, her voice calm despite the imminent danger of Godric. Godric didn¡¯t even have time to turn his head. Leora¡¯s sword blurred in her hand. The next moment, Godric¡¯s charging body froze mid-step. A thin red line appeared across his chest. His mouth opened as if to say something. But nothing came out. Then, slowly, his body split cleanly into two. He collapsed onto the scorched ground, lifeless. "I asked you something," Leora said. She looked angry. Angry that despite her trusting Isaac he wouldn¡¯t do anything reckless, he had put himself in mortal danger. If anything happed to him, Emily would¡¯ve been broken. Leora didn¡¯t want to see the child lose someone close to her heart again. "I figured that," he said, smiling as he tried to appease Leora. "you had it under control¡ª cough! cough!" He coughed blood uncontrollably. His eyelids began to fall, and he could barely stand straight. Still, he was smiling a cheeky smile, as if he couldn¡¯t feel pain, as if he was hoping Leora would put away her anger. "You should still have used the switch. It¡¯s there for emergencies, not decoration." She sighed. She looked at Selene. "Make him lie down." Selene did as she was asked. Her grip on his arm remained tight, as if afraid he might disappear if she let go. Leora¡¯s sharp eyes caught the movement, but she didn¡¯t comment on it. Selene¡¯s voice trembled. "C-can he be saved?" she asked, almost desperate. She wasn¡¯t even looking at her own wounds anymore. How could she, when the person who had saved her was lying there, barely conscious? Leora knelt down beside Isaac, checking the inside of his mouth and the color of his eyes. Her frown deepened. "This isn¡¯t a poison I¡¯ve seen before," she muttered. "It¡¯s melting his muscles from the inside." Selene¡¯s heart froze. "But... but Isaac fought an assassin," she stammered. "He was still standing..." Leora shook her head. "He has high stats," Leora explained. "He can keep moving as long as he ignores the pain. It¡¯s hard, but not impossible." Leora stood up and walked away, scanning the wreckage for anything useful. Tyr remained crouched close to Isaac. The treant somehow looked he would cry if Isaac didn¡¯t say anything soon. The Deathwood Guardian Scarecrow stood in standby mode. Somewhere nearby, Tirra had hidden herself, just as Isaac had instructed before the battle started. Selene stayed kneeling beside him. Her arms were trembling as she clutched Isaac¡¯s bloodied hand. His skin was cold, and his breathing was shallow. That unknown warmth she had felt when he first saved her ¡ª the feeling didn¡¯t know name of ¡ª now felt like a bucket of cold water poured over her heart. The thought of him dying twisted her insides painfully. She bit her lip so hard it almost bled. Leora returned, dragging Vespara¡¯s corpse with her. In her other hand, she held a small vial taken from Godric¡¯s body. She tossed it to Selene. "Drink it," Leora ordered. "You¡¯re poisoned too. It¡¯s probably a variant of fear poison." Selene nodded and obeyed immediately. The liquid was bitter and burned as it slid down her throat, but she didn¡¯t complain. After making sure Selene was stable, Leora knelt beside Vespara¡¯s body. Without hesitation, she grabbed one of the remaining snake-head appendages growing from Vespara¡¯s scalp and sliced it off. Selene watched, horrified, as Leora dug into the fleshy remains and pulled out a small hidden pouch filled with an unknown, shimmering liquid. Selene¡¯s voice shook. "W-what are you doing?" Leora didn¡¯t even glance at her. "The poison in Isaac¡¯s body is unknown," she said. "It¡¯s probably a personalized creation by this naga demihuman." Leora tore open the pouch and poured the liquid into a small cup she conjured from her storage ring. "Her hair naturally produces an antidote for her own poisons," Leora explained. "This is the only way to neutralize it." Without any ceremony, she forced Isaac to drink the liquid. For a few long moments, nothing happened. Selene squeezed Isaac¡¯s hand harder, praying. Then, finally, Isaac¡¯s body jerked slightly. A weak cough escaped his lips, and his eyelids fluttered open. Relief hit Selene so hard she nearly collapsed. Leora squinted her eyes. "This wouldn¡¯t have happened if you had used the defensive artifact I gave you," she snapped, though her voice held a mix of scolding and relief. "But no¡ªkids these days think they need to put their life on the line to grow stronger. Nonsense!" Isaac chuckled weakly. "Kids?" he said, grinning. "Aren¡¯t you my age too?" Leora froze. There was an awkward pause. Then, without a word, she turned on her heel and stalked off toward the ruins, muttering something under her breath about calling reinforcements and checking for any remaining assassins. Isaac smiled to himself and turned his head to look at Selene. She was still holding his hand, her grip trembling slightly. Their eyes met. Neither spoke for a moment. Selene bit her lip, struggling with her emotions. "I... Thank you for saving me, and...." "You don¡¯t need to say anything," he said, feeling the tremors from her hand as he squeezed back gently. "You¡¯re safe now. That¡¯s enough." He intented to maintain his warm tone only until he brought her back to Alice. After that, he had no intention of even looking at her. She might regret her actions now, but it wouldn¡¯t change the bullying she had put Alice through. Selene, unaware of his cold gaze, stared at his hands. She kept holding them, and felt a rush of warm emotions. Tyr, ignoring Selene, jumped into Isaac¡¯s embrace in his miniature form. Isaac patted his back, calming him down. "It¡¯s okay, Tyr," Isaac said softly. "I¡¯m fine." Tyr¡¯s branches slowly relaxed, but he didn¡¯t let go immediately. Isaac let him be for a while. After all, Tyr had fought hard today. When Tyr finally pulled back, Isaac smiled and turned his attention to Tirra. He spoke through their mental link, ¡¯Tirra, from today, you¡¯ll live in the ruins. It¡¯s better than keeping you trapped inside the Soulbind Pendant.¡¯ Tirra, who had been hiding in a far-away building, chirped in surprise. ¡¯I¡¯ll come to meet you as often as I can,¡¯ Isaac added. The small ghost bird¡¯s voice rang out brightly in his mind. ¡¯Thank you, Boss! Tirra loves you!¡¯ Isaac chuckled softly. Inside the Soulbind Pendant, Tirra had a safe but cramped space. Even though she never complained, Isaac had seen how happy she was when he let her out today. Letting her live freely here was the least he could do. ¡¯Now,¡¯ Isaac said, ¡¯you must have reached Level 10 after the last battle, since all the experience from the enemies went to you and Tyr due to the party. Tell me what items you need for your evolution, and I¡¯ll bring them.¡¯ Tirra chirped excitedly. ¡¯Yes, yes! Tirra is about to evolve! Tirra can¡¯t wait!¡¯ she said, spinning in the air. Isaac smiled at her excitement. Tirra quickly listed the items she needed: Fragment of Phantom Root, Spirit Nectar, Nightbloom Feather, Core of a Lesser Wraith ¡¯Tirra will evolve into a Nightshade Wisp!¡¯ she announced proudly. Isaac memorized the list carefully. He would start gathering the materials as soon as possible. An evolved Tirra would be even more useful, and more importantly, she would be happier too. After Tirra flew off into the nearby ruins to find a place to settle, Isaac turned his attention back to Tyr. He intended to ask him about his own evolution conditions. Tyr had hit Level 20 after all. But when Isaac looked at him, he realized Tyr was still emotionally overwhelmed. The big ¨C small ¨C guy wasn¡¯t ready for a conversation yet. Isaac just kept patting his back slowly, giving him the time he needed. Minutes passed. Finally, the other groups from the rescue teams arrived at their location. Kael was the first to rush over. "Hey! Is it true you defeated a Champion rank?!" Kael shouted, practically bouncing on his feet. "Your maid said so, but... come on, there¡¯s no way that¡¯s true, right?" Isaac, still sitting against the side of a ruined wall, just smiled faintly. He didn¡¯t answer. Behind Kael, Leora¡¯s eyebrow twitched dangerously. Kael, blissfully unaware, continued to babble. "I mean, you¡¯re strong, sure, but a Champion rank? That¡¯s crazy! Even SSS rank awakeners have trouble jumping three ranks, let alone jumping four ranks like you!" Before Kael could say anything more embarrassing, Nero stepped in. "Let him rest," Nero said flatly. "Can¡¯t you see he¡¯s exhausted?" Kael finally noticed the bloodstains on Isaac¡¯s clothes and the way Tyr was hovering protectively beside him. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly and muttered, "Ah... right, sorry." Isaac didn¡¯t mind. He appreciated Nero stepping in, though. He scanned the group casually. Everyone looked at him in apprehension, and fear. Isaac understood that was normal. No one would believe if they were told an Initiate rank awakener defeated three Champion rank awakeners. But tomorrow, when General Magus would support his claim after learning everything from Leora, they would have no choice but to believe him. Isaac suddenly noticed something. Celia had a different expression from others. The idol was standing near the back of the group. Her eyes were twinkling as she looked at him. For a brief moment, Isaac blinked. She looked almost... starstruck. Chapter 81: Hospital Visit Chapter 81: Hospital Visit Soon, a series of military jeeps arrived at the scene, kicking up dust and ash from the ruined ground. The stronghold had sent reinforcements and transport. General Magnus himself came over, giving a quick look at the situation. When he saw Isaac, he nodded once, a rare look of approval crossing his usually stern face. "You did good," the General said simply. Isaac managed a tired salute in response. Magnus turned to the others and barked out orders. "Load up. We¡¯re heading back." Everyone moved quickly. Isaac was helped into one of the jeeps by Nero, who gave him a firm pat on the back before jumping into the front seat. Tyr sat on Isaac¡¯s shoulder. The Deathwood Guardian was stored back into Isaac¡¯s spatial ring. Selene quietly sat beside Isaac, still pale, and shaken. The engines roared to life, and the convoy rumbled back toward the stronghold. Isaac leaned back into his seat, feeling every ache in his body. Tyr leaned close, as if trying to shield him from any sudden bumps. At some point, Celia rode past their jeep in another vehicle. She waved at Isaac with an enthusiastic smile. Isaac gave a small nod back, unable to understand why she was quite believing of his claim of defeating champion rank awakeners. The jeeps rolled into the stronghold. As they stopped, people began splitting up quickly, some returning to their dorms, others heading toward their assigned stations. Isaac, Leora, and Selene, however, didn¡¯t follow the crowd. They moved straight toward the medical ward building. Selene and Isaac needed to get checked properly. No risks could be taken after what they had been through. As soon as they entered, Isaac barely had time to take a step when Emily ran toward him at full speed. She dove into his arms without hesitation. He caught her automatically, feeling her small body shaking slightly as she clung to him. She was almost on the verge of tears. The notifications started flashing in front of his eyes. +2 AP +2.5 AP +3.5 AP +3.1 AP +3 AP +3.2 AP The AP messages kept raining. Isaac blinked, surprised. The numbers were staggering. It told him just how much she had worried for him while he was gone, and how happy she was to see him back safe. While she hugged him tightly, Emily finally noticed the injuries on his body. She froze in his arms. Her head slowly turned to look up at him. Her eyes, usually bright and warm, were now hollow. Her expression grew terrifyingly cold. "Who harmed you?" she asked, her tone chilling. Biting coldness poured out from her small frame. Isaac pulled her back into a hug without answering immediately. "I already finished the person who harmed me," he said softly. Emily, slightly stunned by his embrace, looked up at him again. "So he¡¯s dead?" "Yes." Slowly, the terrifying coldness began to fade from her. The warmth returned to her eyes as she sagged against him again, holding onto his shirt tightly. While Isaac comforted Emily, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Alice and Selene were facing each other silently. After a few moments of heavy silence, Alice spoke first. "I¡¯m happy that you¡¯re back," she said quietly. Selene, already crying, nodded weakly. "Thank you..." she said, but her voice was hoarse, and it was clear to Isaac that she was struggling to put her emotions into words. It would take time. Alice turned to Isaac after that, her gaze soft but complex. "I¡¯m...thank you," she said, her eyes reflecting emotions she probably didn¡¯t fully understand herself yet. Professor Catherine clapped her hands together lightly, cutting into the heavy atmosphere. "Alright, enough for now. Isaac, Selene¡ªyou two need to get checked immediately. We need to make sure you weren¡¯t afflicted by a curse, permanent poison, or something else entirely." She then added, glancing at Isaac, "Since it¡¯s already late, we¡¯ll go back now. You won¡¯t have classes tomorrow. Just have your check up and rest." Alice quickly said, "I¡¯ll stay with Selene." Emily stepped forward too. "I will too¡ª" Before she could finish, Professor Catherine interrupted her. "Emily, we talked about this earlier. You trained for hours today, then sat at the shop all day. You¡¯re exhausted. You need to come home with us and rest." A small "Oh..." escaped Emily¡¯s lips. She looked between Isaac and Alice. Alice blinked, confused at Emily¡¯s gaze. But Isaac understood. Emily hesitated for a moment before smiling brightly and rushing over to Alice, grabbing her hand. "Alice," she said seriously, "I¡¯m worried about Isaac, so please look after him while you take care of Selene too." "H-Huh?" Alice blinked, startled. "But¡ª" Emily cut her off quickly. "It¡¯s fine if it¡¯s you. I know you¡¯ll take care of Isaac." Before Alice could say anything else, Emily followed Professor Catherine toward the exit. Leora left with them. As the three disappeared, the medical staff separated Isaac and Selene into different rooms for their full body examinations. Isaac caught Selene¡¯s lingering gaze as they parted. But he ignored it. Inside his private room, the healers and doctors worked quickly. Magic and technology combined for rapid scans and tests. Alice came to check on him several times, alternating between his room and Selene¡¯s. She didn¡¯t say much when she visited, just stood near his bed, quietly watching him, making sure he was still breathing properly. Hours passed like that. It was around midnight when Isaac¡¯s final checkup ended. Left alone in the room, he finally pulled up his AP balance. AP Balance: 430.061 ¡ú 790.456 Isaac let out a low whistle. From 430 to 790 in less than a day. He had gained roughly 360 AP in 18 hours. It was a new record! ¡¯Out of the 360, about 260 came from passive AP gained through Emily. The remaining 100 came from when we met outside the medical ward.¡¯ 790 AP. Only 210 more, and he could finally afford the Sun-type Tier 1 Genetic Crystal. He clenched his fists tightly in excitement. Almost there. The prize was so close. After a minute, he stood up and left the room. The guard stationed outside didn¡¯t stop him. Instead, he gave a respectful nod and said, "You can move around the medical ward. Lady Catherine has given permission. But please don¡¯t leave the building." Isaac nodded. "Thanks." Before walking away, he asked, "Which room is Selene in?" The guard gave him directions, and Isaac made his way there. As he peeked inside, he didn¡¯t see Alice. Only Selene was resting quietly on the bed. He smiled faintly. He knew exactly where Alice would be. Without hesitation, he climbed up to the rooftop. The moment he stepped outside, a soft breeze brushed past him. The rooftop was mostly empty, and standing near the railing was the familiar figure he had been looking for. Alice. She turned at the sound of his footsteps, clearly surprised to see him. Isaac smiled and walked over without saying anything. He stood next to her, both of them staring out into the distance. The night was quiet. There was no moon in this world. Instead, far away, a gigantic pillar of light rose into the sky, casting a gentle illumination over everything. It wasn¡¯t bright, but it was enough to give the night a calm, almost solemn feeling. For a while, neither of them spoke. Finally, Alice broke the silence. Her voice was soft but strained. "Why did you do that?" she asked. "Why did you put yourself in so much danger? You had multiple dagger wounds... you were poisoned..." She clenched her fists. "What if you¡ª" "I did it for you," Isaac said simply, cutting her off. He turned to her. She was already looking at him, her eyes glistening under the faint light. Their gazes met and locked. "I did it because you wanted Selene back safely." He smiled again, a small, steady smile. "I like you, Alice. No..." He paused. "I love you." Alice froze. Isaac¡¯s voice stayed calm, but firm. "I want to see you happy, not crying. If a few injuries are enough to erase your sadness, then I¡¯ll bear them with a smile." Alice looked stunned, unable to respond. Isaac stepped closer. Her back lightly touched the railing. There was no retreat now. "Yes," he said. "I¡¯m proposing to you." Alice¡¯s lips parted slightly, but no words came out. "I love you," Isaac said again, slower this time. "I don¡¯t know when it started. Maybe back when we first met in the academy. Maybe it happened months later. All I know is that I loved you then, and I still love you now." He gently took her hand in his. "I want to spend my life with you. I want to be with you when you are sad, I want to be with you when you are happy. I want to spend my time with you until we grow old, and I want to spend my last days smiling with you. So...." He looked her in the eye. "What about you?" Alice¡¯s shoulders trembled. She tried to speak, but her voice broke. After a few seconds, she finally managed to say something. "Yes..." she whispered. She nodded, her face flushed and her eyes filling with tears that she didn¡¯t bother to hide. "Yes... I love you too." Isaac smiled, relieved, and leaned in. Their lips met. It wasn¡¯t a fiery kiss or something rushed. It was steady, gentle, and filled with everything they couldn¡¯t put into words. Alice clutched the front of his shirt tightly, as if grounding herself. Chapter 82: Second Wife, Melting Into Each Other Chapter 82: Second Wife, Melting Into Each Other When they finally pulled apart, Alice looked embarrassed. She punched Isaac lightly on the chest. "Idiot..." she muttered, cheeks red. "You should¡¯ve said it earlier." Isaac chuckled. "I was waiting for the right moment." She looked away, but didn¡¯t move from his arms. After a while, their eyes met again. Without saying anything, Isaac leaned in, and she rose to meet him. Their lips pressed together in a kiss that burned with sudden intensity. This kiss was fiercer, more urgent than before. Isaac¡¯s tongue grazed her lips, seeking more, and Alice parted them willingly, letting him in. Their tongues met, warm and slick, moving together in a way that sent a rush through them both. He tasted her¡ªa faint sweetness mixed with the heat of the moment¡ªand his hands slid to her waist, pulling her in. Her body pressed into his, large curves against his frame, and he could feel her pulse quickening. His hand slipped under her shirt to touch the warm skin of her lower back. Her hips shifted slightly, brushing against him, and Isaac felt a surge of desire. They broke apart at last, both panting. Their foreheads touched. A thin strand of saliva stretched between their lips before breaking. Alice¡¯s eyes were wide, her face flushed, and her breaths were uneven. She blinked, as if coming back to herself, and her legs pressed together. She placed a hand on his chest, pushing gently. "Isaac," she said, her voice trembling. "You need to rest. Your injuries... Kyaaa!" Her words trailed off with a startled yelp as Isaac lifted her into a princess carry. She could feel his steady and strong arms. Her hands grabbed his shoulders, but she didn¡¯t struggle. He grinned down at her. "Too late to back out now, my mad princess." "I told you to not call me that." Alice shot back, but her gaze was playful. Isaac laughed. He took a quick peek at his system. [Bonded Blessings System activated.] [Marriage Contract formed with Alice Calloway, the ???.] [Please note, unless Alice Calloway¡¯s rating reaches 95, she cannot share anything to you.] +3.0 AP +3.2 AP +3.1 AP +3.5 AP Isaac could feel a bond between himself and Alice. It confirmed that the system bonded him with his wives. With a thought, he activated the soulbind pendant, and the world shifted. They appeared in the master bedroom of its subspace. It was a large, tidy room with a wide, inviting bed and plain furnishings. The windows showed a calm, starless night outside. Alice blinked, taking in the unfamiliar space as Isaac gently set her down on the soft mattress of the bed. "Where is this?" she asked, sitting up slightly. "A subspace in an item I own," Isaac said, settling beside her. "What?" Alice frowned, looking around. "But living beings can¡¯t¡ª" He leaned in, silencing her with a kiss. It caught her off guard. She stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, her hands resting on his arms as she kissed him back. The kiss grew deeper, and a warmth spread through her. Isaac eased her back onto the bed, their lips still locked, and she went willingly, her head sinking into the pillow as he leaned over her. The kiss sent a spark through her, and her breaths quickened, bringing back the heat from before. Isaac¡¯s hand slipped under her shirt. His fingers grazed the smooth skin of her stomach. A shiver ran through Alice, and she suddenly grabbed his hand. "Aren¡¯t we going too fast?" she protested, panting, but her eyes were filled with a lust. "Maybe we should wait." She didn¡¯t sound convincing even to herself. But Isaac respected her words. "If you tell me to stop, I will." Alice looked at him. The heat in his eyes, the clear want, sent a different kind of warmth through her¡ªa feeling that made her heart swell. Seeing how much he desired her, how much he cared, stirred something deep. She wanted to kiss him again, to hold him, to let herself fall into the moment completely. Her body hummed with need. Her thoughts flickered to what would come next, tempting her. After a moment, she whispered, "...No, don¡¯t stop." She let go of his hand, surrendering herself to him. Isaac¡¯s lips found hers again. The kiss was slower but no less intense. His hand moved, caressing her side, tracing the curve of her waist with a slow touch. He took his time, his fingers exploring her skin, and Alice felt a mix of frustration and anticipation. Was he teasing her on purpose, drawing it out? Or was her own need making every second feel agonizingly slow? Either way, his careful pace stirred her more, each touch igniting her senses. His hand slid higher, brushing the edge of her bra before cupping her breast. A soft gasp escaped her lips, and her back arched slightly at the sensation. Her breasts were different from Emily¡¯s. While Emily¡¯s were soft and inviting, Alice¡¯s were larger, and firm. He couldn¡¯t even hold them fully with his hands. Still, they didn¡¯t droop, and maintained their perfect shape. He squeezed gently, feeling her respond with a quiet moan. His thumb brushed over the fabric, teasing, and she pressed closer, her hands gripping his shirt as the kiss grew hungrier. Isaac¡¯s other hand stayed at her waist, holding her steady as their lips moved together, tongues still tangled in a warm, slippery dance. Her breaths came faster, each one a soft pant against his mouth, and he could feel her body trembling under his touch. The heat between them built, and Alice¡¯s fingers tightened, pulling him closer as if she couldn¡¯t get enough. She was caught between wanting to savor every second and wanting more. But Isaac didn¡¯t rush. He caressed her, waiting for her body to relax. Alice had always imagined her first time to be with him. She thought it would be quick and clumsy, but this was different. His patience, the way he seemed to cherish every moment, made her feel seen, loved in a way she hadn¡¯t expected. It was better than anything she¡¯d dreamed, and the thought sent a fresh wave of warmth through her, mixing with the desire that pulsed in her veins. Their kiss broke for a moment, both of them breathing heavily. Alice¡¯s eyes were half-lidded, and she looked at him with a mix of shyness and lust. "Isaac," she said, her voice barely a whisper, as if saying his name grounded her. He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You okay?" She nodded, her hand still clutching his shirt. "Yeah," she said, her voice soft but sure. "More..." Isaac captured her lips again. He kissed her jaw, then her neck. His lips brushed the sensitive spot just below her ear, and she tilted her head, giving him better access. Her hands gripped his shoulders harder, nails pressing into his skin, and she whispered his name again, the sound sending a jolt through him as he returned to her lips. Both of them melted into each other. Alice arched into him, her body pressing closer, and he slid his other hand from her hip to the small of her back, pulling her tighter against him. She broke the kiss briefly, panting. Her eyes locked onto his, and she shifted beneath him, her legs parting slightly as if inviting more. Chapter 83: Tier 1 Sun Dragon-type Genetic Catalyst – Purchased Chapter 83: Tier 1 Sun Dragon-type Genetic Catalyst ¨C Purchased Vespara POV Vespara moved swiftly. Her green snake form slithered through the ruins at an incredible speed. "Thank the Great Naga I survived..." she muttered internally, her tongue flicking the air. That sword¡ªLeora¡¯s sword¡ªhad almost taken her life. If not for the life-saving treasure hidden in one of her snake heads, she would have died right there. A fragment of a spatial core, meant for one use only, had saved her at the last second by activating a substitution technique the moment her life force dipped below critical. Her real body had been dragged away before death claimed it. "I need to return," she hissed softly as her body darted forward again. She had to report back immediately. "Eleanor Weiss... She¡¯s dangerous. Far more dangerous than we thought. If she¡ª" Her thoughts came to an abrupt stop. There was a swift sound followed by pain. A long, gleaming sword came down like a flash of light and stabbed through her tail, pinning her violently to the cracked stone ground. Her movement halted, her body writhed. The pain wasn¡¯t lethal, but it was enough to stop her from slithering further. Vespara hissed in panic, thrashing, trying to break free. Footsteps followed, and Catherine landed lightly a few meters away. Her expression was relaxed, but her eyes were cold. "Well," Catherine said, "isn¡¯t this rare? Not many people manage to fool master¡¯s senses." She pulled the sword back slightly, only to press it down again¡ªjust enough to stop Vespara¡¯s struggling. "I suppose Isaac¡¯s injuries must have shaken her a little more than expected. That¡¯s the only reason you¡¯re even alive right now." Catherine smiled faintly. "I just came from outside the Akaza Ruin, by the way. It was a bit of trouble, but manageable." Her tone was casual. "I found your fellow naga demihumans while I was out there. A few were very helpful." Vespara¡¯s scales rippled. A chill ran through her spine. If Catherine went there, then she must¡¯ve seen ¡¯it¡¯. "No wonder you and your little assassin group were so desperate to keep the Sanctum locked inside the ruin. I never imagined something like that was located outside. But now... it all makes sense." A visible shiver passed through Vespara¡¯s snake-like body. Her slit pupils dilated. "You..." Vespara rasped, barely managing words in her half-shifted form. "You saw it?" Catherine didn¡¯t answer. She just watched. The horror on Vespara¡¯s face deepened. Her breathing became rapid, erratic. Everything had gone wrong. The plan, the traps, the distraction to isolate and kill Leora and Isaac¡ªit had all fallen apart. And now, Catherine had returned with the one piece of information they couldn¡¯t afford to lose. Vespara struggled again, her tail twitching violently under the sword pinning her down. Catherine¡¯s eyes glinted. "Don¡¯t bother." Then, with a simple movement, she shifted her grip, and swung her blade. Vespara¡¯s body stilled. he light in her eyes flickered out, and her head slumped against the ground. Catherine stood still for a moment. She looked down at the corpse with a smile, and licked her lips. "That was a nice expression she showed at the end." ... Isaac POV Isaac woke up late thanks to the exhaustion from yesterday. Recovering from the injuries took a lot out of him. He turned to the side, and noticed the bed beside him was cold. He blinked and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Alice?" There was no response. He glanced around and saw a folded note placed neatly on the table beside the bed. He picked it up. I¡¯m returning to home with Selene, and I will be back by evening. Love you. Alice Below the last line, there was a small scribble. Flip the paper. He flipped it. You snore when you sleep ¡ª followed by a cute drawing of a round face with one eye closed and tongue sticking out. Isaac smiled and shook his head. "This girl..." He stood, stretched, and made his way to the bathroom. After a quick shower, he returned dressed in simple clothes and towel-dried hair. His mind shifted to more important matters, and he pulled up his AP panel. AP Balance: 790.456 ¡ú 1278.82 "Damn..." He blinked, then quickly did the math. "So now I¡¯m gaining 0.01 AP per second while I used to get 0.004 before." That meant just from passive generation, he¡¯d gained almost 290 overnight. "The rest must¡¯ve come from last night with Alice." He leaned back slightly, still digesting the number. His total AP was 1278.82, and it was finally enough. He opened the shop interface and didn¡¯t hesitate. Tier 1 Sun Dragon-type Genetic Catalyst ¨C Purchased AP Balance: 1278.82 ¡ú 278.82 A golden orb materialized in his hand. It radiated a warm, golden glow, and its surface shimmered with tiny sparks of light that gave off a subtle hum. As he held it, a sense of vitality spread through his palm¡ªcalming and empowering at the same time. "This is it." He stared at it for a long second, the warmth pulsing gently in his grip. "With this... Alice can awaken." His excitement wasn¡¯t only for her. When she absorbed this, he would gain shared benefits and gain new bloodline, raised stat limits, and, hopefully, powerful dragon-themed skills. He stored the orb away safely. Then, he willed himself out of the Soulbind Pendant. His surroundings shifted, and a moment later, he was standing in a small room. At a table across the room, Professor Catherine sat with a pen in hand, working through a thick stack of documents. She looked up. "Oh," she said, setting the pen down. "You¡¯re out." Isaac¡¯s gaze dropped to the desk in front of her. The Soulbind Pendant was resting there. He frowned slightly. "You had this?" "Is that your tone toward your life¡¯s savior?" Catherine arched an eyebrow. She gave a dramatic sigh, placing a hand over her heart. "Not even a gift. Not even a ¡¯thank you.¡¯ Instead, I get interrogated. Everyone treats me like an object..." Isaac rolled his eyes, but he knew she was right. His disappearance last night must¡¯ve caused a huge commotion. Since things seemed calmed now, it meant Professor Catherine had covered for him "Thank you," he said. Catherine grinned. "See? That wasn¡¯t so hard." Then she shrugged and added, "Alice gave it to me. She couldn¡¯t take it with her while you were inside, so she asked me to guard it." Isaac nodded, picking up the pendant from the desk. It was warm to the touch, still linked to him. Catherine leaned back in her chair and studied him. "She trusts me, you know." "I can tell." "Can you blame her?" she asked, clearly proud of herself. "I¡¯m the one who gave her advice when she was going crazy about her feelings. I¡¯m the one who kept your little Soulbind excursions secret. And, most importantly, I¡¯m the reason Emily is so supportive of your harem." Her supportive actions was why Alice trusted her quite a bit, and left the Soulbind pendant with her. "...what do you want?" Isaac asked, understanding her intentions. "Nothing." When she said nothing else, he sighed and slipped the pendant around his neck again. Professor Catherine¡¯s actions were dubious, but she always covered for him. Without her help, he would have a lot of trouble on his hands. He was thankful to her, and if she asked for something manageable, he would do it. Chapter 84: Returning Home, Earning 2.7 Billions, Buying More Land Chapter 84: Returning Home, Earning 2.7 Billions, Buying More Land She did not ask him anything, and returned to her work. The next two hours passed inside the hospital, with Isaac undergoing another full-body check-up. Blood tests, mana scans, mental resilience assessments¡ªthey left no detail unchecked. A few of the doctors seemed curious about how some of his injuries were healed, but Isaac kept quiet. He couldn¡¯t say he had used Life Drain to heal himself mid-battle. Finally, Isaac was cleared and discharged. He stepped out into the hallway with Catherine at his side. "Back to the house?" she asked. Isaac nodded. "Yeah." They walked side by side through the corridors and exited the medical building. The sunlight felt soft, and the wind carried faint traces of fried street food and roasting coffee beans from somewhere down the street. But it wasn¡¯t the breeze or smell that caught Isaac¡¯s attention. It was the number of awakeners outside. They weren¡¯t standing around idly either¡ªmost of them were moving in the same direction. Toward the market area. There were at least a few hundred people, most of them carrying bags or small satchels, weapons loosely slung over their shoulders, or on their waist. Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Why does it look like a mini-festival¡¯s happening?" "Quite a few awakeners came after Titan Edge Guild revealed they would come to Akaza Ruin, and..." Catherine, holding a tablet, smiled knowingly. "A lot of them are heading to your Family shop." Isaac blinked. "Why? We sold all the grains yesterday, and I haven¡¯t harvested anything yet. There¡¯s nothing in stock." Catherine didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she tapped a few times on her screen and turned it toward him. On it, a hologram flickered to life. It was a social media post from Celia Rae. "Yesterday, I met a super rookie who defeated three Champion rank awakeners... even though he¡¯s still only Initiate rank. Can you believe it?!" Attached to the post was the photo of Celia and Isaac standing together, both smiling slightly. Isaac stared at it. "She posted this?" "About ten hours ago," Catherine said. "It¡¯s been shared over two million times." Isaac scratched his cheek. "I mean... it¡¯s technically true. But that wording is exaggerated." "She¡¯s a celebrity, Isaac," Catherine said as they turned onto the road toward the residential area. "Whatever she says, people believe. Especially her fans." Isaac exhaled, still watching the image. "So, all those people¡ª" "Are either trying to recruit you, challenge you, or sell you something," Catherine said casually. "Your popularity is skyrocketing with each passing second." Isaac looked back toward the distant road filled with people. "Wait, is someone even manning the shop right now?" "No," Catherine said. "Alice and Selene are still at her home. You¡¯re currently very, very short on staff." Isaac groaned. "Wonderful." They talked until they reached home. Isaac had to accept that talking with Professor Catherine was always interesting. Once they reached their destination, she stretched. "I¡¯ll check in on Leora," she said. "She should be teaching Emily right now, but I¡¯m worried she might be a bit strict on her." Isaac gave a small nod as Professor Catherine disappeared down the hallway. He stepped outside to the fields and began his harvest routine. The familiar scent of soil, grain, and warm breeze hit him. The sun wasn¡¯t too harsh today, which made it easier. 1000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +500. Constitution +500. You have obtained 5000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3960 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +360. Constitution +360. You have obtained 19,800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Mana: 100 [1000 ¡ú 1000] Constitution: 100 [1000 ¡ú 1000] Isaac winced when he saw the lost stats. Even though he knew he could recoup the losses with a few harvest, it still stung. After he tended to his farm, he checked his bank account information. [Credited (Last 24 Hours): 1,861,100,000 Obols] [Balance (Total): 2,698,060,000 Obols] His eyebrows rose. "All the grains were sold yesterday," he muttered. "That explains the jump." Nearly 1.9 billion in one day. That alone was more than what most small businesses made in months. It brought his total to almost 2.7 billion in just three days. With four days remaining, he calculated roughly.... "I¡¯ll be a bit short of ten billion at this pace." He needed more land to boost his income. Until now, he¡¯d avoided expanding because of his limited mana pool. But with Alice¡¯s awakening on the horizon, that concern should disappear. As he was lost in thought, Leora appeared beside him, holding out a chilled tangerine drink. He took it. "Thanks." "I thought you were teaching Emily," he asked after a sip. "I was," Leora replied. "Catherine took over. She¡¯s checking Emily¡¯s homework from yesterday." Isaac chuckled. "She didn¡¯t have time to finish that. None of us did." "Still, rules are rules," Leora said, folding her arms. Isaac nodded, then looked back at the freshly harvested land. "I¡¯m thinking of buying five more hectares." Leora raised an eyebrow. "Is your bloodline starting to awaken?" "Huh?" Isaac blinked. "You don¡¯t need to hide it. We already suspected you had an apex bloodline, since you had high initial stats. After that battle yesterday, it¡¯s not surprising if it¡¯s beginning to stir." He tilted his head. "What does a life-and-death fight have to do with awakening?" Leora returned to him to the porch as she explained. "All types of awakenings are triggered by stirring potential. Awakening Crystals mostly awakens talent, but still help with other types of awakenings. "But real awakening¡ªthe old-fashioned kind¡ªused to come from surviving the brink of death." Isaac narrowed his eyes. "So... there are more types of awakening?" She nodded. "There are three types: Talent Awakening, Bloodline Awakening, and Physique Awakening." She held up her fingers as she listed them. "Low-rank species typically only awaken talent. Mid-rank species can awaken both talent and bloodline. High-rank species can awaken all three. "Apex-rank species¡ªlike dragons or devils¡ªalso awaken all three and they have a higher stat limit." Isaac nodded slowly, and a question appeared in his mind. "Let¡¯s say, someone has the potential for all three but never awakens them. Is that possible?" he recounted Alice¡¯s situation. "Theoretically, yes," she said. "Awakening depends on potential being stirred, which means pushing the soul under pressure. The stronger the soul, the harder it is to awaken." She paused and looked at him. "That¡¯s why awakening crystals are made from monster cores. The monster¡¯s will is embedded in it. When you absorb it, the will tries to overwhelm you¡ªputting your soul under duress. That¡¯s what triggers the awakening." Isaac blinked, surprised. "Wait. Are those things even safe to use?" Leora smiled. "Of course. We only use a fraction of the monster core¡¯s will. Just enough to stimulate the soul. The rumors about people turning into monsters came from a few rare public awakenings where their appearance changed after bloodline activation." Isaac nodded slowly. That explained a lot. He thought about Alice. Her soul must¡¯ve been incredibly powerful. That would explain why the standard Awakening Crystal made from a part of monster core (Genetic Catalyst) hadn¡¯t worked on her. It needed a dragon¡¯s catalyst to force her potential to awaken. Just as he was deep in thought, Leora returned with a folder and a tablet. "Here¡¯s the paperwork for the new land." He signed it without hesitation. Five more hectares were added into his farm. Chapter 85: Teasing Emily, Tyr’s New Evolution Chapter 85: Teasing Emily, Tyr¡¯s New Evolution He poured fifty mana potions onto the new land and evened it out. Then, he began sowing seeds across the fresh land. He worked quickly but precisely, keeping track of each row and patch. By the time he was finished, his shirt was damp with sweat, and the sun was at peak. He stepped inside the house, just in time for lunch. Emily came downstairs, yawning and stretching. She looked drained, but her face lit up when she saw him. "Isaac!" she said, rushing to him. +0.6 AP +0.6 AP +0.4 AP She hugged him tightly, and he smiled, returning the gesture. At lunch, he fed her like usual. Her cheeks puffed as she chewed, and her happy little noises earned him more AP messages. +0.5 AP. +0.5 AP. +0.5 AP Even with the Genetic Catalyst bought, he needed AP. The Bloodline Upgrade Potion cost 2500 AP. With only four days left, every interaction mattered if he wanted to buy the Potion. He glanced at Emily between spoonfuls. Now that he understood how awakening worked, he realized Emily would gain a huge power-up in form of Physique if he upgraded her bloodline. ¡¯I need to buy the Bloodline Upgrade Potion at all costs.¡¯ He wanted to help her improve. It wasn¡¯t just for himself. Instead, the thought of Emily improving made him smile. She looked up and returned the smile with her warm and bright eyes. After lunch, Emily and Isaac settled under shade of the porch. Emily sat between Isaac¡¯s legs with her back pressed to his chest while he wrapped his arms around her. They had time before Emily¡¯s combat training. Until then, they talked about small things like random thoughts, silly jokes, nothing serious. Isaac avoided mentioning yesterday¡¯s mission, knowing how Emily¡¯s temper flared whenever they talked about him getting hurt. They laughed about a stray cat they¡¯d seen earlier, arguing over what to name it. Emily suggested "Fluffy," and Isaac groaned, insisting it looked more like a "Bandit." The conversation drifted, light and easy, until Isaac leaned closer, his breath tickling her ear. "Lady, can I ask you something?" whispered Isaac. Emily giggled, squirming from the ticklish feeling. "You can, sir," she replied. "I¡¯ve been waiting for my Emily to ask for ¡¯food,¡¯ but she hasn¡¯t. Tell me, fair lady, is my wife bored of me? Is she planning to toss me away like an old, broken toy?" teased Isaac. "What are you talking about?" pouted Emily, nudging him playfully. "I didn¡¯t take your energy because you were hurt yesterday. Healing takes a lot out of a person. You shouldn¡¯t give away your life force right now." "Ho, injured? Me? I¡¯m a healthy horse. Want to check?" grinned Isaac. "Huh? How would¡ª" began Emily. Before she could finish, Isaac gently turned her head and kissed her lips. The warmth caught her off guard. It was soothing and addicting, but she tried to wiggle away. They were outside, and even though they were the only people in several mile radius, being intimate outdoors embarrassed Emily. Emily pushed against his chest lightly, breaking the kiss. "Isaac, stop. I¡¯m not taking your life force until your body¡ª" He kissed her again, deeper this time, cutting her off. "Mmh! Mmh!" she mumbled, pushing harder. She understood it was his way of saying he wouldn¡¯t stop teasing her until she took his life force. The life force from the Life Stone tasted bland. It was like chewing paper. Food was a bit better, but not by much. She¡¯d never told Isaac about this, afraid it¡¯d worry him. But today at lunch, he¡¯d figured it out. Using his Phantom Emperor bloodline, he¡¯d switched his taste to hers and tried the food. He wouldn¡¯t eat that even if someone paid him, yet she ate it happily every day. "Isaac... no..." panted Emily, pulling back again. He could see her gaze becoming hazy. His hands slipped under her shirt. The touch was warm against her cool skin, and a shiver ran through her, and she gasped. "Stop!" she said, wriggling to escape. Waves of pleasure rolled over her, and it only made her more embarrassed. Their position¡ªher between his legs, his arms around her¡ªmade it impossible to move unless he let her. She realized he¡¯d planned this, setting her up to trap her. "Why... are you... doing this?" stammered Emily, her voice shaky as his touch sent sparks across her skin. "Isaac, I¡¯m... saying this for you." Isaac smiled with mischievous eyes. Truthfully, he had two reasons. One was to make sure Emily took his life force. Even if she was full, he wanted her to eat something tastier than bland paper. The other was simpler: teasing her was fun. Seeing the pure and innocent Emily blush, pant, and twist in his arms felt like a immoral game, where he was tempting a fairy into doing something forbidden, and slowly corrupting her. It stirred him in a way he couldn¡¯t quite explain. "Come on, a little life force won¡¯t hurt," urged Isaac. Emily frowned, still upset he was pushing her. She didn¡¯t want to risk his health, not after yesterday¡¯s injuries. But his stubbornness left her no choice. As he leaned in again, she bit his lip with a bit of force to show her anger. A sharp taste of iron hit their tongues as blood mixed with the kiss. Their lips moved together, tangled and warm, and Emily didn¡¯t notice the blood at first. "Ow," muttered Isaac, surprised. Constitution hadn¡¯t defended him since he didn¡¯t percieve ¨C consciously and subconsciously ¨C Emily¡¯s kiss bite as an attack. "Sorry! I didn¡¯t mean¡ª" started Emily, eyes wide. "It¡¯s fine," reassured Isaac, wiping his lip. He didn¡¯t want her to panic. To heal the small cut, he used Life Drain, pulling a tiny bit of her life force. It wasn¡¯t a problem since transfer was more about taste than filling her up. They continued the kiss. Curious, he flipped his taste buds to the ghost-like sense of his Netherborn Phantom Emperor bloodline, wanting to know how life force tasted to her. A shudder ran through him. The flavor exploded in his mouth. It was rich, and vibrant, like nothing he¡¯d ever tasted. No wonder she always asked for kisses. This was a feast, and it was a double feast for her since the only other thing she ate were bland Life Stone or food. The addicting taste made him want to keep kissing her. The iron tang faded, replaced by the overwhelming flavor of their shared life force. They lost themselves in it, forgetting that they were outside until a cough broke the spell. "Emily, it¡¯s time for combat training," announced Leora, standing at the porch steps. Emily jolted upright like she had been caught stealing cookies. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she quickly adjusted her clothes, trying to hide her embarrassment. Isaac chuckled, leaning back, unbothered. Next to Leora, Professor Catherine gave them both a knowing smile. "Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll have plenty of time tonight. For now, let¡¯s focus on class," teased Catherine. Emily hid her face in her hands. "You didn¡¯t see anything," she mumbled. "Okay, we didn¡¯t see two people clinging to each other like horny teenagers at all," Professor Catherine said with a grin before turning toward the training field. Emily, red as tomato, flew away without another word. Only after a few meters in the air did she realize she could¡¯ve just phased through Isaac¡¯s arm earlier and escaped him easily. She whimpered and kicked the air. Isaac stood up, stretching. Then he turned to Professor Catherine. There was something he wanted to tell her. "Tyr reached level 20." Professor Catherine¡¯s eyes widened slightly. "Oh?" She looked at Leora, who gave her a small nod. With that confirmation, Catherine faced Isaac again. "Alright. Give me the list of materials you want for the evolution. I¡¯ll submit the request to the Sanctum of Masters." Isaac called Tyr beside him and asked him to write down the materials he needed. Current Race: Ironwood Sentinel of Life Evolution Requirements: Crystallized Embercore. Ironbark Heart. Forgevine Husk. Obsidian Ashroot. Evolution Race: Hellbloom Forgewalker Professor Catherine whistled. "That¡¯s a heavy list. Just these will push the budget over a billion." "Tyr already capable of kiting and fighting Champion-rank Awakeners if supported properly. Once he evolves, he¡¯ll be able to fight them on equal footing. That¡¯s more than worth it," Isaac replied. "True. One billion for a champion-rank companion is a bargain. I¡¯ll prepare the requisition." Professor Catherine nodded. With that, she left to join Emily for training. Isaac, Tyr, and Leora set off toward the market. Construction was taking place in several area, and awakeners with guild badges were sighted more frequently. As they drove, Isaac opened the system shop and searched for the evolution materials for Tirra. Fragment of Phantom Root ¡ª 12,000 AP Spirit Nectar ¡ª 9,500 AP Nightbloom Feather ¡ª 11,500 AP Core of a Lesser Wraith ¡ª 12,000 AP The price tag in the system shop nearly made him puke blood. "Forty-five thousand AP?" He rubbed his temples. "I need to earn more AP... a lot more AP." By the time they reached the market, a large crowd had already gathered. Quite a few of them were ordinary Awakeners, others were merchants or local citizens hoping to get a glimpse of the now-infamous "rookie champion-slayer." Freya stood near one of the barricades, calming down a group of merchants pitching their own product to the awakeners. Nero was at the gate entrance, checking documents. Kael, surprisingly, was trying to act serious as he directed traffic. Leora noticed Isaac¡¯s amused glance. "Today is their market rotation," she explained. "Students are given different duties throughout the week. Security detail, patrols, shop inspections, ruin exploration... it¡¯s how they get real-world experience." "I see." Isaac nodded, withholding his comment asking if this was real-world experience or free labor. Chapter 86: Hiring Part-Timers, Deathwood Guardian’s Ability Chapter 86: Hiring Part-Timers, Deathwood Guardian¡¯s Ability They passed by several curious onlookers. A few pointed at Isaac, whispering behind their hands. Others were less subtle, openly trying to catch his attention. One woman even stepped out of line, holding a recruitment brochure. "Excuse me¡ªare you Isaac? The one who defeated a Champion-rank?" Isaac gave a polite nod but didn¡¯t slow down. "We¡¯d love for you to join the Dragoncrest Guild. If you¡¯re interested¡ª" Before she could finish, a sharp whistle cut through the air. Freya was already walking toward them with a stern face. "Please stop," she said, eyes locked on the woman. "You can¡¯t do this in the market. Make an appointment with him if you want to do the recruitment, and do it in an appropriate place." The woman reluctantly stepped back. Freya gave Isaac a side-glance. "You¡¯re becoming quite the celebrity." "I would¡¯ve preferred it to be the other way," Isaac said. "I just want to farm." Kael laughed. "Well, farming made you famous too." They made their way to the shop. As expected, people had been lining up outside the ¡¯Family¡¯ shop since morning. Thankfully, Professor Catherine had already assigned some students to hold the crowd off until Isaac arrived. He got to work. Tyr helped unload and stack crates while Leora gave a quick inspection of the inventory. Even with no grains to sell yet, many people were eager just to talk, ask questions, or try to build connections. Some even asked if he was Celia¡¯s boyfriend since she posted about him on her account twice. By early evening, things had finally settled down. Isaac stepped away from the counter and checked his balance again. [Credited (Last four hours): 483,200,000 Obols] He was making steady progress toward the goals he had laid out. His own strength was about to increase exponentially, and with land expanded and two powerful companions close to evolution, he would gain another type of strength that came from others ¨C Authority. If things kept going at this pace, he wouldn¡¯t just survive in the stronghold. He would rule it. But then he shook his head, chuckling. "What am I even thinking?" he murmured under his breath. "Ruling over others sounds like too much work. I¡¯d rather spend my time with Emily and Alice, and farm on the side." Just as he began closing the shop for the day, a message from Professor Catherine pinged on his device. Landlord: I¡¯ve talked to some people to help you with the shop. They will sit on the counter in your place. You¡¯ll need to pay them, though. Isaac looked at the message. He had asked Professor Catherine to look for people for the shop. After all, Isaac and Emily were busy with classes, and Alice would be too after she awakens her Talent. Because no matter what rank of Talent Alice awakened, her Apex Bloodline would make her a coveted student. With all three of them busy, they had no one to sell the grain at the shop. You: How much would that be? Landlord: You¡¯ll have to negotiate. But around 2,000 Obols per hour. Isaac rubbed his chin. That was steep, but considering the location and traffic, it was reasonable. Especially since he had expanded his land today. Hiring someone to hold the front wouldn¡¯t impact his goal of hitting ten billion too much. You: Thank you, Professor. Landlord: No problem Landlord: CoolThumbsUpEmoji Isaac stared at the cool emoji for a moment before chuckling. "For someone who acts like a seductive fox half the time, your texting style is oddly adorable," he muttered. Just then, he heard footsteps. Freya walked up to him, followed by Kael, and Nero. "Isaac!" Freya waved cheerfully. "And Tyr! Hello again." Tyr gave her a small nod but seemed uneasy. His eyes darted away from her, clearly remembering the combat training incident. The one where Freya had fallen from the height and got injured because of him. Freya noticed his expression. She smiled awkwardly. For now it was best to act she didn¡¯t care about it, so that Tyr slowly stopped caring about it too. Freya turned her attention to Isaac. "We¡¯re here about the part-time job. I believe Professor Catherine mentioned it?" "So, you¡¯re taking it? I thought you¡¯d be out hunting monsters." "We can only enter the Ruins three times a week. On off-days, the Sanctum assigns us duties¡ªsometimes defense work, sometimes manual labor." She continued, " Professor Catherine pulled a few strings. If we help at your shop, it¡¯ll count as one of those jobs. But Sanctum won¡¯t pay us, so... we¡¯ll have to work out a deal with you directly." Isaac raised a brow. "You guys get paid for other jobs?" Freya nodded. "Yes, but not much." Before she could say more, Kael clicked his tongue, and Nero let out a quiet sigh. Freya blinked. "What?" Isaac was already smiling. He could see the trap she¡¯d walked into, and clearly, so did Kael and Nero. She had accidentally revealed that other jobs paid barely anything. That meant working at Isaac¡¯s shop¡ªeven for modest pay¡ªwould be a better deal for them. At the jobs given by Sanctum of Masters, they got almost negligible pay and had to do back-breaking labor. But in Isaac¡¯s shop? There was no heavy lifting, no patrols. Just standing behind a counter and talking to people. It was a heaven-sent job that would make any student drool. Isaac could easily find other students for the role, which meant the negotiation power shifted entirely to him. Kael stepped forward, trying to salvage the situation. "So, how much are you going to pay us?" Isaac gave him a slow look. "What do you think is fair?" Kael narrowed his eyes. "Two thousand. That¡¯s what the professor said." "That¡¯s too high since the job¡¯s easy. Don¡¯t forget that the grains sell like hotcakes. So you¡¯ll have rush hours during which the storage will be emptied, and for the rest of the day, you will be free. That¡¯s why I¡¯m offering 1,500 per hour." "What are the work conditions?" Kael questioned. "One of you handles the shop with Tyr. There will be two seven-hour shifts, from 6 am to 8 om. Lunch breaks are, of course, allowed. "Even if the grain stock runs out, you will stay in the shop and take orders for when the next stock comes. I¡¯ll handle the grain transport myself," Isaac explained. Kael stared at him. Nero quietly sighed again. Freya looked confused. "That¡¯s still not too bad..." Kael gave Freya a look that screamed stop talking. But the deal had already been made. The three of them accepted Isaac¡¯s offer, though Kael looked visibly defeated. It wasn¡¯t about the money. His pride had taken a hit. He fancied himself a tactician, good at reading people and winning negotiations. "I usually win these," he muttered under his breath. Isaac just smiled as he shook hands with him. "Better luck next time." Once the rotation schedule was finalized, the students dispersed. Isaac left the marketplace alongside Leora and Tyr. The streets were receiving more customers as evening approached, and awakeners returned from ruin exploration. He could see students near food stalls and corners of the road, chatting or frolicking around. As they reached home, the rhythmic sounds of movement caught Isaac¡¯s attention before he even stepped through the door. In the backyard training field, Emily was mid-spar with Professor Catherine. She was summoning spirits rapidly, and probably giving commands through mental link. The spirits zipped through the air, launching small but concentrated attacks toward Catherine, who dodged and blocked them with ease. Then Emily vanished. A moment later, she reappeared behind Catherine with a feint strike aimed at her midsection. Catherine sidestepped and countered, sweeping her foot. Emily was forced to phase out again. Tirra, Emily¡¯s ghost-bird spirit, dove in from above and disrupted Catherine¡¯s posture for a brief second and allowed Emily to escape. Emily¡¯s breathing was rough, but her focus was sharp. Her clothes were covered in dust. Bits of grass clung to her shoulders and hair, clear signs that she¡¯d been thrown to the ground more than once. But she didn¡¯t look like she was going to give up anytime soon. Isaac stayed silent, not wanting to interrupt. He simply nodded at Leora and Tyr, then turned toward the house. That¡¯s when his eyes drifted toward the farm. The crops had matured. He stopped walking. "Already?" he muttered. "That¡¯s... earlier than expected." There was still time left on the timer he usually tracked for his fields. The grains shouldn¡¯t have been ready yet. Then it hit him. Deathwood Guardian. He looked toward the center of the farm. The scarecrow stood tall, arms spread out like always. A faint flicker of unnatural energy pulsed beneath its frame. Isaac recalled it¡¯s ability, and understood how it was affecting his farm. Yesterday, the Deathwood Guardian had absorbed the life force of the dead assassins. That was one of its key traits: to channel death into growth. Life force, once taken in, could be converted to nourish the soil within its domain. And yesterday¡¯s battle had left no shortage of corpses. They had three Champion ranks, multiple Master ranks, and dozens of elite-level assassins. The scarecrow had clearly absorbed all life force. Isaac stepped into the field and knelt beside a patch of fully matured grain. He activated Sovereign of Land and pushed his senses deep into the soil. The nourishment was rich, potent, and without side-effects. "Good," he said softly. "With this much nourishment, the next batch can also grow in half the time." He quickly harvested the crops. 1000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +500. Constitution +500. You have obtained 5000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 5040 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +448. Constitution +448. You have obtained 25,200 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Seeing the number of grain satisfied Isaac. Right now, he had 20 hectare of land. One for shop, and nineteen for farming. "Since the customers are mostly awakeners now, I should grow more Tier 1 grains. It would a good boost the income." Chapter 87: Alice’s Request Chapter 87: Alice¡¯s Request He planted seed, then used Sovereign of Land to make sure Tier 1 grains grew in ten hectare, and the rest were for Tier 0 grains. Satisfied, he dusted his hands off and turned toward the house. Inside, he took a quick shower, washing off the sweat and dirt from the farm. The hot water was a relief on his tense muscles. By the time he stepped out and changed, it was late into evening. Isaac walked into the study room, with an healing potion-drink in one hand. It was prescribed to him when he left the hospital. He dropped into the chair, exhaled, and opened one of the old instructional books Professor Catherine had given him last week. It covered a wide range of Awakener topics¡ªbattle strategy, elemental coordination, and resource planning. He flipped to a bookmarked Chapter about Spirit Management. As he read, his mind stayed half-focused on Emily¡¯s training outside. He could still faintly hear the occasional thud or rustle of movement through the open windows. He didn¡¯t worry too much. If she was training with Professor Catherine, she would be pushed to her limits but she would also be safe. Isaac underlined a few sentences in the book and made notes in the margins. It was one of the few peaceful stretches of time he had that day. And despite how much he had been through recently¡ªassassins, poison, combat¡ªit felt oddly calming to just sit and read again. Behind the noise of his goals and achievements, there was still a part of him that just enjoyed learning. That part hadn¡¯t disappeared. It was just buried under everything else. About thirty minutes passed when he suddenly felt arms wrap around him from behind. He blinked, caught off guard. Alice leaned over his shoulder. "What are you studying with so much focus?" Isaac tilted his head slightly. Their cheeks brushed for a moment. "Just working on that assignment Professor Catherine gave us." He was surprised Alice initiated the touch. Normally, she was more reserved. What he didn¡¯t notice was that her ears were red. S he was clearly embarrassed but trying not to show it. She wanted to try something like this for years. Now that she had her chance, she was determined to do it despite being embarrassed. They stayed like that for a few seconds before Isaac spoke again. "How was your family reunion?" "It went... well." Alice¡¯s arms tightened slightly around him. "Selene¡¯s different now. I think everything that happened really shook her. When we talked, she reminded me of how she used to be when we were younger." Isaac stayed quiet. "She even talked to me properly again," Alice continued. "It felt like she¡¯s trying. I think she wants to change." Isaac didn¡¯t comment. His eyes were back on the page, though he wasn¡¯t reading anymore. Alice could tell what he was thinking. She knew he wasn¡¯t someone who forgave easily, especially not when it involved people mistreating those he cared about. Selene had mocked her before. Even if Selene was trying now, Isaac wasn¡¯t going to just forget everything. Still, she wanted him to see the effort. "She also..." Alice hesitated, then tried to redirect, "She was angry at some of the things others said about us¡ª" She froze. Isaac looked up slightly. "What things?" "Nothing," she answered quickly. He raised an eyebrow. "Alice." There was a pause. Then she sighed. "Some of our relatives made comments. They said you were sleazy, and that you went after me, even though I had no Talent, just because I looked good. And now that you helped Selene, they¡¯re saying you must be trying to get close to her since she a beauty too." Isaac¡¯s expression changed. "Who said that?" Alice placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned forward again. "It¡¯s fine. Selene stood up for us, and shut them down by telling them to leave. It was quite embarrassing for those relatives." She hesitated, then added quietly, "She¡¯s changing, Isaac. I know she made mistakes, but she¡¯s trying. So next time you see her... can you just treat her normally?" He didn¡¯t answer right away. His eyes drifted back to the book. Just when Alice thought he would refuse, he reached up and gently held her hand. "I¡¯ll try," he said finally. Alice was satisfied. It was a small step, but it was enough for now. They stayed like that for a few minutes longer. Isaac glanced at Alice, noticing her silence stretch longer than usual. She wasn¡¯t pulling away, but her fingers tightened slightly, and her breathing was a little uneven. Something felt off. "Is everything okay?" asked Isaac. Alice blinked, her cheeks flushing faintly. "Yeah, I¡¯m fine," she answered, a bit too quick. Isaac wasn¡¯t convinced. He used Inspect, wondering is some of her relative had said something that upset her. If they did, then Isaac was going to make sure they¨C [Status: Feeling aroused by the lingering smell of sweat on you, wants to have sex but is holding back lest you think of her as a nymphomaniac.] Isaac read it twice to make sure he hadn¡¯t misread. ¡¯That¡¯s it...?¡¯ ¡¯I almost thought it was something serious.