Above The Sky
Chapter 900 - 900 65 The answer is swear allegiance!

900: Chapter 65 The answer is, swear allegiance!

(5600)_2 900: Chapter 65 The answer is, swear allegiance!

(5600)_2 So, what must I do to stay alive—to survive under the hand of this lord who is determined to kill to establish authority?

He almost instantaneously arrived at an answer.

“Emissary of the Dragon God!

Please forgive my disrespect and offense!”

With a thud, this chieftain immediately prostrated himself with full submission, nearly lying flat in the mud as he swore allegiance to Ian: “I, Bua Boar Mountain of the Boar Mountain Tribe, vow to follow the footsteps of the emissary forever!

Your orders are the will of the Dragon God, and your intentions are my direction!”

“Please forgive me, Emissary.

I was wrongly led astray, turning against you because of the deception of tricksters and the coercion of the wicked, but my faith in the Dragon God is absolutely firm!

I swear, once my people realize that it’s the holy emissary of the Dragon God they are opposing, they will surely weep bitterly, repenting their grave mistake just like me!”

He even used the reverent language reserved for praying in the Sacred Temple.

“Hmm.”

In response to this chieftain’s burst of inspired allegiance, Ian responded dispassionately.

Then, he looked around at the other captives, “Anyone else?”

As these azure eyes swept across them, and with Elder Mantle and Sio casting the same gaze from his side and behind, many captives immediately followed the good example set, bowing without hesitation, voicing the same kind of oath as the previous chieftain.

Cleary, the ‘Perception Potion’ which sharpens thought and imagination has miraculous effects at crucial moments, and does not invoke the instinctive aversion like the ‘Fear Potion,’ resembling truer thoughts much more closely.

That was the conclusion Ian came to after observing reactions to various potions many times.

As long as one can steer the direction of people’s inspiration, it’s easier to make them believe that their choices are ‘correct’ rather than just manipulating fear and joy.

This is the insight of Ian, as an alchemist specializing in potions.

“Very good.

It seems you all understand who won this war.”

In the midst of the rising and falling allegiance calls, which to others seemed even more disgraceful than surrender, Ian said little.

He glanced once at the stiff, bewildered leaders of the Imperial Mountaineers on either side of him, revealing a meaningful smile, and then entered the tent with Elder Mantle.

Leaving behind those chieftains who sighed in relief, as if having survived a catastrophe, while the theoretically ‘victorious’ leaders of The Empire looked at each other, their expressions changing, unsure of what to do.

“Don’t scare them.

These people are actually very steadfast supporters of The Empire.

Without their help, the highlander rebellion would have swept across the whole South Ridge long ago.”

After entering the tent, Elder Mantle chuckled and shook his head, while Ian exaggeratedly sighed: “How could I not scare them a bit?

Look at them, so animated before as if they had won.

In fact, if it weren’t for Sio and me slaying Kode and stopping the Ironwing Dragon Hunting Team, they would’ve been dead for sure this time.”

“Of course, it’s just a scare.

I just want them to realize who is the one whose words carry weight.

Otherwise, if they start playing tricks behind my back in the future, and I have to kill again, I don’t want to step out each day unable to enjoy the chirping birds and fragrant flowers of South Ridge, but instead beheading one of my own people daily.”

“Don’t worry, I will help you discipline these guys.”

Elder Mantle nodded, that’s exactly what he intended to do—to assist Ian in becoming the Dragon God’s Emissary in both name and practice, which had become his goal after reigniting the Sacrificial Flame in Yasteel Mountain.

Thinking of the Holy Ground, the old man asked curiously, “What exactly happened at Iron Dragon Nest?

Ian, if you really reactivated Iron Dragon Nest…

then the situation in Frodo Autonomous Region doesn’t matter at all, we should go to the Holy Ground first.

These chieftain priests can wait, discipline them when there’s time.”

“No rush.

I only activated the outermost energy convergence system, the inner core Inheritance, the experimental zone, and the hibernation zone have not been touched.”

Ian shook his head: “It’s just warming up, not yet fully activated.

But I didn’t expect that the warm-up of Iron Dragon Nest would be so dramatic…

It seems the Dragon God really left us a lot of treasures; it’s just a pity that for so many years no one has been able to use them, otherwise, The Empire wouldn’t have been able to conquer South Ridge so easily, at most they would have made it a vassal.”

“There’s not much difference between that and being conquered.

In my view, rather be conquered than vassalized—at least The Empire does not discriminate by race, while being a vassal is truly second-class.”

Elder Mantle sighed: “What should we do with those Rebel Highlanders?

Even though they swear allegiance verbally, it’s hard to say what they are thinking inside.

Even if they fear death, you are indeed too young, not necessarily able to suppress everyone.”

“Quite simple.” Ian said calmly: “I will conduct a purge.”

“A grand purge.”

“…What’s that?”

Elder Mantle paused slightly, this term was still somewhat unfamiliar in Terra language, but quickly, he understood the implication in Ian’s words, and his expression became grave: “Wait, you mean to say…”

“Yes.” Ian said with a refreshingly crisp tone, articulating extremely ruthless words: “These people’s tribes will be under my close surveillance, grasping at straws, high-pressure control, or so-called reign of terror, that kind of thing.

I will do this.”

“No matter what they think in their hearts, they must never oppose me superficially.

The Mountain People can only follow the Dragon God’s Emissary.

Those who do not wish to follow me, I’ll let them meet the Dragon God.”