Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 433: Isaac’s Plan, Alice’s Request

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Previously on Gathering Wives with a System...

Avery reveals the dire truth about the unfolding apocalypse and the Sword Empress's plan to destroy the Ladder of Heavens, effectively sacrificing those stationed on the moon to save Earth. Isaac discovers that the surrounding kingdoms are too preoccupied with claiming spoils from the fallen Celestial Kitsune to confront the incoming threat. While grappling with the overwhelming power of the Sword Empress, Isaac realizes that he has been misinterpreting the core nature of the Moon Dragons. He finally deduces the true, non-combative method needed to potentially complete their arduous quest.

Isaac burst through the sliding door of Avery’s office with enough force to make the panels clatter against their frame.

"I found it!"

Avery raised her eyes from the pile of papers strewn over her desk. Selene, positioned next to her as she examined reports, whipped around simultaneously. The pair fixed their gazes on Isaac, startled by his explosive entry and the obvious thrill lighting up his features.

"Found what?" Avery questioned, crossing her arms.

"The way to clear the Quest," Isaac replied, grinning broadly as he approached them.

Avery eased back into her seat. "Explain."

Isaac shook his head. "Not yet. Wait for Alice first. I’ll lay out the plan for all of you at once."

Selene gave a nod, while Avery eyed him intently with narrowed gaze. Isaac showed no signs of fooling around. Curiosity gripped her about his scheme.

Silence filled the room as they waited. Papers shuffled faintly while Avery tidied her desk once more, her focus drifting away from them. Selene strode back and forth by the window, stealing glances at Isaac, seemingly wishing he’d spill the details early.

After five minutes, the door swung open again.

Alice entered the room. She scanned the trio, instantly picking up on the tense vibe.

"Why did you call me?" she inquired.

"Come sit. I’ve discovered a way to handle this Quest."

He stepped to the middle of the office and placed his hands on the table.

"Alright. I’ll begin from the start," he declared. "Moon Dragons and their offspring primarily revolve around Authority. Their whole being centers on command, legitimacy, and sway. They’re born to rule, negotiate, or lead politics since their aura compels others to heed and yield instinctively."

Selene nodded faintly. "And?"

Right then, Alice’s gaze intensified. Realization sparked in her eyes, as though she grasped his strategy before he voiced it.

"Overcoming the Sword Empress or her forces is beyond us. I doubt any trial taker could manage it. She’s not designed for direct defeat. That’s not the Quest’s intent," Isaac stated evenly.

He halted for a moment, allowing the idea to sink in.

"We must wield Authority to counter her."

Selene cocked her head. "Which means...?"

"It means," Isaac explained, breathing out deliberately, "you have to persuade other kingdoms to aid us. Or get the Sword Empress herself to halt the battle."

Quiet descended over the room.

Avery drummed her fingers softly on the desk. "That’s unrealistic. Even if Selene sways someone, aid won’t arrive soon enough. The Sword Empress will strike well before then. And personally convincing her is far less probable."

Isaac flashed a grin. "Hence the Hell Difficulty."

Avery massaged her brow. "You’re grinning too much for a scheme that seems doomed."

"Because that’s exactly what we’re meant to attempt. But I’ve got a superior approach," Isaac countered.

He snatched a marker from the table and headed to the wall-mounted board. Swiftly, he scribbled notes while talking.

"We hail from the future. That’s the tale Alice and I will spin to the Sword Empress," he announced.

Selene’s eyes widened in shock.

Isaac laughed at her response and pressed on, "We’ll switch sides to her army. Align with her. Claim we arrived from the future bearing a way to avert the Apocalypse."

Avery scowled right away. "And she’ll believe you?"

"She will," Alice interjected before Isaac could reply. "We’ve mastered her Arts. We can show moves known only to her true heirs. That will compel her to hear us out."

Avery shook her head. "Or she’ll think you pilfered them. Do you grasp what defecting entails? She might slay you on the spot. No talks, no do-overs."

Isaac shrugged casually as Alice nodded firmly.

"We know. But the risk is necessary," Alice affirmed.

Before Avery could press, Isaac rushed ahead.

"We’re not betting everything on one shot," he said, sketching three circles on the board. "I’ll produce three clones."

He indicated the first circle.

"One clone remains with Selene. We’ll leverage my farming skill to either join a trade caravan or establish our own. Through that, we’ll disrupt supply lines and markets."

