Above The Sky

Chapter 1958: 8: Opinion Offensive and Grant's Hostage

Capítulo 1958: Chapter 8: Opinion Offensive and Grant’s Hostage

Overall, they each have their own trajectory for the future, and what Ian does is merely ensure that their paths do not branch too much, allowing them to reach the desired outcome.

Except for Cometes, the son of Marquis Grant, he is a genuine ‘young generation’ that Ian has witnessed since birth… Ian can completely shape his future.

“Duke of Silverpeak.”

In the parlor, Ailes Grant, slightly aged but more relaxed and whose power has fully stabilized at the Third Energy Level, brought a small boy with deep blue hair who was looking at Ian with curiosity, smilingly asked Ian, “How should I address you in the future? Duke Aljomun or Archduke Nanling?”

“Although I wish to maintain dignity, when familiar people meet privately, just call me Ian.”

Ian chatted warmly with Marquis Grant for a while. They often contacted each other, as Harrison Port is the area most closely connected to Ian’s forces, Canaan Moore, and Whale Song Cliff. As Ian’s maritime trade prospers, Ian’s interests with Marquis Grant become increasingly intertwined.

In this, Marquis Grant consistently supports Ian with all his might. Not to mention, during the demon disaster, he, then Viscount Grant, piloted the Aether Armament to lend a hand.

“Honestly, I didn’t see it at the time; you hid it so well.”

Knowing Ian doesn’t like drinking, after sharing a few cups of tea with Ian, Marquis Grant reflected, “Thinking about it now, if I hadn’t let you go back then, I might have been the first stepping stone for you—revisiting it now is truly frightening.”

“That’s not really the case.” Ian smiled and gestured modestly, not fully denying the statement, “Probably I’d just suddenly leave without saying goodbye one day…”

“Then unexpectedly return one day to knock me down?” Grant interjected, laughing heartily and stroked the small boy’s hair beside him, “Cometes, come greet your teacher.”

“Greetings, Teacher!”

Upon hearing his father, Little Cometes obediently stood up and performed a formal noble courtesy to Ian—who could tell that this wasn’t trained, but rather Cometes truly knew this etiquette.

“Hmm.” Nodding slightly, Ian naturally accepted the greeting, then said with some surprise, “Is this what a born Sublimator looks like? A mere three years old and already seems very agile in thought, having learned quite a lot.”

“Heh heh…” Hearing this, Little Cometes felt a bit embarrassed and smiled, but said nothing. Ian looked all the more delighted, “Hey, Marquis, my disciple is much more open than you, even a bit of a closet extrovert.”

This possibly reflects the ‘memory of inheritance’ spoken of by True Dragons. As long as one follows the path of Bloodline True Form, their bloodline memory keeps completing, until finally, a newborn child can, like a True Dragon, possess the entire knowledge foundation of their family’s bloodline, even its ‘civilization.’

This is also a wide and straight path, just not as good as the Arcane Pathway.

Because the Arcane Pathway also has similar techniques.

“Haha.” Hearing Ian refer to ‘my disciple’ right off the bat, Marquis Grant laughed happily, he gave a gentle look at his child, then patted Cometes’ back, signaling him to stand by Ian.

The Marquis felt quite sentimental, “After all, the South Ridge where he grew up is not the South Ridge that I lived in… The pressures he faces aren’t as great as my generation experienced. His mother and I have always been by his side.”

“If I had grown up this easily, I might have this kind of character too.”

At this point, Marquis Grant looked at Ian and slightly bowed with respect, “All of this is because of you, Ian. Until now, I didn’t fully grasp the purpose behind all your actions.”

“Under your reign, perhaps all the children in this land can grow up as carefree as Cometes.”

“I don’t know if this is good or bad, but when it comes to the kids… I still wish they could grow up more easily.”

“Indeed.”

Ian reached out, lifting Little Cometes using a mist of water. He noticed Cometes was not surprised at all, instinctively interacting with Ian’s Water Element Origin, almost feeling as if he was ‘swimming.’

Abyssal Leviathan Bloodline… truly a high-quality True Form Bloodline Inheritance capable of forming the Fifth Energy Level bloodline.

“Exceptional aptitude.”

Setting Cometes down on his own lap, Ian seriously examined his disciple’s various qualifications while conversing with Marquis Grant, “Marquis, there’s no need for any roundabouts; I actually don’t require you to send Cometes here as a hostage. I’ve accepted him as my student, and I will teach him earnestly.”

“However, there’s something I must tell you upfront…”

At this point, Ian’s tone lowered, making Marquis Grant’s expression turn serious, “As my disciple, by nature, he is volunteering to be my experiment subject.”

“On him, I will conduct ‘experiments’ that only a child his age can undergo. I have basic ethics and won’t make other people’s children experiment subjects, but if it’s my disciple, then that’s different.”

In Marquis Grant’s astonished eyes, Ian seriously stated, “Even so, are you willing to entrust Cometes into my care?”

“If not, Cometes will still be my disciple, but unable to access some of my core inheritances.”

“Huh?”

After several seconds of shock, Marquis Grant was perplexed and uttered two words: “…That’s all?”

Clearly relieved, Marquis Grant reclined on the sofa in the parlor, while Cometes sitting obediently on Ian’s lap showed no fear at Ian’s previous statement, not the slightest scared by Ian’s words. Marquis laughed aloud, “I thought you intended to say something major, Ian, turns out it’s just this, isn’t this straightforwardly proper?”

Ian: “?”