Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 420: Deal With Selene, Family Dinner, Awakening Of The Water Elemental Spirit

"I'm giving you the very first sentient being I've ever brought to life..." Isaac's face showed clear reluctance as he scratched the back of his neck. "That's quite the demand."

Selene's grin wavered for a moment.

She had stepped into the discussion expecting his instant consent.

Yet, gazing at the tiny plant settled in the earth, she grasped the gravity of her ask.

This wasn't merely some harvest.

It represented the initial sentient existence he had formed.

No wonder he hesitated to part with it.

Before she had a chance to rethink her plea, Isaac pressed on.

"However, I'll hand it over if you consent to one condition from me."

"Condition?" she inquired, her voice calm yet intrigued.

"Indeed. Act as my treasurer. With the profits from this crop piling up, I'm dealing with massive funds, and I require someone reliable to oversee the cash flow."

Selene gazed at him briefly, taken aback.

"Just that?" she questioned.

"It's no minor favor. Not for someone like you, heir to the Calloway Conglomerate," Isaac responded.

Selene went quiet.

She did indeed bear heavy duties linked to the Calloway Conglomerate—endless meetings, detailed reports, tough negotiations. Tossing Isaac's accounts onto that pile wouldn't be easy.

Still, the role itself held real influence.

’Even as the heir, so what?’

’Here, Isaac reigns as Lord. Serving as his treasurer grants me sway in this domain. That's true political clout.’

’Should this area keep expanding as rapidly as it has, that clout will grow substantial.’

’It could even aid the Calloway Conglomerate. Prime access to income sources. Hands-on supervision. Key strategic input.’

She persuaded herself that her agreement stemmed from seeking political strength, not the personal desire fueled by greed to remain nearer to Isaac.

She let out a soft breath.

"Alright," she agreed.

Isaac examined her features closely. "You certain?"

"Absolutely. If you'd like, I can prepare an official agreement this evening."

"We'll sort that out afterward. Right now, your promise suffices." A subtle smile crossed his lips. "Thanks for agreeing. Feel free to take the sunflower."

"Sunflower?" Selene echoed.

"I've chosen to name that crop Sunflower," Isaac explained.

With care, he shifted the plant into a compact travel pot, packing the dirt firmly around the roots for security. The foliage quivered gently yet stayed firm.

Selene received it using both hands. She peered down at the plant in silence, as though etching its form into her memory.

Noticing her content look, Isaac headed back to the farm.

He sowed additional ’sunflower’ seeds, placing them at regular intervals over the ground. On this occasion, he skipped using Seed of Providence to trigger immediate sprouting.

Natural development info was what he sought.

Sprouting duration needed. Rate of mana uptake. Steadiness absent forced help.

As he patted down the final scoop of earth, a alert popped up in his sight.

Life Affinity has advanced from Level 2 to Level 3.

He halted briefly.

It had been ages since an affinity of his had progressed via hands-on application rather than skill transfer. The boost seemed mild yet tangible, akin to enhanced command over life essence strands.

If he could only transfer his affinities to his wives for them to raise those levels on his behalf, much like with skills...

The bold idea flickered through his thoughts momentarily before he shook it off.

He retrieved his phone and started dialing various research labs. The sunflower demanded thorough evaluation. Checks for mana hazards. Impacts from prolonged use. Forecasts for economic impact.

Should its traits align with his estimates, it might transform the resource framework of the awakener sector.

Once the calls wrapped up, he experimented with further genetic blends.

Attempts to merge Golden Tyrannical Hen genes into various crops all flopped unless starting from Vitality Grain.

The system's input had spelled it out plainly.

Animal genes demanded matching structures.

Thus, he required diverse livestock breeds offering varied genetic profiles.

Golden Tyrannical Hen genes paired solely with Vitality Grains.

Even so, one sunflower variety already promised vast possibilities.

Producing additional such crops could generate immense wealth while boosting the awakeners in his city.

He resolved to seek out more livestock options.

Turning back, he spotted Selene nearby once more, holding a towel and a cool beverage.

"I watched Alice do this on my first visit to your home," she noted with a light laugh. "Figured I'd give it a go myself."

"Appreciate it," Isaac answered.

He cleaned the perspiration from his brow and drank from the beverage. It tasted mildly sweet and refreshing.

The scene held a strangely serene quality. Selene, raised as the child of the Calloway Conglomerate's head, pampered like royalty, now stood by him in the fields, offering a towel post-labor.

He brushed the notion away.

"Staying over tonight?" he queried, eyeing the dimming heavens.

"Yes. Another session on cooking today."

Isaac offered a slight smile. Her commitment to honing his culinary skills was evident.

They walked into the residence side by side.

Isaac showered, rinsing off the grime and earthy aroma that clung. Emerging into the kitchen soon after, he found Selene donned in an apron, readying the components.

He positioned himself next to her. "Where do I begin?"

"There," she indicated to the side.

Isaac started slicing produce and gauging spices. In short order, Selene subtly fixed his slices and tweaked the amounts.

"Too much salt there," she remarked.

"I didn't overdo it."

"You absolutely did."

He sampled the broth and winced a bit. She had been correct.

"I'll get better," he promised.

"I certainly hope you will," she answered, a touch of playfulness in her tone.

Shortly thereafter, the entrance swung open.

"Welcome back," Isaac greeted.

Emily entered, her posture a tad drooped. Exhaustion marked her features. Her actions lagged behind their norm.

