Above The Sky
Chapter 990 - 990 98 Elan's Savage Growth

990: Chapter 98: Elan’s Savage Growth 990: Chapter 98: Elan’s Savage Growth “Have you heard?

We’ve got another noble here—it’s Ian, one of the White Folks!”

“I’ve heard.

I even know that kid.

He’s been smart since he was little.

Later, he learned alchemy and inscriptions with the help of Lord Grant… My hubby only picked up a bit and was able to join the Guard Squad, but that kid mastered it all.

Him becoming a noble doesn’t surprise me!”

“Ah, when will my kid be even half… no, a quarter as smart as Ian?

It would save me so much worry…”

This was a conversation between several women from families with children on the seaside street in Harrison Port.

“Xiawei Territory, huh?

That place seems to be recruiting skilled craftsmen… They don’t require much expertise and even offer training.

They’re mainly looking for young people with imagination—sounds like it might be a fit for a few of us guys.”

“Wait, don’t.

Seriously, don’t.

Do you actually believe them when they say they don’t want experienced masters?

That sounds just like neighbors saying ‘The army doesn’t care about your physique, they’ll train you—they only need a body ready to be sacrificed.’ This sounds like they’re treating us as cannon fodder!”

“What kind of cannon fodder is there to speak of for craftsmen?

Making us work day and night forging iron, eventually burning out at the furnaces?

Look at this flyer; it says they’re crafting entirely new things, and veteran experience doesn’t count for much…”

“Still, like I said, you just believe them?

Although Xiawei Territory is in South Ridge, you still have to cross mountains to get there!”

“Sigh, like I mentioned, my life doesn’t hold much value anymore.

I’m at the age now—if I don’t take on real work, am I just going to live off my parents forever?

This time, I’m taking the plunge!”

This dialogue occurred in the backyard of the Blacksmith Shop, between two apprentices on a break.

“Hey, buddy, did you see the recruitment notices from Xiawei Territory?

The benefits are incredibly generous!”

“Xiawei Territory… isn’t it kinda dangerous?

The war with the Mountain People over there ended not long ago, and a lot of folks died… Plus, didn’t the Lord’s Mansion already mention?

Lord Grant and Ian, along with his Guard Squad leader called Green Tide, teamed up to repel a special forces attack from other regions… Clearly risky!

I’m not interested in going.”

“Eh?

Isn’t that just proof of Xiawei Territory’s strength?

I know Green Tide—what a warrior!

The way he wields that sword, it’s worth ten of me at least.

I’m dying to learn from him, and they say joining their Guard Squad grants the chance for his personal guidance!”

“Eh?

So, buddy, you’ve made up your mind about going to Xiawei Territory?

Harrison Port’s a pretty good place, isn’t it?

Ever since the Natives left, there’s been less work, but Lord Grant is generous, making it a solid place to settle and raise a family.”

“Well, that’s because you have a wife now and want stability.

But I’m still looking to improve myself—to see if I can advance further.

Less work means fewer opportunities, and less merit.

Didn’t Green Tide only slightly surpass the rest of us brothers before?

He got his Second Energy Level by adventuring with young master Ian in the South Sea Great Labyrinth.

This shows that taking risks is the only way to seize opportunities!”

“Ah, buddy, you really are bold—cheers to you!

Tonight, we’re drinking till we drop!”

“If I manage to return alive next time, drinks for everyone in the group are on me.

We won’t leave until we’re all drunk!”

This was a conversation between two mercenaries, discussing their ambitions, in a tavern in Harrison Port.

The entire Harrison Port was bustling with talk about the news surrounding the Xiawei Territory convoy.

It wasn’t just because the lord of Xiawei Territory was originally from Harrison Port, or because he received a passionate welcome from Viscount Grant—it was also due to the considerable appeal of the benefits offered by Xiawei Territory.

While there had been news last year of Ian’s rise as a lord and his achievements, and even earlier news about Ian’s stellar performance in the Imperial Capital—none of these could compare to the sight of Ian leading an entire convoy loaded with innovative goods and high-end alchemy equipment back into Harrison Port.

With such tangible assets in front of them, the people of this era, who typically wouldn’t act without concrete incentives, finally began to have a sense of awareness and understanding of this distant ‘new territory.’ It even sparked some ‘curiosity and longing.’

Of course, in some sense, Xiawei Territory’s recruitment efforts in Harrison Port could be seen as ‘buying out’ the skilled personnel the port had cultivated over the years—some might even call it blood-sucking.

But in truth, everyone in Harrison Port, including Viscount Grant, believed that Harrison Port had gained the upper hand.

Because on Terra Continent, the most important resource wasn’t these relatively lower-tier ‘talents.’

It was the knowledge in the realm of ‘alchemy.’

[Xiawei Territory shares the technology for ‘vertical agricultural buildings’ with Harrison Port, allowing the port to establish production workshops for ‘standard plant cultivation solutions.’]

[Harrison Port receives the priority purchasing rights for advanced armaments like ‘Magnetic Storm Armor’ and ‘Charged Rifles,’ along with permission to establish three production workshops for related equipment.]

[Harrison Port and Xiawei Territory forge an all-encompassing partnership: free personnel flow between territories, mutual tax and fee reductions for trade caravans, and multiple large-scale trade agreements involving raw materials and grain.]

[Xiawei Territory agrees to train basic-level alchemists in Harrison Port.

In exchange, Harrison Port is to assist Xiawei Territory in acquiring large quantities of alchemy matrices and related alchemical crops—final agreement details still under negotiation…]

These agreements had already been disclosed by the Lord’s Mansion before Xiawei Territory’s convoy even arrived.

Upon hearing about these agreements, people couldn’t help but marvel at Ian’s generosity and express gratitude for his efforts to give back to his hometown.