Above The Sky
Chapter 266 - 266 253 Black Tyrant and the First Knight 23

266: Chapter 253 Black Tyrant and the First Knight (2/3) 266: Chapter 253 Black Tyrant and the First Knight (2/3) “Ah, this…”

Ian hadn’t expected that Master Gossay would actually faint from the shock of his identity.

But upon further contemplation, it was not surprising—Master Gossay originally came on a simple royal task with his young apprentice, aiming also to protect the latter from any unwanted attention; however, he discovered that someone had already prepared to assassinate Yisen.

And his former student, the uncle to his apprentice, was the mastermind behind the assassination attempt.

He himself was struck and seriously injured by the man, and then he witnessed the local White Folks’ young appraiser slay the Native Great Shaman with First Energy Level power…

Afterward, he fell into the ruins and deduced the true identity of the young appraiser.

All these troublesome events tied together, and with the old man’s emotions deeply stirred, combined with his genuine physical weakness at the time, fainting was not odd at all.

Perhaps he should even be thankful that the old man was mentally resilient and in good health; otherwise, it would have been normal for him to fall unconscious on the spot.

As for the several lapses that Master Gossay mentioned, they actually eased Ian’s mind.

These lapses were not true lapses, but it could be said that Master Gossay was also a person from the Era of Ennea, who had interactions with Teacher Hiliad and others back in the day; he had even crafted alchemical longswords for the Knight Order of Inspectorate.

So he was able to detect Ian’s identity through a series of doubts and clues.

And moreover…

“If you really intended to report me, why would you speak out about it?”

Ian gazed at the green light emitting from the other person and shook his head, “Besides, if I really knew you harbored murderous or hostile intentions towards me, I would definitely spot it immediately.”

“Your Spirit Energy can even see through emotions?

No wonder the First Knight chose you as his final successor.

Otherwise, it would be too easy to deceive someone like that, too easy to see through one’s identity.”

Gossay continued to examine the Heavy Abyss Iron Sword, his brows faintly furrowed, contemplating a key technical issue, not caring much for Ian’s words.

After thinking it over, he raised his head and said solemnly, “If you want to hide your identity, make your swordsmanship rougher.

Where would a fourteen-year-old swordsman from the countryside acquire such impressive skills?

This will raise suspicions, followed by gradually increased observation of you.”

“You’re too talented, so it’s hard for you to understand how far a normal genius can go, right?

But now, it’s also not something you need to worry about.

Besides me, no one in Harrison Port would notice such details.

Just restrain yourself a bit in front of Ailes, his father’s swordsmanship was also imparted by the First Knight.

If you say you learned swordsmanship from Ailes, no one will doubt those similarities.”

Returning the sword to Ian, Master Gossay pointed at the edge of the sword, “This sword is crafted mainly from Heavy Abyss Iron, a material sturdy enough to be used for the outer armor of Aether Armament, exceptionally tough and quite adaptable to Origin Quality.

Now, rather than being a finished sword, it’s better to say it’s a sword blank.

With some modifications, this sword could reach Third Energy Level enhancement.”

“The First Knight didn’t need a sharp blade for his combat methods; he used a sword blank and an iron rod just the same; but you, you can’t do that.”

“No matter what lineage you practice, you currently cannot activate the power of this sword, so if you want to disguise it, coat it with a layer of Seraph Silver for the blade, and also cover the key parts.

That way, it will become a very common fine iron Seraph Silver longsword, a weapon favored by swordsmen adept at fighting Magical Beasts capable of breaking through Origin Shields.”

As he said this, the old man even took out a small bag of Seraph Silver from his bosom, handed it to Ian, and raised his eyebrows to signal, “You’re an alchemist yourself, find a chance to silver-plate it yourself; I temporarily don’t have the strength to do it.”

Ian nodded and accepted the small bag of Seraph Silver.

It wasn’t about the cost of the material, but as a high-grade material that could enhance the toughness of weapons and armored clothing, such material was not normally available on the market.

At least in Harrison Port, only Viscount Grant had access to it, so it was impossible for him to refuse.

“That’s about it,” staring at Ian, then closing his eyes, Gossay spoke wearily, “Let me rest a little longer…

The noise of these insects is truly annoying; I can’t get rid of it just yet.”

