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.