Above The Sky
Chapter 104 - 104 99 Touching the Stars

104: Chapter 99: Touching the Stars 104: Chapter 99: Touching the Stars The status of the White Folks in Harrison Port was entirely rooted in Elder Pude alone, both due to his personal friendship with Viscount Grant and Elder Pude’s own strength—Hiliard believed the other White Folks weren’t ignorant of this.

They surely understood that in the face of Elder Pude’s authority, they had no choice but to comply, and could not possibly object.

But for the sake of the ‘future Elder of the White Folks’, there were definitely fools and greedy individuals who felt dissatisfied and thereby tempted to lay hands on Ian, the ‘presumed Elder Successor’.

“Of course there are.

I can clearly see that Captain Red holds me in disdain,”

Ian picked up an oyster and slurped its contents, disposing of the meat with little interest in these affairs: “He thinks what’s the use of being a Spirit Energy User?

Without any inheritance or resources, no matter what, you’re still at the First Energy Level—and I’m too young, how could I shoulder such an important role?

He’s the one who’s truly upholding the burden; a Sublimator who has fought vigorously for the White Folks, who has bled in battles against families and Natives.”

“As for the Alchemist Minning, she couldn’t care less about that, but she was disgruntled that Elder Pude didn’t pass on all his knowledge to her.

She’s Elder Pude’s niece and has sarcastically criticized her uncle several times for preferring to pass his secret skills to an ‘outsider’ rather than to her.”

“Haha.” Hearing this, Hiliard also laughed, finding such mundane conflict somewhat nostalgic: “But the knowledge of Aether Armament that Elder Pude taught you originates from Viscount Grant.

Without the Viscount’s consent, he wouldn’t have been able to teach you privately, no matter what.”

“What’s more,” he reached out, rubbing Ian’s rain-soaked hair with Origin Quality steaming from his hand, drying the wetness: “Inscriptions, if you don’t get it, you don’t.

She’s definitely not as smart as you.”

“It’s just really boring anyway.”

Ian shook his head, expressionless as he allowed the old Knight to tidy up his increasingly long white hair: “The captain is actually very friendly to me, since my Spirit Energy can discern which catches can sell for more money.

It might be because of my father too, he was the first to openly display a green signal of favor towards me.”

“And his nephew, or Uncle Senan as I call him, also gets along with me quite well, so he’s been quite supportive of me.”

Sublimators’ Origin Quality is a life force that can only be stored within one’s body, and hair, with its simple and continuously repeatable structural pattern, serves as a great material for storing Origin Quality.

Ian could easily hunt those Beast Demons containing Primordial Essence, which allowed him, even at his young age, to accumulate a large amount of Origin Quality.

No matter how much he trained, he couldn’t use it all up and had to store it as best as he could.

As for Elder Pude’s precautionary measures, Ian understood them but found them of little interest.

He fully grasped the importance of social relationships and the necessity of various political maneuvers; he just couldn’t be bothered to apply himself in that area, considering it a practical waste.

Back when he was still on Earth, he was the typical bookworm, spending his days studying, reading, stargazing, taking exams, and building model kits.

KTV, dining out, and student gatherings were a waste of time; he would rather spend eight hours at home assembling a model of a Truth Defender-class Battleship than go out to socialize.

There was a slight change after he started working, but that was only because Ian realized that building relationships could save him more time in critical moments—and occasionally he would meet fellow enthusiasts, which doubled his joy.

That’s why, despite his lack of interest, Ian did not refuse Elder Pude’s invitation to meet with each of the White Folks’ elders in turn.

“So how did it end up being resolved?”

Hiliard was rather interested as he inquired about the final outcome: “Even if Elder Pude doesn’t consider you as the successor, he wouldn’t allow anyone to show ‘dissatisfaction’ with his choice…

even if you don’t want to be the future leader of the White Folks, he wouldn’t tolerate anyone daring to defy him now.”

After all, whether or not Ian takes over in the future, the Elder himself could still live another twenty years.

If people are disobedient now, imagine what it would be like when he actually gets old!

“Elder Pude showed them ‘my’ Wavechant Legacy,”

Ian stated simply: “Elder Pude decreed that it is for me to decide, who can practice the Wavechant Legacy in the future.

After all, it’s a reward I received from Viscount Grant, and that’s perfectly reasonable.”

