I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1187: Getting A New Driver

Thunderhead Dreadnought tore across the vast sea at breakneck speed—faster even than the Tower of Trammel had managed on their journey to the Dark Continent.

The Tower had taken almost twelve hours. Northern made it to the white borders of the Central Plains in five. Midnight still cloaked the land, but he spotted movement below.

Forces from different nations, most likely—the ones Annette and the rest had contacted. He sensed a Paragon among them too.

The air vessel’s flight over the white borderlands was brief. All the people below could see was a massive drifting storm ripping across the sky at great distance. The Paragon—a dark-skinned man with a scarf coiled around his hair and neck—suspected it was more, but before he could worry about whether it posed a threat, it was gone.

Northern leaned against the reinforced railing, watching the storm surrounding the vessel as it hurtled forward at terrific speed.

He shifted, diving deep into thought. Where would he find his parents?

The Kageyama clan was the viable option, but Northern knew nothing of their territory. He didn’t even know anything about them—all thanks to Shin.

”Well, I’m not alone, am I?” He straightened. ”Aoi, summon those three.”

Light shimmered on the deck instantly, tearing open a radiant blue rift. For a moment the rift persisted, then dimmed and vanished, leaving behind three grown mountain hermits who glanced around in confusion.

The first one froze. His eyes widened. He crumbled to his knees, palms flat against the cold metallic floor, then pressed his cheek to it, weeping.

”Ahhh, cold wind, fresh breeze—it’s freezing, but I love it! Better than that scorching hell.”

The second man stared around, disbelief etched across his features.

”We—we—we’re really outside.”

The third, a more recent inhabitant, looked around as well. Black soot covered his face, grime caked his hands—all of them were filthy, really. The other two wore undergarments of their armor; he wore only a light fabric shirt tucked into lined trousers.

Northern snapped his fingers twice. They turned to him.

”What are your names again?”

The man in the white shirt and lined trousers straightened, his voice sharp and strong.

”Oland.”

Northern nodded as the man’s face restructured in his mind.

’Yeah, the unfortunate guy who heralded us to the Dark Continent. He was here? What was he doing here?’

He shrugged it off the next second. The man must have angered him at some point. Whatever the case, it was all in the past. The Dark Continent issue—he was far over it.

He turned to the other two. The one in the middle bowed, words tumbling out in a half-stammer.

”Kn—Knight Eskedar, your h—highness.”

The next one had already stood. He bowed his head immediately.

”I’m Knight Chryslar. Both of us were subordinates of Knight Lynus...”

Northern nodded, barely able to retrace his memories. They were foggy, and he wasn’t too proud of that. He’d always thought he had a great memory.

’Maybe living a year of pure pain took its toll on my brain after all.’

He exhaled, then looked at them. Sharp radiant light filled his eyes and a harmless smile played on his lips.

”So, you’ve been locked up in the Limitless... ugh, I mean, Soul Forge for a while now, working on the Forgesmith, I presume?”

They all nodded. Knight Chryslar added, ”Mostly we just gathered resources. I’d say the forge is building itself...”

Northern’s brows furrowed. He touched the bottom of his lip, gaze drifting as he dove deep into thought.

He raised his head.

”I see. We’ll talk about that later. For now, which one of you knows where the Kageyama clan is?” He glanced at all three of them.

First at Knight Chryslar, who quickly shook his head.

”Not at all, sir. I was born and bred in Luinngard.”

His eyes drifted to Knight Eskedar.

”S—same here, sir.”

Oland exhaled softly as Northern’s gaze fell on him.

”I might know a little, sir. My father used to be a miner who traveled through the mountains with one of the renowned mining companies. He once spoke of a mountain close to the Region of Death.”

Northern’s head tilted slightly. ”The Region of Death?”

”Yes, sir.” Oland’s voice remained calm. ”The place is called the Region of Death because it has a canyon structure like waves, designed to sink anyone into its terrain and lose them in its depths of darkness. It’s said that the Clan of Death resides beyond this canyon, but anything that dares to cross it is usually struck down. My father himself witnessed his entire company crew almost get vanquished after a small mistake—crossing the border.”

Northern fell silent, his gaze distant.

”Do you know where this canyon is?”

”Theoretically, yes. The Region of Death is situated to the Northeast—toward the Empire. When we get to Fhugal, instead of going straight west toward Drywall, then consequently the Verulania and Mist Sea where the academy island sits, we take an eastern route, drifting off to the Northeast.”

Northern stared at him, blinking.

Oland’s cheeks colored, a shy laugh escaping him.

”I’m sorry. I’ve always had a thing with maps—always wanted to be a cartographer, but it’s not going to help me take care of my family. And I have a low talent class.”

Northern’s eyes glowed softly. He activated Shingan, analyzing Oland in an instant.

[DRIFTER PROFILE]

NAME: Oland Park

TRUE NAME: Path Finder

SOUL RANK: Vagrant (Master)

SOUL SATURATION: Mid

TALENT: Pathkeeper’s Mark

TALENT CLASS: D

TALENT ABILITIES: [Trace Line], [Waypoint Anchor], [Memory of Paths]

”Oh?”

Oland glanced up. Northern had reacted strangely, and now stared at him as though peering straight into his soul.

A smile curved Northern’s lips.

”Would you like to be a cartographer, then? Earn good money? Better yet—you can take control of this airship as its manager.”

Oland’s eyes widened.

”What?”

Northern counted on his fingers.

”Let’s see... I can manage to pay you fifty orens for now. Maybe later your pay can increase.”

Oland’s mouth fell open, disbelief washing over his features.

Northern turned toward the bow.

”For now, I need you to drive me to this Region of Death. If you accept the job, I can teach you how to pilot an airship.” He glanced back, warmth in his expression.