"... Is it because of ?"
Ian said softly, "Is it because of my involvent in the Exotic Species Research Institute? Or is it ’Mahdi’..."
"Yes."
Adalbert’s mood was obviously complex as well. The Duke of Sorin had indeed shown him an act of recognition, but the Duke committed deeds entirely unacceptable to Adalbert, leading him to choose to beco the Deceased Monarch, which indirectly caused the tragedy in the Avak Domain.
Gathering his thoughts, Adalbert said, "The Duke told you did very well."
"Whether it’s the developnt of your territory or your personal strength, you are worthy of being the First Knight’s disciple."
"He said he also noticed, Ian, that your awkward situation is mainly due to the lack of strong ’supporters’ behind you... if there was a Fifth Energy Level powerhouse supporting you, you wouldn’t have been caught in the previous passive situation."
Saying this, the Deceased Monarch took a deep breath. He seed hesitant but eventually gritted his teeth and said, "The Duke told , if you are inclined, you can et him in the Domain of Void."
"He might consider working together with us, stepping in at critical monts... helping us handle so problems we can’t manage ourselves."
Ian remained silent for a mont. He didn’t lose composure over the na of the Fifth Energy Level powerhouse but rather said calmly to himself, "... Interesting."
"In fact, the Duke of Sorin has already helped us a lot."
Looking up, Ian spoke to the visibly complicated Adalbert, "I always wondered why Axel offered such a high price. Even to silence Mahdi and and keep Mahdi from returning to The Empire, it shouldn’t have been so high."
"But now it seems, the reason he compromised... is probably because he guessed that ’Mahdi’ had already t with the Duke of Sorin and perhaps reached so agreent."
"But we haven’t." Adalbert said seriously, "Ian, you’re not planning to agree to the Duke of Sorin, are you? Though he was my forr superior, he is far from matching you in technical expertise, and his character is poor. It’s really strange that he’s suddenly reaching out..."
"You say that, but the Duke of Sorin is still one of the world’s finest researchers."
Adalbert was aggressively speaking ill of the Duke while praising Ian, which made Ian chuckle: "I also think he must have ulterior motives, but it’s definitely not malicious; he probably intends to exchange so information and data with ... Or maybe he has so risky strategies and needs to foresee so things for him."
After pondering for a while, Ian slowly said, "Furthermore, what the Duke said is very true. To truly participate in the upcoming significant events with confidence, we certainly need a Fifth Energy Level behind us."
"Ian..."
Adalbert was a bit disheartened but knew it was factual.
The Empire is at war with the Fiery Fla Land and the Azure Sky Royal Court. anwhile, these two nations also need to go to war with the Seven Cities Alliance and Gantreignum. A world war will officially break out within one or two years and escalate.
Though the Xiawei Territory and South Ridge are indeed remote, they must also defend against potential attacks from the Fiery Fla Land’s army. In such a case, the King of the Mountain cannot act recklessly either.
Only forces with a Fifth Energy Level are qualified to reap appropriate returns on the chessboard.
Ian could confirm that the Duke of Sorin is clearly not soone content with solitude—he does not rely want to take his people into silence in hell, as he claid.
Just like on the Spirit Disaster Path, Ian of the Spirit Calamity couldn’t have successfully cultivated ’Void Spawn’ without the Duke of Sorin’s undeniable influence.
This guy... probably just wants to watch the entire Terra burn!
But, what Ian wanted to say wasn’t just that.
"Rest assured, Adalbert."
Ian smiled and waved his hand, signaling the other to relax: "I’ve told you before... I now have two bodies, one is this ’Fairy Body’ and the other is the Unyielding Fortress Body with the Dragon Heart Core, right?"
With a carefree gesture pointing to the sky above, Ian said to Adalbert, "Although you might not quite believe it... I have already successfully persuaded the Galewind Dragon King on Dragon Island to sponsor ."
"If everything goes as expected, in a little while, the Four Great Dragon Kings on Dragon Island will all decide to sponsor ."
"Although the Dragon Kings cannot leave Dragon Island at will or interfere in many things on the Tella Continent, if it’s rely about backing and solving troubles... I think the Duke of Sorin’s ’sincerity’ is still far from enough."
"Dragon... Dragon King and Dragon Island?"
Adalbert’s eyes were wide open. Although he knew Ian’s other body had flown to Dragon Island, he didn’t know the subsequent developnts: "But, how did you... manage this? Dragon Island and the Dragon Kings have seldom directly contacted outsiders for hundreds of years!"
In this world, only the cult leaders of the Four Great Orthodox Churches and a few ’recognized’ monarchs can converse with the Dragon Island Dragon Kings.
How did Ian manage to do it?
"Because I am the Prophet!"
Ian replied without hesitation. This reason worked so well in Terra—he felt he could use this statent to explain any problems he encountered in the future: "In short, rest assured, we have no need whatsoever to accept the Duke of Sorin’s demands."
"However."
Ian raised a finger: "I will still go to the Domain of Void to et the Duke of Sorin. Not to discuss cooperation, but just to talk about his thoughts and exchange so information... At that ti, you can co with ."
"Let’s see together what kind of intrigue the Duke of Sorin has."
"I just fear the Duke wants to do sothing again..." This ti, Adalbert felt sowhat embarrassed. He looked down and said: "I believe there’s no way Ian you would make the mistakes I made... You are much smarter than ."
"I’m not necessarily smarter than you, just a bit more mindful."
Ian beastly patted Adalbert on the shoulder: "These are trivial matters. I originally wanted to have you report on the recent lab situation here for ... but information about the Duke of Sorin is indeed very important as well."
After thinking for a while, Ian nodded and, standing up, said solemnly, "Co with , Adalbert, to the Domain of Void."
"Huh?"
Upon hearing this, the Deceased Monarch Researcher raised his head, sowhat aghast: "Do you an to et the Duke of Sorin now..."
"Of course not."
Ian slightly shook his head, solemnly stating, "This ti, I obtained the ’Key’ I needed most within the Exotic Species Research Institute... A ’chip’ that can accommodate almost all souls and AIs, a true computation core of pre-era civilization."
"Adalbert, as my most outstanding researcher, what I want to show you next is the society I want to shape, its true ’foundation’ and ’first step’ in a aningful sense."
"That also is, in my heart, the true future of the ’Deceased Monarch.’
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