This Lich Requests More Remuneration

Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Are you that stingy? Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Are you that stingy? In a corner of the sewer, a large number of slimes were cornered.

Amberser stood in front of a freshly drawn magic array, waiting for these disgusting wriggling creatures to fall into his trap.

One by one, as soon as they approached, they were instantly teleported away.

Back in his castle, Amberser had already prepared cages; these slimes were designated to be teleported inside and firmly imprisoned there.

Naomi’s marked location was not mistaken; it was indeed a gathering point for large numbers of slimes.

Amberser collected a large portion of these slimes, but he didn’t drain the pool to catch all the fish, capturing about forty or fifty slimes before he stopped. He then prepared to leave a secret teleportation circle in this place, which would teleport any slime that passed by.

Although this method was less efficient, it might continuously provide materials for experiments.

After dealing with the slime issue, Amberser returned to Alchemy City to consign the Druid equipment he had received. According to the current market conditions, it would probably take half a month to sell everything.

Returning to the castle in good spirits, Amberser once again immersed himself in his experiments.

He didn’t want to get involved with the so-called prophecy of the sewers beneath Alchemy City. His intuition told him it was some conspiracy played by a group of lunatics, and most who ventured into the sewers now would probably become little rabbits running headfirst into a trap.

Once immersed in the state of experimenting, Amberser would become fully focused.

Moreover, with the extra income from his trip, Amberser had added a few lavish designs to his experimental plans.

As a result, the experiments proceeded much more smoothly.

After all, slimes were only low-level magical creatures. Being scavenging creatures, their body structures were relatively simple. Apart from their mud-like bodies, there were only simple digestive and nerve organs. Slimes were not highly intelligent, with most having only the instincts to hunt and reproduce through division.

However, the slimes captured from beneath the sewers of Alchemy City were slightly different; they were smarter than their kin, and their mud-like bodies displayed various degrees of metallic mutation.

This was probably related to the random dumping of alchemy waste in Alchemy City, and the “diseases” that developed in slimes that ingested this waste.

Indeed, this was not evolution but rather a serious and possibly fatal disease.

The lifespans of the slimes shortened, their dispositions became more violent, and even incidences of intra-species violence occurred.

This brought Amberser a bit of trouble, as he needed to eliminate the effects of the disease to study the slimes’ normal physiological state.

Although it took some time, after dissecting more than a hundred slimes, Amberser eventually moved his experiment to the second phase—modifying the Living Mercury.

Living Mercury was a mutated kind of slime, which had gained strong magical resistance but lost many vital organs and even lacked a soul, so from the moment it was created, what followed was a slow and torturous death.

Amberser now needed to supply the Living Mercury with the missing organs, turning it into a perfect body to house the “Synthetic Soul” he had created.

Amberser carefully studied the traits of this mercurial mutation, realizing that the crazed bunch in Alchemy City were extremely clever yet wildly insane in their research; the alchemy technology employed astounded him.

If it hadn’t failed, it could have definitely been considered a new invention comparable to legendary spells.

Innovation is difficult, but replication is much simpler. Amberser quickly found the method to create mercurial slimes through reverse-engineering.

Although it wasn’t a hundred percent reconstruction of the original, all the missing organs had been finally restored.

The entire experiment didn’t take long, but the cost was indeed high.

In total, it exceeded 120,000 Gold Coins, and just the Living Mercury potion had taken up several bottles. Even though they were all counterfeit goods, it still caused Amberser considerable heartache.

Had it not been for the high price at which the potions refined from the Witch’s Scalp were sold, Amberser wouldn’t even have had enough money to complete the experiment.

This is why legends can also be poor—if they just lay back and lived, they could definitely lead a wealthy life, but scholars like Amberser, who focus on research, the cost of every experiment is exorbitant, and no matter how much they earn, it’s never enough.

In the laboratory, Amberser carefully placed a Memory Crystal and started recording.

“New type Spirit Puppet manufacturing technology optimization experiment, session 46.

“After many previous experiments, I have created a relatively complete Spirit Puppet body. The modified Living Mercury not only replaces the missing organs, allowing for a prolonged survival state, but has also acquired a new talent—Shapeshifting.

“This was inspired by the talents of Shapeshifters, granting the Living Mercury the ability to change its appearance. After all, the Spirit Puppet warriors we aim to create would lack sufficient combat abilities in a mere Slime form.

“Now, let’s proceed to integrate the Synthetic Soul with the Living Mercury body and see if the manufacture of the Spirit Puppet can be successfully completed…”

While explaining, Amberser took out the prepared Synthetic Soul and placed it atop the Living Mercury body.

As the spell was chanted, the Synthetic Soul quickly melded into the Living Mercury, and the previously still mercury body began to ripple slightly, followed by continuous tremors. After about a minute or two, two black dots appeared on the smooth mercury surface, looking like a pair of eyes.

Then, the Living Mercury started to writhe within the glass jar, like a newborn desperately wanting to leave its cage and explore the world.

Amberser quickly released the little creature, and the Living Mercury joyfully wriggled on the table, swallowing up all the metal it encountered.

After eating all the metal on the table, the Living Mercury then happily leaped into Amberser’s arms, its heavy body almost breaking his ribs.

Amberser patted the little one’s head and could feel the connection between their souls.

As his own creation, Amberser naturally had his assurance built into the soul; the little creature would be particularly close to Amberser, and maintain the utmost loyalty.

Just as he was about to continue testing the abilities of the Living Mercury, Isabel suddenly rushed to knock on the laboratory door. Her anxious voice came through, “Lich Lord, there’s trouble. An army has appeared outside the castle, and there are many of them.”

Amberser felt a bit annoyed upon hearing this, but he wasn’t too surprised.

After so many days, it was about time for some movement.

Amberser knew that after taking in so many freemen, the nearby Lords were bound to be quite dissatisfied; their patience thus far had already exceeded his expectations.

“It’s time to resolve this once and for all.”

Amberser left the laboratory, and as soon as he walked out of the castle gate, he saw an unexpected scene.

The Paladin from Laine Empire, who he had conned out of several thousand Gold Coins, was actually standing among this army.

No way, was the Paladin so petty as to directly bring soldiers to attack?