Above The Sky
Chapter 197 - 197 186 Titan Beast Extra Update Tomorrow

197: Chapter 186: Titan Beast (Extra Update Tomorrow) 197: Chapter 186: Titan Beast (Extra Update Tomorrow) Long Gull Tavern was the evolved version of Long Gull Tavern.

As a comrade-in-arms and chef when the current Viscount and Ian served as apprentices under Old Grant Viscount, the owner of Long Gull Tavern, Elder Deli, was an affable mute.

He was originally a fisherman’s child who, along with his parents, joined the pioneer group that came to South Ridge.

In the wars against the Natives, his parents were killed, and Deli himself could only join the guard to receive training and engage in battle with the Natives.

Due to malnutrition, his physical constitution really wasn’t commendable; he couldn’t bear arms nor lift a shield, and donning armored clothing could exhaust him to death, even when he was finally relegated to the role of a cook, he could only make one thing…

fish soup.

Indeed, the variety of fish soups tasted quite good, but when anyone from that time’s squad recalled the ennui of having it for five years, each one of them would show a pained and twisted expression.

However, Deli had one advantage.

That was – when it really mattered, he was very reliable.

The events of decades past are now little known, and Deli himself couldn’t boast about them, but Ian had learned from Elder Prude that when Viscount Grant was ambushed by Native Elite Hunters and struck by a newly developed “Bauhinia Corrosive Poison” tipped arrow in his shoulder, the antidote he carried had no effect.

As the team’s most powerful member was about to have a large chunk of his arm corroded away, and the squad was on the brink of annihilation, it was Deli who rushed forward and sucked out the poison…

The result was that his mouth and teeth were corroded beyond repair, doomed to a life without speech, only able to drink soups and porridge.

Saving a life was a debt that could never be overpaid.

Therefore, even with Elder Deli’s subpar cooking skills, he still had his own storefront, operating the tavern he always dreamed of opening, not far from Viscount’s Mansion on the prime street of Central Avenue.

And now, four years after the great development of Harrison Port, Long Gull Tavern had successfully evolved into Long Gull Tavern…

and it also acquired several additional functions.

For instance, it was appointed by the Lord of Harrison Port as the designated venue for business trade negotiations.

The private rooms on the second floor were dim, but when the fluorescent lights were turned on, they appeared quite bright.

The light yellow halo filled the soundproofed room, and many business partnerships and confidential agreements were concluded here at Harrison Port.

Endorsed by Viscount Grant himself for its reliability, the promotional slogan was “Even Inspector Knights couldn’t find the slightest loophole or trace here”…

Although, in reality, this was indeed the case, Ian couldn’t help but feel ambivalent knowing the truth.

“I’ve had breakfast already, no need to order, that earlier was merely a post-meal workout.”

As soon as Ian entered the private room on the second floor, he informed in advance, “You can try Elder Deli’s fish soup if you like, the taste is quite alright, but after all it’s country fare, so be cautious of the unfamiliar local conditions and diet.”

Yisen Gard’s honest reply unexpectedly made Ian glance sideways.

“Ah, don’t worry, I’ve already taken an antidote beforehand, and I usually eat very simply, typically the stamina potions refined for me by my teacher.”

“You take a stamina potion as a meal?

The one that contains all the nutrients needed by humans but tastes like water mixed with protein powder?”

Ian looked at the young master from the Ellen Family with an exceptionally bizarre gaze, struggling to express his feelings.

“Consuming only the essential proteins, fats, carbohydrates, salts, vitamins…

and pure Origin Quality?”

—Are you an artificial human?

“Eh?” However, Yisen Gard seemed somewhat dazed by the conversation.

“To avoid the chaos of Origin Quality caused by normal eating, and to reduce the chance of mutations from unintentionally eating Magical Beasts…

isn’t this how everyone eats before they are fully grown?”

“This is the healthiest and safest diet, proven by research from the Royal Alchemy Association!”

“Absolutely absurd.” Ian could only remark enigmatically, “These nobles of our world…”

At this point, only Ian and Yisen Gard were in the private room, with the two tall guards standing by the door.

In such a secure environment, the young master of the Ellen Family revealed his true purpose for seeking out Ian.

“May I ask, can you sense the Origin Quality aura on this piece of dragon scale through the box?”

Yisen Gard placed a silver-blue metal box in front of Ian, with a transparent crystal window set in the middle, the craftsmanship quite exquisite, and the outside marked with regular and aesthetically pleasing inscriptions.

Inside the box lay a piece of azure, semi-transparent crystal scale.

The scale was still emitting flickering light, like breathing, although not very strong, it nonetheless revealed a special rhythm, akin to the tide.

“Dragon scale?

Isn’t this too soon?”

Ian glanced at the box and then looked up at the expectant golden-haired young man.

He pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly, “Does the Ellen Family always speak so directly?

I thought you might first ask about the distribution of Magical Beasts around Harrison Port, the situation with the Natives and the recent anomalies, and then, after we finished our tea, you would get to the main topic…”

“My…

my mother once told me that with clever people, if you can state your purpose directly, you should just do so.”

Yisen Gard nearly misspoke, but his final words were smooth, “I was a bit hesitant at first, but after seeing your strength earlier…

I have complete faith in my teacher’s words!”

