"I’m not going to be a Sub-Lord under you," Averon replied finally.

Isaac’s gaze shifted for a brief moment.

He looked at Simraj, just for a second, as if making sure Simraj was listening, then returned his attention to Averon.

"I’m not going to be a Sub-Lord under anyone, Averon," Isaac said.

"....what?" Averon was confused.

However, Simraj stiffened.

The reaction didn’t go unnoticed. Averon turned his head slightly, his brows furrowing.

Simraj explained, "Lord Averon, Sir Isaac is... a valuable asset. He is like a pie that fell from the sky. The other Lords would do anything to have him in their palm. Since he would not accept their offer, they would use under-handed tricks. That would include...."

"—Controlling surrounding Lords to put pressure on awakeners that Isaac sends into the wilderness. The other Lords would target Lords like me who are Isaac’s neighbors," Averon finished, his expression changing.

The shift in his face was clear.

He looked back at Isaac, his gaze was grim.

"Stop dragging me into this. I have people to protect, Isaac. I might be joking around earlier, but if it comes to my people then I—"

"You didn’t want to be anyone’s Sub-Lord. It’s the same for me. I’m not dragging you into trouble. I’m just warning you about what’s to come. The Lords will attack me and you. Instead of facing them alone, why don’t we work together," Isaac replied.

"Bullshit," Averon said without hesitation. "You don’t want to be a Sub-Lord, so I should be one for you?"

Isaac never been a power-hungry person.

Even long ago, when he awakened his Farming Talent, he had been satisfied with a quiet life. Farming, growing stronger at his own pace, living peacefully with his wives. It had been enough. More than enough, actually. Back then, strength had been a tool for comfort, not dominance.

But that kind of thinking didn’t survive in this world.

People like Former Governor Marcus had shown him what greed looked like when backed by authority. Overlord Aurora had shown him what overwhelming power did to those who stood in the way. Those weren’t rare cases. They were the rule.

Peace wasn’t something you were given. It was something you had to earn.

Isaac had learned that the hard way.

You couldn’t just stay in your corner and hope no one noticed you. The moment you had something valuable—strength, resources, even potential—someone would come for it. That was how this world worked.

If Isaac wanted to protect his family, and give them a peaceful life, he couldn’t stay passive.

He needed to get stronger. He needed to make everyone around him stronger. His City needed to be fortified, not just with walls, but with people and systems that could endure pressure. And more than anything, he needed allies who could stand their ground.

He wasn’t the same person anymore.

Instead of waiting for threats to arrive, he would move first.

"It’s not so bad for you to be my Sub-Lord," Isaac said, his tone steady.

"What makes you think—"

"The taxes on crops and loot from the Great Dungeon will be reduced if you become my Sub-Lord," Isaac cut in calmly. "You should have seen the Sunflower on the market. That’s just one of the new varieties I’m creating."

Averon’s brows furrowed slightly, but he didn’t interrupt this time.

Isaac continued, "Soon, I’ll have completed plants that can fight on our behalf like summons. Anyone will be able to purchase them. That’s not all. You should already know I have a Lord Talent that increases drop rate."

"The 100%+ Drop Rate Lord Talent," Averon muttered.

"200% Drop Rate Lord Talent," Isaac corrected.

The air shifted.

Averon didn’t respond immediately. His expression froze, just for a second, but it was enough to notice. One hundred percent had already sounded ridiculous when the rumors first spread. But two hundred?

That was something that could distort the balance of power.

"If you become my subordinate, all of your citizens will gain that same 200% drop rate. Do you understand how big of a boon that is? Resource drops, rare blueprints, equipment, maps, coins. Everything will drop at increased rate and numbers."

Simraj, who had been quiet until now, shifted slightly where he stood.

Isaac didn’t look at him, but he knew the man was listening carefully.

Isaac continued, "The Solkara race is built for combat. Your people have fought countless monsters. You already know how bad abyssal drop rates are. With me, that problem will disappear. Instead of weakness, it will become your strength. With each fight you’ll gain something."

