Above The Sky
Chapter 155 - 155 144 Omen of Certain Death 14

155: Chapter 144 Omen of Certain Death (1/4) 155: Chapter 144 Omen of Certain Death (1/4) “How’s it going, Ian?

Got a result?”

When Ian descended the stairs with a solemn face, Senan, who had been pacing back and forth in front of the grocery store’s counter, unable to hide even a trace of anxiety, immediately brightened with a smile.

He stepped forward, asking somewhat eagerly, “What’s the result?”

Because Ian fixed a serious gaze on him, Senan caught himself in an unseemly manner, coughed lightly, and then struggled to return to normal, “I…

I’m in a bit of a rush for money recently, got a little anxious.”

“Hmm…”

After pondering for a while, Ian maintained his oppressive aura over Senan, before he slowly began to speak, “Very good, Uncle Senan…

What you’ve brought is a radiation variant of the Taisi Fluorescent Algae, imbued with a trace of Thunder Essence.

It’s an extremely high-quality raw material for Alchemical Inscription Light Ink.”

“This whole bag together is worth a complete Demonic Beast Material, at least enough to make five bottles of high-grade Light Ink of the High Rank of the First Energy Level.

This batch of algae would be priced at about one hundred and forty Talle or more.”

The Light Ink that Ian used for crafting Anti-Impact Armor Plating was of the Incapable Level, ordinary Light Ink, with a bottle costing merely a dozen or so Talle, but that was just an inflated price at Harrison Port.

In contrast, a bottle of First Energy Level Inscription Light Ink would start at seventy Talle.

It could be used to create the core ignition module of an Alchemical Cannon, and was considered a strategic material reserve, so the price was naturally exorbitant.

As he said this, Ian’s eyes opened wider and his brows lifted, his tone rising slightly, “Recently, there have been many Elf Pirates in the Canaan Moore area, and the goods can’t get through.

Both the city hall and the Alchemy Workshop are worried.”

He leaned forward slightly, asking tentatively, “How about I buy it off you?”

“Although my success rate in Alchemy isn’t high, as long as it’s over fifty percent, I can profit, and it’s a good chance to practice crafting Light Ink.”

One hundred and forty Talle was indeed a significant sum, equivalent to a year’s salary for a guard at the Viscount’s Mansion, although of course, it wouldn’t compare if you accounted for attendance bonuses and such.

From Ian’s evaluation, what was left after the shares for Elder Prude and Viscount Grant were not much, and most of it went into his regular expenses for practicing Alchemical Inscriptions and his and the Elan Brothers’ living costs.

But even so, no one would doubt that Ian had the means to come up with that sum.

The white-haired youth gazed at the fisherman before him.

Theoretically, if Senan really wanted to sell for money, he should be ecstatic now—no need to look for a buyer after the evaluation, no concerns about being cheated, and the buyer was someone he had a great relationship with.

Ian wouldn’t offer him a lowball price, either.

Everyone would profit; it was very convenient.

Indeed, selling the bag of Fluorescent Algae to Ian would be theoretically the best choice.

However, Ian noticed that Senan’s expression visibly panicked.

“Uh…”

Clearly, the fisherman was racking his brains for a reason, and he spoke intermittently, “This bag of Fluorescent Algae…

well.

It’s already been reserved by someone!”

“Although their offer was comparable…

but, how should I put it, I don’t feel assured!

So, I came to check the price with you…”

As he spoke, crafting a lie for Ian undoubtedly took a lot of effort from Senan, and he announced with reddening face and ears, “Right, that’s it, sorry Ian, I can’t sell this bag of Fluorescent Algae to you!”

“I see.”

The young man of the White Folks sighed, sitting on his counter with his elbow on his knee, propping his face in resignation, “So, you really are just appraising this item on someone else’s behalf, huh?”

“Ah?

That…”

Senan’s mind went blank in an instant, he tried hard to come up with a rebuttal, but in the end, he couldn’t form a sentence, “No, I’m not…

this…”

Seeing this, Ian could only shake his head sympathetically, “Sigh, Uncle Senan, remember to prepare your lies better next time, and don’t lie to me, I have Spirit Energy.

Of course, it’s best not to lie to others either; you’re not cut out for this type of thing.”

“Now.”

At that moment, a water-colored brilliance lit up in his eyes, “Tell me what’s really going on.”

