Chapter 192: Chapter 181 Iyola X Dream-En (3/3)
Clearly, this was no joke.
Andorâs report was very detailed and reliable; he even transmitted a real-time drawing via the communicatorâit was almost repaired, but one could indeed see that the bottom of the pirate flagship âTwilight Leafâ had been viciously punctured with two large holes.
"Is there truly an issue with Ailesâs territory, and does he have a grudge against me?"
After witnessing this scene, Patrick fell into deep thought, regretting that he had chosen to implement his plan here.
First, the hidden move in the Blue Flame Bracelet was exposed, and then the fleet was ambushed by the Ironclad Sharkâwhat were all these troubles about!
"But itâs just as well... Teacher Gossay said thereâs a delay in the exploration, which actually fits quite well... Though itâs an accident, itâs not a big problem."
Taking a deep breath, the middle-aged noble calmed down.
Before resting, he had just communicated remotely with the Marchioness.
As Master Gossay had said, that mother, who doted on her child, was deeply concerned for Yisen Gardâs safety but still chose not to let the group returnâonly Yisen Gard, who completed his mission and caught the emperorâs attention, could be considered to have a lifeline.
Of course, the reasoning wasnât just that... As the leader of the Ellen Family, the ruling force over the Great Grave Stronghold Cluster in the north, the current Marquis Ayrin is negotiating next yearâs spring defense operation partnership with the Steep Ridge Fortress in the Dark Mountain Range.
Not being on his own territory, even if he knew the news, he couldnât immediately deal with the traitorâon the contrary, now the Ellen Family was a whirlpool of undercurrents, and even the Marchioness couldnât be sure she could protect her only son in such an environment.
On the other hand, Harrison Port, located on the edge of the world, was relatively safe.
In fact, if it wasnât for Patrick, this decision would indeed be correct.
"Everyone is so clever... which is why they couldnât possibly suspect me."
Storing the communicator in his bosom for safekeeping, the blond noble sighed darkly: "But when my elder brother returns, a new round of internal purging will begin... Although I am very safe, the operation will undoubtedly be delayed for several more years."
He raised his head, looking towards the distant sea: "Southern Sea... Great Redwood Forest Natives... the natives that caused Uncle Harrisonâs demise here."
Muttering to himself in a low voice, Patrick fell silent.
It seemed he had thought of something and muttered pensively: "Now that part of the plan has been exposed, Ailes has also become a problemâheâs sure to increase the protection for Yisen, to prevent that child dying on his lands."
"In that case, it really is a bit tricky."
Although the Ellen Family is of marquisate rank, that does not mean they can order the Grant Family around.
The strength of Imperial Nobility families isnât simply seen by their titles. Viscount Grant has the inherited Aether Armament, and he himself is a Sublimator at the peak of the Second Energy Level, also tasked with the annihilation of barbariansâthis already makes him a major retainer, and even the Governor canât dictate terms to him.
If he could breakthrough to the Third Energy Level and get the Redwood Forest Natives to submit, establishing the Great Redwood Forest autonomous region, his position in Nanling Province could likely trump that of the South Ridge Governor.
Exaggerating a bit, if Viscount Grant could secure the Third Energy Level and unite all the natives of Nanling Province under his command, even establish trade outposts on the islands of the South Sea Distant Waters, achieving the great feat of defending and expanding territory... he would rightfully be Marquis Grant, a powerful feudal lord.
But that was the limit, after all, the Grant Familyâs inherited Bloodline Inheritance only went as high as the Fourth Energy Level.
The Fifth Energy Level inheritance is only held by those truly ancient and powerful Noble Clans, monopolizing the path to the Master Throne, and naturally, they wouldnât allow a new rival to emerge.
Just like the Ellen Family... although their inherited bloodline isnât perfect, history has indeed seen a powerful individual at the Fifth Energy Level from them.
This is the real foundation of the great nobilityâtheyâve got the potential to become the top powers on the Terra Continent if given the opportunity.
"That appraiser named Ian is also a problem; with him around, many underhanded moves are difficult to pull off. Luckily, heâs only at the First Energy Level, a lower-tier Wave Singer inheritance; even if heâs an alchemy genius, heâs probably crushed by the shockwaves of the pirate and teacherâs battle."