Averon clicked his tongue softly. He hated to agree to the fact that Isaac’s sale pitch was working,

The sheer amount of benefits Isaac gave was salivating.

However, to his surprise, Isaac wasn’t done.

"You should’ve heard the rumors about EXP potions. They exist," he added.

Averon was stunned.

He had heard about them. Mythical potions that could give EXP.

EXP was only supposed to be gained from killing monsters, or practicing skills.

But just drinking potions could give EXP? That made no sense. Still, the rumors of such products were going on in Isaac’s City. It had been one of the products that drew the Lords to Isaac City.

Averon would go as far as to say that the EXP potions were more salivating to some Lords than Isaac’s crops.

"Do you really have EXP potions?" Averon asked.

Instead of answering, Isaac reached into his spatial ring and took out a small vial. He placed it on the table between them without any flourish.

The liquid inside had a faint glow.

Averon looked down at it.

"Drink it. If you’re worried it’s poison—"

Averon picked it up before Isaac could finish. "You’re not that stupid, and I trust Catherine."

He removed the cap and drank it in one go.

There was a brief silence, then Averon froze. His grip tightened slightly around the half-empty vial.

"...My level just went up by three," he said after a moment.

Simraj stepped forward immediately, unable to hold himself back. He took the vial from Averon’s hand and drank the remaining potion in the vial.

A second later, his eyes widened.

"...It’s true. I leveled up. This really is an EXP potion. Such a mythical potion really exists," Simraj said.

His voice carried a mix of disbelief and excitement, maybe even fear.

Isaac nodded, as if this reaction was expected.

"H-How many can you give us?" Averon asked, his tone no longer as steady as before. "Five? Six? Seve—"

"One thousand," Isaac said.

"One thousand!?" Averon almost stood up.

Even Simraj looked shaken now.

It didn’t make sense.

Something this valuable shouldn’t exist in such quantities. Even if it did, it should be hoarded, hidden, used only in emergencies. Not... handed out in bulk like common supplies.

"Yes. One thousand per week. You can get more, but you’ll have to buy them. For a fixed quota, I’ll give you a discount," Isaac said.

Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.

It was not one thousand total, but one thousand per week?

Both of them felt like their understanding of value was being rewritten in front of them.

Many Lords struggled to produce one thousand normal potions in a week.

But Isaac could create one thousand EXP potions—a mythical potion—per week?

"How are you even—" Simraj started, but stopped himself midway.

He wasn’t sure if he wanted the answer.

Isaac didn’t explain.

He simply leaned back slightly, watching their reactions.

Inwardly, he wondered how these people would react if they found out he could harvest almost ten thousand EXP potions per day. If he just planted and harvested Vitality Crop for a day, the EXP potion produce would double or triple that amount.

"We can make a Contract if you don’t trust my words about EXP potions. So, what do you think now about becoming my Sub-Lord?" Isaac asked.

Averon didn’t answer immediately.

He leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath. His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, not out of impatience, but because he was thinking.

Simraj glanced at him but stayed quiet.

After a moment, Averon spoke.

"If you have this much, the other Lords won’t let you go. Just being associated with you will put me in danger," he said.

"You’re already going to be in danger. But with me, your city’s chances of survival increase," Isaac replied.

That wasn’t an exaggeration.

Isaac had contingencies that he hadn’t revealed. Like Soulbind Pendant. Even if things went wrong, he could put their cities in the pendant. But those were not things he would mention here.

Averon didn’t need to know everything. Not yet.

Averon’s tapping slowed, then stopped. He looked at Isaac again, this time more carefully.

Unlike what Isaac was suggesting, Averon still had another option.

He could approach the other Lords.

If he allied himself with them, especially early, he could secure protection. It wouldn’t be equal, and it wouldn’t be comfortable, but it would be stable. His people would be safe, at least in the short term.

