Above The Sky
Chapter 386 - 386 358 Daring to XX Now What About the Future!

386: Chapter 358: Daring to XX Now, What About the Future!?

(1/3) 386: Chapter 358: Daring to XX Now, What About the Future!?

(1/3) Since leaving Harrison Port yesterday, Ian had sensed that something was not quite right with the birds at the roadside.

It was like the time when he noticed the Spirit Energy Marks left by Weyges on his younger brother’s head.

Today, he similarly observed many fragments of Spirit Energy scattered over some birds’ heads and around their eyes, shimmering with a faint blue glow.

Those little Brittlebone Sparrows that twisted their heads to watch the caravan were the carriers, for they were not afraid of humans on ordinary days, making them very suitable for this surveillance work—who would have thought that their daily snacks were the eyes that monitored them?

At this point, who else, or rather, what other power could be deploying Spirit Energy Users to watch him?

The multitude was too great for Ian to know.

Only a significant force could afford to have a Spirit Energy User monitor him closely.

But there were too many potential forces watching him.

Fiery Flame Land, the Ellen Family, Marquis Barton, along with Whale Song Cliff and Canaan Moore…

Due to the Labyrinth incident, they all might have taken a keen interest in him.

It was difficult to identify exactly who it was.

But he had also learned a trick from Viscount Grant.

—Whatever, when in doubt, just blame it on Fiery Flame Land for now.

The Imperial People liked to hear that and wouldn’t be suspicious.

“I will repeat this one more time,” he said.

Clad in full armored clothing, the dangerous aura flickered in the blue eyes behind the helmet according to the cadence of his speech.

Surrounding by the clueless, then rapidly becoming vigilant, members of the caravan, Ian spoke in an even and polite tone, “If the traitor doesn’t come forward on his own, and instead forces me to find him, I will turn him into Alchemy Material.”

He muttered to himself softly, “It just so happens that I’ve been worrying about cultivating some biological matrix after leaving Harrison Port…

Everything is much easier with a living vessel.”

The crowd evidently heard this muttering and instantly felt a chill, the previously subtle yet continuous noise abruptly ceased.

Within the caravan, the Hunters who had joined to participate in the distant hunt were immediately isolated, with several meters around them left deserted.

In Terra Continent, apart from the stereotype that alchemists’ ‘workshops frequently explode and leak toxic substances,’ Biological Alchemists are often labeled with the stereotype of ‘kidnapping foreigners and vagabonds as raw material for biological experiments.’

Ian had no intention of refuting this.

On the contrary, he relished the idea of everyone considering him dangerous and fearsome.

Having left his home and younger brother behind, he did not mind being seen as a genuinely terrifying alchemist by outsiders.

Moreover, such rhetoric could also force a traitor into the open.

Activating his Spirit Energy, Ian’s gaze swept over the members of the caravan, most of whom were White Folks and viewed him with ‘green’—after all, they were his own people, had benefited from his goodwill, and thus had favorable impressions over the years.

Most of the Hunters and herb gatherers saw him in shades of gray, indicating they felt neither sufficiently positive nor negative to influence their decisions.

But just after Ian made his threat, one Hunter, looking slightly nervous, suddenly turned a light shade of red.

“There really is one,” the youth nodded to himself, thinking, “It seems my guess was right; it indeed requires an inside accomplice to lead a pack of Magical Beasts here.”

With his Spirit Energy, he could not directly identify the traitor…

after all, as long as the traitor bore him no ill will, that would suffice.

The traitor only needed to complete the task set by others, such as smearing some specially-made tracking powder on the caravan’s wagons, which couldn’t even be said to target anyone in particular.

With such an ordinary mark, Ian couldn’t discern the person’s attitude towards him.

But such a threat, born out of self-preservation and fear, made the emotional changes and targeting significantly more overt and intense.