Lying back on the bed, Patrick shook his head, giving up on thinking: "Forget it. But, these natives here can indeed be used."
"I need to find someone to make contact with them."
Of course, Ian had long been aware that Patrick saw him as a thorn in his sideâhe wasnât foolish; his abilities were definitely a thorn in the flesh for those scheming in the shadows.
Which conspirator would like an appraiser who could spot poisoning, curses, and various insidious influences at a glance?
However, he wasnât worried about being deliberately targeted by the other party.
Even when deliberately targeted, he still had an ace up his sleeve.
Just like now.
New City District, workshop.
Ian didnât go home right away but took advantage of the deep night, swimming upstream against the Ivoke River to reach his workshop to dissect the Giant Clam, whose action center he had already destroyed.
Although there was nothing peculiar about this Giant Clam, and it wasnât a labyrinth-born variant influenced by the mazeâs field, its rather straightforward and unadorned water jet cutting was a simple and highly learnable form of attack for Ian, who was in urgent need of an attacking ability.
Or rather, any method that enhances an attack based on fundamental qualities is a good technique for Unmovable Fortress Practitioners!
The system of the Unmovable Fortress is good in every respect and even perfect and invincible under the right conditions.
But under unsatisfactory conditions, its shortcomings are somewhat severe.
Being unable to fly is one, and lacking powerful attack methods is another.
Theoretically speaking, between two inheritances of equal strength, one that can fly definitely dominates over one that cannot.
After all, one soars in a three-dimensional world while the other two-dimensional creature can only scuffle on the ground, bound by Earthâs gravity â a severe humiliation indeed.
But the strength of the Unmovable Fortress lies precisely in this point...
Its fundamental qualities are so powerful that even if it cannot fly, no one would dare to underestimate it.
After all, even if one side can fly, turning somersaults in the sky and unleashing hundreds of combo moves, in the end, it is very likely to be precisely targeted by an Unmovable Fortress Practitioner who jumps up at the right moment, striking with a straightforward and unadorned meteoric heavy sword, burying the opponent into the ground.
All the fancy maneuvers count for little when Iâm one step ahead.jpg
But thatâs where the problem lies.
If there was no meteoric heavy sword and no high-quality weapon to leverage the terrifying base attributes of an Unmovable Fortress Practitioner, Ian wouldnât be able to simply punch through all sorts of strange defensive methods by using his fists.
Hiliard had an entire Empire to equip him with Aether Armaments and divine weapons, but Ian did not.
Yes, he indeed had an alchemical heavy sword, but anyone knowledgeable could tell at a glance that it was a high-end alchemical steel weapon used by the upper echelons of the Knight Order of Inspectorateâhow would he explain the origin of his weapon?
He couldnât possibly do what average Wave Singers do, using singing to agitate water currents and sing the enemy to death, could he?
His lung capacity and vocal range were indeed much stronger than that of the average Wave Singer... but that wasnât how it was supposed to be used.
In any case, precisely because of this, Ian was now analyzing the Giant Clamâs water jetting method â the simplest form of water attack, yet highly damaging and intense.
"So thatâs how it is, this creatureâs water jet isnât just a simple Origin Structure, it also has an internal pressurized sac!"
With the help of a Silver Core Chip and Foresight View, Ian was also like a fish in water when it came to biology. After all, he could know with clarity from the first attempt which parts of these creatures had which functions and how to make precise incisions.
He quickly understood the details of the Magical Beast before him: "This is an attack method based on physical structure; no wonder it is stronger and more solid than the usual water cannon fish!"
It might sound as if an attack method based on the body is something humans cannot learn... after all, a normal person canât just construct a pressurized sac inside their body within a few days.
But Ianâs face broke into a smile, his eyes shining with a silver glow: "Now this makes things easier."
"A handheld miniature pressure chamber, huh? Simple, it can be done in two hours."
ââThe very thing that makes us human is our ability to create tools!
Moreover, with complete structural blueprints in the Silver Core Chip... if he couldnât construct that, he had no business being an alchemist!
Late at night, the second floor of the White Chamber Grocery in the New City District lit up with bright light.
An hour and a half later, Ian Doraemon created his first Sublimation Weapon.
ââA handheld high-pressure water jet emitter!