Above The Sky
Chapter 555 - 555 524 Bustling Imperial Capital 13

555: Chapter 524 Bustling Imperial Capital (1/3) 555: Chapter 524 Bustling Imperial Capital (1/3) The battle between the Knight Order of the Imperial Spirit Knowledge Institute and the Book Guard Knights of the Imperial Capital Royal Library won’t be recounted here, as Ian wasn’t carefree enough to foolishly spectate the commotion.

In short, Count Phoenix, relying on his extremely rich experience in brawling, successfully led the Book Guard Knights in a lightning raid into the office of Yidul Markus, the chief officer, knocked the bewildered chief unconscious, stripped him, and hung him at the front entrance of the library, drawing a crowd of nobles to gawk.

You ask about ordinary people?

Ordinary people would not get involved in this.

But the excitement was palpable; the entire district was abuzz all night, and even ordinary people enthusiastically discussed what had happened.

Alcohol sales for the night surged by 110% compared to the past.

Shortly after being raided, the Spirit Knowledge Institute attempted to gather its forces to retrieve their chief—they had more people than Count Phoenix, but the seasoned count and his skillful Book Guard Knights executed a strategy of encircling points and striking reinforcements.

After defeating the fourth special operations team from the institute, they negotiated with Dean Moze Harnack, known as ‘The Knower’.

After a full exchange of views, both parties had their reservations.

Count Phoenix expressed regret towards the institute’s stance and repeatedly declared that he would keep Yidul Markus hanging at the entrance of The Grand Library as a warning to book thieves until the chief returned the stolen or, as it were, the uniquely valuable books he had transferred away.

Minister Moze respected Count Phoenix’s views but expressed extreme indignation towards the count’s hasty and reckless actions.

He believed that matters could be discussed rather than resorting to violence; if everyone acted like Count Phoenix, there would be no peace in the Imperial Capital and everyone might as well take their knights and wage a civil war.

Count Phoenix responded to this remark, claiming that Minister Moze was like ‘squeezing the scent-gland of a stink bug—full of hot air,.

If the books aren’t returned, let it be civil war.’

The Book Guard Knights built strong defenses in the streets of the first district and guarded all key roads leading to The Grand Library.

The Spirit Knowledge Institute, wanting to rescue their chief, continuously attempted to break through but always failed—they were indeed adept at covert operations, but not in the Imperial Capital.

If they could operate covertly in the Imperial Capital, what would be the need for the Mirror Sea Guard and the Knight Order of Inspectorate?

The turmoil continued until noon the next day, when Crown Prince Carlos Sternal, upon understanding the situation, made an important announcement, “What’s there to fight about?

Has Chief Yidul stolen the books or not?

If he has, return them and fire him, and that’s the end of it.

Both of you elders need to calm down.”

Second Prince Michael Setar, also in the Imperial Capital for the Solitary Mountain conference, added, “I think this is actually a trivial matter.

Everyone has a love of books.

The question is whether this was the act of the Spirit Knowledge Institute or the personal behavior of Chief Yidul, or perhaps espionage by another country?

We need to clarify the sequence of events first.”

Under the significant guidance of the two powerful princes, the Spirit Knowledge Institute and The Grand Library conducted a frank and highly efficient discussion in the Upper City District.

The outcome was straightforward: Chief Yidul Markus was actually a spy from Fiery Flame Land.

Pretending to act on behalf of the Spirit Knowledge Institute, he duped Deputy Librarian Derunk into transferring prized unique books from The Grand Library to Fiery Flame Land.

This act was an irrefutable betrayal and treason.

Effective immediately, all of Yidul’s positions were revoked, his noble title was stripped, his Sublimator status was annulled, and he was sentenced to extreme punishment to be carried out at the end of autumn, as a stark example.

Of course, by that same afternoon, the odious traitor Yidul was frightened to death by his impending doom; this is just a minor detail.

All in all, the book thief had been caught, and the location of the transfer was known.

The stolen books could not be found, but the conflict between the Spirit Knowledge Institute and The Grand Library had been resolved—Minister Moze apologized to Count Phoenix and all the library staff, admitting his failure to recognize people properly and being overly harsh on his subordinates, leading to Yidul’s irrational act.