“Ian, you truly are a genius; facing a genius like you, there is no need for such roundabout methods!”

The now serious golden-haired young man who was still immersed in the image of Ian standing amidst the corpses and pools of blood nodded solemnly, then stretched out his hand and pushed the box towards Ian.

He said gravely, “Last night, my teacher and uncle confirmed that they want to invite you to be part of our exploration team…

a real exploration team, not the superficial one searching for Element Crystal Clams.”

“Ian, I’m sure you’re also aware after the identification two days ago that even my personal belongings have been secretly cursed, and the mission cannot be canceled due to this accident.

So now I must complete the mission with the utmost speed and then return to the Imperial Capital to report to His Majesty,” he said.

“What we need now is speed, not the decrease in efficiency caused by secrecy leading to mutual suspicion and confusion about what we have to do,” he continued.

He spoke openly, not minding in the least that Ian knew about these matters.

There was no need to mind, the blond youth was very clear that with Ian’s identification ability, his inclusion in the exploration team was a foregone conclusion, not to mention his great strength!

Now, only the last procedure was missing.

— That was, to figure out just how strong Ian’s Source Energy Sensing ability was!

Only by knowing this could they determine the scope and timing of exploration and finalize the following plans!

Yes, they were also prepared with corresponding exploration instruments, but how could a dead instrument compare to a person capable of communication, able to accurately indicate direction and range?

The answer to this question was simple.

Ian lowered his eyes, gazing at the scale inside the metal box before him.

[Deep Sea Crystal Dragon Scale]

[First Power Level Peak・Vacuum Isolation Processing・Keystone・Edible]

[A scale from a specialized deep sea Crystal Dragon that lives within a high Spirit Energy ecosystem, originating from a juvenile dragon—not particularly effective.

Crystal Dragon scales are natural Source Quality storage crystals and detector raw materials, capable of crafting various rare assistive accessories and items, and can keenly sense most Source Quality and Spirit Energy fluctuations in the surrounding seas.]

[Because it has not yet reached the Mature Body stage, the Crystal Dragon scale does not possess the ability to become spirit-like, unable to absorb Water Element Origin Substance for high-speed self-regeneration, and its hardness is also quite ordinary, prone to rapid dissolution if not stored properly.]

[Contained Primordial Essence: 0.054]

[…]

— What can you sense?

— The answer is everything!

Discussing this question with a Prophet and a Silver Chip holder was somewhat hard to keep a straight face.

“It’s a bit like the air around Odell Reef, with a high purity of water Source Quality and the breath of natural Spirit Energy,” he said, staring at the deep blue mist before him that had become tangible to his senses, offering a metallic solidity yet vast like the ocean, he pondered aloud, “I want to ask…

what are your standards?

Is it the ability to sense the fluctuations in Source Quality, or to track…?”

“Eh?”

But mid-sentence, Yisen Gard became excited, his eyes widening, “You really can sense it!

Even through the Silent Silver Alloy box, you can sense its Source Quality fluctuations!”

The youth stood up excitedly, clenching his fist, “Odell Reef, right?

That must be where it recently dwelt—never would I have thought that you, Ian, could sense even this, truly amazing!”

Then, Yisen Gard rambled on for some time with low emotional intelligence, saying things like, ‘My teacher said your sensing ability was much stronger than mine, I didn’t believe it at first’ ‘It’s not jealousy, just unexpected that a place like…

ah, not the countryside, but…

Harrison Port would have someone as incredible as you…’

Ian didn’t mind, children will be children, there was no reason for him to take offense at a fourteen-year-old.

— Actually, far more than that, I can even tell that this scale comes from a dragon species…

and a very rare Labyrinth dragon species at that.

Ian stayed silent; he certainly knew what Silent Silver was—a special metal that could block all Source Quality and Spirit Energy reactions.

High purity Silent Silver could even damage those nearby who relied on Sublimation Organs and Spirit Energy, so its safe use only came from low-dose alloy mixtures.

No wonder he felt that the earlier Prime Material Perception had gone through a very thick rock crust.

He had thought it was due to the dragon species’ specialty.

It turned out to be Silent Silver?

“It’s a good thing I didn’t reveal that I can even see a rough image of the target,” he thought silently.

With a prophetic ability and a Silver Chip, Ian now had no idea what a normal person’s reaction in this regard should be.

Playing dumb can be quite difficult.

Moreover, with the scent of this dragon scale, and combining the information he had gathered while conversing with the Ironclad Shark at night, Ian had already deduced the truth.

“It seems that Odell Reef has a Labyrinth Sea Dragon on the loose?

Or perhaps a juvenile Sea Dragon at the First Power Level Peak, not yet advanced to Second Energy Level?!” he thought.

At this realization, he couldn’t help but marvel, “Indeed, only a prey of this caliber could attract the attention of the Imperial Capital, prompting the young master of the Ellen Family to come all this way, accompanied by two Second Level High Order powerhouses!”

“If it’s for a Sea Dragon, then everything makes sense!

Whether it’s the mutation of the Indigenous Totem Spirits or the Ironclad Sharks too fearful to approach, it all stems from this point!”

“Because a Titan Beast cub with the potential of the Fifth Energy Level has appeared near Harrison Port!”