Above The Sky
Chapter 948 - 948 82 Feeling the Way Across the River with Ian!

948: Chapter 82: Feeling the Way Across the River with Ian!

948: Chapter 82: Feeling the Way Across the River with Ian!

Ian’s conferment as Baron Silverpeak was a ceremony that carried greater symbolic value than practical significance.

After all, his name had long been recorded in the annals, and everyone knew that the Xiawei Territory was his actual domain.

As the Dragon God’s Emissary, the Mountaineer community’s support also did not permit The Empire to arbitrarily replace its lord — moreover, The Empire would have preferred a member of the White Folk to rule over the Mountaineers, as it would endear the Mountaineers to The Empire rather than inclining them towards independence.

Therefore, Viscount Decas conducted Ian’s knighting ceremony in a very concise manner.

The real highlight was actually the rewards that The Empire conferred upon Ian.

First and foremost was an entire set of armor repair equipment.

For the merit of defeating three Constructed Knights, if one were to discuss the military value of this achievement, it would be enough for Ian to be fast-tracked to the rank of a major general.

Without going into other details, there was already a knight of the Third Energy Level who had defeated a Constructed Knight on the western front and received The Empire’s commendation and nomination.

Now he leads his troops alone, subtly setting the trend of forming a new Knight Order centered around him.

However, Ian does not meet the requirements for a military officer of the Third Energy Level, so it could only be converted into monetary equipment…

Conveniently, Ian did not desire the somewhat useless military title for himself at present.

The suit of armor’s repair equipment may sound ordinary, but it is actually incredibly expensive.

It includes multiple sets of large-scale Alchemy equipment such as the Recasting Module for Jiuyou Armor Plating, Alchemy Furnace Core’s vacuum maintenance cabinet, Source Barrier & Barrier Flow Generator, etc., which are truly strategic materials in every sense.

Moreover, this armor repair equipment can also be used for Aether Armament with no significant difference, except that higher-level Aether Armament requires finer precision equipment.

If Harrison Port had such a set of equipment back then, would Elder Prude have needed to spend a decade slowly repairing Viscount Grant’s Conquest Ripple?

Perhaps it would have taken just a month or two!

With this equipment, Ian could conduct various fine-tuning designs for the Cyclops Giant himself, and he could also experiment with his own Aether Armament framework…

Although the Aether Armament Ian wanted to develop was Spirit Substance Aether Armament, it wouldn’t hinder him from doing some experiments.

Next were substantial material supports.

Just as Harrison Port had received the Bison Giant Cow back in the day, Ian also received thirty Bison Giant Cows and several carts of high-quality grain and crop seeds.

These items might not seem expensive, but they are not something an ordinary frontier noble could procure, especially the high-quality seeds, which are the results of innumerable selections by The Empire and are priceless treasures for a nation.

At the very least, Ian no longer needed to worry about developing agriculture himself — even if he were a genius, he could not cover everything to such an extent.

Lastly was the exoneration of the Chehalorvo Family.

A mere, light report that declared the punishments imposed by the Former Emperor too harsh, and after decades, the historical crimes of the long-standing White Folk Family Chehalorvo serving their exile had been redeemed.

Upon seeing this, Ian, to tell the truth, felt like laughing.

For the vast majority of great families and nobles in this world, exonerating their ancestors is a matter of great importance, with all glory residing therein.

But to him, this ‘greatest reward’ felt a bit mundane.

“So be it.”

Shaking his head slightly, Ian sighed: “At least Elder Prude will be very happy — and indeed, this is a good thing.

From now on, in the Imperial Capital, I shall no longer be an individual without a background, a friend of the Ellen Family, but rather the new beginning of the ancient Chehalorvo Family, the patriarch of a White Folk Family with a long history.”

Oftentimes, such nominal arguments weigh more significantly than several hundred thousand Talle.

For those true great nobles and great families, no matter how talented Ian was, if there was no substantial heritage behind him, no powerful hereditary lineage and historical background, he could not possibly receive genuine ‘respect’…

But with a historical endorsement, whatever Ian did in the future, any innovative reforms in the Xiawei Territory, would only be seen as the ‘heritage’ of his backing family, thereby earning respect instead of doubt.

Shifting his thoughts from there, Ian still paid more attention to the ‘armor repair equipment’.

“I wonder if Conquest Ripple has been repaired, probably not.

When I return to Harrison Port, I will fix it up, and incidentally see what structure The Empire’s Aether Furnace Core is made of, to prepare for the future creation of the True Aether Furnace.”

“Mm, practice on Viscount Grant’s Aether Armament, freeload some repair experience, and Viscount Grant will benefit as well — it’s a win-win!”

Ian has always been fair in his dealings, although he benefits more in general, those willing to cooperate with him would definitely be very satisfied.

…

In recent times, the reputation of Baron Silverpeak had spread far and wide throughout South Ridge.

Merchants from all over, even emissaries from foreign conglomerates, flocked to the Mountaineer Sacred Land of the Xiawei Territory.

They did not witness the ‘ancient Mountaineer culture’ they had heard of in rumors, but rather encountered many new technologies unheard of in the past, technologies that never even had a rudimentary form before and were entirely created by that young genius of the White Folk.

