Arlene nodded, though she still looked uneasy.
Alice took a slow breath, then another. The pressure in the room gradually eased as she forced herself to calm down.
"...What’s the wager?" she asked at last.
Celia’s smile widened, as if she had been waiting for that question.
"Whoever wins gets to go on a date with him," Celia said.
"Deal," Alice said immediately, almost instinctively.
Emily blinked, then let out a quiet, helpless smile. She didn’t say anything, but the look on her face made it clear she already saw trouble coming.
...
Isaac POV
Isaac suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
For a brief moment, he felt as if something had just gone wrong for him somewhere far away.
’Why did that feel like someone just tried to mess with me?’ he thought, narrowing his eyes faintly.
"Is there a problem?" Seraphina asked, noticing the brief change in his expression.
"There is none," Isaac replied after a moment, shaking off the feeling. His attention returned to her. "So, Miss Sera, tell me. What can you offer me that would make me accept you as my subordinate?"
Seraphina smiled faintly. "I suppose you’re right. I should be the one asking to be accepted, not the other way around."
Isaac’s eyes sharpened slightly.
She had changed her approach quickly. Too quickly.
It told him more than her earlier words had. She wanted to stay close to him, and she was willing to adjust her stance to make that happen.
’So, I was right. She wants to remain near me. Whatever information she found from Mother has something to do with me,’ he thought.
"How should I prove myself?" she asked.
Isaac considered his options. His first instinct was to bind her immediately with a Contract and secure her loyalty. But that would be too suspicious.
He had to slowly lay the trap to scam her into working for him forever.
"Show me your combat ability. There is still one spot left in my team for the Great Dungeon competition. Depending on your performance, I’ll decide whether to accept you," he said instead.
"You’re willing to take someone you met today into your team? That sounds reckless. What if I betray you and cause you to lose?" Seraphina raised a brow, a hint of curiosity appearing in her eyes.
"It doesn’t matter. Even if you try something, we will still win."
He leaned forward and added in a cold tone, "Though if you backstab us, be prepared for the consequences."
Since the entire exchange was being livestreamed, his words spread instantly. Reactions varied. Some Lords watching from afar frowned, their pride stung by his casual statement of victory.
Others simply watched with interest, curious to see how he would show his face to the citizens after he lost the competition.
"Alright. If that’s the case, I’ll participate," Seraphina said after a moment, her smile returning.
"Good. Come with me," Isaac nodded.
Internally, he let out a quiet breath of relief. Keeping her close was the safer choice. Whether she was truly an ally or something else, it was better than letting her act freely in the shadows.
As they began walking through the streets, the crowd naturally parted for them. People whispered, watched, and recorded everything, but Isaac paid them no mind.
Then, suddenly, he felt it.
A faint familiar presence.
A small smile formed on his face.
Without saying anything, he continued moving in the same direction, leading Seraphina toward a nearby car.
He got in and started the engine.
...
Catherine POV
"That was definitely someone Mother sent..." Catherine muttered under her breath.
She stood hidden in a narrow alley between two buildings, her presence completely concealed. Her skills were active, suppressing her mana and erasing any trace of her existence.
She had been careful.
Every step she took, every movement she made, had been calculated.
Or so she believed.
A presence appeared behind her.
Her body reacted instantly, but she was too late.
Her wrist was grabbed, and in the next moment, she was pressed against the wall.
"Finally found you," Isaac said with a grin.
Catherine froze for a brief second.
His grip was firm, holding both her wrists above her as he pinned her in place. The distance between them was almost nonexistent, and the sudden closeness made her heart skip.
Despite the bashfulness she felt, a small part of her mind kept moving.
How did he find her?
She had concealed everything. She had checked her surroundings repeatedly.
Had she made a mistake? Had she left behind a trace without realizing it?
Catherine understood she might have been too emotional, and overlooked a trail of her as she was moving, which Isaac used to find her.
However, instead of confirming how he found her, or giving an excuse, she gave a coy smile, and spoke,
"You took your time. I had to leave so many hints."
"You left those hints purposefully?" Isaac chuckled softly.
He leaned back slightly, his gaze moving over her.
She was dressed differently than usual. Black fitted pants traced her long, shapely legs. A deep purple top hugged her upper body, emphasizing her curves.
It looked less an attire for stealth, and more for a date.
"You look beautiful," Isaac said honestly, then smirked faintly. "Were you hiding because you were embarrassed to show this to me?"
Catherine pouted slightly.
"I’ve been thinking about this. Aren’t you becoming a bit bold?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Isaac asked.
"Last night. And now this," she replied, leaning closer. Her voice lowered as she whispered near his ear. "Aren’t you worried? If you keep acting like this, there might be retaliation. Are you sure you can handle it?"
Her tone was teasing, and there was a hint of challenge beneath it.
If Isaac was himself from the academy, he would’ve been embarrassed by such words or the sultry gaze.
But now?
"If you have something planned, I’d like to see it," he said, smiling back.
For a brief moment, Catherine’s eyes flickered. She liked this confident Isaac. But she didn’t like him challenging her authority.
She needed to teach him a lesson.
"Okay," Catherine suddenly disappeared, leaving behind fading words. "I won’t do anything for now, since you have an important competition coming up. But be prepared for later, my dearest."
Isaac was stunned for a moment.
How did she disappear?
He could swear he had caught her real body.
"Was it a clone? No, I’m sure it was a real body, then how? Hmm, maybe it’s an artifact."
It was the most likely explanation.
After a moment, he shook his head and turned away.
Now that he had managed to track her even while she was hiding, his confidence rose slightly. He was slowly going to teach her how it felt to be teased, and that her tricks wouldn’t work on him anymore.
As he walked, another thought surfaced.
"Oh, right... I still haven’t opened the Legendary Gift Box I got from Averon."
He slowed his steps.
He was alone now. There were no interruptions.
This was the best time.
Isaac’s expression steadied as he focused inward.
’System, open the Legendary Gift Box!’