Empire: Isaac? Isaac: Loyalty!

What right did Isaac have to receive such a summons?

Looking at the document in his hand, Isaac's eyes flickered slightly. He was considering whether he should go. It was important.

If he went, it was very likely an Imperial trap, meant to execute him—the "chief culprit" responsible for the Empire's downfall—ahead of time!

If he did not go, and the Empire had no such intentions, merely inviting him as an ordinary noble, would he not be finished?

Isaac pondered over the document in his hand for a moment before finally deciding—he would go!

The reason was simple: the Empire was powerful!

Powerful beyond measure!

Isaac...

Could not afford to gamble.

To Isaac, the Empire was a colossal entity. Even though the Emperor had fallen and most of the Empire's pillars had gone down with him, the remaining Imperial loyalists were still not opponents Isaac could handle.

At least, not before his Demon God Pillars had been refined.

So even though he knew this might be a trap, Isaac still had to go. Not for any other reason, but to let the Empire know that he, Isaac, was loyal!

After making his decision, Isaac put away the document and summoned Lapis Lazuli.

"Pack up the materials and keep them safe..." The words had barely left his mouth when Isaac abruptly changed his mind. Raising a hand, he said, "No, pack these things together with the materials we prepared earlier."

That was right. Apart from accepting the Empire's summons, Isaac had also decided—to head for the Boundless Spire, that first-generation Great Creation!

A perfect advancement did not tempt him much, but the claim that it was a first-generation Great Creation was extremely enticing to him, though it was still unclear whether it truly was a Great Creation.

No one knew whether the information there was true, since that thing could be filled in by oneself. Still, for one thing, Isaac did not believe that someone capable of becoming a Great Wizard would do something so meaningless.

For another, even if it was not truly a first-generation Great Creation, its scale, rewards, and effects alone meant it was definitely a Great Creation. As long as it was a Great Creation, going would not be a loss.

The only difference was that a first-generation Great Creation might be a little rougher around the edges, making it more likely for Isaac to glimpse the path to greatness!

Of course, the more likely possibility was that even if it truly was a first-generation Great Creation, Isaac still would not be able to make heads or tails of it...

That had been the reason for Isaac's earlier hesitation. The Boundless Spire's reward for a perfect advancement to the fourth tier held little appeal for him. On the contrary, remaining in the real world would give him a greater advantage.

Because in the real world, once the third tier became the limit, he would be invincible!

Even if the "new level" of the fourth tier opened up, he was confident he could swiftly catch up to the leading group!

However, all of that had changed with this summons. Just as with his decision to answer the Empire's call, the reason was the same: he needed to prove his loyalty to the Empire!

And the best way to prove it was for him, a potential enemy who was about to become invincible, to disappear outright and enter the Boundless Spire alongside the Empire's pillars. Only then could the Empire truly rest easy.

Besides, he estimated that no proper wizard could resist such temptation before a Great Creation. Thus, those noble spellcasters would basically all head into the Boundless Spire in search of an opportunity to break through. Other than third-tier powerhouses from major factions like the Empire, those who remained would mostly be a motley bunch.

And if that was all they had to deal with, then with Lapis Lazuli and the others, they might not be able to expand, but holding what they had should be possible, right?

Hearing Isaac's words, Lapis Lazuli froze for a moment, then nodded and withdrew. She rummaged through the warehouse, found the spatial storage devices that had nearly gathered dust, and packed away all the materials Isaac needed.

Speaking of spatial tools...

Although this magic world was advanced, spatial tools were still quite precious. It was only because Isaac possessed a Dimension World with limitless space and had no need for such things that they had gradually been left to gather dust.

Isaac had originally planned to save them up and sell them all one day, but unexpectedly, they now came in handy. After all, no one knew whether they would still be able to open the Dimension World normally after entering the Boundless Spire.

Once Lapis Lazuli had finished packing, Isaac made some simple arrangements, then took Smith and Rona from the Dimension World to the Imperial Capital.

He brought Smith because he had not paid attention to noble affairs for a long time and no longer understood much of the etiquette. He needed Smith's assistance in that regard. As Solomon's old butler, Smith knew all about it.

Furthermore, the Boundless Spire might open at any moment, and Isaac intended to have Smith enter with him. Over the years, Smith had consumed quite a few of Isaac's resources. Not only had he advanced into a High Knight, but his bloodline had also fully evolved into that of a Pure-Blooded Giant Dragon.

His combat strength was not low among the third tier. Even if he became separated from Isaac after entering the Boundless Spire, with his abilities, he had a chance of passing the Boundless Spire's trials and advancing perfectly to the fourth tier!

When that happened, his potential would surely rise to another level!

It would undoubtedly save Isaac a great deal of trouble.

As for Rona, the reason was much simpler. As a Witch with both mechanics and absurd stats, even Isaac was no match for her in a direct confrontation. Passing the trials would be effortless for her. She was already this strong at the third tier—if she advanced to the fourth, who knew how terrifying she would become?

Moreover, for Witches, the fourth tier and third tier were completely different matters. At the third tier, any Witch with even a little potential could advance easily as long as she was serious and cautious enough. But the fourth tier was different.

At the fourth tier, even a Witch like Angel, who bore an Original Tome, could not advance easily. Without suffering a little, she would never break through.

This was another reason Isaac believed the real world would become a low-level game. The noble spellcasters and the monstrous stat freaks would all be gone. What remained would naturally be a low-level game, would it not?

The next day, Isaac and the other two arrived directly outside the Imperial Capital, in Filis Town, through the Dimension World. Under Smith's arrangements, they tidied themselves up a little before riding an extravagant carriage into the Imperial Capital.

Inside the carriage, watching the noble carriages traveling alongside them, Isaac could not help but sigh. Bringing Smith along this time had truly been the right choice. Though Isaac was still only a lowly baron, at the very bottom of the Empire's five ranks of nobility.

He was still a noble, no matter what.

And although baron was the lowest rank, one had to remember that this was still a supernatural world. A title of nobility did not determine everything!

As a noble wizard, even a mad wizard like Isaac held a status half a notch above nobles who were not wizards!

And his formidable third-tier strength raised Isaac's status several notches higher!

And as a pioneering noble recognized across the entire continent, his status rose a little further!

Add in all sorts of miscellaneous factors, such as bloodline, lineage of mentorship, and other complicated connections, and Isaac's standing had risen considerably. Though he was clearly a baron, his carriage was allowed to travel along the avenue reserved exclusively for marquises!

He was even ahead of Solomon, the head of his house!