Before Emily could throw herself into Isaac's arms, the Eltari assistant gently rested a hand on her shoulder.
"My Lord, you can talk while working," the assistant said politely.
Although her tone remained respectful, it was clear she intended to remind Emily that there was still a great deal of work waiting for her.
Emily's smile stiffened for a brief moment.
She looked at the assistant before turning back toward Isaac, silently pleading with her eyes for him to save her from the endless paperwork.
Isaac answered her look with an amused smile.
"I'll handle Emily's work for a few minutes. I need her for something important," he said.
The assistant looked at him before lowering her head. "As you wish, Lord Isaac."
She stepped aside without another word, though Isaac could easily tell she had more to say. She simply wasn't in a position to argue with his decision.
A clone of Isaac appeared beside Emily's desk and immediately sat down in her chair. It picked up the documents she had been working on and continued sorting them as naturally as if nothing had changed.
The moment the assistant moved away, Emily phased straight through the desk instead of walking around it. She wrapped both arms around Isaac without the slightest hesitation, making Catherine smile from where she stood.
Isaac laughed quietly as he returned the hug.
"If someone saw us right now, they would probably think we hadn't met for months," he teased.
"They can think whatever they want." Emily only hugged him tighter.
Isaac chuckled before leading both Emily and Catherine toward another room. They chatted casually along the way, and once they were alone, Isaac opened the entrance to the Moon Dimension.
The three of them stepped inside together. The prisoners were still exactly where Isaac had left them, their miserable state unchanged since the last visit.
Emily's expression didn't soften in the slightest when she looked at them. Isaac wasn't surprised because, when it came to people who had harmed their family, Emily thought almost exactly like he did.
To both of them, anyone who willingly crossed that line became an enemy. Once that happened, kindness and pity were luxuries those people no longer deserved.
Isaac reached into his storage and pulled out two Ancient Spirit Contract Scrolls.
"Take these," he said.
Emily accepted them without much surprise. After spending so much time around Isaac, she had grown accustomed to him producing absurdly valuable treasures as casually as if they were ordinary items.
Isaac wasn't finished.
He reached into his storage once more and took out another Soulbound Spirit Core. The legendary-grade treasure radiated a familiar spiritual aura that Emily recognized instantly.
Her eyes widened despite herself.
"This... how?" she asked.
Isaac simply chuckled instead of answering.
Emily carefully accepted the second Soulbound Spirit Core and examined it closely. She already possessed one, yet Isaac had somehow found another legendary treasure that should have been nearly impossible to obtain.
With two Soulbound Spirit Cores, she would now be able to contract six spirits every day. The thought excited her, but it also reminded her that she needed to rank up as quickly as possible.
Although her Netherborne Bloodline granted her an exceptionally powerful soul, it wasn't limitless. Most summoners at her current rank could only support one or two spirits as powerful as hers, while Emily could maintain far more, but even she would eventually reach her limit if she continued contracting stronger spirits without advancing.
She carefully stored the Soulbound Spirit Core away before looking at the two scrolls in her hand.
"I'll use one of the Ancient Spirit Contract Scrolls before I tame the prisoners," she said.
Isaac nodded in agreement. Catherine also turned her attention toward the scroll, curious to see which legendary existence would answer the summons this time.
Emily activated the scroll without delay. Ancient runes lit up across its surface before the parchment dissolved into countless particles of golden light.
The glowing particles gathered together in front of them, gradually forming a large portal. Waves of ancient spiritual energy spread throughout the Moon Dimension as the portal slowly stabilized.
Isaac unconsciously held his breath. The previous Ancient Spirit Contracts had brought forth the East Sea Dragon King and the Ancient Dwarf King, so there was little doubt that whoever emerged next would stand among beings of the same caliber.
A massive figure slowly walked out of the portal.
At first glance, it resembled a gigantic crocodile from Isaac's previous world. It moved on four sturdy legs, its body nearly as large as a house, while an enormous ancient book rested securely across its back.
Despite its intimidating appearance, Isaac's attention was immediately drawn to its eyes. They held such profound wisdom that he couldn't think of it as an ordinary beast.
Instead, a strange feeling of respect rose naturally within him, as though he were standing before a scholar who had witnessed countless ages pass. He glanced at Emily and saw that she wore much the same expression.
The enormous creature inclined its head politely. "Greetings. I am Sage Sea. Am I correct in believing that you are the one who summoned me, beautiful lady?"
"Yes," Emily replied with a respectful nod.
Isaac studied Sage Sea carefully as silence settled over the room. Although this spirit clearly stood on the same level as Oz and Eizekiel, there wasn't even a trace of arrogance in his manner.
Even the way he addressed Emily sounded completely natural. It didn't feel like flattery or flirtation, but rather the courteous greeting of someone who treated everyone with equal respect.
"I would like to form a contract with you, Sir Sage Sea. Are there any requirements that I need to fulfill?" Emily asked.
Sage Sea smiled gently before answering. "There are no great trials that I wish to impose upon you. Since we have met through this contract, perhaps it is simply fate."
He paused for a moment before continuing. "I do have two requests. First, would you tell me about your life and about the place where you currently live?"