CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 47: LAWFUL APPREHENSION

"Yes, that’s how it should have been."

Lanslow said incredulously, "Do you know? They produced a treaty document showing that eight hundred years ago, the territory of an empire indeed covered most of the Ignis Sky Realm.

"Moreover, the treaty stipulates that unless more than half of the lords vote to end the empire, it will continue indefinitely. So, according to these people, the empire still exists today."

"Vote? Aren’t they an empire?"

"That’s what they’re called, but it feels even more loosely structured than a federation." Lanslow shrugged.

"I understand roughly. It’s the decline of imperial authority, leading each lord to develop independently, so the empire has effectively ended, just not officially announced. But now, suddenly, an emperor wants to restore their authority."

Li Ang mentioned the emperor frequently emphasized by these people, and Lanslow said he’s noticed the same situation.

It’s also odd because if the concept of the "Holy Speriel Empire" has always existed in the Ignis Sky Realm, then even if imperial authority has waned, there should have been an emperor, and people like Li Ang and Lanslow as Sky Knights should have heard of them.

Lanslow said, "The Guild always respects the sovereignty of the individual islands. This empire predates the Guild by five hundred years. If it really wants to claim a resurgence, the Guild would not interfere.

"I contacted our division’s base and learned that the empire is active elsewhere in the Ignis Sky Realm. It took half a day for the base personnel to report to headquarters."

Nebis’ communication device is not very convenient, much worse than a phone. Similar to the Beacon of Passage Li Ang used before, they are also made using special mineral sound transmitters, divided into Mother and Child Stones; sound waves received by the Child Stone will be replicated on the Mother Stone to transmit sound.

The larger the Mother Stone, the further the receiver can receive information, with a maximum communication distance of about five or six thousand kilometers, spanning an entire Sky Realm area.

However, sound can only be transmitted between a set of sound stones, without the ability to dial a number like a phone.

"What does the Order Sky Cavalry Corps Headquarters say?"

"They said that while the empire’s other actions are debatable, forcibly blocking the airways can’t be allowed and needs to be cleared as soon as possible."

The Order Sky Cavalry Corps Headquarters probably doesn’t know that the Imperial Army is slaughtering civilians and indiscriminately attacking neutral passenger routes.

"So you’re just watching?"

"Because of the empire’s antics, everyone in the corps has been deployed, with no one left to help me."

"No reinforcements; you can’t handle them on your own?"

"Well... sigh, just see for yourself."

Lanslow pointed to the imperial forces, led by a person with commanding presence, accompanied by a griffin Summoned Beast, surrounded by a faint magic power rhythm indicating the strong spirituality contained within.

"Got it, you can’t defeat them."

"Sometimes the truth is sharper than the ice in the Gorasis Sky Realm."

Lanslow said with a wry smile, "I’m just a salaried employee; the equipment is guild-issued, unlike your Celestial Group, which collects good stuff from ancient civilizations everywhere."

Li Ang nodded, acknowledging that he made a valid point.

[Name: Lanslow DuBois]

[Race: Human]

[Profession: Gunsworder, Tier 7. Legion Soldier, Tier 4]

[Summoned Beast: Wind God Winged Dragon, Tier 5]

[Energy Source: Order Sky Cavalry Corps Standard Multi-Array Convergence Spirit Stone, Tier 6]

[Equipment: Order Sky Cavalry Corps Standard Magic Ammunition Gun, Tier 6. Order Sky Cavalry Corps Multiblade Sword, Tier 6. Order Sky Cavalry Corps High-tier Armor, Tier 6. Fire Resistant Cloak, Tier 5]

[Secret Technique: Professional Secret Technique—Torrential Rain Assault]

[Skills: Gunsworder [Precise Strike, Dual Wielding Technique, Agility Increase], Legion Soldier [Military Array Consciousness, Military Array Tactics], Ranged Weapon [Elemental Barrage], Melee Weapon [Wheel of Sword Blades], Cloak [Flame Resistance]]

[Combat Power Amplification: 21%]

Unlike the usual Sky Cavalry Corps, members of the Order Sky Cavalry Corps undergo military array training, equipped with guild-crafted standard equipment.