¡¯ Alice was like a child who¡¯d tasted something forbidden and now craved more. She had never mentioned her hypersexual needs, probably worried it would come off as off-putting for Isaac. That¡¯s why she had been holding back. Without a word, he tugged her gently, guiding her to sit on his lap. Alice yelped, startled by the sudden movement. "What are you doing?" gasped Alice. "Acting out after getting seduced by my wife," teased Isaac. Alice froze upon hearing the word "wife." Isaac¡¯s arms tightened around her, pulling her closer. "W-when did I seduce you?" stammered Alice. Her heart raced, hammering in her chest. They¡¯d been intimate before, just once, and she¡¯d thought the closeness would feel familiar by now. Instead, it was overwhelming. Embarrassment mixed with arousal, and a flicker of happiness weaved through it all. She couldn¡¯t pin down what she felt, only that it was a lot. Isaac chuckled, his breath brushing her ear. "I felt seduced by your gaze." "What?" Alice¡¯s face flushed deeper. "You¡¯re ridiculous." "Maybe. But I¡¯m your ridiculous," replied Isaac, grinning. Even that stupid joke was funny when it came from Isaac. He tilted her chin gently, his lips finding hers in a soft, slow kiss. Alice tensed for a moment, caught off guard, then melted into it. After a few moments, she pulled back slightly, catching her breath. "Isaac, we¡¯re in the study room." "It¡¯s fine. No one is coming here anytime soon," answered Isaac, kissing her again. Professor Catherine was busy with Emily, and Leora could sense them inside even their bedroom with her Overlord rank senses. There was no point in trying to hide from her. Two of them melted into each other. Sweat clung to their skin, but neither stopped. Isaac¡¯s ridiculous way of initiating intimacy earlier had left Alice flushed and speechless. But in the back of her mind, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªdid he know? Did he know she¡¯d been holding back, afraid he might think of her as off putting? Maybe that¡¯s why he took the lead so casually, showing her that he felt the same, and that it was normal. It eased something in her heart. They stayed together until both were content. No words were needed when they finally parted. "Go take a shower and get dressed," Isaac told her as he stood up, stretching his neck. Alice blinked at him, and then muttered in a whisper. "Aren¡¯t you going to shower too? You know... together?" He flicked her forehead. "Tempting offer, my mad princess, but think about your body too. It needs rest. And, I need to take care of the farm before I shower. I¡¯ll be sweating all over again anyway." Her eyes said no, but didn¡¯t argue further. Though, she seemed to be hoping to shower together... after he returned sweaty. At least that was what her status said. Isaac left her and stepped outside. The late evening air had cooled, and the soft rustle of leaves greeted him. He moved across the field, checking the crops. As expected, they were ready to harvest again. 2000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +1000. Constitution +1000. You have obtained 10,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3240 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +288. Constitution +288. You have obtained 16,200 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Once the field was cleared, he burned the stalks, spread fertilizer, and planted the next batch of seeds. He wiped the sweat off his brow, checked the time, and glanced toward the training yard. It was past six. Emily¡¯s combat class was still ongoing. He spotted her in the distance, moving in a flurry of motion. Her uniform was coated in dust, and her legs shook slightly, but her determination never faltered. "She¡¯s pushing herself harder," Isaac muttered. "Probably because of what happened yesterday..." He rubbed the back of his neck, thinking. "I need to prepare a gift for her since she is working hard." He already had an idea of what he could gift her. But for now, there was something else he had to do. He headed back into the house. The kitchen was filled with the warm scent of roasted spices and something sweet on the stove. Leora was there, sleeves rolled up, chopping something with a blade that looked way too sharp for casual cooking. "Hey," Isaac said, walking in. "Busy?" "No." "Then, can you come with me? I want your help with something important." Leora finally looked at him. "What is it?" "I want to try helping Alice awaken." Chapter 88: Alice’s Awakening Chapter 88: Alice¡¯s Awakening Her brows rose slightly. "What?" "Come with me," Isaac said. "I¡¯ll explain everything." He didn¡¯t plan to show the Genetic Catalyst initially, but hiding it would do more harm than good. The awakening couldn¡¯t be hidden unless Alice lived her whole life as an unawakened but that was the last thing Isaac wanted. He wanted to slap her relatives with the fact that Alice awakened a bloodline and a Talent. Besides, he had a bigger reason for including Leora. He wasn¡¯t willing to gamble with Alice¡¯s life. From what he had gathered, Genetic Catalysts contained a monster¡¯s will. Unlike the mosnter core that had a fragment of the will, the Genetic Catalyst had the complete will. That will was what pressured the target¡¯s soul into awakening their potential. In Alice¡¯s case, it would be the will of a dragon. A dragon¡¯s will was immense. And if she couldn¡¯t handle it, she would die after feeling the pain of her soul being crushed by a monster will. He refused to take that risk. Leora¡¯s presence would be his safety net. When they entered the room, Alice was sitting on the bed, drying her hair with a towel. Isaac gave Leora a small signal to sit, and she obeyed without asking questions. "What¡¯s that?" Alice asked when Isaac pulled a radiant, golden orb from his spatial ring. The light from it filled the room with a warm glow. "This," Isaac said, "is a Dragon-type Genetic Catalyst. It is what I¡¯m going to use to help you awaken." Alice froze. Her fingers tightened around the towel. The memories from the failed awakening came rushing back along with the despair, and the feeling of being left behind. Just when she had accepted she was ¡¯defective¡¯, the wound was reopened. "I¡¯m okay, Isaac," she said softly. "I¡¯ve accepted it already." She tried to joke. "And where did you even get that? Did some shopkeeper trick you with a glowing fruit?" She stopped when she saw Isaac¡¯s expression. He wasn¡¯t smiling. He wasn¡¯t joking. He was serious. That was when hope entered her heart again. A quiet, almost painful flicker of hope. Leora spoke first. "Is this why you were asking about awakening theory?" Isaac nodded. "Yeah." Leora¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Explain everything, and I mean everything. I apologize beforehand, but if it sounds dangerous, I¡¯m not letting you use that catalyst." Isaac nodded. "I think Alice has a Talent." He glanced at Alice briefly, then back to Leora. "There are two reasons for my theory. First, she has the Calloway bloodline. Almost everyone with that lineage awakens. It¡¯s rare for them to fail. "Second, her physical stats. If I had to guess, they¡¯re somewhere between 9 to 11 across the board." Leora blinked. "That¡¯s... high." "Exactly. Peak human average is 10, and barely anyone reaches it. But Alice has it. So there is a high chance that she is a demihuman. If she is a demihuman, she must have a bloodline, and..." "And," Leora added, finishing his thought, "if she has a bloodline... then she likely has a Talent too." "But I failed," Alice whispered. "I failed my awakening. That should mean I don¡¯t have one." Isaac shook his head. "Not necessarily. That brings me to my theory." He sat forward slightly. "Awakenings force a soul to unleash its potential under pressure. Awakening Crystals do this by projecting a part of monster¡¯s will. But what if your soul is too strong? What if the pressure wasn¡¯t enough?" Alice looked at him, unsure. "I think you have a strong soul," Isaac said. "Stronger than the crystal could handle. That¡¯s why it didn¡¯t work." Leora frowned. "The only way a soul is strong enough to resist a catalyst is if the person has an apex-level bloodline. No one in her family has that... at least, not since the first matriarch." "I know," Isaac replied. "But that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s impossible." Leora stayed quiet. There was an old theory that everyone has a Talent. But most people never awakened because their soul cowered instead of fighting the monster¡¯s will, and gave up immediately. Only the souls that fought the monster¡¯s will and resisted it, awakened . Going by that logic, it could be possible that someone¡¯s soul was so powerful that monster¡¯s will couldn¡¯t even force the soul to fight it seriously, thus the awakening failed. "That¡¯s a Genetic Catalyst...?" Alice questioned. "Where did you get that?" "It was left with me when I was abandoned at the orphanage. A sword manual and this," he said with the most sincere expression. It wasn¡¯t entirely true, but it wasn¡¯t a complete lie either. He had been abandoned as a baby. The sword manual was real. It was old, almost worthless. He hadn¡¯t hidden that. In fact, Alice had seen it before. "I told you about the sword manual," Isaac said, looking at Alice. "It¡¯s nothing special. Just fancy content written on old paper." Alice nodded, remembering. "But this," Isaac continued, holding up the orb that glowed with golden warmth, "was different. I didn¡¯t know what it was, but even as a kid, I could feel the energy coming off it. I didn¡¯t dare tell anyone since it could get me in trouble. I understood it was important." Leora¡¯s eyes remained fixed on the catalyst. The gears in her mind were already turning. She had suspected Isaac had an apex bloodline for a while. But if this was truly a Dragon-type Genetic Catalyst¡ªone left by his parents¡ªthen it only strengthened that theory. After all, Genetic Catalysts worked best when they matched the affinity of the user. Parents with such a powerful item wouldn¡¯t leave it randomly. They must have left it for someone they believed would benefit most from it. Isaac saw the way she looked at him and knew exactly what was going through her mind. Her own misunderstanding of him having an apex bloodline helped his cover. "Now can we start?" Isaac asked, shifting the focus. Alice was still unsure, but she followed Leora¡¯s instructions quietly. Her fingers trembled slightly as she knelt on the ground and sat cross-legged. Leora crouched beside her. "Just hold it in your hand and try to meditate," she said gently. "You¡¯ll start to feel an energy coming from it. When you do, imagine reaching toward it. Think of touching that energy with your soul. The moment you do that, the dragon¡¯s will inside the catalyst will react." Alice looked at the glowing orb again. Her eyes flicked to Isaac. She didn¡¯t say anything, but the fear was clear in her expression. Leora¡¯s voice softened. "Don¡¯t worry. If the monster¡¯s will tries to harm you, I¡¯ll stop it right away." Alice turned back to the orb. Hope and fear clashed in her eyes. She had already experienced the despair of failure once. That wound hadn¡¯t healed. But here she was again, holding something that might give her the chance to awaken. Or shatter her hope completely. Isaac gave her a quiet nod. His expression was calm, but encouraging. "You¡¯ve got this," he said. Alice exhaled slowly, then sat a little straighter. She reached out and touched the surface of the orb with both hands. Its warmth pulsed in her palms. Her fingers tightened slightly, and she closed her eyes. Leora stood behind her, extending her hand slightly. A faint field of mana began to form. It was a protective net in case something went wrong. The room fell silent. The golden glow of the orb brightened slightly. A minute passed. Then two. Alice¡¯s eyebrows twitched. Her breathing hitched, but she didn¡¯t open her eyes. Sweat began to form on her forehead. Isaac¡¯s fists clenched at his sides. "What do you think?" he asked quietly, turning to Leora. "She¡¯s resisting it," Leora said, keeping her focus on the faint pulse of the field. "The dragon will inside the catalyst is strong. It¡¯s trying to assert dominance over her soul. But her soul refuses to be defeated, and it¡¯s fighting back fiercely." For some reason, Isaac felt proud when he heard that. Another minute passed. Then, Alice gasped. Her eyes shot open, but they weren¡¯t the same. For a brief moment, Isaac saw something golden flash across her pupils. Her hands trembled. The orb in her palms began to dissolve into mana, and it entered her orifices. And then, a visible ripple of energy passed through the room. "Did it...?" Isaac asked, stepping forward. Leora¡¯s expression remained still. She reached out, and pinched Alice lightly. Her skin resisted the change. Given the amount of strength Leora used, Alice must have a Constitution higher than 20 to resist. She stepped back and waited for Alice to tell them the news. Alice turned up, looking lost. "I... I can see it," she said. "The status screen... is floating Infront of my eyes." Isaac let out a breath he hadn¡¯t realized he was holding. It worked. "How do you feel?" he asked softly. "Do you feel any pain of sorts?" Alice kept alternating her gaze between him and the status screen. "I awakened." And then, it finally hit her. "I awakened!" Like a cannonball fired straight into his chest, she tackled him while shedding tears of joy. "I awakened my Talent, Isaac!" she cried, voice breaking. "I awakened it!" He stumbled back with her momentum and ended up on the floor, but she didn¡¯t seem to notice. She clung to him with all her strength, her arms wrapped tight around his neck. "I awakened!" she sobbed. "Thank you! Thank you so much! Sniff... Sniff..." She buried her face into his shoulder. Her whole body shook as the emotions poured out. Isaac gently placed a hand on her back, holding her quietly. For a moment, he didn¡¯t speak. He just let her cry. "I¡¯m proud of you," he whispered eventually. She didn¡¯t answer right away, just tightened her grip. Leora watched the scene in silence. Her arms crossed, and her gaze flicked between the two of them. She didn¡¯t say anything either, but her expression had softened. After a while, Alice finally pulled back. Her eyes were red, but her smile was wide. "I didn¡¯t think... I didn¡¯t think it would ever happen." Isaac brushed some hair from her cheek. "But it did." She nodded quickly, wiping her face. "What should I do next? Wait, I haven¡¯t checked what Talent I got yet." Isaac stood and helped her up. "Take your time. It¡¯ll show itself on your screen. Focus and read it out loud if you want." She nodded again and looked ahead, eyes scanning the invisible screen only she could see. A few seconds passed. Then she blinked. Her lips moved slightly as she read silently, and a puzzled look crossed her face. Leora stepped closer. "Is there something wrong?" "No, but it says...." Chapter 89: Talent And Bloodline Skills Chapter 89: Talent And Bloodline Skills Alice stared at the screen in silence. Her fingers trembled slightly as sat on Isaac¡¯s lap. Leora broke the quiet first. "Don¡¯t worry," she said softly, crouching near Alice with a reassuring smile. "Even if it¡¯s an F-rank Talent, it doesn¡¯t matter. Some people start slow, but with enough training, even a weak Talent can up¡ª" "No," Alice interrupted. Her voice was calm, but it carried an edge of disbelief. "No... it says Saintess. Rank SSS." Leora blinked. Her mouth opened slightly but no words came. Isaac turned to Alice, unsure if he¡¯d heard her right. "Saintess?" Leora finally managed. "You¡¯re sure?" Alice nodded, slowly at first, then firmly. "It is right in front of me. The Talent section says Saintess." Isaac stared at her. Saintess Talent? SSS Rank? That wasn¡¯t just rare. It was unheard of. His mind jumped back to stories passed down through the Calloway line of the First Matriarch, the founder of their bloodline, who bore the same Talent of SSS rank. Alice had just awakened a power on par with a legendary figure. For a few moments, none of them said anything. Leora was the first to steady herself. She let out a breath and stood up. "Alice... this is incredible. But if you¡¯re comfortable with it, could you write down your stats and skills for us to see? Just for documentation. You don¡¯t have to, of course." Alice turned to her, then glanced at Isaac. Her eyes softened. "I can share them with Isaac," she said. "But... I¡¯d prefer to keep them private otherwise." "That¡¯s perfectly fine," Leora said without missing a beat. "It¡¯s your right. You¡¯re not even a Sanctum student, and you don¡¯t have any obligation to share anything." There was no hint of disappointment in her tone. She meant what she said. It was common practice to keep status screens hidden. Just then, something flickered in front of Isaac¡¯s vision. A translucent screen materialized with soft white light, and text began to scroll across it. [You have helped your wife, Alice Calloway, reach heights that would have otherwise left her drenched in despair and blood to achieve the same.] [Before achieving her true awakening, Alice would have faced repeated agony and rejection. Betrayed by her family, exiled, and forced to survive in the wild after the city¡¯s fall, she would have survived while living in hiding in wilderness alone and unawakened.] [You have averted Alice Calloway¡¯s tragedy and guided her Fate toward a brighter path.] [The Goddess of Love, War, and Harvest smiles upon you.] Isaac blinked. The lines sent a tremor through his heart. ¡¯So Alice would have awakened normally, but it would¡¯ve cost her too much.¡¯ He clenched his fist when he saw her family betrayed her, and exiled her. Anger rose within his heart but he calmed it. Lucian Calloway, her uncle, seemed to care about Alice. It must¡¯ve have been someone else who caused her exile. Perhaps.... Selene. Then, Isaac stared at the next line. ¡¯It says city¡¯s fall. This means the Fortified City 50 would be destroyed in the future.¡¯ There was nothing he could do about it for now. He kept the information inside his head, and he stared at the last line for a while, waiting for something else. Anything. A reward. A title. A minor stat boost. A free potion, even. But the screen vanished. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. ¡¯The Goddess smiled at me. How touching. Maybe next time she can throw in a sword.¡¯ Still, when he looked at Alice again¡ªsitting upright now, steady, her gaze filled with a quiet strength¡ªhe felt his irritation fade. The change in her was real. He could feel it, and it made it smile. Carefully, he helped her back onto the bed and let her rest against the pillows. She didn¡¯t resist, but her eyes stayed fixed forward. "Feeling okay?" he asked. "I¡¯m still trying to believe it," she said. "It all feels too fast." "It happens," Isaac said. "You should rest for now. The awakening must have taken a toll on your body and soul." Isaac pulled back after he helped her lie down. Leora remained silent. She seemed to be waiting for something. Isaac checked Alice¡¯s status. Name: Alice Calloway Title: None Species: Sun Dragon Talent: Unawakened ¡ú Saintess Rank: Unawakened ¡ú Initiate, Lv. 1 (Share) Stats (Share): Strength: 20 Agility: 33 Constitution: 23 Spirit Power: 34 Mana: 32 Isaac stared at the numbers next to her stats. All of them were far beyond what a Level 1 Initiate Awakener should have. She was already equal to¡ªor maybe stronger than¡ªa peak Adept-level human. Isaac checked Talent next. Talent: Saintess Rank: SSS (Share) First Talent Skill: ??? (Unlocked at user Lv. 5 Initiate Rank) (Unlock the skill to share it) ¡¯It really is SSS rank Saintess,¡¯ he muttered, still not quite believing what he was seeing. Alice had an SSS rank Talent, an Apex rank Dragon Bloodline, and she would be betrayed by her family. It sounded as though she was the protagonist in a webnovel, who would gather strength, achieve her true potential, and then come back to show her family what they had lost. A chuckle left his lips, and he checked her bloodline skills. ¡¯What the...¡¯ Isaac had to double check to make sure it was not an hallucination. ¡¯What are these skills?¡¯ Skill: Solar Dominion (Share) Skill Rank: SSS Skill Level: 1 Active Effect: Allows Alice Calloway to manifest a blazing sun-shaped domain (1 hectare) centered on herself for 60 seconds. Within this field, enemies suffer intense burn damage every second, and their healing, stealth, and mana regeneration are drastically reduced. She gains 30% bonus fire and light damage. Passive Effect: Undead and shadow-aligned beings are instantly weakened or disintegrated. Cost: 30 Mana (+ 5 Mana per second while active) Cooldown: 12 hours The first skill shocked Isaac. It was extremely powerful with it¡¯s passive-burn damage, and the ability to seal enemies health, stealth, and Mana regen. The skill was strong against undeads, and shadow-type monsters. The only limitation of the skill was Mana requirement. Currently, Alice could use it for only one second. But as an Apex-rank species, she gained mores stat points that others from a level up, and soon she would have enough mana to use the skill without worrying about Mana cost. Isaac checked the next skill. Skill: Daybreak Incarnate(Share) Skill Rank: SSS Skill Level: 1 Active Effect: Transforms Alice Calloway into a radiant Sun Dragon hybrid. While transformed, Alice Calloway gains flight, high resistance to dark and fire damage, and breathes solar fire that ignores 50% of enemy resistances, and her each step radiates devastating solar mana shockwaves. Physical and magical stats are increased by 70%. Passive Effect: While in sunlight, transformation cooldown is reduced by 30%. Cost: 10 Mana (Scales with time) Cooldown: Can only be used under the presence of sunlight The second skill was extremely strong, and combat oriented. It did not have any cooldown, but it could be used only during the day. Isaac checked the third skill. Skill: Flame of Judgement(Share) Skill Rank: SSS Skill Level: 1 Active Effect: Summons a celestial spear of solar fire that pierces the battlefield and detonates 1 hectare area, vaporizing enemies and leaving behind a cursed, burning wasteland. Enemies slain cannot be revived by normal means. Passive Effect: Increases damage against shadow, undead, and demonic entities by 25%. Cost: 40 Mana ¡¯A ranged attack skill. The mana cost is high, but I suppose the damage it does would be similarly huge, and...¡¯ His eyes stayed on the line ¡¯Enemies slain cannot be revived by normal means.¡¯ ¡¯So resurrection is possible.¡¯ Chapter 90: Alice’s Condition Deteriorates Chapter 90: Alice¡¯s Condition Deteriorates ¡¯I should try to look into items with revival effects.¡¯ He checked the forth skill. Skill: Heart of the Eternal Sun(Share) Skill Rank: SSS Skill Level: 1 Active Effect: For 60 seconds, all fire and light abilities cost no mana. Passive Effect: Grants permanent regeneration of health, mana, and stamina (+2% per second). In sunlight, cooldown of all skills is reduced by 20%. Cost: 80 Mana ¡¯The Mana cost is higher than the previous skill. It would take a while before Alice can use this skill.¡¯ ¡¯But on the bright side, the passive effect is always active and it¡¯s an overpowered passive effect that affects the cooldown of all skills.¡¯ Apex species bloodlines were on another level entirely. With effects like these, it was no wonder they had ruled the ancient world. He found it hard to imagine a time when entire civilizations walked the earth with powers like this. Bloodlines that could reshape the land, tear through enemies, and crush cities. And yet they were gone. He frowned. How terrifying must the apocalypse have been to wipe them out? His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, soft whimper. Alice. His gaze snapped to her. She was lying on the bed, and curled up. Her body was trembling. Steam rose from her skin, and her cheeks had flushed red. Her breath came in short gasps. Then she let out another whimper. "Alice?" Isaac¡¯s voice cracked with concern. He was at her side in a moment. Her body was burning to the touch. Not warm¡ªscalding. Her hands clutched her stomach, and her entire frame was writhing as if her muscles couldn¡¯t settle. Her eyes fluttered but never focused. She didn¡¯t respond. "Calm down," Leora told him. "It¡¯s nothing harmful." "What?! Look at her¡ª" "It¡¯s physique awakening," Leora cut in gently but firmly. "Her body is adapting to her new power. It will boost her stats, and reinforce her body to support her dragon blood." Leora¡¯s brows furrowed. "Normally, this happens a few days after a bloodline awakens. But she used a Genetic Catalyst instead of an Awakening Crystal. It likely forced all three awakenings to occur together instead of one-by-one." Isaac looked at Alice again. She was sweating now. Her lips moved without forming words. His heart tightened, seeing her state. "What should we do?" "She needs nutrients, now," Leora said. "Her body is breaking down and rebuilding itself at the cellular level. We can ease the pain by putting her to sleep, but we need to get her to the hospital in the central stronghold. They have the right tanks and solutions there." "Then let¡¯s go." "No," Leora said quickly, raising a hand. "Walking or using a public portal will take time. Every second will be painful for her." Leora tapped on her slab device. "I¡¯ve already contacted Catherine. She¡¯s sending help." The room shifted. A low hum filled the air. A tiny dark cloud swirled into existence in the corner near the window. It pulsed once, then expanded outward, dark blue tendrils forming a spherical veil. A faint flash lit the inside, and when the cloud collapsed inward, a figure remained standing in its place. Celia Rae, the idol of the city, and an SSS rank support-type awakener. She stepped forward, and her sea-blue eyes scanned the room once, quickly taking in the situation. "Celia," Leora greeted her. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. Can you take us to the hospital?" Celia nodded once, already raising her hand. "Hold her carefully," she said softly, looking at Isaac. Isaac gently scooped Alice into his arms. She was burning hot. Her hands clutched at his shirt weakly, but she didn¡¯t say a word. Her eyes remained shut, and the rest of her body was limp. Celia¡¯s hand glowed. A dark blue cloud expanded above her palm. It pulsed once. Then it swallowed them. The air shifted. The light around them dimmed and bent, and for a split second, there was nothing. Then, the cloud receded and they were standing in front of the stronghold¡¯s main hospital building. Security drones scanned them as soon as they arrived, but Celia held up a crystal badge and they passed through without issue. Inside, Leora moved fast, already contacting the head nurse through her device. In less than a minute, a team of white-suited attendants rushed out. One of them pushed a hover-pallet toward Isaac. "Place her here." Isaac laid Alice down gently. The attendants slid a scanner over her, nodded, and then wheeled her deeper inside. They entered a reinforced chamber lined with thin glowing veins across its walls. The room was filled with a humming, sterile light. The large cylindrical tube in the center opened. Its interior was filled with a faintly glowing liquid. The staff quickly and efficiently placed monitoring patches across Alice¡¯s body. Tiny connectors adjusted to her heat level, ensuring they wouldn¡¯t melt. Once set, they gently lowered her into the tank. The moment her skin touched the nutrient-rich solution, the steam stopped rising. The fluid adjusted automatically to her temperature. The test tube sealed with a hiss. Her body floated inside, suspended by the solution. Her face looked calm now. The color in her cheeks softened, and her breathing evened out. Lights on the exterior flickered and settled into a steady green. "That solution¡¯s been customized for physique awakenings like hers," Leora said, turning to Isaac. "It¡¯s high in nutrients and pain suppressants. She won¡¯t feel anything. Her body will have everything it needs to complete the process." "Thank you." Isaac exhaled slowly, stepping back from the glass. "I should have been more careful." "It was my fault. Unlike you, I know what happened during the Physique awakening. I should¡¯ve prepared for such possibility," Leora said. It was no one¡¯s fault. Both of them understood that. "She¡¯ll be fine. Her condition was never unstable. Her body just needed help managing the transformation," Leora said, noticing Isaac¡¯s expression. Isaac didn¡¯t reply immediately. He watched Alice float peacefully. Her fingers twitched once but then went still. "How long will it take?" "Not long," Leora answered. "Physique awakening at her level finishes in hours, not days. She¡¯ll likely wake up by tomorrow morning, or afternoon. Her appearance will change slightly as she gains dragonic traits, but that¡¯s normal." He nodded slowly. Then, he glanced at the Celia. She stood quietly by the door, hands folded behind her back. Chapter 91: Preparing A Gift For Emily, Emily Apologizes Chapter 91: Preparing A Gift For Emily, Emily Apologizes "Thank you for the help, Celia." "No problem." She smiled. The idol left after giving him her number, saying he could contact her in future if he needs her help again. Isaac turned back to the glass pod where Alice lay. He didn¡¯t know how long he stared at her before Leora¡¯s voice came from behind. "You should head home." "I¡¯ll stay." "You staying here won¡¯t help her," Leora said plainly, walking up beside him. "She needs time to stabilize. You hovering here changes nothing." He turned to look at her. "I want to be here when she wakes up." "She¡¯ll come home soon," Leora said. "You should focus on harvesting the crops. You already skipped two rotations, and it affected your earnings. Anymore and she might have to return to Calloways." He frowned. The logic hit him like a slow-moving train. He let out a long breath and nodded begrudgingly. "Alright." They walked out to the military jeep in silence. The night had settled over the walls of the central facility, casting dark shadows hue over the stone. Inside the jeep, Isaac sat beside Leora. The engine roared to life as she took the wheel. He pulled up his interface. AP Balance: 278.82 ¡ú 810.22 He nodded to himself ¡¯Four hundred thirty-two AP came from the passive gain Alice and Emily are generating now, and the rest came from the duration Alice awakened to until she collapsed, which should be roughly a minute.¡¯ The spike in AP was massive. But it wasn¡¯t enough. He needed more. That reminded him of the gift for Emily he wanted to prepare. He reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a small wooden box. Inside were two crimson flowers. Their petals looked like gemstones, glinting slightly. Leora glanced over. "What are you doing?" "Preparing food for Emily," he said. Leora¡¯s hands tightened on the steering wheel. The motion was subtle, but Isaac caught it. He turned slightly to her. "You know food and life stones taste bland to her, don¡¯t you?" She didn¡¯t respond immediately. But the silence answered plenty. "Yeah," she said at last. "The taste of a life stone depends on the quality of life force it absorbed. It¡¯s not easy to find... ¡¯tasty¡¯ ones. As for food, it depends on mana content. We¡¯re already feeding Emily the highest-grade food we can get. This is the best we can do." Her voice was steady, but Isaac heard the undertone of guilt. "It¡¯s fine," he said. "I have a way." He held one of the death blood flowers in his palm. Then he activated his skill Seed of Providence. He felt a pulse as mana surged through his arm. It flowed into the flower like water filling a dry cup. But that wasn¡¯t all. His life force was being siphoned too. The flower glowed faintly, its petals unfurling. Each red petal bloomed like crystal, hardening into small, gleaming red stones¡ªlife stones. The skill had matured the plant in seconds. Seed of Providence always did that. It absorbed mana and nutrients from its surroundings, but if the surroundings lacked nourishment, it took more mana from the caster. This time, it had used Isaac¡¯s life force as ¡¯nourishment¡¯. "Did... you use your life force?" Leora asked. "Yeah," Isaac said, feeling slightly tired. "Emily likes my life force. So these should taste good to her." Leora stared at him. "I can recover over time," he added. "No big deal." She nodded and turned back to the road. Internally, her opinion of Isaac rose again. They reached the gates of the house. Emily was already outside on the porch, waving the moment she saw the jeep. Her small frame was outlined by the light coming from the house behind her. "Auntie said something happened to Alice," Emily said the moment they got out. "But she wouldn¡¯t tell me anything. Is Alice okay? Why didn¡¯t she come back with you? She¡¯s alright, right?" Her voice was fast and a little shaky. Isaac¡¯s hand moved before he knew it and he patted her head. "Alice is alright. She awakened her Talent, bloodline, and physique. It took a huge toll on her, so she had to be admitted to complete it safely. She¡¯ll be back by tomorrow." Emily¡¯s eyes lit up. "She awakened? Really?" "Yes." Isaac smiled as he watched her excitement grow. They walked into the house. As usual, Professor Catherine was sprawled on the couch in the living room. Her outfit today was even more relaxed than before. She wore short shorts and a thin-strapped top. Leora frowned slightly. Emily didn¡¯t seem to notice or care. She rushed past into the kitchen, probably to prepare something before dinner. Isaac had grown used to Catherine¡¯s fashion choices by now. In her own apartments and when she barged into his during the night saying she was bored alone, she used to wear even less. "Welcome back," Catherine greeted casually. After a moment, she looked toward Leora. "I¡¯m starving. Can you cook early today?" Leora stared at her for a beat. Her expression was blank. Then she sighed. "Sure." Isaac glanced at her. He could swear Leora had been contemplating whether to throw Catherine into the stew pot instead. The wooden table was set soon. Leora moved about the kitchen, serving plates with warm food. Steam rose from the dishes, filling the dining area with a soft, savory scent. Isaac sat down and motioned Emily to join him. She skipped over, rubbing her eyes lightly. The tiredness from the combat training with Professor Catherine was catching upto her. Despite the yawn she tried to suppress, there was a smile on her lips. But when she sat, she blinked. Her plate was empty. "Uh..." Emily tilted her head. "Am I not getting food today?" Leora paused for a moment, then glanced at Isaac. Emily¡¯s followed her gaze and looked at Isaac. Isaac wiped his hands with a napkin and faced her. "I asked Leora not to serve you food today." Her expression froze. "Why...?" He rested his elbow on the table and looked her in the eye. "Emily, tell me honestly. Does the food actually taste good to you, or have you been forcing yourself to eat it because I asked you to?" "What? No!" Emily shook her head. "Of course, it tastes good¡ª" Isaac let out a long breath, cutting her off. "You twist your toe fingers when you lie," he said quietly. Emily blinked. She glanced down, her cheeks warming slightly. "I picked it up through Mind Echo. You might¡¯ve thought you were hiding it well, but..." He sighed again, then reached into his spatial ring. A faint shimmer of light rippled as he pulled out a glowing Life Stone and placed it on her plate. "From today onward, your diet will be Life stone only. Until I can grow proper vegetables, that is." She stared at the Life Stone, surprised not by the object, but by Isaac¡¯s tone. It wasn¡¯t cold, or harsh, but it was firm. He never spoke to her with that tone. Emily lowered her head and mumbled, "Sorry...." That made Isaac pause. He didn¡¯t understand why she apologized, and when he understood, his lips ended up curving slightly. "There¡¯s nothing to apologize for, Emily. Just be honest with me from next time, alright?" Emily nodded softly. They started eating in silence. Emily placed a hand over the Life Stone and activated her Life Drain. A warm sensation spread across her tongue almost instantly. Her body stiffened. It wasn¡¯t bland and instead it was delicious. A vibrant, deep flavor bloomed in her mouth, like a sweet fruit that somehow also tasted like fire-grilled vegetables. It didn¡¯t make sense, but it worked. She looked up at Isaac with a silent gaze. +0.8 AP +0.8 AP +0.8 AP +0.8 AP Her AP rate jumped. She understood why those life stones were delicious and had a familiar yet addicting taste. But more than the taste, she was simply happy that Isaac had noticed how food tasted to her and that he cared enough to act. The taste was just a bonus. Chapter 92: Sharing Alice’s Bloodline, Removing The Stat Limit Chapter 92: Sharing Alice¡¯s Bloodline, Removing The Stat Limit After dinner, Isaac moved to the study room. Emily trailed behind him, dragging her feet slightly. "I already ate... do I really have to study too?" she mumbled, hugging herself like a sulking child. Isaac glanced at her over his shoulder. "If you¡¯re confused about any topic, I¡¯ll help. But you still need to study." She pouted. "Can I sit on your lap then?" He stopped. His lips twitched. "How would that help either of us study?" Emily looked away, muttering, "It will make studying more tolerable." "No, we won¡¯t be able to study since that position will leave us unable to place books properly." He gave her a light pat on the head and guided her inside. She sat with a groan. Still, she opened her book and began flipping through it. Unlike Isaac, she had no memory of her childhood, and as a result, her curriculum had to be built from the ground up. It was heavier, more complex and as a result, much more annoying. They studied together for the next two hours. Isaac patiently explained difficult concepts, quizzed her gently, and helped correct her notes. Emily slowly began to engage more. By 11, she looked half-dead, her eyes drooping. "Alright, go sleep," Isaac said. Her eyes lit up, and she flew out of the room with surprising speed. Isaac chuckled, shaking his head. "That much enthusiasm just to get away from books." He stayed behind, flipping through his own notes. Mana theories. Cultivation experiments. Soil combinations. Everything was piling up. But he kept going. At midnight, his crops were ready. Isaac stepped outside into the small field he¡¯d cultivated. The air was cool, and the pillar light painted the plants with a faint silver sheen. He grabbed his hoe, and swung it. 2000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +1000. Constitution +1000. You have obtained 10,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3240 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +288. Constitution +288. You have obtained 16,200 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Completing the harvest, he burned stalk, spread the fertilizers and replanted fresh seeds. It was a bit tiring to do with his limited mana pool, but he didn¡¯t rush to share Alice¡¯s bloodline. He had to be careful to make sure his timing of his stat increase and his actions before that was not suspicious. If his stat limit suddenly disappered just before the harvest, it woud look like he had been waiting for it to gain the stats, something that should be impossible. As he worked, his thoughts wandered. ¡¯I¡¯ve already asked Professor Catherine for vegetable and grain crops. Hopefully, they arrive tomorrow. My field should be good enough to grow crops for something that will make tasty food for Emily.¡¯ With the seeds all in place and the field reset, he dusted off his hands and returned to their room. The light was dim, just enough to see. Emily had fallen asleep on her side of the bed, half-covered by the blanket. But the way her hand dangled toward the door, and how her eyes weren¡¯t fully shut, told him she¡¯d been waiting for him. He walked over quietly and gently adjusted the blanket over her. She stirred a little but didn¡¯t wake. Her breathing was calm. Isaac sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, watching her. Then he reached for the pendant around his neck. With a flicker of consciousness, he entered the soulbound space. The shift was smooth, like slipping through warm water. When he opened his eyes again, he was inside the wooden house in the pendant¡¯s sub-dimension. Isaac stood still for a moment, letting the silence settle before pulling up his status sheet from his Bonded Blessing System. The translucent blue panel appeared in front of his eyes. Name: Isaac Hargraves Title: Mana Resonance, Formlock, Mind Echo Talent: Genesis Farmer Rank: Initiate, Lv. 10 Stats: Strength: 62 Agility: 85 Constitution: 100 [1000] Spirit Power: 100 [2] Mana: 100 [1000] Skills: Shared Skills: Spectral Claws (SSS rank), Life Drain (S rank), Phantom Step (SSS rank), Demonic Eyes (SS rank), Phantom Parade (SSS rank), Phantom Ward (SSS rank) Talent Skills: Seed of Providence (SSS rank), Reaper¡¯s Bounty (SSS rank), Sovereign of Land (SSS rank) Bonds: Wives: Emily Warren (Netherborn Phantom Empress), Alice Calloway (Sun Dragon) Bound Beasts: Tyr (Ironwood Sentinel of Life), Tirra (Noctavern Wraithbird) Affection Points: Balance: 810.22 ¡ú 870.91 Class Quest: Class: Genetic Harvester Rank: SSS+ Requirements: Enhance one of your Talent skills to perfection (Incomplete). Find or create a Tier 2 Seed and harvest it (Incomplete). Absorb a Genetic Catalyst (Completed). Survive the Evolutionary Trial (Incomplete). His eyes scanned the status, and a quiet grin stretched across his face. "This is a good status, now..." "Share Alice¡¯s bloodline!" The moment he said the words, the panel shimmered and a ripple spread through his chest. Then, he felt it. His heart skipped a beat. Then again. A sudden surge of heat, not burning, but warm and steady, like sunlight settled beneath his skin. His back straightened instinctively. His posture grew firm, and grounded. His body felt cleaner, and lighter. His senses sharpened. The dim night inside the soul pendant subdimension no longer felt dim. He could pick out the faint dust particles floating midair. Even his skin prickled slightly, as if it recognized the space around him more intimately. He raised his hand and curled his fingers into a fist. He could feel the dormant energy coiled deep inside his bones, like a dragon resting. He exhaled lightly. He could feel the changes in his blood. It was now thicker, and stronger. The Sun Dragon Bloodline gave him the instincts and potential of dragon. It made his foundation solid. A grin tugged at his lips again when he saw the system messages. [Apex-rank Bloodline detected.] [Stat limit is being re-adjusted.] Spirit Power: 100 [2] ¡ú 102 Constitution: 100 [1000] ¡ú 1000 [100] Mana: 100 [1000] ¡ú 1000 [100] Your Constitution and Mana has reached Stat limit. You have gained.... Chapter 93: New Titles, Talent Fragments Chapter 93: New Titles, Talent Fragments Isaac blinked as the screen hovered before him. Your Constitution and Mana have reached the Stat Limit. You have gained an upgrade to your affected Titles. Formlock ¡ú Extreme Formlock Mana Resonance ¡ú Extreme Mana Resonance Isaac immediately felt the change. It was as if someone had swapped out the inner framework of his body and replaced it with something denser, stronger, and more efficient. Every breath felt more refined, and every movement was more precise. If he had to fight that Champion-rank assassin again, Isaac was confident the dagger couldn¡¯t pierce his skin. With his current build, he could probably block the assassin¡¯s blade with his forearm and walk away with only a scratch. The real change, though, was mana. He closed his eyes and immediately sensed ¡¯it¡¯. Dozens of threads of mana danced around him. He could feel the shape of the room without looking, and everything that the threads touched. It allowed him to sense the table, the cracks on the floor, and the faint traces of heat where his footsteps had been. It all pulsed inside his awareness like a second heartbeat. He opened his eyes slowly, and his lips curled into a smile. "I can detect all mana signature within 100 meters. This is on par with SSS-rank mana detection skill," he muttered. "No... This feels better, and detection is just one of the effect of the title." His control over ambient mana had improved too. He held out his hand and focused. Ambient mana moved toward his palm without resistance. He directed it toward the nearby table. The wooden surface accepted the flow instantly, glowing with a soft, stable blue sheen. There were three types of Combat Classes: Mage-type, Warrior-type and Hybrid-type (mix of Mage-type, and Warrior-type) To control ambient Mana one needed a Mage-type class, and then train for months. Hybrid Classes would take more time than Mage-type classes, and Warrior-type classes could take over a year to learn the same. But Isaac could do it already! He stepped back, laughing under his breath. "Apex bloodlines are awesome." Then, just as he was about to explore further, another notification appeared. You have an Apex-rank Bloodline. You have gained the Descendant of Ancients title. Isaac¡¯s eyes narrowed. For a moment, nothing seemed to change. Then he felt a faint nudge in his thoughts. It was as if a layer of static had been cleaned away. It was not a power-up in the usual sense. His reflexes and muscles remained the same, but his mind? It felt... clearer. "What does this title even do?" Isaac murmured. "I guess I¡¯ll have to wait until Alice gets it and see if the Leora explains it to her. She seems to know about Apex-rank bloodlines." After sharing the bloodline, he raised his hand again. "Share stats!" The status screen changed instantly. This time, it showed his stats. His mouth twitched into a wide grin as he watched the numbers rise. Strength: 62 ¡ú 80 Agility: 85 ¡ú 118 Constitution: 1000 [100] ¡ú 1000 [123] Spirit Power: 102 ¡ú 136 Mana: 1000 [100] ¡ú 1000 [132] The moment the changes settled in, Isaac nearly staggered. He clenched his fists, feeling the new strength ripple down his arms. It wasn¡¯t brute force alone. His body had become more elastic, and responsive. He stretched his fingers, moved side to side, and nodded in satisfaction. His flexibility had improved. His reaction time had gotten sharper. That made sense¡ªAgility, Spirit Power, and Constitution had all jumped. It was like upgrading from a high-performance car to something that floated across the ground. "I crossed 100 in Agility, but didn¡¯t get a title," he muttered. "I guess it will happen at 1000 from now. "But I wonder... Will it be the original title everyone gets at 100 stat limit, or will it be the upgraded one at 1000 stat?" Isaac frowned, and hoped he wouldn¡¯t miss the original title. He was not a fan of missing opportunities if he could help it. "Focus." There was still more to share. "Share skills!" The screen lit up again. A cascade of skills poured into view, one after the other. All of them were SSS rank, courtesy of Alice¡¯s bloodline, and Talent. Isaac scrolled down quickly, absorbing as much as he could. "This is... insane," he whispered. "With this, I could crush Champion-rank opponents." His excitement swelled. His combat power hadn¡¯t doubled¡ªit had quintupled. Even without planning or traps, he could probably take down Level 50 awakeners now. "I wonder..." His eyes narrowed. "Could I fight an Overlord?" The thought lingered for a second. Then he shook his head. "No. I¡¯m strong, sure, but not that strong." The boost he¡¯d received was massive, yes, but it wasn¡¯t unique to him. Apex-rank bloodlines probably granted these stats to all their inheritors. It only felt overpowered because most of the people he¡¯d fought before had human bloodline¡ªthe lowest rank bloodline. "I need to stay grounded." Still, one thing remained. "The last thing to share... is Alice¡¯s Talent rank." Isaac smiled, rubbing his hands together. "Last time I copied Emily¡¯s Talent, my Genesis Farmer talent went from SSS to SSS+. Let¡¯s see what happens now." He took a deep breath and gave the command. "Share Talent Rank!" The system buzzed again. Genesis Farmer (SSS+) ¡ú Genesis Farmer (SSS+) Talent Fragment Requirement for next Rank: 1/2 Isaac¡¯s brows furrowed. "Huh?" He read the message twice. "So it didn¡¯t go up... but the system shows I¡¯m at 1 out of 2 fragments now." He rubbed his chin, then nodded slowly. "This confirms it. There¡¯s a rank beyond SSS+." That wasn¡¯t all. "Since two SSS rank Talent made SSS+ that means I need two SSS+ Talent - mine and someone else¡¯s - to make the upgrade my Talent again, This is why SSS rank Talent is now counted as a ¡¯fragment¡¯ instead of a whole as it¡¯s not enough for the upgrade." He sat down at the still-glowing table, mind running. "I see. So it¡¯s like combining parts. Two of the same rank make something new. Two SSS talents made SSS+. And now to go beyond, I need two SSS+ talents, I guess." He glanced back at the status screen. Name: Isaac Hargraves Title: Extreme Mana Resonance, Extreme Formlock, Mind Echo, Descendant of Ancients Talent: Genesis Farmer Rank: Initiate, Lv. 10 Stats: Strength: 80 Agility: 118 Constitution: 1000 [123] Spirit Power: 136 Mana: 1000 [132] Skills: Shared Skills: Solar Dominion (SSS rank), Daybreak Incarnate (SSS rank), Flame of Judgement (SSS rank), Heart of the Eternal Sun (SSS rank), Spectral Claws (SSS rank), Life Drain (S rank), Phantom Step (SSS rank), Demonic Eyes (SS rank), Phantom Parade (SSS rank), Phantom Ward (SSS rank) Talent Skills: Seed of Providence (SSS rank), Reaper¡¯s Bounty (SSS rank), Sovereign of Land (SSS rank) Bonds: Wives: Emily Warren (Netherborn Phantom Empress), Alice Calloway (Sun Dragon) Bound Beasts: Tyr (Ironwood Sentinel of Life), Tirra (Noctavern Wraithbird) Affection Points: Balance: 875.91 Class Quest: Class: Genetic Harvester Rank: SSS+ Requirements: Enhance one of your Talent skills to perfection (Incomplete). Find or create a Tier 2 Seed and harvest it (Incomplete). Absorb a Genetic Catalyst (Completed). Survive the Evolutionary Trial (Incomplete). Isaac nodded in satisfaction. The changes brought by the bloodline and skills of Alice were immense. Not only felt he stronger, and faster, he also felt his heart pulsing with overflowing vigor. It made him feel refreshed. His body still bore the aftereffects of the injuries he¡¯d taken from the assassins, but the passive effect of [Heart of the Eternal Sun] was working steadily. The fatigue he¡¯d felt due to before healing had faded into a manageable dullness. After checking everything, Isaac left the Soulbind Pendant. He stood in the quiet of his room, not feeling sleepy. His body was ready to keep going, thanks to the sudden increase in stats. For a brief moment, he considered picking up one of the books from the shelf and studying just to pass the time. Then he heard a soft voice. "Isaac..." Emily murmured his name in her sleep. She was curled under the blanket, hugging the teddy bear he¡¯d given her tightly. Her hair was messy, and her face was relaxed. Isaac smiled a little and walked over. He quietly laid down beside her, careful not to wake her up. She didn¡¯t stir. Within minutes, he closed his eyes too, and let the stillness of the night take him. He woke up at 5:30 AM sharp, his internal clock working as precisely as always. Something warm pressed against his side. He glanced down and noticed Emily had rolled over in her sleep. The teddy bear had been pushed away to the edge of the bed. Now she was hugging him instead. Isaac lay still for a moment, then gently shifted his weight. He moved slowly, making sure not to disturb her. Once free, he stood and pulled the blanket up over her again. Outside, the sky was still dim. He stepped out of the house, letting the door shut quietly behind him. The next second, Leora appeared beside him without a sound. But this time, he sensed it, even if barely. There had been a faint ripple in the mana around him when she arrived. That small pulse... he wouldn¡¯t have noticed it before. ¡¯That was thanks to Extreme Mana Resonance,¡¯ he thought. ¡¯This means, I won¡¯t be taken out by ambushes at least.¡¯ Still, he hadn¡¯t sensed her leaving the room. Or waking up. ¡¯Is it the difference in strength, or does she have a skill that conceals her presence?¡¯ He didn¡¯t voice any of those thoughts aloud. Instead, he focused on the calm of the morning air and the slight breeze moving across the open fields. Then he noticed her looking at him. "Is there something you want to say?" he asked. Leora studied him a little longer before replying. "Did your bloodline awaken?" Isaac didn¡¯t respond immediately. "You seem... more attractive, or perhaps charismatic would be a better term. Your movements are smoother, precise, and more graceful," she added. "That¡¯s the effect of the apex species title." Chapter 94: Using Increased Mana Pool, Denizen Of Hell Chapter 94: Using Increased Mana Pool, Denizen Of Hell Isaac raised an eyebrow. "It¡¯s subtle, but the presence it gives off can¡¯t be faked," she said. "Anyhow, the title will make you resistant to mind-based attacks. And to instinct-driven species, you¡¯ll feel dangerous. They¡¯ll sense the powerful blood running through you." "I see," Isaac muttered, thinking to himself. ¡¯She knows a lot about apex-ranked species.¡¯ But he didn¡¯t confirm or deny anything. He just grabbed his hoe. He walked over to the edge of the field. It stretched out for nineteen hectares. With one smooth motion, he swung his hoe. 2000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +1000. Constitution +1000. You have obtained 10,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3240 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +288. Constitution +288. You have obtained 16,200 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Mana: 1000 [100] ¡ú 1000 [1420] Constitution: 1000 [100] ¡ú 1000 [1411] Once swing was all it took. The entire 19-hectare farmland reacted, and the grains were collected neatly on the side. Where before he¡¯d needed six or seven strikes, now one was enough. And he wasn¡¯t even winded. It was all thanks to having 1000 Mana. There was a strange freedom in knowing that. Isaac took a deep breath and held it for a second before letting it go. Then he took out a handful of vitality grain seeds and looked down at them. Leora watched him. "What are you doing?" she asked. "I thought of a new way to plant them. I¡¯m going to test it." He tossed the seeds into the air. As they hung mid-fall, Isaac activated Sovereign of Land. Mana surged from his legs into the soil. The ground responded. Thin roots shot up from the soil. They curved and twisted mid-air, reaching toward the falling seeds. Each one was grabbed gently and pulled into the ground. The seeds had been planted in neat, efficient rows. It was miles faster than doing it by hand. As if appreciating his innovate idea of skill usage, a screen popped up before him. Sovereign of Land has reached Level 7 ¡ú 8 Active and passive effects strengthened by 120%. A level 8 skill! Isaac could feel his control over the roots had grown tremendously! ¡¯Two more levels, and it will reach max level, and one of my class quest will be completed.¡¯ "You must¡¯ve thought of that trick a long time ago. But couldn¡¯t try it, since you didn¡¯t have the mana before, right?" Isaac was about to answer when he paused. That wasn¡¯t Leora¡¯s voice. He turned and saw Professor Catherine standing near the edge of the field. She was wearing what looked like a pair of black athletic shorts and an oversized white shirt that slipped off one shoulder. It was clearly thrown on in a hurry, like she¡¯d just rolled out of bed. "Is your bloodline... dragon?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "It¡¯s definitely apex-ranked. I can feel the pressure." Isaac blinked. "Wait, humans can sense that?" He looked at Leora, then back at Catherine. "I thought only more sensitive races could." Catherine smiled faintly. "Who said I was human?" He narrowed his eyes. "Then what are you?" "Maybe I¡¯ll tell you... if you tell me your species first." "Ah, no thanks then." She chuckled. He didn¡¯t press the conversation further. He gathered the harvested grain into storage, packed everything into the back of the jeep, and soon climbed in beside Leora and Tyr. They drove into the city. The streets were already active when they arrived near the shop. Crowds moved between stalls and storefronts. People talked loudly, exchanging news and prices. Other businesses nearby had opened early or were undergoing renovations. The demand in the market had grown fast. Outside his own shop, Freya was waiting. She waved when she saw them. "Good morning, Isaac! Morning, Leora!" Then she smiled at Tyr. "Morning to you too." Isaac caught the way she greeted Tyr. It was slightly exaggerated, and a bit more cheerful than usual. She was trying to help him feel more at ease. ¡¯Smart move.¡¯ "You two will be working together now," he said. "So, Freya, if anything happens, contact me immediately." She nodded. Isaac looked at Tyr. "Stay with her. If any troublesome customers show up, protect her." Tyr straightened up. There was a faint shyness in his actions, but Isaac didn¡¯t point it out. The treant was full of the pride and embarrassed at the same time since Isaac was trusting him with such an important task. Isaac patted him on the back. "Good luck." "I¡¯ll drop by in the afternoon," he added as he stepped away. With everything settled, Isaac climbed back into the jeep. Leora was already in the driver¡¯s seat. They drove off together, heading home. ... Central Base, Sanctum of Master Stronghold, Akaza Ruin, Fortified City 89 The meeting room wasn¡¯t luxurious, but it had reinforced steel walls, arcane runes embedded in the corners, and a round table large enough to seat ten. It had been a long time since so many high-ranking powerhouses gathered under one roof. At the head of the table sat Eleanor, still using her ¡¯Leora¡¯ appearance. Her posture was calm, and confident. She wore her usual combat coat, and her dark blue hair, almost black under the indoor lighting, fell over her should. Her gaze swept over those present. Opposite her sat Vale Rae. His long white hair draped casually over his shoulder. The overcoat slung above his shoulders gave him a relaxed look, though the tension in his eyes said otherwise. A freezing frost could be seen in his gaze. Dante Riven leaned back in his chair. He was once a famous explorer, and now a Dean of Aeternum University. Beside him sat Lucian Vale, the principal of Horizon Institute. He had an easy smile on his lips, though it didn¡¯t reach his eyes today. He was here because of Leora¡¯s call, and that alone was enough to make everyone curious. General Magnus, clad in standard military exo-armor, sat silently, observing. He rarely spoke unless necessary, but no one doubted his authority. Professor Catherine cleared her throat and stood, pulling the room¡¯s attention toward her. She tapped a button on the table, activating the central projector. It hummed to life, casting a glowing image into the air above. "Everyone here is directly connected to the exploration of Akaza Ruin," she began. "I¡¯ve called this meeting to reveal information I discovered during my last expedition." Lucian¡¯s smile widened slightly. "Isn¡¯t that unusual? Shouldn¡¯t the Sanctum of Masters keep such valuable findings for themselves? You know, to progress faster, and gain an edge." Catherine shook her head. "Normally, yes. But this is different." Her expression tightened. "What I found isn¡¯t just a treasure. It¡¯s a calamity. One that, if handled poorly, will destroy all three strongholds we¡¯ve built here." The mood shifted instantly. Even Lucian¡¯s expression lost its playfulness. Everyone stared at the projection. The image sharpened into view of a massive, ethereal serpent, sleeping in a cavern lit with faint blue light. Its translucent body gave off a pale glow, and its stomach bulged unnaturally, as though it had consumed something large. Around it, naga demihumans moved like shadows. They seemed to be guarding, tending, or praying to the serpent. "They used assassins to attack us," Catherine said. "It was to keep our focus away from ¡¯this¡¯. While we were fighting the assassins, they were putting this snake deeper into the sleep, so that it doesn¡¯t resist teleportation when they use it upon it, to take it away." Dante leaned forward. "So what¡¯s so special about it? It looks like just another monster." Leora spoke up, voice low and calm. "It¡¯s not just a monster. That species is called a N¡¯theris Serpent." Her words silenced the room. She continued, "They¡¯re natives of Hell. They are bloodthirsty, and near-unkillable. Normally, they don¡¯t sleep much between their hunts, but this one¡¯s an infant. That¡¯s the only reason we haven¡¯t all been slaughtered already." Lucian frowned. "How did something like that even get here?" "We think it came through one of the City portals that are programmed to connect to other dimensions," Catherine answered. "One of the nagas must¡¯ve found the teleporter, and activated it while they were trying to capture the city, which ended up bringing this serpent to this side." Dante¡¯s voice was grim. "You¡¯re saying a gateway to Hell was opened inside Fortified City 89?" "There¡¯s no confirmation," Catherine replied. "But the signs are there. Anyhow, we are already in an hostile relationship with the nagas. If they get their hands on the serpent, it will be dangerous for us." A heavy and tense silence settled over them. Vale Rae finally broke it. "If it¡¯s not a dead soul that escaped, then the Grim Reapers won¡¯t interfere. That gives us time to capture the serpert." There had been precedents of a dead soul escaping the hell through a portal. In such cases, the one who opened the portal was deemed an accomplice in helping the dead soul escape Hell¡¯s bindings. Everyone in the room knew what happened to those labeled by the Reapers as an accomplice. Death would be the kindest option. "You¡¯re suggesting we use it?" Leora questioned. "Yes," Vale nodded once. "The N¡¯theris is rare. I should say it¡¯s more than rare, it¡¯s a legend. Taming it would boost our military strength by 40% at least." Dante scowled. "Or doom us all." "Taming it is foolish," Leora said. "There¡¯s no precedent for raising a Hell-dweller. Even if it¡¯s young, it won¡¯t stay that way. They grow fast, and making a bond with them is near-impossible." Chapter 95: Seed of Providence Finally Levels Up Chapter 95: Seed of Providence Finally Levels Up Lucian leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest. "Still, killing it is a waste of an exotic resource. I see both sides, but if it can be contained... controlled... it might be worth the risk." "It¡¯s not just about controlling it," Catherine said. "If the naga happens to fully awaken it, we won¡¯t get that choice. It¡¯ll turn on everything in sight." Dante stood, arms folded, and looked at each of them. "We¡¯re wasting time. Whether we kill it or not, the Sanctum of Masters is at the highest risk. It¡¯s already near the stronghold. If that snake wakes up before we¡¯re ready, a lot will die." Leora nodded. "Agreed. We can¡¯t afford delays." General Magnus spoke for the first time. "Then preparations must begin immediately. Defense structures around the stronghold need to be reinforced, and awakener squads will be placed on standby." Lucian sighed, then straightened. "Fine. I¡¯ll authorize Horizon Institute to send three teams to assist Sanctum of Masters." Dante looked at him nodded. "Aeternum University will do the same. We¡¯ll send experienced guards, not students." "Good," Catherine said. "We¡¯ll need them. We¡¯re increasing patrols around the region of ruin near the core of the city. If the naga make another move, we can¡¯t afford to be caught off guard again." Vale Rae remained quiet, but his eyes flicked to the image of the sleeping serpent. It hadn¡¯t moved at all. But all of them felt it. The unease in the air. The serpent was a predator in slumber. "We don¡¯t know when it¡¯ll wake," Leora said. "But we will prepare as if it¡¯ll wake tomorrow." The others nodded. The meeting broke up shortly after. Plans were made. Calls were sent. The human Strongholds in Fortified City 89 were put on high alert. Outside, the wind howled faintly over broken towers and crumbled streets, and deep beneath the surface, the N¡¯theris Serpent slept on. ... Isaac¡¯s House Reaper¡¯s Bounty has reached Level 5 ¡ú 6 Isaac blinked at the message but didn¡¯t stop moving. His hands kept working, carefully extracting measured quantities of diluted essence from the flowers. The glass vial shimmered faintly as he sealed it, setting it aside next to dozens of other finished bottles. Another batch of mana potions was complete. Right beside them were several dozen Velumbra lily antidote potions. He had been making them throughout the class period, steadily filling crate after crate. His potion stockpile was growing faster than he¡¯d expected. Still, his attention wasn¡¯t completely on his work. He glanced toward the front of the class, where Professor Catherine stood, and Leora at the corner of the room. Isaac narrowed his eyes. Whenever either of them walked too close to him, his Extreme Mana Resonance reacted. ¡¯Their whole bodies... they feel like they¡¯re made of mana,¡¯ Isaac thought. ¡¯Is it a defensive layer of mana? Or are those not the real Catherine and Leora?¡¯ The idea of mana clones crossed his mind more than once, but each time he tried to follow the thought, he hit a wall. If they were clones, they were perfect down to tone of voice, reaction time, and mannerisms. His Mind Echo could not find any flaws in their disguise. After class ended, Isaac put that thought aside and began filling a Life Stone. He took one of the red gemstones and carefully pushed life energy into it using his Seed of Providence skill. Seed of Providence: Level 2 ¡ú Level 3 Passive effects strengthened by 120%. Cooldown: 11 hours ¡ú 10 hours "It finally leveled up again. The long cooldown makes this skill progress slow, but at least it¡¯s growing." Lunch came next. It was a simple but warm meal. Later in the afternoon, Isaac walked to the field. It was harvest time again. 