Above The Sky
Chapter 560 - 560 529 Ian I Feel Like I Have Been Isolated 33

560: Chapter 529 Ian: I Feel Like I Have Been Isolated (3/3) 560: Chapter 529 Ian: I Feel Like I Have Been Isolated (3/3) “Why haven’t I received a response yet?

Is there a problem with the review?”

However, even after Ian had finished his experiments in the afternoon, he had still not seen any message from the Association come through on his contact crystal board.

This inevitably left Ian greatly puzzled—he hadn’t proposed any new theories this time, just submitted a paper on the improvement of potions under that guise.

While it might have been a bit shocking for his age, the study of potions was always advancing.

In fact, before Ian, there had already been quite a few attempts to modify Demonic Weapon Potions.

However, the difficulty was somewhat high, and repetitive experiments were required, not everyone had Ian’s Prophet Psychic abilities and the Ellen Family’s ample budget, so they never reached the end.

Ian didn’t intend to hog the fame all to himself; he had already contacted other alchemists who cited his paper and reached an agreement with them.

As such, the Association should have been able to give results quickly.

But the results had not come, and he had been waiting for almost a week now, without even a preliminary review or storage notification being sent out.

“Could it really be that some Noble Alchemist stole my paper and plans to put their own name on it?”

Even Ian couldn’t help but think of such an extravagant possibility, but in reality, this kind of thing had actually happened before.

Back then, when Protector Axer had just ascended to power, a grassroots alchemist had his research forcibly taken by Noble Alchemists.

He truly had nowhere to turn for help; no one would assist him, and no one believed the research results were truly his.

But fortunately, as soon as Axer ascended, he immediately began a major purge of the old noble system.

The outcome was clear without saying more; the fortunate alchemist had a satisfying conclusion, while the oppressive nobles met with ruin.

Since then, most of the newly emerged Noble powers mostly did not, or at least not so brazenly, commit such disreputable acts.

Shaking his head to dispel the fantasy, Ian contacted the Association to inquire about the review of his paper.

Two pieces of bad news.

One piece of bad news was that no one had taken Ian’s paper; it was just that the Association was too busy with other matters recently to conduct the review.

This meant Ian couldn’t make a name for himself in the Imperial Capital by disproving those brainless Nobles and promoting his “Efficacy Potion” theory.

Missing out on an opportunity for exposure and free advertising was such a pity.

The representative apologized, saying they would expedite the review as much as possible, but not to expect anything before the end of the month.

The other piece of bad news was that bigger things were on the horizon.

“What bigger things are coming?”

Upon hearing this, Ian was somewhat confused.

The person in charge at the Alchemy Association, of course, wouldn’t have said something as straightforward as “bigger things are coming.” He spoke very diplomatically, implying that the Imperial Alchemy Association would soon have an extremely important and hazardous task to undertake, and that several masters would be involved.

Upon hearing the young man’s question, the representative hinted delicately that alchemists of Ian’s caliber were also likely to be chosen, and maybe by that time Ian would understand what “big” really meant.

These words implied that Ian definitely wouldn’t be picked—the message was nothing but perfunctory.

Riddle makers truly deserved to die.

With a sense of indignation toward the riddle maker, Ian furrowed his brow, his mind already forming some guesses: “It’s the power core for the Sixth-Generation Aerial Armor Suit, isn’t it?

The Gantreignum Republic’s Armor progression is too rapid.

They have even managed to mass-produce Assault Armors capable of sustained flight at several times the speed of sound, while The Empire is still struggling with the completion of the power core.”

The Furnace Core of an Aerial Armor Suit is quite different from that of Land and Sea Battle Armors, not only requiring higher power output but also greater stability to ensure the armor can perform various high-difficulty maneuvers.

While The Empire’s Alchemy Furnace Core technology is actually the best in the world, it had fallen behind in the area of the Sixth-Generation Armor.

