Isaac had a strange expression for a moment, though he quickly hid it before anyone else noticed.
He stared at Avery, trying to read her face, but she looked completely composed, as if she had just suggested something entirely reasonable.
He always had this feeling, but now it was confirmed.
This Spirit, who acted noble in front of everyone, had a mischievous side to herself.
It didn’t fit the image most people would have of a being like her. One would think that living for over three thousand years would dull emotions, wear down personality, and leave behind only a calm, detached existence.
But Avery was the opposite.
She was quite lively.
For a brief moment, Isaac found himself distracted by that thought. She must have wandered through the wilderness for thousands of years. She must have seen countless things, lost friends, seen kingdoms rising and falling, and watched people struggling only to fail in the end.
And yet, she sat here with a faint smile, casually planning to trick a room full of powerful Lords.
It was strange.
Was it because she hid everything behind that smile, or because she had simply learned to accept things as they were?
’Living long isn’t all sunshine and flowers, huh. It needs exceptional mental strength,’ Isaac thought quietly to himself.
Then he gave a subtle nod.
Avery caught it immediately.
She spoke, "Thank you everyone for your gifts. Such precious things show how much everyone here appreciates Isaac. However, we would have to refuse the gifts."
"Is it because you would owe us? Then please do not worry. This is a gift that we are giving without any ulterior motives. You can accept them without feeling any burden," Hass said.
"I know none of the Lords and the Third Priest present here have ulterior motives. However, accepting something so precious will still be too much," Avery replied without missing a beat.
A few of the Lords frowned.
It wasn’t that they disagreed, but the outright refusal was not what they had expected. They had come prepared to offer gifts, and most of them had assumed Isaac would accept, even if cautiously.
Then Avery continued, her tone unchanged, "However, I do have a way. One that will allow Isaac to accept your gifts without burdening him."
That immediately drew their attention back.
"I have a question," Fafnir spoke up.
"Please, ask," Avery said with a small nod.
"Since you seem to be guiding Lord Isaac, should we take it as a sign that you have joined his City, and become a troop under him?" Fafnir asked.
Avery smiled.
But the atmosphere changed instantly.
The air grew heavy, pressing down on everyone in the room. It felt like standing under deep ocean pressure.
Fafnir’s expression stiffened. His body tensed as if something invisible had wrapped around him from all directions. The pressure focused on him alone, though everyone else could still feel its presence.
He hissed slightly, but no sound of complaint escaped him.
He endured the pain.
Pride, perhaps, or simply stubbornness.
Still, it was obvious to everyone present that he was struggling.
"Lord Fafnir, I am the Spirit of Water. As you can see, I’m guiding Isaac because I wish to receive something from him in return." Avery’s voice remained calm.
Her eyes rested on him for a moment longer, and she added,
"I would, however, appreciate it if you do not say things that undermine my authority by implying I am under someone else."
Fafnir held her gaze for a second, then nodded. "Understood."
His voice didn’t waver, though the strain behind it was clear.
The pressure vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.
The room felt lighter again.
Avery smiled lightly, as if nothing had happened.
"As I was saying, I have a way for Isaac to accept these gifts without being burdened. But before that, I would like to confirm one thing. Everyone here is because they wish to recruit Isaac as their Sub-Lord, correct?" she asked.
The question was direct. Too direct.
For a brief moment, the Lords exchanged glances. Normally, such matters were approached with more subtlety, but Avery had no interest in that.
Still, now that it had been said openly, there was little point in avoiding it.
"Indeed, that is true," Bella said, speaking on behalf of the group.
Avery nodded once, then turned her attention to the Third Priest.
"The Third Priest does not wish to make Isaac a Sub-Lord, but you want to bring him to the Florathi Kingdom, correct?" she asked,
"It is correct," the Third Priest replied.
"Then, if you win this bet, you can take Isaac according to your schedule. If you lose, Isaac will come according to his own schedule. As a new Lord, he is busy with his city, so he needs to remain here for now," Avery said calmly.
The Third Priest did not respond immediately.
It was obvious he didn’t like the idea of delays, especially when it involved something as important as the World Tree. But he didn’t show open dissatisfaction, not with Avery and the Sword Empress present in the meeting hall.
After a moment, he turned his gaze to Isaac. "Do you wish for the same?"
"Yes. I will definitely come to the Florathi Kingdom to meet the Seventh Queen. But rushing back with your delegation would create problems for me. I would prefer to come when my schedule allows. Of course, I know Third Priest also has a tight schedule. Hence, this bet," Isaac answered without hesitation.
It was a lie.
He could leave at any time if he wanted, especially with the clones he had prepared. But since Avery was clearly leading this, he didn’t interfere.
The Third Priest studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod, showing his acceptance of the bet.
"What kind of bet are you thinking about?" Fafnir asked, his tone steady again, as if the earlier pressure had never happened.
"All Lords here should have some offers they wish to give Isaac in exchange for bringing him under them. Write those offers on this," she said.
Several sheets of paper appeared in her hand, taken out from spatial ring.
With a flick of her wrist, they scattered across the room, each one landing neatly in front of a Lord.
"Anything written on these papers will be invisible. This ensures that no one knows what the others are offering, and no one can retract their offer after seeing someone else’s," Avery explained.
"And how is this related to the bet?" Bella asked.
"All Lords here will create a six-man team. Then, those teams will enter the Great Dungeon. The team that reaches the end of the Third Area first will win. Isaac will join the winning side," Avery explained.
For a moment, no one spoke.
It was as if the words hadn’t fully registered.
Then it hit them.
The reaction was immediate. It showed in their expressions. Their eyes had gained sudden intensity. They were shocked.
Avery’s offer was too good.
Yes, Isaac’s side would have her.
But she was only one person.
With the troops that the Lords brought, every Lord’s team would have at least two Overlords of Apex species. The remaining members would be Overlords of high-rank species, but those were not weak by any measure.