2,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +1000. Constitution +1000 You have obtained 10,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3,240 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +288. Constitution +288. You have obtained 16,200 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Mana: 1000 [1420] ¡ú 1000 [2708] Constitution: 1000 [1411] ¡ú 1000 [2699] Isaac didn¡¯t pause as the messages rolled in. With practiced movements, he stored the grains, burned the stalks, and began spreading the fertilizer. That¡¯s when Professor Catherine approached him. "Isaac, these are the things you requested" In her hands, she carried a large sealed container. He opened the container and looked through it. Potato eyes, garlic cloves, tomato slices with seeds, onion bulbs, and cut cabbage bases. She¡¯d even added wheat kernels and pea pods. All usable for propagation. "Thanks," he said He decided to plant wheat in 0.5 hectare, and the other vegetables in 0.5 hectare together. Even with the limited amount, yield was not a problem. Thanks to his skills, hoe, and mana-rich land each harvest was multiplied five to seven times. He used his Sovereign of Land ability, infusing the soil with the nutrients each plant preferred. He no longer had to guess or rely on instinct. After recent studies and lectures, he knew exactly what kind of minerals each crop demanded. Professor Catherine watched silently as he worked. Lines of crops were quickly arranged with precision. The remaining 18 hectares were planted with Vitality Grains. After completing everything, he turned to Catherine. "Since I already bought the 20 hectare, how much would it cost if I wanted more?" Catherine considered for a moment. "Hard to say. It could be anywhere between 400 to 600 million credits. Maybe more. And there are complications beyond just the cost." Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Complications?" "Political ones. For now," she continued, "focus on earning your first ten billion. Once you cross that threshold, we can talk about acquiring more land." He gave a small nod. "Alright." Later, Isaac went into town with Leora and Emily. Their destination was the storefront, a small building near the marketplace with enough foot traffic to keep sales moving, but not enough to attract major attention. Emily carried a small bag of sandwiches wrapped in cloth. She had prepared them herself. Freya smiled as she accepted the food. "Thanks. I was starving." Emily beamed. "I made extra just in case." She also passed Tyr a tangerine she¡¯d plucked herself from backyard earlier that morning. The treant accepted it with a joyful motion. Isaac, leaving them inside the inner shop room, stepped towards the counter. The customers were already waiting. Emily started to follow him in, but he raised a hand. "You should focus on revising today¡¯s lesson." She hesitated. He added, "If I¡¯ve got the time to run the counter, you¡¯ve got the time to revise." Reluctantly, she nodded and stepped back. She didn¡¯t want to miss the assignment again, and be scolded. Isaac took position behind the counter. Customers began to pour in almost as soon as he did. Most came for his Tier 1 Vitality Grains. Some asked for the cheaper Tier 0 Vitality Grains. With his Extreme Mana Resonance, Isaac located quite a few customers with immense Mana Pool inside them. They must be Mage-type awakeners. Isaac kept his focus on the shopwork. Before, it would¡¯ve been overwhelming to keep track of the flow, handle the bargaining customers, and explaining dosage instructions alone. But not now. Chapter 96: Ancient Coin, City Lord Chapter 96: Ancient Coin, City Lord His Spirit stat had grown immensely since last night. With that, his mental processing power had improved as well. He could listen, calculate, process transactions, and monitor customer feedback all at once. There were a few hiccups along the way. A merchant tried to argue about bulk discounts. A young woman spilled a bottle and panicked. A cloaked man tried to offer him an artifact in exchange for the grains. Isaac dealt with each issue calmly. He didn¡¯t raise his voice or get flustered. He simply kept moving in a focused, and efficient manner. After Freya and Tyr had their breaks, they returned to the counter, and Isaac returned home. He checked his bank balance on the way. [Credited (Last 24 Hours): 4,022, 850,000 Obols] [Balance (Total): 7,204,110,000 Obols] Professor Catherine called Isaac and Emily for the combat training class. She stood at the center of the backyard with her arms crossed behind her back. Her gaze swept over the group assembled before her. Isaac was stretching casually, Emily stood to his side, looking more focused than usual, and Leora leaned against the house, arms folded, watching quietly. "We¡¯ll start with something simple," Catherine said. "Emily, Isaac. Fight me." Emily blinked. "Together?" You sure about that?" Isaac questioned. "Not to brag, but I don¡¯t think I would have trouble against Champion rank awakeners anymore." "Oh, are you saying you can defeat me easily?" Catherine asked with a smile. "You¡¯ve both improved, but you¡¯re still far from enough. Now, come." Then her gaze settled on Isaac. "And this time, you¡¯re using a sword." "I¡¯ll stick to my hands." Catherine narrowed her eyes. "You¡¯ve trained swordsmanship more than anything. Why are you handicaping yourself?" "Just ¡¯cause." Isaac shrugged. He didn¡¯t have a sword skill. But he had a claw skill, and it was better to train what he could actually use. "Isaac." "Don¡¯t worry. I am good with hand-to-hand combat too." It was true. While he had trained with sword the most, he also trained with every weapon type to a usable level, since he never knew what Talent he would awaken. ¡¯I didn¡¯t awaken a Combat Talent though. So my preparations would¡¯ve gone down the drain if not for the system,¡¯ he chuckled wryly. From the sidelines, Leora kept staring at him. Professor Catherine looked at her, as if asking for something.. Leora shook her head. Catherine clicked her tongue and looked back at Isaac and Emily. "Then let¡¯s begin." The fight was brutal. Professor Catherine didn¡¯t hold back. It made Isaac think she enjoyed inflicting pain on others, and for some reason she was targeting him more than Emily. Emily tried her best to keep up, but it was clear she was outmatched. Isaac absorbed most of the hits, redirected her strikes, and stepped into Professor Catherine¡¯s space again and again. His movements were clean, efficient, and despite using only his hands, he didn¡¯t fall behind. Still, even Isaac was pushed. They fought for nearly two hours before Professor Catherine finally stopped. Emily collapsed onto her knees, panting hard. Her uniform was soaked in sweat. "Not bad," Catherine said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Emily, you lasted longer than I expected." Then she turned to him "And you could¡¯ve used a sword." "I will think about it." Professor Catherine shook her head at him and walked toward Emily, helping her up. "Come on, you need water. And rest." She guided Emily into the house, leaving Isaac alone in the backyard. After a minute of rest, he made his way to the bathroom, showered, and changed into something light. As he was drying his hair, he heard the doorbell ring. His first thought was Alice. He walked downstairs while rubbing his hair with a towel, expecting to see his blonde mad princess with dragon-like horns . Instead, when Leora opened the door, Lucius, Alice¡¯s uncle, stood beside Selene Calloway. Isaac blinked. They entered silently and sat down in the living room. For a while, no one spoke. The room was filled with a quiet tension, though not a hostile one. Then Lucius bowed deeply. "I¡¯m truly grateful for what you¡¯ve done for my foolish daughter." Selene bowed beside him. Her expression was composed, but her fingers were slightly clenched on her knees. Such a scene would¡¯ve shocked anyone other than the people in the room. Lucius was the Chairman of Calloway Conglomerate, and Selene was the next chairman. They were not people who bowed their head. Isaac was about to respond when something flickered in his vision. [A potential wife candidate¡¯s affection for you has reached 100.] [All Affection points received from Selene Calloway will be hereon increased by ten times.] [You can now see a hint to help Selene Calloway increase her rating.] Before he could digest that, another screen appeared in front of him. Selene Calloway Rating: 87 (To be a wife candidate, 95 rating or above is required) Personality: Ambitious, calculating, emotionally guarded, dangerously focused when provoked Likes: Reading ancient texts, winning against her sister, attention from others, idol shows Dislikes: Pain, losing to Alice, being disliked by others, being compared to others Status: Confused why her heart is beating fast as soon as she entered Isaac¡¯s house. Currently wondering if Isaac would like the gift on mythical plants that she has bought. Status: Hopes Alice and Isaac can forgive her for her previous actions. Guilty for her past actions. Rating Increase Hint: Feed her Bloodline Upgrade Potion (Middle-rank to high-rank), and Bloodline Upgrade Potion (High-rank to Apex-rank) to evolve her into Moon Dragon. Isaac stared at the screen, then at Selene. Then back at the screen. Then back at her. ¡¯...Is Selene a masochist?¡¯ He had broken her nose not long ago. She had bled because of him. And now she apparently had more affection for him than Alice or Emily. He squinted. ¡¯The 10x AP increase is very nice, but... damn.¡¯ Before he could think more, Leora leaned in from the side. "Isaac?" He blinked and closed the screen. "Oh, it¡¯s nothing." Turning toward Lucius and Selene, he nodded. "Please raise your heads." Lucius didn¡¯t waste time with drawn-out words. "No matter what I give you, it won¡¯t be enough for what you¡¯ve done for me. So, please accept this." He reached into his coat and pulled out an ancient gold coin. He handed it to Isaac. Isaac¡¯s eyes narrowed as he held the coin. He¡¯d seen something like this before. Dante and Lucian had given one to Leora after her successful recruitment attempt when they came to meet him. Lucius nodded, reading his expression. "Seems like you recognize it. But I¡¯ll explain anyway, just in case." He pointed at the coin. "This is a Gold Coin. It was the currency used by the Lost Civilization. With it, you can buy land, facilities, or even guards within this city, which was built by them." Isaac looked up. "What?" Lucius chuckled. "How do you think a city is conquered? If we restore it normally, the defense systems would attack us ¨C the intruders. So after we initiate the restoration functions, we buy the permit of residence and the land from the city¡¯s core system." Isaac raised an eyebrow. "This one coin," Lucius continued, "lets you purchase 1,000 hectares in the very center of the city, where land is most expensive. The heart of its infrastructure." He leaned back and added, "If you had enough Coins, you could even buy the whole city. You could become its lord. Though... I¡¯ve never seen it happen. No one¡¯s ever gathered that many." Chapter 97: Quests, Truth About Emily’s Bloodline Chapter 97: Quests, Truth About Emily¡¯s Bloodline Isaac leaned forward a little, resting his arms on the table. "Chairman Lucius... how do people gather these coins?" Lucius glanced up from his tea. "Through Quests," he said. "The World System grants them to people with Combat Talents. Or to those with combat-capable abilities derived from their Life Talents." Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Only those two?" Lucius nodded. "Yes. That¡¯s the basic requirement. Having a Combat Talent or a Life Talent that can be used in battle. Only they qualify for Quests." Isaac looked thoughtful. "That was unexpected. Why only those Talents? Why not Support or normal Life Talents?" Lucius set his cup down. "We don¡¯t know the exact reason. But there are theories. Think about it. Combat Talents are frontline fighters. Life Talents build things, make resources that allow cities to function. Support Talents help others do their jobs better." He paused before continuing, "Out of the three, only Combat Talents are constantly risking their lives. It makes sense the system offers them incentives, like Quests, to push them forward. They¡¯re the ones fighting monsters, expanding safe zones, and protecting everyone else. Without them, the society can¡¯t expand." Isaac nodded slowly. "I see. That makes sense." ¡¯I have a Life Talent and Alice has a Support Talent. So that means neither of us will get Quests.¡¯ ¡¯But Emily should be able to, right?¡¯ ¡¯She has a Combat Talent.¡¯ Isaac frowned. ¡¯It¡¯s good that she can get Quests, but I need to make sure she¡¯s strong enough before I let her fight anything.¡¯ ¡¯There¡¯s no way I¡¯m sending her into danger unless I¡¯m absolutely certain she¡¯ll come out on top without a scratch.¡¯ He looked down for a second. ¡¯I¡¯ll need to buy that bloodline upgrade potion no matter what it costs.¡¯ He wondered if the shop had other items that could help Emily grow faster, and in a safer environment. Lucius leaned back slightly. "We¡¯ll take our leave then. We¡¯ve already taken enough of your time." Before Isaac could respond, Professor Catherine stepped in with a smile. "Please, stay for dinner. I¡¯m sure Isaac would appreciate it. And Leora¡¯s cooking is quite good." For a second, an intense chill brushed past Isaac¡¯s senses.. It vanished almost instantly, but it had been there. Leora did not want them to stay for dinner, but Isaac could only sigh. Isaac looked at Chairman Lucius. "Please do stay the night. Alice has a surprise for you, and I¡¯m sure she would appreciate if you were here here for her to show you that." Lucius thought about his words and smiled faintly. "If you say so. Then we¡¯ll accept your hospitality." Just as the mood started to settle, someone knocked at the front door. Leora walked over and opened it. Alice stepped in. She entered the living room in silence, and for a moment, everyone just stared. Two black horns curled back from her forehead. The tips shimmered faintly with a dark red hue, matching the color of her eyes. Her aura had changed. It was colder, more composed, with a sharp edge that hadn¡¯t been there before. As she entered, her eyes weren¡¯t looking at her uncle, or at Selene. They were fixed on Isaac. Something told him to check her status, and he did. [Status 1: Wonders how you think about her new look. Worried you¡¯ll think it looks weird. Thankful you helped her awaken.] [Status 2: Horny] [Status 3: Pissed off at you for not picking her up from the hospital.] Isaac¡¯s smile stiffened. Alice, apparently, was feeling a whole spectrum of emotions. ¡¯I really forgot to pick her up... damn. With everything that happened, it just slipped my mind.¡¯ ¡¯I¡¯ll have to make it up to her somehow.¡¯ Still, the stream of AP didn¡¯t lie. He was getting +0.7 AP and +0.8 AP every second just from being near her. She was clearly happy to see him. Her aura said otherwise, but the numbers didn¡¯t lie. Lucius¡¯s voice broke the silence. "What¡¯s that on your head?" Alice blinked once, then touched her horn lightly. "I awakened," she said. "Isaac helped me." Lucius stared. Then he blinked. He looked at Isaac, then back at Alice. He rubbed the bridge of his nose with a slow exhale and closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them, the confusion was gone. His calm, professional demeanor had returned. "Please explain everything," he said. "In detail." Alice nodded. "Of course." She launched into a summary of everything that had happened. From the awakening ritual, the Dragon Catalyst, the way her Talent had finally bloomed, followed by her bloodline, and Physique. She didn¡¯t hide much, but she didn¡¯t say everything either. Her words were carefully chosen. Isaac remained quiet through it all. He knew if he said something wrong, Professor Catherine¡¯s ability would catch it. That woman had been watching him carefully the entire time. Once or twice, Catherine tried to direct a question at him. But Alice cut in and answered for him every time, with no hesitation. She clearly knew about the lie-detection ability and was doing her best to keep Isaac¡¯s secrets safe, since she knew Isaac had not told them the entire truth. When she finished, Lucius leaned back in his chair. His gaze shifted from Alice to Isaac. "Thank you," he said. "I don¡¯t know what I can offer in return for something this significant. But if you ever need anything, anything at all, don¡¯t hesitate to ask." Isaac gave a small nod. "I don¡¯t have anything I want right now. But thank you for the offer. If I ever need something in the future, I¡¯ll let you know." Lucius didn¡¯t speak further. He only looked at Isaac with a quiet, appreciative gaze. Selene¡¯s gaze, however, was different. Her eyes lingered on Isaac a second longer than necessary. Isaac blinked and used Inspect. [Status: Extremely happy and excited that Alice awakened. Wants to rush and hug Alice. In awe of your ability to help Alice awaken.] He looked away and didn¡¯t say anything. The group began to split up not long after. Alice stayed behind to catch up with her uncle and cousin. Emily helped the conversations continue whenever they entered a lull. Isaac slipped out of the room. He wanted to head to his room and enter the Soulbind Pendant again to share Alice¡¯s Physique. He briefly wondered if he¡¯d need a pod like Alice had, but the thought passed quickly. ¡¯I don¡¯t need to ask for pod. Besides, it would just bring suspicion.¡¯ Since he was disappearing suddenly, Alice and Emily would probably look into the pendant if he didn¡¯t return soon. If he did need the pod, and he was writhing on ground due to it¡¯s lack, they would save him. And if everything went normally, he¡¯d be back in a few minutes. He was halfway down the hallway when a thought struck him. He stopped and turned around. Leora was following him at a slow, steady pace. "What are the requirements for the Quest?" he asked. "Chairman Lucius said having a combat talent is the basic one, so there must be more." Leora slowed and tilted her head slightly. "You need to have a high-rank bloodline, an S-rank Talent or higher, and you must be actively expanding your own or your leader¡¯s territory." Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Then how does humanity even have Gold Coins? We¡¯re the lowest-ranked species. We shouldn¡¯t be able to receive Quests." "We trade Gold Coins with other species," Leora replied. "Those trades require a massive amount of resources in exchange. That¡¯s why humanity only has four cities. But..." She paused, hesitating for a second. Isaac narrowed his eyes. "But?" "The situation will change soon," she said. Isaac thought she meant that humanity would soon have someone who could receive Quests too. He frowned. "I don¡¯t have a combat talent. Even if I have a bloodline, how am I supposed to receive Quests?" "I¡¯m not talking about you," Leora said. "I¡¯m talking about¡ª" She stopped herself, and her eyes flickered with indecision. Isaac used Inspect. [Status: Wondering if she should tell you the truth about Emily¡¯s bloodline and why she doesn¡¯t have memories of her past, or if this is too soon.] His expression tightened. "Is this about Emily?" Leora blinked, surprised. "How did you guess?" "Her species is ¡¯Netherborn Phantom Empress,¡¯ but it¡¯s only mid-rank. That feels low for something with ¡¯Empress¡¯ in the name," Isaac replied. "So I figured your words had something to do with her, since except the bloodline rank, she fulfills the other requirements." "You¡¯re right," Leora said with a quiet sigh. "Let¡¯s talk about it in my room." They walked the rest of the way in silence. Her room was next to Isaac¡¯s. When she opened the door, a mild scent greeted him. It smelled fresh, like faint herbs and wood polish. The room was clean and organized. Isaac sat on the bed while Leora took the chair. "Emily¡¯s mother was the Empress of the Netherworld," she began. "And her father was human. Emily was born a pure human. Now, she should have been born as a demi-human, but it¡¯s normal for kids to have only bloodline of their parents instead of a mixed bloodline. "Later, Netherworld was destroyed, and Emily died. That¡¯s when she became a ghost, and that¡¯s when her Netherborn Phantom Empress bloodline awakened. But the bloodline was broken." "Broken?" Isaac questioned. Leora nodded. "She¡¯s supposed to be an Apex-rank species. But considering the strange circumstances of her death and transformation, it¡¯s understandable that she only awakened a broken version of her bloodline." Isaac frowned. "Do all ghost have a broken bloodline when they are ¡¯born¡¯ like Emily did?" Chapter 98: Netherworld, World System Shop, Instincts Of A Dragon Chapter 98: Netherworld, World System Shop, Instincts Of A Dragon "No," Leora said. "Ghosts are monsters. They aren¡¯t the souls of the dead. Emily¡¯s the exception. She¡¯s the first of her kind. "When she died and turned into a ghost, she lost her memories... but her experiences are embedded into her soul. She doesn¡¯t remember her family or what happened, but those feelings remain." "So that¡¯s why she loses control when she sees me injured." Isaac glanced down, thoughtful. "Yes," Leora said. "That instinct comes from loss. She might not recall it consciously, but the emotions linger in her soul." There were so many questions he wanted to ask. What was the Netherworld? Why had it been destroyed? And¡ª He blinked. Something just clicked. ¡¯How much time has passed since Netherworld was destroyed?¡¯ ¡¯Leora just explained that Emily and her family were all Apex-rank species. But all Apex-rank species went extinct when the apocalypse arrived.¡¯ ¡¯Emily¡¯s status says she was 19 when she died. But it doesn¡¯t say her actual age.¡¯ ¡¯How old is Emily?¡¯ Isaac raised his head and looked at Leora. "How do you know about all this? And when was Netherworld-" "That¡¯s all I¡¯ll explain to you." Leora said, cutting him off. "I told you all this because I hope you¡¯ll avoid getting injured again. For Emily, even without memories, it¡¯s traumatic." Isaac looked at her. It was clear she would not answer more. He checked her status, but it didn¡¯t have any useful information either. Finally, he gave a small nod. "Do you expect Emily to regain her original bloodline rank?" "Yes," Leora said without hesitation. "And I believe it will happen naturally. Even if she doesn¡¯t, we can buy it." Isaac blinked. "Buy the bloodline?" Leora nodded. "All Fortified City¡¯s Central Hub has access to the World System Shop. Our cities are Tier-1 Cities, so the products available are limited. But this one, Fortified City 89, is Tier-2. I¡¯m sure we can find a bloodline upgrade potion here." Isaac raised an eyebrow. As it turned out. the World System Shop didn¡¯t just sell bloodline potions. It offered exotic materials, rare items, and other resources that could shift the balance of power. Fortified cities were treasure troves, not just defensive zones. "Do you remember the Titan Edge Guild?" Leora asked. "Why do you think they arrived so early, when the other three major guilds haven¡¯t even shown up?" Isaac thought about it. "Because of the World System Shop here?" "Yes," Leora said. "Celia Rae has an SSS rank Talent, but she¡¯s been stuck at Adept rank for years. The materials she needs for her Rank Up are rare, and haven¡¯t been found yet. "She is stuck at a bottleneck without them. That¡¯s why the guild came here early. They want to recapture this city and get the materials for her from the shop." Isaac exhaled slowly. A lot of things were beginning to make sense. "So, how much will the bloodline potion cost from the World System Shop?" Leora hesitated, then answered. "It should be about 50 Gold Coins." Isaac stiffened. That number hit hard. One Gold Coin was enough to buy a thousand hectares of land. Fifty Gold Coins would be enough for a one fourth of the city. ¡¯Damn,¡¯ he thought. ¡¯My system¡¯s shop is so much better. I only need 2,500 AP. And I don¡¯t even need to risk my life for the AP.¡¯ There was more Isaac wanted to ask. He opened his mouth, but stopped when a knock echoed from the door. Leora turned toward it, and a bitter smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "You can come inside," she said. The door creaked open and Alice stepped in. Her eyes moved quickly, scanning the room. "I was looking for Isaac. I needed him for something." Maybe it was his imagination, but Isaac felt her mood wasn¡¯t as light as usual. Her voice was neutral, but something in her posture felt off. He used Inspect. [Status 1: Horny] [Status 2: Why is Isaac in a closed room with another woman?] "Alice, sorry for taking Isaac. I was just talking to him about his rank-up materials," she said calmly. "Can you wait for a few minutes outside? I¡¯ll send him out soon." Alice kept a blank face, but Isaac noticed the faint reluctance in her eyes. She held Leora¡¯s gaze for a moment longer than necessary, then gave a short nod and stepped out. As the door closed behind her, Leora exhaled and looked at Isaac. Her smile was still bitter. "You need to treat Alice carefully for the next few days." "Why?" he asked. "She awakened her bloodline and physique. That brings the instincts of a dragon with it. Until she learns to control those instincts, you should be cautious." "What instincts?" Isaac frowned. Leora leaned back slightly, folding her arms. "Dragons are lustful, and power-hungry. They¡¯re possessive of what they consider their treasures, and they have a tendency to react violently when someone tries to take that treasure away." "Treasure?" "Yes, so Alice would be protective of her treasure too." "And what¡¯s that?" Leora looked at him. Isaac pointed at himself. Leora nodded. "So if other girls approach me, she might... explode?" "That¡¯s a strong possibility," Leora confirmed. That didn¡¯t exactly shock him. Alice had always been territorial, even back in the Academy. She just hadn¡¯t acted much on it openly before. With nothing more to say, he nodded and left the room. Outside, he saw Alice standing at the corridor¡¯s edge, staring blankly at the stone steps leading downward. Her back was straight, arms folded, and she looked deep in thought. He walked up behind her quietly and slipped his arms around her waist. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he asked, "What are you looking at?" "Nothing," she said. "Just thinking about some things." He felt a small twinge of disappointment when she showed no startled yelp, or flustered reaction. With high stats, her senses improved, and she had caught him sneaking behind her. "Why is my mad princess mad?" he teased gently. "You tell me." ¡¯Damn. She¡¯s really pissed if she¡¯s not even refusing that nickname.¡¯ He tilted his head, thinking. A smile formed on his lips. "Because my mad princess hasn¡¯t received a welcome back kiss from me yet?" She turned her head slightly. "What are you talking ab¡ª" He kissed her. For a second, she froze. But instead of pushing him away, she leaned in. The anger in her status vanished. [Status: Horny] He chuckled inwardly. ¡¯Vice Principal wasn¡¯t kidding about those instincts running wild.¡¯ Another thought crossed his mind. The whole scenario sounded like one of those cliche?d excuses from a low-tier hentai that said¡ª"this is just how dragons are!"¡ªbut in this case, it was also... true? Well, he wasn¡¯t the type to complain if he was benefiting from it. Without saying a word, he slipped an arm under her knees and another behind her back, lifting her into a princess carry. "Eh¡ª?!" Satisfied by her small gasp, he started walking towards his room. She didn¡¯t resist, and just buried her face in his neck, cheeks hot. ... Leora POV Leora rubbed her temples and leaned back in her chair, letting out a long sigh. The room was quiet, comfortably dim, and the walls were insulated. Even Champion-ranked awakeners couldn¡¯t sense anything beyond a single wall of their house. That showed the quality of their house. But to her, these walls might as well not exist. She blinked slowly. Then her expression stiffened. The faint sounds of movement came from the room next to hers. She couldn¡¯t see anything, but her senses painted a detailed enough picture that she didn¡¯t need to. Her cheeks flushed. ¡¯...Kids these days.¡¯ She looked away instinctively, but that did little to help. Her mind didn¡¯t need visuals to fill in the gaps. She could sense when Alice moved, the shift in her weight, the rising heat, and when she dropped to her knees¡ª Leora clenched her jaw and stood up from her seat. She paced across the room once, then twice. Her body felt uncomfortably warm. "Haah... I need to calm down. Even if this body is young, I shouldn¡¯t let hormones control me." She shook her head and pulled out her device. The screen lit up, and her fingers moved. She found the contact she needed. General Magnus. After a short buzz, the call connected. "Vice Principal," came the deep, steady voice on the other end. "What¡¯s the matter?" "I wanted to ask how the talent crystal testing is going." There was a brief pause before he responded, "It¡¯s progressing. But we have just begin. It will take time for any result to appear." Leora sat back down, composing herself. With Alice awakening, the theory Leora told Isaac was strengthened. There was a possibility that every person had a talent but for some, it was either too strong or too weak to be triggered with the current awakening crystals. If they could improve the awakening process, they might be able to reach a one hundred percent success rate of awakening. "Anyhow, I¡¯ll let you know when we get results worth sharing, Vice Principal. There is no need to worry." "Hm." Leora nodded even though he couldn¡¯t see it. "Keep me posted." The call ended with a soft click. She placed the device on the desk and sat quietly for a moment. Her gaze drifted to the small model of the city beside her. It had neatly laid-out sectors, districts, residential and training zones. Every piece represented the lives of thousands. If the successfully recaptured the Fortified City 89, this city design would be implemented. Chapter 99: Skillfull Alice, Harvesting New Crops Chapter 99: Skillfull Alice, Harvesting New Crops ¡¯If we can upgrade the awakening crystals,¡¯ she thought, ¡¯even people with weak talents will be able to level up. Survivability rates would rise, and the quality of human resources would improve across exponentially. Unawakened people would no longer need to live at the mercy of strong.¡¯ It wouldn¡¯t be perfect, but it would be a start. Right now, humanity needed every edge it could get. She reached for a pen, intending to write a few notes down, but her hand stopped mid-air. Her senses tingled again. The rhythm from the other room had shifted. Leora slowly turned her head toward the wall separating her from Isaac¡¯s quarters. There was movement again, a different kind one. It was more intense. Her eyes narrowed slightly. Her mind, sharp and trained, could interpret the subtle vibrations through the air and ground. She heard the slight creak of bedsheets, the soft hitched breaths, the controlled yet growing pace of it all. She froze. "...Is that position safe?" she muttered. ¡¯Maybe I should intervene.¡¯ Leora stared at the wall, and hesitated. She moved toward the door but stopped just before placing her hand on the handle. Her fingers curled. Then she turned away. ¡¯Haah, what am I even thinking?¡¯ For the first time, Leora regretted having powerful senses. It was one thing to sense other¡¯s having intimate time once by mistake, but sensing that when she was trying to sleep? Every day? It was stressful. In more ways than one. ... Isaac POV "Alice, we should stop. I need to¡ª" started Isaac. His words caught as Alice¡¯s lips brushed against his shaft. Her tongue moved with a slow, deliberate skill that sent a jolt of pleasure through his core. She was cleaning him. Her movements were sensual, teasing, and it was working too well. Isaac¡¯s body responded, hardening again under her touch. His throat went dry. How was she a dragon? She was clearly a succubus! Every flick of her tongue sent waves of pleasure through him. Moreover, her awakened strength meant he didn¡¯t have to restrain himself, and that freedom was intoxicating. That was not to say he did not like doing it with Emily. But with her, he had to be careful to not hurt her, since his strength and agility stats were higher than what she could handle. "Is this okay?" murmured Alice, as she pulled away away and her eyes glanced up at him. Isaac swallowed, and nodded. "More than okay." There was a spark of mischief in her gaze, and she continued, her lips and tongue working with a rhythm that made his head spin. Isaac couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away, captivated by the way she moved. Alice reached for his hand, guiding it to the top of her head. Her eyes locked with his in a silent invitation. He knew what she wanted. His pulse raced, and his desire surged as he hardened further. He patted her head gently, then moved his hand, guiding her pace. She followed, her movements quickening. "Alice," grunted Isaac. She understood what that meant. Her head bobbed faster. The sensation was overwhelming, and a wave of heat clouded his thoughts. Isaac¡¯s grip tightened on her hair. With a low, guttural groan, he let go, the release hitting hard. Alice took it all, swallowing smoothly, though a small trickle escaped, sliding down her chin. She didn¡¯t pause, licking him clean with a care that sent another shiver through him. When she finished, she sat back, wiping her mouth with a casual swipe. "You¡¯re going to harvest your grains, right?" asked Alice. Her tone was light, like they¡¯d been discussing chores. "Yeah," he replied. "Go and come back quick. I¡¯m not done yet," she said, her eyes glinting with a playful hunger. Isaac shook his head with a chuckle. That status screen hadn¡¯t lied. She was insatiable. "Again?" he asked. "Your uncle and Selene are home today. If we stay in here too long, what will they think?" Alice blinked, then her face paled as the thought sank in. "Oh no," she muttered, standing quickly. "We need to leave the room fast," she said, hurrying toward the bathroom. Isaac followed her into the shower. Warm water sluiced over them, washing away the sweat and heat of their earlier moment. Alice kept glancing at the door, like she expected someone to barge in. Isaac chuckled, finding her nervousness endearing. "Relax. Even if they know, it¡¯s fine. We aren¡¯t kids," he reassured, passing her the soap. "That..." said Alice, scrubbing her hair. "It¡¯s still embarrassing. What will they think of us if we stay in your room for hours?" "They¡¯ll think we¡¯re very happy together," said Isaac, winking. Alice snorted, and splashed water at him. Isaac laughed, finding it cute how her flip was switched as soon as he mentioned her family. They finished rinsing off. Isaac handed Alice a towel, and they dried off quickly, pulling on clean clothes. Her naked figure was too tempting, and it took Isaac all his willpower to not indulge in her again. Alice moved fast, still worried about what her family might think. Isaac grabbed her hand as they headed for the door, slowing her down. "Hey, we¡¯re fine. Everything¡¯s okay," he said, squeezing her hand. Alice took a deep breath, nodding. They stepped outside. The evening air was crisp against their damp skin. The porch creaked under Isaac¡¯s boots as he turned toward the fields. Alice lingered behind, saying she¡¯d check the kitchen or find something to do. Isaac could tell she was still a bit embarrassed, but she¡¯d settle once she saw things were normal. He swung his hoe twice. 2,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +1000. Constitution +1000 You have obtained 10,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3,520 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +320. Constitution +320. You have obtained 17,600 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. Mana: 1000 [2708] ¡ú 1000 [4028] Constitution: 1000 [2699] ¡ú 1000 [4019] After harvesting the grains, he turned to the last hectare where he had planeted wheat and vegetables. "They have matured. I should harvest them." 1,000 Tier 1 Potato harvested. Mana +4. Constitution +4. You have obtained 5,000 Tier 1 Potato. 500 Tier 1 Garlic harvested. Mana +5. Constitution +5. You have obtained 2,500 Tier 1 Garlic. 833 Tier 1 Tomato harvested. Mana +2. Constitution +2. You have obtained 4,165 Tier 1 Tomato. 833 Tier 1 Onion harvested. Mana +3. Constitution +3. You have obtained 4,165 Tier 1 Onion. 417 Tier 1 Cabbage harvested. Mana +5. Constitution +5. You have obtained 4,085 Tier 1 Cabbage. 750 Tier 1 Pea Pods harvested. Mana +6. Constitution +6. You have obtained 3,750 Tier 1 Pea Pods. Mana: 1000 [4028] ¡ú 1000 [4053] Constitution: 1000 [4019] ¡ú 1000 [4044] He picked a tomato and tasted it. A sweet, juicy taste exploded in his mouth. "As expected, these crops evolved into Tier 1 crops due to my skills, and their quality increased. I just hope they can be cooked into something tasty for Emily," he muttered. The low stats gains made sense since all of them were planted in only 0.5 hectare, but they were still more than what Vitality Grains gave for per 0.5 hectare. Isaac was more surprised by the numbers of the crops. It was overwhelming. "We have enough vegetables for over a month now." He smiled wryly. Finally, he turned to the wheat that was planted in the last 0.5 hectare. 8,000 Tier 1 Wheat Stalk harvested. Mana +11. Constitution +11. You have obtained 40,000 Tier 1 Wheat Stalk. Mana: 1000 [4053] ¡ú 1000 [4064] Constitution: 1000 [4044] ¡ú 1000 [4055] After the harvest, he replanted vitality grains in eighteen hectares, and the last hectare was for wheat and vegetables. He wanted to see how these crops would improve. Leora walked over, arms full of crates. "Should we start?" "Yes." He nodded. They began hauling the harvest back toward the house together. The crates were heavy, but nothing unmanageable. As they moved, a thought passed through his mind. "My skill is supposed to give me the natural energy and vitality of crops..." He frowned slightly. "But all I gain are Constitution and Mana boosts. That¡¯s it." That part was nice, sure. Especially early on. But the more he thought about it, the more something didn¡¯t feel right. The stat boosts were great now, but there was a clear ceiling. At some point, his stats would cap out, and the benefits would taper off. "Then what? Does my Talent stop being useful?" It didn¡¯t make sense. His Talent was SSS+ rank. It was supposed to be the best among his peers. But if it hit a limit based on something as fixed as stat numbers, then what was it¡¯s actual use? Other species could gain max stats too by using stat gain potions. Sure humanity did not have anything like that, but Isaac doubted the richer and stronger races lacked them, especially since they must have high Tier Cities and could buy a variety of items from World System Shop. He looked down at the crates again, then back at the field. All of them were Tier-0 or Tier-1 crops. "Maybe the problem isn¡¯t the skill," he said to himself. "Maybe it¡¯s the crops." That made more sense. Tier-0 and Tier-1 resources would naturally give only basic benefits. But if he started planting Tier-2 crops, maybe things would change. Maybe then, the ¡¯vitality¡¯ and ¡¯natural energy¡¯ his skill promised would manifest in a new, better way. "I¡¯ll find out the answer when the seed tree of these Vitality grain comes," he muttered. "Or maybe I can try turning a vegetable into Tier 2. It should be possible with my current skillset. I only need to keep replanting the seeds from my field." Chapter 100: Lucius’ Frustration, Banquet Planning, Cooking Chapter 100: Lucius¡¯ Frustration, Banquet Planning, Cooking With the harvest packed and stored, he set out to the market. Broon had taken over Freya¡¯s position and was now handling shop counter. Isaac planned to hand off the crops he harvested to him and bring Tyr back. As he stepped out of the house, Chairman Lucius approached him. "I¡¯ll go with you," the chairman said. Isaac blinked. "Alright." Leora joined them at the jeep. Chairman Lucius drove, saying it had been a long time he was able to drive. Isaac saw his expression and felt like he should not give him the wheel, but Leora was already in the back seat. The ride was silent for the first few minutes. The jeep rolled along the broken road that led to the stronghold market. The path and the surrounding infrastructure was being slowly built in an outward direction from the central base of Stronghold. Thus, Isaac¡¯s home did not had proper roads since he was near the stronghold¡¯s border. Chairman Lucius turned his head slightly and stared at Isaac. It wasn¡¯t a curious or neutral glance. It was the kind of look someone gave when they were seriously reconsidering every assumption they had made about someone. Isaac met his gaze with a calm expression, one brow raised slightly. "Is there a problem?" he asked. Lucius didn¡¯t answer right away. His grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles lightened. The hum of the jeep¡¯s engine filled the silence for a few seconds before he finally spoke. "I talked to that girl. Emily," he said. "And?" "She¡¯s your girlfriend?" "Yes." Lucius¡¯s brow twitched. His jaw set as his eyes stayed on the road. "Aren¡¯t you already in a relationship with Alice? You two were in that room alone for over an hour." "Yes," Isaac replied again, his tone unchanged. "What about it?" Lucius let out something between a growl and a sigh. It sounded like it had scraped up from deep in his chest. The jeep remained steady, but the air inside suddenly felt heavier. He looked over at Isaac again. It was like he was trying to decide whether Isaac was joking or being painfully honest. "So you¡¯re two-timing my niece?" Isaac smiled brightly, as if the question had been a compliment. "Yes." Lucius¡¯s foot twitched near the brake pedal. For a moment, Isaac genuinely thought the jeep might come to a sudden stop. Lucius stared ahead again, his brows pinched, jaw locked tight. His fingers drummed once on the wheel before curling again into fists. He couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. He had thought Isaac was level-headed. Maybe a little cheeky, maybe too self-reliant, but dependable, and responsible. He thought he was not the type to play games with emotions. And now the kid was casually confessing to dating both Alice and Emily? Lucius was about to snap. Then he stopped himself. His mind turned back to Alice. She always spoke about Isaac when they used to sit together as a family. She would smile when reading his messages. She still wanted to be with Isaac when people called her a ¡¯whore¡¯ for having Isaac as a close friend despite her being a Talentless. Her feelings weren¡¯t light. They were deep, painfully so. If he raised his voice now... if he said something harsh... She¡¯d take Isaac¡¯s side. Without hesitation. Lucius knew that already. The niece he¡¯d raised for nineteen years¡ªtaught, protected, and supported¡ªwould side with a boy she¡¯d only known for a few years. He clenched his jaw and looked out the windshield. "Are you planning to take more girlfriends?" he asked finally. It wasn¡¯t a trick question. He just needed to know the answer for Alice¡¯s sake. "How can I say what¡¯ll happen in the future?" Isaac replied after a short pause. "I don¡¯t know. Maybe I will. Maybe I won¡¯t." Lucius¡¯s lips twitched again. Part of him understood Isaac was messing with him¡ªpartially, at least. Another part was confused if he should yell or laugh out of frustration. And the third part, the one that understood Isaac more than he wanted to admit, stayed quiet. Because deep down, he knew Isaac wasn¡¯t being completely thoughtless. He wasn¡¯t treating relationships as toys. He was just being honest. Lucius could see that Isaac cared about both girls. Maybe even more than he understood himself. That was the frustrating part. It wasn¡¯t a shallow affection. Besides, polygamy was not wrong. It was fine if both sides agreed to it. Still, that didn¡¯t mean Lucius liked it. He stayed silent for the rest of the ride, his eyes fixed on the road, his thoughts bouncing between confusion, resignation, and a tiny, begrudging sense of admiration. Not admiration for Isaac¡¯s answer. But admiration for the fact that the boy hadn¡¯t lied. He could have said anything. His silver tongue could have smoothed things over. But he didn¡¯t. He gave the truth, even if it wasn¡¯t what Lucius wanted to hear. Eventually, the jeep pulled into the parking lot of the market. Lucius didn¡¯t say anything as he shut off the engine. Isaac opened the passenger door and stepped out calmly, brushing dust off his pants. The market was already bustling, people moving between stalls, trading food, minerals, crafted gear, and low-tier monster parts. Isaac stepped out and stretched. "I¡¯ll hand over the crates to Broon." Lucius followed him toward the shop. As they walked, eyes followed them. Shopkeepers paused, their hands hovering over goods, while awakeners whispered to each other, their faces a mix of shock and curiosity. Seeing Isaac and Chairman Lucius together was unexpected. The market had been rife with rumors that Isaac had struck Chairman Lucius¡¯s daughter, sparking a bitter feud. Now, seeing them side by side, the gossip reignited, spreading through the stalls like a spark in dry grass. "Why¡¯s he with the guy who hit his daughter?" "Maybe it didn¡¯t happen. Did anyone actually see it happen?" "You¡¯re joking, right? Everyone knows it¡¯s true." "If it¡¯s true, then why are they together?" Isaac heard bits of the chatter. He ignored them. Chairman Lucius, however, seemed to enjoy the attention. He smiled broadly, stopping to greet shopkeepers and businessmen tied to his company. His memory was sharp, and he showed it by calling each person he met by name, and he asked about their lives, and their work. The vendors blinked, surprised that a man of his stature bothered to remember them. Isaac glanced at Chairman Lucius, quietly impressed. "You really know all their names?" he asked. "I do. It is an important skill for a businessman," answered Chairman Lucius. They continued through the market. Chairman Lucius¡¯s smile stayed steady, and Isaac realized it was no accident. The chairman had joined him deliberately, to show everyone they weren¡¯t at odds. The rumors of their conflict were loud, but their calm, friendly walk together would challenge those stories. It was a smart play, and a quick way to deal with prior rumors. As they neared the Family shop, Chairman Lucius slowed his pace, turning to Isaac. "I¡¯m hosting a banquet tomorrow at my house." Isaac shifted the crate in his arms, curious. "What¡¯s the occasion?" he asked. "To celebrate Alice¡¯s awakening. Some of my family members were quick to insult her before. Now I¡¯m going to rub it in their faces that my niece awakened an SSS rank Talent." Chairman Lucius grinned, and a glint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. Isaac¡¯s lips curved. "You wanted to show them up too?" "Huh, you had the same idea?" Chairman Lucius raised an eyebrow, then laughed. Isaac nodded, balancing the crates. "Yeah. They¡¯ve been looking down on her quite a lot. An SSS rank Talent would give them a good smack." Chairman Lucius clapped him on the shoulder. "I guess you aren¡¯t half shabby, hahaha." They both wanted Alice to stand tall. That shared purpose created a connection between them and made them feel like they¡¯d been allies for years. Isaac hadn¡¯t expected to click with Chairman Lucius, but here they were, grinning like old friends. To Isaac, it seemed Chairman Lucius had decided to give him the permission for polygamy. They reached the shop. Isaac pushed open the door, the bell above jingling. Broon looked up from his ledger. "Isaac! And...?" said Broon. "I¡¯m Lucius Calloway." Chairman Lucius nodded politely. "Good to see you, kid. How¡¯s business?" "Steady, sir," replied Broon, confused as to who Lucius was. Isaac dropped the boxes in the inner room. He stacked the crates carefully, checking the inventory with a quick glance. Then, he checked the shop¡¯s accounts. It showed consistent sales. He asked Broon if there had been any troublesome customers, which fortunately did not happen. "All done," said Isaac. "Let¡¯s move," replied Chairman Lucius. They stepped back into the market, and moved towards the jeep with Tyr in tow. The treant hung happily on Isaac¡¯s shoulder, chomping down on a tangerine. They sat into the jeep and returned home. When they pulled up to the house, the scent of warm food hit them before the door even opened. Isaac blinked, then lightly sniffed the air. It was rich, layered scent of freshly cooked vegetables, something lightly roasted, and the distinct sweetness of saute?ed garlic. His stomach growled. Leora stepped out of the jeep. Tyr landed beside Isaac, licking the last of the sticky tangerine juice from his bark-colored fingers. Chairman Lucius paused, taking in a deep breath of the aroma. "What are they cooking?" he asked, almost confused. "It smells... good." He walked to the front door and pushed it open. The scent inside was even stronger. It was fresher, crisper, and somehow even more mouthwatering. Inside, Isaac saw Alice and Emily at the stove. They had aprons tied neatly around their waists, sleeves rolled up, and Alice had her hair tied back. Alice was arranging sliced vegetables on a steaming plate, while Emily stirred a pot and peeked into the oven. They were happily engaging in coversations, much to Isaac¡¯s relief. Selene stood off to the side, holding a chopping knife with visible hesitation. She seemed more like a confused assistant than a cook. The dining table had already been set, filled with plates of hot food. Isaac could recognize dishes made from their homegrown potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, cabbage, and peas. The colors were vivid, and the scent sharp and inviting. Emily turned as they entered, her expression lighting up. "You¡¯re back!" she said, placing the ladle aside. Her smile was bright, even as her cheeks were pink from standing near the stove. "This smells amazing," Isaac replied, genuinely impressed. Emily nodded toward the table. "We used your vegetables. They look... really good when cooked. Better than I thought." Alice gave nod. "We didn¡¯t get vegetables this good even back home." Chairman Lucius coughed lightly at that comment. "Ahem... Our chef is considered top tier, you know." But even he didn¡¯t try to argue too much. His eyes lingered on the dishes with obvious curiosity. Soon, everyone gathered around the table. Isaac sat first, with Emily and Alice at his sides. Selene sat quietly, avoiding eye contact. Professor Catherine and Leora settled next to Selene, while Chairman Lucius sat across from Isaac. As they prepared to dig in, Professor Catherine smirked. "Look at them," she said, motioning toward Isaac and the two girls beside him. "They look like newlyweds." "Ahem!" Chairman Lucius cleared his throat again, louder this time. Emily ducked her head, smiling nervously. Alice didn¡¯t react. She just placed a bowl in front of Isaac without saying anything. Her movements were calm. A stream of +0.4 AP, +0.5 AP, +0.5 AP came from Emily, and Alice. Isaac almost chuckled. Professor Catherine¡¯s comment made them happy. Everyone began eating. Chairman Lucius took the first bite, and his eyes widened. He blinked, looked down at his plate, then took another, slower bite. Even Leora raised her brows as she tasted the food. Selene, though more composed, gave a quiet nod of approval. Professor Catherine tasted a spoonful, narrowed her eyes in brief thought, then casually scooped up another portion. "This is good. The potato-garlic mash," Chairman Lucius said, setting down his spoon, "is balanced in flavor and aroma. The sweetness of the garlic doesn¡¯t overpower the starch of the potato. The peas are crunchy and fresh, and the cabbage rolls... mmm... perfectly seasoned." He looked up. "There¡¯s a light touch to the spices. The meat was likely grilled rather than roasted¡ªsmart choice, considering the quality of ingredients. You¡¯ve used very little oil but retained moisture." Isaac was surprised by the praises. He turned his head slowly toward Alice for an explanation. She was ignoring her uncle completely and chewing on a tomato slice. "Father is a gourmet," Selene spoke up. "He likes tasting food... but this is the first time I¡¯ve seen him praising it so much." Isaac gave a slow nod. He didn¡¯t openly reply, but he noticed Alice subtly watching his reaction to Selene¡¯s words. He remembered what Alice had asked of him¡ªgive Selene a chance. At the very least, be polite. He sighed internally, then turned back to Selene. "I guess... being praised by a gourmet makes me happy," he said, his tone calm but not cold. Selene blinked, then smiled softly. It was a small expression, but it held genuine relief. She had been worried. Worried that Isaac hated her. Worried that he was only being civil for Alice¡¯s sake. During the past few days, she had tried to convince herself that he rescued her out of obligation, not care. But even with that understanding, her heart still beat fast when he met him, or spoke to him. She could not understand her feelings. Alice, satisfied that Isaac wasn¡¯t being overly cold, finally lifted her own spoon and took a bite. "It¡¯s tasty," she said plainly. That was high praise from her. Finally, Emily sat back and took a spoonful into her mouth. Chapter 101: Emily Tastes The Food, Alice’s University Choice Chapter 101: Emily Tastes The Food, Alice¡¯s University Choice Emily expression slowly melted as the taste spread through her mouth. Her eyes widened first in surprise, then narrowed in bliss. A tiny, almost inaudible hum of satisfaction escaped her throat. She leaned forward slightly, muttering to herself, "This is even better than strawberries..." And then, without hesitation, she scooped up another bite and stuffed it into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out slightly, making her resemble a chipmunk more than anything. She didn¡¯t notice Isaac watching her until it was too late. When her eyes finally met his, her chewing froze. A blush bloomed across her cheeks. She turned her face away, hiding her expression behind her hand and hair. "I¡¯m glad you can taste it." Isaac smiled gently. Emily gave a quiet nod, still not facing him directly. But even from the side, he could see her smiling. After dinner, the group split up for a while. Selene quietly helped clean up, occasionally glancing at Isaac when she thought no one was watching. Alice stayed behind with her uncle and Leora in the living room, discussing something in low tones. Isaac excused himself and began walking toward the study. He had barely reached the hallway when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned around. Selene stood there, hands clasped in front of her as she held the book titled ¡¯Plant Kingdom.¡¯ "I¡ªum..." she began. "I wanted to say sorry. Again." Isaac looked at her with a neutral expression. Truth be told, he still didn¡¯t understand why Alice had asked him to treat Selene normally. This was the same girl who had, at one point, enticed others to isolate Alice in her own home. And then there was the message he¡¯d received from the Goddess of Love, War, and Harvest. The one where Alice¡¯s fate had included betrayal by her family. Selene had always been the first suspect in Isaac¡¯s mind. If she was the one who¡¯d driven Alice out, then no matter how soft her current voice sounded or how sincere her eyes looked, he was going to make her life miserable. Of course, he didn¡¯t say any of that out loud. Right now, he had no proof, or a confirmation that it would be Selene who betrayed Alice. There was no reason to treat Selene coldly when Alice herself had asked him not to hold a grudge. At least until he found who betrayed Alice. And if he kept acting distant, Alice might understand for a while, but then... She¡¯d get mad. Really mad. So he exhaled lightly, trying to let go of the tension in his shoulders. "Stop it," he said. "You¡¯ve apologized enough." Selene looked at him, surprised. He added, "You didn¡¯t do anything to me. So I don¡¯t need an apology." That seemed to catch her off guard even more than expected. She looked down, clutching the book a little tighter. But she didn¡¯t walk away. Isaac sighed again and took a step forward. Then he held out his hand. Selene blinked, clearly confused. Isaac tilted his head. "The book," he said. "The one on plants. You didn¡¯t bring it here to study, right? I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s a gift." "Oh¡ªyes," she said, straightening up. "Yes, it¡¯s for you." She handed it over quickly, like she was afraid she might change her mind if she waited another second. Isaac flipped through the first few pages. "Oh?" The contents were in-depth knowledge of plants. Some of it he already knew, but there were plenty of concepts he hadn¡¯t encountered yet, particularly the section about natural energy in plants. It went beyond just mana and life force. Some plants contained attributes type mana and life force, like fire-based life force or frost-tinged mana. There were even charts on how these energies influenced the growth and effects of the crops. "This looks valuable," Isaac said. "Are you sure you want to give it away for free?" "Please take it. It¡¯s not comparable to what you did, but I thought you¡¯d appreciate it more than money." Isaac gave her a smile. "Thank you." Selene stared at him like he¡¯d just cast a charm spell. She quickly looked away when she realized how long she¡¯d been staring. [Status: Thinks your smile is heart-fluttering. Confused why her heart is beating so fast. Wonders if the poison from the assassins is still in her bloodstream.] System Alert: It is advised host makes Selene Calloway a wife candidate and a wife as soon as possible to reduce his AP losses. Isaac closed the book and tucked it under one arm. He turned away and walked to the study, but before he entered, he called her out. "Selene." She turned to face him, surprised. He nodded once. "Thanks again. Really." Then he turned and walked into the study. Inside, the room was quiet. The window was open, and a faint breeze stirred the papers on his desk. He placed the book inside the Soulbind Pendant. "I will look at this later. First, I should share the Physique." ¡¯Since only high rank species have Physique, I wonder what makes them so special.¡¯ He grabbed his Soulbind Pendant and entered it. ... Alice¡¯s POV Alice sat comfortably on the velvet-lined sofa. Across from her, Professor Catherine leaned forward in her chair with three neatly sealed envelopes in her hand. Leora stood behind her while Uncle Lucius sat next to Alice. Emily was there too, perched on the armrest of a side chair like a child who had wandered into an adult conversation and refused to leave. She didn¡¯t belong in this room, but staying here was better than following Isaac to study. Professor Catherine extended the letters to Alice with a polite smile. "These are Admission letters for you from Aeternum University, Horizon Institute, and Sanctum of Masters." Alice took them. "They all want to take you in," Professor Catherine added. Alice didn¡¯t ask anything stupid like didn¡¯t the universal entrance exam happen already? or how am I still eligible for admission? She had an SSS-ranked Talent. As a Saintess, she would be soon capable of healing, calling upon divine power, and more. That alone was rare. But she also had an awakened bloodline and physique. It was a complete awakening, and she held the blood of dragons. People needed to understand something: mid-rank species ¡¯could¡¯ awaken a talent or bloodline. Similarly, high-rank species might awaken all three. But it was never guaranteed. Alice had hit the jackpot. From someone no awakener university would have looked at twice, she had become someone even the top three institutions would kill to have. She opened the letters one by one and scanned through the contents. After a moment, she asked, "Do the other two universities already know about my awakening?" "Yes," Professor Catherine said. "Each university keeps spies in other campuses. When you entered the stronghold¡¯s central hospital and were placed in the pod used for physique awakening or advancing to Overlord rank, they easily guessed what happened." Alice nodded slowly. She passed the letters to her uncle. "They¡¯re offering me a lot. Horizon Institute seems good for combat training. Aeternum University might be the best for ranking up quickly. But what does Sanctum of Masters offer that the others don¡¯t?" Leora¡¯s lips twitched in a bitter smile. Everyone here knew Alice would end up at Sanctum. But Alice planning to squeeze every advantage she could before making it official. Uncle Lucius looked proud. Professor Catherine didn¡¯t seem offended. In fact, she looked a little amused. "We can match any benefit the other universities offer," she said calmly. "And more. We can also use the City¡¯s Core System to grant you a perfectly optimized Class." Alice considered that, then shook her head. "I already have my bloodline, physique, and Talent to master. I won¡¯t be choosing a Class anytime soon. By the time I¡¯m ready, I¡¯ll be strong enough to find the right one myself. So I¡¯ll need other benefits if you want me to join Sanctum." Lucius let out a quiet breath. His pride was almost visible now. Professor Catherine nodded. "What do you want?" Alice didn¡¯t hesitate. "I want permission to live with Isaac. And if he¡¯s ever sent on a mission, I should be allowed to join him unless either of us objects." Her words stirred the Emily. She sat up straight. "Living with Isaac? Even I wasn¡¯t allowed that." Professor Catherine turned to her, brow raised. "Aren¡¯t you living with him now?" Emily pouted and shook her head. "Only temporarily. I¡¯ll have to go back eventually." Alice looked at her. She thought for a moment before she added, "Then add one more condition to my application. Emily should be allowed to stay with Isaac too. And whatever benefits I ask for, she should receive them as well." Lucius¡¯ expression took a one-eighty degree turn. He didn¡¯t say a word, but his thoughts were written all over his face. Emily blinked, surprised. "Thank you," she said quietly. "Mhm." Alice nodded. Only Alice knew how much it willpower it took her to say that. A small part of her wanted to tear up the agreement and declare that Emily had no business being near Isaac. But Emily had treated her kindly, and more importantly, Emily settled with Isaac before her. Alice was the intruder. If it had been any other girl ¨C any other girl ¨C trying to get close to him, Alice would¡¯ve ripped her apart. Professor Catherine took a breath and nodded. "Alright. I¡¯ll include those terms." Alice sat back, satisfied. "Then I¡¯ll join Sanctum of Masters." Leora¡¯s smile was hidden, but her joy wasn¡¯t. She couldn¡¯t wait to sneak away and shove this news into the faces of Dante and Lucian. Alice¡ªan SSS ranked Saintess¡ªwas choosing her university over theirs. That alone would be enough to silence them for weeks. The meeting ended shortly after. As the room began to clear, Emily stepped closer. "Thanks again," she said softly. Alice nodded. Emily reminded her of a small animal like a hamster trying to act serious. She was already reaching out to pat her head. Before she could, Selene approached. She had a red face and she seemed to be to thinking about something else. Alice¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. "Did you give it to Isaac?" Selene nodded. "Yes." Her heartbeat was a little fast. Her face was redder than it should be. Alice studied her, thoughtful. ¡¯Did Isaac scold her? Or ignore her? Or maybe she¡¯s just nervous around him?¡¯ ¡¯Whatever it is, I¡¯ll need to make sure Isaac interacts with her more, and they get along. There¡¯s no point in letting old grudges linger.