Isaac didn’t answer. He kept his gaze locked on the eyes.
The figure didn’t seem bothered by the silence.
It continued, “A farmer has the power to breathe life into the desolate wilderness. You have an SSS rank Farmer Talent, Isaac. You’re worth much more than this mere city.”
Isaac’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you telling me all this?”
There was a brief pause before the voice answered with confidence.
“Because I want you to join us.”
The words were surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, to the point. Still, Isaac said nothing. He didn’t show any reaction. Not visibly, at least. Inside, his thoughts were moving quickly, trying to figure out the goal of the person before him.
The figure chuckled softly, like it found his caution amusing. “It’s alright. You can take your time. Today, I just called you here to extend the offer.”
The moment the words left the figure’s mouth, the world around Isaac began to twist.
The edges of the void warped. The dark floor cracked like glass under heat, and the sky above trembled.
Then the voice spoke one last time.
“As a parting gift, I’ll tell you something. You people might want to deal with the Nagas quickly before they awaken the Hell Spawn.”
Before Isaac could respond, the darkness blinked out.
He was standing in the corridor of the Calloway estate.
He blinked again, confused. The marble floor beneath his shoes, the warm light from the chandeliers, the distant hum of servants cleaning up after the banquet, it was all back.
“I was… sent back just like that?”
He stood there, frozen.
He was not just shocked by the abrupt return, but by how casually it had happened.
That strange space, that voice, the offer, the warning. Everything felt unreal. Even stranger was how friendly the person had been. He had been calm, and respectful.
That didn’t line up with what they’d done. If this unknown group was the one behind the Calloway takeover, why speak to him like an ally?
’It seemed like they don’t see me as an enemy. So why take over the conglomerate in the first place?’
’Was that person lying to me?’
’Or am I missing something?’
His thoughts tangled the more he tried to pull them apart. The last thing the figure said clawed at his mind.
’That warning about the Nagas and the Hell Spawn. What did that mean?’
He wanted to believe “Hell Spawn” was a metaphor, but that would mean being naive.
He knew Gods existed. So who was to say Hell wasn’t real? He exhaled, realizing this world was bigger—and far more dangerous—than he had ever thought it to be.
His gaze lowered, and his fingers curled slightly.
’I need to grow stronger, and I need to make sure Emily and Alice don’t lag behind.’
’All of us need to be strong if we need to protect ourselves.’
He decided he would give both Alice and Emily stat potions from the shop tonight along with the Bloodline Upgrade potion, he was planning on giving to Emily.
But they would definitely wonder where the potions came from.
’I can say I found a way to access the World System Shop.’
It was a good enough explanation.
It would make sense of how he’d gotten his Hoe, and it would save him from having to come up with lies every time he pulled something out of thin air.
As for the currency to buy items?
He could just say he earned it by completing Quest. Since he was an SSS+ Talent, and no one had been like him before, they would just think every SSS+ Talent could get Quests regardless of their Talent type.
Before he could think further, footsteps interrupted him.
Selene appeared around the corner.
“Isaac, we need your help,” she said, smiling. But her smile was strained. Her eyes didn’t match the expression.
Isaac immediately noticed something was off.
“What do I need to do?” he asked, skipping the pleasantries.
“Come with me,” she said.
The tone in her voice confirmed his suspicions. Something had happened.
A quiet sense of unease crept into him as he followed her. His mind flickered to Alice and Emily. Had something happened to them?
They moved quickly. Through the corridor, up a flight of stairs, down another hallway. Selene stopped in front of a door and opened it.
Isaac’s chest tightened as he stepped in.
Inside, Alice sat on a couch, looking thoroughly annoyed yet attentively taking care of Emily, who was standing behind her, and had her arms wrapped around Alice’s waist.
Emily looked… drunk.
“Alice, you’re so strong,” she mumbled, cheek squished against Alice’s back. “I wanna be strong like you too. You’re sooo cool. You’re the best—after Isaac, of course—but still, you’re second best!”
She hiccupped, then giggled.
Selene looked at Isaac, clearly at a loss. “She’s been like this since she drank.”
A wave of relief washed over Isaac when he saw it was nothing serious.
Smiling, he asked, “How much did she drink?”
Selene hesitated. Then muttered, “…One shot.”
Isaac raised a brow. “And she got drunk with just that?”
Before she could answer him, Emily noticed his presence.
“Isaac! You’re back!”
She shot off the couch like a bullet and launched herself into his arms, hugging him tight. Her cheek pressed against his chest, then rubbed against him like a sleepy cat.
She looked up, still clinging to him. “Where’d you go, huh? I was lonely… I haven’t even eaten yet…”
Isaac was surprised to see her showing this much affection in front of others. Normally, she would be embarrassed. Moreover, she was asking for a kiss too, probably because she had been left alone.
He gently patted her head.
“We’ll head back home. You can eat there.”
Emily whimpered but nodded against him.
Selene looked confused, but didn’t comment. Alice, meanwhile, looked relieved to be free from the clingy drunk girl.
The three of them walked back toward the car. Selene escorted them to the estate’s private garage.
As they walked, Emily clung to Isaac’s back like a koala, arms and legs wrapped around him.
“I’ll eat just a little like this…” she mumbled.
Isaac nodded, and let her sneak in a snack.
The skill worked better the more skin contact there was, so he let her stay latched on.
Besides, even if she could float, she wasn’t in any condition to move on her own.
Once they reached the car, Emily stirred. “I wanna sit in the backseat with Isaac.”
Isaac felt a chill crawl down his spine for an unknown reason. The ominous premonition bloomed again, stronger than before.
He frowned, but noticing there was no danger, he ignored the feeling.
He glanced at Alice, and she nodded, understanding his intentions without the need of words.
“I’ll drive, and you should sit with Emily. She’s drunk. If you’re not there, there’s no telling where she’ll float off to.”
Alice climbed into the driver’s seat without complaint. Selene waved them off as the car pulled out of the estate.
Inside the vehicle, things were quiet at first.
Then Emily turned to face him. Her expression had changed. Her eyes, still slightly unfocused, now stared straight into his.