It was the safer choice.

It was also the more predictable one.

However...

’Lady Catherine is not stupid. If she is working with Sir Isaac, they must have a way to defend themselves against other Lords,’ Simraj spoke to Averon through telepathy.

’That’s what I’m thinking,’ Averon replied through the same link. ’If that’s true, then siding with the other Lords won’t give me much. On the other hand, if I ally with Isaac, and he actually has a way to defend us... and he shares those resources... then the benefit is far greater.’

Simraj didn’t interrupt. He let Averon think it through.

Averon’s eyes drifted down to the empty EXP potion vial resting on the table. It looked ordinary now, stripped of its glow, but the effect it had just produced was anything but.

Three levels.

That alone was enough to tilt decisions.

His mind began to move faster, connecting pieces, weighing risks, calculating outcomes.

He could stall. That would be the safe move. Say he needed to consult the elders of his city, delay the answer, buy time.

But even as the thought formed, he dismissed it.

They didn’t have time.

Isaac was about to meet the other Lords. Whatever he said in that meeting would shape everything that followed. And judging by what Averon had already seen, Isaac wasn’t the type to bow or compromise easily.

That meant conflict.

And once that conflict started, the other Lords wouldn’t hesitate. They would move quickly, try to isolate Isaac, cut off his advantages, and seize whatever they could.

Anyone connected to him would be dragged into it.

Averon’s city wouldn’t be spared.

If he wanted control over how his people faced what was coming, he had to decide now.

Not later.

Now.

’We will follow the choice you make,’ Simraj said.

Averon turned slightly and looked at him.

Simraj was smiling.

Even though Averon was young, he always had the best in his mind for his people. He had spent years preparing for the role of Lord. Learning, observing, making mistakes and correcting them. He wasn’t perfect—far from it. Acting out of spite against Isaac days ago had proven that—but he had owned that mistake. He had apologized.

And more importantly, he had learned from the mistake.

That was what mattered.

Simraj didn’t step in to help Averon make a decision. This was exactly the kind of burden Averon needed to carry. If he avoided it now, and took Simraj’s help, he wouldn’t be able to carry heavier ones later.

Averon exhaled slowly.

Then he looked back at Isaac.

"...Do you have a subject slot? You can’t make me a Sub-Lord under you unless I’m your Subject," Averon said,

Isaac smiled faintly.

That was enough of an answer.

"Yes. I do have subject slots," Isaac said.

He didn’t waste time after that. He took out a Contract he purchased from the [Market]. He wrote details of EXP potion, and other crops deal, then gave it Averon and Simraj to read and sign.

They read it carefully before signing. After the Contract was made, Isaac opened his interface.

His gaze moved slightly as he navigated through his Lord Profile, quickly locating Averon’s name.

A prompt appeared before him.

[Request: Add Subject – Name: Averon Solkara]

[Subject Slots Available: 10]

[Confirm Y/N?]

Isaac selected yes without hesitation.

A new screen appeared in front of Averon.

For a few seconds, he didn’t move.

Then a few more seconds passed.

Silence stretched across the room. Simraj didn’t speak. Isaac didn’t rush him.

Averon just sat there, looking at the screen.

Once he accepted this, there was no going back. His city, his people, his future. They would all be tied to Isaac. If Isaac failed, everything would go down the drain. But allying with other Lords wasn’t going to be better.

Minutes passed.

Then, finally, Averon moved.

He raised his hand and confirmed it.

The screen disappeared.

At the same moment, a notification appeared in front of Isaac.

[New Subject Gained: Averon Solkara, Solkara Race]

It was immediately followed by another.

[Averon Solkara, a Lord, has pledged their allegiance to you.]

[Averon Solkara has become a Sub-Lord under you.]

[Congratulations for having a Lord pledge allegiance to you for the first time.]

[Random Gift Box (Legendary) x1 gained.]

[Title ’Prime Lord’ gained.]