¡¯ Chapter 102: Sharing Alice’s Physique Chapter 102: Sharing Alice¡¯s Physique Isaac POV Isaac appeared inside the master bedroom of the Soulbind Pendant. He didn¡¯t waste time, and called out his Bonded Blessing System. "Show me the stats Alice gained since the last time I checked status." The system responded instantly, and the numbers floated up in front of him. Strength: 20 ¡ú 40 Agility: 33 ¡ú 50 Constitution: 23 ¡ú 53 Spirit Power: 34 ¡ú 50 Mana: 32 ¡ú 53 Isaac stared at the screen, momentarily stunned. "She more than doubled her Constitution. Even Strength... That physique really changed her," he muttered, brows lifting. A grin crept across his face. Without waiting another second, he gave his next command. "Share stats!" A second wave of notifications bloomed across his vision. Strength: 80 ¡ú 100 Agility: 118 ¡ú 135 Constitution: 1000 [4055] ¡ú 1000 [4085] Spirit Power: 136 ¡ú 150 Mana: 1000 [4064] ¡ú 1000 [4085] Isaac felt the surge instantly. His muscles tensed and relaxed as power coursed through his body. His thoughts sharpened, like someone had cleared out a fog he hadn¡¯t even known was there. He let out a slow breath, savoring the aftereffect. Then, a new notification appeared in front of him. [Would host like to share the Body Nourishment Fluid (Peak Tier 1) from Alice?] Isaac blinked. "This is... talking about the pod she was in?" he said, more to himself than the system. He remembered seeing Alice float within the pod filled with glowing liquid. Maybe he could share its effect just like the body tempering potion Emily had taken on their first day at university. "Share!" he said with anticipation. Almost immediately, a warm, soothing wave spread through him. His bones tingled. His skin felt subtly stronger, like it had been reinforced from the inside. It was mild, but the effect was hard to ignore. Then another notification popped up. System Alert: It is recommended that host shares wife Alice Calloway¡¯s Physique to absorb full benefits of the Body Nourishment Fluid (Peak Tier 1). He nodded to himself. That made sense. His current body wasn¡¯t aligned with the same structure the fluid had been optimized for ¨C which was Physique Awakening or Breakthrough to Overlord rank. "Share the Physique!" What followed was unlike anything Isaac had ever experienced. Every cell in his body felt like it was being wrung out and rebuilt at the same time. It was as if he was being reshaped him from the inside out. Yet it was gentle, comforting even. It was like the warmth of the sun on a cold day. Then something else happened. Thin, black lines of tar began to ooze from his skin. They were the impurities being wrung out from him. They slid out from his pores like ink bleeding through cloth. The liquid hit the ground with faint splatters, thick and sluggish. He watched it for a few seconds, then turned back to the status screen. "Show me the changed stats." Strength: 100 ¡ú 160 Agility: 135 ¡ú 200 Constitution: 1000 [4085] ¡ú 1000 [4520] Spirit Power: 150 ¡ú 210 Mana: 1000 [4085] ¡ú 1000 [4520] Isaac stared at the screen, not quite able to believe it. "That¡¯s insane," he whispered. "I gained more than three times the stats Alice did from the same fluid." A frown appeared on his face when he tried to move. He wasn¡¯t surprised by the numbers themselves. What caught him off guard was the way he felt. "...That¡¯s it?" he said quietly. "These numbers increased, but I feel way stronger than what they suggest." His body felt like it could lift a truck¡ªno, a small house, at least. "It¡¯s... almost like my base stats changed." He crossed his arms, and a theory appeared in his mind. "Stats are multipliers," he murmured. "They scale off your base body. The better the physique, the more value each stat point has." And now, he had a Dragonic Physique, which made his base body incredibly powerful. "If my theory is correct, then even if I and another human have the same stat values, the raw output from mine would be far higher." He turned away from the system screen, thinking it over again, just to be sure. The theory made sense, but there was a chance he was mistaken. "I should ask Professor Catherine about this. She¡¯s the only one who might know for sure." Before he could say more, he felt a slight dryness in his throat, and he felt hot. It was nothing major, but still strange. He blinked and rubbed his neck, confused for a second. "...I¡¯m thirsty?" he murmured. "Weird." It wasn¡¯t urgent, so he pushed it aside. "System, show me what else changed." The list popped up immediately. [Physique: None ¡ú Solar Dragonic Physique] [Solar Fire Affinity Level 1 gained] [Fire Affinity Level 1 gained] [Light Affinity Level 1 gained] Isaac raised a brow. "Affinities?" he said. "That¡¯s something new." He stared at the words, waiting for more. But just like Titles, there were no ranks, or descriptions of their effects. "Are these like skills?" he asked. "But they don¡¯t have any ranks and they only show a level." He didn¡¯t get a response from the system. "Whatever they are, they probably came with the Physique. Solar Fire, Light, and normal Fire too." He couldn¡¯t help but feel curious. Until now, he¡¯d only seen elements used in skills. Affinities sounded more foundational than the skills. "More things I need to test." He exhaled slowly and sat down at the edge of the bed, still looking at the panel. His body was burning with power. His skin felt like it could deflect a blade. His mind was sharper, and faster. Afterwards, he stepped into the the bathroom. His body still carried faint traces of the black tar, most of it dried into thin, dark lines along his arms, shoulders, and chest, and he wanted to clean himself. When he was done, he stepped in front of the sink and looked at himself in the mirror. His gaze looked sharper, and he could swear he looked more handsome than he did in the morning. Shaking his head, he dried off quickly, wrapped a towel around his waist, and stepped out of the bathroom. His eyes drifted to the spatial ring as he stepped out of the bathroom. It had the book Selene gave him. He sat down on the edge of the bed, pulled it out, and flipped through a few pages. But no matter how many times he re-read a sentence, the words didn¡¯t sink in. His mind kept drifting. The warmth in his chest stirred again, rising and curling at the base of his throat. Without meaning to, he thought of Emily¡¯s soft voice, and needy expression when they spent the night together. Alice¡¯s seductive touch and the image of her devilish figure kept coming surfacing in his mind. He rubbed his temple. "...I guess I¡¯ll just go and sleep." He placed the book down, stood up, and left the subdimension. He reappeared in the study. The lights were dimmed, casting a soft glow over the room. Alice sat at the desk, reading with full focus. A faint penlight illuminated the open book before her. On the couch nearby, Emily was curled up with a blanket, clearly asleep. Isaac¡¯s gaze drifted on Emily¡¯s nape, then shifted to Alice¡¯s lips. He blinked and forced his mind to settle. "You two didn¡¯t sleep?" he asked trying to sound casual. Alice looked up from her book. Her hair was tucked behind one ear, and she didn¡¯t seem surprised by his sudden return. "No," she said, then turned slightly to glance at Emily, who stirred as if sensing their conversation. Alice added, "We were waiting for you to return. We should sleep now." Emily sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. Her voice was soft. "Mm... Isaac?" He nodded at her, and she gave a drowsy smile before pulling the blanket closer and floating along with it. Alice closed her book and stood. The three of them moved toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms. As they walked, Alice spoke again, "Isaac, you should sleep with Emily¡ª" "Huh? What are you talking about?" he said, almost too fast, words slipping out before he could think. "We¡¯re sleeping together." Alice turned to him, blinking in surprise. But she said nothing right away. Emily, meanwhile, froze. "Huh?" A deep blush spread across her face. She lowered her head, eyes wide, lips parting as if she wanted to protest. Her hands pulled at Isaac¡¯s sleeves to tell him to not do that. But before she could speak¡ªor run¡ªIsaac caught her and scooped her up into his arms. "Wha¡ªIsaac¡ª! Wait¡ªput me down!" she stammered, kicking slightly. He turned his head to Alice. "We¡¯re sleeping in my room." The words came out firmer than he expected, and they sounded like an order. Alice blinked again, clearly caught off guard. Then she gave a small nod and followed behind without a word. Meanwhile, in his arms, Emily squirmed. "This isn¡¯t fair! You can¡¯t just¡ª! I didn¡¯t even say yes¡ª!" "You didn¡¯t say no either," he said with a grin. "That¡¯s not how it works¡ª!" But he didn¡¯t slow down. The heat inside him had only grown stronger. He pushed open the door to his room, stepped inside, and let it close softly behind them. Alice followed in without hesitation and moved to her side of the bed without a word. Emily was still blushing furiously in his arms, her fists lightly thudding against his chest. "You¡¯re awful," she muttered. But she didn¡¯t ask to be put down. He smiled again. Chapter 103: Alice Guides Emily, Emily’s Hidden Nature Chapter 103: Alice Guides Emily, Emily¡¯s Hidden Nature Isaac woke slowly in the morning. He could hear a voice inside his head. Affection: Alice Calloway (99), Emily Warren (99) *Please Note: Emily Warren¡¯s affection is in danger of falling. She is beginning to think she is inadequate for you. ¡¯What the hell is this thing saying?¡¯ he thought while trying to wake up fully. Last night was a blur for him. He had been too insatiable, and Alice had borne the brunt of it. Her Physique allowed her to keep pace with him as he fucked her hard until they were both spent. It had saved Emily, since her fragile form wouldn¡¯t have handled that intensity. Her stats were lower, her body less durable, and he¡¯d been too far gone to hold back. His thoughts lingered on that as a warm, wet sensation below his waist pulled him fully awake. He blinked, propping himself up on his elbows, and a low groan escaped his throat as he looked down. Emily was between his legs, and her lips were wrapped around him. She didn¡¯t notice he was awake. Her eyes were squeezed shut, brows furrowed in concentration as she bobbed her head, sucking and licking with an awkward intensity. She was trying her best. Her small hands gripped his thighs, but it was... sloppy. Wet, messy, all effort and no finesse. She gagged slightly, pulling back to catch her breath. A thin string of saliva connected her lips to him before she dove back in, undeterred. "Emily..." he murmured, voice rough from sleep, still processing the scene. Hers wasn¡¯t like Alice¡¯s blowjobs, which were masterclass. Emily was out of her depth here, but her desperation, the way she kept going despite her lack of skill, was oddly endearing. He could feel the cold of her ghostly lips, which were a stark contrast to the heat he¡¯d drowned in last night with Alice. Isaac¡¯s hand drifted to Emily¡¯s head. His fingers threaded gently through her hair, encouraging her to keep going. "Did you wake up early to do this?" he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Emily pulled off with a gasp. Her face was flushed despite her ghostly pallor. "You... you liked it when Alice did this, so I thought I¡¯d try. I wanted to make you feel good." The blush on her face was undeniable. He caressed her hair in response. She leaned towards his hand with a smile. Finally, Alice moved, no longer faking sleep while Emily blowed him. Her dark red eyes glinted hungrily as she leaned in for a kiss. Unlike when she gave him a head, kissing was still awkward for her, but Alice¡¯s relestless tongue made it intoxicating. Isaac groaned. His free hand slid around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Her skin felt hot against his touch in contrast to Emily¡¯s cold, and the duality was already driving him wild. Emily watched them for a second before she went back to work. Her lips wrapped around him again, colder now, more desperate. She sucked harder, her tongue flicking erratically, and though it wasn¡¯t enough to push him over, the effort kept him on edge. His hand stayed in her hair, while his other arm tightened around Alice, holding her close as their kiss deepened. The base of Alice¡¯s horns brushed his forehead, and her red eyes remained half-lidded but piercing. He could feel the heat from her Physique seeping into him, grounding him even as Emily¡¯s cold touch pulled him in another direction. The contrast was maddening. Emily¡¯s cold and icy fumbling mouth below, and Alice¡¯s searing, inexperienced kiss above. He was caught between them. His instincts flared again, and a voice inside him told him to take more, and to lose himself in both. Emily gagged, pulling off to catch her breath. Her cold fingers brushed his base as she tried again. Alice broke the kiss, her lips hovering just above his. She turned to looked at the struggling Emily. Then Alice moved, sliding down the bed. She nudged Emily aside. "I¡¯ll tell you how to do it. Do what I tell you to." Emily was a bit surprised, but she nodded nonetheless. "Use your saliva first," Alice ordered. Emily hesitated, then leaned forward, her lips parting as she let a slow, deliberate stream of saliva drip onto Isaac¡¯s cock. The cold slickness made him twitch. Alice¡¯s eyes glinted with mischief, and her cold demeanor was nowhere to be seen. She felt a strange pleasure in corrupting the innocent and pure Emily. "Now, watch closely." Allice wrapped her hands around him. Her warm fingers spread Emily¡¯s spit, lubing him up with slow, deliberate strokes. Isaac groaned, his head tipping back. The heat of Alice¡¯s hands was a stark contrast to Emily¡¯s cold saliva that was on his member. Her grip was firm, and her fingers glided over him with a rhythm that was already driving him wild. She worked him for a moment, her hands sliding from base to tip, then she leaned in. Her tongue flicked out to tease the head of his cock, tracing the sensitive ridge with a warmth that made him shudder. "Fuck, Alice," he muttered, barely stopping himself from grabbing her horns and violating her mouth. Emily leaned closer. Her cold breath ghosted over his skin, and her eyes remained fixed on Alice¡¯s movements. Alice¡¯s tongue swirled, teasing the tip, while her hands massaged his balls. Her lips brushed lightly against his base before she pulled back, glancing at Emily. "After you use your spit to make it wet, use your hands," she said. "Then this." Her tongue lapped at the head with a heat that sent sparks through him. Emily nodded. Her cold fingers brushed Isaac¡¯s thigh, tentative but eager to learn. Isaac wished she was this eager to learn during the actual classes, but this was not bad either. "Like... that?" Emily murmured. She almost seemed to rever Alice¡¯s masterful movements. Alice didn¡¯t answer. She just took him into her mouth, lips closing around the tip before sliding down, taking him deep in one smooth, practiced motion. Isaac groaned. He twitched as her warm, tight mouth worked him over with her tongue pressing against him with devastating skill. Her red eyes flicked up, meeting his, in a cold but smug manner, and her horns glinted as she bobbed her head, slow and deliberate. "Watch her, Emily," Isaac said in a strained voice. The devil inside him found pleasure in making her watch Alice obscene movements as she gave him a head. Both Alice and Isaac could not stop themselves from corrupting Emily. His hand guided Emily closer, and her cold cheek brushed his thigh. Alice pulled off slightly, her lips glistening, and nodded at Emily. "Now, you try it." Emily leaned in. Her cold lips brushed the side of his cock, and she tried her best. After a while Emily gagged and pulled back. "Don¡¯t worry. You are doing good for your first time. Just keep practicing and you¡¯ll do good," Alice said as her mouth took him deep again, while Emily kissed and licked at his base. Her cold tongue darted erratically, missing the mark but trying so hard it kept him on edge. Isaac¡¯s head tipped back. His breathing turned ragged as they worked together, their mouths overlapping in a chaotic, overwhelming dance of pleasure. As he watched them closely, Inspect activated by mistake. [Status (Emily): Hopes that this is pleasuring for you. She doesn¡¯t want a repeat of last night, where she couldn¡¯t handle you and gave you to Alice for almost the entirety of night. Somehow, she finds staring at your eyes while you look down on her pleasing.] [Status (Alice): Horny, wants you to rattle her insides like last night. While giving you head, she thinks it was a good job she practiced with toys since you clearly look pleased.] Isaac noticed Emily¡¯s status. ¡¯So she does feel jealous. She just doesn¡¯t show it.¡¯ He remembered the system warning about Emily¡¯s affection falling as she felt she was inadequate for him. After her awakening, Isaac had quickly surpassed her, then Alice came and showed much greater potential than her, and now during the night she could not even make Isaac finish a single round due to the difference in their stats. Her inner emotions were in turmoil. ¡¯I thought I did a good work of hiding that Emily can¡¯t keep up due to her low stats, but I guess her intuition told her everything.¡¯ He caressed her head. She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his hand and a sense of happiness. [Status 2 (Emily): Happy] Isaac smiled and decided to later shower her with enough love that she didn¡¯t feel inadequate anymore. Then, he looked at Alice¡¯s status. ¡¯She used toys to practice? This girl is really...¡¯ A chuckle escaped him despite the heat flooding his system. Suddenly, a memory came back to him. Alice, days back, mentioned she had learned "every household task" but she never revealed why she, the official heir, bothered to learn the menial tasks. Now it hit him: she¡¯d been preparing for him. She practiced, learnt, trained, all to please him. It was such a cute gesture, so quietly devoted, that it warmed him in a way that didn¡¯t match the moment¡ªAlice taking him while Emily kissed and sucked his balls. While his heart was warmed at their inner thoughts, he wanted nothing more than to ravage them at the moment. "Alice, I¡¯m gonna¡ª" he warned, but Alice didn¡¯t pull off, just hummed. The vibrations of her throat sent him over the edge. He came hard, pulling out at the last second, spilling across their faces, marking them both. Emily flinched when the mark hit her face, while Alice opened her mouth and rolled her tongue out as if showing him the target to aim for. Her red eyes met his, and they held undeniable smugness. Emily wiped her flushed face. Alice leaned forward, and licked him clean before turning to Emily. "Always clean up after the end. It will do this." She grabbed Isaac¡¯s cock that was already back to rock hardness. Isaac caught his breath, propped on his elbows, still reeling from the intensity. But before he could say anything, Emily moved. She climbed over him with a sudden, fierce determination, straddling his hips. Her cold thighs pressed against his skin, sending a shiver through him. Her plantinum hair fell around her face as she looked down at him, eyes burning with resolve and lust. "Isaac," she said, voice steady but trembling with emotion. "I want to do it like Alice too." Isaac blinked, confused, his mind still hazy from the orgasm. "What? Emily, what are you¡ª" "You¡¯re holding back," she cut in, leaning closer. Her cold hands braced on his chest. "Because you¡¯re afraid of hurting me, right? Don¡¯t say that¡¯s not true. I saw how you were with Alice last night." "Emily, that¡¯s not¡ª" "I feel... like I¡¯m not enough for you, Isaac." Her voice cracked, and it hit him like a punch. She¡¯d seen him handle Alice roughly while he remained intoxicated. It made her realize he had never been true with her. Knowing her partner didn¡¯t feel pleasure with her was like a gut wrenching punch. Isaac opened his mouth to speak, but she acted first. She activated Life Drain with lowered intensity. A tingling warmth spread where her skin touched him, pulling at his life force, and she shuddered, her breath hitching. "There," she whispered, leaning over him as she was unable to maintain her balance. "Now I can heal from however hard you handle me." The sensation was intoxicating for her. Isaac¡¯s touch, amplified by Life Drain, felt like it was sinking into her bones, drawing her out and lighting her up at the same time. Her eyes fluttered, and a soft moan escaped her lips as she leaned into him. "Why didn¡¯t I try this before?" she murmured, almost to herself, her hands sliding up his chest, the drain intensifying just enough to make her and his head spin. Isaac¡¯s hands settled on her hips, feeling the ghostly chill of her skin. His instincts were roaring at him to let go of all restraints, but he didn¡¯t move instantly. He wanted to refuse her. However, he also knew she loved him, and she wanted to feel needed by him. Holding back would only hurt her more. "Alright," he said. "But tell me if it hurts." Her eyes lit up in a mix of fear and excitement, and she nodded, bracing herself. Her hands gripped his shoulders. He didn¡¯t give her time to rethink. He grabbed her hips, lifting her slightly before thrusting up into her, deep and hard, filling her in one brutal motion. "Angh!" her voice came out like a mix of a sob and a moan, and her cold walls clenched around him tightly, shuddering with his every move. Life Drain amplified the pleasure, masking the pain. Emily¡¯s moans became louder when he thrust harder. Tears streamed as she clung to him, and her nails dug into his shoulders. He leaned towards her to bite her neck, leaving a mark. "Aah~~ Aah~~ Isaac~~ I love you~~" she gasped, her voice breaking as he moved her harder. His hands guided her hips, slamming her down to meet each thrust. Her walls clenched with every relentless drive as her body shook under the onslaught. Alice watched from the side. Her fingers moved between her legs, matching Isaac¡¯s thrust. Isaac changed the position. He laid Emily on the bed, and pinned her wrists above her head with one hand while his other hand slid down to spread her thighs. Life Drain was still active. It made every touch of his electric. "Tell me if it¡¯s too much," he said, barely holding himself back, giving her one last out. "Don¡¯t hold back," she repeated, her voice a desperate plea, her hips arching toward him. "Please, Isaac." He felt the last restraints stopping him snap. He thrust into her, hard and deep, burying himself in one stroke. Emily cried out, her back bowing off the bed. Her cold walls clenched around him harder than before as he started moving. Her moans filled the room. "So~~ good~~" she choked out, her voice breaking as Life Drain pulsed harder. The pleasure was overwhelming her. She was in heaven. Her shy demeanor was gone, replaced by a wild, desperate need as Isaac¡¯s domineering side took over. She was lost in it. Her eyes became glassy, and mouth open as she gasped his name. The drain was making her dizzy. The mix of his powerful thrusts and the intoxicating pull of his life force pushed her to the edge. She felt like she might go insane. The sensation too much, too perfect, and she didn¡¯t care for the pain. She wanted more. She wanted him to break her. "Harder, Isaac! Do it harder!" He complied. Her walls clamped down on him like a vise grip, refusing to let him go, but her love juices allowed his cock to move as if it was sliding inside-out of her. Suddenly, Emily¡¯s body jerked, and a deep wave of pleasure rolled over her. She froze, basking in the sense of fulfillment. But Isaac was far from done. He pulled out, flipping her onto her stomach with a rough tug. She gasped as her head got buried in the pillow. He raised her ass up, and thrust back in, deeper, harder. The angle was brutal with each ram slamming her forward. Her moans were barely muffled by the pillow as he fucked her into the bed. Life Drain worked non-stop, healing the strain, letting her take it, and it was driving her wild. She couldn¡¯t understand if she wanted pleasure to increase, or the pain. Isaac ignored her cries and moans. His one hand gripped her hip, and the other pressed down on her neck tightly, keeping her pinned. Despite his tight grip, she didn¡¯t complain, and instead raised her ass higher, and grinded against him. She screamed his name into the pillow, her climax hitting hard again. Her body shook under the effect of Life Drain, but her mind was too muddled and addicted to even think of stopping the skill. "Emily¡ª" he groaned, slamming into her one last time, spilling his seeds. She shuddered, her climax chasing his. Her body trembled as Life Drain drained the seeds, leaving her a panting, broken mess. He pulled out, watching the contents spill from her. Until last night, Isaac had been insistent on using a protection. But he caved in after Alice ¡¯suggested¡¯ that Emily could just use Life Drain on the sperm to remove any chance of unwanted pregnancy. Unaware of his thoughts, Emily stayed face-down with her head buried in the pillow. Her hips twitched as she gasped for air. Noticing her state filled him with contentment, and despite being drained of his life force for the last few minutes, he was not tired at all. Alice finally moved. She hugged him from behind, her boobs pressing on his back and her hands stroked him . She kissed his shoulder and neck as her gaze lingered on the barely- conscious Emily. She gulped inaudibly. She wanted to experience that pleasure too. Emily¡¯s moan and screams wouldn¡¯t leave her mind. Her hands stroked him faster. But she stopped just before his climax hit. When Isaac turned, he noticed Alice spreading her legs open. He complied and did her brutally, just as he had Emily. Each snap of his hips drove her down pits of pleasure. Alice took it all, her heat matching his, her moans low and restrained, her nails digging into his skin as she rocked against him. They went multiple rounds, time blurring as the morning stretched on. Thankfully, he¡¯d woken early, and had free time before he needed to harvest the crops. He took Alice and Emily in every position¡ªon their back, their legs over his shoulders; then flipping them onto her knees, ramming them from behind until they were shuddering, and their walls were painted white. When they finally finished, Alice collapsed beside Emily, her chest heaving, her horns resting against the pillow. Isaac caught his breath, sated for now. Emily was barely conscious. Her gasps softened into shallow breaths as she curled into the sheets. Alice¡¯s red eyes were half-lidded, and she glanced at him with softness. He felt a surge of affection for both¡ªEmily¡¯s desperate love, Alice¡¯s quiet devotion¡ªand knew he couldn¡¯t leave them in the messy state. "Don¡¯t sleep now. C¡¯mon," he said in a gentle voice, sliding off the bed and helping Emily sit up. She blinked, dazed, her cold hand trembling in his as he guided her to the small bathroom along with Alice. "Let¡¯s clean you up." She nodded, allowing him to run a warm cloth over her skin, washing away the sweat and mark of their morning. Alice followed silently. She stood beside him, and waited for him wipe her down too. As he did that, she closed her eyes, asking for a kiss. Isaac smiled and leaned in. "Me too," Emily said, barely awake. Isaac gave her a peck. Once they were clean, he helped them back to bed, tucking the sheets around them. Emily mumbled something incoherent, already drifting off. Her cold hand brushed his wrist as she tried to make him stay with her. He gently pried her off. Then, he looked towards Alice who remained wide awake. "Sleep. We still have time before the morning." She nodded, and pulled the sheets over her. ¡¯Yeah, she definitely isn¡¯t sleeping if she is doing that with those horns.¡¯ Isaac chuckled. Just as he was about to leave the room, a screen popped up before him. [One of your wife¡¯s affection for you has reached...] Chapter 104: Emily’s Affection Reaches 100, Buying The Bloodline Upgrade Potion Chapter 104: Emily¡¯s Affection Reaches 100, Buying The Bloodline Upgrade Potion [A wife¡¯s affection for you has reached 100.] [All Affection points received from Emily Warren will be hereon increased by ten times.] [You can now see a hint to help Emily Warren increase her rating.] Emily Warren Rating: 96 Status: Happy that Isaac didn¡¯t have to hold himself back with her this time. Satisfied by Isaac¡¯s marital prowess and can¡¯t help but keep thinking about your dominant nature which was quite different from your usual gentle demeanor. The difference is making her blush. Rating Increase Hint: Feed her Bloodline Upgrade Potion (Middle-rank to High-rank), and Bloodline Upgrade Potion (High-rank to Apex-rank) to repair her bloodline and unlock the true potential of her bloodline. Isaac looked down at Emily, who was still asleep beside him. Her breathing was soft, even, and her face held a faint, lingering blush. It seemed like being honest with her¡ªbeing open¡ªwas the key. Last night, he had held back, and it made her vulnerable. But this morning, he did not do that, and that allowed her to let go of the burden in her heart. ¡¯So that¡¯s what it took,¡¯ Isaac muttered under his breath, brushing a strand of hair from her face. ¡¯To help her feel adequate again.¡¯ He glanced at the system affection rating. It was a perfect 100. She no longer felt inadequate. ¡¯I suppose reaching 100 affection needs us to overcome some kind of barrier in our relationship.¡¯ His thoughts drifted to someone else. "I wonder why Alice¡¯s affection is stuck at 99..." Quietly, he slipped out of bed and stepped outside. The morning air was cool. A light breeze carried the scent of soil and crops. He made his way to the field, but not before pulling up his system screen. AP Balance: 875.91 ¡ú 3155.22 Isaac¡¯s eyebrows lifted. He hadn¡¯t checked the numbers in nearly two days, and the growth was more than he expected. "That¡¯s a lot more than usual," he murmured. He mentally tallied the sources. "About a thousand from Emily and Alice¡¯s passive affection." "Another 400 must have come from Alice after she awakened her physique." "100 should be from Emily tasting food for the first time." "Maybe 300 total came from last night and another 300 from this morning. Then the last 100 must be from helping Emily release her emotional burden." His math might be off by a bit, but it lined up well enough. Emily¡¯s passive AP had increased, now giving 0.1 AP per second. Combined with Alice¡¯s 0.005, the steady trickle was decent. Better than decent, actually. "Not bad," Isaac nodded. He opened the shop menu and purchased the first item on his list. Bloodline Upgrade Potion (Middle rank to High rank species) ¨C Purchased. A vial appeared in his hand. The liquid inside shimmered faintly, glowing with a dull blue hue. He studied it for a few seconds before sending it into the Soulbind Pendant for later. "Now I just need a reason to give this to Emily." He checked his balance again. AP Balance: 3155.22 ¡ú 657.82 That one potion had taken a huge chunk of his total. He eyed the remaining items in the time-limited shop. Phantom Core Extractor ¨C 1,800 AP Celestial Spirit Pact Token ¨C 2,200 AP "I still have no idea what either of these does," Isaac muttered. The shop didn¡¯t list their functions, and there were no item explanations, or descriptions. It made choosing them a gamble. "I don¡¯t know what they do. Still these items should be useful. If I manage to gather enough AP before the shop resets tomorrow, I¡¯ll pick one." Closing the shop interface, he stepped out into the sunlight. Just then, Leora appeared next to him. Her expression wasn¡¯t unreadable this time. In fact, it was quite clear¡ªmild irritation, mixed with fatigue. "Is there a problem?" he asked. She shook her head. "No." But her narrowed eyes and clenched jaw said otherwise. Isaac used Inspect. [Status: Wondering if you really had to be so loud? She could barely sleep, and the few minutes she did sleep, her dreams were filled with obscene moans. Angry that you had to start again in the morning, and that it was even louder than last night.] Isaac froze. ¡¯She could hear everything beyond the wall? But I was told these walls block out high-rank senses too.¡¯ Embarrassment pricked at his skin. ¡¯I guess next time we will do it inside Soulbind Pendant,¡¯ he sighed. "Why¡¯d you stop walking?" Leora asked. "It¡¯s nothing. Just lost in thought." He picked up pace and got to work on harvesting. After the task was done, he noticed Leora staring at her device with a furrowed brow. She looked up at him. "There is good news and bad news. Which one do you want first?" "Good," Isaac said, wiping his hands. "You¡¯re getting the Seed Tree of Vitality Grain by tomorrow." Isaac blinked. "That early? I thought it would take weeks, if not months." "They are doing it because of you," Leora said then explained. "The Florathi race has spies in human cities, just like we have spies in theirs. "Someone among them must¡¯ve sent intel back about your Talent. Since they¡¯re a race that values nature and supports those with strong affinity to it, they probably want to get on your good side." Isaac folded his arms, nodded. "That makes sense." Spying between races wasn¡¯t uncommon from what he heard. It helped keep track of rising threats and allies. Still, the speed of the delivery surprised him. "Alright. What¡¯s the bad news?" Leora frowned. "The Seed Tree needs at least 0.5 hectares to grow. If you want it to thrive, you¡¯ll have to make space." "So... I either cut back on the current crops or buy more land?" Isaac felt his brow crease. Leora nodded. "And you can¡¯t buy more land right now." "...Why not?" "Because the Economic Council isn¡¯t allowing you to." Isaac blinked. "They can do that?" "They can," Leora replied. "Technically, the Sanctum of Masters owns the land within the stronghold. But we made compromises when building this place. To bring in other organizations, to encourage them to invest in the stronghold¡¯s growth, we granted certain rights." She glanced back at him. "One of those rights was given to the Economic Council. It¡¯s made up of various business-related organizations we invited here. In exchange for contributing to infrastructure and development, they were allowed to control and oversee the economic flow within the stronghold." Isaac frowned. "So they¡¯re saying if I buy more land, it¡¯ll... what, ruin the economy?" "They¡¯re claiming it¡¯ll lead to a monopoly," Leora said with a trace of irritation. "From their perspective, you¡¯re rapidly gaining control over a significant share of the explorer market¡ªespecially food. And now that your grains give potion-like effects... you¡¯re hurting the potion industry too." Isaac leaned back against the wall, arms folded. "Hurting? Really?" "There are always people like them in the world," Leora sighed. Isaac¡¯s thoughts churned. He hadn¡¯t intended to affect other businesses sales, but his Talent gave him an edge that was simply too large to ignore. "Can¡¯t the Sanctum of Masters override this?" he asked after a pause. "Surely someone up there can make an exception." "We¡¯re trying," Leora said, sounding frustrated. "But the rights were signed into their charter. As long as it falls under their jurisdiction, we can¡¯t force the issue. Not without creating internal tension with every group we invited here." Isaac let out a short breath. "I see... Can I meet them? Or join this Economic Council?" Chapter 105: Economic Council, Ten Billions Chapter 105: Economic Council, Ten Billions "Your company¡¯s already a member. Alice made sure of it when she filed the application for creating your business." Isaac¡¯s eyes widened slightly. "She did?" "She handled the paperwork thoroughly," Leora nodded. "However, only the council leaders attend meetings. Regular members don¡¯t get a say unless invited." He was quiet for a moment, then gave a thoughtful hum. "I¡¯ll talk to Alice later. She¡¯ll know what to do." Leora gave him a small nod. "Until then, your only option is to free up space." Isaac didn¡¯t respond. He simply gave a brief nod, collected the grains, and prepared to head out to the shop. At the shop, Vax was behind the counter today. He looked up as Isaac entered, holding a crate of freshly harvested grains. "Ah, boss. You¡¯re back," Vax greeted with a grin. "Delivery again? I thought you would hire someone for it by now." "Well, I do it by myself since it gives me an excuse to visit the market," Isaac replied, placing the crate on the counter. "Besides, I need to bring Tyr to shop either way." Vax nodded. "I figured." The two exchanged a few more casual words before Isaac turned and headed out again, this time returning his house. After he reached his destination, he completed his gym routine, took a bath, and had a breakfast before the class began. Today, Alice joined them for the first time. She sat beside him with a calm, focused expression, dressed in the Sanctum uniform ¨C they were told to wear uniforms during the classes. Seeing alice here eased the small worry he hadn¡¯t even realized he¡¯d been carrying. He had feared she might choose another university, believing it was more suited for her growth. But she had chosen the Sanctum of Masters. She had chosen to stay close to him. ¡¯She¡¯s staying for me,¡¯ Isaac thought quietly. A warm feeling stirred in his chest. But it was quickly followed by resolve. ¡¯If that¡¯s the case, I need to make sure her growth doesn¡¯t suffer because of it.¡¯ He had seen stat-boosting potions in the system shop earlier today. Each one gave a permanent +10 to a stat and cost 10,000 AP. They were expensive, but nothing he couldn¡¯t afford as long as he saved up. He made a mental note to buy them for Alice and Emily. Professor Catherine cleared her throat. "From tomorrow onward, we¡¯ll shift our focus more toward combat training. You¡¯ve built a foundation. Now it¡¯s time to put it to use." Isaac noticed the way her tone sounded different. It was slightly more serious. He couldn¡¯t quite place it, but something about her felt... tense. He didn¡¯t comment, though. Professor Catherine didn¡¯t seem like she would explain it even if he asked. He¡¯d just have to stay alert. During the class, Emily, sitting next to him, seemed more cheerful than usual. Isaac realized it was because Professor Catherine was focused on Alice today. Since Alice had just joined, she had a lot of material to catch up on. Professor Catherine gave her a stack of notes, explained several concepts, and ran her through some fast-paced revision. Impressively, Alice kept up. By the end of the lesson, she had already covered half the syllabus the rest of them had spent over a week learning. Emily¡¯s cheer faded steadily as this became clear. She was, once again, the slowest learner. By the time class ended, she had returned to her usual sulky silence. After the class, Isaac found out that halfway through the session, Selene and Chairman Lucius had left. Chairman Lucius had sent a message to Isaac, reminding him of the party today. Later, Isaac had lunch before he completed another harvest. The crops glowed faintly as they were gathered, a clear sign of their growing potency. He stored everything efficiently, then met Leora and Alice who waited near the jeep. Emily wasn¡¯t with them. She had ¡¯chosen¡¯ to stay back and get extra lessons from Professor Catherine, likely trying to close the gap again. The three of them set off toward the market. The jeep bumped along the stone roads, tires crunching softly over the gravel. As they passed through the busy districts, Isaac glanced at Alice in the rearview mirror. She was quiet, and her gaze was fixed on the passing buildings and wreckages. Isaac told her about the issue with Economic Council and asked for advice. Alice didn¡¯t look surprised. "I expected they¡¯d try that eventually." He raised a brow. "You did?" "Yeah. That¡¯s why I already took some steps to deal with it." That got his attention. "What did you do?" "I asked my uncle to give them a little pressure. They can¡¯t ignore that. No matter how important those organizations think they are, they¡¯ll listen when the Calloway Conglomerate speaks." Isaac blinked. "You called in your uncle?" Alice gave a small nod. "He was more than happy to do it. Supporting you lets him show everyone that the Calloway family has a good relationship with the rising talent of the stronghold. It¡¯s a win-win." Isaac glanced at her with a smile. "Thanks." She shook her head. "You don¡¯t have to thank me. I¡¯m doing this because I want to." Soon, the jeep turned into the market and began to slow down as traffic increased. The market had doubled in size compared to the first day Isaac came here. Isaac found a parking spot near the market and pulled in. As they stepped out of the jeep and walked towards the shop, Isaac noticed people staring at their group. Several pedestrians had stopped mid-step, their gazes locked on Alice. Some turned their heads as they walked by, others paused and pretended to look at shop signs while sneaking glances. It was subtle. But not that subtle. Alice had always been pretty, but now, she was on a whole different level. There was a cold, elegant sharpness to her appearance, and those horns, protuding from her head, made her look like an otherworldly goddess. No one seemed to recognize which demihuman race Alice belonged to. That only made her more of a mystery. Alice didn¡¯t react to the stares. Instead, as they began walking toward the shop, she quietly slipped her hand into his and interlocked their fingers. +0.4 AP +0.4 AP Isaac¡¯s eyes flicked to the system notifications. The AP was slowly dripping in again. Curious, he checked her status. [Status 1: Horny] [Status 2: Happy to be with you. Pissed as to why so many women are turning to look at you.] Isaac chuckled, seeing the familiar screen. At the shop, Vax was standing behind the counter, already halfway through assisting a customer. He noticed Isaac and Alice walking in and gave a small wave. Isaac returned it. "Take a short break, Vax. We¡¯ll cover the counter for a while." "Seriously?" Vax looked surprised, but didn¡¯t argue. "Thanks, boss." He stepped out from behind the counter, grabbed a bottle of water, and disappeared toward the backroom. Alice moved beside Isaac behind the counter. Together, they managed the line of customers that had started forming. It was a smooth process. Isaac had done this enough times now that he didn¡¯t need to think about it much. But he noticed something odd. More girls were showing up than usual. He didn¡¯t have hard numbers, but the sudden increase in female customers¡ªmost of whom made small talk and smiled a bit too much¡ªwas definitely noticeable. He didn¡¯t comment on it. He could feel Alice watching each interaction with calm, cold eyes. She didn¡¯t say anything, but her expression was enough to remind him not to get too friendly. They worked for about half an hour. Sales were strong. The Vitality Grains, even the Tier 0 ones, were continuing to draw attention from small explorers and adventurer teams, and the Tier 1s sold like hotcakes. A lot of customers had been waiting for Isaac to come with the Tier 1 Vitality Grains since the stock had emptied. Everyone wanted something that could restore stamina and mana without needing to rely on expensive potions. Eventually, they finished up. Isaac glanced at the time and nodded. "Let¡¯s head back." They left the shop, waved goodbye to Vax, and returned to the jeep. Once everyone was in, Isaac started the engine and checked his balance through the system panel. [Credited (Last 24 Hours): 3,073,600,000 Obols] [Balance (Total): 10,277,710,000 Obols] He had earned the target money of 10 billions before the sixth day was up. Alice noticed him staring at his device. "Why are you smiling?" He showed her the account balance. "Now you belong to me, my mad princess." Alice blinked. The faint color rising to her cheeks was nearly invisible unless someone was looking closely. She turned her head and faced the window. "...Congratulations." Isaac glanced at her but didn¡¯t push it. The jeep hummed down the road as they left the market district behind and rolled back toward the house. The late afternoon sun cast slanted shadows across the uneven stone road, and the scent of dust and dry leaves drifted in through the open windows. By the time they reached the gates, Isaac had already started mentally going over the training schedule. It had been a while since they¡¯d done serious combat drills. The house was quiet when they entered. Emily was still out with Professor Catherine, though from the tone of her earlier message, she¡¯d be back soon. Isaac washed up quickly, changed into training gear, and made his way to the combat grounds behind the house. The training area wasn¡¯t fancy. Just a wide stretch of reinforced ground, some automated dummies at the edges, and the occasional rune-lined slab for defensive exercises. The evening light gave it a dull bronze glow, but that didn¡¯t make it feel any less dangerous. Professor Catherine was already waiting. She wore the usal black combat gear that clung to her figure, emphasizing her bust and wide hips. Her hair was tied into a firm bun, and she held a faint smile. She glanced at Isaac, gave a small nod, then turned toward Alice who had just stepped onto the field behind him. "Today," Catherine said, "we¡¯ll start with you, Alice. Let¡¯s see what your skills can do." Alice met her gaze without flinching. "Alright." She stepped forward, walking until she stood in the center of the training circle. Her boots made a quiet tap with each step. Isaac folded his arms and moved to the side, watching her with Emily. Chapter 106: Alice’s Weapon, How Affinities Work Chapter 106: Alice¡¯s Weapon, How Affinities Work Professor Catherine raised her hand and summoned a standard combat dummy. It looked simple at first glance, but Isaac recognized the subtle enhancements from the class textbooks. It was a modified version with intermediate combat protocols and a thin layer of mana shielding. Sparks flickered over its surface as it activated and took a loose combat stance. "You can use any skill and weapon you like," Professor Catherine said. "Don¡¯t hold back. I want to see everything." Alice gave a short nod. She took a breath, then reached into her spatial ring and summoned a massive warhammer. The head of the weapon hit the ground with a dull thud. Unlike in the Academy, where she mostly relied on her fists due to her old stat limitations, that restriction no longer existed. She liked fists, but she loved the warhammer. The feeling of the bludgeoning enemies and the satisfying crunch of their broken bones were music to her ears. She swung it once, testing the weight. Then, without warning, she charged. The dummy reacted, its arms shifting to block, but Alice¡¯s strike smashed through its guard. The head of the warhammer cracked against its side, knocking it backward. Sparks flew, and the mana shield flickered. Alice followed up with a spin. Her second swing crashed against its midsection. The ground trembled slightly under the force. She didn¡¯t pause, and quickly activated her Solar Dominion skill. Light and flames burst from beneath her feet, expanding into a wide, radiant circle. The air shimmered, and a sun-like glow flooded the training area. The dummy¡¯s shell sizzled as the solar energy burned into it, dealing damage every second. Her warhammer strikes, now empowered further by the domain, became even more destructive. Isaac narrowed his eyes. Alice¡¯s every attack was clean, and her strike were timed precisely. Though she seemed to be unable to control her strength well. Alice moved in again, her body bathed in the light of her own domain. The next series of attacks landed in brutal, calculated succession. Within seconds, the dummy fell apart, sparking and twitching. Its shielding shattered. Its arms twisted at unnatural angles. Alice exhaled and straightened. Her domain stayed, forty still seconds remaining for it. She wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, then looked over at Professor Catherine. The professor smiled. She raised her hand and summoned a basic training sword. "The dummy is too weak. It couldn¡¯t handle your full strength. So I will be the one fighting now." Alice nodded and tightened her grip on the warhammer. Then she charged. She wasn¡¯t worried about hurting Professor Catherine. In fact, she was glad for a chance to let loose. Her warhammer came down with force enough to crater the ground. Professor Catherine sidestepped it like it was a falling leaf. Alice twisted, following through with a sideways strike. Professor Catherine leaned back, letting it pass inches from her waist. Then Alice activated her skills. Daybreak Incarnate morphed her appearance slightly. It made her horns bigger and darker. Flames swirled around her arms and weapon, pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat. Isaac wondered if her appearance would change more as the skill¡¯s level increased. Heart of the Eternal Sun filled her body with raw unending energy. Steam rose from her skin and temporarily, she could use her skills without worrying about mana. Her domain burned majestically, turning the entire area into a burning field of radiant golden flames. She attacked relentlessly. Her strikes blurred, crashing against the air like cannon shots. The heat warped the surroundings. Light and fire mixed together. And yet¡ª Professor Catherine moved through it all without a scratch. She dodged almost everything. When she didn¡¯t dodge, she parried. Her sword barely moved, yet each motion redirected Alice¡¯s full-strength blows like they were nothing more than practice swings. The flames didn¡¯t touch her. The light didn¡¯t blind her. Nothing landed. Alice growled and pushed harder. But every technique, every skill, every ounce of power of hers was handled like a joke. Professor Catherine never used a single skill. In the end, Alice dropped to one knee. Her breathing was rough and uneven. Her warhammer leaned against the ground. Steam rose from her arms. Sweat soaked her back. She looked up at the professor, frustrated stunned, and in awe. Professor Catherine walked over calmly, unbothered. She crouched slightly, placing a hand on her hip and smiled. "You fight well," she said. "You¡¯re just not used to your new stats yet. You¡¯re wasting stamina with every motion, and your coordination¡¯s still off." Her tone was soft, almost maternal, unlike when she teased Isaac. Alice clenched her jaw but said nothing. Emily stood off to the side, her eyes full of admiration. She looked proud of Professor Catherine and her eyes practically seemed to be saying that this was her auntie. Isaac, on the other hand, was quiet. He stared at the professor with a serious expression. ¡¯Crazy,¡¯ he thought. Alice could fight Level 50 to Level 52 Champion rank awakeners and yet she was defeated easily. "How strong is Professor Catherine really?" he muttered. A voice whispered near his ear. "Do you really want to know?" The whisper sent a shiver down his spine. His body tensed. He turned instinctively and saw her. Professor Catherine stood behind him with a teasing smile. But he¡¯d just seen her standing next to Alice. He blinked and looked forward again. She was no longer there. His gaze darted back. She was definitely behind him now, hands clasped behind her back, upper body tilted slightly forward in a casual lean with a smile. She tilted her head. "How about we have a battle in your room?" she said, her voice still teasing. "I¡¯m sure you¡¯d get to see how strong I am. And maybe I could teach you some other nice things too." Isaac rolled his eyes, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to Professor Catherine¡¯s captivating figure. Her full, heavy breasts strained against her tight blouse, drawing his eye with every subtle movement. Her slender waist flowed into wide, curving hips that swayed enticingly, igniting a fierce, burning desire in Isaac¡¯s core. He blinked when he realized what he was thinking and looked away. ¡¯I need to learn how to control these instincts,¡¯ he thought. Professor Catherine¡¯s smile remained playful. But fortunately she hadn¡¯t notice his gaze, or decided to ignore it. Then she added, "By the way, you were able to follow our fight from start to finish. That¡¯s impressive. You must have a high Constitution stat... and strong Spirit Power, too." He didn¡¯t reply. He didn¡¯t need to. She was already walking away, back toward Alice. Alice finally got back to her feet, wiping the sweat from her face. Professor Catherine clapped once and turned to the rest of the group. "Okay," she said, her tone shifting back to professional, "I¡¯ve got the gist of your abilities now." She glanced at the students standing nearby. "Now we¡¯ll start the actual class." Her gaze lingered on Alice for a moment before she spoke again. "First, Alice your biggest mistake when we fought earlier was that you didn¡¯t use any affinities." Alice nodded. Professor Catherine gave a small smile and turned to the others. "For Isaac and Emily¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll explain affinities since they haven¡¯t been taught about them yet. "Affinities are elemental attunements that allow you to interact with mana in specific ways. From Level 1 to Level 5, the effects are internal, and can be used within your body only. Each affinity enhances different aspects of your body." She paused, letting that sink in, then looked at Alice again. "What are your affinities?" "Solar Fire, Fire, and Light." Professor Catherine nodded. "Hmm. It¡¯s a good combination. If you had activated Fire, your strength would¡¯ve increased. With Light, your speed would¡¯ve gotten a boost. "And Solar Fire... well, that would¡¯ve enhanced your healing, your strength, and your speed all at once." She paced slowly in front of the group as she continued, "Solar Fire is a composite affinity. A rare one, too. It¡¯s a mixture of Holy, Fire, and Light affinities. It heals, purifies curses and poison, increases your power and speed. The affinity is very useful, but also harder to level up." Alice gave a small nod. Her eyes were calm. She already knew most of this. Professor Catherine turned her attention to Isaac next. "Alice must¡¯ve told you about her stats. When you watched her fight, what did you notice?" Chapter 107: Uniqueness Of A Physique Chapter 107: Uniqueness Of A Physique [Author¡¯s Note: Last Chapter has been updated with the correct content. If you can¡¯t see the correct Chapter, clear your app cache.] Isaac thought about it and answered. "Her actual stats were higher than the ones shown on her status screen." Professor Catherine smiled slightly. "Good job noticing that. It must be because something similar is happening with your own stats, so you recognized the pattern." Emily glanced at Isaac, a bit surprised. Then Professor Catherine¡¯s gaze shifted to Emily. "Do you know why there¡¯s a difference between actual performance stats and system-shown stats?" Emily shook her head. "No, auntie." "Professor." Professor Catherine corrected her. "We are in class right now, Emily." "Yes, sorry, professor. I don¡¯t know the answer," Emily said, a bit embarrassed. "That¡¯s alright," Professor Catherine said gently. "Our curriculum hasn¡¯t reached that point yet. It¡¯s not something most first-year students would know." She continued, "Stats are relative to your race. Normally, the base stats vary slightly between species, but not by a lot. The difference is barely noticeable. "However, for high-rank species and above¡ªthose who awaken their Physique¡ªthe base stats evolve significantly." Emily blinked. "Physique?" "Yes. It¡¯s an aspect unique to high-rank species and above. Once a high-rank species awakens their Physique, the value of their stats increases. On average, one stat point for someone with a Physique is equal to three stat points for someone without one." Emily¡¯s eyes widened slightly. "And that¡¯s not all," Professor Catherine added. "Some high-rank species go even further. Their one stat point could equal four of someone from a low-rank or mid-rank species." Isaac nodded. This was something he had suspected when he noticed that he was stronger than the stats shown on his status screen. "So stats on the screen don¡¯t mean much in actual battle?" "They still matter," Professor Catherine said. "But only if you understand what¡¯s behind them." She turned back toward Alice. "Take Drakes, for example. They are a high-rank species. Their one point in Strength is worth four points for others, but their Agility is worth only two stat points. Stats scale differently depending on the race and what they¡¯re optimized for." Alice listened carefully, so did Isaac and Emily. Professor Catherine continued. "This is why knowing your opponent¡¯s race and what areas they excel at matters. You can¡¯t just charge in with a good class and Talent and expect to win. Strategy and preparation matters." "What about dragons?" Emily questioned. "Dragons are believed to be all-rounders. All their stats are similarly high. As for how their stats compare to common races... There¡¯s no official record. But based on what Alice showed, the minimum estimate is five to one." Isaac¡¯s brows furrowed. "So Alice¡¯s actual Strength... is five times what it says?" "At least five times," Catherine confirmed. "It could be easily more. We will only know when she has adjusted to her stats, and can fight properly." Emily turned toward Alice, blinking in a mixture of awe and disbelief. Professor Catherine noticed her gaze. "You will evolve your species and awaken a Physique too if you keep training like you do, Emily," she said. Alice¡¯s looked at her, surprised, and Emily was no different. The professor raised her hand casually, as if to wave away their surprise. "Emily¡¯s situation is a bit unique," Professor Catherine added. "Normally, it¡¯s impossible to evolve someone¡¯s species to a higher rank without Bloodline Upgrade Potion." Her gaze drifted to Isaac for a moment. Only he knew the real reason behind Emily¡¯s potential for evolution. "Alright," Professor Catherine clapped once, shifting the tone of the conversation. "The theory part is over. It¡¯s time to train." She turned to Emily and Alice. "Each of you will fight a combat dummy. Alice, I don¡¯t want you to focus on defeating it. You need to work on adjusting to your own body, focus on coordination, and try to actively adjust how much strength and other stats you are using. You won¡¯t be able to handle the Body Tempering potion unless your body and mind are in sync with your current stats." She didn¡¯t wait for a reply. "If you don¡¯t adjust properly before taking the potion, the rapid stat growth could mess up your coordination permanently. In the worst case, you might never be able to bring out the full power of your stats again." Professor Catherine had already informed Alice she would be given a Body Tempering Potion. However, she needed to put in effort for it. Alice and Emily moved toward the training area. Alice seemed focused. Emily was a little nervous and excited at the same time by the news of her possible evolution. Both took their places in front of the dummies, ready to start. Professor Catherine finally turned to Isaac, who was still standing a short distance away. "Well then," she said with a smile, "I hope you don¡¯t get tired too easily during our training. Without enough stamina, you would not be satisfy me." "Do you really have to make everything sound so suggestive, Professor?" Isaac gave her a look. "What are you talking about? I spoke normally." The slight curve of her lips told a different story. She wasn¡¯t even pretending to hide the amusement. Isaac sighed. "Let¡¯s just start." They moved to a quieter part of the training grounds, a bit away from the backyard area. There were no dummies here, or obstacles. Just flat land, and silence. "Now that your Sovereign of Land skill is at Level 8 it¡¯s going to get much harder to level it up. Even people with S-rank talents take years to reach max level in a skill. You might have an SSS+ talent, but don¡¯t expect miracles. It¡¯ll still take you weeks, maybe months." Isaac didn¡¯t say anything. He knew she wasn¡¯t exaggerating. The exponential growth curve of high-level skills was no joke. "So, we¡¯ll need to increase the intensity of your training." "How exactly?" Isaac asked. "You¡¯re going to summon roots on land that isn¡¯t within your current range." Isaac tilted his head. "You mean beyond the area I can temporarily claim using the skill?" Professor Catherine nodded. "Exactly. The passive description of Sovereign of Land says, ¡¯All lands you have cultivated become an extension of you.¡¯ That means any plot of land¡ªno matter how small¡ªwhere you¡¯ve successfully grown something becomes your territory. Even a palm-sized flowerbed." Professor Catherine had spent days building training plans for Isaac and planning the best method to level up his skills. What she was telling him was one of those methods. "Once you grow something on a land, the land is marked as yours. From that point on, you can sense when someone steps on it. And..." "If it¡¯s mine," Isaac continued, starting to think it through, "then I should be able to summon roots there too. I¡¯ve only ever summoned roots on temporarily claimed land. But if this works, I can use roots from long distances. Even across city sectors." Professor Catherine smiled. "Exactly." The training began immediately. The farmland they had cultivated in front of the house was now their target. But they weren¡¯t standing in it. They were at the far end of the backyard, which completely out of visual and sensory range. "Try to sense it first. Don¡¯t try to summon anything yet. Just feel for it. It¡¯s your land. That¡¯s what the skill says." Isaac closed his eyes, and focused. His senses flared as he tried to locate the farmland. Chapter 108: New Method Of Using Sovereign Of Land Chapter 108: New Method Of Using Sovereign Of Land At first, there was nothing. Just the soft rustling of trees and the sound of Alice¡¯s distant strikes against the dummy. But he filtered all that out. He imagined the farmland. He remembered digging the soil, planting the seeds, watching the first green shoots appear. He had touched the land, fed it his mana, and guided it to grow. That bond had been real. It had to count. Minutes passed. Then an hour. His breathing slowed. Sweat beaded down his forehead, not from exertion but from pure concentration. A faint tug brushed against his mind. It was like a thread leading somewhere invisible. "I think I can feel it," he murmured. "Good. Now hold onto it." He did. The connection was weak, like trying to feel something through layers of cloth. But it was there. "Summon a root," Professor Catherine instructed. "Don¡¯t force it. Just channel the skill like you normally would, except this time, don¡¯t push it into the ground under your feet, and instead guide it through that connection you can feel." Isaac inhaled slowly and raised his hand. His mana stirred. It refused to move. Then, his Mana Resonance Title activated, and he felt the ambient mana move as if it was his. The Soverign of Land skill activated through the connection, which was maintained by Mana Resonance. He felt resistance. His body wanted to send the energy into the ground near him, the way it always did. But he fought that instinct and pushed it along the thread. There was a crackle of energy. He felt flicker of strain behind his eyes for a short moment. Then, silence. He exhaled and opened his eyes. "Did anything happen?" he asked. Professor Catherine¡¯s eyes narrowed as she focused on the farmland in the distance. Then, slowly, she smiled. "A root appeared there," she said, her voice quiet but pleased. They moved to the front to check the root. Isaac was a bit bummed out to see it was barely the size of a finger, and thin as a hair. "It¡¯s not bad. You summoned it on your first try. That¡¯s a big achievement," Professor Catherine said, encouraging him. "Well, if you are still downcast, I can motivate you if you want to. I can only do it in your room though." Isaac ignored the last part. "I¡¯ll need to train a lot more to use this properly." "That¡¯s to be expected. You¡¯ve never used the skill this way before. You didn¡¯t just summon a root, you channeled it across the link of ownership. That¡¯s high-level usage. Most awakeners can¡¯t link their skills like this even after years." Isaac nodded. His shirt stuck to his skin from the sweat, but there was a sense of satisfaction underneath the exhaustion. The training continued until evening. The sun had begun to dip behind the buildings, casting long shadows across the backyard. By the time Professor Catherine finally dismissed him, his clothes were thick with sweat, his arms were numb, and his mana felt like a dried-up stream. Classes were over for the day. Isaac washed up, made his way to the fields near the house and began harvesting the grains. 2,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +1000. Constitution +1000 You have obtained 10,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3,520 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +320. Constitution +320. You have obtained 17,600 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. 1,000 Tier 1 Potato harvested. Mana +4. Constitution +4. You have obtained 5,000 Tier 1 Potato. 500 Tier 1 Garlic harvested. Mana +5. Constitution +5. You have obtained 2,500 Tier 1 Garlic. 833 Tier 1 Tomato harvested. Mana +2. Constitution +2. You have obtained 4,165 Tier 1 Tomato. 833 Tier 1 Onion harvested. Mana +3. Constitution +3. You have obtained 4,165 Tier 1 Onion. 417 Tier 1 Cabbage harvested. Mana +5. Constitution +5. You have obtained 4,085 Tier 1 Cabbage. 750 Tier 1 Pea Pods harvested. Mana +6. Constitution +6. You have obtained 3,750 Tier 1 Pea Pods. 8,000 Tier 1 Wheat Stalk harvested. Mana +11. Constitution +11. You have obtained 40,000 Tier 1 Wheat Stalk. Constitution: 1000 [8588] ¡ú 1000 [9944] Mana: 1000 [8588] ¡ú 1000 [9944] "Nine thousand nine hundred stats in the backlog. This makes me wonder when will I reach back log stat limit for this Apex-rank species." As he filled the last crate with grains, he noticed a presence nearby. He turned his head and saw Alice standing near the corner of the field, arms crossed. Her gaze was locked on him. [Status 2: Sulking because she didn¡¯t train with you and couldn¡¯t see you sweat, and now that you are using a cheap way out of farming, seeing you sweat is impossible again.] Isaac shook his head with a faint smile and carried the crate to the jeep. There was no need to comment. Alice didn¡¯t say anything either. She just looked at the crates, then turned and walked back inside. A short while later, Isaac took the jeep to the market with Leora. The grains were bound for the Family shop in the market. When they arrived, Freya was already there, organizing a set of packages near the counter. Tyr was beside her, standing on the counter. "Ah, you¡¯re here!" Freya said, brushing a bit of dust from her dress and walking up to greet them. "Welcome, boss." "Thank you," Isaac replied, chuckling at her mention of the word boss. Vax had did the same in the morning. They chatted a bit while storing the grains inside the shop. When it was time for them to part, Tyr turned to look back at Freya for a moment before he followed Isaac. The sun almost gone by the time they got home. The house was quiet when Isaac stepped inside. He entered his room, and noticed Emily and Alice weren¡¯t there. He figured they were dressing for the banquet in one of the other rooms. Since it was an official banquet organized by Chairman Lucius, it would include notable guests all over the cities. It was normal for them to take time to dress for the special occasion. He opened his wardrobe. He wasn¡¯t one to fuss over clothing, but the set he picked was formal enough. A dark shirt with a high collar, fitted slacks, and a long black coat with a silver trim. It was nothing flashy. Just neat and clean. He waited in the living room afterward, sitting on the couch with Tyr rested on the armrest beside him in his miniature form. It wasn¡¯t long before he heard footsteps. Emily came down first, and Alice followed close behind. Isaac turned to look at them and his mind blanked for a second. They looked... Chapter 109: Mesmerizing Wives, Meeting With Economic Council Chapter 109: Mesmerizing Wives, Meeting With Economic Council ¡¯Beautiful.