This Lich Requests More Remuneration

Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Political Chips Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Political Chips When the Governing Officer called out the name Allen, Amberser could somewhat guess what had happened.

The Laine Empire was even more unyielding than he had imagined, opting for the most decisive action over a matter that could have been solved with just some money.

That editor-in-chief, James Watson, really didn’t care at all about his son’s life or death.

Before the Orcish Bartender could answer, his gaze involuntarily shifted in Amberser’s direction when he heard the question.

This young Governing Officer was a very astute man; he immediately noticed this and turned to look at Amberser, then said, “It seems you’re also involved, come on, you drink too.”

With that, the Governing Officer took out two more Magic Potions and placed them on the bar.

The Governing Officer’s tone was completely authoritative, leaving no room for negotiation.

In Alchemy City, the Governing Officer embodied absolute truth, brooking no contradiction.

Headless Bro chuckled and said to Amberser, “Brother Diga, need help?”

Hearing Headless Bro’s words, the Governing Officer scoffed and said, “Thinking of resisting arrest? Then my job just got easier, just lock you up without needing to interrogate you, and I can go back to my experiments.”

It was a single sentence that defined arrest, and the Governing Officer didn’t give anyone a chance to explain; he simply directed the Magipuppet Automatons behind him to advance towards Headless Bro and Amberser.

The giant robots, steaming and quaking with each step they took, reached out to grab Headless Bro.

These Magipuppet Automatons possessed such strength that they could crush stones into dust.

The patrons of the bar all kept their distance, afraid that they might get caught in the Automatons’ path.

The Governing Officer was pleased with everyone’s reactions; in Alchemy City, the words of these Alchemists were the rules. If you wanted to live here, you had to comply unconditionally with their commands.

To these commoners who lacked even the most basic knowledge of Alchemy, they were nothing more than parasites in the city. Just as the Laine Empire discriminated against all heretics, Alchemy City looked down upon these “lower beings” who came to the city to make a living.

In the eyes of the Governing Officer, Headless Bro was nothing more than a destitute Adventurer in rags, and his insolence naturally warranted imprisonment.

However, the outcome was completely unexpected.

The Magipuppet Automaton, extending its steel fist, gripped Headless Bro’s shoulder, aiming to subdue him. Yet, it was as if it were facing a towering mountain; the mechanical core made an overloading roar as it struggled, but Headless Bro remained motionless.

Headless Bro disdainfully said, “That’s it? It’s like a weak massage.”

The Governing Officer’s eyes widened; he hadn’t seen Headless Bro use any Magic, yet how could the Automaton, with enough power to twist steel, fail to move a single person?

Amberser too let out a sigh. Originally, he hadn’t wanted to make a big scene, but since they had already raised a hand against his client, there was absolutely no chance of backing down now. Otherwise, how would he face anyone at the Elegy Poetry Society again?

Two bolts of lightning shot from Amberser’s hands, causing the two Magipuppet Automatons to tremble violently, emitting large plumes of black smoke.

Disabling two Automatons at once scared the young Governing Officer.

These were the pride of Alchemy City, known for their impressive resistance to Magic. How could they be so easily turned into scrap metal by electricity?

“You dare to resist?! You are openly violating the laws of Alchemy City. Cease your unlawful acts now, and I may consider leniency. Otherwise, you will face severe punishment. Do you truly wish to make enemies of the entire Alchemy City?!”

Only the might of Alchemy City could provide him some solace now, hoping that its name could intimidate the two of them.

But Amberser calmly took out a badge and placed it in front of the Governing Officer.

“This… this is…” The Governing Officer’s eyes bulged, then he knelt down in front of Amberser in panic, saying frenetically, “I am terribly sorry, I was reckless and offended your excellency, please forgive me.”

Headless Bro exclaimed in surprise, “Yo, little bro, are you some kind of official in Alchemy City?”