However, before Ian could speak up, the Hunter, who inadvertently met Ian’s gaze, blushed, set down his sword and the bow on his back, and trembling, stood out from the group.

This did come as quite a surprise to Ian, “You actually admitted to it?”

“My lord, I…

I just reported the market prices as usual…

I had no idea that the other party was from Fiery Flame Land!”

Hearing the regret in Ian’s voice, the hunter, who even dared to draw his blade and fight the Reef-eater Otters in close combat, shivered.

Ian was not only a Sublimator, but he was also an honored knight and the true steward of this trade caravan; even Magical Beasts dared not oppose him.

With strength, authority, and prestige on his side, how could he dare to raise his voice?

Most importantly, the hunter was no fool—when he saw Ian’s Spirit Energy gaze fixed on him, he knew he had been exposed…

An appraiser with a reputation, of course, has good eyesight.

Plus, as a Spirit Energy User, who knows if he can read minds?

In that case, it was better to be honest.

How much money did the people from Fiery Flame Land give him?

It wasn’t worth being stubborn.

It must be said that the stereotype of Spirit Energy Users was quite useful—’All Spirit Energy Users can read minds’ is a false message, but it indeed made many people afraid to lie to Spirit Energy Users.

“Tie him up.”

Without saying much, Ian instructed the guards beside him, and then waved his hand to the crowd, “Disperse, everyone.

It’s just him.

The Magical Beasts probably won’t come back tonight, you’ve all worked hard.”

He turned his head and instructed the cook, “Xila, add an extra dish for everyone tonight.”

“Yes!”

Both the guards and the cook responded in turn, and the disheartened traitor was tied up and taken to one side, awaiting Ian’s interrogation.

The result of the interrogation was actually quite simple—he hadn’t lied; he truly didn’t know that the other party was from Fiery Flame Land.

His assistance on normal days was to help some people who appeared to be merchants gather market information from Harrison Port and the surrounding towns about certain trade associations.

This included the purchase prices of grains, iron products, crafts, herbs, and Magical Beasts’ hunting gains.

With his status as an experienced hunter capable of participating in distant hunts, it wasn’t difficult for him to figure out the data of a few familiar trade associations.

He thought this was just other trade associations wanting to get a line on their competitors—after all, it wasn’t anything important, and he could earn a bit of drinking money.

Why not take it?

As for the matter of ‘luring the Reef-eater Otters’ to attack the caravan, he vociferously protested his innocence.

“I truly didn’t know anything about the attack by the Magical Beasts.

I was even planning to join the fight—if I had lured them…

No, how could I have lured them?

I’m not stupid.

They didn’t pay me that much money!”

“The truth.” Ian didn’t pay attention to the protesting hunter; he said to the steward on the other side, whose face was ashen, “The people from Fiery Flame Land are targeting me.

They likely used some method to track down this man, then manipulated small animals to lead the Magical Beasts to attack the caravan.”

“I’m truly sorry, my lord, this was our negligence…”

“I’ve already said, they’re after me.”

Ian shook his head.

Ever since he became a knight, everyone who used to call him ‘Ian’ started to address him as ‘my lord’…

Only Brin, taking advantage of his closeness, still addressed him by name.

After all, with so many titles, it’s normal to choose the least likely to make a mistake.

Furthermore, now that Ian was wearing a helmet, hiding his excessively young face, it made it easier for others to address him.

He pondered for a while, then said, “Wait until daylight tomorrow, and have a guard take him back.

The Viscount will definitely want a live capture.

The Fiery Flame Land’s search for data on Nanling Town’s resources must have an ulterior motive.”

“I understand.” The steward nodded solemnly in response, but then he paused, “Wait, my lord, what are you planning to do?”

“What else can I do.” Ian, who had already donned his sword, spoke with his back to the steward, “Of course, take care of those people from Fiery Flame Land.”

—If they dare to probe and test now, what will they do later?

How can he rest assured to leave without plucking out these troublemakers?