“Master.”

Ian was also planning to turn and leave, letting Master Gossay rest well for an earlier recovery.

But just as he was about to go, he thought of another question.

The young man turned his head and looked at the old man who was barely mustering his spirit, asking a question that wasn’t crucial but would satisfy his curiosity.

“Why do you call the Former Emperor ‘the Black King’…

yet seem to hold Teacher in such high regard?”

This was a question Ian was rather curious about—Viscount Grant was one of the few who always referred to Inega II as the Former Emperor.

Most of the nobles and merchants called him the Black King, not to mention the common folk who echoed the sentiment.

It wasn’t strange for Master Gossay to say Inega II was the Black King, since as a member of the scholarly group, they were unwilling to see the spread of knowledge.

Ian didn’t find such behavior ‘wrong,’ and indeed, he would later attempt to ‘improve’ it.

“…The First Knight had far better rapport with people than the Black…

Former Emperor did.”

After a moment of silence, Master Gossay shook his head with a wry smile, “How should I put it, the Former Emperor was indeed very capable, which can be seen by the fact that while the current emperor outwardly opposes the Former Emperor’s policies, he has always been secretly implementing them.

Of course, he uses more gentle and compromising methods.”

“As for the attitude…

well, it’s not surprising that the Former Emperor was called the Black King…”

“In the pursuit of his policies and will, he didn’t hesitate to use any means necessary, including conscripting all citizens and drafting young men—if being willing to place one’s will above others is what makes a ‘Tyrant,’ then he certainly was the greatest Tyrant in seven hundred years of Terra, unmatched by any.”

“Of course, his thoughts, policies, and methods were later proven to be correct, beneficial, and of lasting value…

Yes, he was all correct!

But what good is being right?

We are not him, and if you cannot experience the wonderful world you have created after a lifetime of hard work, if you cannot have a bit of personal enjoyment, then why should we strive and contribute?”

As he spoke, the old man’s tone suddenly became agitated, but he quickly suppressed it.

After taking a few deep breaths, Master Gossay closed his eyes and then laughed at himself, “Of course.

From the current state of decay and degeneration of the Imperial Nobility, he was right again—we are indeed a bunch of wild horses that will definitely go astray, or even run backwards, without shackles on us, haha, he was so right, but what good is that?”

“He couldn’t achieve his dreams alone and couldn’t control the madness and selfish desires of the nobles and scholars, just blindly suppressing and restraining…

So such an outcome and end were also ‘right.'”

It seemed as if he wanted to vent the years of depression, emotion, and doubt that had built up inside his heart to Ian, the inheritor of Hiliad, the substitute for ‘those two men.’

Master Gossay didn’t look like a wise old man now, but rather like the angry young man he had been decades ago.

But after all, Ian wasn’t Hiliad, and even less so the Black King…

He wasn’t Inega II.

The silent youth with white hair couldn’t respond to the other’s bewilderment.

“All these years, I’ve been teaching, shunning involvement in political struggles because only educating children is the thing that will never be wrong.”

Raising his head, the old man looked earnestly at the silent youth, “Ian, you ask me why I call Inega II ‘the Black King,’ then I must tell you, our Former Emperor…

perhaps truly wanted to create a kingdom where everyone was happy.”

“But he could only see the glorious world a hundred years later, not all the subjects… and people laden with grievances.”

“Even less could he see the foulness in human nature.”

“He truly deserved to be called the Black King, a Tyrant likewise, compared to whom the First Knight was indeed a Saint beyond reproach—you, as his disciple, surely understand that I’m not exaggerating.

I and Teacher had once studied and taught at Zhenzhi Academy together; it was the First Knight who taught us to rediscover humanity and return to the right path.”

“Rest assured,” said Master Gossay, shaking his head as though to dismiss Ian’s doubts, “I won’t reveal your identity to anyone.

There are few who sympathize with the Black King, but many who sympathize with the First Knight, after all the current emperor isn’t one of those involved in the Dark Moon turmoil.

After all, the Former Emperor is ultimately his father, and the First Knight is ultimately his teacher.”

“Your identity indeed must not be revealed, but if one day you become as strong as your teacher, the Empire will not view you as an enemy.”

“Even they will offer you great respect.”