“It concerns your life, don’t lie this time.”

Outside, dark clouds tumbled over Harrison Port, an early spring thunderstorm gathering.

In the still room, he fixed his gaze on the tense middle-aged fisherman.

With flickers of flame igniting deep within his eyes, an invisible force spread out, and on Senan’s forehead, Ian saw a dense clump of dark energy that didn’t dissipate.

And a crimson blood light, covering his entire body, thick and heavy, carried a chilling, bone-piercing killing intent.

——A sign of great misfortune, certain death.

At this moment, Ian’s expression was solemn as he looked at the fisherman before him, who dared not speak: “Were you threatened, or swept into some sort of conspiracy?

If there is any unspeakable trouble, I can ask Elder Prude to resolve it.”

“Tell me the truth, we can help you.”

Ian’s words were gentle and warm, but they were very persuasive.

The mutual assistance among communities in this era was not empty talk but the most important method to unite a community family—Ian’s generous appraisals, even using Spirit Energy to help select fishery catches and investigate herbs, were such help.

Ian’s promise, now, could entirely be seen as ‘Elder Prude’s promise, even ‘White Folks’ promise.

With his current identity and position, he absolutely had the qualification.

Ian believed that if Senan was merely threatened by some foreign Sublimator, or even if he was working with dangerous individuals and hadn’t figured out the situation, he should be honest with him now.

But contrary to the young man’s expectations, even though he had been so explicit, Senan’s expression still fluctuated, seeming as if he wanted to say something but found it difficult to speak up.

“You really could die.”

Realizing that his old friend was still hesitating, even Ian was starting to get angry: “You know I don’t lie—my Spirit Energy premonition is very strong, you are in great danger right now!”

“To give an example, it’s like smearing yourself with honey and aromatic oil, and walking naked through the Natives’ camp—that kind of risk!”

Senan certainly wasn’t the kind of person who did not heed advice; in fact, the moment Ian spoke, he considered whether he should come clean.

How could he not know how strong Ian’s Spirit Energy premonition was if others didn’t?

As a Spirit Energy User specialized in sensory exploration, they could vaguely sense the good and bad omens concerning themselves, so they could choose not to leave the house at specific times to avoid disaster.

And someone like Ian, a ‘genius’ with extremely high perception, could even faintly sense the disasters surrounding other people or objects.

Should the premonition come true, flowerpots would get knocked over, warhorses would stumble, and Humans would suffer accidents.

Those who didn’t heed the warnings, like Kame, who was devoured by a Sharp Claw Tiger three years ago; Icaro, who was skinned by bandits the same year; the Omo Brothers, who were swept away by the tide two years ago; and Lady Sara who mysteriously vanished in the mountains one and a half years ago, likely consumed by the Natives, were the best examples.

Why hasn’t there been any in the past year?

Because in the past year, everyone started to believe Ian’s words, that’s why!

Whether those who trusted him still lived, nobody knew.

But everyone saw with their own eyes that those who didn’t believe all died.

Not to mention, Ian’s abilities had been recognized by Viscount Grant!

It’s said that a year and a half ago, during that typhoon, it was his early warning that saved one of the Viscount’s merchant ships from capsizing in the storm, preventing the loss of a large merchant ship, more than a dozen sailors, and cargo worth almost six thousand Talle.

Since then, Viscount Grant even arranged for Ian to have a sinecure at the Alchemy Workshop, where he could draw a weekly salary of three Talle even without working, in addition to various allowances.

It was also that premonition that essentially made all White Folks accept Ian as the future Elder Successor.

——Nonsense!

Who wouldn’t want their leader to be able to turn bad luck into good fortune and avoid losses?

Even if it wasn’t perfectly accurate, it was at least better than others!

“So it’s actually that dangerous…

I thought it was just a big order, just a group of Magical Beast Hunters…”

With a grave expression, Senan was indeed a good person.

He muttered fearfully in his heart: “No wonder they insisted I not reveal any information, it seemed so strange to me…”

He hadn’t lied nor was he appraising the goods on behalf of someone else—the price of the seaweed was his deposit.

It’s just that the ‘clients’ wanted him to return with the appraisal results and the seaweed for their research, and they would pay cash in return.

But rather, he was such a kind person that, even though he considered revealing the truth might cause trouble for Ian and the other White Folks, Senan began to hesitate whether to speak the truth.