Since it’s standardized, even elite members can’t afford top-tier Excellence Realm equipment, usually Tier 6 equipment at the peak of the Transcendent Realm, with Summoned Beasts being guild-specifically trained Winged Dragons—high-tier demons bred in batches.

It’s adequate for mediating most regional disputes; if there’s a strong enemy, that’s for the stronger chief and deputy chief to handle.

For example, that chief lady holds a special inherited profession, able to manipulate and form arrays of floating weapons, quite like an Eastern Sword Immortal.

Lanslow’s status panel fully displays his personal professional cultivation achievements, but his equipment seems less glamorous compared to other Celestial Group members.

Today, he was only patrolling with four non-elite Order Sky Cavalry Corps members, while the opposing side genuinely had superior equipment.

The Imperial side’s leader has higher-grade hardware.

[Name: Wendes Feinat]

[Race: Human]

[Profession: Lance Cavalry, Tier 6]

[Summoned Beast: Griffin [Leader Level], Tier 6]

[Energy Source: Wind Chaser’s Holy Bell, Tier 7]

[Equipment: Celestial Demon Heavy Halberd, Tier 7. Skywalker Armor, Tier 7. Wind Gathering Gloves, Tier 7. Cloud Stepping Boots, Tier 7. Wind Wing Cloak, Tier 6]

[Secret Technique: Comprehensive Secret Technique—Storm Cavalry Assault]

[Skills: Summoned Beast [Storm Summoning], Heavy Lance Cavalry [Riding Assault, Siege Heavy Strike, Mount Master, Strong Physique], Weapon [Celestial Demon Hurricane], Armor [Storm Shield], Hand Guard [Wind Element Affinity], Leg Guards [Weight Halved], Cloak [Flying Technique]]

[Combat Power Amplification: 7%]

After reaching Tier 7, the equipment undergoes a qualitative transformation. The spirituality of Excellence Realm can temporarily create matter and energy absent from the world using magic power, and this matter’s strength exceeds existing matter, requiring prolonged depletion by Transcendent Realm-created matter energy to breach.

Thus, even if Lanslow’s personal skills surpass the opponent’s, it’s assessed as unable to defeat them.

Tier 7 equipment is the key force for frontline Celestial Groups, enabling them to stand proudly above the skies.

To craft such tier equipment, world-class Grand Artisans and the most precious materials are needed; the yield is not high, mostly sourced from ancient ruins.

Therefore, the ability to aid equipment creation also reveals a potential trend for producing equipment higher than Tier 7 once materials are complete, making Li Ang feel particularly impressive.

"Look, that guy is uniformly matched with all wind attributes, even his Summoned Beast. It’s definitely tough to deal with." Lanslow said.

He can’t see the status panel, unaware before the real battle that the opponent’s lack of entry into the Excellence Realm due to professional skills is rather dragging down the effect of his Divine Armor, causing only a 7% combat power amplification.

Li Ang patted Lanslow on the shoulder, "I’ll enhance you; you go up."

Lanslow looked at him and was silent for a few seconds, showing a look of "Are you trying to trick me?". But the person before him is a strong support, saying such words reasonably; he couldn’t figure out what was wrong.

Li Ang continued, "He’s surrounded by regular soldiers; we’ll capture him and take him and the soldiers to the Hall of Order."

"The way you say that makes me think you want to join the Order Sky Cavalry Corps."

Lanslow said, "You and I will join forces to repel him, clear the airway first; then, our Flame Corps will return and discuss with the main headquarters regarding the empire’s stance, which is executable.

"However, if the empire needs punishment, it’s only against the airway blockade, and the empire’s official needs to be responsible; the executioners may be punished, but the extent is debatable, likely not to the point of arresting—do you perhaps have a grudge against them?"

"Tsk, a law enforcer’s intuition is really sharp."

"Hey!"

After joking, Li Ang’s expression turned serious, "This time, I’m convinced you have no problem apprehending him. Sky Knights registered with the guild cannot accept commission violating guild laws, no matter how justified the client’s goals seem to them."

"Right."

"A member of a top-four Sky Cavalry Corps comes to partake in this empire’s conquest, affecting normal aviation between Sky Realms—what kind of behavior is this?"

"Understood." Lanslow’s expression also became serious.