Above The Sky
Chapter 169 - 169 158 Your Inscriptions are great they are mine now 33

169: Chapter 158: Your Inscriptions are great, they are mine now (3/3) 169: Chapter 158: Your Inscriptions are great, they are mine now (3/3) While Viscount Grant negotiated with Master Gossay,

the blonde noble on the side slightly frowned.

“This guy really knows how to cling to others, he’s found another opportunity to suck up,”

he muttered to himself, squinting his eyes.

Ailes Grant, back in their Academy days, was just a student with mediocre grades like him.

However, unlike the socially inept Patrick at the time, Ailes was more independent and took the initiative, thus more popular among the teachers and classmates.

Indeed, their relationship wasn’t good, but it wasn’t terrible either; it was just a matter of two ‘good-for-nothing’ lads competing against each other with all their might.

The two young men compared everything: their backgrounds, alchemy, stargazing, biology, friends, popularity, the refinement of their talents, and their grades in sports and other physical classes…

They compared so many things that even trivial matters like who caught more fish became a contest at the time.

In those trivial contests, there were wins, losses, and draws, but it was always him who lost.

Or rather, apart from family background, alchemy, and fishing, Patrick was always on the losing end.

As for fishing, that was because neither of them could catch even a single fish, which led to an enforced draw.

Old Harrison was a leader among the new generation of Inspectorate Envoys under the former Emperor or, in other words, an exemplar for the new Inspector Knights.

Even though he had not reached the Third Energy Level, he still had his own place thanks to the family’s Aether Armament.

Patrick had thought that the competition between him and Ailes would continue until they both received their titles and worked in the Imperial Capital—by which time, the competitions of their youth would become a source of friendly banter between them.

Old Harrison would also have advanced to the Third Energy Level, becoming a great general under the former Emperor, in short, able to converse with the Ellen Family as equals.

They would become allies…

This belief persisted until Old Harrison was dispatched to the distant Southern Frontier Ranges, surrounded by the endless seas of Redwoods, a wild and savage land.

And until he died in battles against the Natives.

The Grant Family was finished.

That was the only thought in the minds of all who knew of Old Harrison’s death and were acquainted with the family, the Ellen Family included.

If Old Harrison had managed to carve out a realm in the Southern Border, defeat the Natives, and secure land for The Empire, reaching the Third Energy Level in the process, he would have been rightfully ennobled as the new Southern Ridge Marquis or, at the very least, a Border Viscount with considerable power, becoming one of the rising nobility of pioneers.

But he died—and in sympathy, the former Emperor granted Harrison Port to Ailes as long as he could continue his father’s undertakings, eradicate the Southern Ridge Natives, and plant the most solid stake for The Empire in the extreme south of the world by reaching the Third Energy Level.

The honors promised to them by his majesty would still hold.

Yet at that time, little Viscount Grant, still at the First Energy Level, might not even have been able to hold Harrison Port.

Sure enough, little Grant’s calls for aid almost flew to the Imperial Capital like snowflakes…

But how could the friendships of childhood help him?

Everyone either ignored or remained indifferent to that plea for help.

Only he, Patrick Ellen, extended a helping hand—he provided a batch of critical healing potions and the Strength of the Gigantic Bull, a power-enhancing potion, using his own funds.

“So what if you have more friends?

So what if your talents are better?

Ailes…

you can’t always win against me,”

he withdrew his gaze, squinting toward the quiet, watching youth who was smiling slightly on the other side.

Excellent—truly excellent.

Even for someone as envious as him, he had to admit at times that there are some people you just can’t be jealous of.

Like his older brother, now head of the Ellen Family.

Like those few talents from the Knight Orders who are now great generals on the frontier.

And like the alchemy genius in front of him.

Patrick clearly remembered every word of Master Gossay…

this country bumpkin actually reached near-official Alchemist level at fourteen?

Apprentice, Junior, Official…

even the outstanding graduates of the Royal Alchemy Academy were only at the level of Official Alchemists.

Ailes was a bona fide alchemy dud and Harrison Port had no Alchemists capable of teaching apprentices, which proved that the other party relied entirely on self-study from basic texts—yes, the academy instructors often said that as long as one fully mastered all the knowledge in basic texts and integrated it well, it would be enough to graduate with flying colors.

But could such a person truly exist?

Patrick was initially skeptical, but now he believed it.

No wonder Master Gossay felt the heart to cherish talent and invited him.

“Is there a chance to entice him over?

