Chapter 234
Chirp, chirp, chirp!
Yan’s eyes snapped open to the sound of sparrows chirping. He sprang up like lightning, scanning his surroundings. The scene was all too familiar.
“Is this... Arnia?”
Recognizing where he was, Yan quickly checked his own condition. The last strike he had delivered to Aquinas was powerful enough to destroy not only Aquinas but also his own body. It was only natural, considering he had unleashed the skills of a second and third-grade superhuman without any practice. It would have been strange if his body had remained intact.
But now...
“I feel... better than before?”
All his senses were sharpened to the point of pain, and his mana pathways were wide open. Not only that, but the size of his mana heart had grown significantly. It used to be the size of a fist, but now it was as large as a waterlon.
“What on earth happened?”
As Yan pondered, a familiar voice echoed in his ears.
[Awake, are you?]
It was Momon. Yan blinked at the sight of a very tired-looking Momon.
“...What did you do to my body?”
Momon clicked his tongue and began to explain.
[I implanted the White Fla Jade.]
“The White Fla Jade?”
Yan couldn’t believe his ears. The idea of having the White Fla Jade embedded in his body felt unsettling. According to Momon, the contaminated White Fla Jade could be triggered to rampage at any ti by the Founding Emperor.
Momon, sensing Yan’s unease, shook his head.
[Do you think I would implant it without checking? All the dark energy was eradicated when Aquinas was resurrected. What’s left is pure.]
“Then... what happens now?”
[You’ll see for yourself. Your body will absorb and accumulate mana at a rate ten tis faster than before.]
“What? Ten tis faster?”
Yan shouted in disbelief. His mana technique, the Breath of the Divine Dragon, was already a supre skill, far superior to the Dark Dragon Technique used by the Special Task Force Commander. And now it would be ten tis faster?
Yan let out a hollow laugh.
“Won’t I end up with infinite mana at this rate?”
[Don’t be ridiculous.]
Momon scolded, and Yan chuckled. He knew it was a silly thought. Infinite mana? No matter how fast he gathered mana, there would always be a limit to how much he could store.
[But it might be possible.]
“...What?”
[If you accumulate mana faster than you consu it, isn’t that essentially infinite?]
“True, but that’s a distant possibility for now.”
As Yan continued his conversation with Momon, sothing occurred to him.
“Why am I here? What happened while I was out?”
He rembered delivering the final blow to Aquinas, but nothing after that.
[Is anyone out there?]
Momon called out, and Kasa entered the room.
“You’re awake?”
“Yes, but what’s going on that you had to co in?”
Kasa smiled and began to explain. After Yan had completely dealt with the leader of the Revolutionary Army, his fa had spread throughout the southern part of the empire. Even the Sun Duke had retreated, and Yan, the rising star, had defeated the leader. It was only natural that his reputation would soar.
But then Kasa’s face darkened.
“But there’s a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Since the rumor spread that you fought the Revolutionary Army, strange things have been happening in Arnia.”
“What kind of things?”
Kasa sighed and explained that the number of rchants entering the territory had dwindled to almost none.
“I can handle that, but there’s more.”
Other nobles had also cut off contact. Invitations to banquets had stopped, and only a few southern nobles who were grateful to Yan still sent invitations and letters, but it was a far cry from before.
Yan’s eyes darkened as he listened.
“Sothing is definitely happening behind the scenes.”
“Yes, we’re being politically isolated. I’ve tried to find out why, but it’s not easy. And...”
“There’s more?”
Kasa bit his lip.
“Marquis Zion has cut off our trade. He said he owes us nothing after we freed him from prison and helped defeat the Special Task Force Commander.”
“That old fool.”
Yan laughed in disbelief. The ‘trade’ referred to the regular supply of potions to purify the Land of the Dead in exchange for political support. And now he was unilaterally breaking the agreent?
“Even the rchants who supplied artificial elixirs have stopped contacting us.”
“This isn’t just strange; it’s a blatant attempt to isolate us.”
“Exactly. I’ve tried to do sothing until you woke up, but...”
Kasa’s face was dark. He had tried everything, but nothing had worked. He couldn’t bring himself to say that Arnia was on the brink of bankruptcy, though Yan probably already knew.
“Here.”
Kasa handed Yan a letter. It was from Bella, who ran an intelligence network in the capital. Yan opened it and read the contents.