Avery furrowed her brow. "Disrupt them? Why?"

"We hit the families of her soldiers, engineer shortages, and exert indirect strain. This forces troops to fret over their loved ones back home."

He paused, selecting his phrasing with care.

"As families endure hardship, soldiers yearn to return. Morale plummets. Order frays."

Selene gaped at him. "You aim to sway a whole market in mere weeks? Isaac, that demands huge funds and networks. Impossible."

"No, it isn’t," Avery muttered abruptly.

Isaac and Selene both turned to her.

Avery nodded gradually, insight dawning. "This precedes the Apocalypse."

Isaac beamed. "Precisely. And I’m a Farmer. Know what that signifies here?"

Selene’s bewilderment lifted as clarity hit. Her eyes bulged.

"The crops... they thrive still," she murmured. "No blight, no mana rot. Your Talent yields insane harvests, with endless seed options available."

"Correct," Isaac affirmed, snapping his fingers. "Pair my output with your commerce expertise, and we expand rapidly. Explosively fast."

The plan’s heart emerged vividly.

Isaac would churn out resources at impossible speeds. Selene would convert them into sway, deals, and dominance.

"What about me?" Avery queried.

Isaac jabbed the second circle. "You stick with Selene and my clone, safeguarding them. Meanwhile, another clone reaches out to possible allies — contacts you recognize, influencers. You supply the intel for smart approaches."

Avery nodded thoughtfully. At least that played to her skills.

Isaac then struck the last circle.

"Alice and I handle delaying the Sword Empress head-on."

The tactic revealed itself step by step.

Isaac and Alice would slip into her ranks, posing as future escapees armed with doom’s foreknowledge. As they stalled her moves and gained precious time, Selene plus Isaac’s clone would erode the army’s backbone via economic siege.

Success would shatter morale prior to any clash.

Failure still granted moments for allies to rally.

The Sword Empress’s battered forces would then confront the fresh coalition amassed by Avery and Isaac’s other clone.

The blueprint stayed straightforward. Still, myriad flaws could doom it.

The team devoted the following hour to honing specifics.

Issues arose endlessly.

"How do you exit the Ladder of Heavens without alarms?" Selene wondered.

"You’ll be branded deserters," Avery pointed out.

Isaac nodded. "We embrace that danger. Reputation means nothing if the Quest flops regardless."

They debated false personas, paths of travel, clone-to-clone links, and backup cues. Each fix spawned fresh hurdles, demanding further tweaks.

Exhaustion crept in unnoticed by the end.

Dusk had started claiming the outer sky.

Isaac rolled his shoulders. "Enough for now. We launch tomorrow."

No objections rose.

Such schemes demanded sharp minds.

Alice and Isaac exited together into the hushed corridor. The outer air hung serene, worlds apart from their grave choices.

They strolled abreast without words for a stretch.

Alice stayed remarkably subdued, her eyes cast down as though reliving the talk inwardly.

At last, she broke the quiet.

"Isaac."

"Yes?" He faced her.

Alice eased her stride before continuing. "Keep your true body with Selene. Send just a clone along with me."

Isaac blinked in surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"Selene needs your protection. I’ll rest easier with you by her side. And... the Sword Empress could end us. A clone with me means your death risk vanishes."

Isaac halted.

A few paces on, Alice paused and pivoted to meet him.

"Alice—"

"I’m not heading off to throw myself away alone," she assured. A rare, delicate smile graced her lips, so subtle it seemed ethereal. "And Avery stays with Selene too, so your main body isn’t strictly needed there. But this goes beyond tactics. Selene’s mind is fragile now. She relies on you deeply. Staying helps steady her."

Isaac’s brow creased faintly. "And you?"

"I won’t perish. Quit fretting. I’ll manage the talks with the Sword Empress. Plus, you’ll be present with me, clone or not."

Quiet enveloped them.

Isaac’s mouth formed a tight line. He yearned to protest, yet words stalled.

Before he spoke, Alice spun back and quickened her steps.

Her gait hastened, as if fleeing the exchange.

Then Isaac voiced it.

"I see you’re not pushing me to guard Selene solely for her sake."

Alice froze.

She faced away.

The simulated sky overhead morphed hues languidly, casting evening glow on the panels.

"There’s another motive for keeping us apart, right?" Isaac probed.