It is also during this recent period that most people who previously paid no attention to Ian now learned that he is, indeed, the last descendant of the once illustrious Chehalorvo Family.

Before the family name was cleared, he achieved accomplishments, obtained lands, and after acquiring these lands, he repeatedly made significant contributions, successfully erasing the family’s past shame, and led that weighty history towards a brand-new chapter.

The surname Aljomun has now become one of the most renowned among the newly risen nobility in recent years.

Viscount Tymo Decass of The Imperial Nobility Hall, the Imperial Capital’s Emissary, also gave a highly positive review when interviewed by relevant personnel upon return to the Imperial Capital.

“Although I only stayed in the Xiawei Territory for a mere three days, the splendid beauty of the South Ridge flower fields is deeply etched in my heart.

It is a beautiful and unique land with a profound and solid history, resembling soil, and Baron Aljomun is like a seed brimming with vitality and freshness, thriving on that land, showing a vigor rarely seen across the entire Empire.”

Viscount Decass was cautious with his words, but overall, he gave a rare praise: “In the Xiawei Territory, I could see vigorous ambition and pioneering desire, which is the greatest compliment for a young noble.

Baron Aljomun focuses on the development of a new agricultural system and diversification and comprehensiveness of the alchemy industry without neglecting mining development.

There, the domain’s residents are united as one, and the lord himself is an outstanding talent like none I have ever seen before.”

Such an evaluation immediately caught the attention of many business associations and nobles in the Imperial Capital toward South Ridge.

It’s not that Decass’s word alone could guide the direction of investment, but without a doubt, this was an extremely successful and persuasive advertisement.

After all, it’s just about sending people to inspect and visit, which is no harm, right?

Especially for those who were already aware of Ian’s reputation, his brief but dazzling performance in the Imperial Capital rekindled their curiosity about this genius’s performance in his own domain.

And for those who had been following Ian all along…

——Imperial Capital · Mirror Light Sea——

Crown Prince Carlos sat in his seat, listening to the reports coming from the shimmering mirror surface and nodding slightly: “Mhm, I understand.”

The tall man with platinum blond hair and deep blue eyes smiled faintly: “Interesting, he unabashedly shows his disinterest in vindicating his family and has no desire to delve into the past history—a wise man.

Ian must know something, yet such a person can suppress his curiosity and not investigate the secrets behind it.”

“He is someone who lives in the present but is entirely focused on contemplating the future,” the Great Prince commented.

“In my opinion, Ian is a typical example of far-sightedness.”,

“Such people, due to their own intelligence, often overemphasize the impact of alchemy techniques and various scientific developments on the world.

It’s not wrong, but it’s somewhat unbalanced.”

“His so-called new agricultural reform is actually the first step towards his real objective, intended to completely dismantle the bondage of the primitive agricultural system on humans, and after liberating people’s freedom, to create a new set of ethical and moral standards.”

“Imagine, Decass, if a domain no longer has even one peasant—yes, I know, you’ve visited the agricultural buildings, and there are still many agricultural workers there, but is automation so difficult?

If the production line technology for Armor Suits were used here, wouldn’t it eliminate the need for any operators, achieving fully automated harvesting and planting of various crops, and a stable output of all food?”

“Likewise, I can boldly predict that Ian will definitely reform mining in the future, designing a professional mining process to lay the foundation for automated mining.”

“You ask ‘why?'” At this point, Crown Prince Carlos shook his head slightly: “Decass, I’ve told you to learn more about the cutting-edge alchemy technology… The more you know, the bigger your dreams, and the stronger your power.

Is there a need for why?”

“When the acquisition of agriculture, mining, and all other basic resources no longer requires human physical labor, what can these people do?”

“Certainly not unemployment and market shocks!

Stupid, do you think I’m unaware of the market catastrophe my grandfather created?

But this time it’s different, Ian isn’t starting from high-end industries like alchemical potions, but from low-end industries, gradually replacing them… Without mishaps, he will next expand the alchemy production industry on a large scale, using massive industrial production to absorb all the population!”

[I can understand that, Your Highness]

The voice of Viscount Decass from the mirror carried a hint of confusion: [If Ian really intends to do so…

then he’d be producing too many goods—who’s he planning to sell them to?

Who can absorb all these products?]

[Moreover, such drastic reforms and changes will undoubtedly cause massive unrest in the domain, and most people will not be able to accept such unbelievable changes]

“It’s just a small domain, and now it’s wartime; we can consume whatever excessive production there is.”

The man with deep blue eyes turned his head to look towards the distant southern reaches of the Empire: “As for how to suppress the unrest caused by the reforms… hasn’t he already given us the answer?”

He said calmly: “Religion.”

“A brand new religion, completely under his control.”

“As long as he can hold onto the nation’s faith, possessing the right to interpret all changes in life, as the Messenger of the Dragon God for the Mountain People today, the highest will’s interpreter… Ian can certainly easily suppress any chaos within his domain right at its inception.”

“A brilliant idea, though still with many areas to improve, but some aspects are indeed worthy of our consideration.”