¡¯ Emily¡¯s short silver hair had been brushed neatly, and a pale blue dress hugged her frame in a soft, flowing manner. It had short sleeves, a silver belt around the waist, and a simple but polished design. She looked graceful, cute and a little regal. Beside her, Alice wore a sleeveless black dress that clung to her body. Black gloves reached to her elbows, and the back of the dress dipped low, exposing her shoulder blades. She didn¡¯t wear any jewelry, but she didn¡¯t need it. Her authoritative yet sexy appearance was already enough to draw attention. Isaac blinked, realizing he¡¯d been staring for too long. He gave a small smile. "Both of you look beautiful." "We look beautiful?" Emily giggled. His compliment had been short, but the way he¡¯d frozen up said more than enough. Emily enjoyed the rare moment where Isaac didn¡¯t have something clever to say. It was a small win for her, who was always on the receiving end of his teasing and couldn¡¯t say anything back. Alice scanned his clothes. He didn¡¯t need to use Inspect to figure out her thoughts. "Where are Professor Catherine and Leora? We¡¯re going to be late." "They messaged me earlier and said something important came up. They told us to go without them," Emily said. "I see." Isaac nodded once, then moved toward the door. "Alright. Let¡¯s get going." The three of them left the house. The night was already there, and the dark skies were illuminated by the pillar of light in the far horizon. Their assigned jeep was parked outside the farm. Isaac got in the driver¡¯s seat, and Emily took the passenger side. Alice climbed into the back without a word. The engine started with a soft growl. Isaac wasn¡¯t worried about leaving his farm unattended. Tyr and Deathwood Guardian were patrolling the premises. He turned the wheel and drove them toward the central base of the stronghold. The stronghold was still active, with students and awakeners moving through the main roads that had been built recently. Watching them and the surrondings, Isaac realized that a lot of construction work was far from over. He wondered why the speed was so slow. Isaac glanced at the rearview mirror, and noticed Alice staring out of the window in daze. "You don¡¯t look happy that you are going back home," Isaac said after a while. Alice leaned against the window in the backseat. "It¡¯s a big event where almost everyone will come. There will be lots of politics. It makes me not look forward to the banquet." Isaac chuckled. He thought she was worried about meeting her family members, but it turns out it was just her introvert nature surfacing. Soon, they reached the outer gates of the central base and slowed down. After a brief check, the guards waved them through. The buildings in this area were built from concrete and special materials. They were heavily fortified, and patrols were more frequent. They passed a few command buildings before reaching the teleportation hub at the center. Isaac parked in one of the guest lanes and stepped out. Emily and Alice followed. The area around the hub was busy, filled with awakeners, guards, and staff making final checks. Some people were talking in small groups, others were reviewing their notes or invitations. They moved toward the entrance, where a pair of officers were checking the identification. Isaac pulled the slim black card from his coat pocket and handed it over. The officer scanned it, gave a short nod, and motioned them through. The teleportation chamber was wide, circular, and lit with dim-blue lighting. The teleport pad at the center was active, glowing faintly as it cycled through destinations. A technician stood nearby and gestured toward the platform. "Please step onto the pad. You will be teleported to the Teleporter B9-0." ¡¯0¡¯ meant the location was Central Sector while B meant the area B inside there. ¡¯9¡¯signified the teleporter number among the teleporters present in area B. Isaac stepped forward without hesitation. Emily came up beside him, and Alice followed behind. The tiny dark cloud floating above them rumbled. It¡¯s size rapidly increased and it swallowed them. ... Economic Council Chambers, Sanctum of Masters Stronghold, Akaza Ruin, Fortified City 89 The meeting chamber was vast. It had layered marble floors and black-tinted glass stretching over the walls, allowing those inside to see the weather outside without giving away a single thing about what was happening within. Nineteen organizations had gathered. These organizations lead the Economic Council, the highest authority in Fortified City 89 when it came to business, land ownership, and the flow of resources. Months ago, these groups had bought the rights to regulate the city¡¯s economy from the Sanctum of Masters, securing a position that made them nearly untouchable. Some of these organizations were deeply tied to Awakener-related industries. Be it weapons, gear, recovery potions, dungeon artifacts, anything an Awakener needed to survive or improve their odds was sold by them. Their profits were immense, and their influence was even greater. They had monopolized their respective markets through brutal takeovers and policy manipulation. Since their domination began, none of them had ever recorded a loss. Still, that was only one side of the coin. A large portion of the council consisted of businesses that catered to the common population. They were clothing manufacturers, food distributors, public housing providers, and entertainment chains. After all, Awakeners made up less than 10% of the total population. Selling to the remaining 90% was where steady, ¡¯long-term¡¯ profits came from. Then there was the neutral faction. Only four organizations belonged to it. These groups had no interest in factional struggles or internal power plays. They simply wanted their businesses to run smoothly and stay out of politics. One of the most prominent among them was the Calloway Conglomerate. The chamber was full of quiet chatter, hushed negotiations, and subtle glances when Selene Calloway, who had been seated calmly near the center, cleared her throat. It was just a polite cough. But it cut through the noise like a blade through silk. The conversations halted. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to her. Not just because she had made the sound, but because everyone had already been watching her since the moment she walked in. Selene Calloway sat with the poise of someone raised around power. Her silver hair, braided with thin red cords, draped neatly over her left shoulder. Her cherry-colored eyes held a calm friendliness that made people lower her guard around her unconsiously. She wore a tailored black gown with faint red embroidery along the seams. The sleeves were long and slightly transparent at the edges, and the dress narrowed slightly at the waist before falling loose around her legs. The Calloway crest shimmered subtly at her collarbone. It was clear she was dressed for the banquet scheduled later that evening, where everyone in this room had also been invited. But despite how captivating she looked, not a single person dared to admire her inappropriately. Selene was the heir to the Calloway Conglomerate after her elder sister, Alice, failed to awaken. People feared offending her more than they feared offending half the council combined. With the silence firmly in place, she stood up. "I¡¯ve called for this emergency council meeting for a simple reason," she said, her tone firm but polite. "I want the council to reverse its decision. Isaac should be allowed to continue purchasing land." The room stirred. Glances were exchanged, some subtle, others blatant. Why is she supporting that farmer? I thought he attacked her? That¡¯s what the reports said. Did something change? I told you they had made up. Chairman Lucius was seen with the boy just last week. Even if Lucius supports him, it¡¯s Selene who holds power now. No one spoke these thoughts aloud. But the tension in the air thickened. The people from the Awakener faction¡ªthe ones who had originally pushed to block Isaac¡¯s land acquisitions¡ªlooked visibly uncomfortable. The shift was unexpected. The council had voted almost unanimously to halt Isaac¡¯s land purchases. Their excuse had been "zoning concerns", "market monopoly" and "long-term planning." In reality, it was fear and greed. Fear that a single boy¡ªbarely out of his teens¡ªwas threatening the market by growing more food in a week than the city¡¯s B-rank Farmer could in a year. They¡¯d tried to contain him before it got worse. But now Calloway was backing him. And Calloway wasn¡¯t an organization they could afford to go against, not openly. "I understand the reasoning behind the council¡¯s previous decision," Selene continued. "Isaac¡¯s capabilities, while impressive, disrupted the current market. Many of you stood to lose from it. I acknowledge that." The room quieted further. Surprisingly, she wasn¡¯t attacking them, and instead she was acknowledging their stance. "But," she added, "since I am now backing Isaac, and since my support will undoubtedly affect your interests, I will provide compensation." The council members frowned. Compensation? They became confused. She didn¡¯t need to offer compensation. If anything, she could have accused them of sabotaging a talent who could uplift the entire city. If things got worse, Sanctum of Master would have to intervene. And they wouldn¡¯t have sided with the council. They would¡¯ve sided with Isaac. Selene could¡¯ve used that leverage. Instead, she was offering something that no one expected. "I propose the following in exchange," she said. "Calloway Conglomerate will yield several commercial locations in Sector 4, Sector 8, and Sector 9. These markets currently operate under our banner, but we will formally step back from active control. Instead, your companies will take over." The murmuring resumed, but now it had a different tone. That¡¯s prime real estate. Is she serious? She¡¯s giving up Sector 4? That¡¯s been under Calloway control for years. What¡¯s the catch? "There is no catch," Selene added, answering their unspoken questions. "We will also refer consumer traffic from our channels to those locations. Consider it a gesture of goodwill, and partnership." Now, the expressions across the chamber changed. The neutral faction looked relieved. The common goods faction, known formally as the Triden Group, nodded among themselves. They were gaining a lot from this deal. More customers, more land, less tension. The Awakener faction looked more confused than cornered. Why give up so much instead of using brute force to make them stop hindering Isaac? Chapter 110: Selene’s Ambition, Crazy Bitch Alice Chapter 110: Selene¡¯s Ambition, Crazy Bitch Alice Selene stood at the head of the long conference table. "I hope you will accept my offer." For a second, no one responded. A few of the gathered executives glanced at one another. Then one of them murmured quietly, almost under his breath. "¡¯My¡¯?" That single word caused a ripple. Each member of the Awakener faction began glancing at each other, exchanging sharp, knowing looks. Why did she say "my" instead of "our"? She is representing the Calloway here, not herself. Was that a slip? No, it felt intentional. She didn¡¯t say this offer was from Calloway Conglomerate. So it¡¯s personal. She¡¯s paying out of her own pocket. But why would she go that far? Factional war. That¡¯s the only answer. She¡¯s trying to build power discreetly, get enough support to seize the chairman¡¯s seat early. I don¡¯t think that¡¯s true. No, it actually makes sense. Chairman Lucius won¡¯t step down any time soon, and Selene doesn¡¯t seem the patient type. Or something changed and Alice is becoming a problem? Their mental chatter moved fast. With their Classes boosting their Spirit Power, they could exchange dozens of telepathic sentences in a second. Only a few seconds passed in real time before the made their decision. The one who finally broke the silence was the man sitting closest to Selene. He stood up. "We will gladly accept your conditions, Miss Selene." His name was Oran Fennel. A mid-twenties-looking awakener with smooth black hair, and sharp amber eyes. Despite his youthful and handsome appearance, he was the owner of Fennel Potions, one of the biggest potion-producing companies in the city. After Isaac introduced Tier 1 Vitality Grains that could heal from poisons and restore mana, his business had taken a hit. "Thank you, Mr. Fennel." The meeting went on, shifting to other concerns pertaining to construction delays, housing for new arrivals, energy crystal shortages. "The rate of population inflow is outpacing our ability to build." "We need more laborers." "Or more funding to automate the construction." "We could ask the government for reinforcement¡ª" Selene sat and listened, offering occasional comments. Eventually, the meeting wrapped up, and the businessmen filed out, exchanging a few quiet final words before leaving. The room was emptied, leaving only Selene and her assistant, Marien. "What are you doing?" Marien asked, arms folded. "Why are you trying to bring them to your side?" "I¡¯m doing what my father should¡¯ve done a long time ago." Marien frowned. "...?" Selene sighed, and the polished smile disappeared from her face. "They stopped Isaac," she said. "They slowed him down. The man who could solve this city¡¯s food problem, and they blocked him out of greed. It¡¯s... disgusting how greedy they are." Marien stayed quiet, watching her. Selene stood and walked to the window. The city stretched in front of her, half-complete buildings rising around finished ones. Shesaw makeshift walkways, exposed wires, and half-formed housing units. "Our city won¡¯t survive if people like them keep holding the reins." "And your solution is to befriend them?" "No. It¡¯s to kill them." Marien blinked. Selene didn¡¯t turn from the window. "I¡¯m tying the rope around their necks. Slowly, and Silently. By the time they notice, it¡¯ll already be too late." "That¡¯s dangerous," Marien advised carefully. "If they realize what¡¯s happening, they might retaliate." "They can try," Selene said. "But I¡¯m not doing this openly. I¡¯m going to destroy their foundations without ever letting them see the hammer." Marien realized the main reason why Selene didn¡¯t force them to let Isaac buy land, or why she wasn¡¯t using Calloway Conglomerate to crush the Awakener Faction directly. Even a cornered rat would fight back, and the members of Awakeners were far more powerful than helpless rats. They weilded a large influence. There was no knowing what they could do to save themselves. "And the market?" Marien asked. "If the Awakener Faction fall, there will be massive gaps. The potion companies, the weapons suppliers¡ª" "We don¡¯t need them." Selene picked up a report from the table and handed it to Marien. Marien¡¯s eyes scanned the contents. "Is this... real?" "Yes," Selene said. "From what we¡¯ve gathered, Isaac¡¯s farming enhances the core nature of his crops. That Vitality Grain? It replaced poison cure potions and mana potions at the same time. "And it¡¯s just a basic Tier 1 crop according to him. What happens when he a rarer crop?" Marien didn¡¯t answer. Selene¡¯s voice softened. "He¡¯s the future. With him, we don¡¯t need to depend on those parasites." She didn¡¯t mention how her body had changed after eating his the vegetables grown on his farm. Her skin was clearer. The residual damage from Isaac¡¯s punch had finally started healing. And all she had done was eat some vegetables. If those were the results from Tier 0 and Tier 1 crops, she could only imagine what would happen with higher grades. Marien slowly set down the document. "Okay. Fine. But what about weapons? The potion industry isn¡¯t the only one supporting Awakeners." "I¡¯ve already prepared for that." Selene handed her another folder. "A blacksmith company came to the stronghold after Alice posted about Isaac¡¯s crops. They¡¯ve been operating under the radar for years." Marien read the reports. Her eyes narrowed. "These are... Spirit-rank weapons?" "Yes. And yet no one¡¯s ever heard of them." "But how¡ª?" Selene answered before she could finish. "Because the Awakener faction buried them. Their influence reaches deeper than you think. They block businesses that might challenge their monopoly." Marien clenched her fists slightly. "Those bastards." Selene didn¡¯t respond. She was busy checking her reflection in the window¡¯s glass. It was almost time for the banquet. Her outfit was perfect. She had applied minimal makeup, and her hair was styled neatly. She adjusted her clothes before meeting her own eyes in the reflection. Appearance mattered, especially during important occasions like this. That much she had learned as a businesswoman. She tilted her head slightly, curling a silver strand of her hair. ¡¯I look good, right?¡¯ ¡¯I wonder what Isaac would think.¡¯ Her heart began to beat faster. Selene frowned. She had visited doctors and confirmed there was no poison in her system, and no health condition that should explain this. ¡¯Why does this only happen when I think about him?¡¯ At first, she considered asking Alice. It was a calculated move. If she shared her vulnerability, it could help her grow closer to Alice again, like sisters. Selene knew it was wrong to think like this, but she truly believed Alice could help her. But something about sharing this with Alice... felt dangerous. She couldn¡¯t explain why. It was just a gut feeling. So instead, she asked Marien. Once she finished explaining the strange reaction she kept having near Isaac, Marien stared at her with a complicated look. "Let me get this straight. Your heart starts hammering against your chest when you¡¯re near Isaac or think about him?" "Yes." "Selene, don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but... are you maybe a masochist?" "Masochist? What does that mean?" "It means... never mind that. Just tell me this: how do you feel about Isaac? He hit you, me too. He broke our noses! He could¡¯ve killed us back then. Are you really not scared of him?" "A-ah, no?" Selene was flustered. It was rare for her. "I think he¡¯s... a good guy." Marien leaned closer, squinting. "So, are you attracted to him? Is it because he¡¯s handsome?" "Huh?" Selene flushed. Her silver hair shimmered under the lights, and her red eyes flicked away. "I¡¯m not attracted to him!" "Okay, okay, sorry for asking a weird question. But, do you think he¡¯s handsome?" she asked. ¡¯Because even an ugly duck looks beautiful when you are in love with them.¡¯ "Yes? B-but what does that have to do with him being a good person?" That answer told Marien everything. She sighed and massaged her temples. Selene had always been composed, sharp, and calculating. But right now, she was clearly off-balance. A thought suddenly struck Marien. She grabbed Selene¡¯s shoulders. "Did you tell this to Alice?" "No. You¡¯re the first person I¡¯ve told." "Good. Don¡¯t tell Alice about it. Just... don¡¯t." "Why not? She might have an answerr." "Because she might misunderstand. Since you have a bad history with Isaac, and the doctors already said there is no problem with your health, Alice might think you are opposing Isaac for no reason." "That makes sense." "Yes, it does." Marien nodded in agreement. However, wasn¡¯t as calm on the inside. ¡¯Sorry, Selene, but I can¡¯t support you on this.¡¯ ¡¯It¡¯s better this way, or you will become that crazy bitch¡¯s target.¡¯ Marien had always been loyal to Selene, from childhood to now. But when it came to Alice, things got complicated. Two years ago, she¡¯d accidentally seen Alice reading an article titled "How to Be a Perfect Bride." Seeing the cold and distant Alice look so serious while scrolling through that kind of content had shocked her. Curious, Marien secretly kept an eye on her from then on. The bridal article was just the beginning. Alice was reading even stranger things. Intense romance guides, fantasy scenarios, and once, even a dozen-page analysis on... techniques. Her obsession horrified Marien, but it also was an opportunity for her. She located who was the guy receiving Alice¡¯s affection¡ªwhich wasn¡¯t exactly hard to do¡ªand then she thought about interfering. She wasn¡¯t especially interested in Isaac, but stealing away someone Alice cared about? That could¡¯ve dealt a blow to her pride. She¡¯d tried to approach Isaac with a smile, casual charm, and the kind of quiet confidence that usually got her results. He ignored her. She had been surprised, but not discouraged. The first attempt failed, but she believed the second one would succeed. Unfortunately, the second attempt never came to be. Marien was ambushed by someone in a mask when she was alone. She was beaten soundly. When the mask came off, it was Alice. Alice hadn¡¯t said much, and she only warned her to never approach Isaac again. The tone was cold and absolute. She was prepared to beat Selene more, and only stopped when Marien revealed what Alice had been reading. Marien blackmailed her that she would reveal her secret to everyone. That saved Marien from another beating, allowing her to escape the crazy bitch. Later, Marien could¡¯ve taken revenge by exposing Alice¡¯s secret, but she didn¡¯t do so. She was too afraid of Alice after the incident. There was no knowing how the crazy bitch would crash out if Marien exposed her. Even during their recent visit to Isaac¡¯s home, Marien had gone as the tester reluctantly. She only went because she didn¡¯t want Selene to be alone with Alice. ¡¯I can¡¯t let Selene go down this path.¡¯ ¡¯That crazy bitch would kill Selene if she begins to like him.¡¯ Protecting Selene meant keeping her away from Isaac. Chapter 111: Banquet Chapter 111: Banquet Central Sector, Fortified City 50 The dark cloud receded as Isaac stepped onto the circular platform. Behind him, Alice and Emily followed. Isaac looked around. The area was quiet, despite many people using the teleporters. A man in a sharp black suit stood nearby, waiting for them. "Welcome," he greeted with a polite nod. "You must be Mr. Isaac. Please follow me. We have prepared a vehicle for you on the instructions of Professor Catherine." They followed the man and exited the building. He handed over a small key fob and motioned toward a nearby car. It was a sleek silver-gray vehicle, elongated and low to the ground, with smooth curves and a reflective finish that caught the night light. It looked something straight out of a sci-fi move, and was clearly expensive. The professor hadn¡¯t held back when it came to arrangements. "You¡¯re free to use the car for your stay in the Central Sector," the man continued. "Just return it to this location when you¡¯re ready to leave." Isaac thanked him with a nod and took the keys. Alice moved to the passenger seat, while Emily floated into the back with an excited smile. As they began to drive, Alice directed him through the maze of clean roads. The streets here were wide and well-maintained, bordered by perfectly trimmed trees and vibrant flowers that lined each sidewalk. Isaac kept the speed steady, watching the traffic around them. He saw sleek cars, pedestrians in formalwear, and the occasional drone overhead. After ten minutes, the Calloway estate came into view. It was hard to miss. The estate was massive. The gates alone stood over four meters tall, gold-rimmed and engraved with the Calloway crest. Inside, the mansion grounds stretched across several hectares, covered in carefully maintained lawns, flower beds, and fountains that shimmered in the sun. Marble statues stood at intervals along the paved path that led to the main building. Dozens of luxury cars were parked in long rows on either side. People in elegant gowns and suits were stepping out, greeted by staff members and photographers snapping pictures from behind invisible barriers. As they approached, Isaac showed the invitation to a suited guard. The man bowed slightly, then motioned for another staff member to take the car. Alice and Isaac stepped out first, followed by Emily, who hovered gently to the ground and remained near Isaac¡¯s side. A crimson carpet stretched from the vehicle drop-off point all the way to the main banquet building. The path was lined with subtle lighting and flowers in tall glass vases, and the smell of high-end perfume and fresh roses filled the air. The media clustered just beyond a glowing barrier. They weren¡¯t shouting questions or pushing forward, but the way their cameras clicked¡ªfast and constant¡ªmade it clear they were hungry for a headline. Emily¡¯s eyes lit up with wonder as she pointed toward the lights and asked, "What¡¯s that building with the floating banners?" Isaac smiled and leaned toward her. "That¡¯s where the main banquet is being held. The banners show the sponsors and supporters of the Calloway family. It¡¯s basically a status display." "Ohhh." Emily nodded like she was memorizing everything. The cameras continued to flash, and Isaac noticed some people staring at them, not with hostility, but curiosity. The trio stood out. Alice¡¯s horns and crimson eyes gave her a commanding aura, and Emily¡¯s floating posture and innocent charm made her look like some high-ranking noble¡¯s child. Isaac, on the other hand, was like a greek god among men. The combination of the SSS rank appearance-enhancing card and the changes from his Apex bloodline had boosted him considerably. His features were sharper, and his presence more refined. No one seemed to recognize him as the student from the Awakening Ceremony. He kept walking. They reached the banquet building¡¯s main entrance, where a woman in a smart white suit stood greeting each guest. Her black hair was tied into a clean bun, and her badge identified her as Margaret, the secretary to Chairman Lucius Calloway. When she saw them, she gave a short nod. "Mr. Isaac," she said. "Lady Alice. Miss Emily. Welcome." She gave a respectful bow and waved another staff member forward to take her place at the door. "Chairman Lucius has been informed of your arrival," she said. "He¡¯ll come greet you personally once you¡¯re inside." Alice gave her a small nod while Isaac replied, "Thank you for the welcome." Margaret smiled. "It¡¯s good to see Miss Alice again, and congratulations on your awakening." Alice¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change much, but Isaac noticed the brightened gaze. She wasn¡¯t fond of public praise or the public itself, but a praise coming from someone who had known her since childhood meant a lot. Margaret led them through the entrance. Inside, the banquet hall was stunning. A high glass ceiling stretched above them, letting sunlight pour down over chandeliers that floated in place with a soft magical glow. Round tables filled the space, each covered in fine white cloth and decorated with elegant centerpieces of blue flame lilies and soft crystal lights. Servers moved gracefully between tables, offering drinks and appetizers to guests already mingling. Quite a lot of guests seemed tense. They wanted to know why such a large banquet had been set up suddenly. Alice looked around calmly. She had seen similar banquets before. Emily, on the other hand, stared in awe at the glowing chandeliers and shimmering walls. "I feel like I walked into a palace from the stories," she whispered. Isaac gave her head a small pat. "Just stay close and follow my lead." Emily nodded quickly. They found themselves standing at the edge of the banquet floor as Margaret excused herself to go find Chairman Lucius. Alice leaned closer to Isaac and said, "Most of the important people are probably here already. My uncle will likely make a speech soon. I will have to go with him." Isaac nodded. He was scanning the crowd, trying to spot familiar faces. There were celebrities, businessmen, and awakeners from all over the city. He recognized a few he¡¯d seen in the news before, but most were strangers, which made sense, since the news about awakeners and their identities were rarely shared with common populace. He noticed a few demihumans in the crowd. Their non-human features made them stand out. "Let me know if you see someone you don¡¯t want to meet," he muttered under his breath. Alice scoffed softly. "It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m afraid to meet them." Before they could move further inside, Isaac felt a presence approaching. Isaac had noticed the woman watching them since they stepped through the door. She walked with practiced grace. Her smile was bright but not overdone. Her red hair was tied back in a tight twist, and her dress shimmered faintly in the light. She stepped toward Alice. "Alice," the woman said warmly, and pulled her into a hug. "You¡¯ve grown even more beautiful since we last met." Alice froze for a second, surprised, then returned the hug hesitantly. "Aunt Layra...?" "Yes," she smiled. "It¡¯s good to see you again." Then she turned toward Isaac and Emily. "I¡¯m Layra Calloway, Alice¡¯s aunt on her mother¡¯s side. You must be Isaac, and this little one...?" "I¡¯m Emily," she said politely. "Lovely to meet both of you," Layra said, then turned to Alice. "I¡¯m relieved to see you doing well. After you left the Calloway tower, no one knew where you¡¯d gone. Especially after... that mess with Selene." She said it delicately, but the meaning behind her words was clear. "We were all so worried," she added, squeezing Alice¡¯s hands gently. "I¡¯m truly glad you¡¯re here." After talking with Alice a bit more, she moved on, heading toward another group of guests. Alice stood in place, stunned. Her aunt had treated her with kindness, warmth, and concern. That... wasn¡¯t normal. Then another person came. "Alice! It¡¯s been too long!" A tall man with a broad grin stepped forward, clapping a hand on her shoulder like they were close. "You look amazing! What are you eating these days?" he joked. "Not that garbage from the cafeteria, right?" After meeting the man, who was her distant uncle, another woman approached her. "Alice? You¡¯re back?" Alice blinked. "Ms. Renna?" Her former team leader from the Calloway logistics department smiled softly. "I wasn¡¯t sure it was you. I... I¡¯m really happy you¡¯re doing well." Another person came next, then two more. "I was worried when you disappeared." "I thought something had happened to you Alice." "We missed you, Alice." The compliments and greetings continued. Most were brief. Some were more enthusiastic. Others were reserved but polite. All of them said the same thing in different ways: We were worried. We¡¯re glad you¡¯re okay. Welcome back. It felt like a reunion with long-lost friends and family. Alice was overwhelmed. Her posture stiffened with each interaction, and her eyes darted from person to person, trying to figure out if this was real. These were people who had never gone out of their way for her before. Some of them she knew hadn¡¯t even liked her. Now they were all smiles. It didn¡¯t add up. Emily, standing behind Alice, didn¡¯t say anything at first. But Isaac noticed the way her brows pulled together. He quietly stepped beside Alice and pinched her side, lightly, discreetly, just enough to get her attention. "Ow!" she yelped softly, turning with a glare. Isaac shrugged, then tilted his head toward Emily. Alice followed his eyes and turned toward the girl. Emily¡¯s expression was clearly troubled. Isaac asked, "Emily, why are you frowning?" Emily hesitated, glancing at Alice. "It¡¯s okay. Alice won¡¯t be upset. She would be happier if you were honest with her," Isaac said. The reassurance seemed to help. Emily took a small breath. "It¡¯s just... those people who came to greet Alice, they don¡¯t feel right," she said. Alice blinked. "What do you mean?" Chapter 112: Abnormality, Meeting Reputable Figures Chapter 112: Abnormality, Meeting Reputable Figures "They feel... wrong," Emily said slowly. "It¡¯s as though they don¡¯t mean the things they¡¯re saying. It¡¯s hard to explain. Their words are nice, but inside... it feels cold." "Is that your intuition?" Alice asked. Emily nodded. "Yes." Isaac spoke calmly. "Emily¡¯s instincts are usually sharp. Especially about people." Alice didn¡¯t reply immediately. She looked toward the crowd, where the same people who had greeted her were now chatting and laughing among themselves. "...I thought something felt off," she said quietly. "But I didn¡¯t want to assume." "It¡¯s good that you didn¡¯t," Isaac said. "But it¡¯s also good that you¡¯re aware now." Alice let out a quiet breath, something between a sigh and a scoff. "So this is how it is," she murmured. "Now that I¡¯m useful again..." Isaac didn¡¯t comment. He simply stood beside her, offering silent support. Emily stepped forward and gently took Alice¡¯s hand. "We¡¯re still here," she said. "You¡¯re not alone." They stood like that for a short while, watching the crowd with guarded eyes. None of them spoke. But the silence between them said more than any conversation could. Isaac hadn¡¯t told them something. The behavior of the guests felt off, even if they were buttering up Alice. Alice¡¯s awakening had been kept a secret. It wasn¡¯t public knowledge. Only a handful of high-ranking figures within the Sanctum of Masters and the Calloway Conglomerate were aware. Yet almost everyone in the banquet was treating Alice with new respect. They weren¡¯t just polite. They were actively engaging her, complimenting her, and showing the kind of attitude reserved for someone with value. Even more confusing was the lack of hostility. The faction loyal to Selene, the ones who had once supported her over Alice, should¡¯ve reacted. At the very least, they should¡¯ve been cold or indifferent toward Alice. Rumors of conflict between Isaac and Selene had only just begun to fade. Those tensions should¡¯ve surfaced in subtle ways. But there was none of that. Everyone was friendly. Too friendly. Isaac had an explanation for everything. Maybe everyone was putting on the usual masks that came with business and politics. But it was still strange. All of them? Not a single person slipped up? Not a hostile glance, a twitch, a comment out of place? People weren¡¯t machines. They were emotional, and flawed. Even trained professionals occasionally let something show. But these guests? They behaved like a script had been handed out before the banquet, or as if someone or something was controlling them. Isaac was deep in thought when a familiar presence approached from behind. He didn¡¯t need to turn to know who it was. Chairman Lucius. "Good evening," the older man said with a cheerful tone. Isaac turned to face him. The chairman wore a charcoal gray suit with faint blue lining, sharp and formal without being flashy. "You¡¯re looking well, Alice," Lucius said with genuine warmth. "And you too, Emily. I see the banquet has been treating you kindly." Emily smiled politely. "Thank you, uncle." Lucius smiled brightly when she called him uncle. While he had spent only a day at Isaac¡¯s house, Emily had already won him over, and he thought of her like his daughter, especially knowing how much she had helped Alice. He turned his attention to Isaac. "I am glad you made it here. I hope the trip here wasn¡¯t difficult." "Not at all," Isaac replied. "I¡¯m also happy to be here. People here have been welcoming." For a brief second, Lucius¡¯s smile flickered. His expression shifted almost imperceptibly. Then, just as quickly, the smile returned. That flicker was enough. Isaac caught it. Something was bothering the chairman too, even if he didn¡¯t say it aloud. But Lucius didn¡¯t bring it up. "We¡¯ve got some time before the main announcements," Lucius said, gesturing toward the ballroom. "Come with me. I¡¯d like to introduce you to a few important figures." Isaac glanced back at Emily and Alice. Emily gave a small nod. "Go ahead," she said. "I want to look around a bit." Alice added, "I¡¯ll be here. Just need a break from people for a while." Isaac nodded and followed Lucius. The chairman moved through the hall with ease, exchanging greetings as they passed by small groups and clusters. Most people stepped aside when they saw him coming, giving subtle nods of respect. "This kind of setting," Lucius said without slowing, "is where most major decisions are made. Not in boardrooms. Not in official statements. Right here, during banquets like this." "I see," Isaac said, walking beside him. Lucius began introducing him to key individuals. One was the governor of Fortified City 82, the second city under humanity¡¯s control. He was a prestigious guest since humanity had only four Fortified Cities, and only four governors. Another person they met was the head of a major resource guild in Sector 11. These people would delve deep into wilderness regularly. There were leaders from the eastern defense networks, celebrity business figures who handled large-scale logistics, and several high-ranking Awakeners with influence across multiple sectors. Some recognized Isaac right away. "You¡¯re the SSS-rank farmer, aren¡¯t you?" "I¡¯ve heard stories about your crops. They sound impossible." "Do you really grow full harvests in days?" Isaac answered with the same steady tone. "Yes, I¡¯m the one managing those farms. The results are accurate." He didn¡¯t overplay it. But he didn¡¯t downplay himself either. He spoke politely, without sounding arrogant. No one brought up the SSS+ rank. That information was tightly held by the upper echelons of the Sanctum. The fact that no one mentioned it reassured him that confidentiality had been kept. Still, it was strange to see so many influential people showing such immediate interest. Lucius guided him smoothly between groups. The chairman would offer a short introduction, step back just enough to let Isaac speak, then steer the conversation when needed. It was intentional on his part. Isaac understood what was happening. Lucius was building his public image, helping him network, getting him used to these kinds of interactions, not just as a guest, but as a figure who would soon meet these people regularly. This kind of exposure would take months, or years, to arrange on his own. "Thanks," Isaac said quietly during a pause. Lucius looked over with a small smile. "For what?" "For doing this." Lucius raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. They returned to the main hall a short while later. The atmosphere had settled, though the crowd had grown larger. More guests had arrived. The music softened into a quiet hum in the background. Emily was near a window, pointing out something to a passing guest. Her excitement hadn¡¯t dulled. Whatever she was saying made the old woman laugh, though it was clear she was more interested in the view outside than small talk. Alice sat at a table not far from her with a half-empty glass in her hand. She wasn¡¯t drinking much, just enough to not seem rude. Her eyes followed Emily from time to time, watching over her like an older sister making sure everything stayed under control. A short while later, Lucius spoke again. "It¡¯s time." Alice stood. She looked at Isaac. "I have to go. It¡¯s about the decision I made with my uncle and Selene." Chapter 113: Revealing Alice’s Talent And Bloodline, Shocking The Masses Chapter 113: Revealing Alice¡¯s Talent And Bloodline, Shocking The Masses Isaac paused, caught off guard. "What decision?" She didn¡¯t explain. Instead, she nodded at him and walked away, leaving Isaac with more questions than answers. He watched as Alice and Lucius moved toward the slightly elevated stage at the center of the hall. Selene was already there, dressed in a perfect attire. Her silver hair were braided neatly, giving her a mature charm, and her red eyes carried the usual polite expression. Lucius stepped forward. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice," he began, his voice carrying across the hall with practiced ease. "I know many of you had to adjust your schedules to be here tonight, and I appreciate it." Conversations died down, and eyes turned toward the stage. "I¡¯ve gathered you here to share two pieces of good news," Lucius said. "Both are important to me, and to the future of the Calloway family." A murmur passed through the room. People exchanged glances. Lucius smiled faintly. "First, I want to speak about the future of the Calloway Conglomerate. After careful deliberation, I have made my decision regarding who will succeed me as chairman." He turned slightly toward Selene. "It will be my daughter, Selene Calloway." Applause followed, steady and expected. Some people clapped with genuine happiness. They were those who had backed Selene from the beginning. For them, this was a long-awaited confirmation. Others clapped simply because it was appropriate. Their disappointment was well-hidden, but visible to anyone paying close attention. Selene bowed her head slightly, maintaining her composed smile. She hadn¡¯t originally wanted the position. But after long talks with Alice and her father, she had agreed. Alice had been the one to bring up the suggestion. She didn¡¯t want to run the company. She wanted freedom, explore the wilderness, encounter monsters only seen in legends, and defeat them. When the clapping died down, Lucius continued. "The second announcement concerns someone you already know, my niece." He gestured to Alice. The gesture confirmed her identity for anyone unsure. People had been confused before. While she did look like Alice, her presence had been colder, and heavier, not to mention the horns on her head should belong to a demihuman, not a human who failed to awaken even the weakest Talent. Whispers began to ripple. Lucius let the moment build, then delivered the news calmly. "She has awakened the legendary dragon bloodline of our ancestors." The room stilled. But Lucius wasn¡¯t finished. "More than that, she has awakened the same talent as our house¡¯s founder and first matriarch: SSS ranked Saintess." Silence appeared. The people were stunned beyond measure. If they were to believe Chairman Lucius, what they were attending right now was an historic event. It would go down in the annals of the history, and be remembered for centuries. SSS ranked talents appeared only once a decade, and this was a generous number. Moreover, the Saintess Talent was one of the rarest, and most revered among them. It was a support class capable of communing with the Gods. She had awakened her dragon heritage on top of that. Unbelievable. Some among the crowd had to pinch themselves to make sure they were not dreaming. Alice stood quietly, letting the silence hang for a few seconds. She could see the doubt in the eyes of the crowd. She stepped forward and activated her Solar Dominion skill. Golden flames erupted around her. The burning domain engulfed the center of the hall in a brilliant blaze. Heat rushed outward. Several guests flinched. A few gasped. But no one was burned. Slowly, they realized the flames weren¡¯t harming them. They weren¡¯t even uncomfortable. The heat was controlled. Then, they raised their heads to look at the cause of it. She stood in the middle of it. Her figure was bathed in radiant gold. Her domineering presence washed over the hall. The girl who had been mocked, insulted, ignored looked over them with a confident and cold gaze. Her gaze that never gave up or cowered, now looked frighteningly powerful. It was clear who she was now. A dragon. Not a fantasy written in books, or a myth sung by the bards. But a true dragon. The hall remained silent, but the atmosphere had shifted. There was no longer confusion or disbelief. Instead, there was awe, envy, and reverence for the majestic being who stood in front of them. Isaac smiled as he watched the reactions of the crowd. Seeing their reaction towards Alice made him happy. Emily was no different. She was all smiles. Alice¡¯s gaze locked with the two of them, and she gave a subtle nod. Then, she slowly withdrew her flames. The golden fire faded, vanishing without a trace. She stepped back, returning to her earlier position beside Chairman Lucius. The crowd remained quiet. They were too stunned to speak. "That¡¯s all the news we had to share," Chairman Lucius said, smiling. "I hope you¡¯ll extend your best wishes to both of my daughters. One who will lead, and one who will blaze her own path." Applause followed again. It was louder this time. This time, it wasn¡¯t out of obligation. There was a genuine mix of awe, admiration, and curiosity in the way people clapped. Some faces were lit with excitement. Others tried to mask the quiet calculations forming behind their polite smiles. Isaac stood with Emily. He didn¡¯t know why Alice had stepped aside from the Chairman position, but he wasn¡¯t bothered by it. If that was her choice, he would respect it. The crowd began to move. People trickled toward the stage to congratulate Chairman Lucius, Alice, and Selene. Some came out of obligation. Others came because they recognized how monumental the announcement had been. And a few were there to make sure they weren¡¯t left behind if the tides continued to shift. Lucius greeted them with his usual composed demeanor. Selene remained graceful and formal. Alice, though still regal in posture, gave off a colder aura, which kept most from lingering too long. Isaac waited for a while before approaching. He wanted let them meet others first. When he finally stepped forward, Lucius noticed and gave him a nod. Selene¡¯s eyes flicked toward him the moment he entered their line of sight. Her gaze unconsciously lingered on him. She wanted to speak to him. But she was currently caught in conversation with a tall man wearing a deep green coat. His smile was polite, but to Selene it was clear the smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes. Oran Fennel. He was the owner of Fennel Potions, one of the largest potion suppliers in Fortified City 50, and Oran was the de facto leader of the Awakener Faction in the Fortified City 89¡¯s economic council. "Congratulations, Miss Selene," Oran said, raising a glass. "I¡¯m pleased to know the next Chairman of the Calloway Conglomerate is someone we can trust. The Awakener Faction supports your leadership wholeheartedly." Selene nodded. "Thank you. That means a great deal." Oran¡¯s eyes briefly drifted toward her body, lingering for just a moment before he caught himself. Selene noticed. She said nothing, but her expression cooled by a few degrees. "You must be feeling a little pressure now," he added, lowering his voice. "Especially with that display from your cousin. A dragon bloodline, and a Saintess talent... not exactly an everyday occurrence." Selene kept her smile polite. "Alice will always have the support of this house, no matter the path she chooses." "Of course. Of course," Oran replied, raising his glass again. "Still, I imagine you¡¯ll want to secure a few more allies before the next council meeting. I¡¯ll have some names for you by tomorrow." She nodded, then turned slightly to glance at Isaac again. She wanted to walk away, to break out of the polite game of politics and join the conversation happening a few feet away. But she couldn¡¯t do that yet. Oran and others like him still needed handling. Meanwhile, Isaac stepped up beside Alice. She looked at him, and for the first time that night, her confident mask seemed to falter. He frowned. "Are you alright?" Alice hesitated, then gave a small nod. But it wasn¡¯t convincing. "I¡¯m not going to be the Chairman," she said quietly. Isaac blinked. "And?" "I gave it up," she said. Her voice was calm on the surface, but there was something strained underneath. "I chose to become an explorer instead. I don¡¯t have anything important to give you anymore, Isaac." He was caught off guard. Just minutes ago, she had stood in front of everyone like a queen. But now, she looked unsure, and hesitant. He understood what this was. Fear. Not the fear of danger, but of rejection. She was thinking too much. Worried that without the title, without the promise of a corporate empire, she might not be enough. That the moment she stepped off the path others expected of her, she¡¯d lose the one person she wanted by her side. Isaac smiled and leaned in, his voice just above a whisper. "I got you," he said near her ear. "That¡¯s the most precious thing the Calloways could offer anyway." Alice froze for a moment. Then her cheeks turned red, and a quiet breath escaped her lips. Her shoulders relaxed. The doubt in her eyes melted away. A wave of relief hit her so hard that she almost laughed, but she held it in. Her cold, regal expression softened into a warmer one. Lucius, standing beside them, cleared his throat. "You still have to earn the ten billion target before you can take her away," he said dryly. Chapter 114: Contract For New Shop, Growing Suspicions Chapter 114: Contract For New Shop, Growing Suspicions Isaac grinned when he heard Chairman Lucius. Chairman Lucius froze, seeing that smile. His face stiffened, as if something unpleasant had crawled into his mouth. "You earned it already?" he asked. "Yes." "That shouldn¡¯t be possible. The sixth day isn¡¯t even over." Alice stepped in before Lucius could say more. "He¡¯s not lying." Chairman Lucius turned to her. Then he looked back at Isaac. A strained smile pulled at the corners of his lips. It was the kind of smile that didn¡¯t reach the eyes. "I see. I¡¯m happy to know you¡¯re a capable person." He didn¡¯t mention the deal. There was not a word. Alice didn¡¯t let it slide. "Uncle, you promised him something." Lucius blinked. "W-What might that be, my dear niece?" "Me." Lucius¡¯s face drained of color. He stared at Alice for a long second, then shifted his glare to Isaac. His expression was tight, jaw clenched. Isaac could almost see the internal struggle play out across the man¡¯s face. "I hope the two of you are happy together." Lucius muttered under his breath. Seeing him like that, Isaac¡¯s smile turned brighter, which only pissed off Chairman Lucius more. Soon, Selene joined them. She greeted the group. "I hope all of you have been enjoying the banquet." "Selene," Alice replied, then glanced at her outfit. "You look beautiful." "Thank you," Selene said with a soft smile. The conversation turned lighter as they exchanged a few pleasantries. After a few minutes, Alice turned to Emily. "Come on. Let me show you the Calloway estate." Emily¡¯s eyes lit up. "Really?" "Of course," Alice said with a nod. As they left, Alice¡¯s eyes met Isaac¡¯s. She gave a small, subtle signal with her gaze. One that said, stay. Isaac caught the meaning. He understood Alice¡¯s intentions. She was trying to smooth things over between the Selene and him, and this was her way of nudging them in the right direction. Chairman Lucius noticed too, and for once, he didn¡¯t complain. If Isaac stayed away from Alice for a while, that was a win. And if he and Selene got along better, even better. "That¡¯s a good idea," Lucius said. "Selene, you should introduce Isaac to a few people. He might find some potential business partners once he starts expanding." "Okay," Selene said. "I¡¯ll take care of it." Alice and Emily disappeared down a corridor. Meanwhile, Isaac followed Selene and Chairman Lucius as they made their way through the gathering. They stopped now and then to greet a few prominent guests. Chairman Lucius stayed close, keeping one eye on Selene and Isaac. At first, it was to see if they had become friends finally. But over time, he noticed something. Selene kept glancing at Isaac, not just once or twice, but frequently, and there was a faint blush on her cheeks. Chairman Lucius frowned. He waited to see if it was just in his head, but it wasn¡¯t. As the minutes passed, it only became more obvious. Selene was smiling more. She leaned a little closer when Isaac spoke. Her laughter came easier. It didn¡¯t make sense. She wasn¡¯t the type to be easily swayed, let alone charmed. Chairman Lucius¡¯s eyes narrowed. He stared hard at Isaac, who glanced back, confused at first, then annoyed. Their eyes locked. ¡¯Brat, why is my daughter looking at you like that?¡¯ ¡¯I don¡¯t know.¡¯ There were no words spoken between them, nor did they use any telepathic message. The only reason they could ¡¯talk¡¯ was due to the mutual understanding that came through the stare alone. ¡¯How dare you seduce my second daughter too!? I¡¯m going to have you neutered!¡¯ Isaac was surprised by the brazen words, but then he shot back, ¡¯Neutered?! Why are you acting like I¡¯m some stray dog?¡¯ ¡¯Because you are. A damn mutt who can¡¯t keep his pants on!¡¯ ¡¯Stop blaming me. I haven¡¯t done anything to her!¡¯ While the two continued to bicker, Selene looked between them and tilted her head. "Is something wrong?" she asked. "It¡¯s nothing," Isaac said. He kept his tone light and glanced back at Lucius. ¡¯Listen, I¡¯m not interested in Selene. You know how I feel about Alice. Think about it. What do you think she¡¯d feel if I showed interest in her sister? She wouldn¡¯t be happy, right? I wouldn¡¯t do anything to make her feel like that.¡¯ Chairman Lucius didn¡¯t answer. He could feel his chest tighten. He knew Isaac was... wrong. Alice hated sharing anything, unless it involved Selene. She would share everything with Selene to spoil the girl. Back when Alice and Selene lost their parents¡ªduring the same mission¡ªboth girls had been shattered. Chairman Lucius had tried to look after them, but between grief and running the company, he hadn¡¯t been much of a presence. Alice, despite her own pain, had taken it upon herself to care for Selene. She would share anything with her cousin. Even the things she treasured most. If Selene liked something, Alice would give it to her without a second thought. Chairman Lucius¡¯s throat felt dry. ¡¯If Alice finds out Selene has feelings for Isaac, and if she still has that habit of giving up what she loves for Selene¡¯s sake... no. I can¡¯t let that happen.¡¯ He straightened and turned toward Selene. "Selene, you should¡ª" "Dad," she interrupted, looking behind him. "The Governor is looking this way. I think he wants to speak with you." Chairman Lucius followed her gaze. The Governor of Fortified City 50 was indeed glancing in their direction. Chairman Lucius sighed heavily. "I suppose I should go meet him." He looked back at Isaac, his stare full of warning. "I trust you¡¯ll enjoy Selene¡¯s company, and not do anything inappropriate." Isaac fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Of course." Chairman Lucius walked away, reluctantly. Now it was just Isaac and Selene. The background noise of the banquet continued¡ªconversations, soft music, the clinking of glasses¡ªbut the space around them felt quieter. "So. Now that he¡¯s gone, I suppose it will be only two of us." Selene gave him a side glance. "This reminds me, how far are you from the the ten billion target?" "I¡¯ve reached it." he answered. Since Alice and Selene were both trying to put the past behind them, he felt it was only appropriate he did the same. "That fast?" She looked genuinely surprised. "Let¡¯s just say I had a good week." A small smile crept onto her lips. "I¡¯m impressed." "You sound shocked." "I am. A little." She paused, then added, "I expected you to finish it in a record speed, but you finished far faster than my expectations." "I get that a¡ª" Isaac stopped mid-sentence and turned to her, a questioning look in his eyes. "Did you really try to do that to me?" She chuckled, clearly pleased her joke had landed. "You looked too serious. I thought it would help." The mood had relaxed now. Whatever tension there had been earlier was gone. They continued walking at a casual pace, blending in with the rest of the guests as the evening carried on. Later, when there was a quiet moment, Selene turned to him again. "By the way that joke, earlier. Was it too much?" Isaac waved it off without hesitation. "No. If you think that¡¯s going to offend me, you clearly don¡¯t know what kind of mental damage Professor Catherine has done to me. That was practically a compliment compared to her jokes." Selene laughed softly. "I¡¯ll keep that in mind." They moved through the banquet hall together, pausing occasionally to exchange greetings. All the while, he could feel a gaze on him. Chairman Lucius hadn¡¯t taken his eyes off Isaac since the moment he and Selene started talking. Isaac was used to pressure, but even then, Lucius¡¯s stare had the sharpness of someone calculating whether he should use words or a knife. ¡¯Why is he looking at me like that even I told him I won¡¯t do anything?¡¯ Feeling a bit wronged, Isaac joked with Selene, and made her laugh as a revenge. His soul was soothed as he felt the Chairman Lucius¡¯ smile stiffen. The banquet continued for a while longer. Food was cleared, the music softened, and guests gradually began to leave. A few who had drank too much were escorted by staff, others said their goodbyes directly to Chairman Lucius, or Selene. As the hall emptied, Selene noticed her device was lighting up. She read the message, then turned to Isaac. "My dad wants to talk to you." Isaac tilted his head. "Now?" "Yeah. It shouldn¡¯t be anything serious, so don¡¯t worry." She pointed toward the main staircase. "Take the left flight. His office is the last room at the end of the upper corridor. It¡¯s the one with the silver door." He nodded. "Thanks for the help." He made his way up. The estate¡¯s upper floor was quieter, lined with expensive but restrained decor. When he reached the silver door Selene had mentioned, he took a moment to gather himself. "Let¡¯s get this over with," he muttered, wondering if he was going to hear more how he had ¡¯seduced¡¯ Selene. He knocked once. "Enter," came the voice from inside. Isaac stepped in and closed the door behind him. The room was spacious. It had luxurious decorations, but one could tell the room was focused on practicality while maintaining the appearances. There were shelves of books, a large desk, and a man sitting behind it with a tired but focused look. Chairman Lucius gestured toward the chair across from him. "Come. Sit." Isaac did. Chairman Lucius didn¡¯t say anything at first. Instead, he reached into one of the drawers and pulled out a folder. He placed it on the table, then slid it across. Isaac raised a brow and picked it up. "What¡¯s this?" "A document for land ownership. Five hectares in Akaza Ruin Stronghold. Also, a retail space in Sector 4 of Fortified City 50." Isaac blinked. "Five hectares? That alone should cost a few billion Obols. And a shop location in Sector 4, that¡¯s prime real estate." Lucius leaned back in his chair. "Yes. And both are under your name now." Isaac looked at the man carefully. "What¡¯s this for?" "You completed the challenge I gave you. This is your reward." Isaac held his gaze for a second longer, then nodded and placed the folder into his spatial ring. "Thanks. I¡¯m not going to pretend I¡¯ll say no to free money." Chairman Lucius allowed a small smile to cross his face, but it vanished just as quickly. His expression turned serious again. "There¡¯s something else." Isaac raised an eyebrow. "I figured." Chairman Lucius steepled his fingers. "Did you notice anything strange during the banquet?" The question was casual on the surface, but Isaac could tell this was what the whole meeting was really about. He leaned back slightly. "Are you talking about how everyone seemed unusually friendly with Alice?" Chapter 115: Hidden Organization, Kidnapped Chapter 115: Hidden Organization, Kidnapped Lucius didn¡¯t respond immediately. He studied Isaac, as if trying to determine how much he already understood. "Yes," he said finally. "I wanted to talk about that." Isaac thought back. All of the guests had seemed oddly respectful and friendly to Alice. It had bugged Isaac a lot more than he let one. Lucius nodded once. "Correct. Now tell me, what do you find weird about that?" "While we did show that the fight between me and Selene ended peacefully, the people supporting her faction wouldn¡¯t immediately believe it was all genuine. If they thought Selene was still angry, even secretly, they should¡¯ve shown some level of hostility toward Alice." Lucius didn¡¯t interrupt, just kept his eyes locked on Isaac¡¯s. "But they didn¡¯t," Isaac continued. "Not even subtle signs. It was like the thought of being cold toward Alice never occurred to them. Everyone was warm, supportive, and overly polite." Lucius let out a slow breath through his nose, still listening. "I get that most of the guests are businessmen or people with political experience. They know how to hide their real feelings. But still people slip up. Not everyone can maintain a mask. Some of them should¡¯ve tried to score points with Selene by pushing Alice away. But none did. That doesn¡¯t make sense." Lucius sighed deeply and leaned back into his chair. "You¡¯re right. Absolutely right." He rubbed his eyes, fingers pressing against the bridge of his nose, then looked up again. "For a while now, I¡¯ve had a bad feeling. It felt like something had been moving behind the scenes, just out of reach. I don¡¯t know why but I felt like everything was dancing in someone else¡¯s palm." He paused, then added, "But, I never had any proof of anything like that. Until tonight, that is." Isaac frowned. "You think someone¡¯s pulling strings inside the conglomerate?" Lucius exhaled. "I think the Calloway Conglomerate has been compromised." Isaac¡¯s eyes widened. He sat up straighter, suddenly alert. "What?" Lucius waved his hand. "I don¡¯t know when it started. It could¡¯ve been years ago, or perhaps even before that. I don¡¯t want to think it¡¯s true, but after what I saw tonight... it¡¯s obvious. The guests weren¡¯t reacting to Alice naturally. Someone told them how to act. Someone with authority." Isaac didn¡¯t speak for a moment. His thoughts were moving fast, connecting threads that hadn¡¯t made sense before. But even then, something still didn¡¯t sit right. "Let¡¯s assume you¡¯re right," he said finally. "But that raises another question. Why would they do that? Why go out of their way to act friendly toward Alice in front of everyone? Wouldn¡¯t that just expose their presence?" Lucius nodded slowly. "Exactly. That¡¯s what¡¯s been bothering me too." Isaac crossed his arms. "If they¡¯re trying to stay hidden, they just gave themselves away." "I know," Lucius said. "But I¡¯ve come up with two possible explanations." He held up a finger. "First possibility: they were in hiding until now, and building strength. Tonight was their chosen moment to step into the light. With so many high-profile guests attending the banquet, their display wouldn¡¯t go unnoticed. Word will spread. People will start to whisper about a hidden power manipulating one of the biggest conglomerates in Fortified City 50." Isaac frowned. "But why reveal themselves now? What do they gain from that?" Lucius shook his head. "I don¡¯t know. That¡¯s the part I still don¡¯t understand." Isaac let out a breath and asked, "Then what¡¯s the second possibility?" Lucius dropped his hand and looked at him directly. "You, Alice, and Emily." Isaac blinked. "What about us?" "SSS rank awakeners are incredibly rare. The last one before this year was Celia Rae, and she awakened four years ago. Before her, it was almost two decades without a single SSS rank in humanity." Isaac nodded slowly. "But this year," Lucius continued, "three new SSS rank awakeners emerged." "You think this hidden organization is making a move because of us?" "It is possible. Think about it. What better way to recruit the strongest young talents than to flaunt their influence? Show that they control powerful networks, high-level politics, and even the social elite. Make themselves look like the logical choice." Isaac didn¡¯t respond immediately. Part of him wanted to dismiss it as paranoia or coincidence. But another part of him remembered something he hadn¡¯t told anyone. A secret he learned from the system. Fortified City 50 would fall. In the future, it would be destroyed. He had thought the disaster would come from the Nagas, the same ones who were behind the assassins. That was what made sense. But what if he had been wrong? What if the city¡¯s collapse was tied to this hidden force instead? ¡¯What¡¯s happening?¡¯ Isaac frowned. ¡¯If this organization really is that deep, if they¡¯ve already infiltrated the conglomerate, and they¡¯re using it as a tool...¡¯ He didn¡¯t finish the thought. The implications were too big. Isaac leaned forward. "Why don¡¯t we ¡¯ask¡¯ the people of conglomerate who is backing them? If we push hard enough, we might be able to find the identity of this ¡¯hidden organization¡¯." "You mean using skills on them to force the truth out of them?" Isaac did not agree, but he did not refuse either. Chairman Lucius shook his head. "I doubt that would work. For one, we don¡¯t know who¡¯s under their control and who isn¡¯t. Some of those guests may have been genuinely concerned about Alice. Others may have been puppets. How do you tell which is which?" Isaac said nothing. Lucius continued. "This group¡ªwhoever they are¡ªthey know how to hide. If they didn¡¯t, they wouldn¡¯t have moved so boldly tonight. They must have prepared countermeasures in case we interrogated their people." Chairman Lucius would still interrogate those people, just in a hidden manner. He, however, did not expect the interrogations to bring results. Isaac frowned. His fingers lightly tapped his knee. The more he thought about it, the more tangled it all seemed. Lucius watched him for a moment, then said, "You don¡¯t need to worry about all of this. I will handle my company myself. The reason I called you was to warn you. Stay safe, and especially of outsiders who want to associate with you." Isaac stood, nodded once. "Thanks." He left the room with his mind caught in chaos. Fortified City 50 would fall. Maybe the Nagas were involved, or maybe they were not. But this hidden group¡ªthis organization moving through the city like smoke¡ªthey were a problem, and if they were the real threat, then things were worse than he thought. ¡¯The city will be covered in chaos soon. We need strength if we want to survive it.¡¯ ¡¯I need to make full use of my system.¡¯ He kept walking past the estate corridors, through marble halls and wide staircases. But at some point, he noticed something strange. The floor had changed. The ceiling was gone. He stopped walking and looked around. It was no longer the Calloway estate. It wasn¡¯t anywhere he recognized. A dark void surrounded him. There were no walls, and sounds seemed to have vanished. The sky above was pitch black, like an endless curtain without stars. Below him, the ground looked like solid black glass. Black mist curled at the edges of his vision, hiding the distance. He tensed. ¡¯Was I kidnapped?