Above The Sky -
Chapter 424 - 424 394 All 25-Year-Olds 13
424: Chapter 394: All 25-Year-Olds (1/3) 424: Chapter 394: All 25-Year-Olds (1/3) Some time ago.
South Ridge, Nauman City.
From the southeast to the northwest, the raging winds carried the storm clouds and torrential rain along with flashes of lightning, pouring the intersecting electric light and rain curtain over the city.
Within the city, towering buildings stood tall.
Spirit Energy Users’ towers, Lords’ castles, and the four great Alchemy Workshops each led a cluster of buildings, a so-called splendorous glow, making the whole city twinkle with flowing light.
The shadow of the Bison Mountain Range faintly emerged as thunder struck, while nearly all the lightning converged on the lightning rods of the city’s Alchemy Workshops.
The dense, surging current, carrying heat enough to melt metal, was tamed by the fluttering Inscriptions, gathered into the Furnace Core, and transformed into mild electricity, becoming a resource that could be utilized by the masses.
The bright brilliance produced as the lightning was tamed illuminated the whole city with a clarity that was thorough and distinct, yet even such a bright, eternal light failed to extend to the suburban plains and gardens.
In the darkness of the rainy night, there were figures moving.
In the early summer tempestuous night when even Magical Beasts would quietly stay in their dens, only Thunderhunter Jellyfish and Electrode Wolves, such types of thunder-affiliated Magical Beasts, would go out in search of traces of lightning.
Yet, in these suburban gardens of the city, where there should be no one, there were still quite a few figures that could faintly be discerned.
The figures were so indistinct that if one did not look carefully, they might mistake them for the shadows of trees; upon closer inspection, however, one would find these figures all draped in strange garments or Armored Clothing, resembling Humans less than some sort of black Alien Forms with smooth exoskeletons.
They carried many strange devices and were silently marching, coming to the outskirts of Nauman City in this thunderstorm, approaching this central city of South Ridge.
Until they were stopped by a bolt of lightning.
A cyan lightning bolt crashed down, creating a tremendous roar, igniting the forest.
Flames intermingled with the rain, sending up thick black smoke billowing.
The shadowy figures moving in secret halted their steps, and simultaneously, they all looked up towards the sky.
In the dispersing smoke and rain, stood a knight atop Magnetic Sand.
He seemed to be flying, hovering in mid-air, clad in pale blue Armored Clothing, covered with countless densely packed magnetic sand particles that continuously bulged and caved in.
Visible dense currents of electricity converged and crisscrossed above these bulging magnetic sands, forming fierce yet powerful patterns.
And the knight, whose visage was obscured by the draconic helm, uttered not a word, only tightly clutching the handle of his Siege Rifle that still swirled with lightning, his finger remained on the trigger.
Cyan electric light gathered at the muzzle of his rifle, intense and dangerous.
It vibrated quietly, making the light even more dazzling.
The Commander of the Yanwei Knights under the South Ridge Governor Marquis Barton, ‘Knight Chris of Magnetic Light’.
“Esteemed individuals from the Spirit Wisdom Institute, stop right there,” the knight’s voice was neither loud nor deep, but like thunder, seemingly leaving a Remnant Echo by one’s ear, offering an aura of decisiveness and directness that brooked no doubt, “Marquis Barton has been attacked by an assassin from Fiery Flame Land, and Nauman City is now under full lockdown.”
“Fiery Flame Land again…
Marquis Barton is quite lucky to have not died,” the leader of the Men in Black stepped forward.
He showed no fear of the arcs of electricity emanating from the Magnetic Light Knight and spoke with a weary frivolity, evoking the manner of a great serpent, “Stand down, let me have a chat with the Knight.”
The Men in Black accompanying him did not hesitate; all retreated deep into the woods.
Once there were no other witnesses, they nodded to each other, and used thunder and mist to obscure the surrounding sounds and light.
“A trade ship from Canaan Moore has mysteriously disappeared recently on the nearby sea lane, initially thought to be a pirate attack or Magical Beasts’ assault.
It was later proven to be connected to the Dragon Worship Cult.
Someone on that ship was carrying clues related to the Ancient Dragon ‘Bingmeng’ of Calan from four hundred years ago, thus they were pursued by Canaan Moore’s Torchbearer Troops and ultimately sank in our national waters.”
The tone solemn and stance still unchanged, the Magnetic Light Knight spoke, “Most of the Dragon Worship Cult’s followers have been executed, but the clues about the Ancient Dragons mentioned in the intelligence have disappeared without a trace.
Two Torchbearers tried to sneak into Nauman City to search for leads but were discovered by the Knight Order and are now sealed within the city.”
“Marquis, the Duke of Solin and the Mirror Sea Guard have received the news, and factions from all sides are rushing over.
