Gathering Wives with a System

Chapter 480: Gifts From Other Lords; Let’s Start The Operation ’Scamming 101’

The sheer absurdity of the Status Screen plunged the meeting hall into silence.

No one spoke at first. The air felt heavier than before, as if even breathing too loudly would break something fragile. A few Lords shifted slightly in their seats, but even those small movements felt out of place.

Could it be that Isaac had found a way to trick the Inspect items?

The thought appeared in more than one mind, but it didn’t last long.

No, that wouldn’t be possible.

The Lords exchanged brief glances. Some of them gave small, almost imperceptible shakes of their heads.

All of them possessed Legendary-grade Inspect items. These were not tools that could be fooled with cheap tricks. Hiding a Status was possible. Overloading an Inspect item, like Isaac had done earlier, was also within reason. But showing a completely false Status was not possible. Not against a Legendary grade Inspect item.

The only remaining explanation was that they were inside an illusion.

But even that didn’t hold.

There were too many powerful figures present. Lords, their subordinates, and the Third Priest himself. Even the Water Elemental Spirit wouldn’t be able to trap all of them inside an illusion without someone noticing something was off.

Which meant the Status they had seen... was real.

That realization settled quietly, but heavily, in everyone’s mind.

”Greetings, Lords.”

Isaac’s voice cut through the silence with ease. He stood there with a faint smile, calm and composed, as if nothing unusual had happened.

The Lords responded almost immediately, pushing aside their thoughts for the moment.

”Greetings, Lord Isaac.”

”It’s good to finally meet you, Lord Isaac.”

”You look much more handsome in person.”

The exchange was smooth and polite. No one brought up the Status. Not yet.

Isaac walked forward and took the empty seat prepared for him. Avery followed without hesitation and sat beside him.

Under normal circumstances, that alone would have caused friction. Many of the Lords present would not tolerate a weaker Lord sitting among them so casually. But this time, no one showed any displeasure.

Instead, they smiled and greeted Avery as well.

Averon and Alice remained standing behind Isaac.

Several Lords glanced at Averon. They recognized him. He had a powerful Talent and Class, something that made him stand out in combat. But that was all.

He lacked a Lord Talent.

For a Lord, personal strength was secondary. What truly mattered was the ability to grow a City and lead others effectively. Averon might be exceptional in battle, but as a Lord, he was nothing special.

With him at the helm, a City wouldn’t progress much.

But now he stood behind Isaac.

That alone changed how they viewed him.

So he has already pledged allegiance.

The thought spread quietly.

Then another realization followed.

Isaac Hargraves has a way to hide his Lord Talent.

It had already been confirmed that Isaac possessed a 100%+ Drop Rate Lord Talent. Yet it hadn’t appeared in his Status.

Items capable of hiding Status were extremely rare. But seeing Avery sitting beside him, the Lords could guess where such an item might have come from.

Their attention shifted.

It landed on Alice.

For a brief moment, the atmosphere changed.

Greed flickered in their eyes.

A Saintess.

She was an invaluable piece. A figure that could stabilize a City, influence populations, and attract attention of Gods. She was the kind of existence wars were fought over.

The Lords suppressed those thoughts quickly.

There was no need to rush.

If they secured Isaac, Alice would naturally fall under their influence as well.

Then their attention moved again.

To the dark blue-haired woman leaning against the wall.

She stood apart from the others, arms crossed, watching them with a calm, almost indifferent gaze.

She was observing them.

A faint displeasure appeared in several Lords’ expressions.

They didn’t know who she was, and yet she carried herself as if their presence meant little.

More importantly, there had been a clear rule. Each Lord could bring only two subordinates.

Everyone here had followed it.

They could overlook Isaac bringing the Water Elemental Spirit. That was understandable. But this?

An unknown human woman casually present without any explanation...

It felt like a deliberate slight.

”Who are you?”

Sisyphus spoke, his voice measured. At the same time, he activated his Inspect item.

It failed.

That alone made his expression tighten slightly.

”She is with me.”