¡¯ There had been no signs of it, or shifts in the ambient mana. One moment, he¡¯d been walking the halls. The next, he was here. More troubling than anything else was the fact this had happened while he was in one of the most secure locations in the city. That meant he was dealing with extremely dangerous people. "There¡¯s no need to be alarmed. I just brought you here to talk." Isaac¡¯s head turned toward the sound. The voice was strange. It was neither masculine nor feminine. It was being filtered somehow, deliberately altered to mask its identity. "Come," the voice said again. "Don¡¯t just stand there." He didn¡¯t respond. But he walked. As he moved forward, the mist ahead began to part, clearing just enough to reveal what lay ahead. A long table stretched before him, carved from dark wood. The chairs lining either side were tall, with silver patterns inlaid on the backrests and arms. They looked like they belonged in some ancient council hall. At the far end, a figure sat motionless. Isaac squinted, but it was no use. The person¡¯s body was obscured by something strange. It was as if reality itself refused to define them. He couldn¡¯t make out their size, their posture, even their silhouette. All he could see were two golden eyes staring back at him. The eyes weren¡¯t normal. They had rings inside the pupils. Isaac counted two circles with each pupil. Then the voice spoke again. "Hm. As expected, you can stand straight in my presence. That confirms it, you have an Apex bloodline." Isaac let a small smile touch his lips. "That¡¯s correct." Inside, his thoughts moved quickly. ¡¯If they could abduct me from the estate, they¡¯ve been watching me. It wouldn¡¯t be hard for them to figure out I have an Apex bloodline.¡¯ ¡¯So they brought it up to gain leverage by rattling me.¡¯ ¡¯It¡¯s a basic rule of staring a negotiation, where you either go with a friendly style, or dominate the conversation since the beginning.¡¯ That was why he admitted his bloodline. Instead of being shocked, he wanted to shock the unknown figure by accepting the trust easily. The figure chuckled lightly. "You¡¯re sharp." Isaac didn¡¯t answer. He walked calmly to the far end of the table and pulled out a chair. The legs scraped lightly against the dark floor. He sat. His mind kept working. Whoever this was, they didn¡¯t want him dead. If they did, they would¡¯ve attacked him already.. ¡¯It sems like he wants to talk with me. But why?¡¯ All Isaac knew was that if this was a talk, or a negotiation, he couldn¡¯t show fear. If he showed fear, it would be used against him. So instead, he sat upright with relaxed arms, and a calm expression. He didn¡¯t look arrogant, or dismissive, just calm. "Can you guess who I am?" the voice asked. Isaac tilted his head slightly. "The leader of the unknown organization? Or an executive?" A faint laugh escaped the figure¡¯s lips. "¡¯Unknown organization¡¯¡ªis that what Lucius calls us?" Isaac didn¡¯t reply. But that was enough confirmation. This person was involved in whatever group had hijacked the Calloway Conglomerate from the shadows. The voice leaned in, figuratively, not physically. It gained weight. "Isaac, do you know why we revealed ourselves today?" He didn¡¯t answer. He leaned back slightly, fingers drumming lightly on the armrest while he took his time to think of an answer. The figure smiled, seeing his calmness. It decided to answer him directly instead of testing him. "It was for you, Isaac." The figure looked straight at him. "You may think it was about Alice, or Emily, but it wasn¡¯t. They¡¯re strong, yes, but strength isn¡¯t rare. We can make people strong." The golden eyes glowed faintly. "That¡¯s not what makes someone valuable, but you Isaac... You¡¯re different," the figure said. "You¡¯re unique. You are a farmer." The air in the void seemed to shift slightly. "Do you understand what that means?" the voice asked. Chapter 116: Surprising Outcome, Emily’s Un-Emily Demeanor Chapter 116: Surprising Outcome, Emily¡¯s Un-Emily Demeanor Isaac didn¡¯t answer. He kept his gaze locked on the eyes. The figure didn¡¯t seem bothered by the silence. It continued, "A farmer has the power to breathe life into the desolate wilderness. You have an SSS rank Farmer Talent, Isaac. You¡¯re worth much more than this mere city." Isaac¡¯s eyes narrowed. "Why are you telling me all this?" There was a brief pause before the voice answered with confidence. "Because I want you to join us." The words were surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, to the point. Still, Isaac said nothing. He didn¡¯t show any reaction. Not visibly, at least. Inside, his thoughts were moving quickly, trying to figure out the goal of the person before him. The figure chuckled softly, like it found his caution amusing. "It¡¯s alright. You can take your time. Today, I just called you here to extend the offer." The moment the words left the figure¡¯s mouth, the world around Isaac began to twist. The edges of the void warped. The dark floor cracked like glass under heat, and the sky above trembled. Then the voice spoke one last time. "As a parting gift, I¡¯ll tell you something. You people might want to deal with the Nagas quickly before they awaken the Hell Spawn." Before Isaac could respond, the darkness blinked out. He was standing in the corridor of the Calloway estate. He blinked again, confused. The marble floor beneath his shoes, the warm light from the chandeliers, the distant hum of servants cleaning up after the banquet, it was all back. "I was... sent back just like that?" He stood there, frozen. He was not just shocked by the abrupt return, but by how casually it had happened. That strange space, that voice, the offer, the warning. Everything felt unreal. Even stranger was how friendly the person had been. He had been calm, and respectful. That didn¡¯t line up with what they¡¯d done. If this unknown group was the one behind the Calloway takeover, why speak to him like an ally? ¡¯It seemed like they don¡¯t see me as an enemy. So why take over the conglomerate in the first place?¡¯ ¡¯Was that person lying to me?¡¯ ¡¯Or am I missing something?¡¯ His thoughts tangled the more he tried to pull them apart. The last thing the figure said clawed at his mind. ¡¯That warning about the Nagas and the Hell Spawn. What did that mean?¡¯ He wanted to believe "Hell Spawn" was a metaphor, but that would mean being naive. He knew Gods existed. So who was to say Hell wasn¡¯t real? He exhaled, realizing this world was bigger¡ªand far more dangerous¡ªthan he had ever thought it to be. His gaze lowered, and his fingers curled slightly. ¡¯I need to grow stronger, and I need to make sure Emily and Alice don¡¯t lag behind.¡¯ ¡¯All of us need to be strong if we need to protect ourselves.¡¯ He decided he would give both Alice and Emily stat potions from the shop tonight along with the Bloodline Upgrade potion, he was planning on giving to Emily. But they would definitely wonder where the potions came from. ¡¯I can say I found a way to access the World System Shop.¡¯ It was a good enough explanation. It would make sense of how he¡¯d gotten his Hoe, and it would save him from having to come up with lies every time he pulled something out of thin air. As for the currency to buy items? He could just say he earned it by completing Quest. Since he was an SSS+ Talent, and no one had been like him before, they would just think every SSS+ Talent could get Quests regardless of their Talent type. Before he could think further, footsteps interrupted him. Selene appeared around the corner. "Isaac, we need your help," she said, smiling. But her smile was strained. Her eyes didn¡¯t match the expression. Isaac immediately noticed something was off. "What do I need to do?" he asked, skipping the pleasantries. "Come with me," she said. The tone in her voice confirmed his suspicions. Something had happened. A quiet sense of unease crept into him as he followed her. His mind flickered to Alice and Emily. Had something happened to them? They moved quickly. Through the corridor, up a flight of stairs, down another hallway. Selene stopped in front of a door and opened it. Isaac¡¯s chest tightened as he stepped in. Inside, Alice sat on a couch, looking thoroughly annoyed yet attentively taking care of Emily, who was standing behind her, and had her arms wrapped around Alice¡¯s waist. Emily looked... drunk. "Alice, you¡¯re so strong," she mumbled, cheek squished against Alice¡¯s back. "I wanna be strong like you too. You¡¯re sooo cool. You¡¯re the best¡ªafter Isaac, of course¡ªbut still, you¡¯re second best!" She hiccupped, then giggled. Selene looked at Isaac, clearly at a loss. "She¡¯s been like this since she drank." A wave of relief washed over Isaac when he saw it was nothing serious. Smiling, he asked, "How much did she drink?" Selene hesitated. Then muttered, "...One shot." Isaac raised a brow. "And she got drunk with just that?" Before she could answer him, Emily noticed his presence. "Isaac! You¡¯re back!" She shot off the couch like a bullet and launched herself into his arms, hugging him tight. Her cheek pressed against his chest, then rubbed against him like a sleepy cat. She looked up, still clinging to him. "Where¡¯d you go, huh? I was lonely... I haven¡¯t even eaten yet..." Isaac was surprised to see her showing this much affection in front of others. Normally, she would be embarrassed. Moreover, she was asking for a kiss too, probably because she had been left alone. He gently patted her head. "We¡¯ll head back home. You can eat there." Emily whimpered but nodded against him. Selene looked confused, but didn¡¯t comment. Alice, meanwhile, looked relieved to be free from the clingy drunk girl. The three of them walked back toward the car. Selene escorted them to the estate¡¯s private garage. As they walked, Emily clung to Isaac¡¯s back like a koala, arms and legs wrapped around him. "I¡¯ll eat just a little like this..." she mumbled. Isaac nodded, and let her sneak in a snack. The skill worked better the more skin contact there was, so he let her stay latched on. Besides, even if she could float, she wasn¡¯t in any condition to move on her own. Once they reached the car, Emily stirred. "I wanna sit in the backseat with Isaac." Isaac felt a chill crawl down his spine for an unknown reason. The ominous premonition bloomed again, stronger than before. He frowned, but noticing there was no danger, he ignored the feeling. He glanced at Alice, and she nodded, understanding his intentions without the need of words. "I¡¯ll drive, and you should sit with Emily. She¡¯s drunk. If you¡¯re not there, there¡¯s no telling where she¡¯ll float off to." Alice climbed into the driver¡¯s seat without complaint. Selene waved them off as the car pulled out of the estate. Inside the vehicle, things were quiet at first. Then Emily turned to face him. Her expression had changed. Her eyes, still slightly unfocused, now stared straight into his. Chapter 117 - 101 Reasons To Not Allow Emily A Drink Chapter 117: 101 Reasons To Not Allow Emily A Drink "Isaac, close your eyes," she said in a firm voice. "What?" He blinked, confused. "Just do it," she insisted with a playful edge to her tone. Not thinking much of it, Isaac shrugged and closed his eyes. A moment later, Emily¡¯s lips pressed against his in a soft and warm kiss. The kiss slowly turned hungrier. Her tongue sought his with a boldness that caught him off guard. Emily usually kissed with a gentle sensuality, but this was different. Her lips moved with boldness, drawing him in, and Isaac felt heat spread through his chest. Her hands slid to his shoulders and her fingers dug in slightly, pulling him closer. Isaac started to open his eyes, and lifting his hand to hold her, but Emily¡¯s palm pressed over his eyes. "I told you not to look," she said, her voice a mix of command and tease. "And don¡¯t move either." The darkness was exhilarating. Not seeing her next move heightened every sensation. Emily¡¯s lips grazed his, then she bit his lower lip lightly, sending a spark through him. Her mouth trailed to his neck, kissing softly, then nibbling his ear. Isaac¡¯s pulse raced, his body responding to her unpredictable touches. He couldn¡¯t guess what she¡¯d do next, and that uncertainty made it all the more intense. Then, a voice echoed in his mind. ¡¯Isaac, can you hear me?¡¯ Isaac froze, startled. It was Emily¡¯s voice inside his head. He tried to respond, but her lips kept him occupied, the kiss growing hungrier. Through the haze, he focused, managing to speak telepathically after a few tries. ¡¯How is this happening?¡¯ he asked. Emily¡¯s lips curved against his. A soft chuckle escaped as she answered telepathically. ¡¯Tirra lets me talk to my bonds this way. Since we¡¯re bonded, we can do it too, as long as she¡¯s in range.¡¯ Isaac wanted to ask how did Tirra come there, but Emily¡¯s kiss deepened. Her tongue teased his, leaving no room for words. He tried again, pushing through the distraction. ¡¯How is Tirra here?¡¯ he managed. ¡¯She can warp to me,¡¯ replied Emily in a playful mental voice. ¡¯The city¡¯s defenses would¡¯ve blocked her, but since Tirra is a contracted Beast Bond. They let her through.¡¯ Isaac marveled at that, but Emily didn¡¯t give him time to dwell. Her fingers worked at his shirt, slowly unbuttoning it while her lips trailed down to kiss his collarbone. ¡¯Isaac, use Life Drain,¡¯ she said telepathically. His blood ran cold. How did she know about that skill? He nearly opened his eyes, but her hand pressed harder, keeping them covered. A drunken chuckle escaped her lips, vibrating against his neck. ¡¯Isaac, do you remember how we met?¡¯ she asked. ¡¯Yeah,¡¯ he replied. ¡¯The first time we met, when I was taking your life force, you used Life Drain on me. It surprised me. That¡¯s why I stopped,¡¯ she explained, her mental voice tinged with amusement. Isaac blinked in surprise. She remembered that? He¡¯d thought she was too deep in her trance to notice it back then. Emily was far more perceptive than he¡¯d realized, catching details he assumed she¡¯d missed. Her lips brushed his jaw, pulling him back to the moment. He hesitated, weighing the risk. ¡¯Isaac, can¡¯t you do it for me? It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll tell anyone about it,¡¯ she said as she kissed his neck. He considered his options. He could say the skill came from his Bloodline or claim he¡¯d bought it from the World System shop. It was a plausible reason. Finally, he activated Life Drain, keeping it weak. The effect was immediate. Emily¡¯s touches¡ªher lips on his neck, her fingers grazing his chest¡ªbecame impossibly vivid. Each sensation was amplified. Isaac shuddered. The pleasure was almost too much. Emily let out a toothy grin, nuzzling closer. Her hand slid lower, moving from his chest to his stomach, then to his belt. With slow, deliberate movements, she unbuckled it, unzipping his pants. His arousal sprang free, and Emily¡¯s cold hand closed around him. She didn¡¯t stop kissing him, and her hand moved slowly up and down, teasing him. Isaac thought her slow movements were due to her inexperience, but something told him he was wrong. She was doing this on purpose, drawing out every moment. Her nails grazed him lightly, sending sparks of pleasure through his body. The Life Drain made every touch electric, like her fingers were igniting his skin. ¡¯Emily,¡¯ he managed, his mental voice shaky. ¡¯Shh,¡¯ she replied telepathically. ¡¯Just feel it.¡¯ The pleasure was overwhelming, flooding his senses, but it stayed just shy of the peak. Isaac¡¯s mind was a haze, caught in the intensity of her touch. He wanted to move, and take control, but Emily¡¯s voice echoed again. ¡¯Don¡¯t move. Just sit there,¡¯ she said telepathically. Sit there while she teased him like this? Isaac¡¯s instincts screamed to push her down. He couldn¡¯t understand why she was torturing him, or when she¡¯d become so daring. Doing something this brazen in front of Alice? Emily would never dare to do that. Then he remembered their first meeting, when Emily¡¯s instincts had driven her to kiss him with the same unrestrained hunger. This was her true self, unfiltered by embarrassment, unleashed by the alcohol and her desire. Emily¡¯s lips found his neck, leaving soft love bites that sent shivers through him. Her hand kept moving slowly, keeping him teetering on the edge. Just as the climax built, she stopped. Isaac¡¯s breath caught as frustration mingled with desire. She kissed him again and her tongue claimed his. Through her hand, she used Life Drain, pulling a faint thread of vitality from his member. His climax faded, leaving him aching. Finally, she broke the kiss with a thin string of saliva connecting their lips. Isaac opened his eyes, meeting her gaze. "How was that?" asked Emily with a bright, innocent smile despite her actions. His mind was foggy, torn between the electric pleasure of Life Drain, the heat of her kisses, and the frustration of being left unfinished. "You... Emily..." He could barely think straight. He glanced at the rearview mirror, catching Alice¡¯s eyes. The tips of her ears were red, and her expression was a mix of surprise and something else, embarrassment, maybe. Emily¡¯s sultry, dominating demeanor had clearly caught her off guard. Isaac felt his control waver as his frustration bubbled. The urge to move despite Emily¡¯s request was nearly overwhelming. Then Emily¡¯s voice cut through his thoughts again. ¡¯Isaac, you know when you came back from the raid on the assassin hideout? The reports didn¡¯t match your injuries. Aunty was suspicious, wondering how you healed so fast,¡¯ she said telepathically. Isaac¡¯s heart skipped. He had used Life Drain to recover, but of course he had kept it hidden. He never thought they would notice something like that. He tensed, but Emily continued. ¡¯I covered for you. I told aunty I gave you a healing potion I had before the mission.¡¯ Relief washed over him. He raised a hand, patting her head gently. ¡¯Thank you,¡¯ he replied telepathically. Emily nuzzled into his hand with a soft smile, but Isaac didn¡¯t miss the glint in her gaze. ¡¯So, I deserve a reward, right? Let me have this as a reward. Don¡¯t move,¡¯ she said in a playful but firm mental voice. Isaac nodded, still hazy, and unsure of her intentions. Emily¡¯s smile was bright, almost innocent, but her actions were anything but. Her hand moved again. Her thumb spread the precum over him with a slow, teasing motion. Then, maintaining eye contact, she lowered her head, and let saliva fall from her lips onto him. The cool sensation against his heated skin made him harden again instantly. A low groan escaped his throat. Her gaze was bold, unflinching, as she leaned in to take his lips again. Her hand resumed its slow, deliberate strokes. Emily broke the kiss just enough to speak. "Isaac, Alice taught me how to use my saliva like this. How does it feel? Good, right? It¡¯s like both of us are touching you," she said. Isaac¡¯s eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. Alice was staring at them. She shook her head quickly, as if denying any involvement. Inwardly, Alice was stunned. She¡¯d taught Emily about S&M play earlier, thinking Emily wanted to explore Isaac dominating her. But this? Emily turned out to a lot bolder than Alice gave her credit for. She was a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing! She was using what she¡¯d learned just an hour ago to take control over Isaac. Alice was relieved she hadn¡¯t shared anything more intense. Emily giggled, noticing the exchange between Isaac and Alice¡¯s gaze. Isaac was close to the edge again. Emily¡¯s slow pace was maddening but irresistible. He stayed still, honoring her request, though every instinct urged him to act. The Life Drain made her touch feel like fire. Just as he neared the peak, her movements slowed to a crawl, then stopped entirely. Isaac opened his mouth to protest, but Emily¡¯s head lolled against his chest. She was asleep, nuzzled into his embrace. Her breathing was soft and even. He stared, stunned. Asleep? Really? ¡¯Should I just push her down?¡¯ The frustrated devil inside him told him that it was Emily¡¯s fault she fell asleep, and she should take the responsibility for her actions. And the angel inside him said that the devil was right. Besides, Emily wouldn¡¯t refuse him if she was awake. It was taking him his entire willpower to ignore the devil and the angel who joined hands after Emily left him teetering on the edge. A soft chuckle broke his daze. He looked up to see Alice¡¯s lips twitching, though her face quickly returned to its usual serious expression. "Looks like she finally fell asleep. Good for you," said Alice. "You¡¯re laughing?" asked Isaac, exasperated. "After this?" "You look funny." Alice shrugged, and her eyes returned to the road. Isaac glanced down at himself, still hard. This wasn¡¯t going away on its own. He took a deep breath, trying to clear his head. "Alice, pull over somewhere. I need your help." Alice met his eyes in the mirror. Her expression shifted to one that of understanding. "Okay," she replied, nodding. She found a quiet parking lot nearby, pulling the jeep into a secluded corner. Isaac glanced at Emily, still asleep against him, then at Alice. "This is gonna be quick," he said, his tone half-joking, half-serious. "Don¡¯t bet on it," replied Alice with a teasing edge to her voice. A fire had been lit in her after watching Isaac and Emily, and she wasn¡¯t planning on letting him go quickly. Isaac activated the soulbind pendant. In a flash, the three of them¡ªIsaac, Emily, and Alice¡ªteleported inside the pendant¡¯s inner space, leaving the jeep empty in the parking lot. They appeared in the familiar master bedroom. Isaac carried Emily, and gently laid her on the bed. She mumbled something incoherent, nuzzling into the pillow as he pulled a blanket over her. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, making sure she was comfortable. "Alice, take a bath. I¡¯ll be there in a minute," said Isaac, glancing at her. Alice nodded. Her eyes lingered on him before she headed to the bathroom, quiet but expectant. Isaac watched her go, then turned back to Emily. She was out cold. Watching her sleep peacefully, he smiled faintly but he vowed to never let her drink again. The bathroom door clicked shut behind Alice, and he heard the faint sound of water running. His pulse quickened as he imagined her naked figure. In the bathroom, Alice stood under the showerhead, letting the cool water cascade over her. The water felt refreshing against her heated skin, which was a result of her Species. Her heart raced in a mix of anticipation and nervousness. She had been hoping for this since she saw Isaac and Emily in the car, and Emily¡¯s bold moves. The memory of Isaac¡¯s frustration, left hanging by Emily¡¯s teasing, had only added to her own desire. The door creaked open. Alice didn¡¯t move, but her heart jumped. She heard Isaac¡¯s footsteps as he approached. His arms wrapped around her from behind, his naked body pressing against hers. The contrast of the cool water and his warm skin made her knees weaken. She leaned back, feeling the solid strength of him, their bodies fitting together under the spray. "Was it really funny, watching me like that?" Alice noticed his playful tone and felt a flicker of ominous premonition. She shook her head quickly. "I didn¡¯t teach Emily any of that. I had nothing to do with what she did," she replied in an earnest voice. Isaac¡¯s smile remained, but his eyes said he wasn¡¯t convinced. "Sure," he said. "Let¡¯s focus on showering for now." Alice nodded, but her body was already responding to his closeness. She¡¯d been aroused since the car, and she was sensitive to his touch already. When Isaac¡¯s fingers slid between her legs, they moved easily, and her readiness betrayed her stoic expression. She gasped, her hands gripping his arm for support as his fingers began to move in a slow and expert-like way, as if he knew exactly how to unravel her. "We should start cleaning from here," he murmured. His fingers moved inwards, sending waves of pleasure through her. Alice¡¯s legs trembled, and her breath hitched as she struggled to stand. She clung to his arm while her back arched from his touch. Isaac¡¯s other hand cupped her chin, turning her head to meet his lips in a deep, hungry kiss. Their tongues tangled. The kiss amplified the sensations below. Alice felt herself climbing, the peak so close she could taste it. Just as she teetered on the edge, Isaac¡¯s fingers stopped. "It¡¯s clean. Let¡¯s move to other places," he said in an infuriatingly calm voice as if he had not doing anything wrong. Alice¡¯s eyes widened, and surprisingly a frustrated whimper escaped her, but to her dismay he ignored it. He grabbed the soap, lathering it in his hands, and began rubbing it over her body. His touch was firm, gliding over her shoulders, her back, her stomach, leaving trails of suds. Every brush of his fingers sent her heart racing, and made her skin tingle. But he kept it clinical, teasing, refusing to linger where she wanted him most. The deliberate restraint was maddening. Each touch stoked her desire without pushing her further. "Isaac," she breathed, her voice shaky with need. He didn¡¯t respond, just continued soaping her arms, his fingers grazing her sides. Alice tried to shift, to guide his hands, but Isaac sidestepped her efforts with ease. A faint smirk played on his lips, making her realize it was his revenge for laughing at him. She pressed her hips closer to him, trying to entice him, but he remained steadfast. He moved to her legs, lathering her thighs with the same careful detachment. Her frustration grew. Her body wanted his love, but Isaac was in control, and they both knew it. "You¡¯re doing this on purpose," she muttered, her voice a mix of irritation and longing. "What are you talking about?" he replied innocently. He moved behind her again, his hands sliding up her back, then down to her hips. The water rinsed the soap away, leaving her skin slick and sensitive. Alice¡¯s breath hitched. Her body was begging for more. She tried once more to make a move, but he acted as if he couldn¡¯t feel anything, and instead he grabbed the soap to clean himself. "Almost done," he said, lathering his chest. Alice glared at him, panting while her body buzzed with unfulfilled desire. Isaac gave her an innocent smile as he rinsed off under the shower. "Bath¡¯s done. We can leave," he announced, shutting off the water. She snapped out of her daze. Her frustration was at the tipping point. "That¡¯s it?" she said, glaring at him. Isaac¡¯s smile was infuriatingly calm, but his eyes betrayed him. His own arousal was evident, straining against the air, yet he stood there, composed, clearly enjoying her reaction. The look she gave him¡ªhalf-anger, half-desire¡ªseemed to soothe him. Her frustration was its own reward. Alice crossed her arms, perking her chest up. She had learned so many things, but when it came to it, her mind was too hazy to recall what she needed to do to seduce him. "Come on," he said, grabbing a towel and tossing one to her. She caught it, still glaring, but began drying off. "You¡¯re gonna pay for this," she warned, her tone playful despite her irritation. "Looking forward to it," he smirked, wrapping the towel around his waist. They stepped out of the bathroom. The room was quite except for the movement of Emily chest. Since she was in her physical form right now, she needed to breathe. Isaac glanced at her, making sure she was still asleep, then turned to Alice. Her flushed cheeks and narrowed eyes made him chuckle, but he kept his distance, knowing she was one spark away from pushing him down. Chapter 118: Soft Love And Failing The Challenge Chapter 118: Soft Love And Failing The Challenge "Isaac, you¡ª" Alice opened her mouth to say something, but Isaac raised a finger to his lips. "Shh. Emily might wake up. We should keep it quiet. You should know by know how she gets when she¡¯s drunk," he whispered. "...Right. Let¡¯s let her sleep," she replied, her voice barely above a murmur. Isaac moved closer. His hands found her waist, and with a gentle lift, he carried her to the bed, laying her on her back. The dim light of the room cast soft shadows over her body, and Isaac paused, staring at her. Alice looked up at him. Her face was framed by damp hair, and for a moment, embarrassment flickered in her eyes. She crossed one arm over her chest, trying to cover herself, but the gesture only accentuated her curves, making her look even sexier. Isaac felt a surge of desire. "You¡¯re beautiful," he murmured. Alice¡¯s cheeks reddened, but she didn¡¯t look away, her eyes locked on his. Isaac leaned over her. His hands brushed her thighs as he positioned himself. He rubbed himself against her, feeling her wetness. She was ready. Her breath hitched as she waited for him. But Isaac held back, teasing her with slow, deliberate movements, not entering, just gliding against her. Alice¡¯s hands gripped the sheets, her body tensing with anticipation. "Isaac," she whispered, her voice a mix of need and frustration. He smiled, enjoying her reaction, but her patience snapped. With a sudden move, Alice pushed him onto his back, flipping their positions. She straddled him. Her hands were now on his chest, and she looked at him with fierce and determined eyes. Isaac looked up, captivated by the intensity in her gaze. She raised her hips, aligning herself, then lowered slowly, taking him inside. The sensation was immediate, overwhelming. Alice gasped. Her body trembled as she climaxed almost instantly, the teasing from earlier having left her on the edge. Isaac wasn¡¯t far behind. The heat and tightness was pushing him close, but he held on better than her. Alice began to move. Her hips moved slowly. She¡¯d wanted quick, frantic release earlier, but now, with him inside her, she seemed to want to savor every moment. Her movements were gentle, almost tender. Each roll of her hip drew out the connection between them. Isaac watched her, his heart fluttering at the sight. Her beauty, the way her body moved, the mix of lust and love in her eyes. Everything about her made his pulse race. "You feel so good," he said, his voice rough with emotion. Alice smiled, leaning down to kiss him softly. "So do you," she replied, her breath warm against his lips. For the first few minutes, they kept it slow. Their bodies found a rhythm that was sweet and unhurried. The quiet of the room, broken only by their soft breaths and Emily¡¯s faint snores, made it feel intimate, like they were the only two in the world. Isaac¡¯s hands roamed her back, tracing her curves, while Alice¡¯s fingers pressed into his chest, grounding herself. The pleasure built steadily like a shared warmth that culminated in a mutual climax. They shuddered together as the release washed over them like a wave. Alice didn¡¯t pull away, letting him stay inside her while her body became relaxed against his. She didn¡¯t know Isaac had Life Drain, but she was fine with having his kids. At that moment, she wanted to feel his love as closely as she could. Isaac smile inwardly, knowing her thoughts. He placed a hand on her stomach, and activated the Life Drain skill at its weakest setting to drain the life he had poured into her. The feedback from the skill hit him instantly. Jolts of pleasure made him harden again, his body reacting before his mind caught up. ¡¯Damn,¡¯ he thought, recalling Emily¡¯s insatiable reactions from the day before when she¡¯d used Life Drain on Alice during their intimate movement. ¡¯No wonder she couldn¡¯t stop.¡¯ Alice gasped when he moved. "Isaac?" she murmured, her voice shaky. He didn¡¯t answer with words. Instead, he sat up slowly, keeping himself inside her. Their bodies now pressed close. His hands gripped her hips, guiding her up and down in a steady rhythm. The new position brought their faces inches apart, and their breaths mingled. Alice¡¯s sensitivity, heightened from her recent climax, made her tremble.Her nails dug into his back, leaving faint scratches. Isaac didn¡¯t mind. The pain mixed with pleasure, grounding him in the moment. As they moved, he looked at her, struck by how beautiful she was. Her flushed skin, the way her lips parted with each soft moan, the love and desire in her eyes. It was all overwhelming. His heart beat wildly, caught in the intensity of their connection. Every movement, every touch, felt like a promise, like a shared need that went beyond the physical lust. "You¡¯re beautiful," he whispered. Alice¡¯s eyes softened, and kissed him for a moment, savouring his love. They moved together. His hands lifted and lowered her. The rhythm felt steady but intense. Alice¡¯s nails scratched harder, and her body arched as the pleasure built again. Isaac felt himself nearing the edge, the tightness and heat driving him wild. He could tell Alice was close too. Her breathing had turned ragged, and her movements were growing desperate. As his climax approached, her inner walls tightened, signaling her own peak. Alice leaned in, kissing him deeply. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders in a tight hug. The kiss was fierce. Their tongues tangled as their bodies shuddered together. They climaxed in unison. The release consumed them, and waves of pleasure crashed through their shared connection. Alice¡¯s moan was muffled against his lips. Her body trembled as she held him close. Isaac¡¯s hands tightened on her hips, anchoring her as he rode out the sensation. His mind was blank with bliss. They stayed like that, locked together. Their breaths slowed. Alice rested her forehead against his. Her eyes were half-closed, and a satisfied expression decorated her face. Isaac brushed a hand along her back, savoring the warmth of her skin. Emily¡¯s soft snores continued in the background. Alice shifted slightly, her body still pressed to his. A playful glint sparked in her eyes. She leaned back just enough to meet his gaze. "What, you¡¯re finished already?" she asked, her tone light but challenging. Isaac raised an eyebrow. Alice wasn¡¯t planning to let him off easy, not after he¡¯d teased her in the shower. She would ¡¯punish¡¯ for what he had put her through, and pull out every last drop from him. Before he could respond, Alice kissed him deeply. Her tongue sought his with a fierce intensity. Their tongues clashed in a playful battle where Alice tried to dominate him. Her heat and boldness stirred Isaac as he fought back. His tongue overpowered hers with overwhelming force, drawing a soft whimper from her. He felt himself harden inside her as they clashed, and realized this was Alice¡¯s main goal. Alice¡¯s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, knowing she learned one more thing that set him off. The kiss broke, and Isaac moved swiftly, laying her on her back. He stayed inside her while he moved. Looking down on her, his expression was a mix of desire and mock anger. His thumb brushed her lower lip as he held her face. "First, you teach Emily those tricks, and now you¡¯re taunting me? Are you trying to piss me off?" he asked. Alice¡¯s gaze looked at him with smugness, as if saying so what. Then, she parted her lips, kissing his thumb before she drew the thumb into her mouth with a slow, sensual suck. Her eyes were locked on his. The act was so blatantly sexy that Isaac¡¯s arousal surged, almost painfully. He groaned, his grip tightening on her waist. He realized this was her way of saying she was in control of him. Fine. If she wanted to challenge him, she¡¯d have to handle his response. He began to move, no longer gentle. His thrusts were deep and fierce. Alice gasped, surprised by the change in him. Her hands clutched the sheets as she struggled to keep her moans quiet, mindful of Emily sleeping nearby. "What? Can¡¯t handle what you started," he murmured with a smirk. Alice¡¯s breath hitched. Her body arched under him. She could barely suppress the sounds threatening to spill out as he ravaged her. Each movement pushed her closer to the edge. Suddenly, Isaac flipped her over, keeping himself inside her. He grabbed one of her legs, lifting it and spinning her onto her stomach in a fluid motion, ensuring he never came out of her. "Kya¡ª!" Alice yelped, startled by the sudden shift, and quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. She glanced at Emily, her heart racing, checking if the noise had woken her. Emily¡¯s snores continued, unbroken, and Alice sighed in relief. She didn¡¯t want to disturb her, knowing how exhausted Emily must be after the rough treatment Isaac put her through in the morning. Now on her stomach, Alice felt Isaac¡¯s weight over her. His body pressed her into the bed. He entered her from behind. The angle was intense and unrelenting. He leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. "Keep those hands there, or you¡¯ll wake Emily with how loud you¡¯re about to scream," he whispered. "Isaac, what are¡ª" she started, but her words cut off as he moved. The depth of his thrusts, combined with the position, made her shudder. Isaac had her pinned completely. His elbows sunk into the bed for support, and his hands gripped her horns to hold her in place. Alice couldn¡¯t move. Her body was at his mercy as he pounded into her with fierce intensity. Her gaze grew misty, and her hands weakened over her mouth. She glanced at Emily, using the sight of her sleeping form to anchor herself, to keep her moans suppressed. If Emily weren¡¯t asleep, Alice wasn¡¯t sure what sort of sounds she¡¯d let slip. "You¡¯re so beautiful and kind, Alice" said Isaac, kissing her neck. "I love you." Alice¡¯s heart fluttered, even as her body trembled under his relentless pace. She turned her head slightly to look at him. His words, paired with the way he looked at her, made her feel cherished, desired in a way that went beyond the physical. Isaac kept going. His movements were unwavering, driving her toward another peak. Her nails dug into the sheets. Her breaths came in short, ragged gasps. The pleasure was overwhelming, building with every thrust, and she knew she wouldn¡¯t last much longer. Isaac felt his own release approaching. Her tightness and the way she responded pushed him to the edge. Alice sensed it too, feeling him twitch inside her. She turned her head slightly, and her lips locked against his in a deep, desperate kiss. They climaxed together. The shared wave of ecstasy that left them breathless. Alice¡¯s muffled moan vibrated against his lips while her body shook as she held him close. They continued after a short break. Each time Isaac filled her, Alice felt swell of warmth in her heart. Her mind desperately demanded his love while her body demanded his lust. They didn¡¯t stop until much later. They collapsed, still entwined. Their breaths were heavy in the quiet room. Alice was senseless. Her body was limp, and covered in sweat. Her neck and chest bore the marks of Isaac¡¯s love bites. Isaac pulled out for the first time since they¡¯d started. Their combined fluids leaked onto the sheets almost immediately. Alice¡¯s head remained turned to the side. Her hair was fanned out beneath her, her body glistening. It was a sight that stirred him, even in his exhaustion. He noticed Emily, still asleep, had shifted in her sleep. Her hand was holding Alice¡¯s since sometime earlier while Alice and Isaac were going at it. The image¡ªAlice¡¯s spent form, Emily¡¯s innocent touch¡ªwas undeniably hot. Isaac¡¯s lips twitched in a mix of amusement and arousal. He stood, stumbling slightly in the afterglow, and grabbed his device from his discarded clothes. It looked like a smartphone from his old world, sleek and familiar. He returned to the bed. "Hey, Alice, look here," he said in a soft but playful voice. Alice was too exhausted to move, her body heavy with satisfaction. She turned her eyes toward him, barely registering the device. When she saw the camera, she recalled something, and with her free hand¡ªthe one not held by Emily¡ªshe formed a peace sign. The cute yet slutty gesture made Isaac chuckle. He shook his head, and thought, ¡¯I need to see what kind of absurd ¡¯research papers¡¯ this girl had read.¡¯ He snapped the photo, capturing the moment of Alice¡¯s exhausted but playful expression, her peace sign, and Emily¡¯s unaware presence. It was a memory he¡¯d keep of today when Alice¡¯s Talent was revealed to others, and how they celebrated afterwards. Alice¡¯s eyes fluttered, and she met his gaze. "That was..." started Alice, her voice trailing off, too tired to find the right word. "Amazing," finished Isaac as he kissed her lightly. She nodded, her cheeks still flushed. "You¡¯re still evil for earlier," she said in a playful tone. "But didn¡¯t you like it?" he replied with a soft but genuine grin. Alice snorted softly, careful not to wake Emily. "Let¡¯s clean up," said Isaac. "You go in first. I will come after changing the sheets." He stood, helping Alice off the bed. Both of them moved quietly to avoid disturbing Emily. Alice reached for her clothes, but as she tried to stand, her legs wobbled, and she froze. Her ears turned red, and she looked at Isaac, embarrassment creeping into her expression. "Can you... carry me to the bathroom? I can¡¯t move," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Isaac¡¯s lips twitched into a smug smile. "Sure," he said, scooping her up effortlessly. Alice grumbled, her eyes narrowing as she muttered under her breath. "Next time, you¡¯re the one who is going to lose." Isaac chuckled, carrying her across the room. "We¡¯ll see." He set her down gently near the couch, then turned to change the sheets. The ones they¡¯d used were a mess, and he didn¡¯t want Emily waking up to that. He worked quickly, swapping them out for fresh ones, then carefully lifted Emily, laying her back on the bed. She mumbled something in her sleep, curling into the blanket, and Isaac smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. With Emily settled, he returned to Alice, lifting her again and carrying her to the bathroom. As he helped her clean up, wiping away the sweat and evidence of their passion, a nagging feeling tugged at him. He was forgetting something, but it couldn¡¯t be important if it wasn¡¯t coming to mind. Shrugging it off, he focused on Alice while her body was relaxed in his arms. Once they were clean, he filled the bathtub, intending to soak their tired muscles. The water was normal at first, but as Alice settled in, her body¡¯s heat warmed it, turning the bath into a comforting, hot soak. Isaac sat in the tub, Alice perched on his lap, her back against his chest. His arms wrapped around her, holding her close as she leaned into him, resting. The silence was soothing, broken only by the soft lapping of water. They didn¡¯t need words, content to simply be together. Their bodies and minds were at ease after the intensity of the night. Alice¡¯s breathing slowed, and her head nestled under his chin, and Isaac felt a warmth that went beyond the water. He ran a hand along her arm as they soaked their bodies. After a while, Isaac broke the silence. His voice was soft but serious. "Alice, I have something I need to tell you." Chapter 119: Tricking Emily, Purchasing Time Limited Shop Items Chapter 119: Tricking Emily, Purchasing Time Limited Shop Items She shifted slightly, sensing the tone. "Is this about your abilities?" Isaac raised a brow. Of course she knew he was hiding something, or at least suspected. A smile tugged at his lips. She and Emily had probably pieced it together long ago, yet neither had pressed him, not once. That trust, it meant more to him than he could say. "Yeah," he said. "It¡¯s about that." Alice stood up in the water and turned to face him. "Then let¡¯s talk to Emily too. It wouldn¡¯t be fair if I knew and she didn¡¯t." Isaac smiled. Alice had changed a lot. From someone who hated Emily, to accepting Emily, and now taking care of Emily like she was her younger sister. Her emotional growth was clear. His heart was warmed to see how much she took care of Emily.... expect for the part where she taught her perverted things. They dried off and changed into fresh clothes before they stepped out of the bathroom. Isaac glanced at her. "Can you cook dinner? I¡¯m feeling hungry. The ingredients are already in the kitchen. They¡¯re the ones I grew from my farm, so Emily should be able to eat them too." Alice nodded, and left downstairs. Isaac turned toward the bed. "Emily, could you help Alice?" There was no response, except the soft sound of breathing. Isaac smirked. He already knew she wasn¡¯t asleep. Thanks to Mind Echo, he remembered how exactly Emily acted when she was asleep. She had been pretending for a while now. He sat beside her, leaning close. "What are you acting asleep for? Too embarrassed to show your face after what you did?" One of her ears twitched, but she didn¡¯t move. Isaac whispered again, this time gently. "It¡¯s fine, Emily. I like the way you are. I like you when you act cute, when you¡¯re sweet, even when you¡¯re being stubborn and defiant. You don¡¯t need to be embarrassed about how you acted. If you won¡¯t show me your true self, then who else would you show it to?" There was a short silence before Her eyes opened slowly, looking up at him. Their faces were close, almost touching. She blinked. "You don¡¯t hate how I was?" "Of course not. Though, don¡¯t think I¡¯ve forgotten how you left me frustrated twice and then fell asleep. Just be ready for tonight after dinner." Isaac gave an innocent smile as he pinched her cheeks. Emily blinked again, realization dawning on her face. He¡¯d tricked her. He knew she was faking sleep, and he still played along, said sweet things, and baited her into reacting. He was not angry? So what, he was still planning on punishing her! She huffed and floated away toward the door. Before leaving, she turned and stuck out her tongue. "I should have left you even more frustrated. That¡¯s what you deserve for always teasing me." Isaac chuckled. After she left for the kitchen, Isaac gathered the dirty clothes and sheets. He loaded them into the washing machine and got it running. While waiting, he opened the system. "System, show me my Affection Points, and how much they increased since the last time I checked this morning." AP Balance: 657.82 ¡ú 8001.17 Isaac raised his eyebrows. Nearly 7,500 points in less than a day. He leaned back, letting his Mind Echo ability pull up the exact memories and events. "Let¡¯s see... I got 6,804 from passive gain just from Emily and Alice today." He recalled complimenting their dresses before the banquet. That had given him 20 AP from each. "Then there was 300 in a slow trickle from Alice during the banquet." He paused, then snorted. "And 100 from Emily for what she did to me in the car. Another 100 from Alice during our time together." He shook his head with a faint laugh. Drunk Emily had revealed far more than he expected. Her behavior might¡¯ve seemed innocent on the surface, but underneath... well, she clearly had some hidden sides. "People really weren¡¯t kidding when they said it¡¯s always the innocent ones who have the darkest fetishes." With the AP balance sitting high, Isaac opened the shop. Phantom Core Extractor ¨C Purchased Celestial Spirit Pact Token ¨C Purchased AP Balance: 8001.17 ¡ú 4127.17 Two items materialized in his hands. The first was a swirling sphere, about the size of a lemon. It pulsed with a green mist that coiled and writhed like smoke trapped in glass. The energy inside felt dead, yet alive. The second was a slip of parchment. It was old and delicate, glowing faintly with silver light. It looked like a ceremonial token of some kind. Isaac whistled. As he looked at them intently, his Inspect skill triggered on its own. Phantom Core Extractor Mystic Grade Allows the user to extract the soul of a being they have slain. Extraction chance decreases by 10% for every level the target is above the user. Cooldown: 1 day Note: Raised spirits may or may not obey the user, and it is capable of harming the user. Isaac blinked. "So Inspect works on shop items too. I guess that makes sense. I used it on the Hoe I got as a gift from the system before." He tilted the sphere in his hand, watching the mist swirl. "This is borderline necromancy." The limitations were fair, but the fact that the spirit might not obey and could harm the user was a serious risk. Though, they made sense, since the raised spirits weren¡¯t bonded beasts. Still, it had potential. He turned to the other item. Celestial Spirit Pact Token Mystic Grade Allows the formation of a Beast Bond with any spirit-type being, even if they cannot form a bond. Cooldown: 1 day Note: Doesn¡¯t work on beings already bound to someone else. "It¡¯s quite powerful but..." Isaac raised a brow. "These two items are clearly meant to be used together." Used separately, they¡¯d be good. Together? They would be overpowered. He leaned back against the wall. The Beast Bond didn¡¯t affect free will. It didn¡¯t create loyalty or alter feelings. It just made sure the bonded spirit couldn¡¯t harm the owner. This negated the biggest weakness of the Phantom Core Extractor. He stored the items in his spatial ring and looked at the remaining AP. There was still one more thing he wanted to buy. Life Support Pod ¨C Purchased AP Balance: 4127.17 ¡ú 128.56 A smooth, capsule-shaped pod appeared in the corner of the room. It resembled a medical chamber, but sleeker, and it looked more advanced. The outside was a matte silver with smooth, rounded edges. A transparent cover could slide open to reveal the inside, which was padded and infused with nutrient conduits and bio-gel systems. The system called it a "Life Support Pod," but that name barely did justice to what it could do. It would provide a controlled, nutrient-rich environment tailored to awaken someone¡¯s dormant physique, assuming they had one to awaken. "Emily can awaken a Physique, but it¡¯s not a guarantee. After all, not all High-Rank species awaken a physique," Isaac muttered. "But I¡¯d rather prepare for the chance than wait and regret it." With Emily due to consume a bloodline upgrade potion soon, there wouldn¡¯t be time to contact Professor Catherine or anyone else for something like this. Besides, if they asked how he knew Emily¡¯s was about to awaken the Physique, things could get messy. No. Better to keep it in the house. As for the Life Support Pod, he could just say he discovered a hidden basement within the Soulbind Pendant¡¯s spatial subspace, and found the pod there. Since normal spatial tools didn¡¯t allow entry for living beings, it was already clear that the Soulbind Pendant was special. It¡¯d be believable that the pendant had unique resources inside it. With that decided, Isaac left the pod where it was, in the corner of the room, and headed downstairs. In the kitchen, Alice was rinsing the last of the dishes while Emily floated through the air, placing utensils and bowls on the table. The moment Emily noticed him entering, she looked away with a soft hmph and crossed her arms, pretending to be annoyed. Isaac blinked in surprise. Had he really crossed the line? He used Inspect. Chapter 120: Secret Revealed, Emily Drinks Bloodline Upgrade Potion Chapter 120: Secret Revealed, Emily Drinks Bloodline Upgrade Potion [Status: Embarrassed about what she did and is thus trying to avoid you. Looking forward to tonight.] His chuckled to himself when he read her status. Her sober self and drunken self were like two different people. Still, both were amusing in their own way. They sat and ate together. The food was simple, fresh vegetables from Isaac¡¯s farm, lightly stir-fried with a side of warm broth and steamed bread. The flavors were clean and comforting. "It¡¯s good," Isaac said as he finished the last bite. "Thanks." Alice gave him a small nod while washing her hands. Emily, though still pretending to sulk, didn¡¯t refuse his compliment. After dinner, Isaac and Emily cleaned the dishes while Alice dried and stacked them. Once the kitchen was cleared, the three of them moved to the living room. They sat together on the large couch. The atmosphere was quiet but not uncomfortable. Emily sat on the armrest beside Isaac while Alice rested against the cushions. Her posture was relaxed but attentive. Isaac exhaled slowly and looked at both of them. "I know you two must¡¯ve noticed there¡¯s something off about my abilities." The moment he said it, the air grew a little more serious. Alice straightened up, and Emily shifted her posture slightly, her feet floating off the floor as she hovered an inch higher. "So," he continued, "I want to tell you what¡¯s actually happening." Alice and Emily both nodded. Their expressions were calm and focused. "First off, I have Life Drain. That¡¯s one of the earliest skills I awakened, long before the talent awakening ceremony." Alice tilted her head. "Maybe that came from your bloodline?" Isaac didn¡¯t correct her. That theory worked well enough for now. "Maybe. But that¡¯s not the main thing." He leaned back, eyes scanning theirs. "Do you remember the hoe I use for farming?" They both nodded immediately. That tool was impossible to ignore. It harvested everything instantly, boosted yields by five times, and improved land quality. Isaac continued, "I got it from the World System Shop." Alice and Emily exchanged a glance. Isaac noticed the slight widening of Emily¡¯s eyes. "I can access the World System Shop any time I want," he said. "I don¡¯t know why. Maybe it¡¯s because I have an SSS+ rank talent, or maybe it¡¯s something else." Alice frowned in thought, but didn¡¯t interrupt. "I¡¯ve been receiving quests too," Isaac added. "Right now, most of them are related to selling crops and distributing food to a wider audience. The more I expand, the more rewards I get." "That¡¯s not normal," Emily said. "But I suppose it makes sense for someone with a unique talent." "It does. Life talents without combat abilities can¡¯t usually get quests, but yours clearly isn¡¯t a normal life talent." Alice added. Isaac nodded as he looked at Alice. "I bought the Sun Dragon Genetic Catalyst for you through that shop." Her eyes softened. For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say something, but then she simply nodded. She knew that while he was making it sound simple, buying that item wouldn¡¯t have been easy. Her heart warmed at how he made it look like an easy task, probably because he didn¡¯t want to worry her. "I hope you two can keep everything I just told you a secret." "Of course," Alice said immediately. Emily nodded rapidly. "Obviously!" He laughed. "Relax, no need to get so serious." Then he turned toward Emily and pulled a small red vial, sealed with a silver stopper from his spatial ring. "This is the most recent thing I bought," he said. "It¡¯s a bloodline upgrade potion. It should help you evolve to a high-rank species." Emily froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "You bought this... for me?" Isaac nodded. "Yeah." She blinked, then swiftly flew into his arms, hugging him tightly. The anger and embrassement she had earlier was completely forgotten. He patted her head and chuckled. "You¡¯re welcome." Emily¡¯s voice was muffled against his chest. "You know how expensive this is, right? Fifty gold coins! That¡¯s what aunty said!" "I know," he said. "Drink it. We¡¯ll just tell Professor Catherine and Leora that your bloodline evolved naturally." Emily nodded, her expression turning somber. Her aunt had told her once that her bloodline was broken but would eventually evolve on its own. She¡¯d never explained anything more than that. Every time Emily tried to ask about her past, her aunt would divert the topic. Alice spoke up. "What if she awakens a physique? We¡¯ll need to take her to the hospital for that. The pain would be..." "It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve got a Life Support Pod set up upstairs." Emily¡¯s eyes widened again. "You bought that from the shop too? For me?" Isaac nodded. He glanced toward Alice, wondering if she felt left out or frustrated. Before he could say anything, Alice rolled her eyes. "Don¡¯t even think about apologizing," she said. "You must have used up all your gold coins buying the catalyst for me. You also didn¡¯t know back then that a pod was needed, and I know you¡¯re not stingy when it comes to us, so stop looking guilty." Isaac smiled, his heart feeling a little lighter. The three of them went upstairs. Isaac had Emily sit on the bed. "I should do this on the floor," Emily said. "The impurities will stain the sheets." Isaac flicked her forehead. "Don¡¯t worry about that. I¡¯ll clean it. Just focus on the breakthrough." He handed her the vial. She looked at it once more, then uncorked it and drank. The effects were immediate. A surge of energy exploded from within her. Her skin turned noticeably paler, almost porcelain-like. The cold aura that usually lingered around her intensified several times over. Frost clung to her clothes and fingertips. Her body trembled as veins along her neck and arms pulsed and twitched violently. Her legs drew up, and her fingers dug into the blanket as the pain set in. Isaac¡¯s breath caught, seeing her in pain. Then he felt someone squeeze his hand. He looked down and saw Alice¡¯s fingers interlocked with his. Her expression was calm. "Don¡¯t be nervous," she said quietly. "Emily isn¡¯t a little girl. She can handle pain. Also, I doubt she would like you were worrying too much, and regretting giving her the potions just because you saw her in pain." Only then did Isaac realize he had been holding his breath. He let it out slowly and nodded. The process was still ongoing. A faint mist of black impurities began to seep from Emily¡¯s skin. Her breathing was ragged, but her eyes stayed shut in concentration. Her body jerked once as the cold energy rose again, coiling around her like a living fog. It was painful. That much was obvious. Bloodline upgrades weren¡¯t just a magical process. They were physical transformations at the cellular level. Muscles, bones, and nerves all adjusted. Organs shifted. DNA rewrote itself. It was unnatural and overwhelming. But Emily endured it without a scream. She didn¡¯t want to make Isaac worry. Her brows furrowed, and her grip on the sheets tightened, but she didn¡¯t break. Isaac watched in silence, his hand still clasped with Alice¡¯s. Minutes passed. Then an hour. The aura around Emily finally began to settle. Chapter 121: Awakening, Emily’s Past Chapter 121: Awakening, Emily¡¯s Past Isaac stepped closer and felt the freezing air wash over him. Her eyes were still closed, but her chest rose and fell steadily now. "The worst of it should be over now," Isaac said quietly. He exhaled again and glanced at Alice. She gave him a small nod. Just then, Emily stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open. She blinked twice, slowly, as though adjusting to the world again. Isaac watched her closely. Her gaze locked onto his. It wasn¡¯t the same as before. Something had changed. He couldn¡¯t explain it, but it was there in the way she looked at him. Her expression wasn¡¯t blank or dazed. It was sharp, aware, and... different. More mature? He didn¡¯t know how else to describe it, but for a brief second, it felt like someone else was looking back at him. Someone wiser. But then¡ª Her expression twisted in pain. Isaac¡¯s thoughts scattered as she clenched her teeth, and her body arched slightly. A soft groan escaped her lips. "Her Physique is awakening," he said quickly. There was no time to think. He moved in one smooth motion, scooping her up despite the dampness of her clothes and the black impurities staining her back. His shirt was instantly soaked, but he didn¡¯t care. Alice opened the Life Support Pod while Isaac carried Emily to it. He carefully laid her inside. The moment the lid closed, he activated it. A soft hum filled the room. The pod¡¯s internal lights blinked once, then settled into a gentle green. Emily¡¯s face, which had been twisted in pain just seconds ago, slowly relaxed. Her body stopped trembling. The stress in her limbs faded as the pod¡¯s systems stabilized her vitals and began regulating her physique evolution. A soft beep rang out, and a mechanical voice echoed in the quiet room: "Time left until complete Physique awakening: 9 hours." Isaac stared at the display, then at Emily¡¯s peaceful face through the transparent lid. Alice¡¯s voice pulled him back. "You should clean up. I¡¯ll take care of the stained bedsheets." He nodded slowly, still a little distracted by everything that had just happened. There was something different about the way Emily had looked at him earlier. She still felt like she was his Emily, but somehow more mature. He didn¡¯t understand the reason behind the change. The thought refused to leave his mind. He turned away and entered the bathroom. Alice picked up a mop and started cleaning the floor. The black impurities had already begun to harden into brittle flakes. It wasn¡¯t hard to sweep them up and toss them into a disposal bag. Isaac came out, then changed into a clean shirt. Alice, meanwhile, stripped the bed and replaced the sheets with a fresh set from the closet. When the room was clean again, they stepped out of the Soulbind Pendant¡¯s spatial subspace. The night air of the real world hit them instantly. Isaac checked the time. 1:03 AM. It was late. But they decided to return. He still had to harvest the crops from today¡¯s batch. Isaac drove and they left the parking area, making their way to the nearest teleporter in the Central Sector. They returned the car, and used the teleporter to return. They reappeared in the familiar teleportation chamber of Sanctum¡¯s Stronghold. A few alert-looking guards nodded at them as they passed by, clearly used to late-night movements by Sanctum members. Once outside, they found their jeep still parked in its usual spot. Dust clung to the sides, and a few leaves had gathered near the tires. Isaac climbed into the driver¡¯s seat while Alice settled into the passenger side. They chatted while he drove. The roads back to the outer district were quiet. Streetlamps buzzed gently near the market, casting yellowish pools of light along the path. Most of the stronghold was asleep, except for a few night patrols and transport drones whirring overhead. Isaac kept one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the open window frame. "Do you think she¡¯s okay?" he asked, finally breaking the silence. Alice glanced at him. "She¡¯ll be fine. Physique awakenings are painful, but she¡¯s tougher than she looks." "I know." He gave a small nod. "Still, that look in her eyes..." "You noticed it too." "Yeah." Alice leaned back in her seat, folding her arms. "Do you think it¡¯s related to her memories? Maybe she is regaining them now that her bloodline is being repaired." "I can¡¯t say for sure that it¡¯s what is happening, but... it felt like she was remembering something, or someone when I looked at her." Isaac mulled over the thought. Remembering something, huh? "I guess we¡¯ll know when she wakes up," he said. Alice hummed softly in agreement. They reached home soon after. Isaac parked the jeep outside the farm. Since they didn¡¯t had a garage, this was the usual parking spot. They stepped out into the night. The chill of the late hour hadn¡¯t faded, but it wasn¡¯t uncomfortable. The house lights were off, revealing that Professor Catherine and Leora had still not returned. Isaac harvested the grains. 2,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +1000. Constitution +1000 You have obtained 10,000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains. 3,520 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +320. Constitution +320. You have obtained 17,600 Tier 0 Vitality Grains. 1,000 Tier 1 Potato harvested. Mana +4. Constitution +4. You have obtained 5,000 Tier 1 Potato. 500 Tier 1 Garlic harvested. Mana +5. Constitution +5. You have obtained 2,500 Tier 1 Garlic. 833 Tier 1 Tomato harvested. Mana +2. Constitution +2. You have obtained 4,165 Tier 1 Tomato. 833 Tier 1 Onion harvested. Mana +3. Constitution +3. You have obtained 4,165 Tier 1 Onion. 417 Tier 1 Cabbage harvested. Mana +5. Constitution +5. You have obtained 4,085 Tier 1 Cabbage. 