’5,000 Obols. That’s half a month’s worth of living food for me before I awakened the System and my Talent.’ Isaac mused.
Catherine took out glasses from her pocket and wore them.
She flashed him a business smile, as she continued,
“Sanctum of Masters is offering 6,000 each for your whole stock.”
Isaac nodded with an expressionless face.
The price was low. His Vitality Grains were much better than the ones on market.
According to the market research Isaac did on internet, his crops should go for 8,000 Obels at the minimum.
“Before you say it’s low, remember we’re supplying the seeds for free. It keeps your costs at zero.”
“What’s the seed price normally?”
“500 Obols per seed,” she replied. “It’s cheap on paper, but no one is selling them in bulk to a newbie without connections— to you. That’s where we come in. We handle the supply, and makes it hassle-free for you.”
“Fair enough,” Isaac said, tapping the table. “I’ll sell half to you. 1,700 grains.”
“Half? What’s the plan for the other 1,700?” Catherine raised an eyebrow, setting her pen down.
“I’ll sell them to a third party,” he said, meeting her gaze evenly.
A faint tension rippled through the room.
Catherine’s smile didn’t fade, but her eyes sharpened.
Isaac was taking land, seeds, and support from Sanctum of Masters for free, then turning around to profit elsewhere.
It wasn’t wrong, not technically, but it could strain the relationship between him and Sanctum of Masters.
He leaned forward, giving a business smile back to Professor Catherine.
“I’m doing this for Sanctum of Masters too, you know.”
“Oh? Explain that one.”
“I’m SSS+ rank,” Isaac said. “If Sanctum of Masters hoards all my crops, other organizations—guilds, academies, traders—will riot.
“They will say you’re locking me up, and forcing me to churn out food just for you. Rumors like that spread fast, and they don’t care about the truth.”
Leora’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she stayed quiet, letting him continue.
“I’ll back Sanctum of Masters,” Isaac went on. “You’ve got my support, always will. But if you monopolize me, you’ll paint a target on your back. I’m a resource right now—a gem mine.
“Everyone wants a piece of the profit from it. If they don’t get it, they’ll turn on you, and claim you’re hogging me for power.
“Best way to avoid that? Let some of my stock flow out. It will keep the others satisfied, and in peace.”
“And Sanctum of Masters? You’re not worried we’ll feel shortchanged?” Catherine leaned back, folding her arms.
“Not at all,” Isaac said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “My growth speed’s top-tier. You want 1,700 grains? You’ll get them, no problem. Need more? I’ll grow it. I’m not cutting your supply. I’m just selling the surplus elsewhere. You lose nothing, and I keep the balance.”
Catherine studied him for a long moment, then glanced at Leora.
The Vice Principal gave a subtle nod.
Catherine’s smile returned, wider this time.
“You’re quite the thinker, Isaac. Smart play—keeping everyone happy while you rake it in. I like you more now.”
“So it’s a deal?” he asked, ignoring the last part.
“It’s a deal,” she confirmed. “Sell your half to us, do what you want with the rest. We’ll handle the 1,700 at 6,000 each.
“Some people would come to get the grains soon, and you will get 10,200,000 Obols in your bank account when by the time they leave.”
“Works for me.”
Catherine tucked her notebook away, then leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand.
“One question, though. How’re you planning to reach those third parties? You don’t have the connections yet.”
“I know someone who does,” Isaac said, keeping it vague.
Alice’s family was one of the top three business empires in their City.
They had ties to Explorer networks, and he’d bet she could link him up. If everything worked properly, he could help her too.
Isaac still remembered Alice paying for his tuition fees for the entire Academic duration.
She had helped him while he was poor and had nothing, now it was his turn to return the favor.
“Alright, I’m heading out, and, Isaac, you should take a proper rest today. Tomorrow you will have a real combat training.”
“Got it. Thanks for everything.”
“Save the thanks for when you survive tomorrow. See you.” She gave him a smile, and left after grabbing her bag.
Isaac lingered for a moment, then grabbed the Harvest Bane Hoe and headed outside.
Both plots were fully grown again under the evening sun.
He stopped to inspect them, noticing each Vitality Grain plant now bore eighteen fruits, up from sixteen and fourteen that morning.
“Number’s climbing again. The skills’ level up must’ve helped,” he muttered, plucking one to taste. The refreshing sweet taste was still there. “How much can they be improved?”
He swung the hoe twice.
360 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +32. Constitution + 32.
You have obtained 1800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains.
Constitution: 100 [17 → 49]
Mana: 100 [57 → 89]
Leora joined him, and they carried the grains inside, stacking them neatly with the rest.
Back outside, he burned the stalks, turning them to ash.
He spread the fertilizer across both plots, then planted new seeds.
By the time he finished, the sun was dipping low, and he wiped sweat from his brow, staring at the empty fields.
’Maybe I should set an alarm for midnight. The crops would be fully grown by then,’ he thought.
“You should sleep instead of planning to wake up at night for farming.” Leora, who’d been watching from the porch, stepped forward, cutting through his thoughts.
“What, you got a mind-reading skill now?” Isaac chuckled, turning to her.
She shook her head with a serious expression. “I don’t need one to see what’s on your mind. It’s good you’re diligent, Isaac, but overdoing it can make everything worse.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but she held up a hand, her tone firm yet kind. “Stats don’t fix everything. Constitution helps with stamina, sure. It makes your endurance recovers fast. But blood circulation? Only a little. Muscle aches? Barely touches them.
“Same with your mana pathways. If you overuse skills too long without rest, they’ll weaken. You’ll burn out.”
Isaac went quiet, her words sinking in.
He hadn’t thought about it like that. Pushing hard felt natural with his stats so high.
“According to the stat report you submitted yesterday in class, your Mana’s already at its limit. Constitution must be close, or maybe it hit after today’s harvest.
“Extra stats won’t do anything right now. You’re not building strength; you’re risking collapse. Rest matters more than grinding needlessly.”
Isaac couldn’t argue, not when she was laying it out so plainly.
Besides, he could see she was genuinely worried.
“Alright,” he said, exhaling. “You win. I’ll sleep.”
Soon after, a truck rumbled up to the house.
They were Sanctum of Masters’s people, and here for the 1,700 grains.
They loaded the crops into crates.
Isaac’s phone buzzed as they drove off:
[10,200,000 Obols deposited in your account 123X XXX XXX XXX].
He stared at the number with a smile.
It was more money than he’d ever dreamed of before awakening.
Shaking his head, he thought of Emily. He wanted to buy something for her with his first real income, something special. But what should he buy?