393: Chapter 364: Each Own’s Journey (Celebratory Extra for Subscription) 393: Chapter 364: Each Own’s Journey (Celebratory Extra for Subscription) “So this is all about doing business.”
Ian slowly walked to the front of the team, looking with interest at the bustling roadside trade, “I thought they were here to rob us.”
“Haha,” Brin chuckled, effectively serving as Ian’s personal comntator, “How could that be?
They co at us with weapons to prevent being robbed by us.”
“Though the Mountain People have joined The Empire and beco citizens, they still rember the war from two hundred years ago.
Only those they recognize are allowed to trade with them, and it’s all barter, for fear of being scamd by us.”
“Back in the day when we were doing business, many a Mountain Tribe got swindled out of all their assets, forced to descend the mountains to raid towns.
The matter escalated; those guilds indeed got expelled, the ringleaders hung from street lamps, but the Mountain People, who were supposed to integrate into the system of The Empire, drew back instead.
Marquis Barton even got a scolding from His Majesty for not managing properly, accused of only knowing how to raise birds.”
At this point, Brin sounded sowhat wistful, “I was born in Harrison Port, and thought it was the edge of the world, that there was no one more miserable than us, the exiled…
But after seeing more of the world, I ca to realize there are many who suffer more than us.”
He patted Ian on the shoulder, whispering, “Without Elder Prude, we would truly be scattered sand…
How else could we have such a rchant caravan?”
“Indeed.”
Ian watched the trading scene, where the robust Mountain Hunters diligently carried their hunted furs, and carpets and murals crafted with special skills, exchanging them for common everyday items, which were not of much value.
The White Chamber Comrce Guild didn’t cheat people, but they were certainly not honest to the core; take the herbs, for example, they were overstocked goods, clearly ant for inventory clearance.
They were effective, alright, but it was definitely done on purpose.
And just then, Ian locked eyes with an elder among the Mountain People.
It was an old man, holding a bone staff, his fra shrunken with age, yet his green eyes shone brightly.
His skin had the sa bluish-black color as Qing Steel Stone, and his hair was silvery white, like steel.
He was clearly a Sublimator, and also one of the Iron Folk.
It seed he sensed sothing, turning his head quizzically in Ian’s direction.
Before Ian had the chance to take a closer look, he saw the elder widen his eyes slightly, then give him a respectful salute.
Though puzzled, Ian returned the gesture with the sa courtesy.
The old man smiled.
The trade with the Mountain People ended swiftly, and the caravan steward returned to Ian with a touch of surprise, “Sir, just now an elder of the Avod Tribe of the Mountain People asked to extend their respects to you.
He said he felt a whiff of ancestral air about you, and should fate guide you deep into the mountains in the future, they wish to host you as an honored guest.”
“I see…
Next ti we et, I must express my gratitude and apology for their generous offer.”
Nodding slightly, Ian felt a mild shock in his heart.
Did that old Mountain Man recognize him as a Spirit Energy User, or…
did he sense the aura of the Ancient Dragon Heart Core on him?
The latter seed unlikely, since even Elder White Mist couldn’t sense it, but if the Mountain People’s relationship with the Ancient Lapis Steel Dragon wasn’t a lie, and they still perford ritual ceremonies and retained skills linked to the Ancient Dragons…
“Perhaps, from them, I could obtain so information about the Ancient Dragons?”
Shaking his head slightly, Ian put aside these thoughts.
No matter what, when he returned here next ti, he would definitely be at the Second Energy Level, on par with the strongest among the Mountain People—then, whether it be inquiring about matters related to the Ancient Dragons or sothing else, he would have much more confidence.
The Second Energy Level is now the pressing matter.
Having left the Indigo Mountain Gorge Entrance, Ian and the caravan were ready to part ways.
“Stay safe, my lord.”
The docile Cal Beast, carrying the luggage, slowly departed from the convoy and headed towards the fork on the other side, while the tall forr herb-picker waved goodbye to Ian in a sowhat comical fashion, “I hope by the ti you return, you will have achieved the Second Energy Level!”
After saying this, he laughed heartily, prompting others in the comrce guild to join in with good-natured laughter.
“That shouldn’t be difficult,” Ian responded with a smile, waving back at them.
“Rather, it’s too easy, are you underestimating ?”
“Next ti, I wish for a more challenging goal to give motivation.”
The Cal Beast took the fork in the road, gradually distancing itself from the convoy.
Ian continued on the road to Leyan Territory.
“I didn’t expect Ian to have such a sense of humor.”
Brin, astonished by Ian’s words, watched the young man’s retreating figure and comnted, “I thought he’d always just have that serene smile, speaking overly rational words.
I didn’t expect he would also join us in boasting.”
“Appearances can be deceiving,” the steward said, appearing quite moved.
He patted Brin’s shoulder, “You’ve worked hard these past few days—though it’s not really hard work.
Our genius is much easier to serve than those unreasonable masters…
Get back to work.”
With a slight nod, the caravan set off on their own journey.
…
On May 14, in the year 773 of Tera,
A corporate upheaval occurred within the board of the Platinum Iridium Workshop of the Setar Empire, as the southern chief director resigned due to fault; three shareholders were under investigation, and Master Bawar, the chief alchemist, along with his team, were taken away by the Inspector Knight for questioning.
Upon their return, he was stripped of his master title, and his private Alchemy Workshop was sealed.
This was an event that could cause turbulence in the southern alchemy market of the Empire, yet it was just a repercussion of an internal earthquake within the Ellen Family.
On the 16th, Marquis Velder concluded negotiations with the Yanjiang envoys and returned ho imdiately, but was found later that evening in disarray at his own residence’s doorstep.
On the 17th, the board convened again, and a new southern chief director was nominated.
Those familiar with the alchemy circles of the Imperial Capital would recognize that this new director was a familial descendant and favored student of Master Gossay Bide of the Royal Alchemy Association and a lifeti professor at the Royal Alchemy Academy.
On the 19th, Second Prince Michael Setar of the Setar Empire, who should have been presiding over the Eastern Border’s Fortresses of Mount Is, t with his half-sister, who was born out of wedlock but favored by their father, and who is now known as Lady Ellen, in the Imperial Palace of the Imperial Capital.
What this event truly signifies is still being speculated by the nobility of the Imperial Capital to this day, but this news was quickly overshadowed by a brief skirmish in the Frostmoon Plains between the Azure Sky Royal Court and the Gantreignum Republic.
The Eastern Border, east of the Karan Mountain Range, was set to descend into turmoil once more; this was the essential matter that all nobles were concerned about.
Therefore, with deliberate disregard and the whirlwind of other news, most people failed to notice that among the southern deputy directors of the Platinum Iridium Workshop, a na well-known by many had appeared.
Yisen Gard of the Ellen Family had beco a southern deputy director of the Platinum Iridium Workshop.
On the sa day, a small box made of Snowglow Crystal was dispatched directly from the Imperial Capital to Nanling Province without delay.
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