Above The Sky
Chapter 450 - 450 416 Viscount My Mistake

450: Chapter 416 Viscount: My Mistake?

(2/3) 450: Chapter 416 Viscount: My Mistake?

(2/3) “Damn it!” After a round of pleasantries, Viscount Grant closed the communication with Elder Mantle and gritted his teeth, “Haven’t there been any good news recently?”

“That fool Patrick and his nephew are one thing, I can even understand Labor going mad over his son (Baron Leyan), but why is even my knight so unlucky?”

“Is it my fault?

Or is it that South Ridge is genuinely cursed?”

Knowing that Ian was safe did not temper his rage, for Ian had indeed been injured, and the overt and covert hints from Elder Mantle all suggested that the attacker’s background was extraordinary and not to be underestimated, possibly even a second Power Level noble of considerable stature striking from the shadows.

And Viscount Ailes Grant knew every Second Energy Level individual in South Ridge!

They’re not giving me face, huh?

Apart from worrying about Ian, this was the most infuriating part for Viscount Grant.

Yes.

Yes, indeed.

In Harrison Port, there was a rumor.

That was that Viscount Grant is the socialite of Naling nobility, and there’s no noble he doesn’t know.

——Here, it must be clarified, this is not a rumor.

Viscount Grant indeed knows all the named Naling nobility.

Of course, he doesn’t know all the knights, but he is certainly very familiar with the stronger ones, those with the potential to advance to the Second Energy Level.

The reason, of course, is not some frivolous social butterfly…

it’s simply because he owns one of the rare ports for foreign trade in South Ridge.

Nauman City is essentially a naval port city, primarily hosting the Nineteenth Legion’s South Sea Fleet— as everyone knows, military and commercial ports are different, although there are also major ports that handle both, Nauman City is not one.

Most of Nauman City’s maritime trade is conducted through transfers at the small port ‘Tanmu Port’ to its south, and the long coastline between Nauman City and Tanmu Port is dotted with all kinds of small fishing villages, gathering areas, and trading hubs, forming a very mature trade center.

But these ports and trade centers are so mature that they do not have the advantages Harrison Port possesses.

They are hard to smuggle through.

As Nanling Province is not fully developed, and Harrison Port is far from the Emperor’s reach, it’s hardly supervised, and many of The Empire’s strictly controlled exports or imports can be traded through Harrison Port.

Just like Baron Leyan secretly smuggling Radiance Grass to the outside world through Harrison Port in the past, how many nobles in Nanling can resist the temptation of such huge profits and the lack of supervision?

In the six years since Viscount Grant’s victory over the Natives at Harrison Port, he greatly expanded his social circle and built a secret smuggling network centered around Harrison Port, involving almost all powerful nobles and major trading companies.

Moreover, there aren’t that many nobles in South Ridge who are noteworthy, so it’s not surprising that Viscount Grant is familiar with everyone.

As an Elder of the Mountain Tribes who used to be a Dragon God Sacrificial Rite leader, the Abode Tribe, Elder Mantle also had a long-term trade contract with Viscount Grant for Demonic Beast Materials and ores.

So when the Viscount knew Ian was with the Mountain People, he was quite at ease.

Dragon Worship Cult?

Please, even setting aside the fact that the danger of the Dragon Worship Cult is pitifully low without something like Ancient Dragons remains, even if there were truly such things, how would that concern him?

If people want to blow up inside the Bison Mountain Range, let them blow it up.

South Ridge is not like the Quido Plains in the east where tens of thousands of people could die from an earthquake.

In a place like South Ridge, where Magical Beasts outnumber people, collapsing a few mountains wouldn’t even hit anyone.

“Who attacked Ian?”

After the anger subsided, Viscount Grant also pondered this question, “Labor’s death was suspicious, White Mist said it might have been during a duel with the head of the Spirit Wisdom Institute, but I’m not dreaming, are such coincidences real?”

“There must be a group of people behind this, silencing the Spirit Wisdom Institute and Labor, and they even want to silence Ian…

Who could it be?

This cruel, even Fiery Flame Land would probably not dare such madness.”

Turning his head, looking northward, the Viscount gazed in the direction of Nauman City, lost in thought: “Should I have Ian return…”

He shook his head: “Never mind, I should inform Prude first, so as not to worry him.”