The Marquis suspects there are traitors from Canaan Moore within the city, hence the excuse to seal off the city.
In what capacity have you come?”
The man in black didn’t answer the question, instead asking, “What, do you need my help?”
Magnetic Light Knight Chris nodded, “The Great Prince is always very interested in such news.
I am lurking in Nauman City with a distinguished identity.
Added to that, there has been quite a lot of activity in the Fiery Flame Land lately, and there are many tasks to be done.
If possible, I hope you, ‘Night Snake,’ can help gather information about the Dragon Worship Cult.
The Spirit Wisdom Institute should have some.”
“I can help.
In the meantime, do me a favor.” The one called ‘Night Snake,’ in a nonchalant tone, continued, “Marquis Barton has sealed off the Redstone Alchemy Workshop, a joint experimental base between the Spirit Wisdom Institute and the Duke of Solin.
Three projects have been affected—the mission from the Emperor is also important, and I’m constrained by an oath not to neglect it, so I had to come over and take a look.”
The knight nodded slightly, “It must have been implicated; I’ll try to solve it when I get back.
But shouldn’t the Spirit Wisdom Institute be more responsive to the Emperor?
Why are they cooperating with the Duke of Solin?”
“The materials for human experiments are cheaper from him, buying refugees costs almost nothing, and the supply is generous,” explained the man in black.
“If it weren’t for the ongoing projects in South Ridge, we would have considered moving the biological laboratories in the south to the Grand Duchy…
What about the Huai Guang Church?
Aren’t they interested in the Ancient Dragons?
I remember they monitor the movements of True Dragons very strictly.”
“The Holy Hall Enforcers, ‘Redemption’ and ‘Sword of Light,’ had already departed before the city was sealed, heading to Leyan Territory,” said the Magnetic Light Knight.
“You know, they have no interest in these conflicts between countries.
The Archbishop of the Great Flame gave the Marquis’s emissary a cold reception.”
“Right,” said the knight, tilting his head.
“Have you wrapped up your experiments in Leyan Territory?
If not, cut ties quickly.
The monk from ‘Redemption’ might not be an official cleric and may be more lenient, but ‘Sword of Light’ is.
If they find the slightest evidence, the Prince will abandon you.”
“How could that be?” This news caught the man in black off guard, and he couldn’t maintain his previously leisurely tone, “I know they’re investigating the disappearance cases on the Agate Stone Plains, but it’s been such a short time, how did they find their way to Leyan Territory?
Isn’t the human trafficking organization in Blue Fungus Town and the horse bandits in North Mound suspicious?
Didn’t they investigate them?”
Magnetic Light remained silent, while Night Snake furrowed his brows, then sighed, “These damned monks, always interfering at the crucial moments…
Killing just a few people, why suddenly dispatch the enforcers?”
After a moment of silence, he spoke, “Plans have changed, I need to hurry back to Leyan Territory to destroy the evidence.
I can’t help you gather the information.
But you can command the people from the Spirit Wisdom Institute, tell them there’s an agreement between you and me.
They need to resume operations at the Redstone Laboratory ASAP, but can’t leave the workshop.”
“I’ll give you the Key; you can take it when you make your rounds.
Don’t let them find out—if they do, eliminate them.
I’ll find a way to cover it up.”
“Okay.”
The knight agreed simply, “This is hard on you.”
“Not at all.” Taking a twelve-faced dice-shaped Key from his black imitation-shell armor, the Night Snake handed it to the knight, replying indifferently, “This is what I’ve wanted to do all along.
Even if I hadn’t joined the Prince’s service, I would have done the same, providing the Spirit Wisdom Institute’s data to the Prince.”
At this moment, his voice wasn’t deliberately sluggish.
It was like the hiss of a snake, merely that of a tired researcher, “The Emperor is indeed a madman, but this project in itself has tremendous value.
Neither you nor the Prince understand that among the many research projects the Emperor inherited from the Former Emperor, only ‘Echo’ has the potential to fundamentally change the world.”
“Cloning thoughts and immortality, the delusional dreams of a lunatic.
The Former Emperor never studied that,” said the knight with a hint of displeasure in his voice.
“It’s precisely because the Prince knows about this abhorrent plan that he resolved to resist.
Aren’t both you and I following the Prince precisely because we’re moved by his grand vision to transform The Empire?”
“You just don’t understand,” Night Snake turned his head.
“The key was never ‘Echo’ itself, and it has nothing to do with immortality.”
“Although our Emperor is insane, he is never foolish.
The Prince still has a bit more to grasp.”
He stepped out of the silent barrier set by the two men, his gait steady and resolute, free of any confusion.
Soon, the team of men in black would follow the Magnetic Light Knight back into Nauman City, a normal handover process arousing no suspicion.
And the figure of Night Snake disappeared into the darkness.
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