750 Tier 1 Pea Pods harvested. Mana +6. Constitution +6. You have obtained 3,750 Tier 1 Pea Pods. 8,000 Tier 1 Wheat Stalk harvested. Mana +11. Constitution +11. You have obtained 40,000 Tier 1 Wheat Stalk. Mana: 1000 [8588] ¡ú 1000 [10,000] Constitution: 1000 [8588] ¡ú 1000 [10,000] "The backlog stats reached the limit." He wasn¡¯t bummed out anymore with the stat limit after he learned that each stat could give different result for different species. What he needed to focus was on quality, not quantity of stats. It was better to help Emily awaken Apex bloodline so that he could get the best out of Emily and Alice¡¯s Physique. "Now that I think about it. What should I do with these vegetables? We have too much to eat by ourselves." Isaac recalled the shop he had been given in Sector 4 by Chairman Lucius. A plan of business started to form in his mind, though he would need to consult Alice. He met with Alice and told her about his plan. "That¡¯s a good idea. There is a lot we need to consider though. What will be our target demographic? Where will be get employees from? We also need to consider tax if we are going to expand our company." Alice decided to skip sleep and work on creating the business model. She did so inside his Soulbind Pendant. Since she was a Apex species with high stat, skipping a day or two sleep was normal. In fact, explorers would sometime go without sleeping for a week. Isaac took out the Plant Kingdom book he had been given by Selene and began to read. He couldn¡¯t sleep since he was worried about Emily. A part of him was also looking forward to new skills and affinities Emily would awaken. He sat in the room with Alice, both busy in their work. ... Emily POV Darkness surrounded her. It was silent, weightless, and endless. Then, in the distance, something shimmered. It was an orb of light. Emily drifted toward it without thinking. She touched it and a dream began. The first image came in a flash. It showed a towering palace of silver and pale blue that stood beneath a vast sky of snowclouds. Winds howled through its courtyards, and there, seated upon a throne carved of glacial crystal, was a woman. She was stunning. Her beauty was sharp, cold, and ethereal. Pale white hair flowed like frost over her shoulders, and her eyes glowed with a soft, ghostly blue. Dozens of spirits surrounded her. Some of them were human-shaped, some were beasts, and the others were wisps of light and smoke. They bowed to her, spoke to her, followed her orders without hesitation. She was their queen. Emily felt a tug in her chest. She didn¡¯t know who the woman was, but something about her felt familiar, like the warmth of a blanket she¡¯d forgotten she owned. Then the scene shifted. A man appeared this time. His face was never fully visible, always half-covered in shadow, but he had an undeniable presence. He walked with confidence, moved like he belonged wherever he was. He came and went, never staying long. But each time he returned, he brought another woman with him. Sometimes they were shy, sometimes bold, sometimes laughing. The queen of spirits always received them with the same reaction. She gave them a raised brow, a sigh, and a subtle, sharp remark. Yet no matter how she acted, the smile on her face when the man returned never disappeared. It wasn¡¯t a fake smile. It was full of love. The scenes sped up. The palace, the spirits, the man¡¯s arrivals and departures. A rhythm built between them. Time passed. Then the queen had a child. A baby girl, wrapped in white cloth, cradled by the spirit queen herself. The girl had silver hair and clear blue eyes. Unlike the spirits or the ghostly beings around her, she was human. A pure human just like the man. The queen held her with care, not caring about her bloodline. The child was the most precious thing to her in the world. Chapter 122: Preparations For The New Shop, End Of Nightmare Chapter 122: Preparations For The New Shop, End Of Nightmare Emily watched the baby laugh, take her first steps, run through the palace halls, trip and cry, then get up again. Spirits followed the girl wherever she went, guiding her, guarding her. She wasn¡¯t treated like royalty. She was treated like family. The child grew quickly in the dream. She would sneak into the kitchens, get scolded by the old spirit cook, then sneak back in the next night anyway. She would train with spirit warriors, laugh with playful ghosts, argue with the palace¡¯s librarian about bedtime stories. The queen was always nearby, watching silently, stepping in only when necessary. Emily didn¡¯t recognize these memories. Not consciously. But her heart did. They made her chest feel warm, full, and safe. Those memories were something she¡¯d always wanted but could never remember having. Until everything shifted again. It was sudden. The palace was gone. The spirits were gone. The sky above turned red, like it had been dyed in blood. The cold that once comforted her now felt suffocating. Something massive loomed beyond the horizon. Its shape was unclear, but its presence undeniable. It wasn¡¯t a beast. It wasn¡¯t a spirit. It was something else. It was... something wrong. Screams echoed in the distance. Then silence fell. Emily tried to hold on to the dream, and the warmth. But it slipped from her fingers like melting ice. Her vision blurred. The dream cracked, and finally, it broke apart entirely, snapping her back into the void of unconsciousness, just as the sky in her dream bled into flames. Cradled in the void of dreams, tears slipped through her eyes. "Mom, dad. I miss you." ... Isaac POV Isaac left the pendant when the morning arrived and stretched his limbs. There wasn¡¯t a trace of fatigue in his body. Even without resting, he felt light on his feet. It was time to harvest the grains. He stepped into the fields, expecting to find Leora waiting nearby. She usually appeared just as he left the house. But today, she was nowhere to be seen. He wasn¡¯t worried for his safety. With his current strength, fighting off a Champion-rank awakener wasn¡¯t an issue. But knowing Leora¡¯s work ethic, her absence raised questions. "The only reason I can think of is either a powerful monster is attacking the city, or something changed in the Naga situation." He pushed the thought aside and got to work. Two swings. That¡¯s all it took. In just moments, the grains were harvested. The harvested Vitality Grains floated into organized bundles beside him. The efficiency was absurd. But that was expected. With Mana stat at 1000 and one stat of his Sun Dragon Physique being equal to five stat of a human, there was no way only this much mana consumption would make him feel tired. He didn¡¯t lump all the grains together. Today, people from both the Sanctum of Masters and the Calloway Conglomerate would be coming by to collect their weekly stock as per their contracts. "Maybe I should give them the stock of the entire month instead of just this week. It¡¯s better to get it done all at once than in small batches every week." He set aside 20,000 Tier 0 grains and 5,000 Tier 1 grains for the Sanctum. Their contract only required 5,000 Tier 0 grains per week, so this batch covered an entire month. The Tier 1 grains weren¡¯t part of the deal. He added those voluntarily. Why? Because showing results mattered. The resources Sanctum was pouring into him weren¡¯t small, and if he could show tangible growth¡ªbetter grains, higher quality output¡ªit would reinforce their decision to support him. They were giving him hundreds of seeds everyday, providing discounts on land, providing him evolution materials for Tyr, which should be worth in billions. Right now, Isaac wasn¡¯t poor. In fact, with ten billion obols in his account, he was comfortably wealthy. But wealth alone wasn¡¯t power. At his current level, connections were worth more than coins. If giving up a small number of Tier 1 grains at base price earned the Sanctum¡¯s continued goodwill, he¡¯d gladly make that trade. Besides, the grains would end up in the hands of awakeners stationed at the stronghold, which meant stronger allies. That, in turn, meant more security for him, Alice, and Emily. "I should prepare 20,000 Tier 0 grains and 4,000 Tier 1 grains for the Calloway Conglomerate too. This much would conclude our month-long supply contract." He had no plans of renewing the contract. Not because the conglomerate was a bad partner, but because he and Alice were planning to build their own company. As he was stacking the remaining Vitality Grains into crates and loading them into the jeep, Alice walked out of the house. "I need some fresh air," she said. "I¡¯ll come with you." He nodded. Soon, the two of them, along with a miniaturized Tyr¡ªwho was clinging to the back of Isaac¡¯s shirt like a sleepy vine¡ªheaded out to the market. The drop-off went smoothly. He gave his grains to Nero who was manning the shop, then went towards Calloway affiliated and Sanctum of Masters affiliated shops to give them the grains. The Sanctum representative gave a polite bow. The Calloway staff checked and weighed the crates before loading them into a separate transport. No one complained. In fact, they looked excited to receive the legendary Tier 1 grains. "I¡¯ve heard awakeners can eat these with potions without the risk of mana poisoning!" "Yes, these things will definitely sell like hotcakes!" Isaac chuckled, seeing their enthusiasm. On the way back, Isaac turned to Alice. "How¡¯s the plan for the shop in Sector 4 coming along?" "I¡¯ve already spoken to Selene," she replied. "She¡¯ll assign us some workers. Uncle made this decision, apparently. Since he¡¯s the one who gave you the shop, he wants to provide you basic supplies to start everything, at least during the initial phase." Isaac raised a brow. "So how long until we can open the shop?" "A day or two should be enough. We need to visit the shop location first though, and.... " "And?" "The competition there is going to be hard. Most shops belong to Awakener Faction, and since they don¡¯t like our company very much, they will definitely try to make things hard for us." "Hmm, that might be a problem. After all, the Tier 1 Grains¡¯ biggest advantage are there effects which are similar to potions." "Yes, we might need to add more products if we want to focus on customer satisfaction, and make sure they return to us. It will be the best way to tackle the competition." "I was thinking of selling the vegetables. It will increase our pool of target audience." "That¡¯s a good idea." Alice began to make notes on her notepad and muttered. "I¡¯m also going to open a company bank account soon." She glanced at him, clearly expecting something. He realized she was asking him for money to handle the company expenses. His heart bled at the thought of loosing his money, and he sighed. "Alright. I¡¯ll transfer my money to you. Use it to pay the employees and part-timers." Alice¡¯s seemed to be enjoying at his misery. Isaac opened his terminal and sent her eight billion obols. His face didn¡¯t betray much, but there was a faint twitch in his eye as the balance dropped. His expression stiffened, and he avoided looking at his account screen afterward. Alice noticed, of course. She always did. "You really are a cheapskate," she said, amused. "Except when it comes to me and Emily." "It¡¯s called being budget focused," he muttered. That led to another banter just as they used to have during the academy days. The jeep rolled through the market streets and eventually reached the house. It was almost time for Emily¡¯s awakening to complete. Alice stepped out first and stretched. "Go greet her when she comes out. I¡¯ll handle breakfast. She¡¯ll be starving by the time her Awakening is complete." Isaac gave a small nod. "You sure you can handle cooking for three?" he asked. Alice gave him a look. "I¡¯m not you." The corner of his lips twitched, but he didn¡¯t take the bait. With a shrug, he turned and headed toward his room, and activated the Soulbind Pendant. His surroundings twisted as he appeared inside the subspace. It didn¡¯t take long for Emily¡¯s awakening to complete. The remaining nutrient liquid inside the pod began to drain, leaving behind only a thin sheen on the surface. A faint hiss followed, then the door opened with a soft swish. Emily blinked against the light and the sudden cool air that met her skin. Her movements were slow and unsteady. She stepped out, took half a stride, and stumbled forward. Isaac moved quickly, catching her before she fell. Her eyes were unfocused at first, but as she blinked again, and recognition dawned into her gaze. She looked up at him. Her lower lip trembled slightly. "Isaac..." she muttered, her voice raw with emotions. Her arms wrapped around his torso. Even though her body was weak, she clung to him tightly, as if afraid he would disappear if she let go. She repeated his name again, then again, each time a little more certain. Isaac didn¡¯t say anything. He lifted her gently, and carried her over to the bed. He sat down, letting her rest against his chest as he slowly patted her back. Her breaths were uneven. Tears slipped quietly from the corners of her eyes, but she didn¡¯t sob. A minute passed. Then two. "Isaac... is it really you?" she whispered, her fingers curling into his shirt. "I¡¯m not dreaming, right?" He glanced down at her and gave a soft reply. "It¡¯s me." She was silent for a moment. Then she asked, "Are you going to leave me?" "Even if you want me to leave," he said as he smirked, "I¡¯m staying stuck to you for the rest of our lives." Emily gave a weak chuckle at that. She adjusted her hold on him, pulling herself closer, hugging him with the last bit of strength she had. The silence returned. She kept her head on his chest, and he kept one hand on her back, the other resting lightly on her shoulder. "I had a nightmare," she said, voice barely above a whisper. Chapter 123: Becoming A System Recognized Lord Chapter 123: Becoming A System Recognized Lord Isaac looked down at her again. He didn¡¯t interrupt her, or press her to explain. He just waited. She didn¡¯t continue right away. Her breathing was a little more steady now, though there was still a slight tremble in it. He held her a bit more tightly. Emily stayed curled against him. Her voice broke the silence. "It was a happy dream. It showed me glimpse of my childhood. But it became a nightmare when the sky turned red," she said slowly. "And then it stopped but..." She paused, her fingers tightening slightly on his shirt. Isaac shifted slightly to see her face, concern flickering in his eyes. "I remember my parents Isaac. My mom¡¯s soft and warm voice used to call out my name. My dad used to pat my head when I sulked." Her voice wavered, but she didn¡¯t stop. "I saw their love. But their absence hurts more. The nightmare made it look like... they are gone. So what do I do with these memories?" Tears slipped down from her eyes. "I should not have remembered it. Now, it only hurts more." Isaac waited for her to calm down as he continued to pat her head. After a while, he said, "Don¡¯t say you shouldn¡¯t have gotten those memories. They are a part of you, and the final recollection of your parents. And if it hurts too much, then share your pain with me. I¡¯m here for you, Emily. I always will be. I¡¯m your family. So don¡¯t hesitate to share your feelings with me." Emily lifted her head and looked into his eyes. Her gaze had changed. It wasn¡¯t the same as before. There was something steadier in it. He could tell those memories had changed something in her. She was still Emily, but wiser now, in a way. She studied him quietly. Then, without saying a word, she leaned in, closing the gap between them. But before their lips could meet, her body went still. A soft chime echoed in her mind, and a translucent screen popped up in front of her. [Scanning Emily Warren.] [Scan complete. Emily Warren meets the first criteria for Quests.] [Scanning for second criteria...] [Detected: One of Emily Warren¡¯s Bonds dabbles in Territory Management. Second criteria met.] [Emily Warren has met all requirements for Lordship.] [Alert! Due to Emily Warren¡¯s Bond and past experiences, she will be given a choice.] [1. Path of Lord] [2. Lord¡¯s Subject] Emily blinked, staring at the text as more lines appeared. [Path of Lord: Emily Warren will be granted Lordship privilege. Quests will follow the Path of Lord. Access granted to Territory Management, Subject Management, Troop Management, Construction, and the Lord¡¯s Shop.] [Lord¡¯s Subject: Choose another person to receive Lord privileges, regardless of their Talent type. The chosen person must meet the first criteria (High-rank Species and at least S-rank Talent).] [Note: Once you choose Lord¡¯s Subject, you cannot walk the Path of the Lord. Choose carefully.] Isaac noticed her expression shift. "What is it?" he asked. Emily glanced at him, then back at the screen. "I... I got system messages." She explained to him what she was seeing. "The System¡¯s giving me a choice," she said. "Either I become a Lord, or I make someone else one." Isaac¡¯s expression changed immediately. His mind raced. He remembered what Professor Catherine had told them during class. Lords weren¡¯t just powerful. They had real authority, backed by the World System. The governors who ran the Fortified Cities were chosen by humans, not the System. That meant they couldn¡¯t access most of the city¡¯s core systems. Defense systems, for example. In theory, a verified Lord could activate all city-wide defenses with a command. But humanity had never been able to do it. They weren¡¯t Lords. At most, they had access to basic functions like citizenship control, minor repairs, identity logs. Everything else remained locked. And now Emily could gain access to it. Isaac¡¯s mind sharpened. If the higher-ups learned about this, they would try to force her to make them a Lord. They would manipulate and coerce her to shape her decision in their favor. A cold anger flashed in his eyes as he thought that someone would try to control Emily. It disappeared quickly, and he looked at Emily with a soft gaze. He grabbed her. "Emily, listen carefully to me. You should make a choice now. Choose for yourself, and¡ª" Before he could finish, another screen appeared in front of him. [You have been chosen for Lord privilege by Emily Warren. Congratulations!] [Please wait while the System confirms that you meet the criteria to become a Lord.] He stared at the screen, stunned. Emily leaned closer again, her forehead lightly touching his shoulder. "Being a Lord sounds like a lot of work," she muttered. "I would have to learn all sorts of stuff, manage people, and deal with bothersome things. So you should do them for me. Isn¡¯t that a husband¡¯s job?" She looked at him with a smirk. "You¡¯re smart. You¡¯ll have an easier time dealing with troublesome things than I would." Isaac looked at her, not sure what to say. Even though she acted as if becoming a Lord was bothersome, both of them knew it was a position of power. She was giving it to Isaac without asking for anything in return. More screens popped up before Emily, confirming her choice. [You have chosen to be a Lord¡¯s Subject.] [Your chosen Lord will be scanned to confirm eligibility before the choice is locked.] [Your chosen Lord, Isaac Hargraves, meets all requirements to become a Lord.] [You are the first Subject of Lord Isaac Hargraves.] [All upgrades related to you chosen by Lord Isaac Hargraves will have 50% increased effectiveness.] [As you are a Lord¡¯s first Subject, all rewards for System Quests will increase by 50% for you.] [Tutorial Quest Triggered:] [Objective: Defeat 100 Apprentice-rank monsters.] [Reward: +100 Bronze Coins, Access to Main Quests.] Emily read through the messages. For some reason, knowing Isaac was now her Lord made her blush. She glanced up at him, then looked away quickly. Isaac was still trying to process everything when System notifications appeared before his eyes. [You have cleared the requirements to become a Lord.] [Please access the Lord tab in Status.] He summoned his Status screen. The interface looked familiar, but now a second section had appeared alongside his personal stats. [Personal Profile] [Lord Profile] He selected the Lord tab, and the display changed again. Most of the categories were still greyed out. Only one was accessible. [Subjects (1/3)] Isaac tapped it. [Subjects: Individuals who have chosen to follow you and pledged loyalty. You may view their Status and distribute their unassigned points. Additional functions will unlock upon becoming a True Lord.] [Current Subjects:] [1. Emily Warren (Level 10, Phantom Empress) Before he could close the tab, another prompt appeared. [A Lord is no Lord without land and people!] [To become a True Lord and unlock the functions in Lord tab:] Gain three Subjects with SSS-rank Talent. Conquer an unclaimed Fortified City.] Isaac frowned at the first requirement. ¡¯Three SSS-rank Subjects? What does it think, that SSS ranks are lying around for free?¡¯ Finding even one was rare. Emily already counted as one, and Alice could be another, but what about the other one? Humanity had nineteen SSS rank Awakeners, and all of them were already a part of major factions. They would not agree to become Isaac¡¯s subject without asking for something excessive, not to mention the fact that they might not trust Isaac to be their Lord, since Lords seemed to be able to control a lot of things related to their subject. He read the second condition more closely. It required conquering an unclaimed Fortified City. He already had a pretty good idea what that meant. Professor Catherine had taught about these things during the lectures. Any Fortified City not officially claimed through the World System by a Lord could be bought by any registered Lord. All they had to do was reach the City Core¡ªusually at the center¡ªand pay the price set by the System. Fortified City 89, where they were now, was a Tier-2 City. Professor Catherine had estimated it would cost 500 Gold Coins to claim it. That was a massive sum, considering even 1 Gold Coin was a premium currency. On the other hand, Fortified City 50¡ªhis home before joining the university¡ªwas a Tier-1 City. Claiming it would only cost 100 Gold Coins. But that wasn¡¯t exactly an open opportunity either. Even if it was cheaper, the city already had a governor and a functioning administration. No matter how exceptional Isaac¡¯s status might be, he doubted they¡¯d hand over authority to anyone else, especially a student who was still in university. By contrast, Fortified City 89 was half-ruined and lacked a government. That made it less complicated politically, but it also came with risks. Others were already eyeing, and they had poured too many resources into city reclamation to back out now. ¡¯I should talk to Leora,¡¯ he thought. ¡¯She is Emily¡¯s vassal. So she might make decisions in Emily¡¯s favor and give us some proper advice..¡¯ She might even be willing to help. ¡¯I can ask Professor Catherine too,¡¯ he thought. Although she always acted fishy, she had proved that she was a trustable and dependable person. Besides, now that Emily¡¯s choice was locked, there wasn¡¯t much danger in trusting Leora and Professor Catherine with more information. Emily eyes were staring at her quest tracker. [Quest: Defeat 100 Apprentice-rank Monsters ¡ª Progress: 0/100] She didn¡¯t look stressed, just focused. "Are you okay now?" Isaac asked, nudging her lightly with his elbow. "If so, we should get some food. You must be exhausted after going through your Physique awakening." Emily blinked. Then her eyes widened. "Ah, I almost forgot! I awakened my Physique!" She phased through his arms and spun around in the air, excitement bubbling in her voice. "Isaac, it¡¯s called the Hollow Crown Physique!" He raised an eyebrow. "That¡¯s... a unique name." "I know, right?" She didn¡¯t wait for him to ask anything else. "It¡¯s weird, but also kind of cool. It gave me a huge stat boost, new affinities, and a couple of skills my evolved!" Isaac couldn¡¯t help but smile. Her energy was contagious. "Sounds like a big upgrade. So what affinities did you unlock?" he asked, playing along. Chapter 124: Near Annihilation Chapter 124: Near Annihilation Horizon Institute Stronghold, Akaza Ruin, Fortified City 89 Unlike the Sanctum of Masters¡¯ stronghold, which stood near the center of Fortified City 89, Horizon Institute¡¯s stronghold was positioned near the city¡¯s outer walls. That location brought constant danger. Where Sanctum of Master was responsible for dealing with city¡¯s inner defense system and the monsters that had made the place their home, Horizon¡¯s people were on the front lines, defending against monster attacks that came in waves from beyond the barrier. The cost of that duty was written all over the current scene. Blood, exhaustion, and urgency. The stronghold was in chaos. Medics shouted orders. Injured students limped or were carried on stretchers. Soot and blood smeared their uniforms. A few collapsed in corners, too drained to even sit up straight. Potions were being distributed, but stocks were running dangerously low. Healing spells were cast non-stop, and the air stank of iron and scorched meat. It wasn¡¯t a battlefield anymore. It was an aftermath. Even the reinforcements from Aeternum University¡¯s stronghold had arrived, but they didn¡¯t ease the pressure much. They had their own wounded to tend to. Some mages were still unconscious, slumped beside the supply tents, pale and cold. The expressions on their comrades¡¯ faces said it all. Last night had nearly been the end. A massive beast wave had hit the stronghold. No one saw it coming until it was too late. Normally, the mages would be the first line of response with their long-range artillery, elemental support, precision strikes. But during the last night¡¯s heavy attack that no one expected, the mages ran out of mana midway through the battle. That was the breaking point. While mana potions existed, they weren¡¯t bottomless. Most awakeners could only drink two in an hour. The body¡¯s capacity to absorb mana from external sources was limited, depending on their species and talent rank. Chugging more than the limit only led to mana poisoning. As a result, Horizon Institute¡¯s stronghold had been on the brink of destruction. Thankfully, the Titan Edge Guild arrived in time. They had moved faster than anyone expected. Reinforcements came within half an hour, and more importantly, their Guildmaster¡¯s younger sister, Celia Rae, had used her teleportation talent to bring someone else. Vice Principal of Sanctum of Masters. Eleanor Weiss. One of the four Overlords of humanity. She had been in the Sanctum¡¯s stronghold at the time. It was a stroke of luck, or perhaps fate. No one who saw her fight that night would forget it. With a single slash of her sword, hundreds of monsters were cut apart. With another step, she entered the heart of the enemy¡¯s formation, and brought chaos to them. Her presence turned the tide of battle instantly. Eleanor was like a goddess of war and thunder. She held back nearly half the beast wave by herself. It was the first time the new generation of Awakeners saw an Overlord rank awakener in action, and it stunned them. That level of power wasn¡¯t just a difference in stat numbers. It was an entirely different plane of existence. Not even twenty Level 50 Champion rank Awakeners could scratch her. But even she had limits. When morning arrived, Eleanor entered the stronghold again through the main gate. She normally avoided filth and disorder. Yet she was drenched in blood. Her once-pristine uniform was stained and tattered at the edges. She had wounds on her arm, and one side of her coat had been torn clean off. Despite that, she still carried herself upright, walking through the crowd without stumbling once. She exchanged a few words with the stronghold¡¯s command team, gave brief instructions to some officers, and then returned to her tent, which stood near the back corner of the stronghold. The moment she entered, she let out a long, tired sigh. "Finally," she muttered, pulling off her gloves and tossing them onto the table. Before she could even sit, the air beside her shimmered. Catherine appeared. "Master," Catherine said with a quick bow, "I have news." "Speak." Catherine reached into her storage ring and pulled out a small orb. It was dark green, with thin golden lines wrapping around it like veins. It pulsed faintly, giving off a strange frequency in the air, almost like a heartbeat. "This is a monster attractor," she said. "I found it buried five meters deep near the eastern perimeter. It was hidden just below the defensive formations." Eleanor took the orb. Her expression didn¡¯t change much except for her furrowed brows. Catherine continued. "I am sure this was planted by a Naga Champion. If the monster horde destroyed this stronghold, forces from other strongholds would be forced to come here. It would weaken other strongholds and buy time for the Naga to complete whatever they¡¯re planning." Eleanor closed her eyes for a second, pressing her fingers into her temple. Catherine added, "They possibly to escape with the Hellspawn. Or to awaken it, and attack us to take over the city." The orb¡¯s pulse grew louder the longer it was held. A low hum echoed through the tent. "They¡¯re getting bolder," Eleanor said softly. "They are," Catherine agreed. Silence fell between them. "Master... do you think we can win if a war actually happens? Nagas are a mid-rank species. Even with you and me, I doubt¡ª" Eleanor interrupted her. "The Naga are a mid-rank species. But their numbers are low." Catherine listened silently. Eleanor placed the orb on the table. Her presence changed and her aura grew heavier. Catherine watched in surprise as Eleanor took out a sword from her palm. The sword was sealed in a sheath covered in intricate runes. It had a white hilt with blue inlaid. The hilt and the sheath were locked by chains that oozed an otherworldly presence. "The Nagas entire strength comes from their individual power," Eleanor said. "They have mostly summoners, spirit masters, shamans classes, and their Talents are similar. It makes them difficult to deal with since each Naga controls a small platoon of spirits. "But the loss of even one Naga hits them hard. That¡¯s their flaw." She looked over the sword with a deep gaze. "I will unseal my sword. Take care of the kids while I¡¯m gone. Also, send a message to the other Overlords, and ask them for reinforcements." Catherine¡¯s eyes widened slightly. "You¡¯re leaving?" she asked. Eleanor nodded. "Unsealing Ezkavorn is going to take time. I will need to enter deep meditation for it." She looked at the sword, then back at Catherine. "Make sure the kids stay safe, and don¡¯t tease them too much." Catherine raised a brow, and smiled. "Children?" The word hung in the air for a second. "Don¡¯t start it." Eleanor¡¯s expression twitched in a mix of annoyance and amusement. Catherine smirked. "Does that mean you¡¯re finally admitting you¡¯re old?" There was no reply. Just a long, sharp stare from Eleanor. But the atmosphere lightened, and the tension faded, if only slightly. Catherine chuckled and adjusted her coat. "I¡¯ll make sure the stronghold holds," she said, returning to her usual calm tone. "And I¡¯ll watch over the three of them properly. You don¡¯t need to worry." "Good," Eleanor said. "I¡¯ll return as soon as I can." Eleanor turned to leave the tent, sword now resting on her waist. Chapter 125: Isaac’s Second Subject, Return of Professor Catherine Chapter 125: Isaac¡¯s Second Subject, Return of Professor Catherine Emily raised her hand and began ticking them off on her fingers. "Curse, Spirit, and Ice." "That¡¯s an interesting combo," Isaac said. "Especially Curse, and Spirit. I remember Professor Catherine saying they are affinities, and you might awaken one of them." "But I awakened both!" Seeing how much she had grown and how excited she was about it, Isaac reached into his spatial ring and pulled out two items. "I figured since you made a huge breakthrough, I should give you something in return," he said. Emily tilted her head. "What are those?" Isaac held them up for her to see. "This one¡¯s the Phantom Core Extractor. It allows you to extract the soul from a defeated monster. But keep in mind these spirits(souls) can attack you." "And the other?" she asked, eyes already wide. He tapped the token lightly. "Celestial Spirit Pact Token. Use it to form a Bond with spirits, then they won¡¯t be able to harm you." Emily stared at the items, processing what he¡¯d just said. "These must¡¯ve cost you too much. Is it really okay for you to give them to me?" Isaac leaned closer and pinched her cheek. "You¡¯re seriously asking me that after you literally made me a Lord?" She laughed, brushing his hand away. "Fair point." Giving these to Emily made complete sense. She was a summoner by Talent and her upcoming class. Anything that expanded her capacity to bond with stronger creatures or gave her more flexibility in battle was worth investing in. Besides, if she bonded with something truly powerful, he could just share the creature. Still smiling, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. The sudden motion caught him off guard, and the two of them tumbled backward onto the bed. She landed atop him. Their eyes met. Her smile softened. "Thank you," she said quietly. He reached up, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Anytime." Then she kissed him. What started soft deepened quickly, hunger and affection rising all at once. There was no hesitation in their movements. When it was over, they lay in silence for a few moments, the light from the bright sky of the Soulbind Pendant¡¯s subspace softly glowing above them. Then, after they changed, they both used the pendant¡¯s recall function. A pulse of light wrapped around them, and the room within the Soulbind faded away. Moments later, they were back in their house. Isaac adjusted his shirt as they moved down the stairs. The scent of food wafted through the air, rich and warm. It was coming from the kitchen, where Alice was moving around in an apron, finishing up what looked like quite a spread. As soon as Alice saw them, she turned nodded. "Congratulations, Emily." Emily beamed. "Thanks! Wait... all this food..." "It¡¯s for your celebration," Alice said. "You hit a milestone, so I figured it was worth making something good." "That¡¯s amazing. Thank you!" Emily said, floating forward in a rush of excitement. "You have to hear about what happened." She excitedly told Alice about her Physique, affinities, and increased stats. Alice glanced over her shoulder as she stirred a pot. "Spirit affinity? I think that should be quite valuable for you since most of your combats abilities need a lot of mana." "Yes! I haven¡¯t tested it yet, but I can already tell I¡¯ll be a lot stronger in fights." Isaac moved into the living room and settled onto the couch, letting them chat while he waited. The smell of roasted herbs and freshly baked bread was getting stronger, and his stomach reminded him he hadn¡¯t eaten since the morning before. Soon enough, Alice brought over a few large plates, setting them down on the table. She returned to the kitchen for the last few dishes, then came and joined them. Emily sat beside Isaac, still practically bouncing. "This smells incredible." "It tastes even better," Isaac said after taking a bite. "Alice, you¡¯re getting too good at this." Emily nodded vigorously after her first bite. "This is amazing! Seriously, where did you even learn to cook like this?" "Just practice." Alice said modestly. They ate for a while, letting the warmth and flavor of the meal fill the room. Then, while they were finishing the last few bites, Isaac glanced up. "Emily unlocked a new System function," he said. "She can now receive and complete System-issued quests." Alice paused, setting her spoon down. "Quests? Like the ones uncle talked about?" "Yes, those. Since she is now a high rank-species, and she has a SSS rank combat Talent, she gets access to the formal quest system." Alice nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. That should give her a big edge in progression." Isaac told her about the Lord and subject. Before he finished his explanation, Alice spoke up. "You will be my Lord too." That phrasing had caught him off guard. Was it just him, or did that sound... suggestive? No, he decided after a moment. It was just his brain being corrupted by too many conversations with Catherine. She had a way of twisting even the most innocent phrases into something else entirely. Isaac cleared his throat. "If you¡¯re sure, I¡¯d be honored." As he spoke, a soft chime rang in his head, and a transparent System panel appeared in front of him. [Request: Add Subject - Name: Alice Calloway] [Subject Slots Available: 2] [Confirm Y/N?] He confirmed. A second panel popped up before Alice. Her eyes scanned the contents, and she pressed her confirmation after a brief moment. The System¡¯s energy pulsed faintly in the air around them. A second later, a quiet tone sounded. [Subject Added Successfully.] [Subjects (2/3)] "It¡¯s done," Isaac said, closing the window. "Finally, Alice is also a part of Isaac¡¯s territory!" Emily spoke up. Both of them turned to her. Her phrasing had been... odd. Isaac squinted slightly, but she just smiled innocently, almost too innocently. "Don¡¯t look at me like that," Emily said, floating over and plopping onto the armrest beside Alice. Alice raised a brow but didn¡¯t comment. Instead, she simply shook her head and patted Emily on the head, making her smile. With things settled, Isaac headed into the kitchen and began washing the dishes. The clatter of plates under running water filled the air for a few minutes until a familiar voice cut through. "I¡¯m back, brats! Did you miss me?" Professor Catherine stepped into the house in her combat gear that clung to her figure. Her coat hung over one shoulder, boots dusted, and her messy bun was barely holding on. "I did!" Emily shouted gleefully and zipped over, wrapping her arms around the woman¡¯s waist. Professor Catherine blinked, surprised by her more than normal enthusiasm. Her sharp eyes were already analyzing Emily. She noticed the subtle changes immediately. Emily¡¯s posture was more balanced. Her mana flow had gained a new smoothness. Even her floating took less effort now, and it was much easier on her. Professor Catherine narrowed her eyes slightly. "Your bloodline ranked up to High-Rank, and you awakened your Physique?" "Yes!" Emily said, brimming with pride. Isaac stayed silent in the kitchen, pretending to focus on the dishes. But he was listening closely. He had gone over the details with Emily earlier, telling her what she could and couldn¡¯t say. Still, he didn¡¯t expect everything to go according to plan. Professor Catherine was too sharp for that. To his surprise, she didn¡¯t dig deeper. She simply reached out and patted Emily on the head. "Good job," she said. Emily giggled like a child praised by their teacher. Professor Catherine glanced toward the kitchen, locking eyes with Isaac for a brief second. There was a hint of amusement in her gaze. She walked over to the counter and began helping herself to the food Alice had prepared. There were extra portions, enough in case she or Leora came back late. Isaac dried his hands and asked, "Where¡¯s Leora?" "She had something to take care of. She¡¯ll be gone for a few weeks, "Professor Catherine replied, scooping food onto her plate. Isaac nodded slowly. "I see." She sat at the dining table, and while chewing her first bite, she turned toward him. "So, what did you decide about the Lord privilege? Is Emily a Lord now?" Isaac finished wiping down the counter. "No. She made me her Lord," he replied, glancing at her. "She became my first subject. Alice became the second one just now." Professor Catherine paused, her golden eyes watching him intently. She didn¡¯t respond immediately, as if turning the thought over in her head. Then, surprisingly, she gave a small nod. Her gaze turned thoughtful, the usual mischief fading for a second. Seeing that rare serious look, Isaac found himself staring. Her brown hair, her mature charm, and those golden eyes that always seemed to hide secrets made her dangerously captivating. Isaac felt throat go dry. He blinked when he realized what he was thinking about and looked away quickly. ¡¯These dragon instincts are seriously becoming a problem.¡¯ He wondered if Professor Catherine had caught him, and sure enough, she smirked and leaned slightly toward him. "Looked enough?" she asked in a teasing voice. He said nothing. She pushed further, her tone dipping into something a little more suggestive. "If you want, I can show you even more." Isaac coughed and reached for the water jug. "I¡¯m good." Professor Catherine laughed at his reaction. Then she leaned back and grew serious again. "About the Lord privilege, don¡¯t go around telling people yet, not until we prepare the ground. If news spreads that someone can revive the Quest system... we¡¯re looking at a political disaster." Isaac frowned. "Is it really that bad?" "Absolutely," she said flatly. "But... given the current situation, this might be the perfect time." He tilted his head slightly. "What do you mean?" Chapter 126: Seed Tree Of Vitality Grain, Gift From Florathi Race Chapter 126: Seed Tree Of Vitality Grain, Gift From Florathi Race Professor Catherine tapped the side of her plate with her fork. "We¡¯ve encountered a powerful monster in the outskirts. Metavore Hivemind. The Sanctum is putting together a joint task force with Titan Edge Guild to eliminate it. The raid will happen in three days. If you take part and perform well, it¡¯ll build your public image, especially among the awakeners." Isaac nodded slowly. It made sense. As famous as he was for his Talent and farming achievements, politicians could still dismiss him as "just a kid." If he wanted to be a Lord in name and power, he needed more than just potential. He needed proof of leadership, strength, and contribution. "So... does this mean you¡¯ll support me?" he asked. Professor Catherine met his eyes. "Yes. Having a true Lord and someone who can receive Quests is a boon for humanity. You¡¯ll have my support. As for your third subject..." She smiled slyly. "Maybe try getting close to Celia Rae? If you¡¯re lucky, you might gain a new harem member while getting the third subject." Isaac rolled his eyes. "What? She¡¯s cute, strong, and single. Do you know how many men would die to get a handshake from her?" Professor Catherine said without shame. He didn¡¯t respond, but internally, he had to agree. Celia Rae was the best candidate to be the third Lord¡¯s subject. Her overprotective brother might be a problem, but she hadn¡¯t aligned with any political faction yet. She was still neutral, and more importantly, she had an SSS rank support talent. If he could recruit her, it would complete one of his requirement to be a True Lord. ¡¯If Professor Catherine or Leora had any intention to become subjects, they would¡¯ve already said so,¡¯ he thought. He was almost certain Leora had an SSS rank talent. But someone like her¡ªwho had spent years building authority and influence¡ªwas unlikely to accept the role of a subject. As Professor Catherine began eating, Isaac finally noticed the fatigue in her movements. Her posture was slouched slightly. There were faint dark circles under her eyes, and her clothes had streaks of dust and dirt. He hadn¡¯t noticed it before, but now it was obvious that she was exhausted. That made sense. After all, if Professor Catherine and Leora left suddenly without leaving him a guard, then the situation must have been dire. Even so, she came back as soon as possible to guard him again. Emily noticed her exhaustion too. "Auntie, Isaac can give you a massage if you¡¯re tired." Professor Catherine tilted her head and smiled sweetly. "Will he? That would be so helpful..." Both of them turned to Isaac. "I can¡¯t. My stats jumped too high recently, and I can¡¯t fully control my strength right now. A massage from me might break a bone or two." Emily frowned. "Huh? But you¡ª" Before she could finish, Alice interrupted smoothly, redirecting the conversation. "Professor, what kind of combat training are we doing today?" she asked. "You mentioned we¡¯d begin more serious drills." Professor Catherine raised an eyebrow, then decided to let go of the topic seeing Alice¡¯s expression. "You¡¯ll find out soon enough," Professor Catherine said. She reached into her coat and pulled out a small glass vial with a soft red liquid swirling inside. "But first, this." She handed it to Alice. "It¡¯s body tempering potion. You should be used to your new stats by now, so you can use this." Alice took the potion with a small nod, and headed toward her room without another word. Professor Catherine turned next to Emily. "Go to the backyard, and train until I call you. Your stats increased quite a bit, so try to get used to them. Try experimenting with your affinities too." "Got it!" Emily gave a casual salute and flew off through the back door, disappearing into the yard. Now only Isaac and Catherine remained in the living room. She turned toward him. "Now that everyone¡¯s gone, we finally have some time alone." Isaac set down a cloth he¡¯d been using to wipe the counter and asked, "So is this about the Seed Tree of Vitality Grain? It should have arrived this morning." Professor Catherine pouted slightly, seeing how he was slowly getting used to her teasing. The way her lips jutted out in mock frustration made Isaac pause. She was trying to act annoyed, but there was something undeniably cute about the gesture, which worked strangely well with her mature charm. She sighed and nodded, a bit begrudgingly. "Yes, it¡¯s about the seed tree. But before I hand it over, I want to make sure you understand what you¡¯re dealing with." Isaac nodded, standing a little straighter. "Seed Trees aren¡¯t like normal crops," Professor Catherine continued. "They¡¯re lab-created. Every single one is an expensive product. We usually have to pay a fortune just for one. This time, though..." She paused and crossed her arms. "We got lucky. The Florathi offered it as part of a trade. They want to see what you can do, and show their goodwill at the same time. This was both a gift and a test." "I figured," Isaac said. "That¡¯s why you¡¯re reminding me now, right?" She nodded again, slower this time. "Exactly. I don¡¯t want to see that tree die because you happened to be overconfident." Isaac met her eyes. "It won¡¯t. I¡¯m confident in growing it. I¡¯ll make sure it doesn¡¯t go to waste." Professor Catherine studied him for a long moment. Then, satisfied, she reached into her spatial ring and pulled out a narrow glass capsule. The container shimmered with soft blue runes and emitted a faint hum. Inside, suspended in fluid, was a single dark-green branch. Its bark was smooth and almost translucent, with veins of pale gold running along the surface. Tiny nodules along its length pulsed faintly, like miniature hearts. "This," she said, "is the Seed Tree of Vitality Grain." She turned the capsule slowly. "Once it¡¯s out of this container, you¡¯ll have five minutes to stabilize it. These trees are incredibly delicate. Their immune systems are almost non-existent. Even a minor pathogen could kill them." "I understand," Isaac replied. They left the house and made their way down the paved path toward the empty farmland. Just beyond the edge of his main field, a five-hectare stretch of untouched land waited. Chairman Lucius had arranged for it yesterday, but Isaac had held off cultivating it until he knew how many Seed Trees he would receive. Now that he had one, he¡¯d dedicate the first half-hectare to it. He tooked out several mana potions from his storage ring. Uncapping them one by one, he poured the contents across the soil. A thick, rich glow began to rise from the earth as it drank in the mana. Next, he activated his Sovereign of Land skill. A soft green light spread out from beneath his feet, spreading evenly across the area. The mana dispersed uniformly, absorbed by every grain of soil. After that, he used his land nurturing skill to balance the nutrients, bringing the pH, mineral levels, and density into alignment. Only when everything was prepared did he nod at Catherine. She passed him the capsule. Isaac took a breath and opened it carefully. The container hissed as the seal broke, releasing a quick puff of condensation. He reached in with gloved hands and gently lifted the branch from within. Without hesitation, he planted it at the center of the prepared plot. Professor Catherine watched closely but said nothing. Her gaze swept over the soil, the air, the placement of the tree. At everything. She looked ready to step in at any moment, but she didn¡¯t move yet. Isaac remained still, keeping his breathing calm, and simply watched. The first minute passed. There was no change in the ¡¯branch¡¯. Second minute. A few of the nodules on the branch twitched slightly, responding to the mana in the soil. Third minute. A faint green light began to pulse from its core. By the time five minutes had passed, the branch remained healthy. Its bark had darkened slightly, and the roots had spread just beneath the surface. Professor Catherine exhaled slowly. "It didn¡¯t wilt. There is not even a hint of disease." She stepped forward, crouching to examine it more closely. "This is definitely not a normal situation. Is it your hoe¡¯s ability? That¡¯s the only way I can explain this." Isaac said nothing. He wasn¡¯t about to give away his tools¡¯ secrets so easily. Instead, he stepped forward again and activated one more skill. Seed of Providence. A surge of energy flowed from his body into the tree. His mana drained like water through a broken dam, flooding into the root system. The ground vibrated lightly, and a thin stream of light shot up from the tree¡¯s core. In seconds, the branch twisted and grew. It rose upward, bark hardening and splitting, branches fanning out like unfolding arms. Leaves burst from every limb, shining a vibrant green. At the tips of the upper branches, fruit-like pods began to form. Each one of them was filled with dense vitality energy. Professor Catherine took a step back as she looked over the tree, which had matured instantly. The transformation stopped as the tree finished growing. Now standing nearly eight meters tall, it towered over the tangerine trees. The fruit pods glowed with the same pulsing light as the original branch, their skins thin and shimmering. Through the translucent layers, dozens of Vitality Grain seeds could be seen, embedded within the fruit like gems in a shell. Isaac stood there, sweat dampening his shirt, but his expression calm. He hadn¡¯t expected to spend so much mana to grow a single tree. Professor Catherine let out a breath and gave a quiet chuckle. "Okay," she said. "You weren¡¯t exaggerating. You really can handle it." He nodded at once, but his focus was only on the tree. ¡¯I wonder what rank of harvest it will gave.¡¯ Grabbing his hoe, he swung it gently. Chapter 127: Sharing Is Caring, Overpowered Growth Chapter 127: Sharing Is Caring, Overpowered Growth A moment later, a system prompt appeared in front of him: 100 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Seeds harvested. Mana +1000. Constitution +1000. You have obtained 500 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Seeds. From the fruits hanging across the branches, several pale-golden seeds were detached on their own. Each one was plucked cleanly and gently from within the fruits. In an orderly wave, they floated to the ground beside him, forming five neat rows. They glistened slightly, dense with mana. Isaac bent down and picked one up. Compared to the seeds he had received from the Sanctum of Masters, these were completely different. Those older seeds, which he suspected were Tier 0, had only become powerful thanks to his land quality and cultivation skills. These, though, were already Tier 1 from the start. He could feel the difference just holding one. ¡¯What would I get if I harvest crops from these seeds?¡¯ His heart beat a little faster with anticipation. He didn¡¯t waste any time. Walking over to the remaining 4.5 hectares of untouched land, he activated Sovereign of Land again. Roots burst from the soil, reaching out like living tendrils. As he spread the Tier 1 seeds across the surface, the roots gently wrapped around them and pulled them underground. Once the planting was done, Isaac crouched down and closed his eyes. He reached out with his senses, feeling the flow of mana and nutrients beneath the earth. Just as he hoped, these new seeds were absorbing everything flawlessly, unlike the previous Vitality Grains. He smiled to himself. These might grow into Tier 2 crops. If they do... Before he could finish the thought, Professor Catherine spoke into the comms bracelet. "Alice. Emily. Come back to the house front. It¡¯s time we leave." Within the next few minutes, both girls returned. Alice has absorbed the Body Strengthening Potions, and Emily had trained a bit with her affinities. Professor Catherine looked toward Alice. "Before we leave, tell me. Do you need a carry?" ¡¯Carry¡¯ meant having a strong Awakener party with you and let them do all the fighting. They would set the party exp distribution in your favor, so you would get most of the experience point from the hunt. Professor Catherine explained. "It¡¯s a common method among wealthy families. Normally we don¡¯t approve of it at the university, but considering the situation in Stronghold right now, we have decided to be flexible." Alice crossed her arms and looked thoughtful. "Keep in mind," Catherine added, "the system tracks your location. Unless you are nearby your party member, you wouldn¡¯t receive the experience points." It was possible to receive experience points if you were far away from party members, but that only happened when you made contribution in the monster hunt. In cases like, Carry system would not help the awakeners abuse the party experience distribution more than they already could. Alice nodded slowly, then shook her head. "No thanks. I¡¯ll level up myself. There is no point in growing stronger if someone else does all the work for me. Besides, Emily needs help with her quest anyway. We¡¯ll hunt together." Emily gave her a thumbs-up. "Thank you in advance." Professor Catherine gave them both an approving look. "Good. Let¡¯s head out, then." The training had been intense. By afternoon, Isaac was the only one returning to the estate. He was behind the wheel of the jeep, bouncing lightly over the uneven road. Alice and Emily were still out hunting with Professor Catherine keeping an eye on them, but he had wanted to come back early to check on the crops. More specifically, the ones he¡¯d just planted. He sighed as he turned around the corner. ¡¯I¡¯m pretty sure now that Professor Catherine enjoys turning me into bait.¡¯ She kept drawing monsters toward him during training. None of them posed a real threat, but they were annoying like persistent mosquitoes trying to drink his blood. On the way, he decided to share the stats from Alice and Emily. ¡¯System, show me how much Alice¡¯s stats increased after she absorbed Body Strengthening Potion, and after she reached level 2 today.¡¯ Strength: 40 ¡ú 44 ¡ú 48 Agility: 50 ¡ú 55 ¡ú 57 Constitution: 53 ¡ú 59 ¡ú 63 Spirit Power: 50 ¡ú 55 ¡ú 60 Mana: 53 ¡ú 60 ¡ú 64 Isaac made quick calculations. Alice had received 10% boost to all stats from the Body Strengthening Potions. Then, she gained roughly 4 stat points per stat from a single level. This was thanks to her species. One¡¯s species determined how many stats they would gain from each level up. Humans gained +1 from each level up to all stats. Stronger races received more. It was also normal to receive 3 in some stats while only 1 in others. Since humans were balanced, they received the same +1 in all stats. Honestly, this was not very bad. From what Professor Catherine, there were races like Ratmen, who received only a total +3 from one level. So while humans had poor growth rate, it was still better than most. ¡¯Emily also used to get +1 before when her bloodline was broken, but now that it is repaired somewhat, I wonder how many stats she would get per level up.¡¯ He shook the thoughts from his head, and muttered. ¡¯Share stats!¡¯ Strength: 160 ¡ú 168 Agility: 200 ¡ú 207 Spirit Power: 210 ¡ú 220 Isaac felt the exhilarating growth in power. He continued. ¡¯Share the effects of Body Strengthening Potion Alice absorbed!¡¯ Strength: 168 ¡ú 193 Agility: 207 ¡ú 238 Spirit Power: 220 ¡ú 253 Immense joy filled his heart when he saw the effects. His stats were boosted by 15%! He calmed himself, preparing for the main dish ¡¯System, show me Emily¡¯s stats that increased stat due to her Physique Awakening.¡¯ Strength: 32 ¡ú 45 Agility: 50 ¡ú 99 Constitution: 31 ¡ú 56 Spirit Power: 61 ¡ú 100 [34] Mana: 73 ¡ú 100 [60] ¡¯Damn, quite a few stats of Emily doubled. It makes sense she was excited so much.¡¯ Isaac was slightly disheartened to see her agility stat had not reached 100 yet. If it did, she would unlock a title, and he could share it. ¡¯I¡¯ll give her the stat increasing potion soon. Then, she would unlock the title, and hehe...¡¯ Emily had unlocked Mana Resonance, and Mind Echo with Spirit Power and Mana reaching 100. Isaac had tried sharing them, but nothing had changed. It seemed titles could not be stacked like Talents. ¡¯Or maybe I need to increase system¡¯s level to Lvl 3 to stack titles?¡¯ ¡¯I guess I¡¯ll know only when my system upgrades.¡¯ There was no knowledge of how to level up his system. But seeing the pattern of upgrades, he suspected he needed to get 100/100 Affection of three wives. Focusing on the issue at hand, Isaac rubbed his hands together with a grin, and said. ¡¯Share the stats!¡¯ Strength: 193 ¡ú 206 Agility: 238 ¡ú 287 Spirit Power: 253 ¡ú 326 Isaac was elated, sensing his growth. All of his stats were increased by 100 since he had begun. And this wasn¡¯t even the end! ¡¯System, share the effects of Body Nourishment Fluid Emily used during her Physique Awakening!¡¯ An incredible soothing sensation wrapped around him, and a screen popped up before his eyes. System Alert: It is recommended that host shares wife Emily Warren¡¯s Physique to absorb full benefits of the Body Nourishment Fluid (Peak Tier 1). ¡¯Oh, right, I forgot about this. It happened during sharing Physique with Alice too.¡¯ Not wasting anytime, Isaac said in his mind, ¡¯Share the Physique! Share everything else too!¡¯ Strength: 206 ¡ú 330 Agility: 287 ¡ú 460 Spirit Power: 326 ¡ú 523 Isaac was shocked by the increase. His stats jumped by 60%! The notifications continued to roll. [Physique: Solar Draconic Physique ¡ú Solar Draconic Physique, Hollow Crown Physique] [Curse Affinity Level 1 gained] [Spirit Affinity Level 1 gained] [Ice Affinity Level 1 gained] [Life Drain: S rank ¡ú SSS rank] If there was a contest of overpowered system, then his Bonded Blessing System took the cake. In mere seconds, Isaac had doubled his strength without lifting a finger, and his combat power had jumped by at least five times. Humming in a good mood, he continued to drive. He parked the jeep and walked into the house, pulling off his jacket and heading toward his room to change. Just before he reached the hallway, though, he froze. Professor Catherine was sitting comfortably in the living room as if she¡¯d been there all day. "Do you... have a clone skill? Or some sort of teleportation skill? How are you always everywhere?" She gave a light laugh and tilted her head. "Who knows? Maybe I have a twin sister? Hmm, on second thought, if you tell me your race, I might tell you how I do it." He snorted, waved her off, and stepped back outside with her following behind. When they reached the field again, Isaac felt the shift before he even saw it. The new crops had matured. Rows upon rows of Vitality Grain plants had grown rapidly. The grains were smaller than the previous generation but much richer in color. They weren¡¯t large, but their deep golden hue shimmered in the afternoon sun. Just standing near them, he could feel a pull of dense mana wafting from the crop field. "They look different," Professor Catherine murmured, crouching near the first row. "Yeah," Isaac said. "It feels like the mana inside them has become purer, and more condensed." He closed his eyes and sensed the flow of nutrients and mana in the land. Just as he had expected, the new crops were greedily absorbing everything. In any other place, they would suck everything out of the land, and end up killing the land in the process. But this was no problem for Isaac. The land he had cultivated was too rich to be sucked dry. A grin appeared on his face. He gripped the hoe and swung it. Chapter 128: Tier 2 Crops, Legendary Harvest, Isaac’s Cooking Chapter 128: Tier 2 Crops, Legendary Harvest, Isaac¡¯s Cooking 225 Tier 2 Vitality Grain harvested. 45 droplets of Basic Life Energy (Peak Tier 1) harvested. Mana +1,125. Constitution +1,125. You have obtained 1,125 Tier 2 Vitality Grain Seeds. You have obtained 225 droplets of Basic Life Energy (Peak Tier 1). The field shimmered for a moment. The golden grains popped off their stalks, gently landing beside him in perfect rows. Each hectare had ten stalks, and each stalk bore five plump, radiant vitality grains. But it wasn¡¯t just the grains this time. From every stalk, a single shimmering droplet emerged. It was clear, luminous, and denser than anything he¡¯d harvested before. The droplets floated upward, slowly gathering together and forming a gentle, glowing sphere above his palm. He blinked, surprised at the weightless pressure. He couldn¡¯t hold this shape for long. "Professor," he called out, glancing over his shoulder. "I need a container¡ªnow." Without hesitation, Professor Catherine pulled a small cylindrical container from her second spatial ring and tossed it toward him. Isaac caught it midair and quickly funneled the glowing orb into it. The sphere broke into individual droplets, and each one swirled into the container like liquid crystal. He sealed the lid and stared through the glass. The water shimmered faintly. It wasn¡¯t just rich in mana. Instead, it felt alive. He couldn¡¯t look away from it. ¡¯Tier 2 crops have abundant life force, and vitality grains have richer life force than normal crops so maybe that¡¯s why these ¡¯life energy¡¯ droplets appeared.¡¯ Professor Catherine stepped closer, peering into the container. Her eyes narrowed slightly as her gaze sharpened. "This feels similar to the Life Force Emily feeds on," she said softly. "But also... different. It¡¯s purer, and of higher quality." Isaac nodded. "Yeah. It¡¯s not something I understand either. But it¡¯s clearly not normal." Without a word, Professor Catherine dipped a finger into the flask and brought it to her mouth. Her tongue flicked out, licking her fingertip. She swirled the droplet in her mouth and then sucked her finger clean with a grin, clearly about to tease him. But she stopped, completely frozen in place. Isaac raised an eyebrow. "What happened?" "...My EXP just went up by one percent." Isaac wondered if he had heard wrong. "You¡¯re kidding." ¡¯The only way you can gain experience if by hunting, or by training skills. Even the carry method only works if you¡¯re nearby during danger. How can this...