And in the heart of Viscount Grant, Elder Prude who must be fretting over Ian’s predicament right now, is currently accompanying Elan to watch ants.

Worried?

A prophet, what is there to worry about.

“Brother, right now, I’m very happy.”

Elan, while watching ants carry the fallen leaves on the ground, cheerfully said to the elder beside him, “It’s like, the plan is complete, that kind of happy.”

“…Hmph…

I knew it, how could he possibly be ambushed by someone.”

Elder Prude knew that Ian was a prophet.

If other people knew about the attack on Ian, they would be somewhat worried that Ian might underestimate the enemy’s strength due to overconfidence.

But the Elder knew with absolute clarity that Ian would only intervene in this affair if he had the capacity to deal with it.

The question is, what exactly does Ian plan to do?

Elder Prude had also heard about the matters concerning Nauman City and the Dragon Worship Cult, and he didn’t quite believe that Ian wouldn’t want to get involved…

This youngster must be planning to make some big news, so he deliberately feigned his own attack!

“Should we send Green Tide to assist Ian?”

After ruffling Elan’s hair, Elder Prude mused for a moment and slowly shook his head, “No, a First Power Level Peak cannot help Ian much…

but if he stays in Harrison Port, that would be a powerful force.”

“Moreover, now is a critical time…”

“The Great Shaman has died, the Redwood Tribes have dispersed, and Ailes is in a cunning battle with Marquis Barton over the Great Labyrinth, it’s a good time to try to obtain the Foreseeing Bifoliate.”

Not just Harrison Port.

The day after Ian was attacked, at noon, inside Nauman City.

In the residence of the Governor of Nanling, a man dressed in Armored Clothing with a Longsword strapped to his waist and deep chestnut-colored whiskers under his chin was standing on the balcony, staring at the midday sun overhead without blinking.

In the sunlight, the invisible moisture from the sea rose in the distance, eventually forming a storm heading towards South Ridge with fierce winds and sudden rains.

Although the city was currently clear, in his eyes, he could already see the heavy downpour two hours later, with thunder blasting from the dark clouds.

The man appeared to be middle-aged, but he was showing signs of age.

His once-resolute face now even seemed a bit kind.

Without that armor and with his hair turned white, he would look like that elderly man who feeds pigeons with bread crumbs in the quiet corners of the city.

Barton Hennil, Governor of Nanling Province, Marquis of the Frontier, former Imperial Knight, Chief of the Cavalry Reconnaissance Battalion, Imperial Major General.

This string of titles could not give him a sense of security, only the Armored Clothing on his body, the sword at his side, and the power within him allowed this nearly eighty-year-old man to sit down peacefully for a cup of tea.

But now, the situation in Nauman City was such that even seated in Aether Armament, he probably could not eat half a cookie without worry.

“General, we have not been able to track down the power that attacked the Guide Knight.

The clues are too scarce to follow a trail.”

The sound of metal tapping stone tiles rang out, as Knight Chris of Magnetic Light approached with his report.

He first saluted the elder with a military gesture and then began his briefing, “The current clues suggest that this mysterious power has ties to the Spirit Wisdom Institute.”

“They came here because of the affair between the Spirit Wisdom Institute and Baron Leyan and sought to silence the Guide Knight who seems to possess some information.”

“Now, there is a suspicion within the group…

that the opposing side might be a private organization belonging to some big figure in the Imperial Capital.”

The Magnetic Light Knight’s report was meticulous and for anyone unaware of the undercurrents behind everything, this result would seem quite clear.

As for the fact that the opposition came from the Imperial Capital, that was hardly big news.

After all, at this point in time, apart from those high-ranking officials, nobles, and various important departments in the Imperial Capital, which local noble could extend their hand beyond their own territory into a border province?

Duke Sorin might be one, but he was currently in deep trouble with Fiery Flame Land and clearly couldn’t concern himself with other matters.

“Hmm.” Marquis Barton gave a soft hum in response to the result, his gaze still fixed on the sky, as if he wasn’t particularly interested in his knight’s report.

Yet the Magnetic Light Knight continued to report the latest intelligence with respect and order, “Fortunately, the Guide Knight escaped and did not perish but was then kidnapped by the Dragon Worship Cult.

The Cult is now demanding that we release the Canaan Moore Dragon Worship Cult members we captured some days ago in exchange.”

“General, what do you think…”