Undead Creature Research Institute

"On September 14, 1786 (New Era), 70,000 skeletons on the Okaglar Plain were converted for His Your Majesty Keosius."

"On September 16, 1786 (New Era), the remains of two hundred Frost Giant on Storm Highlands were transformed for His Your Majesty Keosius."

"On September 16, 1786, six thousand bones were converted on the plain for His Your Majesty Keosius."

"September 18, 1786, for His Your Majesty Keosius"

"."

Soul Weeping Castle, the bone pen continues to write swiftly on "The Diary of the Great and Immortal Aurest".

Aurest had a habit of keeping a diary. He linked this Bone Pen to his soul, making it Undead Creatures similar to a living being, capable of experiencing and recording the lich's feelings at any time.

"Empire Special Operations Team, proceed!"

"Don't make any rash moves, you Undead Creatures inside! Otherwise, I'll annihilate you!"

Suddenly, a group of Tiefling wielding specially made Necromantic Weapons smashed open the gate and rushed into the undefended Soul Weeping Castle.

The Bone Pen was so frightened that it stopped writing and hopped to hide on the shelf, while the leather diary slowly closed.

The mages dispatched by the Magic Department surveyed and eliminated the magic arrays and traps within Soul Weeping Castle. Although Keosius had rendered most of the spells ineffective when he entered, some still slipped through the net in the corners of the castle.

After the Tiefling Guard confirmed there was no danger, officials from the Empire Engineering Department entered, most of whom were human.

They traversed the entire Soul Weeping Castle, pointing and commenting on everything within.

"These human head ornaments are too bloody and detrimental to the image of the empire."

"And this human skin chair is too evil. What will the Starfallers think when they see it? It must be changed!"

"The Chief Minister himself said that this place should showcase the grandeur of the Empire! Don't let the liches' disgusting aesthetics pollute this place!"

Meanwhile, the Empire's construction teams stood ready at the entrance. These Ogre and Bugbear workers pushed various large construction machines, while Frost Giant Slave Laborers carried heavy steel bars and raw materials for concrete.

Having experienced the construction of Istaria, the Imperial Construction Corps's skills have become increasingly proficient. Even without the player's help, they can complete construction tasks well—not to mention the large equipment provided by the Church of the Machine God.

Without a doubt, Soul Weeping Castle, with its centuries-old history, will undergo a radical transformation.

"Boom!"

The heavy iron ball on the crane crashed down, smashing the stone gate engraved with a skull emblem to pieces.

"Be careful! Don't smash the load-bearing wall!"

Within the Empire, on the Afton Plains.

Aurest, who was preparing to transform into Undead Creatures, suddenly felt a jolt in his heart, and his expression turned somewhat grim.

Through the soul link, he saw some unusual sights happening in Soul Weeping Castle —for example, a giant iron ball smashing through the wall.

However, that was a scene from several days ago.

After a moment's thought, he cautiously probed, "Master, my Soul Weeping Castle."

"Your Soul Weeping Castle?"

"Didn't you offer up Bewildering Valley and Soul Weeping Castle to the Empire?"

Keosius asked in bewilderment.

The lich nodded repeatedly, not daring to be negligent in the slightest. "Of course, of course, everything in the Bewildering Valley belongs to the Empire."

"I just want to ask about the Empire's Soul Weeping Castle —are they planning to make any changes?"

"After all, that will be my workplace in the future."

Keosius glanced at him and said indifferently, "That place is now a public area of the Empire, and the Empire's specialists will take care of the arrangements. You don't need to worry about these things now. You just need to convert the Undead Creatures for me."

"As for the changes in Soul Weeping Castle —you'll find out then."

"Yes, Master."

Aurest nodded in agreement again.

After several days of brutal exploitation, the lich, who originally possessed immense soul energy and held a legendary rank, had become listless and dispirited.

The will-o'-the-wisp in its eye sockets was as faint as a flame, and its body no longer exuded a strong aura of death—because it could no longer emit such an aura, it needed to conserve energy and try its best to maintain its existence, lest it be reduced to a half-lich.

Keosius said calmly:

"Aurest, I've seen all the contributions you've made to the Empire recently. These Avertons are the last batch."

"In two more days, you will be able to return to work in Bewildering Valley."

"Yes, Master!"

The lich knelt shakily on the ground, suddenly feeling an urge to cry tears of joy.

In recent days, Aurest has transformed over 100,000 Undead Creatures, almost exhausting the soul power he has accumulated over hundreds of years, leaving only a little to sustain his own existence.

It's finally coming to an end!

At least I can go back to the Bewildering Valley and no longer have to feel this "serving a king is like serving a tiger" feeling!

Keosius then said, "However, it seems you don't have enough souls."

"Alright then, I'll allow you to leave behind five hundred Undead Creatures during this transformation, as your own possessions."

"Thank you so much, Master!"

Under Keosius's indoctrination and subtle control over the past few days, he was about to have the command "the dead belong only to His Majesty" engraved in his soul.

It is only natural that the Undead Creatures one transforms into belong to oneself.

But the lich was extremely excited and incredulous at this moment.

He was thrilled because he hadn't tasted the sweetness of souls feeding him and controlling the dead for several days.

Unbelievable! This greedy and stingy Red Dragon master actually allowed him to possess his own Undead Creatures!

"Master, is this... is this real?"

Aurest's withered, bony hand holding the scepter trembled slightly. He even thought he had misheard and was flattered by the compliment.

"This is an exception."

"I have said that the Empire will not mistreat anyone who makes a contribution."

"Alright, let's get to work."

The lich nodded, excitedly raised his scepter, and began chanting with practiced ease.

More than 10,000 skeletons broke through the ground and were awakened by him, forming a huge undead Skeleton Army —but this time, 500 of them belonged to the lich himself.

"Very good."

"It has met the standard."

Keosius gazed at the undead skeletons and nodded slightly.

There are already 100,000 undead skeletons in the Bewildering Valley, but given the Empire's powerful military strength, they do not need to be used as an army.

These undead skeletons can perform mining, transportation, and exploration activities in lightless environments such as underground and Underdark —they are extremely cheap, low-end labor resources that can be used without any scruples.

Once players have advanced their technology to a certain level, they can even use these undead skeletons to generate electricity.

"And Aurest."

"This precious lich cannot be wasted—of course, he should be used to serve the players well and be exploited sustainably."

A sinister smile reappeared on Keosius's face.

Under his plan, these Undead Creatures could be perfectly integrated into the Empire's system, and so could the lich.

After finishing his work, the lich, having received verbal approval from Keosius, was finally able to return to the Bewildering Valley.

But Aurest stood motionless before the brand-new "Soul Weeping Castle," gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar building.

This is no longer the old, gloomy castle it once was; the severed limbs and bloodstains that once littered the castle have all disappeared.

Instead, there were cold metal doors, clean and flat walls, and everywhere was filled with that unique, simple and grand industrial style of the empire.

Even at night, the interior was still brightly lit thanks to the new electric lights.

The metal sign at the entrance is particularly eye-catching.

—The Undead Creature Research Institute.

"Where is my Soul Weeping Castle?"

Aurest stared at the words on the metal plaque and couldn't help but mutter to himself.