He turned his eyes toward Chairman Lucius.
The Chairman met his gaze and gave a short nod. "Understood. We’ll handle any troublesome ones quietly."
That settled the matter.
The meeting stretched on for hours.
Papers shuffled, notes were exchanged, and strategies refined.
Isaac sat back at one point for a moment, watching everyone work together.
For once, the city’s leaders weren’t arguing or defending their own interests. They were genuinely cooperating. It was a rare sight.
What caught him by surprise most, though, was the headmaster of Aeternum University.
Isaac had expected hostility after forcing him to change the university’s name.
But the old man seemed calm, even respectful.
After hours of discussion, the meeting finally broke for a short break.
The room slowly emptied as people stretched their legs, asked for water, or stepped outside for some air.
Isaac walked out onto the porch, where the afternoon sun hung low and golden over the farm fields.
The faint breeze carried the smell of soil and leaves, mixed with the sound of distant cries of monsters.
The headmaster of Aeternum University sat there alone, a cup of tea in his hand, quietly watching the land.
He looked calm, almost peaceful.
Isaac walked over and sat beside him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
They just watched the farm in silence.
"You’re taking the news quite well," Isaac said eventually, glancing at the old man.
The headmaster gave a soft hum before replying. "Well... time is always changing. We can try to fight against it and crumble, or we can adapt."
He looked at Isaac and shrugged lightly. "I suppose I’ve learned that lesson the hard way in my childhood."
Isaac chuckled. "You’re more open-minded than I expected. I thought you’d fight me to the end over the name change."
The old man smiled faintly. "You’re not the first to think of me like that. But I’ve lived long and seen enough to know when one should concede. And as they say, humanity’s greatest strength is their ability to adapt to changes."
"So what’s the new name you’re going with?" Isaac asked.
"Pioneer University," the headmaster said after a short pause.
Isaac nodded approvingly. "That’s a good name."
Without another word, he reached into his spatial ring and took it off, handing it to the old man.
The headmaster blinked, surprised. "What’s this?"
"Consider it a gift. There are a few crates of constitution and mana potions, along with some EXP potions inside it. Congratulations on the new university name."
The old man frowned slightly and checked the ring.
When he saw what was inside, his eyes widened in disbelief.
There were almost a hundred crates neatly packed within, far more than what their entire university could produce in five years.
And that wasn’t even counting the EXP potions, which were impossible to create.
He looked at Isaac again, studying the young man with quiet astonishment.
It’s been only a few weeks since he awakened. He created all this in that short time?
What a fearsome child... the headmaster thought silently, though a small smile tugged at his lips.
"Come on," Isaac said, standing up. "Lunch should be ready by now."
They walked back inside together.
The scent of freshly cooked food filled the air as they entered the dining hall.
Emily, Selene, and Leora had prepared the meal, and the table was already set.
Everyone gathered quickly, the earlier tension of the meeting replaced with laughter and light conversation.
Isaac sat near the center, glancing around the room as plates were passed and cups filled.
Lucian was laughing with Freya about something Paul said.
The headmaster of the Sanctum of Masters was busy lecturing Peter, who looked like he’d rather disappear than listen.
Selene and Alice were chatting quietly, and even Chairman Lucius seemed relaxed for once.
Isaac leaned back and smiled faintly.
It feels like a family,
Though, another thought followed. We’ll need a bigger house if we keep having these meetings here. It’s getting cramped.
After lunch, the atmosphere shifted back to work.
Papers came out again, diagrams were drawn, and discussions resumed.
The three university leaders took turns explaining various systems and management frameworks, and Isaac absorbed everything quickly.
It didn’t take long for them to realize just how fast he was learning.
Within a few hours, Isaac could discuss advanced topics about guild structure, economic flow, and city governance with them fluently.
His understanding of each proposal seemed to grow by the minute.
Lucian leaned toward the principal of the Sanctum of Masters and whispered, "He’s picking things up faster than I expected."
The old principal nodded. "His stats must be very high. Maybe humanity’s future is going to be better than we predicted."
As the afternoon stretched into evening, the meeting continued at a steady pace.
Eventually, Isaac excused himself, needing a short break.
He stepped outside again. The sky now painted in orange and violet shades.
Just like he did during the afternoon, he tended to his field.
After he was done, he noticed Vale standing near the house, and beside him knelt the nagas.
Their posture was low and humble, foreheads nearly touching the ground.
Vale looked calm but firm. His presence was cold and unshakable.
Isaac walked over, storing the hoe in his spatial ring.
"So," he said, looking down at them. "Have you made your choice?"
Kaela, the naga who led the group, raised her head slightly. "Yes, we have, my Lord. We will serve you faithfully."
Isaac nodded once. "Good."
He glanced at Vale and gestured.
Vale understood immediately and began to use his ability to bind the nagas under a curse.
It wasn’t technically a slave contract, but the conditions were strict and heavily favored Isaac’s authority.
To him, it was a necessary precaution.
These were enemies who had tried to kill him not long ago.
Trust would have to be earned, not assumed.
Once the ritual was done, faint markings appeared on the skin of the nagas, glowing for a brief second before fading.
Isaac spoke again. "You’ll have three days to rest. Use that time however you want. After that, your work will begin."
"Understood, Lord!" the nagas responded in unison, though their voices lacked energy.
Isaac didn’t blame them.
Most of them still carried the exhaustion of defeat.
He turned to Kaela. "I already told Tyr this morning to start building houses for your people. Go find him. If there’s anything you want changed in the design, tell him. The rest of you, tell Kaela what you want in your homes, and we’ll adjust accordingly."
Kaela’s eyes widened in shock.
For a moment, she didn’t say anything.
The other nagas looked just as stunned, exchanging confused glances.
Isaac frowned slightly. "Why aren’t you responding?"
"A-ah," Kaela stammered. "You’re allowing us to make changes to our... living quarters?"
Isaac looked at her, confused. "Of course. How else would you feel comfortable living there? It’s supposed to be your home."
A stillness spread through the group.
Then, suddenly, every naga bowed deeply and shouted in unison, "Thank you, Lord!"
Isaac blinked, a bit startled by the volume.
He hadn’t expected such a reaction.
But for the nagas, it meant more than just kindness.
They had lived through wars.
They knew what happened to those who lost.
The idea of being given homes—actual homes they could customize—was something beyond belief.
Kaela’s throat tightened as she tried to compose herself.
Perhaps... we can finally have a place to belong, she thought.
She quickly stood and turned to her people. "You heard him. Tell me what you need, and I’ll bring the requests to Lord Tyr."
Isaac nodded approvingly. "Good. Now get to it."
As the nagas dispersed to discuss among themselves, Isaac turned to Vale.
"Vale, come here," he said quietly.
Vale stepped closer. "Yes, my Lord?"
Isaac leaned in slightly and lowered his voice. "Tonight, give the governor to the nagas."
Vale froze for a second, his expression unreadable. "...Understood."