Above The Sky
Chapter 737 - 737 9 Peace in Leyan Territory with Ian's Arrival!

737: Chapter 9: Peace in Leyan Territory with Ian’s Arrival!

(5200, second update) 737: Chapter 9: Peace in Leyan Territory with Ian’s Arrival!

(5200, second update) Steady, gentle footsteps descended the stairs, a young man draped in a moon-white alchemy robe, followed by an Iron Citizen Officer as his guard, slowly appeared before the waiting crowd.

He was slender, clearly the type who spent his days in the Alchemy Laboratory, seldom stepping out more than twice a year, and his appearance caught everyone present off-guard, making them momentarily unsure of why they had come to this gloomy and dilapidated Leyan Castle—were they here to listen to the speech of the man claiming to be the Lord of Leyan or to attend some high society noble gathering?

This was a presence that could instantly alter the atmosphere of the scene.

The white-haired youth stood at the top of the stairs, his aqua blue eyes faintly overlooking the varied expressions of merchants, shop owners, combat guards, and tax officers.

These people, who were considered to hold the greatest influence in Leyan City apart from the Lord himself, now gathered here with unease, waiting for his forthcoming speech and judgment.

“I am Ian, your new Lord.”

Ian stated simply, and an intangible wave brought a damp air swirling around the entire castle hall, causing several Sublimators to change color—they sensed their Source Quality operations beginning to stagnate.

This was a sign of a far more powerful Sublimator demonstrating their control over the surrounding Spirit Energy Field.

—Could this young man who barely looked of age already be a Second Level Sublimator?!

What good fortune did Leyan Territory possess to have such a prodigy as its Lord?!

Before they could recover from their astonishment, Ian’s next words further stunned them, “I don’t know how Baron Leyan managed you, but I have a very bad temper, especially since I have seen food merchants hoarding grain in the Leyan Territory during times of turmoil.”

“Celine, step forward.”

The youth’s voice was pleasant, but the indifferent and icy feeling, mixed with the cold and damp Source Quality fluctuations throughout the castle, made everyone present shiver.

Having been called out by Ian, the grain merchant named Celine felt a chill down his spine.

He swallowed nervously, intending to explain himself and step forward, but the other merchants, officials, and local family patriarchs around him simultaneously took a step back.

The plump middle-aged man, who looked rather amiable and slightly overweight, now stood alone at the front of the hall.

“You are a spy from Fiery Flame Land.”

Ian stated matter-of-factly, effectively sentencing him to death.

His eyes shone with a water-colored halo representing Spirit Energy, “Don’t bother denying it, for I have already seen through you.”

“You acquired almost all of the low-cost grain in Leyan Territory before the Mountain People’s revolt, monopolizing the Empire’s aid for yourself.

This is why Leyan City has fallen into a food shortage, with ordinary people starving and living in constant dread.”

“Without you, Leyan City wouldn’t have descended into chaos.”

“My Lord, I am wronged!

I really am not a spy!

I never thought that the people who ordered so much grain were from Fiery Flame Land; they disguised themselves as other merchant guilds, I only guessed it later…”

The obese middle-aged man immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Ian, who was still standing on the staircase, crying and pleading, “I am absolutely loyal to the Empire, and I have the orders to prove it…”

—How foolish.

Not only Ian and Scott, everyone present thought the same.

He actually believed that a noble and a Sublimator needed evidence to deal with him.

He actually thought that by merely crying and begging, he could save his life.

It seemed that the young Lord’s appearance had given him an undeserved sense of luck.

“Scott.”

At Ian’s soft call, the Iron Citizen Officer descended the stairs, aimed his Charged Rifle at the grain merchant still desperately genuflecting.

He showed no sign of cruelty nor excitement, but merely followed orders to pull the trigger, as naturally as breathing.

In his final moments, Celine looked up, struggling to utter one more plea for mercy—he wanted to say he could offer up all the hoarded grain, all his wealth, even the channels to Fiery Flame Land to this Lord for greater merit.

But in the end, all that remained imprinted on his retina was Ian’s long hair and an indifferent profile.

A blinding stream of light filled every corner, followed by darkness.

His head was gone.

A golden-red crater appeared on the ground.

“I’m glad there’s only one spy, which means today I only need to execute one person.”

Ian smiled as he descended the stairs, gesturing with a raised hand.

The guards from the White Folks arranged a chair, and the young man gracefully took his seat at the head, looking over those who all lowered their heads, swallowing nervously, too afraid to utter a word.

He calmly stated, “Remember, hoarding grain during a war is an absolute capital offense.

All major acquisition and sale of resources within the territory must be reported in advance to me, or to the future municipal hall.”

“Failure to follow this rule means death.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes, yes, My Lord!”

At this moment, no one dared to underestimate Ian because of his appearance.

Rather, Ian’s appearance, which seemed somewhat out of place in Leyan City, instead instilled a bone-chilling fear in them.