Sleep nearly claimed her the instant she crossed the threshold.

"Hold off on dozing yet. Dinner first," Isaac urged softly. "Rest can follow."

She agreed with a nod and claimed a seat at the meal table without fuss.

Isaac fetched a basin of warm water and a fresh cloth. He gently cleaned her face and hands. Emily allowed it, her eyelids drooping as though slumber loomed close.

Moments later, the door parted anew.

"Isaac, home now," Celia announced, rushing in.

She dashed to him right away and embraced him firmly.

"Alice works us like slaves. She pushed me into endless fights and had me hunt down fleeing beasts too," she grumbled.

Isaac curved his lips in a modest grin. His duplicate had joined them before. He recognized Celia's flair for drama.

"You performed admirably," he assured.

She widened her eyes, then beamed. "For real?"

"Definitely."

He led her to the table and tended to her face and hands with warm water, mirroring his care for Emily.

"You're babying me," she protested, though relishing the royal pampering.

"Then stop behaving like a kid," he shot back with a laugh.

She pouted yet kept her hands steady. Rather, she reclined in her seat after he finished, appearing content.

At that point, Alice emerged from the bath.

Her locks remained moist, tresses draping over her shoulders. She had slipped into casual attire, her demeanor steady as always.

With Celia and Emily already at the dining area, Alice proceeded directly to the kitchen to assist Selene, who wrapped up the final course.

Isaac trailed her in.

"Solid effort today in the field. You managed it all superbly," he told Alice, grabbing a dish.

"Mhm." She nodded briefly. "The Ashfang tribe's great. I liked battling alongside them."

Isaac gave a soft smile.

He realized she understated the intensity. The Ashfang tribe suited Alice perfectly—raw fights, noble challenges, clear guidelines.

His duplicate had watched much of the day, aware of the fierce clashes.

Alice had clashed with several fighters, swiftly adjusting to their raw power approach. She even claimed victory in an official bout versus the war chief's daughter, stats limited, testing pure battle sense.

That outcome had caught him off guard.

Alice seldom built fresh bonds, but she wrapped up the day grinning beside the ogre lass like old comrades.

"She appeared to hold you in high regard," Isaac noted.

"Strength defined her," Alice stated plainly. "A just battle."

"What of the tattoo?"

Alice hesitated a beat before resuming dish setup.

Isaac glanced at her limbs. No marks showed. Her throat was unmarked as well.

His duplicate missed the inking since it protected Celia then.

Curiosity burned about its placement, but her silence only heightened his interest.

The spread was prepared soon. They transported it all to the table and gathered to dine.

The repast proved satisfying. Hearty, well-rounded, and oddly unified, given Isaac's hand in the initial prep—which forced Selene to redo his botched portions.

Talk meandered smoothly amid the meal.

Emily shared details of a vendor conflict she'd settled. Selene outlined early budget forecasts for growth. Alice delved deeper into the Ashfang tribe's drills.

Celia, in turn, kept spirits buoyant.

"Selene," she remarked, gesturing lightly with her utensils, "you blend right in with our group. Feels like you've been family forever."

Selene's eyes flickered, followed by a modest smile. "Your formal okay?"

"Didn't realize you sought permission," Celia quipped, grinning wide.

Emily let out a gentle laugh at their banter.

Isaac observed the interplay in silence. The vibe felt relaxed.

Post-meal, they tidied jointly and dispersed to their chambers.

Per the rest schedule, Catherine ought to have joined Isaac. Yet, Professor Catherine and the Sword Empress lingered away on their journey.

Following a quick chat, Celia and Emily opted to share Isaac's space that evening.

Selene and Alice claimed a separate room.

The dwelling grew still.

Darkness deepened.

Beyond midnight, Isaac's eyes flew wide.

At first, he couldn't pinpoint the trigger. Silence reigned. No obvious unrest.

Still, he sensed it.

A faint alteration across his holdings.

His awareness heightened at once.

’What's going on?’

The insidious feeling grew stronger. Lacking malice, it bore profound heft. A core shift unfolded.

He acted swiftly.

In an instant, he hovered high above his property.

Then it revealed itself.

The full thousand-hectare expanse gleamed with a gentle, rippling light, like soil transformed into a moonlit sea's face.

Mana surges swept the terrain, ebbing and flowing in consistent cadence.

Mana concentration surged fast.

It pressed on the atmosphere, the skies. From his height, the building force reached him.

His plants reacted.

Life essence filaments sparkled over the land, linking flora in a hidden web. Freshly sown sunflowers quaked under the dirt. Vitality grains throbbed softly.

The ground itself pulsed with vigor.

A pane below creaked open.

Alice leaped out gracefully, grip on her tool firm, gaze keen. She detected it as well.

Spotting him, she ascended.

"What's this?" she wondered.

Isaac lifted his palm a touch, urging patience.

He stretched his senses below.

No breach evident. No foreign mana imposing.

This arose from within.

The territory blessed his yields.

He perceived it sharply now. An profound, timeless entity rousing under the dirt layers and aquifer paths weaving through the grounds.

The mana peaks flowed orderly. They pulsed.

Stirring to life.

"This..." Alice whispered, eyeing the radiant expanses.

Isaac's look changed as realization dawned.

"The water elemental spirit is awakening," he murmured softly.

As though heeding his declaration, a pillar of twinkling azure radiance ascended from the heart irrigation pond, installed during city building. It climbed steadily, coiling like a helical stream.