Sending relevant Alchemy Masters to tackle this issue was only natural.

But the question was, what did this have to do with Ian?

He’d shown himself to be an alchemist specializing in potions.

Moreover, why was it ‘dangerous’?

To be honest, Ian had been a bit of a recluse lately, holed up and digesting knowledge, hence he hadn’t paid much attention to outside news.

But it had only been two months, what big event could have possibly happened?

It turned out something big did happen.

Master Gossay, upon learning of Ian’s actions, took the initiative to communicate and informed Ian of the answer.

In recent times, the battle situation between Duke Sorin’s Domain in the West Frontier Plains and Fiery Flame Land had worsened.

As espionage became more intense, the struggle between Fiery Flame Land and The Empire became fiercer.

After Fiery Flame Land first used biological weapons, The Empire’s spies released a large quantity of parasitic mosquitoes in Fiery Flame Land’s coastal areas.

The larvae of these mosquitoes would parasitize the local fish populations, using the corpses of dead fish as nests for propagation and growth, while the secretions of the mosquitoes would accelerate the reproduction of coastal algae, leading to ocean poisoning.

In response, Fiery Flame Land also spread a considerable amount of highly pernicious corrupting fungi within The Empire’s territory, infecting vast stretches of farmland and forests in the Western Territory, and the wild creatures and magical beasts living there became parasitized and corrupted by the fungi, entering a frenzied state.

South Ridge, due to its better self-purification capabilities, wasn’t as affected, and Harrison Port was mostly unchanged.

Still, it was said that hordes of refugees were emerging from the Western Territory, and among these refugees were Fiery Flame Land’s spies, who were specifically spreading the fungus everywhere.

Defending vigorously was not the solution; it was necessary to quickly develop a potent drug or a biological control against the spreading fungus.

And all research into bio-alchemy weapons was ‘dangerous’.

This was why the Royal Alchemy Association had been so busy lately—in fact, they had been working overtime for a month.

No wonder they hadn’t had time to review Ian’s thesis.

In this regard, even if Ian wanted to help, there was nothing he could do—he was too young, and too ‘new’.

Although the young man certainly couldn’t be a spy from Fiery Flame Land, battles involving biological weapons were traditionally handled with caution.

An elite alchemist like Ian, unless there was truly no one else to turn to, was unlikely to be added to a team.

About this, Ian had no choice; experience, reputation, and fame were indeed what he lacked most.

Strength could compensate for some of it, but it still required time to refine.

“How many refugees has the Western Territory sent out…

If they keep going like this, won’t the people be drained?

What on earth is Duke Sorin thinking…”

Looking at the matter from another angle, Ian turned his attention back to the Western Territory’s maneuvers and couldn’t help but feel puzzled by Duke Sorin’s decisions, “The current trend of the world is generally similar to that of the Worm Nest’s Path of the Dao, but The Empire has already noticed something is off with Duke Sorin.

Recently, rumors have indeed spread that ‘The Duke has already cooperated with Fiery Flame Land.’ It is estimated that there will be action before the end of the year.”

“The question is, why?”

“One could indeed blame The Empire for neglecting him, for wanting to deplete his strength to confront Fiery Flame Land, but to cooperate with Fiery Flame Land is to poison his own territory?

No lord does this…

Something’s not right here, and no matter how foolish Duke Sorin is, he would not expend his true power in retaliation against The Empire.”

“If it’s not foolishness, then there must be a serious problem with him.”

Thinking this, Ian decided to put his alchemy experiments on hold and began collecting information about The Grand Duchy from various channels.

Then, he received from the Dragon Worship Cult a piece of information that puzzled him greatly and filled him with unease.

Just as he had predicted during the train hijacking incident.

Sio and Lubeck, who had gone to raid Fiery Flame Land, had their identities exposed and were captured.

Moreover, Fiery Flame Land had used special means to trace back through the prosthetics and restrain Sio’s Dragon Soul.