Chapter 089: The Empire’s Helplessness
In a high-class hotel room in Xilan City.
The veiled Angélique looked at the scabbard that had been delivered, stroking the smooth and comfortable texture.
“He’s indeed an interesting fellow. This scabbard is made to my liking.”
The black-robed sword saint standing beside her said respectfully, “Miss, it seems you are quite interested in that fellow.”
“Indeed, he should be a talent,” Angélique praised without reservation. “I have been to the Hall of Holy Light of the Holy Church, and I have some understanding of the abilities of the Pope, the Holy Maiden, and the three Cardinals. Although their abilities are powerful, I don’t know if they can regenerate severed limbs. Moreover, that fellow’s skill in making weapons is also not low, and he can see through people’s thoughts at a glance.”
“Since you are interested, why don’t you just recruit him? At least if he is sent to the northern front, the safety of those high-ranking generals will be guaranteed.”
“His identity is too mysterious,” Angélique shook her head. “The abilities he has may have already surpassed the power of the Holy Church. Although he is not very strong now, his future is always an unknown. After these days of investigation, I quite admire his attitude in dealing with people. He has gone from being a nobody a month ago to being known throughout the city now.”
“Isn’t that because of you, miss?”
“That’s also his good fortune,” Angélique said, stroking the beautiful blade of Light’s Defiance with interest, feeling the sharpness that could cut through anything. “Actually, if this sword were to be auctioned at an Imperial Capital-level auction house, with so many princes and sword saints, 1 million gold coins would be easily surpassed. I offered this price because the sword is worth this price. If there is a chance to meet again in the future, it will save me from being accused of taking advantage of him.”
At this, even the black-robed sword saint at the side couldn’t help but smile.
Just then, an attendant came from outside.
“Madam, Captain Johnson is here.”
“Let him in.”
Before the attendant could introduce him, a bald, burly man over two meters tall walked in from outside.
The burly man who came was wearing a half-body armor. His knotted muscles highlighted his strength, and his body was incredibly sturdy. The bald head was shiny. At first glance, he had a somewhat ferocious feeling, but when he saw Angélique and the black-robed sword saint, the burly man showed a simple and honest expression.
“Madam, I’m here…”
Angélique nodded and said, “Briefly tell me about the situation on your side.”
“The situation on the northern front is still stable. There shouldn’t be any battles. According to the spies’ report, that old turtle Sakay probably knows about the injuries he sustained in his youth. He hasn’t led troops since the battle with the old marshal. The news of his comeback has all been baseless,” at this, Johnson said with emotion, “That old turtle Sakay is a human after all, and humans will grow old. He is not as strong as he used to be, so he has resigned himself to fate and has started to enjoy himself in his palace, enjoying fine wine and women.”
“It would be good if it were as described in the intelligence,” Angélique shook her head bitterly. “But the War Emperor is the War Emperor, after all. He is the only one in the human world who can reach the strength of the twelfth tier. The other tenth-tier sword saints and magi can only continuously break through themselves by going to places like the demon world. But once they enter that kind of place, they can never return to the human world. The number one person in this world is still Sakay, without a doubt.”
Johnson looked unconvinced. “Madam, don’t demonize him. Although Sakay is strong, he belongs to the past. The children he has fathered don’t seem to have inherited their father’s talent. Although that old fellow was smart enough to have his most capable son inherit the throne, the talents of those princes are there for all to see. None of them have your potential, madam. As long as we drag it out, when that old turtle Sakay dies, the so-called Austro-Hungarian Empire will be a paper tiger. After all, the existence of this empire came too suddenly and too radically. Its foundation is not stable, and it’s all relying on Sakay to hold the scene.”
“I hope so,” as she said this, even Angélique felt powerless at her own thoughts.
At this, Johnson smiled instead. “By the way, and, that old fellow seems to have realized that there might be problems in the empire after he dies. While enjoying himself in the palace, he is also looking for ways to repair the hidden diseases in his body and restore his youth. He even visited the Holy Church, which is the most likely to realize this ideal. He is willing to pay any huge price within the acceptable range, even if it’s just to be ten years younger.” At this, Johnson breathed a sigh of relief. “Fortunately, even the Holy Church doesn’t have this kind of heaven-defying ability.”
“If that were really possible, that guy Sakay would be truly invincible,” even the black-robed sword saint at the side couldn’t help but say. “I’ve only heard that necromancers have the power to make people age, but I’ve never heard of the power to restore youth. But it’s not entirely impossible. But can there really be such a person in the world?”
This not-so-funny joke made everyone fall silent. The topic naturally did not continue, and Johnson seemed to have something else to say.
“Madam, I have a small request.”
“What is it?”
“I want to ask for some time off,” Johnson said, scratching his shiny head. “I estimate that there won’t be any wars in the next few years. I’m bored in the northern barracks. All I do all day is train and brag with the soldiers. I’m about to go crazy. So I want to take a few months off. Once there’s a problem at the border, I will definitely go there to report immediately!”
Angélique hesitated for a moment before saying, “Since you don’t want to stay in the barracks for the time being, and seeing as you’re usually quite hardworking, I can approve this long leave. However, I have a mission to entrust to you.”
In the church’s laboratory, there were test tubes of various colored potions.
Since Chen Ran had returned from the herb shop, he had been working on concocting the shamanistic power-enhancing potion and the activation potion. After extracting the medicinal essence from the plants, he easily mixed various potions that would be enough for more than half a month.
When he was done, he took the potion he had made and went to find the little girl Dongfang, and then began to persuade her with kind words.
“Little Dongfang, it’s time to drink your medicine. If you take two doses a day, one in the morning and one at night, you can become a future spirit summoning master!”
Dongfang sniffed the contents of the test tube and covered her nose. “What is this? It smells strange.”
“It’s good stuff, anyway. Drink the blue one at night to replenish your spiritual power, and the red one in the morning to refresh your spirit. If you alternate like this, your spirit summoning power will soon reach the second or third tier.”
Dongfang took a small sip and immediately stuck out her tongue. “What is this taste? It’s so bitter. I don’t want to drink it!”
“Be good. I’m doing this for your own good,” Chen Ran said with a comforting look. “Don’t underestimate this thing. A single vial is worth more than forty gold coins. Others can’t even get it if they want to. In your words, this can buy a hundred roasted chickens.”
