He let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing.
"The Super Guild will be created day after tomorrow. All organizations in this city, whether private or governmental, will be placed under it.
"Those unwilling to comply may start preparing to leave for another city. As for government positions, people will be reassigned to serve under my Super Guild, Imperium Aeternum."
He spoke with certainty, though he knew there were still details to handle.
Salaries, responsibilities, management structures. Those matters would take time. That was why he had set a few days before the formal establishment.
"People will rebel!" cried a member of Crimson Vault Guild. "The citizens will never accept such a tyrannical demand."
Isaac turned to face him directly.
"Why do you think the citizens would follow you and rebel against me? They’ve been forced into the outer districts because they weren’t awakeners. They were denied resources, food, proper housing, education. And all of you decided that was acceptable." Isaac asked.
"That’s unfair," the man shot back. "Resources are limited. Space is limited. We gave what we could. Do you think you can change that and start showering them with everything they’ve been denied?"
"Yes," Isaac said without hesitation. "I can shower them with resources. That’s why no citizen will rebel."
He didn’t reveal everything.
He had already made an agreement with Freya, daughter of the city’s leading media house.
With the media praising him, shaping the narrative in his favor, the citizens would see him as their savior.
And as for the awakeners?
’They won’t rebel.’
’Because they are greedy.’
Isaac’s confidence was unshaken.
He had already shown them his strength and resources.
The extraordinary crops he had introduced. The battle against the Metavore Hivemind he led. The death of the N’theris Serpent at a single strike of his. The allegiance of the Sword Empress who vowed to be his Subject.
Every achievement built his foundation.
And every guild and university knew he was capable of delivering more.
"The choice is yours now. Leave, or serve under me."
With that, he turned and stepped down from the platform.
The hall erupted once again in chaos, voices rising and clashing against each other.
Isaac stopped at the doors, glancing back one last time.
His eyes landed on the headmaster of Aeternum University.
"Change your university’s name. Or I’ll merge it with another."
Before anyone could protest, he pushed the door closed behind him with a slam.
The noise of the chamber was cut off, replaced by the quieter hum of the corridor.
"That," a familiar voice said beside him, "is the kind of thing a tyrant would say."
Professor Catherine had appeared at his side, walking with him as though she had been waiting for this moment.
She looked amused, her arms folded loosely.
"You’re basically forcing them to change their name for no reason."
Isaac gave a small smile. "I’m going to improve this city. I’ll raise the standard of living for everyone. Since I’m doing so much good, don’t I deserve to be a little selfish?"
"You do, Guild Leader," she said.
The title and the words were deliberate, and both of them laughed at it.
After a while, Professor Catherine’s tone shifted. "So, do you actually know how to handle the management of a Super Guild?"
Isaac opened his mouth. "I—"
"I’ll do it for you," she interrupted before he could finish.
He blinked at her but she went on, not giving him the chance to argue. "As a Lord, you need to understand how to make the best use of your people. That means ordering me to take care of the management side. I’m meant to serve you. So let me do it."
Isaac stopped walking and looked at her.
For a few seconds, they only stared at each other, neither breaking away.
Finally, Isaac spoke. "Thank you, Professor. But I can’t let all the burden fall on you every time."
He broke the gaze, turned forward again, and resumed walking.
"What do you mean?" she asked, following beside him.
"Call Chairman Lucius, Selene, and the Subjects I have from the top three universities," Isaac said, his tone steady. "We’ll hold a meeting tomorrow. You’ll be there as well. We’ll decide how to move forward with the creation of the Super Guild in that meeting."
He glanced sideways at her.
"You don’t have expertise in this matter. Do you really need to handle it personally? You can just order me to do it and focus on other things." Professor Catherine said.
Isaac shook his head. "I’ll learn the expertise. And yes, I must do it myself."
That answer made her pause.
For a moment she just looked at him, and then a smile appeared on her face. She didn’t say anything, but the pride in her expression was clear.
Isaac allowed himself a small smile as well before changing the subject. "Let’s go meet with the Nagas."
They moved to the teleporters and returned to Fortified City 89. This was where the Nagas were being held captive.
Before going to meet them, however, Isaac returned home to take care of his crops. The familiar smell of soil and fresh growth greeted him as he walked inside.
