Selene stood at the head of the long conference table.
“I hope you will accept my offer.”
For a second, no one responded. A few of the gathered executives glanced at one another. Then one of them murmured quietly, almost under his breath.
“’My’?”
That single word caused a ripple.
Each member of the Awakener faction began glancing at each other, exchanging sharp, knowing looks.
Why did she say “my” instead of “our”? She is representing the Calloway here, not herself. Was that a slip?
No, it felt intentional. She didn’t say this offer was from Calloway Conglomerate.
So it’s personal. She’s paying out of her own pocket.
But why would she go that far?
Factional war. That’s the only answer. She’s trying to build power discreetly, get enough support to seize the chairman’s seat early.
I don’t think that’s true.
No, it actually makes sense. Chairman Lucius won’t step down any time soon, and Selene doesn’t seem the patient type.
Or something changed and Alice is becoming a problem?
Their mental chatter moved fast. With their Classes boosting their Spirit Power, they could exchange dozens of telepathic sentences in a second.
Only a few seconds passed in real time before the made their decision.
The one who finally broke the silence was the man sitting closest to Selene. He stood up.
“We will gladly accept your conditions, Miss Selene.”
His name was Oran Fennel.
A mid-twenties-looking awakener with smooth black hair, and sharp amber eyes.
Despite his youthful and handsome appearance, he was the owner of Fennel Potions, one of the biggest potion-producing companies in the city.
After Isaac introduced Tier 1 Vitality Grains that could heal from poisons and restore mana, his business had taken a hit.
“Thank you, Mr. Fennel.”
The meeting went on, shifting to other concerns pertaining to construction delays, housing for new arrivals, energy crystal shortages.
“The rate of population inflow is outpacing our ability to build.”
“We need more laborers.”
“Or more funding to automate the construction.”
“We could ask the government for reinforcement—”
Selene sat and listened, offering occasional comments.
Eventually, the meeting wrapped up, and the businessmen filed out, exchanging a few quiet final words before leaving.
The room was emptied, leaving only Selene and her assistant, Marien.
“What are you doing?” Marien asked, arms folded. “Why are you trying to bring them to your side?”
“I’m doing what my father should’ve done a long time ago.”
Marien frowned. “…?”
Selene sighed, and the polished smile disappeared from her face.
“They stopped Isaac,” she said. “They slowed him down. The man who could solve this city’s food problem, and they blocked him out of greed. It’s… disgusting how greedy they are.”
Marien stayed quiet, watching her.
Selene stood and walked to the window.
The city stretched in front of her, half-complete buildings rising around finished ones. Shesaw makeshift walkways, exposed wires, and half-formed housing units.
“Our city won’t survive if people like them keep holding the reins.”
“And your solution is to befriend them?”
“No. It’s to kill them.”
Marien blinked.
Selene didn’t turn from the window. “I’m tying the rope around their necks. Slowly, and Silently. By the time they notice, it’ll already be too late.”
“That’s dangerous,” Marien advised carefully. “If they realize what’s happening, they might retaliate.”
“They can try,” Selene said. “But I’m not doing this openly. I’m going to destroy their foundations without ever letting them see the hammer.”
Marien realized the main reason why Selene didn’t force them to let Isaac buy land, or why she wasn’t using Calloway Conglomerate to crush the Awakener Faction directly.
Even a cornered rat would fight back, and the members of Awakeners were far more powerful than helpless rats.
They weilded a large influence.
There was no knowing what they could do to save themselves.
“And the market?” Marien asked. “If the Awakener Faction fall, there will be massive gaps. The potion companies, the weapons suppliers—”
“We don’t need them.”
Selene picked up a report from the table and handed it to Marien.
Marien’s eyes scanned the contents.
“Is this… real?”
“Yes,” Selene said. “From what we’ve gathered, Isaac’s farming enhances the core nature of his crops. That Vitality Grain? It replaced poison cure potions and mana potions at the same time.
“And it’s just a basic Tier 1 crop according to him. What happens when he a rarer crop?”
Marien didn’t answer.
Selene’s voice softened. “He’s the future. With him, we don’t need to depend on those parasites.”
She didn’t mention how her body had changed after eating his the vegetables grown on his farm.
Her skin was clearer. The residual damage from Isaac’s punch had finally started healing.
And all she had done was eat some vegetables.
If those were the results from Tier 0 and Tier 1 crops, she could only imagine what would happen with higher grades.
Marien slowly set down the document. “Okay. Fine. But what about weapons? The potion industry isn’t the only one supporting Awakeners.”
“I’ve already prepared for that.”
Selene handed her another folder.
“A blacksmith company came to the stronghold after Alice posted about Isaac’s crops. They’ve been operating under the radar for years.”
Marien read the reports. Her eyes narrowed.
“These are… Spirit-rank weapons?”
“Yes. And yet no one’s ever heard of them.”
“But how—?”
