Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
A strange religion started to appear in Tut City. They called themselves the Church of True God. Even though there weren’t many followers and they were very subtle about their activities, many of the upper classes and the nobles in Tut City quickly converted.
Every month, there was a gathering of the Church of True God in a mansion just outside the city. The nobles would go and release all of their desires at the party, which was considered a special way for them to pay their respects to True God.
This kind of classy gathering had quickly attracted many lonely noble ladies and knights. Then, it had influenced most of the nobles and the other people who were in power within the city.
The influence of the Church of True God had reached down to touch even the higher-ups of the Tuten Dynasty. Finally, it had reached the new generation of Tutens, the heads of the city of Fanse.
“Did you know that Tuten announced that he would make all the workshops pay five times the previous amount of taxes this year?”
“Why did Tuten change his attitude towards alchemists so fast?”
“Soldiers went to round up the whole college…”
A group of cavalry charged into the tilted tower, talking among themselves as they went. The rest of the soldiers, who were armed with swords and armor, had bombarded the tilted tower. This had naturally agitated everyone within the tilted tower.
“Tuten had ordered that all alchemists have to report to the palace. After completing registration, you will all work for Tuten.” This announcement created chaos within the tilted tower.
Everyone got angry and confused about this sudden change in their situation. Many alchemist apprentices and assistants had no idea what to do.
“We are free citizens, not Tuten’s slaves! Why should he be able to tell us what to do?”
“Yes, alchemists are free! You don’t have the right to do this.”
“Who do you think you guys are?”
As the apprentices and everyone within the tilted tower jeered at the cavalry, the leader of the cavalry lifted up his head and yelled, “This is Tuten’s order. Are you going to betray his order? Are you going to betray the Tuten Dynasty?”
He then added, “Also, Tuten ordered us to take over the Akkad Alchemy Workshop. Everyone here, you are no longer working for Akkad Alchemy Workshop. From now on, you will work for Tuten!”
At that moment, Akkad and Marina were quickly rushing down from above. They saw a large number of soldiers and knights rounding up everyone within the tilted tower.
The knight who had just announced Tuten’s order also saw Akkad. He walked up to him and said, “Mr. Akkad, the king had invited you and your student to pay a visit to the palace.”
Akkad looked around and laughed. “This certainly doesn’t look like an invitation.”
The knight didn’t responded, but only stared at him a bit awkwardly, so Akkad turned to point towards his students and said, “Well, we need some time to prepare. At least allow us to change, alright?”
Akkad’s name and influence were comparable to Tuten’s in Tut City. As such, the knight couldn’t easily refuse his request.
So, he agreed reluctantly. “I will wait for you outside, sir. I just hope that you don’t do anything stupid.”
When Akkad saw that the knight had left, he rounded up all of the students and had them go upstairs. Marina then asked him angrily, “Teacher are we doing? We can just get caught…”
Akkad then interrupted her by asking, “What do we do then? Fight and kill Tuten? Make the whole of the alchemists outcasts of society. Let the foundation that we have built all these years go to waste? All the core members follow me, so everyone, don’t panic or resist when the soldiers come in. Tuten wouldn’t hurt normal students and assistants.”
The higher-ups at Akkad Alchemy College quickly gathered at the top of the tilted tower. These people included Akkad’s students, administrators at the workshop, and some qualified alchemists.
Soon, pieces of clothes were spread open and attached to buckets, and many pre-assembled hot air balloons appeared. After the hot air balloons started to rise up and slowly ascend towards the sky, every one of the higher-ups got into the hot air balloons and flew away into the sky!
Since Akkad had already advanced to level two, he could already fly at a low attitude. This was not new to him. However, for everyone else, including the other alchemists and Marina, they were all very amazed by the experience.
This was the first time in human history that someone had ascended into the sky. Also, it was the first time that humans had conquered the sky. As such, everyone cheered as the hot air balloons ascended.
“Wow!”
“Ohh! Ohh!”
“This is alchemy! Humans can go into the sky too! This is our first step in conquering the sky!”
“Alchemists can do anything!”
As they looked down from the sky, everything on the ground seemed so small. This made everyone feel quite proud.
Meanwhile, their cheering and movements were noticed by the people and the soldiers who were surrounding the tilted tower. They all looked up at the sky and noticed there was suddenly something floating among the clouds.
“Look up! There is something in the sky.” A normal citizen pointed at the sky and opened his mouth in awe.
“They are fl… fl… flying!” A merchant on the side of a road also pointed at the sky. His fingers were shaking.
“They are really flying. Is this also a product of alchemy?”
“This is amazing!”
“Oh my God!”
The knight who was leading the soldiers around the tilted tower also saw the scene up above, his face suddenly changing. He led the soldiers and rushed to the top of the tilted tower, but it was too late. As he stood on top of the tilted tower, he watched a dozen hot air balloons whisk away the core members of Akkad Alchemy College.
The entire Tut City was also moved by the scene. Everyone went out onto the street, put their heads out of their windows, or climbed up to their rooftops to look at the hot air balloons passing by in the sky.
Even Tuten got the message of what had just happened. He saw a group that was led by Akkad fly around in the air for a bit, then head to the south. He was so angered by this, he went into a rage, throwing broken vases and glass art throughout the palace.
As Tuten had his temper tantrum, the burnt man in the red hood who was following him around was Heckfoss. He was the same man who became one with the devil back in Siti village.
After being disabled by Akkad, he lost nearly half of his body, as it had been badly burned. Even after taking power away from the devils, he endured immense pain in order to heal his body. The scars that remained were painful reminders of the devastation he suffered from Akkad’s powerful witchcraft.
Now, he had become an adviser to Tuten. He was the one advising Tuten as he took control over the workshops and the alchemists.
In this way, Tuten could take the power of the alchemists for himself, thus making their wealth and abilities serve the Tuten Dynasty. This would also serve to unite the powers of the Tuten Dynasty, thus forming the City Alliance into one nation again.
Of course, part of the reason for these takeovers was also Heckfoss’ own selfishness. During this process, Heckfoss could spread the beliefs and doctrine of the Church of True God across the whole Tuten Dynasty. He would then become the controller behind the scenes of the Tuten Dynasty.
Also, since he knew that Akkad was the person who took him down, Heckfoss was determined to use this chance to make use of the Tuten’s power in order to take Akkad’s power! He wanted to sabotage everything that Akkad had built so far!
Heckfoss had even sat traps within the palace, as he was waiting for Akkad to arrive. However, he didn’t expect that Akkad would be so crafty and run away!
Heckfoss saw the hot air balloons slowly becoming smaller in the sky. Finally, they slowly disappeared before his very eyes. He clenched his fists and tensed up his face.
His eyes, which were filled with hatred, were almost glowing red. He then shouted the one name…”Akkad!”