Isaac had planned to return to work immediately after the talk ended. There were still too many things waiting on his desk. But just as he was about to stand up, he felt a gaze linger on him.
He looked up.
Celia was staring straight at him. Her breathing was slightly uneven, and her fingers kept tightening and loosening at her side.
"...What?" Isaac asked.
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke quickly, as if afraid she was losing control.
"Isaac, Professor told me that you unlocked a Physique Refinement ability now. I was thinking... how about I help you train it? I mean, I—"
"Thanks for reminding me. Take this."
Isaac interrupted her calmly while reaching into his spatial ring.
Celia froze mid-sentence.
He pulled out a single red petal and placed it gently on his palm.
The petal looked fragile at first glance. Thin, smooth, almost translucent at the edges. Yet there was something about the color that felt dangerous. It was a deep, saturated red, like fresh blood under sunlight.
"This is?" Celia asked, her voice dropping instinctively.
"Check it."
Isaac extended his hand toward her.
She took the petal carefully, as if it might break if she held it too tightly. The moment it touched her skin, a faint pulse of mana spread outward, brushing against her senses.
Her eyes flickered as she opened the status screen.
She blinked once, twice, then suddenly shouted, "What?!"
Isaac smiled.
Celia shot to her feet, staring at him with wide eyes, the petal still clutched in her hand.
"Where did you get this?! Is this really a legendary rank weapon? Is this mine!? Are you serious right now!? You’re not joking, right? You’re not going to take it back after I bond with it, right?!"
She barely paused to breathe.
"It’s amazing! It’s insane! Thank you! Thank you! This is the best!"
Isaac chuckled and spoke, "I got it from Gacha. Yes, it’s yours. I’m absolutely sure. And no, I won’t ask for it back later."
She stared at him, searching his face for hesitation.
There was none.
She grinned and immediately formed the bond. The petal in her hand shimmered.
Another petal formed beside it.
Then another.
One became two. Two became four. Four became eight.
Before Isaac could even react, hundreds of identical crimson petals floated in the air, slowly orbiting Celia and him. They moved as if carried by an invisible current, leaving faint red trails behind them.
Celia stared at the scene with open awe.
"This... this is incredible."
She turned toward Isaac and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you!"
She kissed his cheek.
Before he could respond, she pulled away just as fast, her face flushed.
"I’m going to fight my brother. I bet I can finally defeat him with this. Love you, Isaac! I’ll see you later! Hehe, it’s time for you to kneel before me brother!"
She flew away, laughing excitedly like a child.
Isaac watched her disappear into the distance, unable to say a single word the entire time.
A helpless smile crept onto his face.
"Well, as long as she’s happy."
He exhaled and refocused.
Work wasn’t going to do itself.
The construction site was still active. Althea, Charlotta, and Isaac’s clone were there.
Isaac’s main body, in the office, pulled out the blueprints he currently had in his possession and reviewed them again.
Praying Altar Blueprint (Rare)
Divine Doctrine Blueprint (Common)
Standardized Battalion Blueprint (Common)
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"The Praying Altar is essentially a higher-grade church. It’s better than the common rank church blueprint."
More importantly, it would help him complete his second God Quest.
"I can build one church using this.
"After this one, in the outer region, is completed, I will build another one in the inner region, and one in the central region."
His clone had already gathered the necessary people and resources. The outer region was chosen for the first church for a simple reason. Non-awakened citizens made majority of the city’s population and most of them lived there.
Faith would spread fast in a location like that.
[Would you like to build Praying Altar? Please select the materials and the workers.]
A grid appeared before his clone, who was standing in an open area of the outer region.
Isaac selected the materials and personnel without hesitation.
[Confirmation received.]
[Estimated time until completion: 24 hours.]
"Good."
With the first project underway, Isaac turned his attention to the second blueprint.
Divine Doctrine Blueprint (Common)
"This one’s important," he murmured.
According to Professor Catherine, this structure could collect faith and convert it into a tangible resource known as Faith Power. It was versatile. Healing, construction acceleration, improvement of citizens’ health, and even enhancing the city’s defenses.
An all-purpose power.
"The Divine Doctrine itself is a statue. The blueprint defines the mana grid structure and formations, but the shape is up to me."
A symbol of his Faith.
Something people would recognize and remember.
That’s what Divine Doctrine was.
After some discussion with a few trusted people, Isaac settled on the final design.
"A hoe and a sword. Both stabbed into the ground, crossing each other."
Work and protection.
Survival and strength.
Food and weapon.
"It fits me properly."
The Divine Doctrine didn’t require many workers, but it needed a massive amount of materials.
Fortunately, Isaac’s clone was farming almost nonstop.
His agricultural business in Fortified City 22 was thriving, allowing him to purchase most materials without difficulty.
"With my current production, the only real problem is rare materials that people hoard or refuse to sell."
Still, he wasn’t worried.
"As long as I keep expanding carefully, this is manageable."
He deliberately held back on expanding his farm too fast. Becoming too profitable too quickly would draw attention from neighboring Lords.
If his city’s strength didn’t match his wealth, he would become a target.
Isaac was already aware that he had become somewhat famous among other races due to his trade activities. It was only a matter of time before other Lords took interest.
And interest rarely came with good intentions.
"They’ll try to devour my city if they think I’m weak, and turn me into a resource node or a slave."
He exhaled slowly.
"That’s why strength comes first."
He tapped the screen.
[Would you like to build Divine Doctrine? Please select the materials and the workers.]
"Yes."
[Confirmation received.]
[Estimated time until completion: 36 hours.]
Normally, it would only take twelve hours. But since the church needed to be completed first, the total time increased.
"Lastly..."
He looked at the final blueprint.
Standardized Battalion Blueprint (Common)
This one was straightforward. A summoning array that would summon standardized soldiers that could be used as an army.
He confirmed the construction.
[Confirmation received.]
[Estimated time until completion: 12 hours.]
With all three projects underway, Isaac leaned back and stretched.
"For now, that’s everything."
He took a short break, letting his mind rest.
That was when he noticed it.
The [Lord Chat] was unusually active.
Scrolling through it, Isaac saw repeated mentions of the Crimson Sky Wyrm. Discussions, speculation, excitement.
"...So defeating it sent a message to all Lords in the region," he muttered.
That explained the sudden increase in chatter.
"They’ll figure it out soon that it’s me. Even if I don’t reveal anything, information will spread. After all people leave and enter our city already for trade, and my citizens know about the battle too."
Celia’s promotional actions would only accelerate that process, but he didn’t blame her.
In fact, she did a good thing.
They were already on borrowed time.
Her actions had helped him complete his God Quest. That alone made it worthwhile.
As Isaac read the chats, he noticed something peculiar.
"This Lord named [Seer] said they’d reveal my identity in three days. How do they even know about me? Or are they bluffing?"
While scrolling through the chats, Isaac noticed he had a notification.
Someone had sent him a message on Personal Chat.
He opened it.
A message from [Seer].
[Seer]: I’ve bought you three days. By then, other Lords will learn that you defeated the Crimson Sky Wyrm even if I say nothing. Develop your city. Improve troop quality. If possible, subdue a monster tribe and add them to your forces. Don’t panic, but move quickly. Without strength, your city will be crushed by other Lords.