She looked eager, like she was already imagining how it would feel in battle.
"Then I won’t hold you any longer," Isaac said.
The clone disappeared.
Back in the city, Isaac met with the Overlord of the former Fortified City 82 and its previous governor.
They talked briefly. Formalities, reassurances, logistics.
Then Isaac got to the point.
"I want both of you to become my subjects," he said.
"It would be my pleasure," Overlord Zarax replied immediately. He stood tall, his massive frame radiating strength.
"I refuse," former Governor Jeremy said with a mild smile.
Isaac did not respond to the old man.
Instead, he turned his attention to Zarax.
[Overlord Zarax has become your Subject.]
Isaac took out his spatial ring and, packed tightly with vials that clinked softly against one another. He gave it to Overlord Zarax.
"You’re level fifty-three, right? Drink the potions in there. If you do, you should reach level sixty in one go," Isaac said.
Zarax looked down at the ring, then back at Isaac.
"Potions that increase levels? Something like that doesn’t exist," Overlord Zarax replied.
Isaac smiled, not offended in the slightest. "Just try one."
Zarax hesitated for a moment, then reached into the ring and pulled out a single vial. The liquid inside shimmered faintly. He uncorked it and drank it in one gulp, his expression still doubtful.
A second passed.
Then his eyes widened.
His body stiffened slightly, and he inhaled sharply.
"My experience increased by ten percent. Just like that."
"I told you," Isaac said.
Overlord Zarax stared at the vial in his hand, then at the ring, and finally back at Isaac. The way he looked at him had changed completely. Without another word, he lowered his head.
"Thank you, Lord Isaac. I will do my best to serve you."
"I’ll be looking forward to it," Isaac replied.
Overlord Zarax didn’t waste any more time. He turned and left the meeting room quickly, clearly intending to find a quiet place to drink the rest of the potions and stabilize his level.
Isaac watched him go.
A single vial of EXP potion could push a Champion from level forty-one straight to level fifty. But for an Overlord, it only provided ten percent of a single level. The higher the rank, the more absurd the experience requirements became.
Isaac shook his head slightly and turned his gaze toward the last person in the room.
Old man Jeremy.
Jeremy noticed his gaze, and he took a step back, his eyes filled with suspicion.
"I’ve told you already, Lord Isaac. I’m planning to retire. Please don’t make things difficult for an old man," he said cautiously.
Isaac said nothing at first.
He calmly took out a contract from his spatial ring and held it out.
Jeremy frowned and took it, scanning the contents.
His expression underwent rapid changes.
Shock flickered across his face, followed by disbelief. His brows drew together as he reread certain lines. His grip tightened. Hesitation crept in, then slowly gave way to resignation.
Finally, he looked up at Isaac with a defeated expression.
"This salary," Jeremy said slowly, "is this real?"
"Yes," Isaac replied.
"Damn it! Alright, I will work for you. No—please let me work for you!" the old man spat with seething rage.
The salary Isaac promised was so much that he couldn’t refuse.
Isaac grinned.
He activated the contract and finalized it before the Old Man Jeremy could change his decision.
[Jeremy Kalax has become your Subject.]
Old man Jeremy was one of the most capable administrators Isaac had ever met. That was exactly why Isaac wanted him under his command, retirement plans or not.
Once the contract was complete, Isaac pulled up a chair.
"Let’s talk about the city," he said.
Jeremy sighed, then sat as well. He was already regretting his own greed.
They discussed development plans in detail.
Infrastructure first. Transportation routes. Residential expansion pacing. How quickly to integrate new populations without destabilizing supply chains. Jeremy spoke bluntly, occasionally criticizing Isaac’s ideas, but always offering alternatives instead of empty complaints.
Isaac listened.
At the same time, his clone was already moving.
In another part of the city, the clone met with workers from the former Fortified City 82. Builders, planners, craftsmen, and supervisors. People who knew how cities actually functioned.
Isaac offered contracts on the spot.
Fair pay. Clear responsibilities. Long-term stability.
Most of them accepted without hesitation.
Construction began almost immediately after he purchased new blueprints.
[Do you want to build a Market?]
"Yes."
[Market Level 1 has been confirmed. Remaining time: 12 hours.]
[Do you want to build an Inner Defensive Wall?]
"Yes."
[Do you want to build a Watch Tower x4?]
"Yes."
[Watch Tower Level 1 has been confirmed. Remaining time: 8 hours.]
[Do you want to build a Hundred-Mile Mortar?]
"Yes."
[Hundred-Mile Mortar Level 1 has been confirmed. Remaining time: 24 hours.]
[Do you want to build an Arcane Ballista Platform?]
"Yes."
[Arcane Ballista Platform Level 1 has been confirmed. Remaining time: 14 hours.]
[Do you want to build a Mana Cannon Emplacement x4?]
"Yes."
[Mana Cannon Emplacement Level 1 has been confirmed. Remaining time: 20 hours.]
[Do you want to build an Air Purification Tower?]
"Yes."
[Air Purification Tower Level 1 has been confirmed. Remaining time: 10 hours.]
Isaac authorized it all.
With the Tier 2 temporary buff active, construction speed doubled. Buildings rose faster than expected, frameworks snapping into place with efficient precision.
By the time Isaac finished coordinating between his main body and his clone, the city was buzzing with activity.
Satisfied, he finally left the city.
He traveled beyond the walls, heading toward a carefully chosen area. It was far enough not to interfere with civilian life, but close enough to be controlled and monitored.
This was where he planned to create a dungeon.
Isaac reached into his spatial ring and took out the dungeon.
Then he activated it.
The stone dissolved into light.
The ground trembled slightly, and the mana in the area began to shift, responding to the new anchor being formed.