After all, my issues were only with Ailes before,”

Patrick felt it was worth a try, after all, recruiting was just a matter of money, and the Ellen Family might not be good at everything, but they certainly had plenty of money, so it wouldn’t hurt to give it a shot.

“Yisen.

Come here,”

After some thought, Patrick turned his head and spoke softly to his nephew at his side, his face unable to hide his curiosity and amazement, making his nephew nod repeatedly.

Then, the young blond man coughed lightly and, with a very formal demeanor, walked toward the White Folks youth.

Ian naturally noticed this commotion and turned his head to look.

“Guide Sir,”

he began in the most formal of tones, with utmost politeness, he clapped his hands in praise, “The Essence Sensing Technique you just performed was truly exquisite, almost like an art, it was simply awe-inspiring.”

“Thank you for your praise.”

Ian watched as the other party, not much older than himself, put on such a formally mature ceremony, and couldn’t help but want to laugh a little.

——This is probably how nobles are back in the Imperial Capital.

In response to this sincere appreciation, he also slightly bowed and then lifted his head to reply calmly, “Just call me Ian.”

“My name is Yisen Gard·Erlen.”

As the other party formally presented his name, Ian was also taking in his appearance.

The youth named Yisen Gard was dressed in black explorer’s attire convenient for movement.

Although the material seemed ordinary, it was likely fine leather from a Magical Beast.

His shoulder-length golden hair was messily tied up, and under slightly raised brows, his clear, lake-green eyes curiously gazed at him.

However, beneath the boy’s left eye was a barcode-like strip composed of fine Inscriptions, its purpose unknown.

The other party was indeed a genuine noble, his skin a snow-white untouched by the sun, yet his fingers appeared somewhat rough, even stained with various colors, clearly the result of long-term Alchemy experimentation and potion immersion.

As Ian was assessing him, Yisen Gard straightforwardly stated his request, “Ian…

Your appraisal process just now was too smooth, I didn’t get a clear look.

Could you demonstrate it again for me?

I am not skilled in appraisals and would like to learn.”

“I will pay.”

He seemed to remember something, then hurriedly added a sentence, overall, he was rather reserved.

For an ordinary Appraiser, this would be a very rude request.

Everyone has their unique way of drawing forth Origin Quality and their own appraisal techniques, methods worthy of being passed down to descendants; how could they be shown to outsiders?

It’s not a matter of whether or not money is involved.

This kind of question wouldn’t even be asked by others, let alone such a blunt request to ‘learn’.

But Ian was very clear that the other party didn’t have that much on his mind.

He just wanted to watch, to learn…

and had never been rejected before.

“No problem,”

lifting an eyebrow, Ian didn’t turn him down, because there was no need to.

The guy in front of him seemed to have spent too long in the academy, and already a gap had formed with the real world.

But at the end of the day, he had come with good intentions, at worst he simply lacked emotional intelligence and didn’t understand social graces.

A noble’s offspring, after all, that’s what they’re like, this one was exceedingly polite.

Moreover, there was no way he could learn the essence of Ian’s Spirit Energy and Silver Chip appraisal technique, and Ian had his own tricks.

As for who was benefiting from whom, that remained to be seen.

“Excuse my impertinence, but for an appraisal, one cannot engage empty-handed…

May I ask if you could provide me with an Alchemical Creation or a piece of Spirit Energy Jewelry for appraisal?”

As the light in his eyes flickered with aqueous hues, Ian swiftly decided on his target.

He smiled faintly and pointed toward the gemstone bracelet on Yisen Gard’s wrist, stating calmly, “How about this one?”

“Hmm?

No problem,”

Yisen Gard was somewhat surprised; he hadn’t expected the other party to immediately notice the most expensive Spirit Energy accessory on his person.

But this also meant that the young Appraiser before him genuinely possessed skills that he, to this day, did not understand!

“Please.”

So the blond youth cheerfully took off his bracelet and handed it to the Ian before him.

Watching this scene, Patrick frowned slightly.

“What a coincidence?” he murmured to himself.

Ian reached out and took the bracelet, studying it intently—a piece permeated with mingling purple and cyan mists in his eyes, undeniably at the peak of the Second Energy Level.

The light in his eyes transformed into a silver-cyan hue.

Suddenly, within the boy’s field of vision, the previously blurry purple and cyan mists clarified, revealing clear, silver Inscriptions!

Ian watched the intricate and fine, meticulously ordered Inscription Array with utmost seriousness, as if trying to engrave it deeply into his memory…

No.

Right now, he was using the Silver Core Chip to record these Inscription Arrays of Spirit Energy at the very peak of the Second Energy Level!