Selene answered before she could finish. “Because the Awakener faction buried them. Their influence reaches deeper than you think. They block businesses that might challenge their monopoly.”
Marien clenched her fists slightly. “Those bastards.”
Selene didn’t respond. She was busy checking her reflection in the window’s glass.
It was almost time for the banquet. Her outfit was perfect. She had applied minimal makeup, and her hair was styled neatly.
She adjusted her clothes before meeting her own eyes in the reflection.
Appearance mattered, especially during important occasions like this. That much she had learned as a businesswoman.
She tilted her head slightly, curling a silver strand of her hair.
’I look good, right?’
’I wonder what Isaac would think.’
Her heart began to beat faster.
Selene frowned. She had visited doctors and confirmed there was no poison in her system, and no health condition that should explain this.
’Why does this only happen when I think about him?’
At first, she considered asking Alice. It was a calculated move. If she shared her vulnerability, it could help her grow closer to Alice again, like sisters.
Selene knew it was wrong to think like this, but she truly believed Alice could help her.
But something about sharing this with Alice… felt dangerous. She couldn’t explain why. It was just a gut feeling.
So instead, she asked Marien.
Once she finished explaining the strange reaction she kept having near Isaac, Marien stared at her with a complicated look.
“Let me get this straight. Your heart starts hammering against your chest when you’re near Isaac or think about him?”
“Yes.”
“Selene, don’t take this the wrong way, but… are you maybe a masochist?”
“Masochist? What does that mean?”
“It means… never mind that. Just tell me this: how do you feel about Isaac? He hit you, me too. He broke our noses! He could’ve killed us back then. Are you really not scared of him?”
“A-ah, no?” Selene was flustered. It was rare for her. “I think he’s… a good guy.”
Marien leaned closer, squinting. “So, are you attracted to him? Is it because he’s handsome?”
“Huh?”
Selene flushed. Her silver hair shimmered under the lights, and her red eyes flicked away.
“I’m not attracted to him!”
“Okay, okay, sorry for asking a weird question. But, do you think he’s handsome?” she asked. ’Because even an ugly duck looks beautiful when you are in love with them.’
“Yes? B-but what does that have to do with him being a good person?”
That answer told Marien everything.
She sighed and massaged her temples. Selene had always been composed, sharp, and calculating. But right now, she was clearly off-balance.
A thought suddenly struck Marien.
She grabbed Selene’s shoulders. “Did you tell this to Alice?”
“No. You’re the first person I’ve told.”
“Good. Don’t tell Alice about it. Just… don’t.”
“Why not? She might have an answerr.”
“Because she might misunderstand. Since you have a bad history with Isaac, and the doctors already said there is no problem with your health, Alice might think you are opposing Isaac for no reason.”
“That makes sense.”
“Yes, it does.” Marien nodded in agreement. However, wasn’t as calm on the inside.
’Sorry, Selene, but I can’t support you on this.’
’It’s better this way, or you will become that crazy bitch’s target.’
Marien had always been loyal to Selene, from childhood to now. But when it came to Alice, things got complicated.
Two years ago, she’d accidentally seen Alice reading an article titled “How to Be a Perfect Bride.” Seeing the cold and distant Alice look so serious while scrolling through that kind of content had shocked her.
Curious, Marien secretly kept an eye on her from then on.
The bridal article was just the beginning. Alice was reading even stranger things. Intense romance guides, fantasy scenarios, and once, even a dozen-page analysis on… techniques.
Her obsession horrified Marien, but it also was an opportunity for her.
She located who was the guy receiving Alice’s affection—which wasn’t exactly hard to do—and then she thought about interfering.
She wasn’t especially interested in Isaac, but stealing away someone Alice cared about?
That could’ve dealt a blow to her pride.
She’d tried to approach Isaac with a smile, casual charm, and the kind of quiet confidence that usually got her results.
He ignored her.
She had been surprised, but not discouraged. The first attempt failed, but she believed the second one would succeed.
Unfortunately, the second attempt never came to be.
Marien was ambushed by someone in a mask when she was alone.
She was beaten soundly.
When the mask came off, it was Alice.
Alice hadn’t said much, and she only warned her to never approach Isaac again. The tone was cold and absolute.
She was prepared to beat Selene more, and only stopped when Marien revealed what Alice had been reading.
Marien blackmailed her that she would reveal her secret to everyone.
That saved Marien from another beating, allowing her to escape the crazy bitch.
Later, Marien could’ve taken revenge by exposing Alice’s secret, but she didn’t do so. She was too afraid of Alice after the incident.
There was no knowing how the crazy bitch would crash out if Marien exposed her.
Even during their recent visit to Isaac’s home, Marien had gone as the tester reluctantly. She only went because she didn’t want Selene to be alone with Alice.
’I can’t let Selene go down this path.’
’That crazy bitch would kill Selene if she begins to like him.’
Protecting Selene meant keeping her away from Isaac.