This Lich Requests More Remuneration

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 That’s Too Much of a Coincidence Chapter 38: Chapter 38 That’s Too Much of a Coincidence He still remembered when he was in training, the teacher specifically warned that the commonly used sword techniques of paladins were most effective against humanoid enemies, but when encountering opponents that were particularly huge, had many arms, or had bizarre forms, one should not rely on swordsmanship to prevail and should use Divine Arts directly instead!

Now, he entirely understood what the teacher meant. When you face a non-human opponent, many sword techniques lose their significance and can instead become deadly vulnerabilities.

After just two or three exchanges, the paladin had already been struck by several blows. Had his armor not been sturdy enough, he might have been hacked to pieces. Unrestrained, the Living Mercury became like a child with a new toy, attacking with even more excitement, gradually abandoning the adherence to swordsmanship and transforming its body into unimaginable shapes to attack from directions the paladin couldn’t even fathom.

Seeing the situation turn around, holy light once again shone on the paladin’s long sword, and not only holy light, but also thunderous radiance twined around it.

Another Holy Slash, but an advanced version that carried with it intense thunder damage.

Originally reserved for Amberser, who would have thought he’d be pushed to the brink by a peculiar creature? Now he could not afford to hold back anymore.

The thunderous Holy Slash descended on the Living Mercury, and though the opponent raised several mercury longswords to block, the slash was unstoppable. This advanced version of Holy Slash was powerful enough to break through the magic resistance of Living Mercury, causing terrifying damage.

Alas, the final blow only managed to sever one of Living Mercury’s arms.

“Missed?! How is that possible?!”

The paladin looked at his deviated long sword in disbelief. How could this meticulously perfected strike possibly miss?

The grievously wounded Living Mercury went into a fury, disregarding its injuries and enveloping the paladin. Having missed with his strongest blow, the paladin was defenseless and completely enveloped; the Living Mercury immediately began its metal-devouring ability.

The paladin struggled mightily, his body lighting up with the holy light, causing the Living Mercury to boil, but in the end, it was in vain as his armor and weapon were devoured, leaving him in nothing but a thin undershirt.

Blonde, handsome, strong, with an elegant demeanor… the true appearance of the paladin was so dazzling. It could have made countless young girls swoon anywhere else. Yet, his good looks were ineffective against the Living Mercury, which angrily reformed its long swords, intending to pierce through the body of the paladin.

Without his armor, the paladin was certainly doomed.

But at that moment, Amberser shouted loudly, “Don’t kill him, paladins are worth a lot of money!”

While the Living Mercury was still quite angry, it would never defy Amberser’s orders and could only press the paladin’s head to the ground in vexation, smashing up the handsome face of the paladin.

Amberser said with a smile, “Still not convinced, little one? That Holy Slash just now, it was me who helped you dodge it. Otherwise, you would have been finished.”

Amberser had underestimated the paladin’s strength. To be able to use such an advanced form of Holy Slash, he must be a high-order holy warrior, and to be so young, he was likely one of the standout figures among the young generation in the Laine Empire, perhaps even a paladin personally knighted by the Emperor of Laine himself.

A loss indeed. The equipment of high-order holy warriors was very valuable, and now it was destroyed.

No good. The ransom has to be doubled!

Looking at the paladin who was still struggling to rise, Amberser spoke up to remind him, “Don’t waste your strength. All your companions have fallen into my hands. If you don’t want them to lose their lives, then be a good prisoner.”

The Paladin heard Amberser’s words, but said resolutely, “We are all servants of the Lord of the Dawn. If we die in the sanctity of war, our souls shall ascend to heaven. It is impossible to threaten me with this, as we have long been prepared for sacrifice!”

“Hehe, but you have a companion who is not a follower of the Lord of the Dawn, do you plan to let him die with you? You are a Paladin who has taken the oath of dedication, isn’t protecting the weak one of your tenets?”

Amberser’s words took the Paladin by surprise; he hadn’t expected Amberser to know him so well.

Every Paladin makes oaths before the Deity. The oath of dedication, the oath of the ancients, and the vow of vengeance are the three most common oaths. The oath of dedication requires the Paladin to act with justice, adhere to honesty, protect the weak, and to not employ any despicable means even against enemies.

Harvey was a companion fighting alongside them. If Amberser threatened the Paladin with Harvey’s life, the Paladin could not let his companion fall into dire straits because of his faith, as it would be a violation of his oath.

Once a Paladin breaks his oath, the consequences are very severe.

“What exactly do you want? I will not cooperate with the undead, even if you threaten me with the life of that mage, I will never work with you,” the Paladin said firmly.

“Who told you to cooperate? I’m just telling you to save your strength and be a good captive. Once the Laine Empire offers a ransom, I will naturally release you,” Amberser said.

He had already calculated in his mind, a Light Priest for eight hundred thousand Gold Coins, and this Paladin for one million Gold Coins— not one coin less.

It might sound like a lion’s mouth wide open, but this involved the issue of pricing.

Consider this, if such a Paladin is so valuable, then how much is Living Mercury worth, who could match or even slightly outperform a Paladin?

Living Mercury could potentially be the biggest deal for Amberser for the next few hundred years, it absolutely must not be sold cheaply.

But upon hearing Amberser’s plans, the Paladin just scoffed, “Then don’t bother, the Empire will not pay any ransom for captives. The Laine Empire has never succumbed to threats, let alone threats from the undead. Your demand for ransom from the Laine Empire will only bring about a crusade from the Paladin Legion.”

Amberser said indifferently, “Isn’t that more in line with what you want? So what reason do you have to prevent me from courting death? Now, tell me your name.”

The Paladin had not expected Amberser to be so decisive. Could this Lich truly dare to provoke the Laine Empire openly just for mere Gold Coins?

Though he couldn’t understand it, he knew he had to accept his fate as a captive, unless he wanted to let Harvey, an innocent, die because of his obstinacy.

The Paladin said calmly, “Allen Watson, that’s my name.”

“Watson?” Upon hearing this surname, Amberser inquired, “James Watson, the chief editor of ‘Legendary Spells,’ is he related to you?”

The young Paladin said with surprise, “You know my father?”

The Soul Fire blazing in Amberser’s eye sockets flared intensely, on the verge of bursting forth, he squeezed out through clenched teeth, “That is indeed quite a coincidence. I have known your father for many years.”