I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 1253: Capable Irritants

Northern followed the soldier silently. They passed through sections of cushioned seats in the lounge, then entered a doorway that opened onto metal stairs leading to the upper floor of the building.

The steps clanged softly with each footfall, drawing Northern’s attention to the construction. The stairs were metal, bolted directly into walls that appeared smooth from a distance but revealed themselves as carved rock up close. Natural stone shaped and polished into architectural surfaces.

’Clever. They’ve found a way to turn the mountain itself into their infrastructure.’

No need to haul building materials or construct outer walls when you could simply hollow out and refine what already existed. The technique reminded him of something the Kageyama clan did—carving their estates into clustered peaks and cliff faces.

Although calling those formations ”mountains” felt generous now that he’d seen Ryugan. The Kageyama holdings were modest hills by comparison, clusters of smaller elevations that barely qualified as cliffs. Ryugan, on the other hand, was one massive...

Evermount? No, that wasn’t right.

’Have I actually forgotten what the tallest mountain on Earth is called? When did my memory get this bad?’

They entered another floor. More bustling activity greeted them here—men and women in military dress moving with purpose through the space. Navy blue and white uniforms, crisp despite the obvious wear. Every person moved at a deliberate pace, nothing slow or leisurely about their steps.

Cubicles lined both sides of the open floor plan, military personnel buried in paperwork or hurrying between stations. Northern noted the details as they passed: light bandages wrapped around forearms and hands, shadows under eyes that spoke of missed sleep, the particular tension of people who’d recently fought and survived something significant.

The space showed almost no visible signs of whatever battle had occurred here, but there had definitely been one. Every nation had felt it somehow—the ripples of conflict spreading outward like tremors from an epicenter.

They finally reached the Admiral’s office, marked by light brown double doors.

The soldier opened them and stepped aside, gesturing for Northern to enter.

Northern glanced at him—brief, respectful acknowledgment—and walked into a surprisingly vast office. A lounge-like sitting area occupied one side, while a large desk dominated the far end of the room. The Admiral rose immediately from behind that desk, gesturing toward the comfortable seating area rather than the more formal workspace.

He settled into one of the sofas without hesitation. The cushions gave beneath his weight, noticeably softer and better quality than the ones in the general waiting area downstairs. Small privilege of rank, he supposed.

The Admiral himself cut an impressive figure. A skin-tight shirt emphasized stone-carved muscles that suggested the man didn’t just command from behind a desk. A navy blue beret sat on his head, hair slicked back except for one strand that fell rakishly across his face. The look managed to be both military-professional and vaguely theatrical.

The man settled into the head seat adjacent to Northern, rough features studying him with open curiosity.

”You look quite young for a fleet of your own.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ”Which nation are you affiliated with? You look... too young to command a ship that large.”

Northern held his gaze with a carefully blank expression. Then he exhaled slowly and leaned back into his seat, crossing one leg over the other with the casual confidence of someone who owned the room rather than merely occupied it.

”If you want to judge, I might as well fully lean into the role and help you come to a much faster conclusion.”

The man chuckled, apparently not taking the slightest offense at Northern’s suddenly arrogant tone.

”You think so?” He tilted his head, still visibly trying to puzzle out Northern’s identity. ”It can’t be, though...”

He spaced out for a moment, gaze going distant, then suddenly snapped back to attention with a small slap to his thigh.

”Oh! Forgive me—habits!” He gestured expansively. ”So, you came to this humble nation with a mighty vessel like that. Please don’t tell me you’re trying to... uhm, conquer us? Wait, that can’t be. Right?”

Northern sighed and uncrossed his legs, shifting to sit more uprightly.

”No. I’m merely looking for subordinates of mine. I traced them here.”

The Admiral pulled off his beret, scratching through his hair and roughing it slightly as he processed this information.

”Hmm. Well, we’ve had a lot of people come through here in the past few days. Might not look like it, but we actually just fended off an enduring siege.” He shook his head with something between pride and exasperation. ”Good stars, what were those people thinking? We aren’t called barbarians for nothing...”

Northern observed him, noting the casual way he dismissed what was clearly a serious military engagement.

’So it’s been relatively easy for them. Or easy enough that they’re not worried about another attack.’

Made sense, actually. A small nation bold enough to antagonize the Empire simply by existing would need to be exactly this capable. You didn’t survive as an irritant to greater powers without teeth sharp enough to make conquest more trouble than it was worth.

”These ones in particular are quite distinguished,” Northern said, keeping his tone neutral. ”A four-armed monster carrying a staff. Some probably scrawny black-haired boys. A white-haired girl, on the shorter side. They’d be traveling with a few other students, possibly claiming academy affiliation while warning you about continental destruction.”

The Admiral’s eyes widened in immediate recognition.

”Oohh! Ooooohhhhaaa!!” He leaned forward, suddenly animated. ”Those ones! They’re the reason we’re so busy right now! His Majesty is currently rallying troops to fly to Stelia!”

Northern’s eyebrows rose slightly.

”Oh?”

An impressed smile tugged at his lips. Whatever Ellis and the others had said, they’d clearly been persuasive enough to mobilize an entire nation’s military response.

”That’s actually impressive,” he admitted. ”But there will be no need for that.”

The Admiral’s expression shifted to a small frown, confusion replacing his enthusiasm.

”Why?”

Northern held the man’s gaze, letting the weight of his next words settle into the space between them.

”Because it’s been taken care of.” He paused, then added with dry amusement, ”You guys are late to the party. Is that even the correct wording? The party’s long done and you haven’t even left home yet.”