“Captain Red capitulated; his inheritance is Bloodline Reversion and due to low Power Levels he can’t pass it on to his children—he has three kids.”

“Smart man.”

Hiliard nodded slightly: “Now, no one will have doubts.”

“But…” The old Knight spoke slowly: “Do you really want to be the Elder of the White Folks?”

“Hmm,” Ian said languidly, putting down the fishbone in his hand and looking toward the fiercely surging coast: “To be honest, Teacher, such a thing is truly boring…

but if I were the Elder and leader of the White Folks, many things would surely be convenient.”

The boy gazed at the distant waves and the faint outline of a fishing boat on the horizon, feeling somewhat contemplative: “In the end, Humans are social creatures; the more people there are, the greater their strength.”

“If I were just an Ordinary Sublimator, at the very least I could ensure my own safety and that of Elan.”

“If I were the Elder of the White Folks, I’m confident that I could improve ship designs, advance the ship industry of Harrison Port beyond nearshore confines, and develop the fisheries and commerce, exploring farther afield.”

“If I were the Governor of Harrison Port, I could attempt to enhance the construction of Alchemy Cannons and Firelocks, quell the warfare that has raged in the South Ridge for so many years, and establish a prospering city.”

“This way, the surrounding environment would be much safer, free from war and feuding, and I would have fewer troubles, allowing me to more peacefully study what I demand.”

Ian’s words were as plain as a narration, devoid of confidence or proclamation, yet natural as eating and drinking, simply because in his eyes, everything was just a matter of course.

Yet Hiliard fully believed him and didn’t find anything inappropriate about his student’s thoughts, “Indeed, you can do it.”

After a moment of silence, Hiliard spoke again.

“Ian.”

This time, the old knight’s tone was slow, ethereal, filled with deep nostalgia, “If you were…

a general of The Empire, a governor of a province.”

“Or even, the Imperial Emperor.”

“What would you do?”

Having said this, he waited.

“Haha, there would be so much to do, but surely it’d be faster than me figuring things out and acting alone,” Ian chuckled, then looked up, lost in his imagination, “I don’t understand military affairs, so being a general is hard to say, but it’s definitely more powerful than being the governor of a semi-autonomous region like Harrison Port.

I might use the pretext of military innovation to research things like Alchemical Cannons, Alchemy Rockets, etc., laying a good foundation.”

“Didn’t the merchants say there’s news from the City of Knowledge that they’re building Floating Warships?

I think I could give it a try too, they’re all rocket ships after all, I could manage that.”

“As for being a provincial governor, there would be too many things to do.

First, I’d build a Material Science Research Center.

I need to delve into Inscriptions, the deconstruction and re-study of Aether Armaments is also a project that needs to be on the agenda…

There’s so much to do, I suddenly feel like I need to make a list.”

“As for the emperor…”

At this point, Ian fell into thought, his brow furrowed in silence.

And Hiliard waited patiently,

He didn’t think his student was silent or thoughtful out of fear of the emperor’s dignity.

After months of living together, he knew his student to be a pure soul without any fear or innate adoration, loyal only to his own heart.

Inside Ian, there was a power, a pure curiosity that could change the world, but it still needed a bit of help.

He was certain of that and was willing to help his student achieve it.

But first, the old knight wanted to know the true desires, ambitions…

And dreams within Ian’s heart.

“I…”

It was perhaps a few minutes later, after thinking about many things, concocting numerous ideas, wanting to say a great deal, that Ian opened his mouth only to find he didn’t know where to start.

His plans, his checklist, his timetable, his research projects…

all mixed together, stirring his thoughts.

In the end, the boy just sighed, looked up, and gazed at the overcast sky.

Staring at the dark, rain-filled firmament, Ian softly said, “After all, I still want.”

“I want to touch the light of the stars with my own hands.”

The downpour wove a dark silver curtain across the sea and sky, water flowing along the broad leaves of the seaside trees, forming cascading veils that dripped onto the camp’s waterproof tarpaulins with a pattering sound.

Hiliard and Ian watched the sky in silence, lightning seeming to streak across the horizon in the distance.

The clouds rolled tumultuously.

“Let’s go.”

Hiliard stood up, “Training must continue.”

“Hmm,” Ian packed away the remains of his finished meal, having regained his strength.

And so, the master and disciple continued their training until the sun set.

Until night fell.