"Don’t underestimate yourself, Prophet."
Yafada paid no heed to Ian’s subtle sarcasm, smiling as he shook his head, "Do you know about special economic zones? South Ridge, Harrison Port, Xiawei Territory can all be special economic zones for Canaan Moore and The Empire’s maritime trade... This is our sincerity."
"And you, as the most crucial node, will become the most powerful person in South Ridge, whether your benefactor Viscount Grant or your immediate superior Marquis Barton, they will gradually find themselves beneath you..."
"There is no need for them to be beneath." Ian sneered, "Speaker, do you truly believe I need to utilize any means or leverage any power for others to heed my words? That is merely the thought process for the most vulgar, those who can only resort to violence and political maneuvering."
"But I am the Prophet."
"I hold the future in my hands." New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel·fiɾe·net
"This is more terrifying than any power, more enticing than any hope."
The two walked side by side on the path from the laboratory to the Ashlight Family mansion, the silver-haired middle-aged elf and the white-haired youth walking at a leisurely pace, from afar, they resembled a pair of white foxes, one large, one small.
"I came into this world not to become an enemy of anyone, not to oppress or defeat anyone."
Gazing calmly at the lights of World Tree City before him, Ian spoke, "Viscount Grant is a wise man, his child is my future first disciple, now that I’ve revealed my identity as Teacher Hilliard’s second disciple, do you think he will hinder me? He will only be thankful for his correct investment and will strive to assist my growth."
"Marquis Barton is the slyest of old foxes, with the Second Prince and His Majesty the Emperor behind him. I have no need to ’overrule him’; on the contrary, the more power, wealth, and technology I possess, the more I must respect him as a leader, regard him as half a teacher, and revere him as a guide..."
"I even need to help him unify the entire South Ridge, let him be the first governor to truly develop South Ridge, leading it away from barbarism, let him leave a name in history, become ’a mentor respected by the Prophet’, while I only need to be the second one, a ’second generation’ who merely needs to ’pluck the fruit’."
"He only needs respect. As for power, I don’t need to fight for it, he will hand it to me personally..."
"He will willingly hand it to me."
Turning his head, Ian locked eyes with Yafada, speaking softly, "So, Speaker, there is no need to continue with such low-level probing. You won’t get the answer you want, and we are not enemies. I am not an enemy to anyone, not just you, but also your allies."
"Everyone has entrusted part of their expectations for the future to me, it’s their choice."
"Just as you will hand some of your things to me."
The white-haired youth spoke softly, and the silent Yafada could only see a pair of eyes, shimmering like the deep and swirling sea, "Tell me, Speaker, what do you wish to entrust to me, so that I, the Prophet, ’respect’ you?"
"...You are in no way like the Fairy Bloodline. On the contrary, you resemble some kind of demon... a nightmare that can see dreams."
The silver-haired Speaker closed his eyes, then opened them, slowly smiling after several seconds, "Indeed. No matter what outcome my ally ultimately faced, at least I can see that he bore no discontent."
"Yes, whether it’s the First Knight, or his disciples Mahdi and you, are indeed the kind of people who, even in defeat, bear no discontent. My mistake..."
After another silence, the Speaker said, "I do have something to entrust to you. As an apology and ’compensation’ for my earlier coaxing you to prophesy for me."
He opened his hand, and in his palm, silver light glimmered, revealing a complete red crystal before Ian.
The youth squinted his eyes slightly.
It’s a Core of Origin Calculation Chip—a completely intact Source Quality Calculating Chip.
The original body of the final Echo, one of the highest level creations of the previous era civilization, a core calculating center with Fifth Energy Level potential!
"This was entrusted to me by one of my allies. Because of it, our elves’ information terminal technology accelerated, and the damage to the World Tree Core was repaired, one could say, it’s the source enabling our elves to reshape the situation, no longer stuck in two-party confrontation as before."
Yafada’s tone carried a faint trace of regret, "It’s a shame I misunderstood some things... Regardless, I feel I should hand it to you."
"Don’t refuse, and don’t worry I’m implying anything—Ian, I know you want our terminal technology, you’ve been reading up on these topics in the library lately, and your friend, that young man from the Ellen Family, has been helping you with inquiries. I’m well aware."
Thus speaking, the Speaker of Canaan Moore bent down, whispering softly into the ear of the white-haired youth, "I know Echo’s purpose."
"I also know the purpose of Hiliard and Inega II."
"You all remain unchanged, I know this is what you want... Though I’ll never understand why you people or non-people, pioneers or prophets, always wish to venture into the depths of darkness..."
"But I believe your success will definitely be an astonishing event for everyone."