¡¯ She slowly shook her head, knowing what he must be thinking. "I¡¯m not. It actually increased. As a Level 42 Champion, the EXP I need for even one per percent is substantial. Besides, I need ten times the EXP of normal Champions since I¡ª" She cut herself off quickly and clamped her mouth shut. He narrowed his eyes. "Since you what?" She cleared her throat and moved on before he could press further. "This is huge, Isaac. If this is consistent... this could change everything. You could sell this to anyone who wants to level up. But..." "But?" "I don¡¯t think you should sell all of it." "Why not?" Isaac asked. "We can¡ª Oh, you are right." A thoughtful expression appeared on his face along with a grin. Professor Catherine smiled, seeing he understood her point. "You can sell this for money. People would do anything for free, and safe exp. But I would advise you keep most of it for yourself and only release small amounts. If you use it smartly, it will help you to build your own faction, which you need if you want to buy a city without being bothered by the politicians." Her tone was serious, surprisingly so. Isaac rubbed his chin. A glint appeared in his eyes. "I have a better idea. How about we dilute it by mixing a tiny amount into water and sell it for cheap in the lower districts? "That way, I gain public support and trust. As for the high-ranking awakeners, I¡¯ll offer undiluted versions privately. It¡¯ll keep both sides in my pocket. "Having public with me will do wonders for my faction, and my image." Professor Catherine gave a pleased smile. "As expected of my Isaac. You really do think ahead." He gave her a mock bow. "Not at all, Professor. It¡¯s all thanks to your expert teaching." They both laughed. Anyone looking at them would think they were scheming villains plotting the takeover of a city. And they would be absolutely correct. After the laughter faded, Professor Catherine straightened and tapped the container lightly. "I¡¯ll take a small sample for testing. I want to see how it reacts with different species and body types. We need to test the effects of your new crops too. Don¡¯t worry I will keep the information hidden from others." "Alright," Isaac said. "I trust you." She looked surprised for a split second, then smiled. "Good." She collected a vial of the Life Energy and five of the Tier 2 Vitality Grains before departing. Isaac remained for a while longer, harvesting the rest of the Tier 1 and Tier 0 crops, and the vegetables and wheat. He packed the Vitality grains neatly into crates and loaded them into the back of a jeep, then drove into the city. Freya was at the shop, along with Tyr. They were waiting for him to bring new batch after the previous one sold out. The small treant was happily organizing the storage room, carefully placing bundles into labeled baskets. Freya glanced up and waved. "Busy day?" "You could say that," Isaac replied, unloading the goods. After they were done, Tyr scribbled a quick message on the floor using a wooden stick: I¡¯ll stay here and help until nine. You can go home without worry. I will return by myself. I know the way home now. Isaac smiled. "Got it, Tyr. Just make sure to not overwork yourself. You too Freya." He gave them both a quick wave and left the shop, walking back through the bustling streets of Stronghold. As he moved past the rows of shops, taverns, and outposts, he couldn¡¯t help noticing how crowded things had become. Mercenaries, explorers, wandering craftsmen. The stronghold was swelling with new arrivals. Many were pitching tents or building quick shelters using whatever materials they could find. A few guilds had even brought their own construction teams, erecting crude wooden buildings along the side roads. Isaac looked at them. The influx was great for the economy, but the infrastructure was falling behind. The city couldn¡¯t support this kind of growth without a plan. Then a thought struck him. Tyr could help with this. The treant¡¯s ability to create and manipulate wood could be used for construction work. It would bring extra income, but more than that, it¡¯d be a way to build connections, gain favors, and insert himself into the social fabric of the Stronghold. The thought made him nod to himself. It was an idea worth exploring later. By the time he returned to the home, the sun had dipped low in the sky. Professor Catherine was already sitting in the living room when he entered, sipping tea like she hadn¡¯t moved at all. She looked up with a small smile. "Alice and Emily are on their way back," she said. "Should be here soon." Isaac set his coat aside and sat across from her. "How¡¯d the test go?" "Still running," she replied. "But early signs are promising. Very promising." Isaac gave a small nod and made his way to the kitchen. The silence in the house made him recall the times he had spent along before he received the system, and everything changed. He sighed, already missing Emily and Alice. Without their chatter, footsteps, and occasional arguments echoing off the walls, the place felt larger, and emptier. He washed his hands and got to work. The fridge was stocked. He decided on something simple: pan-seared vegetables, soft rice, and a basic meat stir-fry. It wasn¡¯t restaurant-level, but it was warm, filling, and better than instant meals. He was halfway through stirring when he noticed a presence behind him. Without turning, he already knew who it was. Professor Catherine leaned beside him, arms folded, and peered over his shoulder into the pan. Her nose wrinkled. "Mmm," she hummed, then paused. "Maybe we should just order from outside." Isaac gave her a flat look. "It¡¯s not that bad." She raised her hands with a teasing smile. "I was just saying it. Besides, I¡¯d prefer not to get food poisoning tonight." He turned back to the food, muttering under his breath. It wasn¡¯t that bad. The door creaked open a few minutes later. He heard the familiar sound of boots, followed by a softer whoosh, the subtle hum of levitation magic. Emily floated in, wobbling slightly in midair. Her posture was loose, hair a mess, cheeks puffed out from exhaustion. She drifted toward him like a tired balloon, and without warning, latched onto him with a low groan. "Isaaaaaac," she whined, face burying into his shoulder. "I¡¯m tired." Alice followed behind, more composed but equally drained. Her uniform was wrinkled, and her eyes looked heavier than usual. Despite the fatigue, she remained upright, walking with the same grace she always did. Isaac let Emily cling to him a little longer before gently peeling her off and guiding both girls toward the dining table. They sat quietly. Professor Catherine had disappeared somewhere upstairs, likely retreating to her room, or maybe just avoiding the dinner she had little faith in. Alice sat down first and stared at the plate for a full five seconds before quietly picking up her spoon and starting to eat. She didn¡¯t say a word. Emily sat beside her, glanced at the food, then at Isaac. Then back at the food. Then at him again. Chapter 129: New Time-Limited Shop Items, Isaac’s Anger Chapter 129: New Time-Limited Shop Items, Isaac¡¯s Anger Her lips twitched, and she looked at him. "You must¡¯ve been tired too, Isaac," she said softly, as if talking to a child. "Don¡¯t worry about cooking. From tomorrow, I¡¯ll leave after preparing your meals." Isaac gave her a deadpan stare. Then, Emily quickly stood up. "Actually, I¡¯ll cook something quickly now. We should celebrate the Tier 2 crops! I saw the different vitality grains in the farm!" Before Isaac could say anything, Emily swiftly left for the kitchen. He turned to Alice. "Is my cooking that bad?" Alice looked away. She kept eating, but she didn¡¯t praise him at all. Gritting his teeth, Isaac used Inspect to find the truth. [Status 2: She would eat even poison if it¡¯s prepared by you.] Isaac was stunned. Why was this damned status insulting him in such a roundabout way? Or was this what Alice was thinking? His eyes went to Emily¡¯s plate. Unlike Alice, Emily had taken only a single bite, and never touched again. He grumbled as Emily cooked dinner, and Professor Catherine returned. "Emily, I knew something smelled delicious," she said with a smile, knowing Isaac could hear her. Dinner passed without much conversation. Afterward, Alice and Emily went off to bathe. Emily had lazily asked for a massage before she stepped into the bathroom, stretching her arms and grinning like she already knew he¡¯d say yes. Isaac didn¡¯t respond, still grumbling about the dinner, but she took his silence as agreement anyway. Warm water echoed from behind the door as he cleaned up the kitchen, packed away leftovers, and wiped the counters. He went to his room after finishing the work. Eventually, the two returned, wrapped in oversized bathrobes. Alice¡¯s hair was damp and neatly tied, while Emily¡¯s had become a fluffy mess around her shoulders. She flopped onto the couch like a ragdoll and stuck her arms out. "Massage time," she said, eyes closed but grinning. Alice rolled her eyes and sat down more gracefully beside her. "Don¡¯t overdo it." Isaac walked over and knelt behind them, stretching his fingers before getting to work. His palms moved across Emily¡¯s shoulders first, slow and firm, pressing against the knots. She sighed in relief, leaning into his touch like a cat settling into a sunbeam. "You¡¯re really good at this," she murmured. "And don¡¯t worry about the food, Isaac. Not everyone¡¯s good at everything. You¡¯re still good at massages." Her voice was innocent enough, but Isaac narrowed his eyes slightly. He couldn¡¯t tell if she was genuinely complimenting him or taking a quiet jab with a straight face. Actually, he was pretty sure she had changed after the physique awakening. Isaac was happy she was growing mentally, but he wished she would give him a break. "Thanks," he said flatly. "Glad to know I have some redeeming qualities." Emily giggled, turning her head slightly but keeping her eyes closed. "More than some." He worked in silence for a bit longer. After finishing with Emily, he moved to Alice. She didn¡¯t say anything, but her posture relaxed noticeably under his touch. Unlike Emily, who reacted with every press and shift, Alice just stayed still, calm, letting him work. By the time he was done, both girls looked far more at ease. Emily leaned back with a sigh, arms stretching above her head. "That was perfect," she said. "I might sleep for twelve hours." "You should," Isaac replied. "You¡¯re drooling again." She blinked, wiped the side of her mouth, and gave him a lazy smile. "Oops." Alice stood up and nodded to him. "Thank you." Isaac gave her a small nod back, then watched as they both slowly made their way toward bed. Watching them, a fiery heat began to build up inside him. "Isaac? Why are you standing there?" Alice turned to him as she lay on the bed. The night passed pleasantly. Maybe it was their way of thanking him for the massage, or maybe they felt bad for teasing him over dinner earlier, either way, he couldn¡¯t resist the night with them. He woke up in a daze, groggy but rested in the morning. The early light filtered in through the window, casting a soft glow across the bed. Emily¡¯s hand was wrapped around his, and Alice¡¯s hand rested lightly on his abdomen. They were still asleep, and by the look of it, deeply so. Isaac blinked a few times as memories of the previous night trickled back. ¡¯Maybe I should give them more massages¡¯, he thought. Carefully, he began slipping out of their loose embrace. Emily mumbled something unintelligible and tugged at his hand once, but didn¡¯t wake up. Alice¡¯s eyes twitched beneath her lids, then stilled. He stood up and stretched, then headed to the bathroom. Under the steady stream of warm water, he let his mind settle. The day was going to be busy with the opening of the new shop in Sector 4. Sure enough, just as he reached for the soap, a screen popped up in front of him. [Time-Limited Store Items have been refreshed] [Please check the new items in the shop!] "Finally." Isaac grinned. "I was beginning to wonder when the new items would come." He tapped the notification, and the shop menu opened with a soft hum. Three new entries blinked at him under the Time-Limited tag. [All Stat +10 Potion (x5) ¨C 50,000 AP] [Innate SSS-rank Understanding of Sword ¨C 55,000 AP] [Innate SSS-rank Marksmanship ¨C 45,000 AP] He raised an eyebrow. ¡¯The items this time are quite different...¡¯ In the normal shop, a stat potion that increased just one stat by +10 cost around 10,000 AP. But this batch offered all stats increased by 10, and was still priced at 10,000 each, just bundled into a five-pack. A sudden thought came to him. ¡¯Can we consume multiple stat potions from the shop without consequences?¡¯ ¡¯That might allow me to skyrocket Emily and Alice¡¯s stats to the peak.¡¯ Normally, stacking even two stat-increasing potions would lead to mana poisoning, or something worse. But system items should, in theory, be built to avoid those issues. They were supposed to be top-notch products in their rank, or so he believed. It¡¯s an idea worth testing, he decided. His eyes shifted to the other two items. ¡¯Innate Understanding of Sword, and Marksmanship.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t hard to guess what they did. They¡¯d likely infuse the user with deep, instinctive mastery over the respective domain. But... His gaze narrowed slightly. Emily and Alice didn¡¯t use swords or firearms. Their focus was elsewhere¡ªsummons, close combat, or support skills. While the innate abilities were tempting, the immediate priority remained the stat potions. Strengthening them was more important right now, than giving them skills they did not need urgently. He closed the limited shop tab and opened the general system store. A few scrolls later, he found what he was looking for. Bloodline Upgrade Potion (High Rank ¡ú Apex Rank Species): 300,000 AP He sucked in a sharp breath. "Three hundred thousand..." That was far beyond his current AP generation. Even if he spent everything he had right now, he wouldn¡¯t reach one fourth of that number. His fingers rubbed at his brow. ¡¯I need a lot of AP, huh.¡¯ The only feasible way to gather that much AP would be to maximize Affection Point generation. The fastest method would be to get Alice¡¯s affection to 100. But that had been a thorn in his side for a while. No matter what he did, it remained stuck at 99. ¡¯She clearly loves me. Her words, her actions, the way she looks at me. It all says the same thing. So why won¡¯t the number budge?¡¯ He stared blankly at the screen, then sighed. ¡¯If I can¡¯t figure that out, even if I pour love into both of them, I might still fall short of affording everything this week.¡¯ ¡¯Should I...¡¯ His thoughts drifted. There was one more way to gain a major Affection Point boost. Another wife. Professor Catherine had suggested him increasing his ¡¯harem¡¯. He had dismissed her words, but it was a good idea for Lord Subject, and Affection point. Another wife could give a huge AP boost every day. It would ease the pressure on his shoulders. He already had a few potential candidates. Celia Rae. Eleanor. Selene. Celia was brilliant and composed, but distant. They weren¡¯t even friends yet, only acquaintances. Proposing to her in the next two days was nearly impossible. Even if she accepted after two days, then the time left wouldn¡¯t be enough to collect enough AP to buy new items. Eleanor was... old. At least, she carried herself that way. Sometimes Isaac wondered if the elderly appearance was a disguise. Her younger form seemed more natural, but even then, she treated him like a child instead of a man. Forming a romantic relationship with her anytime soon was impossible. ¡¯Even if I ignore anything, Eleanor disappeared yesterday, and I have no idea when she would return.¡¯ Then there was Selene. Selene was different. Isaac had a gut feeling that if he asked, she¡¯d say yes. That thought made him freeze. ¡¯What am I thinking?¡¯ He stood under the water motionlessly. When did he start evaluating women based on how many points they could give> He was thinking of tricking them into loving him, so that he could get AP? ¡¯When did I become like this?¡¯ Isaac realized what was happening. His Hollow Crown Physique strengthened his Phantom Emperor Bloodline, and the bearings of an emperor, making his thoughts naturally lean toward dominance and conquest. And the dragon instincts inside him¡ªgreedy for treasures¡ªmade him want to collect everything precious and powerful for himself. But this... wasn¡¯t who he wanted to be. "What sort of bullshit thoughts were going through my head?" he muttered. Power had never been the goal. It was the tool. He only ever wanted enough strength to be happy and protect those he loved. But now? He clenched his fists. ¡¯I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s the Hollow Crown Physique, dragon¡¯s instincts, or my own greed, I refuse to become someone who¡¯s led around by power.¡¯ Alice was overprotective and greedy for him, but she never let her instincts force Isaac to only look at her. Emily had awakened the same Hollow Crown Physique as him. However, she easily suppressed her instincts of dominance, and acted normally. So why couldn¡¯t Isaac? He refused to act like a beast who was driven by instincts. He wouldn¡¯t marry someone just for strength, stats, or upgrades. He¡¯d marry them because he loved them. That was the line he drew for himself. The decision settled heavily in his chest. But it felt right. His path forward was clear. He¡¯d raise Alice¡¯s affection to 100. Not through manipulation, but by being the man she already believed in. He¡¯d shower her and Emily with affection. Support them, cherish them, stand by them. Because they deserved that, not because it gave him points. And if that gave him the strength he needed? Even better. He stepped out of the shower, dried off, and stared at himself in the mirror. "I¡¯ll find a way," he muttered. Isaac refused to compromise. He would walk on the path he believed in, without giving up his values, without treating people like tools, without letting greed twist his purpose. Even if it took longer, he¡¯d make it work, and live happily with his loved one. He took a deep breath, shook his head lightly, and stepped outside. The morning air was crisp. It helped clear the lingering weight from his thoughts. His footsteps carried him across the small yard as he made his way toward the fields. First came the harvest. After he was done with the harvest, he stored the life energy droplets in the container he had brought, and the other crops in their respective boxes. He fertilized the field with the burnt ashes, and used the seeds from Vitality Grain Seed Tree to sow the next batch. Currently, his farmland was split simply. Five hectares were dedicated to Tier 0 Vitality Grain. Eighteen hectares were for Tier 1 Vitality Grain, which remained the highest-selling item. Half a hectare each was used for vegetables and standard wheat, enough to provide fresh produce for the house and create a stock for the new shop. Another half hectare was set aside solely for the seed tree¡¯s growth. The rest¡ªfour and a half hectares¡ªwas for the Tier 2 Vitality Grain. The tangerines? They were growing steadily in the backyard. The area behind the house had come with the house itself. Technically, he wasn¡¯t supposed to sell produce from there, not until he bought the land and the house. The rule wasn¡¯t written anywhere, but it was understood. Isaac had no intention of pushing boundaries when the Sanctum was treating him nicely. He finished his tasks with efficiency, then double-checked the harvest. Everything was packed and ready. He loaded the containers of Tier 0 and Tier 1 grains onto the back of the jeep. As he glanced toward the house, he saw Tyr standing near the entrance. The wooden creature had returned late last night. It was a good sign, showing Tyr¡¯s mental growth. Tyr followed and got in the jeep before they set off for the market. Their stop was the Family Shop. The building stood tall and reliable as ever. Kael, on today¡¯s duty, waved as Isaac approached. "Morning, Isaac," Kael called, opening the doors. Isaac greeted him back and handed over the containers. "Thanks. We¡¯ll keep the displays stocked." Tyr stayed behind at the shop as always. Meeting new customers daily was helping him wonders with his learning ability. Now, he no longer acted like a child, and was as smart as a young teenager. With that settled, Isaac returned to the jeep. When he arrived, Professor Catherine was already there. She stood next to the vehicle, leaning slightly against the side of the hood. Her sleeves were rolled up, and her black pants gave her a mature yet casual look. She held a stack of papers in one hand, scanning them with sharp focus. She didn¡¯t look up when he approached. That wasn¡¯t unusual, she was serious when it mattered. What was unusual was how unsurprised Isaac had become at her sudden appearances. He greeted her anyway. "Morning, Professor." Professor Catherine finally looked up and smiled faintly. "Morning. Give me a lift back home." He almost asked, Since when was it your home? But he bit his tongue. Technically, she¡¯d never asked for permission to move in. She just started staying there, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. But truth be told, he didn¡¯t mind. Her presence, while sometimes overwhelming, offered a strange sense of security. Besides, she was there to protect him, Alice, and Emily. He wasn¡¯t ungrateful enough to make a fuss. He climbed into the driver¡¯s seat. Professor Catherine circled around and sat beside him, setting the papers on her lap but not looking up from them. As he drove, she flipped through the documents. It wasn¡¯t long before curiosity got the better of him. "What are those?" he asked, keeping his eyes on the road. "Lab results of your Tier 2 Vitality Grains, and the life energy potions made from them." That made Isaac glance sideways at her for a moment. "The tests are done already?" "Yes," Catherine replied without looking up. "Honestly, seeing the results I can understand why they called me urgently at the midnight." Isaac raised an eyebrow. "So? Are the results surprising in a good way, or a bad way?" She turned toward him slightly and handed over a portion of the documents. "See for yourself." Chapter 130: Effects Of Tier 2 Vitality Grains And Life Energy Potion Chapter 130: Effects Of Tier 2 Vitality Grains And Life Energy Potion Isaac slowed the jeep a bit and took the papers with one hand. He scanned through the points quickly. Effects of Tier 2 Vitality Grains are similar to effects of Tier 1 Grains but highly strengthened: > Restores 2 Mana per minute for 72 hours ¡ú Restores 4 Mana per minute for 72 hours > Detoxifies lowest-tier poisons ¡ú Detoxifies Mortal rank poisons > Compatible with potion use (no conflict in effects) ¡ú Can stack the effects of grain (Max stack: 3) > Restores fatigue equivalent to deep rest ¡ú Same > Satiates hunger for 72 hours ¡ú Same Isaac blinked. He read it again, and again to confirm he was not dreaming. Three effects had improved, and they made the grains a treasure. "Is this real?" he muttered, "Each grains gives mana and it¡¯s stackable up to three times?" Consuming one Tier 2 grain would give 12 Mana per minute for seventy-two hours. Its was an absurd number. Only high-end mystic rank potions might give this level of mana regeneration but they were extremely rare, and only the wealthiest awakeners had them. And here he was, holding results that proved the thousands of Tier 2 Grains he had were just as precious as those ¡¯rare¡¯ potions. Isaac still couldn¡¯t believe the fully stacked grain effects would give twelve mana per minute. Only someone with 120 Spirit Power stat could have that naturally. That much amount of Spirit Power was far from common. It was something a human mage might reach at Champion rank, or at Master rank if they were exceptionally lucky with class progression. Now anyone could reach that number with just three grains. A low chuckle escaped him. Mages would kiss his feet for these grains if he asked them to. He flipped to the next set of documents. These ones outlined the effects of the life energy potions. Effects of one drop dosage as as followed: > Champion Rank Awakener: 5¨C10% EXP gain > Master Rank Awakener: 50¨C100% EXP gain (100% = One level-up) > Elite Rank Awakener: 500¨C1000% EXP gain (5¨C10 levels) > Adept Rank Awakener: All Adept rank users reach level 20 (Need to complete Class Advancement Quest to continue rank up) > Initiate Rank Awakener: All Initiate rank users reach level 10 (Need to complete Class Advancement Quest to continue rank up) Isaac was stunned. "This has to be a dream." "It¡¯s real." Professor Catherine chuckled, enjoying his reaction. She turned a page in her own stack and continued, "Keep in mind, higher ranks species need exponentially more EXP than others, so the EXP gain would be different for them. These effects are for humans only. But even so, it¡¯s powerful." Isaac took a deep breath. "And that¡¯s just one drop." "Yes, just one," she said. "If a high rank species uses multiple droplets, even their Champions or Masters rank awakeners will level up." He looked down at the paper again, then back at the road. His mind raced. With the Tier 2 grains and these potions, he had in his hands the kind of products that could flip the economy. Or start wars. He couldn¡¯t afford to mess this up. ¡¯I¡¯ll talk to Alice.¡¯ ¡¯I¡¯ll tell her about these effects, then ask her how much to sell, and how to handle the part I keep for myself.¡¯ Since Alice had grown in a business household, her advice would be crucial. Professor Catherine looked at him with a smile. "Good. You¡¯re staying calm." Isaac nodded. They reached the house soon after. Isaac parked the jeep and stepped out. The morning air had grown a little warmer. Birds chirped nearby. But something felt a little off. The house was too quiet. "Where are Alice and Emily?" he asked, glancing around. Professor Catherine pushed open the front door. "Go to the kitchen." He followed her words. Inside, a warm aroma of cooked food hung in the air. On the table sat two plates, neatly arranged. A folded note sat beside them. Isaac picked it up and read. > We¡¯re leaving early. Alice needs to level up quickly to prepare for the big monster hunt that is scheduled to happen in two days, and I want to finish my quest to kill 100 monsters. > I¡¯m already at 38 by the way, so I should finish it today ^^ > ¨CEmily He smiled, reading Emily¡¯s message. But when he looked at the food, the smile faded. "...They were worried I¡¯d cook for myself again," he muttered. He clenched his teeth. He vowed to himself that he would prove them wrong. Not just wrong, he¡¯d cook better than them. It was time he started learning it seriously, and showed them who was the boss. He sat down at the table, and Professor Catherine joined him. They talked a bit while they ate. Halfway through breakfast, a soft ping echoed from the wristband on Isaac¡¯s arm. He tapped the call icon, and Selene¡¯s hologram popped up. She wore a simple white one-piece dress that contrasted beautifully with her silver-white hair and sharp red eyes. "When are you coming?" she asked. "The shop¡¯s opening is in a few hours, and guests will start arriving soon." "I¡¯ll be there," Isaac replied. "Give me an hour." Selene gave him a once-over, ended the call without another word. Isaac stood, washed his plate, and headed to his room. Today was a holiday for him and he was allowed to go to the shop opening, since Chainman Lucius was giving him an ¡¯internship.¡¯ It was just an open excuse to let him skip classes without breaking rules. Chuckling at the thought, he changed into something presentable for the occasion. Dark trousers, a light grey shirt, and a black vest. It was nothing too flashy, but polished enough for the occasion. When he came out, Professor Catherine was sprawled on the living room sofa. She had changed too, and was now in her usual outfit. Crisp white shirt, black slacks, a loosened tie hanging at her collar. Her coat was folded across her lap. A cigar rested between her fingers, smoke curling toward the ceiling. She glanced at him. "Come back quickly if you can. The briefing for the monster hunt would be tonight. You need to be there." Isaac raised a brow. "Aren¡¯t you coming with me to the shop opening?" She took a slow drag from the cigar, then waved her hand. "Plenty of important people will be there. Most of them don¡¯t like seeing me around. I¡¯ll be watching, but I won¡¯t show myself unless it¡¯s necessary." Isaac frowned. "What did you do to make everyone hate you?" Professor Catherine grinned. "I told them Isaac is mine, but it angered them since they wanted you for themselves." Isaac rolled his eyes. She leaned back into the couch, stretching her arms. Then, she said seriously, "The Governor would be coming too. Be careful around him." Isaac nodded. Since he was a growing power, the Governor would be already wary of him, not to mention that once the news of him being a Lord spreads, the Governor might just become an enemy. "Don¡¯t worry about your security. I will be around. I just won¡¯t be showing myself unless it¡¯s something absolutely necessary," Professor Catherine said. "Hmm, don¡¯t worry about missing the briefing either. I¡¯ll arrange a beautiful taxi for you." "...What does that mean?" "You¡¯ll see," she said with a mischievous glint in her eye. Isaac gave up trying to understand and grabbed the jeep keys. He drove straight to the stronghold¡¯s central base. As he approached the gates, he noticed the increased military presence. It wasn¡¯t unusual, but the security here felt a little tighter than usual. He stopped at the checkpoint. Two soldiers in matte-black armor approached, one of them holding a scanning device. "ID," the soldier said. Isaac handed it over without a word. The man scanned it, waited for confirmation, and then nodded. "You¡¯re clear. Proceed to Teleportation Gate for D2-4." Isaac offered a brief nod in return and drove through. Inside the base, the teleportation section was humming with energy. A few awakeners and operatives moved through the wide chamber, most of them focused on their own tasks. He made his way to teleporter assigned to him. The teleportation cloud was a swirl of deep blue energy. It swallowed him as usual. After walking in the blue mist for a few seconds, he emerged on the other side in Sector 4. The chamber here was larger and more polished. The light-blue crystal panels embedded in the walls gave the place a colder, almost corporate feel. Everything looked modern and efficient, a stark contrast to the unpolished look of stronghold¡¯s teleportation chamber. He stepped off the teleportation platform and walked toward the exit. Outside, a car was parked right in front of the building. A woman stood beside it, arms crossed, watching him with a cool expression. She had dark brown hair tied in a neat ponytail, a dark-blue formal coat over a fitted dress, and a small earpiece in her right ear. "Isaac," she said as he approached. "I¡¯m Marien, Selene¡¯s assistant. She sent me to pick you up." Isaac paused for a second, then gave her a bright, polite smile. "Nice to meet you." He reached out to shake her hand. She hesitated a moment before accepting it. He recalled her being the person he had punched along with Selene. It explained the way she was looking at him. Her expression was neutral, but the disdain in her eyes was hard to miss. She was being professional, yes. But not exactly warm. They both got into the car. Marien slid into the driver¡¯s seat, started the engine, and began driving. A few moments into the ride, she passed a folder over her shoulder. "These are the key guests attending today¡¯s shop opening," she said. "Their names, basic affiliations, and some notes on what to be careful about when talking to them." Isaac took the folder and nodded. "Thanks." He held it then looked back at Marien. "Isn¡¯t all this a bit over the top? When I opened my shop in the stronghold, it was just a few people with us and that¡¯s it, not even a ribbon." Marien glanced at him through the rearview mirror. She scoffed quietly, then shook her head as if he¡¯d just said something painfully naive. "You really don¡¯t understand how things work here, do you?" Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Enlighten me." "Sector 4 isn¡¯t just a market. It¡¯s the backbone of the city¡¯s economy. Everything here caters to awakeners, from potions and weapons to monster research labs and Class advancement institutes. "The taxes and profits from here alone make up over half the city¡¯s revenue. Even the Governor¡¯s office keeps a close eye on every major transaction." She turned the wheel and took a left, the car gliding through a checkpoint without pause. "Opening a shop here isn¡¯t just about selling things. It¡¯s about entering a high-stakes game. That¡¯s why the people coming today matter. They¡¯re not just customers. They¡¯re investors, guild leaders, officials, and major players in the awakened world." Isaac listened carefully. Her explanation made sense. The environment was different, and the stakes higher, so was the competition. It wasn¡¯t about foot traffic or daily earnings here, it was about connections and influence. He finally opened the folder in his lap and scanned through the first few names. There were images, brief descriptions, and bullet points under each profile. He recognized some of them. They were the celebrities whose names occasionally appeared in city-wide news updates or council announcements. Guild leaders, vice-commanders of city¡¯s defense force, directors of research divisions, and even one or two Champion rank awakeners, which was exceptional. After all, while Isaac had met quite a few Champion rank awakeners due to his position, they were actually supposed to few and far between, and extremely difficult to meet. While he was going through the list, the seventh name made him pause. "...This person¡¯s coming too?" he said aloud. Marien didn¡¯t even glance back. "Yes." Isaac leaned forward slightly, reading the profile again. Chapter 131: As Strong As Overlords, Mourning Frost Mountains He leaned forward slightly, adjusting the folder on his lap and reading the profile again. Vale Rae. Leader of Titan Edge, one of the four largest guilds in the city. He was a level 50 Champion-rank awakener. Isaac scanned the attached image. Vale had long white hair that fell past his shoulders, tied loosely at the back, and striking blue eyes that seemed almost unnaturally clear. At first glance, he looked relaxed, almost lazy. But if you looked closer at his photo you would see the sharp, cold edge hiding behind those calm eyes. Something that didn¡¯t quite match the laid-back posture. "It¡¯s really him." Champion-rank awakeners were the de facto strongest in the public eye. Above them stood only the four Overlords¡ªfigures so far removed from daily life that they were practically myths. Each Overlord protected one of humanity¡¯s four cities, but they rarely appeared in public. Most were either meditating and staying in city to protect it, or hunting monsters deep in uncharted wilderness to collect materials for their advancement. It meant people like Vale were the strongest awakened humans one could reasonably hope to meet. And Vale was much stronger than a ¡¯human¡¯ Level 50 Champion. Isaac remembered a report he¡¯d read shortly after learning about demihumans. Vale Rae was also a demihuman. No one knew his exact species, or what rank his bloodline was. There were many rumors that he wasn¡¯t much weaker than the Overlords themselves. That if he wanted to, he could challenge their status and possibly succeed. Isaac stared at the profile for a few more seconds before closing the folder. He didn¡¯t get it. ¡¯Why would someone like Vale come to my shop?¡¯ ¡¯If he wanted something, he could¡¯ve come to the shop in the stronghold.¡¯ ¡¯And Titan Edge already helped me advertise my first shop. It¡¯s not like he needs to form a connection with me.¡¯ Isaac found this situation peculiar. Unlike his sister¡ªwho was an idol and star celebrity¡ªVale rarely appeared in front of crowds. Most people only knew him from official portraits or battle reports. His sudden appearance made no sense. The car kept moving, and the surroundings gradually changed. The architecture was more modern here, and the foot traffic had doubled in the last few blocks. Massive signboards flashed products and gear. Potion stores, treasure merchants, martial arts guides for warriors, class advancement firms. Everything was catered to awakeners. Isaac watched the streets through the tinted glass. Dozens of awakeners walked past, each one carrying a weapon. Some had swords strapped to their backs, others carried staves or gauntlets. "Isn¡¯t it illegal to carry weapons inside city limits?" he asked, glancing at Marien. "In Sector 4, no," she replied, keeping her eyes on the road. "The law¡¯s different here. Every awakener is allowed to carry their weapon as long as it¡¯s sealed with a security lock. The local administration allows it." "That seems risky." Marien smirked. "Depends on how you look at it. Sector 4 has the highest concentration of high-rank awakeners in the entire city. Most people know better than to start trouble here." They kept driving, though the pace slowed. There were no other vehicles on the road. The footpaths were packed, but the lanes themselves were empty except for their car and two military vehicles up ahead. "No one else is using cars?" Isaac asked. "They¡¯re not allowed to," Marien said. "Only authorized vehicles can move around Sector 4 during business hours. Too many awakeners using cars would clog the roads. Only special permits get you in." Isaac gave a low hum of understanding and looked out again. The shops were enormous, some of them spanning multiple floors. Transparent glass walls showed off floating display cases filled with glowing items, crystal weapons, enchanted armor, and other strange materials that looked like they came from monsters Isaac had never seen. It was hard to believe all of this was still part of the same fortified city. He saw more than just awakeners too. Delivery bots, guild-run scout drones, private security guards, and occasional merchant staff escorting armored carts filled with inventory. The entire sector felt like its own ecosystem. The technological advancement of this world was on the level of Isaac¡¯s previous world, but thanks to some people awakening Talents like Technomancer, and researchers scavenging technologies of the Lost Civilization, it was not rare of some high-end areas to have ¡¯sci-fi¡¯ look. Isaac finally asked, "Is it normal to have so many awakeners here? I thought most awakeners were always exploring the wilderness, and barely rested in city." Only the strongest of the awakeners were allowed to go into wilderness alone. As for the other ones, they needed to be in a Guild. Marien didn¡¯t turn around but tapped the edge of her steering wheel. "Most explorers came back to the city about two weeks ago." He frowned. "Did they come back because of the new Fortified City?" "That¡¯s half the reason," she said. "The other half is trouble in the Mourning Frost Mountains. It¡¯s where most high-level explorers work these days. "A new wave of monsters appeared there, and it forced all the small, mid-sized guilds and solo awakeners to come back. Right now, only two Overlords and the top guilds from their Cities are still active in Mourning Frost Mountains." Isaac nodded. The car finally turned down a narrower side lane lined with more manageable shops. It wasn¡¯t as flashy here, but there was a sense of calmess and class that wasn¡¯t present in the previous areas. Awakeners walking by had high end gears, a few guards were stationed at intersections, and drones patrolled the rooftops. They came to a stop in front of a two-story store with a sleek black front and silver plating across the windows. The name of the shop¡ªFamily¡ªwas written in soft green words above the door. Isaac looked at it for a moment. This was his second shop, and given the area, it would bring a lot of opportunities, and a lot of trouble. Marien cut the engine and stepped out. Isaac followed. A few passing awakeners glanced their way, but most continued walking. Marien walked ahead, checking the sidewalk display and nodding at one of the staff members standing guard by the door. "Selene¡¯s waiting for you inside," she said. "She¡¯s handling the last bit of setup before the guests arrive." Chapter 132: Date, Oblivious To Feelings Isaac nodded and pushed the door open. Inside, the shop had a clean layout. It was organized, simple, and modern. A few staff members were finalizing product placements, while others ran diagnostics on the cash terminal and customer support interfaces. At the center, Selene stood out clearly. Her silver-white hair was tied neatly to one side, letting the soft light reflect off the strands. She wore a white one-piece dress that contrasted sharply with her red eyes, which had a strange mix of alertness and calm. Seeing her in person again made her beauty more pronounced. It wasn¡¯t just her appearance, but the way she stood, confident but not overbearing. Isaac gave her a friendly smile as he approached. "Thanks," he said. "You¡¯ve really handled everything. I appreciate it." Selene turned toward him. Her lips quirked into a small smile. "You should praise Alice. She nagged me too much to make sure everything was perfect. But if you think I did a good job..." She paused, letting the moment hang. "Then how about you give me something in return?" Isaac raised a brow. "What do you want?" "Oho?" Selene tilted her head, clearly amused. "I thought you¡¯d try to haggle a little, but you¡¯re offering so directly? That¡¯s suspicious." He shrugged. "Try me." She tapped her lip thoughtfully and then gave him a look that was half-serious, half-playful. "You sure? My requests are expensive." Isaac folded his arms. "I am still waiting." "Well then," she said, the smile widening just a little. "I want to buy some new dresses. But this time, I want something different from my usual style. So I was thinking..." Isaac completed her words, "You need an outsider¡¯s advice?" "You¡¯re smarter than you look." Seeing their friendly exchange, as if they¡¯d known each other for years, made Marien¡¯s expression stiffen. She looked as if she had just swallowed something bitter. ¡¯She wants a new look? Since when?¡¯ Marien had been by Selene¡¯s side practically every day. Not once had she mentioned wanting to change her wardrobe or try something different. This whole dress shopping idea reeked like an excuse for a date. It wasn¡¯t the date itself that bothered Marien. Plenty of friends hung out casually. But this was Selene! With how she had been acting these days, Marien could already see the shopping turn into a meal, then shared conversations and longer walks, and then, and then... Marien shot a glare at Isaac. ¡¯This guy... this cheating bastard already has two girlfriends. Two!¡¯ ¡¯Why is he laying hands on my Selene too!? This guy should¡ª¡¯ Suddenly, Marien recalled something. Isaac was the same person whom Alice had been obssessed with for years, and he had never realized her feelings. ¡¯Ah, fck. He definitely doesn¡¯t know about Selene¡¯s feelings even though she is so obvious. This is going to make things worse,¡¯ Marien thought grimly. Selene, completely unaware of Marien¡¯s death-glare from the side, smiled at Isaac. Isaac did know about her feelings. Still, he didn¡¯t see a reason to turn her down. Shopping together was a normal activity. Besides, after things settled between Alice and Selene, they were practically best friends now. If he refused Selene outright, she¡¯d definitely run to Alice to complain, and then he¡¯d get dragged into a lecture he didn¡¯t want to deal with. Alice was obsessed with him, yes. But she would never not berate him when he was in wrong. So Isaac gave her a small nod. "Sure," he said. "Let¡¯s do it." Selene looked quite pleased. The moment passed, and she clapped her hands lightly. "Well then, enough about that. Let¡¯s get the vegetables set up. You brought it, right?" Isaac nodded and followed her as she led him toward the rear counters. Each stall was equipped with smart temperature regulators and product analyzers, ready to store and sell the goods the moment they were registered. He moved quickly, filling the counters one by one. Potatoes. Garlic. Tomatoes. Onions. Cabbage. Pea Pods. They weren¡¯t flashy, but they were staple crops, thus easy to recognize, and easy to sell. He made sure the stock was labeled and logged before stepping back. Selene handed him a thin folder. "Here," she said. "This is a report I compiled for you." Isaac opened it, skimming the contents. It was a list of crops, specifically those that could be used in advanced and tasty recipes. Each one had cultivation notes, estimated yield per season, maturation time, and versatility. Azure Root ¨C matures in three months, usable in stews and broths. Fireleaf Spinach ¨C short growth cycle of one month, retaines heat well, favored in winter dishes. Mallow Bulb ¨C takes a year to mature, but famous among potioneers to make both high-end elixirs and daily meals. Whiteshade Radish ¨C used in spicy dishes, good for flavor enhancement. Goldvine Peas ¨C moderate yield, worked well in light soups and stir-fry. Nightcap Tomato ¨C slow to grow but very rich flavor, used in mana-rich sauces. Isaac raised a brow. The amount of work that had gone into this report was obvious. "Thanks," he said, genuinely impressed. "This is more detailed than I expected." Selene nodded. "If your vegetables sell well here, you¡¯ll need to expand your stock. Better to have a plan for that." He flipped another page. "You even included nutrient values, cultivation environments, and yield based on soil type?" Selene smiled. "It¡¯s fine. I like doing this kind of thing." Then Isaac frowned slightly. He felt a bit bad for what he was about to say, but staying quiet would be worse. "Why didn¡¯t you include crop data based on awakener diets? Wouldn¡¯t that be more useful if I want to expand toward that market?" Selene shook her head. "Awakeners don¡¯t consume many plant-based diets. Their diets are mostly monster-meat based. It is richer in mana, nutrients, and more delicious." "Then what about hybrid dishes?" "The problem is that the data is too limited. Not enough awakeners eat plant-heavy diets, so the sample size is small and not statistically useful. That¡¯s why I went with general high-end culinary usage instead. That data is broader and more reliable." Isaac closed the folder and nodded. "Makes sense." Then, Selene guided him to another location. "You should meet the staff. I hand-picked them from our shops. They are a bit expensive, but they have good social skills." "Social skills?" Isaac stopped walking and stared at Selene. "Aren¡¯t they illegal to use?" Chapter 133: Shop Opening, New Headline? Social Skills were dangerous. They could let you read snippet of other¡¯s thoughts, or implant an idea in their mind. For these reasons, awakeners with social skills were detested by public, and they were not allowed to use skills legally in the city. These awakeners were always under strict surveillance. They rarely got support from other awakeners either, and thus couldn¡¯t level up much, since going into wilderness alone was no different from suicide. "No, I didn¡¯t mean actual skills," she said quickly. "I meant their ability to talk to people, and handle customers. You know, presentation, tact, all that." "Oh." "Also," She lowered her voice. "Two of the staff here do have social-type skills. Don¡¯t worry, the skills are weak ones, and they¡¯re not dangerous." Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Their skills aren¡¯t flashy or explosive, but they¡¯re useful for shops and public interaction. So, we picked them up for quiet jobs." Isaac nodded slowly. He wasn¡¯t worried about having his mind read. His high Spirit Power stat protected him from social skills. "I get it," he said finally. "But I still need to know what they can do." Selene nodded. "One of them can tell if someone likes a product. It¡¯s just a sense, nothing invasive. The other can detect if someone¡¯s entering the shop with bad intentions, like if they¡¯re coming to stir trouble." Isaac folded his arms. "That¡¯s actually impressive." "It is. But don¡¯t get too comfortable. These abilities don¡¯t work if the target has high Spirit stats or any kind of mental defense skills. So they¡¯re not foolproof." He gave a short nod. "Alright. Let¡¯s meet them." "This way," Selene said, leading him in. The staff turned as they approached them. There were six of them¡ªthree men, three women¡ªall dressed in simple yet tailored uniforms. The fabric was gray with pale blue trim. They stood at attention when they saw Selene and Isaac. "Everyone," Selene said, "this is Isaac. He is the CEO of Family company, and the owner of this shop. You¡¯ll be working with him directly." Isaac offered a polite smile. "Nice to meet you all." They introduced themselves. The first to step forward was a tall man with trimmed silver hair and a clean jawline. He looked to be in his mid-thirties. "I¡¯m Camden. I¡¯ve handled high-end clients for the past six years, and I was part of Calloway¡¯s central branch." "Welcome to the Family." Isaac shook his hand. "I appreciate the fact that you came here despite being part of the central branch." "It is my pleasure to be here." Next came a short woman with sharp, watchful eyes. Her black hair was tied into a low bun, and her tone was efficient. "Rhea. I¡¯m used to dealing with logistics and complaints." One by one, the rest introduced themselves. There was Micah, a younger man who seemed quiet but observant, and two women¡ªBella and Mave¡ªwho clearly had experience working the floor. They smiled sweetly, and their posture were relaxed even though today was the opening, which showed their confidence. As they talked, Isaac found Bella could cook, and Micah would mainly work as the security guard. Bella in particular had a subtle charm to her voice, something almost too smooth. Then, the last to speak was a slim man with thick glasses and a calm tone. "I¡¯m Emrin. I mostly handle customer data and behavior logs. Preferences, trends, that sort of thing." Isaac glanced at Selene. She gave a small nod. So these two¡ªBella and Emrin¡ªwere the ones with the social-type abilities. He turned back to the staff. "I welcome all of you to the Family. Now, I won¡¯t take up too much of your time, since the opening will be soon done. I just want to say I appreciate all you and I hope I can rely on your experience." There were a few nods and small smiles from the group. "Also," Isaac continued. "You can share any ideas or problems you have related to the shop, the customer, or the products. You don¡¯t need to worry about being punished if you make mistakes, but I would appreciate if you would be honest about them. Lastly..." He smiled. "If you have any problem even outside the shop, you can share them with me. We are a family here, and I would do my best to help all of you." Their smiles brightened, seeing Isaac¡¯s attitude. Even Rhea gave a small approving nod. After a short round of questions¡ªmostly about expected schedules, setup dates, and if they¡¯d be allowed to test products¡ªSelene clapped her hands gently. "I¡¯ll leave you to get acquainted. Camden and Rhea will stay behind to discuss logistics. The rest of you, take a short break." The team dispersed gradually, slipping into a side room or exiting toward the back hallway. Selene gestured for Isaac to follow her to a corner of the main room where a set of sample displays were being assembled. "You¡¯ll like them," she said. "Bella and Emrin, I mean. They know the boundary lines. They don¡¯t use their skills unless needed, and even then, it¡¯s subtle. Most customers will never notice." "And those who does notice?" "Don¡¯t worry. They have permits. It needed a bit of work, but Alice handled it, and Calloway made sure the request for the permit was processed quickly." She passed him a few documents. Isaac glanced toward the side room where the two had gone. "That second ability¡ªdetecting bad intent. How reliable is it?" "Only within a short range," Selene replied. "And it has to be direct intent. If someone¡¯s just having a bad day or is generally aggressive, it won¡¯t trigger. But if they¡¯re coming in specifically to cause a scene or steal something? Emrin will know." "That¡¯s good," Isaac said quietly. After a moment of silence, Isaac spoke, "I brought the Tier 2 grains." Selene blinked. "What?" He took out a single Vitality Grain. It shone with a faint gold hue, and its surface was speckled with delicate lines that pulsed slowly, like a heart. Selene reached for it carefully, turning it in her fingers. "There¡¯s a lot of mana in this," she murmured. Isaac nodded and passed her a set of documents. They were lab reports with clear metrics and test results. Selene flipped through them without speaking. Her eyes moved line by line, brow lowering slightly. When she finally looked up, her expression had shifted. "We can make these the shop¡¯s specialty." "That was the plan," Isaac said. "For now." She gave a slow nod, then looked back down at the grain. "This is the first time I¡¯m seeing something like this. You can put a price of 1 million on it, and it will still sell like hotcakes." "Mhm, Alice gave the same estimate," he said. The price was nothing too much, He needed a lot more money if he wanted to buy more land to grow more crops. After all, he would no longer be given a massive discount, and he needed to spend as much money as others to buy land. "You brought enough for today?" "Yes." Isaac reached into his inventory once more and retrieved a container. Inside it, the Tier 2 Vitality grains were arranged neatly. "One hundred," he said. "It should be enough for a launch." "You brought one hundred Tier 2s on opening day?" "I¡¯m expecting demand." She let out a quiet chuckle. "Good. Because after today, you might need even more." The ribbon-cutting ceremony started an hour later. The shop¡¯s front area had been decorated quickly but elegantly. Pale white curtains had been drawn back to reveal the new displays, and a path had been cleared to allow space for the arriving guests. A small crowd had gathered outside. They were mostly mid-tier influencers, a few well-known Awakeners, and some curious researchers who¡¯d heard rumors about the Vitality Grains. There was media too. Two camera drones floated near the entrance, quietly recording. A pair of reporters stood nearby, one already setting up a microphone, the other scanning the guests with practiced eyes. Isaac frowned. "Why is media here?" Selene leaned toward him, speaking low enough that only he heard her. "This is your first public appearance in the city. That¡¯s why." As she leaned in, the sound of fast camera clicks filled the air. Flashes went off in quick bursts, catching them mid-conversation. Selene stepped away like it was nothing. She moved to speak with someone from the administration staff near the door. Not far away, Marien stood with her clipboard. Her expression remained unchanged. But internally, she was screaming in rage. She didn¡¯t need to check the press feeds to know exactly what tomorrow¡¯s headlines would be. "Family Shop. The sign of friendship between the heir of Calloway and the humanity¡¯s first SSS rank Farmer. But are they just friends, or is there something more going behind the scenes?" Or something equally dramatic. Back inside, the staff had finished final checks. Emrin stood behind one of the main counters, while Bella assisted a few early customers already examining sample displays. The Tier 1 and Tier 0 grains were set up near the front to attract traffic. The vegetables were further inside, and the Tier 2s were behind a reinforced glass enclosure. A small sign beside them listed their effects. Isaac had made sure the supply was deep enough for the day. He had stocked thousands of grains and vegetable crops. As the doors officially opened, people began to trickle in. There was no sudden rush, but a steady stream, which Isaac had expected since only the wealthiest roamed this area of Sector 4. Many paused at the entrance to look around, then moved directly to the Vitality Grains section. Some customers asked questions. Others simply watched. A few checked the notes that displayed the effects of the grains and imprinted them on the memory. Isaac observed quietly from the side. Camden and Rhea handled most of the customer-facing interactions. Bella hovered nearby, answering casual questions and guiding hesitant buyers, who couldn¡¯t believe the effects of the grains. Her tone was friendly, never pushy. At one point, Emrin caught his eye and gave a small nod. Isaac nodded back. It wasn¡¯t a signal, but rather a confirmation that everything was in place. The Tier 0 grains were selling quickly. The displayed stock of Tier 1s had been emptied already, and replaced by another a new stock. Isaac glanced at the sales feed displayed on the small monitor near the back office. The numbers were already better than expected. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the media still standing outside. The flashes from the camera drones hadn¡¯t slowed. A few reporters were interviewing guests just past the entrance. Their voices were too faint to hear clearly, but he could guess what they were asking. Words like "Calloway," "rare grains," and "breakthrough in cultivation" were bound to come up. He smiled again, just slightly. He had no doubt Selene was behind their presence here today. She hadn¡¯t mentioned it directly, but this level of coordination wasn¡¯t accidental. When the news would hit tomorrow, his name¡ªand the shop¡ªwould be the headline. This level of exposure couldn¡¯t be bought easily. His gaze drifted across the shop as he thought, but then paused when it reached the vegetable section. Unlike the grain displays, that corner was quieter. There were almost no customers crowding the counters. The vegetables, neatly arranged and labeled, had barely moved since the doors opened. A few shoppers had stopped to glance at them, but most walked right past. It wasn¡¯t surprising. The Vitality Grains had detailed descriptions, quantified effects, and proven effects. The vegetables didn¡¯t. At best, the labels simply said things like "High quality" or "High in nutrients." There were no numbers, no breakdowns of specific buffs, and no verified testimonies from trusted figures. They just looked like... vegetables. And that was the problem. If this continued, the vegetables would be a big flop. ¡¯Hmm, isn¡¯t that?¡¯ Isaac noticed someone near the vegetable section. He had long white hair, blue eyes, and the half-lidded expression that seemed both calm and disinterested. Vale Rae. He was staring at a cabbage. His arms were loose at his sides, and his head tilted slightly forward, as if lost in thought. It seemed he was debating over something. Isaac walked over. As he approached, Vale shifted slightly and noticed him. He didn¡¯t seem startled. Instead, he straightened, then extended a hand without hesitation. Isaac took it. "Vale Rae," he said. "I came here to buy a few things since my little sister and guild mates praised quite a few products of yours." "Haha, I guess I owe Celia another favor." Vale stared at Isaac for a moment longer when he mentioned his sister, but he stayed quite. At the same time, Isaac was observing him too. He looks lazy, but he took the initiative to greet first, Isaac thought. That¡¯s not how someone spoiled by power behaves. A lot of high-rankers in the city had an air of detachment. Some thought of themselves as untouchable. Others acted distant because they genuinely didn¡¯t care. But Vale, despite his appearance, didn¡¯t carry himself that way. He knew the balance. He knew how to read a room, and how not to seem overbearing. Isaac appreciated that. "Is there something you wanted to ask?" he asked calmly. Vale didn¡¯t speak at first. He looked back at the cabbage with an unreadable expression. Then he asked, "Do they taste good?" Isaac raised an eyebrow. It was a simple question, but the way Vale asked it¡ªserious, almost hesitant¡ªmade it clear this wasn¡¯t casual curiosity. Does normal cabbage not taste good to him? Or... maybe it¡¯s like Emily. A sensitivity to taste? Vale was a demihuman, after all. There could be unique dietary quirks or perceptual differences at play. Isaac nodded slightly. "Yes. These cabbages were grown in my own field using specialized cultivation techniques. They¡¯re rich in nutrients, high in mana, and they hold a distinct flavor. I can vouch for them." Vale gave a soft "hmm" in response. He picked up one of the cabbages with both hands, turning it slightly. After a moment, he looked up again. "Do you eat them raw or cooked?" Isaac blinked, not answering immediately. Raw? Cabbages could be eaten raw? But then he remembered that there many types of people in the world, with many preferences, and he shouldn¡¯t judge them. So what if he eats it raw? That just means he wants to feel closer to the nature. "You can eat them both ways, but I would recommend cooked for the best flavor. You can pair them with grains, meat, or use them in broths. The mana content would be retained throughout and after cooking." Vale studied the cabbage again, as if trying to picture the taste in his mind. Then he set it back down carefully. "I see." Isaac waited, letting the silence settle for a moment. Then he asked, "Did you want to try some? I can have Marien prepare a sampler plate. Lightly cooked with a bit of seasoning." Vale tilted his head. "...Sure." His words brought the attention of the media, and the customers. Isaac called over Marien and gave her the instruction. She nodded and moved toward the back room to prepare a small sample. While they waited, Vale didn¡¯t move far away. He simply walked along the row of vegetables, occasionally stopping to look at one or another. Pea pods, wheat stalks, tomatoes, onion, garlic. Isaac walked beside him, silent for now. When the plate arrived, Vale accepted it with a quiet thanks. He used the wooden pick provided to try a slice of cabbage first. Chapter 134: Meeting The Governor, An Unknown Visitor The Champion-ranked chewed slowly. His expression remained neutral. Then he set the pick down on the edge of the plate. A murmur rippled near the entrance. The whispering of media personnel picked up. Their camera drones had been recording since the moment he accepted the sample. Now, they were inching forward, trying to capture every detail of the moment. Some were already guessing something was wrong. But Vale simply turned toward Isaac. "It¡¯s good," he said. The whispering stopped. He asked, "How much are you selling these for?" "5,000 Obol per piece." His voice was clear enough to be heard by the surrounding customers and, likely, the hovering drones as well. Isaac had deliberately set the price high. It was not done out of greed, but because of the location. Sector 4¡¯s central marketplace was considered a luxury hub. Undervaluing goods here would only damage their reputation. High-end customers didn¡¯t trust cheap-looking items, no matter how effective they were. Vale nodded without comment. "I¡¯ll take some." He placed an order for several cabbages and for the other vegetables as well. He seemed to be someone who liked his veggies. After the staff packed everything, Vale stored them in a spatial ring. Then he looked at Isaac again. "Do you grow other vegetables too?" Isaac smiled. "We¡¯re planning to expand. If you have suggestions for crops, I¡¯m all ears." Vale shook his head. "It¡¯s okay. Grow whatever you want. I¡¯m not picky." That was the end of it. He offered a short farewell and walked toward the exit. The media, already on alert, swarmed to the sides. Flashing lights, soft murmurs, camera lenses focusing in. Isaac didn¡¯t need to hear their words to know what they were thinking. Most, if not all, Awakeners preferred meat-heavy diets. It was the most efficient way to absorb raw nutrients and mana, and keep their body going. Vegetables were not seen as even the secondary option. It was something only civilians used. But Vale Rae¡ªarguably the strongest Champion-ranked Awakened in Fortified City 50 and all human cities¡ªhad just praised Isaac¡¯s vegetables in public. Then purchased them. It was a headline by itself. The big news would do wonders for publicity. Isaac watched Vale leave through the glass doors with a faint smile on his face. The siblings had helped him once again. First at the stronghold shop, and now here. He was still watching the crowd when Bella quietly appeared at his side. She leaned slightly closer, keeping her voice low. "Please head over to the Tier 2 grain section," she whispered. "Miss Selene is calling you. The Governor is here." Isaac nodded and moved through the store, passing several lingering customers. Some gave him polite greetings. Others simply watched as he passed by. When he arrived at the back section, he found Selene speaking to an older man with silver-streaked black hair and a dignified posture. His clothes were understated, but of high quality. He wore a long coat typical of city officials, but not a single guard stood near him. He didn¡¯t need one. The moment Isaac approached, the man turned to face him. "Hoho, so this is our city¡¯s SSS-rank farmer." The old man chuckled with a pleasant tone. "I am Governor Marcellus Dane. I¡¯ve been rather busy lately, otherwise I¡¯d have paid you a visit much earlier." Isaac bowed slightly out of respect. "An honor to meet you, Governor Dane. Thank you for taking the time." Governor Dane waved his hand lightly. "No need for formalities. You¡¯ve already done more than enough to earn this city¡¯s gratitude." His gaze shifted to the nearby grain displays. "I tried one of the Tier 2 grains earlier. The effect was rather good." He turned back with a smile. "And you¡¯re only selling them for one million Obol each? That¡¯s quite generous, young man. With how exclusive these grains are, you could raise the price significantly." Isaac chuckled lightly. "You flatter me, sir. But honestly, this city took me in when I had nowhere else to go. I lived here, trained here, and awakened my Talent thanks to the free awakening provided here. Taking more money from it just doesn¡¯t sit right with me." He paused, then added, "If anything, I¡¯d rather sell them at a discount. It¡¯s the least I can do to repay everything the city¡¯s done for me." For a moment, Governor Dane didn¡¯t say anything. His expression didn¡¯t change, but his eyes lingered on Isaac¡¯s face, as if assessing something. Then, slowly, he nodded. "I see." He returned his attention to the display. "I¡¯ll take all of them," he said. Isaac didn¡¯t argue. At the Sector 4 store, bulk buying was allowed. It was part of the plan. Given how famous Isaac¡¯s good had become, discouraging bulk buying was impossible. Someone could send fifty of their people to buy all grain even if Isaac allowed only a few grains per person. As such, he had allowed bulk buying directly. ¡¯Hmm, as expected, the sales are going to shot ridiculously high in Sector 4.¡¯ ¡¯My current production rate if far from enough.¡¯ ¡¯I need to buy more land.¡¯ Until now, the city had no overpowered farmer like Isaac. But his advent, the city realized they had been like a parched man in the search of water. The water given by him (his grains) could quench the thirst of the city that had been killing them silently. It wouldn¡¯t be wrong to say that as long as Isaac continued selling grains, the city would see enormous growths thanks to the grains powering up the awakeners. Selene signaled a nearby staff member, who began preparing the order. The Governor gave Isaac a final nod, then left without ceremony. The moment he stepped outside, the media¡¯s interest surged again. Their drones followed him. Questions were shouted. Reporters recorded reactions in real time. But inside, the atmosphere remained focused. Customers kept pouring in. Some were curious, some were already familiar with the grains. The vegetables were drawing more interest now too. Several customers had witnessed Vale¡¯s purchase and were asking Bella questions about the crops. Isaac gave a glance at the store, then quietly made his way up the stairs to the first floor above the shop. It wasn¡¯t a lounge or anything fancy, just a calm observation space with an office. A wide window let him see the store below, and a second, smaller screen on the wall showed the live sales feed. He sat down, watching silently. "I wonder how much I will earn now." His mind flicked to the awakener faction in Sector 4. It seemed like they had no plan of making a move today, but knowing them, they would soon make a move against him. ¡¯Well, since Selene is on my side, I¡¯m sure I can easily deal with all problems they throw at me.¡¯ Selene had already told him about the awakener faction. They were ¡¯supporting¡¯ Selene to overthrow Isaac, and protect the chairman seat from Alice. They thought Selene was supporting Isaac and Alice openly while planning to backstab them. However.... ¡¯Damn it, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m actually looking forward to them doing something stupid.¡¯ He sighed, half amused. Somewhere along the way, he had stopped being someone who simply wanted to be left alone. Now he was thinking three steps ahead, expecting betrayals, playing along with politics. ¡¯I swear it¡¯s all the influence of Professor. She was the one who even told me to use the Life Energy Potions to bring awakeners to my side. The innocent me would never think of anything like that.¡¯ It reminded him he needed a plan to handle the Life Energy Potions. Last night, there had been no time, but he was hoping to talk with Alice and Professor Catherine about it tonight. He shook his head slightly. "I swear it¡¯s all the Professor¡¯s influence. I was innocent once." As he was reviewing possible approaches in his mind, a knock came at the door. He was confused. No one was supposed to visit him right now. He hadn¡¯t scheduled any appointments, nor was he informed someone was coming to meet him. A female voice followed. "Excuse me. Is this Mr. Isaac¡¯s office?" Isaac¡¯s brows furrowed. Something about this made his mind flash back to that incident the Calloway estate. He had been kidnapped without warning and returned just as suddenly. "Did those people come back here?" He stood up from the chair, glancing toward the door. "No... What if it¡¯s someone else who came to assassinate me?" It was a valid possibility. There were too many people who might want to remove him. Competitors, the B-rank Farmer who had suddenly become useless because of him. Even government might want to eliminate him. Some of them would see him as a rising threat, and not everyone believed in playing fair. The knock came again, firmer this time. His gaze sharpened, he prepared to activate his skills at any movement, and a calm focus slid over him like water. Then he spoke. "Come in." The door opened. A woman stepped in, dressed in a travel-styled formal uniform. She wore a black coat with silver trim, and a pair of smooth boots that weren¡¯t military but built for movement. Her long dark hair was tied neatly at the back, and her posture was confident, but not aggressive. Isaac didn¡¯t recognize her. He kept his tone even. "Please, take a seat." She nodded and walked over to the chair across from him. "Thank you." Once seated, she introduced herself with practiced clarity. "My name is Elira Vance. I serve as an ambassador and external liaison on behalf of Fortified City 22." Isaac didn¡¯t let his expression change. But internally, the surprise was real. An ambassador? Fortified City 22 was one of the humanity¡¯s cities. It was known for its close relation with other races, and frequent trades with them. Their firepower might not match Fortified City 50, but in terms of economics and inter-species relations, they were far better. Isaac tilted his head slightly. "I wasn¡¯t informed of a visit."