I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1307: All Is In Place

Northern looked at Revant and spoke with a tone so casual it bordered on dismissive.

”My sister... or the one who claims to be, at the very least. I want you to stop her from leaving.” He paused, letting the weight of the request settle. ”She and my mother.”

Revant examined Northern’s face for a moment. Northern was equally staring at his in that selfsame moment—taking stock of the man he was binding ever tighter to his purposes. Revant had a sharp jawline and handsome pale face with blue eyes and black hair that fell messily over his forehead. Usually, he wore elegant suits and gloves befitting a Tyrant of his station, but right now the formal trappings were absent. Just a black shirt and trousers, the shirt clearly borrowed given how it hung loose on his frame, too large by at least a size.

’Borrowed clothes. The powerful reduced to wearing hand-me-downs. How delightful.’

”Alright then, I shall relay the message to him. What else?”

”I will need you to come to Ryugan.”

Revant frowned.

”I should’ve known...”

Northern smiled. ”Well, you’ve not particularly been the smart one.” He waved playfully, enjoying the flicker of irritation that crossed Revant’s features. ”Don’t worry, after this is all over, I’ll release you to go start your business. I might even invest a few credis into it, if you impress me well enough.”

It seemed like Revant hadn’t even registered the first part of the statement. The moment Northern mentioned investment, something shifted behind those blue eyes. His gaze sharpened with startling focus, locking onto Northern with the intensity of a predator who’d just spotted wounded prey.

”Are you... serious?”

”Why would I joke? You don’t believe I have money?” Northern tilted his head slightly. ”You do know I have an endless reserve of red crystals. My products are already circulating the market. I even plan to use this war as a medium to expand into the Empire and make more profit. If you can’t put your back into earning it, then you don’t deserve my money.”

Northern waved him away again, about to turn, but Revant suddenly collapsed to his knee and grabbed hold of Northern’s legs with both hands.

’Gotcha.’

”You will really invest in me?”

Northern nodded with a small smile on his face.

”Of course... just be a good boy.”

Revant curved his lips into an obedient smile and stood up quickly, the transformation from Tyrant to eager subordinate complete in the span of heartbeats.

”Did you say you need help killing your acclaimed elder sister? Leave it to me.”

Northern was awestruck for a moment, and definitely not in a good way.

He shook his head in disappointment. ”You see, this is why I said you aren’t too smart. And if you’re joking with me intentionally, then you mustn’t really value your business.”

Revant chuckled with restraint.

”A joke. A joke... it was a joke.” He righted his expression and bowed to Northern with practiced grace. ”I shall relay your message as you have said and be on my way quickly. What else?”

Northern looked around thoughtfully, letting the silence stretch just long enough to remind Revant who controlled the pace of this conversation. Then he brought his eyes back to the Tyrant.

”Also relay to Raven that I have her father. The real one and the fake. Should she want to have a conversation with both of them, she can come and find me.” He paused, watching Revant’s expression carefully. ”And to Thalen, tell him that he has a traitor in his Citadel, but I’ve taken care of it.”

Revant stood there, staring at Northern. This caused Northern to frown slightly.

”What?”

The Tyrant shook his head. ”It seems you’ve been busy.”

Northern’s lips curled into a wicked smile.

”You have no idea.”

For some reason, a chill threatened to crawl up Revant’s spine the moment he saw that grin. Something about it promised complications that no amount of business acumen could navigate. He shook it off and chuckled, though the sound came out hollow. Then bowed once again.

”I’ll be on my way then.”

Afterwards, Revant vanished.

Northern exhaled and looked around once more, his thoughts already shifting to what came next.

The forge was going to be complete. That was fortunate. What was even more fortunate was that Ryugan sat atop the source of aetherium itself.

’I had no idea. That’s such a boon!’

He had worked with the mineral once before, and he’d liked what it offered him. If he could get his hands on Aetherium along with his own Redium and ice crystal and the mineral generated from the volcano caves—combining all of those materials delicately to create a weapon—Northern was very curious what it was going to give him.

More than that, he was curious about the level of people who would be able to wield such a thing.

He sincerely didn’t mind who. The war generals of Ryugan, or the talented princes of the Empire. He was very curious to see them all in action. He was very excited to see which ones would prove endearing enough to become his targets.

Maybe he would approach them directly. Try to sell the weapons to both sides, use the war to make money and establish his name in both markets. He would be as much of a supplier to the enemy as he was to the Ryugians. There was no law against that, was there?

’And if there is, who exactly is going to enforce it against me?’

Thinking about it had Northern folding his arms and nodding with a smile on his face. Such a satisfied, vicious expression that Knight Chrys and Eskedar were staring at him with thinly veiled fear from one corner of the room, wondering what truly macabre schemes he was contemplating to be smiling so wickedly.

Northern suddenly flung his eyes open.

This was not because he remembered anything.

As soon as they opened, he smiled and muttered.

”He has finally called for me.”

With that, his scenery changed and now he was inside his room.

Just in that moment, there was a knock on the door. Northern immediately responded:

”Please... come in.”

The door opened and the Admiral entered. He looked different—not physically, but in his composure, his facial expression. From the first time Northern remembered meeting him, everything had shifted. Northern already figured it had to do with recent revelations about just how much power he actually commanded.

He greeted the man politely, regardless.

”Admiral.”

The Admiral shook his head quickly. ”To you, Lord Northern, it is Brother Yan. Please take me as your junior brother.” The man said it while bowing his head, the words carrying the weight of genuine supplication.

But Northern smiled with practiced humility. ”Please, no. I only have a sister. I don’t see myself having a brother anytime soon. Besides...” He certainly wanted to add more but went silent, then looked at the Admiral again with a small smile. ”Anyways, what brings you to my humble ship?”

The Admiral’s face paled.

”Hu...mble?” He laughed, the sound hollow and slightly broken. ”Lord Northern, you’re too meek. Please, it’s perfectly acceptable to be power drunk and egotistical. You are powerful. That sort of thing is reserved for people of your caliber, after all.”

Northern shook his head. ”I was never like that before now. Power serves to magnify who you already are. Now that I have this much power, all I want to do is sleep all day and laze around. Maybe travel the world and learn some unique craftsmanship.” He sighed with theatrical wistfulness. ”Sadly, I have all this power and I can’t do that... yet.”

The Admiral looked at him with open admiration.

The man looked like he could get lost simply gazing at Northern, as though staring at something transcendent.

”Admiral Yan?”

He flinched at Northern’s voice.

”Aish, stars, look at me daydreaming during duty.”

’What is he doing?’

The Admiral bowed again, this time deeply, and relayed his purpose.

”The King has summoned you... along with the court of the kingdom. He said he would like to introduce you formally, and there are certain conditions to discuss.”

Northern looked at the man, his expression giving nothing away.

’Hm. Looks like things are about to start.’