"Isaac!" Celia’s cheerful voice rang out.
She came toward him, carrying a glass of juice in her hands.
She smiled brightly, her wings and tail not hidden this time. Perhaps it was because of what he had said to her earlier, she no longer seemed uncomfortable showing her real self at home.
"You look good with them," Isaac said, nodding toward her wings and tail.
"Thanks!" she said, setting the glass down for him.
He took a sip and then asked, "By the way, where’s Emily?"
"She went with the Vice Principal," Celia explained. "She has a quest to clear all monsters in Sector 2. She said the sooner they’re gone, the sooner you can take over the city without any more interference. I was helping her until now actually. I only came back quickly because you sent message you’d be home. But I have to leave right away."
She leaned forward, kissed him on the cheek, and added, "See you later. Love you!"
Before Isaac could respond, she teleported away.
"Wow, she didn’t even wait for my answer," Isaac muttered with an exasperated smile.
He finished harvesting his crops in peace, carefully storing what he needed and replanting more crops before heading back out.
Soon after, he met with Professor Catherine again, and together they went to the location where the Nagas were being kept.
"What are you planning to do with them?" Professor Catherine asked as she drove.
Her tone was calm but probing. "You might want to eliminate them, given how many times they’ve endangered your life. But don’t forget they are a precious resource. Their ability to tame monsters is valuable."
Isaac gave a small nod.
"Mhm," he said.
He didn’t add anything else.
They arrived at a large building secured by multiple layers of guards.
Their presence was heavy, and the entire place had an air of tension about it.
Professor Catherine showed her identification for entry, and they were let inside without issue.
Within, Isaac spotted two familiar figures: Dante, the Dean of the Combat Department at Aeternum University, and Lucian, the principal of Horizon Institute.
Both men were standing near the entrance, keeping watch. Vale was there as well, though he remained hidden in the shadows.
They had not come to the meeting earlier, and were here to keep an eye on the nagas.
Lucian greeted him first, his face breaking into a grin.
"We received news of the meeting. Hah! You exceeded my expectations, Lord Isaac. You have courage."
He laughed, clapping his hands together.
"Worry not. The Horizon Institute will give you our full support."
"Thank you," Isaac replied simply.
He turned his eyes toward Dante.
The dean only snorted, crossing his arms with a dissatisfied look. His reaction wasn’t surprising. Isaac had, after all, demanded that his university change its name.
Isaac didn’t dwell on it.
Instead, he reached into his spatial ring and produced four crates.
He handed two to Lucian and two to Dante.
"What’s this?" Lucian asked, tilting his head. He ran his hand over the smooth wooden surface. "These don’t look like EXP potions."
"They’re not. These are Mana Potions and Constitution Potions. Each vial increases mana or constitution by ten points."
The words froze both men in place.
"What...?" Lucian blinked, unsure if he had heard correctly.
Dante uncrossed his arms slowly. "Ten? Each vial?"
"Yes. Ten points. I have confirmed it myself," Isaac confirmed.
For a moment, silence hung in the air.
The weight of his words sank in slowly, and both men realized what this meant.
Humanity’s weakness had always been its stats. Low baseline abilities, weak physical resilience, limited mana, low increase in stats upon level up.
Compared to other races, humans had always been at the bottom.
But if what Isaac said was true, then everything was about to change.
Humanity would soon enter it’s golden age.
"I won’t waste time warning you about mana poisoning," Isaac continued. "You already know not to overfeed one person too many potions. As for distribution, that will be your responsibility. Decide for yourselves who should receive them."
"Thank you, Lord!" Lucian said immediately, a wide smile on his face.
He tucked the crates away into his spatial ring with care, his respect for Isaac shining openly.
Dante was slower to respond.
He stared at the potions, then at Isaac.
After a pause, he nodded. "Thank you. I’ll speak to the headmaster. I’ll make sure good words are put forward for you."
Isaac smiled faintly and nodded back. "Now then. Can you lead me to the Nagas?"
"Yes, of course. This way, Lord," Lucian said quickly.
He straightened and moved to guide the way, eager to show his cooperation.
Dante, who watched Lucian’s eagerness, was exasperated.
He shook his head.
Seeing his old friend all but falling over himself to please Isaac was a strange, but not surprising.