This Lich Requests More Remuneration

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Diplomatic Means Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Diplomatic Means Amberser wasn’t too keen on getting involved in other people’s domestic affairs, but Headless Bro was a guest, and both emotionally and rationally he felt obligated to offer a few words of reminder. Only when the guests were happily sipping on complimentary beverages did Amberser manage to squeeze through the crowd and get to Headless Bro’s side.

“Yo, Brother Diga, you’re here for a drink too?” Headless Bro enthusiastically wrapped his arm around Amberser’s shoulder, introducing him to the lioness-like female Orc next to him, “This is my brother.”

The female Orc blushed and said to Amberser, “Master Diga Ultraman, I’ve heard of you. Last time you scammed a Paladin from the Laine Empire out of several thousand Gold Coins using just three sentences. Your skill is admirable. I’m the owner of this bar, Ona Hellfire.”

Hellfire, Amberser seemed to have heard this surname before, it must be a rather famous tribe among the Orcs.

Indeed, yet another rich lady.

Amberser politely nodded a greeting to the bar owner, then pulled Headless Bro aside and quietly asked, “Big bro, what have you been up to these past few days? You’re a married man!”

Headless Bro burped, seemingly unconcerned, “So what? I haven’t done anything. I’m just here for a drink. Can’t a married man come out for a drink now? By the God of the Undead, I’ve lost my head; don’t I even have the right to drink?”

“Just having a drink? You’ve got that female Orc practically melting with your gaze!”

Amberser certainly didn’t believe it was just about drinking. Anyone with eyes could see that Ms. Ona Hellfire looked like she wanted to devour Headless Bro.

“Ona… She’s a good woman, but, I only consider her a sister.”

Such a classic cheater’s line. Before Amberser got transported to this world, uttering such words would have likely gotten someone stabbed with a kitchen knife.

“Gareth, I have no comments on your love life, but you should consider that once your wife finds out, it’s bound to lead to a war.”

Miss Bone Dragon’s fury was something Alchemy City would have to face full throttle. One careless move and half the city could become ruins—not to mention Amberser’s territory might also be reduced to ashes.

Upon hearing Amberser mention his wife, Headless Bro poured himself another drink, reflecting, “I’m starting to think that this marriage might have been a mistake.”

Amberser offered no response; this was not a topic he was qualified to discuss.

After turning into a Lich, Amberser’s heart had stopped beating, and he no longer had those hormones that could affect his thinking. His past romantic experiences had faded to mere dim impressions after centuries of erosion. He had traded joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness for a lonely immortality, and although the transaction might not have been a loss, Amberser was slowly realizing its side effects. Like now, he could only observe from the sidelines, analyzing purely with logic.

Amberser couldn’t even begin to understand the status between Headless Bro and his Bone Dragon wife. They were not only both Undead, but also hugely different in species and size. For them to marry, it truly said something about the miracles of love.

Perhaps, there was some unknown story between the two of them.

But before Headless Bro could start complaining to Amberser about his marital life, the tavern’s door suddenly burst open. A man in a gold and red robe strode in, followed by two full-metal automaton warriors. These were the Magipuppet Automatons of Alchemy City.

Seeing the man’s attire, everyone in the bar set down their drinks, watching him nervously.

That gold and red robe was the uniform of a Governing Officer from Alchemy City.

Thanks to the Alchemist Council’s focus on academia, the administrative structure of Alchemy City was very simple, consisting of only two levels from top to bottom: council members and Governing Officers, all of whom were alchemists.

Governing Officers were responsible for all practical work including the wellbeing of the people, administration, military matters, and legal affairs. Perhaps only those within their ranks could discern who was in charge of which department. To outsiders, they all looked the same, indistinguishable from one another.

However, the citizens of Alchemy City came to a consensus regarding the Governing Officers: their presence boded ill.

Alchemists were more inclined to hide in their laboratories, tinkering with their jars and flasks. Whenever they ventured out to work, they carried grim expressions, as though everyone owed them millions of Gold Coins. And unless there was no other choice, Governing Officers would rather remotely control their Magipuppet Automatons to do the work than show up in person.

Now, with a dark expression, this Governing Officer had walked into the pub, and it was evident that there were some very troublesome issues that required the Governing Officer’s intervention.

Ninety percent of the patrons were adventurers, and ninety percent of these adventurers had engaged in unlawful acts, so everyone grew tense when they saw the Governing Officer, fearing they were the ones in trouble. Two Drow Elves had already quietly moved toward a window, preparing to climb out, after noticing the arrival of the Governing Officer.

With head held high and indifferent to the gazes of the patrons, the Governing Officer walked straight to the bar and produced two vials of magic potions. Then he said to the Orcish Bartender, “I am here today to investigate a missing person case. This vial on the left is a powerful Truth Serum, which might cause brain damage, turning a person into an idiot if ingested. The vial on the right is a Lie Detector Potion, which will corrode your innards if you lie after drinking it. Choose one to drink.”

The Orcish Bartender looked at the two strangely colored potions and turned to his boss for help.

Ona Hellfire stood up, approached the Governing Officer, and began to negotiate, “My lord, we have always operated lawfully. You can just ask whatever you wish to investigate, and we will certainly cooperate. There’s no need for such aggressive interrogation methods.”

The Governing Officer was only as tall as Ona’s shoulders, but he maintained his detachment in the face of this lioness-like female Orc.

“This is a diplomatic incident officially raised by the Laine Empire, concerning the diplomatic relations between the two nations. There is no room for leniency. Choose a vial and drink it, or I will have you all imprisoned for not cooperating with the Governing Officer’s investigation.”

The way the Governing Officer spoke was final, causing Ona’s ferocious face to contort even more.

Headless Bro put down his goblet and said to the pub’s owner, “Ona, do you need my help?”

Ona gave Headless Bro a gentle smile and then said, “No worries, Gareth. I can handle it.”

Headless Bro shrugged in resignation, while Amberser breathed a sigh of relief.

The Governing Officer was lucky. He’d narrowly escaped becoming a pulp.

Ona told the Orcish Bartender, “Tell the truth; don’t hide anything.” This meant for him to choose the Lie Detector Potion, which presumably wouldn’t cause trouble as long as he didn’t lie.

The bartender looked helpless but resigned himself to gritting his teeth and drinking the Lie Detector Potion.

It was only after he had finished the potion that the Governing Officer began to ask, “A few days ago, did a Paladin by the name of Allen Watson come here?”

Hearing this question, Amberser put down his goblet as well.

Diplomatic tactics? So this is the game they’re playing?