Above The Sky
Chapter 495 - 495 464 Hope the Dragon is Alright 23

495: Chapter 464: Hope the Dragon is Alright (2/3) 495: Chapter 464: Hope the Dragon is Alright (2/3) “I understand what you mean, but this matter will eventually become known to others.”

Tres took a puff from his pipe, a habit he had developed over the course of his eight years undercover.

The Inspector Knight shook his head slightly, “Although the Marquis is not a Great Knight, he is also a major faction within our Knight Order.

There’s nothing to hide.

Though departments must maintain secrecy, at least internally it should be clear who belongs to whom.”

“You’re right,”

Ian sighed, with no intention of disputing what Tres said.

Within the Knight Order of Inspectorate, the power distribution was such that the chief and two vice-chiefs were the highest authority.

Below them, various Great Knights of the Third Energy Level pledged allegiance, and under the Great Knights, there were squads, attendants, and Apprentices.

Marquis Barton was a considerably independent entity; he was neither a commander nor any Great Knight.

He reported directly to His Majesty the Emperor and was responsible for border military intelligence.

As for Ian, a Patrol Knight Apprentice of the First Energy Level, he belonged to the category that still ‘required further training’…

Only after passing muster could one be assigned missions.

“But you probably won’t need to—people from Marquis Barton’s side, once recommended here, are considered qualified.

That old general’s assessment is extremely strict, and many Great Knights who have met him find him very formidable.”

Tres didn’t talk much usually, but today he eagerly explained things to Ian, primarily because the young man had consistently led him on with a curious demeanor, the status of a junior, ample praise, and looks of utmost admiration, satisfying the knight’s fondness for respect from others, making him talk just a little more than usual.

Perhaps more than a little.

At any rate, this Knight Brother, who had been an undercover agent for more than eight years, couldn’t reveal much that was truly valuable, particularly current intelligence about the Knight Order of Inspectorate.

Of course, that being said, Tres wasn’t completely unaware of everything; after all, he had reached the organization’s middle and upper echelons, had been to the Imperial Capital to deliver intelligence several times, and had his own informants to gather news, so it wasn’t that he wasn’t well-informed, just not overly familiar.

“Who do you say those people are?

No need to ask, it’s the People of the Fiery Flame Land,”

Hearing Ian’s question, the brown-haired knight replied with certainty, “It’s the People of the Fiery Flame Land intending to plant their spies among us, initially using local gangs and Sublimator organizations to cover their tracks, but after growing stronger recently, many members of their special combat squad have moved in.”

“They are quite cautious, but since they reached out too close to the Imperial Capital, I was inserted to check out the situation…

When I sensed there was a big fish behind it all, I infiltrated their ranks to relay messages back and forth.”

It sounded like he said a lot, but in reality, Tres had merely outlined his undercover life without revealing any key intelligence.

Ian showed keen interest in response, “Then this time, what is the objective of this group of Fiery Flame Land spies?”

“Is it really just to attack the participants of the Solitary Mountain conference, and to obtain that…

Earth Pulse Source Crystal?”

“That should be it.

But I actually don’t know what the Earth Pulse Source Crystal is, and whether it’s on this train is also unclear; it could just be false information, as we really didn’t find it just now.”

Tres nodded, his face serious as an undercover knight, “In this organization, I’m just a peripheral member, well, with some status.

But only people from the Fiery Flame Land can be core members; others, like us undercover agents, and those captured Empire traitors, are all peripheral recruited locally.”

“I also tried several times to infiltrate and become a high-ranking member.

When I found I couldn’t succeed, I decided to end my undercover work—if not, I could have definitely unearthed the headquarters of this Fiery Flame Land spy network located in the Western Province!”

—Haha, then you might have to expose the Duke of Sorin.

Ian chuckled to himself, but outwardly, he looked enlightened, “I see—then why are they using the name of the Dragon Worship Cult?

I mean…

do they want to pin it on the Cult?”

“Perhaps.”

Tres took a bite from a pork rib and shook his head, “This is something Cael is in charge of, the one I injected with paralysis toxin.

We just carry out orders, and the plans were always unclear.”

This kind of answer could be considered a response, from which Ian learned some key information.

——So the identity of Sio has indeed been exposed?

With this thought, Ian couldn’t help feeling worried.

He raised his hand and grasped the pendant hanging in front of him.

——Since the people of the Fiery Flame Land really know about Sio’s identity…

then, Sio and Lubeck who thought they were hiding very well and intended to go to the Western Territory to eliminate the special forces of the Fiery Flame Land…

Are they really safe?

Although Ian had not heard any news about this in the possible history of the Path of the Dao’s Worm Nest, aside from the possibility that ‘the Fiery Flame Land was instantly killed by the King of the Mountain,’ there was also the possibility of ‘the Fiery Flame Land successfully ambushing the King of the Mountain or His offspring’!

“I hope the dragon is alright.”

Thinking so, the communication between Ian and Tres came to an end, and Ian returned to his seat.

“What were you and that Knight Sir talking about?”

The moment the young man sat down, Miss Hua’an asked curiously.

Of course, this curiosity wasn’t entirely genuine — even if the Fae were innocently naive, they wouldn’t ask others about such matters.

Certainly, in the common prejudice of most people, Fae would indeed do that, just as people would think that all Alchemists are a bunch of explosion and poison maniacs.

In actuality, it was a ‘disguise’ that Ian had asked Miss Hua’an to put on.

“Come, Miss Hua’an, and Frost Butterfly.”

Then, lifting his hand, Ian made a lowering gesture and said softly with a smile, “I have a secret to tell you.”

The youth spoke, sensing the fluctuation of Origin Quality of the wind at his side.

He showed a smile.

“I have a friend named Yisen Gard.

Yisenjia De·Ailun.

Aside from delivering a message to Marquis Barton, the main reason I came to the Imperial Capital was because he and I had arranged to meet here.”

“We were comrades-in-arms who fought together in the South Sea Great Labyrinth, and his teacher, Alchemy Master Gossay, is also a senior who thinks highly of me.”

“And, he himself is also the youngest son of Marquis Ayrin…

All in all, Yisen has a significant background, and I helped him a lot in the Labyrinth.”

“I am here in the Imperial Capital to develop and learn, at his invitation.”

Ian told the truth but only a part of it.

It was natural to inform Miss Hua’an, who was traveling with him, of these messages, but in the ears of the Knight Order of Inspectorate, they would surely have a different implication: “Before boarding this train, I used a communication device to contact him, and he knows I am on this train.”

“Then, we encountered this attack that seemed quite critical but actually posed no real danger.”