Amberser shook his head and said, “No, this is a badge of a distinguished scholar, I’ve contributed a few Magic Potion formulas to Alchemy City, it’s an honorary title.”

Headless Bro asked oddly, “If it’s not a powerful official, then what is he afraid of?”

“In Alchemy City, knowledge outweighs race, faith, and law, apart from the Alchemist Council, no one has the right to judge a distinguished scholar, and all I need is a letter to prevent him from joining any alchemy laboratory, effectively ruining his career. Unfortunately, this badge is just a symbol and difficult to convert into cash.”

After hearing Amberser’s explanation, Headless Bro couldn’t help but say, “That’s even more twisted than those religious zealots in Laine.”

Amberser completely agreed that religious discrimination or career discrimination were equally twisted.

The Orc woman owner, who had been standing anxiously to the side, walked excitedly over to Headless Bro with concern and asked, “Gareth, is your hand okay?”

Amberser watched the Orc woman pinch and probe Headless Bro’s arm, unsure if she was genuinely worried or just taking the opportunity to cop a feel.

Amberser ignored the soap opera unfolding beside him, picked up the bottle of Lie Detector Potion, and said to the Governing Officer, “Drink this. I have some questions for you.”

“This…”
The Governing Officer looked at the bottle of potion with a hesitant expression.

“You must be very aware that I could kill you right now, and with just two papers for Alchemy City, I would be absolved of the crime,” Amberser said.

His statement was a bit exaggerated; it would have to be a paper that could be published in “Legendary Spells” to compensate for the crime of killing a Governing Officer. Unless absolutely necessary, Amberser certainly would not do such a thing— the data required for the papers came from experimentation, which was costly. Giving that away to Alchemy City for free would be a huge loss.

But the Governing Officer didn’t know that. He only knew that what Amberser had said was correct; the papers of a distinguished scholar indeed were worth far more than the life of a Governing Officer.

Powerless to resist, he drank the Lie Detector Potion, the bitter taste causing his entire face to contort.

After confirming that the potion had taken effect, Amberser then said to him, “What kind of diplomatic documents has the Laine Empire issued that require a Governing Officer to investigate the whereabouts of that Paladin?”

“I don’t know much myself, but I’ve heard that this Paladin named Allen Watson is the son of the Supreme Decree, so the Laine Empire not only issued diplomatic documents in advance asking us to help investigate Allen Watson’s disappearance, but they have also dispatched an envoy that is currently en route to Alchemy City. Their goal is very clear, they must find Allen Watson, dead or alive.”

“The envoy? Is the Supreme Decree himself coming?” Amberser inquired.

“No, not him. However, the envoy holds a high position as well, belonging to the Bureau of Judicial Review’s Conviction Knight Order, second only to the Emperor’s Imperial Guard. Thus, several members too are taking this very seriously and have already dispatched numerous Governing Officers to search everywhere for him, I’m just one among them.”

“Conviction Knight Order? Gareth, have you heard of them?” Amberser asked Headless Bro.

Headless Bro, still enjoying the Orcish Bartender’s massage, shook his head in response to Amberser’s question and said, “I haven’t heard of them either, back in the day… cough cough, anyway, the only one I know is the Emperor’s Imperial Guard of the Laine Empire.”

“Alright,” Amberser turned to the Governing Officer and said, “There’s no need for you to investigate further. Tell the Council that Allen Watson is in my custody. If they wish to talk, let the Council send someone to me.”

Amberser had no intention of hiding the fact that he had swindled Allen Watson out of five thousand Gold Coins, and that the Paladin had also participated in the previous battle as a mercenary, all of which couldn’t be concealed. Since that’s the case, he might as well negotiate directly with Alchemy City.

James Watson, the old man, was determined not to pay a penny, but maybe Amberser could sell Allen Watson to Alchemy City to recoup a bit of his loss.

To Amberser, the son of the Supreme Decree of the Laine Empire was just an ordinary captive, but for Alchemy City, he might be a decent political bargaining chip.