Chapter 227: Celestial Species, Golden Gacha Ticket
Professor Catherine tilted her head, her eyes glimmering with amusement.
"Do you really want to know? But what should I do? I don’t feel like answering."
She tapped her finger against her chin, teasing.
"What will I get if I tell you my species rank?"
"So, it’s High rank," Isaac said firmly.
Her smile wavered slightly.
He had his reasons for his thoughts.
Firstly, she hadn’t known about Apex rank species until recently, so she couldn’t be one.
Secondly, she was too strong to just be a human Champion ranker.
That left two options: Mid rank or High rank species.
But from the way she had fought, standing against a Sentinel one-on-one and even handling multiple opponents at once, he was convinced she was a High rank species.
Professor Catherine remained silent.
Isaac drove with one hand and reached into the Soulbind Pendant with the other.
When his hand came back, he held up a small vial filled with shimmering liquid.
"This is a Bloodline Upgrade Potion. It works up to High rank species."
For the first time since he had met her, Isaac saw true surprise on Professor Catherine’s face.
Her eyebrows rose, and her lips parted slightly.
But it only lasted a second before she recomposed herself. Her familiar smile slid back in place.
"And?" she asked calmly.
"It can help you rank up to an Apex rank species."
"...What do you want in return?"
Isaac’s lips curved into a grin. "It’s good that you understood so quickly."
Professor Catherine caught that victorious smile.
She blushed faintly, then spoke in an embarrassed voice. "I really need that potion, Isaac. I will even give you myself in return for that potion. So, can you please give it to me?"
"That’s a good offer."
"Huh?"
Her smile slipped.
She had been trying to put him in a difficult position with her teasing, but his straightforward acceptance threw her off.
Without hesitation, Isaac tossed the potion toward her.
She caught it smoothly, staring at the vial in her hands.
"I’ve gathered three SSS-rank Subjects already. Now I need ten more subjects. They don’t need to be SSS rank."
He looked at her through the rearview mirror.
"Professor, I will give you that potion. In return, now you are mine."
From the passenger seat, Alice turned her head sharply toward him.
He quickly added, "I meant you are my Subject."
Professor Catherine’s eyes flicked up at him. "And what if I say no?"
Isaac simply smiled, offering no words.
She looked at him, then at the potion in her hand, then back at him again.
Her smile stayed, but her eyes betrayed her inner conflict. After a long silence, she sighed softly.
"Alright."
She slipped it into her ring and then looked back at him, smiling playfully.
"I am going to serve my lord with my body and soul." She finished with a wink.
Isaac ignored it and opened his status interface. He sent her a notification.
[Request: Add Subject – Name: Catherine Lorraine]
[Subject Slots Available: 10]
[Confirm Y/N?]
He confirmed.
A second panel appeared in front of Professor Catherine. She glanced at it, then accepted with a smile.
[Subject Added Successfully.]
[Subjects (1/10)]
Immediately, more notifications appeared.
[Congratulations, you have gained the loyalty of an Awakened Conqueror Candidate!]
[You have been given a Golden Gacha Ticket!]
Isaac’s eyebrow rose. He stared at Professor Catherine through the rearview mirror.
"Professor, what is a Conqueror Candidate?"
"I’ll tell you about it later. First, let’s meet Vale."
He held her gaze in the mirror for a moment, then nodded. As the car rolled forward, he silently switched his interface to the Lord Profile.
[Lord Profile]
The tab opened. Most of the categories remained locked, but one section was accessible.
[Subjects]
[1. Three Goddesses (3/3)]
[2. Subjects (1/10)]
He tapped the option. A new panel unfolded.
[1. Catherine Lorraine (Level 42, Celestial Kitsune)]
"What the..." Isaac muttered under his breath.
Shock settled in. He looked at her again through the mirror and found her watching him knowingly. Her smug smile only deepened.
Her smile irritated him, so he asked, "Why are you only a High rank species if your race is something as grand as Celestial Kitsune?"
Professor Catherine shrugged lightly. "I have no idea. Master said maybe my species rank was sealed, but honestly, I don’t know either."
Another question pressed at him, one that had been on his mind for a while.
"You, Celia, Emily. Why are powerful races always found in human cities?"
"It helps us hide better," Professor Catherine replied without hesitation. "That’s the reason for Celia. For me and Emily, it’s because Master is a human."
Isaac nodded, accepting the explanation.
He took out his spatial ring and tossed it toward her. She caught it with ease.
"It has some life energy potions. They should be enough to push you to Level 50. Once you reach it, tell me about the evolution materials you need. I’ll get them for you."
Professor Catherine’s eyes softened slightly.
Just a few weeks ago, she had been the one collecting rank materials for him. Now the situation had reversed completely.
"Thank you, my magnanimous lord," she said.
A playful smile appeared on her face. It brought an ominous premotion in Isaac’s heart.
Before he could stop her, she added, "I will follow you forever, my Lord. From now on, you can stare at me all you want, and I won’t stop you unlike I normally do."
Isaac froze, caught completely off guard.
"Isaac, what is she talking about?" Alice’s cold voice came from the passenger seat.
Isaac’s eyes moved around trying to find something that could save him.
His eyes flicked toward the windshield, and he caught sight of the large reinforced gates just a few hundred meters ahead.
"Ah, we’ve reached Titan Edge base," he said quickly, his tone lighter than it should have been.
He pulled the car to the side, guiding it into the designated lane.
Alice didn’t say a word, but the way her eyes lingered on him told him the question wasn’t going away.
The vehicle rolled to a stop at the checkpoint.
Isaac stepped out first, stretching his shoulders as if that could smooth over the tension.
The fresh air was cooler than inside the car, though it did nothing to ease the weight pressing at the back of his mind.
Alice followed him out a moment later.
She gave him a sharp and questioning look, before letting out a faint sigh.
Whatever she wanted to press, she decided to let it go. For now.
Professor Catherine had already disappeared. Her presence had faded out the moment they arrived. Typical of her.
The Titan Edge guild members stationed near the entrance spotted Isaac and Alice almost immediately.
Their expressions lit up in recognition, and within seconds, several of them were walking over.
"Isaac! Alice!" one of the men called out with a broad grin. His armor bore scratches from recent battles, but his energy was almost bubbling. "It’s you guys!"
Alice gave him a polite nod. Her usual calm expression returning.
Others followed quickly.
Some clapped Isaac on the shoulder, while others greeted Alice with handshakes or thanks. They seemed genuinely relieved to see them both safe.
"I still can’t believe it," one guild member said, shaking his head with awe. "Is it true? You were the one who killed the Netharis Serpent?"
The question rippled through the small group.
Several faces turned toward Isaac, eyes wide with expectation.
Another voice joined in. "How did you even manage that? I heard entire strike teams were wiped out by that monster."