Above The Sky
Chapter 697 - 697 623 Atop Solitary Mountain Second update 5400

697: 623 Chapter Atop Solitary Mountain (Second update, 5400) 697: 623 Chapter Atop Solitary Mountain (Second update, 5400) In the Imperial Capital, if you don’t make a name for yourself, there’s no investment, no networking, and even life is more difficult than in smaller places, because there’s never a shortage of geniuses, and if you can’t maintain your popularity, you’ll quickly become outdated.

However, for Ian, becoming too well-known was not an option, for as soon as he became too famous, he would attract the attention of the higher-ups of The Empire.

“I have to run,”

he decided, “and the sooner, the better!”

Once he was determined to escape, Ian didn’t leave the Imperial Capital in a nervous hurry, instead, he conceived several plans and predicted each outcome.

First.

——Take the Cyclops Giant Armor Suit and leave immediately, without any delay.

The Frost Butterfly and Hua’an remained unchanged, still a lifeless black and red.

“It seems they’re already watching me.

A hasty departure would certainly arouse suspicion,” Ian wasn’t surprised, although his other identities had been exposed, he had kept his most essential secret well protected.

This was all thanks to the fact that Ian didn’t raise suspicion, his identity was clean, and any doubts were easily covered by the identity the Chehalorvo Family hoped for.

But it was like dancing on a tightrope; once suspicion arose, a thorough investigation would reveal flaws in Ian’s history, and those flaws could expand to reveal all his secrets.

So, he couldn’t just run off immediately…

He needed to alleviate suspicions, find an excuse, or make those watching him lose interest.

Princess Alegria took great interest in the Armor Suit he designed, which was the cause of the attention, but he definitely could not participate in the design competition.

So came the second plan.

——Hand over the design of the Cyclops Giant to Yisen Gard so that he could enter the competition under the name of the Ellen Family.

It was also a good way to repay Yisen Gard for all the assistance he had been providing.

Could this dispel doubts and make his departure from the Imperial Capital seem less abrupt?

The black and red color remained unchanged.

But Ian keenly noticed a flickering in the black mist around Hua’an, signifying that although it was still a certain doom, the reason, time, and place had changed.

Good, it had an effect.

He patiently continued to explore the possibilities and asked Yisen Gard for more information, “Who else of importance is coming to the Imperial Capital?”

Yisen Gard didn’t know why Ian was so interested in this, but since Ian wanted to know, he was more than willing to answer, “Let’s not talk about the royal family.

From the Northern Territory, there are two Marquises and two Earls, with my father leading them.”

“The five Earls from the Western Territory have been here for a while now; I watched their faces change all day today.”

“The group led by the Duke East Aishad Family from the Eastern Province isn’t worth mentioning.

Unlike the Solin Family who was suppressed early on by the Former Emperor, they managed to avoid His Majesty’s iron-fisted purge, and the current Duke of the Eastern Province is one of His Majesty’s most loyal supporters.”

“Then there’s the Icewind Autonomous Region, with an emissary from Governor Bai Ji…

He is the King of the Frostwind Butterfly and wouldn’t leave his lair unless it’s for a matter of great importance.

His emissary is His most outstanding offspring, along with three Icewind Lords.”

“The Marquis Barton from South Ridge is said to be coming too.

The three Governors and the Governors from Inner Sea and the Misty Shroud have all arrived.

At least a deputy commander from each of the Twelve Knight Orders is here, except for Steep Ridge Fortress, which has more issues.”

“Those are the dignitaries that matter, but there are actually quite a few more people…

I just can’t remember their names.”

Yisen Gard felt somewhat apologetic, but in Ian’s mind, a picture was being painted, “Because transportation in this world is extremely convenient, the big players really do move fast…

So many forces, so many factions converging, if it were not for Axel, at the Fifth Power Level, with absolute force to back him, any other emperor would hardly be able to keep control.”

“And that’s just the nobility.

Inside the Imperial Capital, there are many other powers, like the Spiritual Enlightenment Institute’s Department of Truth, the Inspector Knights and the Mirror Sea Guard…

It’s a political quagmire, where those who aren’t qualified disappear without a trace, without the least bit of noise.”

“Axel must have some major announcement to make, not just about the war with Fiery Flame Land, but even a defection at the Lightning Flame Fortresses wouldn’t qualify.”

“Let me think, what’s the most recent special piece of news…

The shorter the better, the bigger the issue.”

Within a few seconds, Ian retrieved the corresponding information from his memory bank.

——The Canaan Moore Federation’s Emissary has arrived at the Imperial Capital.

Yes, that’s it!

As everyone knows, the shorter the words, the bigger the issue.

The emissary of one country arrives at the capital of another, and that line ends up being the whole news piece, the matter behind it must be huge!

With this in mind, he realized that Princess Alegria’s attention to him couldn’t be her main concern.

As long as he had a reasonable enough reason, she would certainly not keep wondering ‘why is Ian leaving the Imperial Capital’…

Just one passable excuse, and no one would really care about the intricacies of his situation.

“Yisen,”

Ian began, thoughtfully and in a slow tone, “When I was researching the Efficacy Potion a while ago, I actually almost finished restoring our family’s traditional True Form Magic Potion, ‘Silver Peak Emissary’.”

With those words, he immediately noticed the black and red mist around Hua’an and Frost Butterfly begin to change—although still chaotic, it was countless times better than the previous certain death.

Good.

Seizing the opportunity, Ian continued, “You know I’ve acquired territory in South Ridge…

With the current unstable political climate, South Ridge is also quite chaotic.

I must go back and check things out, stabilize my territory, and then make further plans.”