Chapter 84: Returning Home, Earning 2.7 Billions, Buying More Land

She did not ask him anything, and returned to her work.

The next two hours passed inside the hospital, with Isaac undergoing another full-body check-up.

Blood tests, mana scans, mental resilience assessments—they left no detail unchecked.

A few of the doctors seemed curious about how some of his injuries were healed, but Isaac kept quiet. He couldn’t say he had used Life Drain to heal himself mid-battle.

Finally, Isaac was cleared and discharged.

He stepped out into the hallway with Catherine at his side.

"Back to the house?" she asked.

Isaac nodded. "Yeah."

They walked side by side through the corridors and exited the medical building.

The sunlight felt soft, and the wind carried faint traces of fried street food and roasting coffee beans from somewhere down the street.

But it wasn’t the breeze or smell that caught Isaac’s attention. It was the number of awakeners outside.

They weren’t standing around idly either—most of them were moving in the same direction. Toward the market area.

There were at least a few hundred people, most of them carrying bags or small satchels, weapons loosely slung over their shoulders, or on their waist.

Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Why does it look like a mini-festival’s happening?"

"Quite a few awakeners came after Titan Edge Guild revealed they would come to Akaza Ruin, and..." Catherine, holding a tablet, smiled knowingly. "A lot of them are heading to your Family shop."

Isaac blinked. "Why? We sold all the grains yesterday, and I haven’t harvested anything yet. There’s nothing in stock."

Catherine didn’t answer.

Instead, she tapped a few times on her screen and turned it toward him.

On it, a hologram flickered to life. It was a social media post from Celia Rae.

"Yesterday, I met a super rookie who defeated three Champion rank awakeners... even though he’s still only Initiate rank. Can you believe it?!"

Attached to the post was the photo of Celia and Isaac standing together, both smiling slightly.

Isaac stared at it. "She posted this?"

"About ten hours ago," Catherine said. "It’s been shared over two million times."

Isaac scratched his cheek. "I mean... it’s technically true. But that wording is exaggerated."

"She’s a celebrity, Isaac," Catherine said as they turned onto the road toward the residential area. "Whatever she says, people believe. Especially her fans."

Isaac exhaled, still watching the image. "So, all those people—"

"Are either trying to recruit you, challenge you, or sell you something," Catherine said casually. "Your popularity is skyrocketing with each passing second."

Isaac looked back toward the distant road filled with people.

"Wait, is someone even manning the shop right now?"

"No," Catherine said. "Alice and Selene are still at her home. You’re currently very, very short on staff."

Isaac groaned. "Wonderful."

They talked until they reached home. Isaac had to accept that talking with Professor Catherine was always interesting.

Once they reached their destination, she stretched.

"I’ll check in on Leora," she said. "She should be teaching Emily right now, but I’m worried she might be a bit strict on her."

Isaac gave a small nod as Professor Catherine disappeared down the hallway.

He stepped outside to the fields and began his harvest routine.

The familiar scent of soil, grain, and warm breeze hit him. The sun wasn’t too harsh today, which made it easier.

1000 Tier 1 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +500. Constitution +500.

You have obtained 5000 Tier 1 Vitality Grains.

3960 Tier 0 Vitality Grain Crops harvested. Mana +360. Constitution +360.

You have obtained 19,800 Tier 0 Vitality Grains.

Mana: 100 [1000 → 1000]

Constitution: 100 [1000 → 1000]

Isaac winced when he saw the lost stats. Even though he knew he could recoup the losses with a few harvest, it still stung.

After he tended to his farm, he checked his bank account information.

[Credited (Last 24 Hours): 1,861,100,000 Obols]

[Balance (Total): 2,698,060,000 Obols]

His eyebrows rose.

"All the grains were sold yesterday," he muttered. "That explains the jump."

Nearly 1.9 billion in one day. That alone was more than what most small businesses made in months. It brought his total to almost 2.7 billion in just three days.

With four days remaining, he calculated roughly....

"I’ll be a bit short of ten billion at this pace."

He needed more land to boost his income.

Until now, he’d avoided expanding because of his limited mana pool.

But with Alice’s awakening on the horizon, that concern should disappear.

As he was lost in thought, Leora appeared beside him, holding out a chilled tangerine drink.

He took it. "Thanks."

"I thought you were teaching Emily," he asked after a sip.

"I was," Leora replied. "Catherine took over. She’s checking Emily’s homework from yesterday."

Isaac chuckled. "She didn’t have time to finish that. None of us did."

"Still, rules are rules," Leora said, folding her arms.

Isaac nodded, then looked back at the freshly harvested land.

"I’m thinking of buying five more hectares."

Leora raised an eyebrow. "Is your bloodline starting to awaken?"

"Huh?" Isaac blinked.

"You don’t need to hide it. We already suspected you had an apex bloodline, since you had high initial stats. After that battle yesterday, it’s not surprising if it’s beginning to stir."

He tilted his head. "What does a life-and-death fight have to do with awakening?"

Leora returned to him to the porch as she explained. "All types of awakenings are triggered by stirring potential. Awakening Crystals mostly awakens talent, but still help with other types of awakenings.

"But real awakening—the old-fashioned kind—used to come from surviving the brink of death."

Isaac narrowed his eyes. "So... there are more types of awakening?"

She nodded. "There are three types: Talent Awakening, Bloodline Awakening, and Physique Awakening."

She held up her fingers as she listed them.

"Low-rank species typically only awaken talent. Mid-rank species can awaken both talent and bloodline. High-rank species can awaken all three.

"Apex-rank species—like dragons or devils—also awaken all three and they have a higher stat limit."

Isaac nodded slowly, and a question appeared in his mind.

"Let’s say, someone has the potential for all three but never awakens them. Is that possible?" he recounted Alice’s situation.

"Theoretically, yes," she said. "Awakening depends on potential being stirred, which means pushing the soul under pressure. The stronger the soul, the harder it is to awaken."

She paused and looked at him.

"That’s why awakening crystals are made from monster cores. The monster’s will is embedded in it. When you absorb it, the will tries to overwhelm you—putting your soul under duress. That’s what triggers the awakening."

Isaac blinked, surprised.

"Wait. Are those things even safe to use?"

Leora smiled. "Of course. We only use a fraction of the monster core’s will. Just enough to stimulate the soul. The rumors about people turning into monsters came from a few rare public awakenings where their appearance changed after bloodline activation."

Isaac nodded slowly.

That explained a lot.

He thought about Alice.

Her soul must’ve been incredibly powerful.

That would explain why the standard Awakening Crystal made from a part of monster core (Genetic Catalyst) hadn’t worked on her.

It needed a dragon’s catalyst to force her potential to awaken.

Just as he was deep in thought, Leora returned with a folder and a tablet.

"Here’s the paperwork for the new land."

He signed it without hesitation.

Five more hectares were added into his farm.