Player's Undead Followers (I)

As the lich entered the familiar yet unfamiliar Soul Weeping Castle, human researchers dressed in white lab coats and masks immediately came to greet him.

"Hello, I am Maxi Chulin, a researcher at the Imperial Magic Department."

"You must be the manager of Aurest mentioned above. Please come with me, and I'll show you around the new office environment."

Magesi bowed slightly and respectfully extended his hand.

He was already used to all of this. After all, in a melting pot of races like the Embers of the Burned Empire, it wouldn't be surprising if your superior was any creature, even a lich.

"Uh, hello."

Aurest paused for a moment before shaking hands with the human—it had been a long time since a human had dared to stand before him so fearlessly since he transformed into a lich; it must have been over three hundred years.

Hearing the human's words, the lich felt a strange sense of absurdity.

This was Aurest's own residence, unchanged for three hundred years, and he knew every corner of it intimately.

But at this moment, he needs a stranger to guide him—in the Soul Weeping Castle that once belonged to him.

But this was clearly arranged by the "master," and he had no way to refuse it.

Where is my Undead Chandelier?

"Ah, Manager Aurest, this is against the imperial style. We have already dealt with those ghosts and replaced your lights with the latest models."

"This, this is the Howling Corridor?"

"The risk of you exposing Undead Creatures like this is too great. We have reinforced this area."

"And what about the Death Slaughterhouse?"

"The Empire's experts say that such biological experiments need to be conducted in a clean and sterile environment. We have equipped ourselves with the most advanced equipment to dissect human bodies and help us understand the mysteries of the Undead Creatures."

"."

Seemingly noticing the lich's silence, Maxi asked with some concern.

"Manager Aurest, are you alright?"

"It's okay, let's continue."

"Your office is just ahead. It was converted from the former Soul Weeping Castle hall and is now the highest-standard office in the Undead Creature Research Institute."

"The higher-ups specifically instructed that although you are Undead Creatures, you have devoted all your efforts to making significant contributions to the development of the empire, and you are a role model for our entire research institute."

"Clap clap clap clap clap!"

A dozen researchers in white lab coats emerged from various rooms, and enthusiastic applause echoed throughout the institute.

"This must be Supervisor Aurest."

"I've heard so much about you."

"It is said that he has already transformed more than 100,000 Undead Creatures for the empire. He is truly a role model for us all."

"Yes, with a body that has been crippled for hundreds of years, he is still willing to give everything for the empire. He truly deserves to be a subject personally appointed by His Majesty."

"I heard that His Majesty specially established this research institute because of Director Aurest. We should all be grateful to him."

"Clap clap clap clap clap!"

"."

Surrounded by the crowd, Aurest felt increasingly bewildered and deeply appreciated the strangeness of the Embers of the Burned Empire.

These humans not only weren't afraid of him, but actually admired him?

Maxi pushed open the door for him, and the blood-stained hall, once littered with blood and scattered with bones and remains, was gone.

Instead, a clean, bright, and simply laid-out office lobby appeared before the lich.

"."

Aurest fell into a deep silence once more, the soul fire in his eye sockets flickering.

Suddenly, a series of loud bangs came from a metal cabinet not far away, as if something was struggling inside.

As if guessing something, the lich slowly approached and opened the gleaming metal cabinet.

The Bone Pen was locked in the display case, entangled in chains, but it was still jumping and struggling.

The diary, however, was locked in another display case, its face-covered cover now covered with a brand-new cover bearing the Imperial Medal.

"This, this..."

Maxi's eyes held a hint of apology. "The bigwigs in the Engineering Department said that this kind of thing would damage the dignity of the empire, so we did some packaging for you. We hope you don't mind."

"Well--"

"Don't touch them anymore."

The lich sighed and released the Bone Pen and the human skin diary from it.

In the past, if faced with a human who had offended a lich, he might have turned the entire family and town into undead.

But now, the lich is under the eaves and has no choice but to bow his head.

"Yes, Manager Aurest."

"By the way, I also brought you His Majesty's latest orders, which will likely be your main tasks from now on. Please take a look at them yourself."

Maxi took out the imperial edict from his pocket and spoke cautiously.

Aurest leaned closer, glancing at the golden scroll. The will-o'-the-wisp in his eye sockets trembled violently, and his back hunched over slightly.

"Manager Aurest?"

Are you alright?

"You can rest for a few days first. His Majesty said that this work has not yet begun."

On the desk, the Bone Pen, which had just been released, was still writing rapidly.

"On October 3, 1786, I realized that Soul Weeping Castle, or rather the Undead Creature Research Institute, no longer belonged to me."

Istaria, the Embers of the Burned Emperor Square.

Everywhere was bustling with people coming and going.

The empire's new Steam Engine Car ran on the tracks, puffing out thick smoke, and people were already used to these "steel carriages."

As a key city for the current empire's development, Istaria has attracted residents from all over Anzeta.

After a flood of various tasks were issued, nearly 40,000 players gathered here. Due to the abundance of tasks and ample opportunities for development, this place was also called a "holy land for newbies to develop quickly" by strategy experts on the forum.

On the [Starfallers Notice Board], the Tiefling Guard removed the original posters about the Experience Shop and replaced them with brand new ones.

"A new proclamation from the Empire!"

"Hey? Come over here! This event is interesting!"

Players called out to their friends, and another group of players surged in like a tide, crowding the area around the notice board.

"What kind of money-grabbing event is this? Is it the return of the Dragon Aotian Secret Treasure? If I buy it again this time, I'll be a dog!"

"You mean opening chests? Keosius's Secret Treasure? That stuff is pretty good. I only spent five Gold Coin to open a green item. If you were to buy it, it would cost at least fifty Gold Coin."

"Go to hell, seals!"

"Look carefully! This isn't opening a chest, it's the newly released Undead Follower!"

"Undead Follower?"

"What's that thing? It sounds pretty good!"

Each time the notice board is changed, it represents a new opportunity. Veteran players who noticed it immediately flocked to it, and the news spread like wildfire on the forum.

Within minutes, nearly ten thousand players appeared in the Embers of the Burned Emperor Square.