This Lich Requests More Remuneration

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: A Great Harvest Chapter 30: Chapter 30: A Great Harvest The Witch lay on the ground, laughing almost to the point of suffocation, but she was utterly unable to shake off the effects of the Hysteria Spell until the druids tied her up tightly with vines. Only then did Amberser lift the spell.

It wasn’t a long time, but it had inflicted severe damage on the Witch’s body. She had almost laughed her lungs out just now, and was now bleeding from the mouth, so much so that she couldn’t even speak.

The druids of the Tribe of the Golden Vine stood guard at a distance, wary. They dared not approach Amberser, the powerful Lich, and could only pull Naomi aside to sift through the incident in detail.

Naomi naturally did not hide anything, recounting her encounter with Amberser at the tavern, followed by their collaboration to rescue people in the sewer.

All the druids found it inconceivable. The idea of druids collaborating with the undead was something straight out of a tall tale. According to the trade with Sylvanas, beings like the undead, who upset the balance of nature, should be purified on the spot.

But the might of Amberser was not lost on the druids, and they knew if they were to act now, they would certainly be the ones to die.

Considering that Amberser saved them, they decided to forgo the teachings of the deity this time.

That’s how the druids convinced themselves.

Van Jones struggled to accept the fact that he was saved by the undead, then immediately began to lecture Naomi.

Collaborating with the undead aside, journeying into the sewer could have been seen as Naomi caring for everyone, but her appearance with the Sylvanas Statue was an utterly heinous crime.

Van Jones angrily said, “Naomi, how dare you steal the Divine Idol! Do you know what the consequences could be? Even if all of us die here, it would not compare to the importance of the Divine Idol. Should anything go wrong with this Divine Artifact, the entire Tribe of the Golden Vine could be destroyed!”

Naomi said agitatedly, “It was an order from the great elder, he was the one who told me to take the Divine Idol!”

Van Jones asked in surprise, “How is that possible? Has the great elder gone mad?”

But Naomi said, “The great elder must have foreseen the future again. Isn’t it that we are carrying out this mission on his command, too?!”

Van Jones wanted to ask more, but the fellow druid tribesmen by his side quickly tugged at his arm and then cast a glance toward Amberser.

Van Jones immediately closed his mouth. Such tribal secrets were inappropriate for contention at this time.

Amberser, however, had already taken no interest in this group of druids; he had just relieved these customers of several pieces of Magic Equipment. An Enchanted Ring, Leather Armor enhanced with natural spells, and a Magic Shortbow… all told, these items were worth nearly ten thousand Gold Coins.

Having received payment, Amberser lost all interest in the group of druids.

He now stood in front of Husky, the Ranger, and said to him, “Look, you’ve been saved now, entirely because of me. By common sense, I am your lifesaver, correct?”

Husky nodded repeatedly. He had thought about betraying Amberser, but who could have imagined that the Lich would turn out to be so fierce? He really had been blind with greed, to think of taking advantage of such a significant figure.

Husky said excitedly, “Thank you, Lich Lord, for coming to the rescue. I truly cannot express enough gratitude.”

“What use have I for the gratitude of you humans? Make it something practical.”

Amberser extended two fingers and rubbed them together lightly.

Husky understood the gesture very well, but said with a bitter smile, “Lich Lord, I’m poor, I can’t offer much.”

“How much can you offer?” Amberser asked.

Husky pulled out his shriveled purse, which definitely wasn’t a space purse. Upon opening it, there were only two Gold Coins and some miscellaneous copper coins.

“That’s it?” Amberser said dissatisfiedly.

Huski replied awkwardly, “Lich Lord, we brothers are poor folks, we really can’t come up with any more money.”

“Is that so,” Amberser said helplessly, “Well, I suppose you’ve got an impressive frame, you might actually be useful as a skeleton.”

Upon hearing this, Husky’s legs turned to jelly with fright, and he quickly said, “No, no, no, we do have money, it’s just not on us. We brothers can’t afford space purses, but we have money at home. If you send us back, Lich Lord, we’ll certainly deliver the money to you.”

Only then did Amberser look somewhat satisfied and said to Husky, “You see, I’m not unreasonable. I saved six druids for ten thousand Gold Coins. For you two brothers, I’m only asking for a thank-you fee of two thousand Gold Coins per person. That’s not too much, is it?”

Husky counted on his fingers, then said, “Lord, is there something wrong with the numbers? Ten thousand Gold Coins for six druids, that’s less than two thousand per person.”

“Ever heard of rounding up?” Amberser retorted.

The Soul Fire blazed within the skull’s eye sockets as if it would turn Husky into a skeleton the next second. Husky hastily said, “Heard of it, heard of it, the lord has really good math skills.”

“Hmm, not bad, you’re a smart one. Come on, sign this debt agreement.”

Amberser drew out a piece of parchment and wrote down the debts of both Big Black and Husky clearly, even listing down the interests after the delayed payment time, which was just a hair short of the usury standards set by Alchemy City.

No one could find fault with this contract.

Husky sighed and signed his name. He turned and looked at his brother who was still unconscious, then said to Amberser, “Lich Lord, my brother is still out of it, let me sign for him.”

But Amberser said, “Why go through all that hassle?”

A spell’s light fell upon Big Black, and the Thief with a face full of aftertaste quickly came to.

Big Black was dazed and still murmuring, “Goddess? Goddess, where are you?”

However, as the illusion spell’s effects wore off, Big Black started to look bewildered. When he saw the Witch firmly bound by vines, he proceeded to vomit until the world spun.

Seeing Big Black in such agony, Amberser suggested, “I can perform the Oblivion Spell for three hundred Gold Coins a shot. I guarantee it precisely removes specified memories without adverse effects. Fancy giving it a try?”

Big Black decisively signed the contract. Never mind three hundred; even if it cost three thousand Gold Coins, he would have to scrape together the money by selling his pot and iron, otherwise, he’d carry a psychological shadow for life, possibly leading to permanent dysfunction.

Amberser collected the contracts with satisfaction, unconcerned whether Big Black and Husky would pay or not, for he had myriad ways to bleed these two double-dealing adventurers dry, bone by bone, marrow by marrow.

Next, Amberser took out another piece of parchment and had Naomi sketch the location of the Slime Gathering Grounds on it. Now that the little girl had reunited with her tribespeople, it wasn’t very likely she’d continue to accompany Amberser. Of course, Naomi didn’t dare violate the contract and conscientiously drew the Slime Gathering Grounds as she knew them before leaving with her tribe.

After securing all valuables, Amberser finally turned his attention to the Witch, who was at death’s door.

From this sewer expedition, the most valuable thing wasn’t the Magic Equipment or the tens of thousands of Gold Coins, but rather the ugly monster before him.

Amberser walked over to the Witch and said very seriously, “Now we both have time to chat, so let’s discuss that prophecy about the sewer Deity in more detail, shall we?”