Above The Sky
Chapter 364 - 364 336 Do you want to be an Inspector Knight

364: Chapter 336: Do you want to be an Inspector Knight?

(3/3) 364: Chapter 336: Do you want to be an Inspector Knight?

(3/3) “It was the spies from Fiery Flame Land who stole the key to the Native Holy Land!”

“It was the spies from Fiery Flame Land who secretly disrupted the Origin Essence Cycle within the Labyrinth!”

“It was the spies from Fiery Flame Land who created the plague, unrest, and incited the Natives to wage war against us!”

“Without a doubt, it is the spies from Fiery Flame Land who crafted all this suffering; they conjured the great storm, destroyed the homes we tirelessly built!

They also spread the plague, putting every settlement in South Ridge in grave fear for their safety!”

“Citizens of The Empire—I am not resorting to scaremongering, but speaking with actual evidence!”

Even though Ian had known beforehand what the Viscount was going to do, he couldn’t help but be astonished and admire the other’s decisiveness—not that the young lord wasn’t smart enough to think of this tactic, his nature was just more serious and responsible, and it wasn’t his first instinct to shift the blame onto others.

As for Fiery Flame Land…

Ha, Fiery Flame Land really should thank Viscount Grant; with the way he’s blowing things up, its strength seemed to have skyrocketed more than tenfold.

But it certainly was effective.

As the Viscount gestured grandly, the Guard Squad dragged several agents with their mouths sealed, clearly with features of people from Fiery Flame Land, and a large batch of fiery weapons from Fiery Flame Land out of a nearby prison cart, the people of Harrison Port boiled with rage.

“I said there was something off about the big storm!

Our Harrison Port has been thriving for so many years, how could a natural disaster just come out of nowhere—we didn’t experience any in the past twenty years!”

“It’s really those mutts from Fiery Flame Land, damn it, look at these firearms, so well-made, and none of our good lads gets to use them!”

“Yeah, I said it, the Natives have been fighting us for so many years and we never saw them use plagues before…

It’s all Fiery Flame Land’s fault!”

On the spot, many people had a sudden realization; they now completely understood all the reasons behind their pain and anxiety, they had a tangible source of it, a target that could be defeated and killed.

Not like a natural disaster, something that, even if painful, you can hardly blame, and you just have to accept your misfortune.

Experiencing a natural disaster only leads to a decrease in cohesion; it makes everyone feel unguarded, or that their homeland’s soil and water aren’t good.

But if it was the enemy causing destruction…

Then there would be a united front against a common foe.

Click.

While boiling waves of angry condemnations surged, the Viscount used his Water Sword to execute these captives from Fiery Flame Land, bringing sudden silence to the entire square.

Then, there was a tsunami of cheers.

“Viscount, we adore you!”

“That’s how they should be killed, just like that!”

“Pah!

The blood of a bunch of mongrels, tarnishing our square!”

— Having lost the Great Shaman and given up resisting Harrison Port completely, the Natives, even with support from Fiery Flame Land, had completely lost heart.

The Redwoods, now without the Swamp Crocodragon and a Tenglan Giant Eel, were no longer an obstacle in South Ridge.

Therefore, they had no reason to continue cooperating with Fiery Flame Land.

Blood splattered; these captives given up by the Natives had confessed everything they could, their only value was to become a part of Viscount Grant’s grand ‘sacrifice offering’ to solidify the people’s hearts.

“It seems that common saying among the Natives isn’t wrong after all.”

Watching the harbor residents growing frenzied with the sight of blood, even bursting into raucous cheers, Ian nodded slightly, reflecting, “The Empire is just a larger tribe.

It’s just that the methods of sacrifice are more sophisticated, the productivity more advanced, ensuring its people are well-fed and clothed, without the need to actually sacrifice human lives.”

If civilization were to develop to a higher level, the ‘Sacrificial Rite’ needed, the means to consolidate the people’s hearts and cohesion, would no longer be about heads, human lives, and blood.

It was about entertainment, idols, and games; it was about shows, narratives, and correctness.

No one felt there was anything wrong with that, and neither did Ian—even if the Viscount lied, the spies from Fiery Flame Land indeed deserved to die.

If they were to die, it might as well be for something valuable.

He didn’t find it barbaric or bloody, nor did he think it was funny.

Ian merely felt that if the conditions were met, he had better ways to achieve the same goal without the need for lies.

“—And all of this.”

At this moment, Viscount Grant’s impassioned voice continued to ring out: “The greatest contributor to uncovering this conspiracy is none other than the member of the guard squad who courageously thwarted Fiery Flame Land’s plot fourteen years ago, as well as their offspring!”

“It was fourteen years ago that our guard squad heroes stopped Fiery Flame Land’s plot, which is why our homeland was saved!”

“It is also the Ellen Family’s exploration team, along with our genius, appraiser Ian, who stopped such a conspiracy by the special forces of Fiery Flame Land, ensuring our homeland is preserved once more—and putting an end, forever, to the man-made disaster of the great storm!”

Gazes were converging.

Wills were solidifying.

Everyone was looking at him, watching him.

—It was his turn to appear.

Ian lifted his eyes, knowing that, according to the script, he should step forward.

So he did step forward, walking towards Viscount Grant’s side, smiling at everyone present.

Yisen Gard and Master Gossay were not suited to be at this event; they were outsiders and would not receive heartfelt gratitude, but Ian could.

Ian stepped forward, arriving at the center of the square, standing by Viscount Grant’s side.

“This is the best ending—honorable repute, a future filled with gratitude, and you will also become the son of a hero, as well as the hero of this generation.”

The Viscount whispered to Ian, placing his hand on Ian’s shoulder to show his closeness to the young White Folk.

Then raising his voice, he declared, “In recognition of Ian’s contributions to Harrison Port, I have decided to promote him to a knight—one who might be the youngest knight in South Ridge!”

“He has the strength, and he has the merit, let us applaud for him!”

—Hurrah—

Another round of cheers erupted; clearly, even if some were dissatisfied, no one dared to spoil the mood when both the lord and the citizens were so enthused.

Ian smiled, surveying the crowd in the square, and he did not see much malice.

This was indeed his hometown, and he was indeed acknowledged as a genius, a good kid, a good person.

And soon after, as the cheering from the crowd began to subside, Viscount Grant also smiled, whispering to Ian: “Ian, with your abilities, even if it weren’t now, I would have made you a knight in a few years.”

“But now, do you have any ideas, any path you’d like to choose?”

Ian tilted his head slightly, curious about what Viscount Grant was alluding to.

And then, the Viscount’s next words truly shocked him.

“Ian.”

The Viscount calmly said, “Have you ever considered becoming an Inspector Knight?”