Isaac pushed open the door to the clothing shop.
Leora did not stop him, despite having an idea of what he was about to do. With her sharp hearing, she had heard Selene and Marien’s whispers through thin walls.
Alice, however, reached out as he moved forward.
“Isaac, wait—”
She didn’t know what was going on. But the look in his eyes told her enough to worry.
He didn’t stop.
Inside, the shop was quiet.
The soft music blended with the low hum of mana-infused lights. Rows of dresses, robes, and tailored uniforms lined the racks.
Near the center, Selene and Marien stood by a mirror, laughing over something.
Selene noticed him first.
“Oh?” she said, tone teasing. “I didn’t expect to see you in a women’s store. Are you looking for something for your girlfriend?”
Isaac didn’t smile.
His gaze slid to Marien.
“Both of you. Grit your teeth.”
Selene blinked. “What?”
Marien, confused and standing closer, tilted her head. “What are you—”
Isaac stepped forward. Then his fist moved.
It connected with Marien’s face.
Her nose crunched under the impact. Blood exploded outward as her eyes widened in shock and pain.
She screamed, stumbled back, and clutched her face.
Alice entered behind him, startled. “Isaac—!”
She froze, seeing Marien on the ground and Isaac now staring at Selene.
Selene stepped back. Her voice was shaky. “Wait—whatever this is, it’s a misunderstanding.”
“Grit your teeth,” Isaac repeated.
Selene raised her hands slightly.
“Just calm down, Isaac. Can we just talk? You’re being irrational—”
“I’m calm,” Isaac said, taking another step. “If I wasn’t, your head would’ve popped already.”
Selene’s mouth snapped shut.
Her heart pounded in her chest, but her body wouldn’t move. The fear settled in. She tried to find a way out, anything to explain this away, but nothing came. Her mind kept circling back to one thing.
He must’ve heard everything. But how? His Constitution stat… it must’ve already passed 60.
“I didn’t mean it,” she tried. “I was just—”
His fist cracked into her face before she could finish.
She dropped hard, blood pouring from her nose. Her body crumpled on the floor. Suddenly, the look behind her eyes changed, and she glared up at him through tears.
“You think you can hit me and get away with it?” she snarled. “You might have Talent, but Calloway Conglomerate is massive. We have Champion-ranked Awakeners. I’m the Conglomerate’s heir and you dared—”
Isaac punched her.
She lost her consciousness.
Behind him, the shop door opened again. A man stepped inside—Selene’s guard, by the looks of his gear. His eyes widened.
His hand moved to his waist, but before he could pull his weapon, Leora was already in front of him.
Her palm slammed into his chest and sent him staggering back against the door. Another attack, and he was out cold.
Alice stood frozen. Hearing Selene, she pieced the clues together and understood why Isaac acted the way he did.
Her worried gaze bounced from Marien, to Selene, to Isaac.
Isaac turned to her. “You said your situation back home wasn’t too bad. If your own cousin is laughing at you behind your back with her friends. How is that not too bad? I can already tell that the others must be treating you worse than her.”
Alice looked down. “It’s just for now. Things will get better. I just have to wait—”
Isaac snapped.
“So you’re just going to suffer until whenever that happens?”
He stepped forward, took her hand gently but firmly, and pulled her toward the exit.
“I’m not letting you stay in that toxic place anymore.”
Alice looked shocked, but didn’t resist.
They left the shop.
Leora followed behind.
By the time they returned to the jeep, Professor Catherine was already there.
Her smirk grew wider as she noticed the way Isaac was still holding Alice’s hand.
“Well, well,” she said, lifting an eyebrow. “That’s a pretty tight grip. I didn’t know you were the type to have multiple girlfriends.”
Isaac ignored the teasing.
“We need to go to the Calloway Conglomerate HQ. I’m taking the jeep.”
Catherine’s grin faded slightly. “It’s something serious?”
He nodded.
She didn’t press him. Instead, she walked to the driver’s side and slid into the seat. “Alright. If you are going to do something fun, I’m coming. Also, with me behind the wheel, we’ll reach in half the time.”
Isaac and Alice got in the back.
Before Catherine started the engine, Leora stepped up. “Give me the teddy bear.”
Isaac blinked and handed it over.
Without a word, Leora turned and disappeared down the market. A few minutes later, she returned empty-handed.
“It’s with a staff member,” she said. “They’ll deliver it to the house. We can’t risk it getting torn if a fight breaks out at the HQ.”
Isaac gave a small nod. “Thanks.”
The jeep rolled out. The portal station was already opening for them.
Rows of Sanctum of Master guards stood on either side of the teleportation platform.
Dark blue mana swirled, forming a cloud that hovered above the platform.
They got off the jeep and climbed the platform.
Alice glanced at Isaac. “You shouldn’t go there. The news must’ve have reached the chairman already. It’s no different from walking into a tiger’s den.”
“It’s good if he knows I’m coming. We won’t need to waste time on making an appointment.”
She stared at him, stunned.
Professor Catherine just smiled and spoke over her shoulder. “Relax. I’m Champion-ranked. So is Leora. We won’t let anyone touch him.”
The portal activated.
The mana cloud engulfed them.
Inside the portal was darkness and mist. They moved forward, as if walking on air.
Then, in a blink, they stepped out.
They were inside Sanctum of Master’s building with teleporters.
Everything was pristine. Black tiles shone underfoot, and white corridors branched out from the portal room. They passed through without stopping.
A sleek black vehicle was already waiting in the exit bay.
It was a combat-grade civilian model with smooth plating, armored windows, and faint mana lines running across its surface like glowing tattoos.
Inside, the leather seats were reinforced with pulse gel to absorb impact in emergencies.
They drove.
Outside, Central Sector stretched out in lines of shimmering barriers and high-rise towers. The roads were clean, fortified. Defense drones patrolled the skies.
Then the Calloway Conglomerate building came into view.