There’s a rumor in the capital that the Emperor is planning to cut off the boss. The nobles are spreading this at their banquets, making it hard for my informants to gather information. The atmosphere in the capital is tense, so I’ll be laying low for a while. If you need anything, contact at the number below.
— Bella
Yan closed his eyes after reading the letter.
“So, the Emperor is behind this.”
It made sense. Only soone with the power of a Duke or the Emperor could push them to the brink like this.
Kasa asked worriedly.
“What will you do?”
Yan, after a long mont of thought, smiled confidently.
“What else? I’ll return the favor. Can you give so paper?”
Kasa, puzzled but hopeful, handed Yan the paper.
* * *
The person inside was none other than the Emperor himself. It was hard to believe that the Emperor, who was always said to reside within the grand palace, would be in such a shabby place. Anyone who saw this would have doubted their eyes.
Moreover, his current state was far from normal. Unlike the last ti Yan had seen him, the Emperor was now gaunt and frail. His outstretched arm towards the crystal ball was cracked and looked like it could shatter at any mont. His body was skeletal.
Behind the Emperor were various chanical devices. Above him was a large tank filled with green liquid, which was being injected into his body through nurous attachnts.
“To think I would have to rely on such life-support devices.”
[...]
“The most frustrating part is that despite this pitiful state, there have been no results.”
His tone was calm, despite the seemingly angry content of his words. But beyond the crystal ball, a figure appeared. It was none other than Werner, the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army.
Werner, who was always composed and calm, was now in a humiliating position. He knelt, unable to lift his head, confessing his sins.
[I am sorry. It is my fault. I will do whatever it takes...]
The Emperor raised his hand to cut Werner off.
“Even after giving you the Celestial Tribe, the White Fla Jade, and the Sky Fortress, you failed. What more can you do?”
[That... that is...]
Werner couldn’t continue. Despite the imnse support, he had failed. What more could he ask for to complete his mission? But he couldn’t argue in front of the Emperor.
[I swear on my life, I will complete the White Fla Jade and bring it to you!]
Werner banged his head on the floor as he shouted. When he lifted his head, his forehead was drenched in blood. The Emperor looked at him with an expressionless gaze, showing no reaction to Werner’s desperate plea.
At that mont...
Knock, knock.
Soone knocked on the door of the secret chamber.
“Enter.”
With the Emperor’s permission, soone entered and bowed deeply.
“What is it?”
“Baron Yan has submitted a request for a ‘Proof of Valor’ to the Duke of the East.”
The Proof of Valor was a thod by which anyone with sufficient skill could challenge a Duke and, if victorious, replace them. It was a simple yet dangerous thod, as the current Dukes were among the strongest in the empire. Anyone who wasn’t at least a second-grade superhuman would likely lose their life in such a challenge.
And now, Baron Yan had requested a Proof of Valor against the Duke of the East! It was an event that hadn’t occurred in nearly thirty years, drawing the attention of the entire empire and beyond.
The Emperor nodded.
“He’s co up with quite a plan. Very well, you may go.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The figure bowed respectfully and left the chamber. The Emperor looked at the crystal ball, where Werner’s eyes were gleaming.
“You heard that?”
[Yes, Your Majesty.]
“You’re lucky. You’ve been given a chance to settle this.”
Werner’s body trembled at the Emperor’s words. If Yan hadn’t requested the Proof of Valor, he wouldn’t have been given this opportunity.
[I will definitely retrieve the White Fla Jade.]
Bang, bang!
Werner banged his head on the floor again, making a bold promise. The Emperor’s lips curled into a slight smile.
“I’ll trust you one last ti.”
Click.
The Emperor ended the communication and leaned back in his chair. With a wave of his hand, a figure dropped from the ceiling.
“Speak.”
“Is everything ready?”
“Yes, as long as ‘Jealousy’ delivers the completed White Fla Jade, we can begin the grand plan imdiately.”
The Emperor nodded in satisfaction at the figure’s calm report.
“Good. Take care of ‘Jealousy’s’ loose ends.”
“I will ensure everything is handled discreetly.”
The figure left the chamber. The Emperor glanced at the front page of the newspaper beside the crystal ball and shook his head.
“What a nuisance.”
There, a large photo of Yan being carried on a stretcher was prominently displayed.
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