Yidul had betrayed his country for mere money, so he announced an extraordinary ‘shock fee’ to be distributed to the employees of The Grand Library and the Spirit Knowledge Institute.

But this did not quell the shock because Count Phoenix declared that as long as the library’s books were not recovered, he would beat any members of the Spirit Knowledge Institute of deputy director rank or higher he saw, providing medical fees if not killed and funeral expenses if so—death would be just bad luck; he had no intention of discussing human rights with the accomplices of a book thief.

The Imperial Capital was abuzz for the first time in over twenty years, reminiscent of the mass duel event between the younger generations of the Aide Clan and the Adelaide Clan.

Before one knew it, three days had passed.

“They’re all just full of hot air.”

When Yisen Gard, bursting with excitement, ran into the laboratory where Ian was conducting an alchemy experiment and inquired about the white-haired youth’s opinion, Ian commented, “A spy, my foot.

I’d say this is actually the Spirit Knowledge Institute and Sorin Duchy collaborating on an experiment, and they just happened to need some unique Spirit Energy from those unique books.”

“I was on the scene; I could tell.

The books that were taken contained some very special Spirit Energy or unique legacy powers.

Their disappearance was no accident.”

Count Phoenix was extremely tight-lipped about the incident – Ian didn’t exist in this affair at all.

Of course, even if he had been involved, it wouldn’t have mattered much; Yisen Gard didn’t even know that it was Ian who had truly sparked the event.

At the moment, while operating the alchemical apparatus, he explained to Yisen Gard, “It seems the Duke of Solin and those in Fiery Flame Land likely have an agreement, which is why the list of books was extended—only a part of those books the Spirit Wisdom Institute truly intends to experiment with, while a small portion might be needed by either Fiery Flame Land or the Duke of Solin.”

He didn’t voice any shocking claims such as ‘The Duke of Solin has completely defected to Fiery Flame Land, and within two years, he will rebel and declare independence, just like Steep Ridge Fortress, and establish the Sorin Duchy’, but the implication was more or less the same.

After all, for the Imperial People, the mere act of cooperating with Fiery Flame Land was a very serious accusation.

“So that’s how it is…”

Yet Yisen Gard didn’t doubt Ian’s words one bit and nodded in enlightenment, “Uncle Carlos told me that this matter is more serious than I imagined.

It isn’t just a matter of the Spirit Wisdom Institute becoming increasingly reckless under His Majesty’s indulgence.

I was a bit puzzled at first, but now that you’ve put it this way, I think I understand…”

“Of course.”

Ian nodded slightly.

With the fire he had lit, the upper echelons of The Empire must have noticed something off about the Duke of Solin by now.

Thus, some of the futures visible on the Worm Nest Path of the Dao had probably changed.

And through Yisen Gard, a relative of the royal family, Ian also knew that Princess Alegria was currently around the Great Desert.

It seemed that she was the one overseeing the independence movement of the Fortress Group in Fiery Flame Land.

In addition, when the members of the Dragon Worship Cult in the Imperial Capital learned that the Book of Silver Radiance had been moved from the Imperial Capital Grand Library and might now be with the Western Border Duke, they actually showed a look of relief.

The Empire might be untouchable, but couldn’t they make a fuss with the Duke of Solin?

After repeatedly thanking Ian, these people left the Imperial Capital and gifted him a three-story building that served as the Dragon Worship Cult’s base in the Imperial Capital.

——Without spending a dime, the Dragon Worship Cult solved Ian’s mental strain caused by not having his own residence.

Alright, Ian had no intention of living there, and it wasn’t because Yisen Gard’s residence was much nicer than that poorly decorated building.

He simply wasn’t ready to reveal his identity as a member of the Dragon Worship Cult yet.

Though theoretically, both Marquis Barton and Deputy Commander Frostmark knew, not to mention Second Prince Michael and Lady Ellen… If such influential figures were aware, the opinions of others didn’t matter much, yet he still didn’t want to expose himself.

A cloak can never have too many layers.

The white-haired youth was all too aware that these identities, laden with all sorts of secrets, were what fundamentally ensured his safety.

In summary, time passed like this.

The world was still turning, not waiting for Ian as he quietly immersed himself in the study of Alchemical Inscription Studies.

It is now the 15th of September of the year of 773 in the Era of Tara.