It'll Cost More

Chapter 6: It'll Cost More

Undead Troop Modification was naturally what Undead Lords found most interesting.

The worst members of the Mourning Poetry Society were Legends. Someone like Headless Bro, the Bone Dragon Family's son-in-law, was a Legend among Legends. There was definitely nothing wrong with hiring them for a GG.

But after waiting a moment, the first to reply was not Headless Bro, who had no shortage of money, but Withering Rose.

[Withering Rose: A very creative design. I now believe that your manuscript was rejected because you really ran into some shady dealings.]

So her earlier words had only been polite pleasantries. This Madam really knew how to talk.

[Withering Rose: But there is no point in customizing low-end skeletons, is there? The teleportation cost alone would be far greater than the production cost.]

Good. Only picky people were buyers. Amber Xiu hurriedly replied.

[Tiga Ultraman: Skeletons are naturally about volume. If Madam Rose wishes to place a large order, we can arrange a delivery location.]

[Withering Rose: Can you make high-level undead? I happen to need several enhanced Death Knights.]

[Tiga Ultraman: Madam Rose is one of us, so I will be honest. After Legendary Spell rejected my manuscript, I hardly had enough materials left for experiments. I have never tried experimenting on high-level undead, and the risk of failure is very high. The price will certainly be extremely expensive, starting at three hundred thousand Gold Coins, and the cost-effectiveness will not be very high.]

Everyone in the Mourning Poetry Society was a major power in the Undead Realm. Amber Xiu wanted a long-term business relationship rather than a one-off deal, so he did not conceal the risks involved.

[Withering Rose: Money is not an issue. No matter how many low-level skeletons there are, they are of no use to me. I only need high-level undead like Death Knights. Or Undead Troops capable of breaking through the gates of the Lyne Empire's imperial capital head-on.]

When Amber Xiu saw that line, even his fingers paused.

The Lyne Empire was the strongest Human Empire among the Nine Kingdoms, with a population in the hundreds of millions and over a hundred cities.

Seventeen hundred years ago, the Paladin Arthur Lyne overthrew the brutal rule of the Dragon Tyrant and founded the Lyne Empire, accomplishing the feat of driving every dragon from the continent.

The Lyne Empire's capital had been built atop the Dragon Tyrant's bones. It was a powerful empire founded upon martial prowess.

Over the past thousand years, no one knew how many layers of magical defenses had been added to the Lyne Imperial Capital. The Dragon Tyrant's corpse had also been fashioned by the Lyne People into the immensely powerful Dragon Armor.

After years of continuous enchantment and reinforcement, even an ordinary mortal could gain strength equal to that of a Legendary Dragon by obtaining any single component of the Dragon Armor.

Legend said that only Arthur Lyne's bloodline could unleash the Dragon Armor's full power. It was a strategic weapon capable of changing the continent's terrain.

Even without using that terrifying divine artifact, the Court Mage Corps and the Lionheart Paladin Legion within the imperial capital alone were enough to destroy any enemy.

With all those factors combined, attacking the Lyne Empire's imperial capital was no different from seeking death. Only if more than thirty Legendary Mages joined forces to cast a spell beyond the Legendary rank would it be possible to destroy the city.

What exactly was this Withering Rose trying to do? That goal was far too terrifying.

After thinking for a moment, Amber Xiu replied, "If it's the Lyne Empire, it'll cost more."

Who cared how strong the Lyne Empire was? Amber Xiu was desperately poor right now. As long as Withering Rose could truly afford it, he would devote himself wholeheartedly to working for her.

It was only breaking through the city gates, not destroying the entire city. Amber Xiu believed that every defensive spell had weaknesses. As long as he found those weaknesses and countered them, it would be possible to breach the gates in a short time.

As for how many seconds the breach could remain open under the automatic repair magic, that would depend on Madam Rose's other preparations. Surely she had not spent so long as undead that she wanted to commit a spectacular suicide. She must have had other plans.

Amber Xiu only needed to do his part. The rest was none of his concern.

As for whether the Lyne Empire would hold it against him, who cared? Alchemy City was a hundred and eight thousand miles away from the Lyne Empire.

Besides, what war ever went after the arms dealer?

At worst, when the Lyne Empire came looking for him, Amber Xiu could give them a discount on researching countermeasure troops.

Withering Rose was equally straightforward and immediately replied, "Money is not an issue. I'll give you thirty thousand as a deposit, along with intelligence on the Lyne Imperial Capital. Draw up a design first."

As expected, Withering Rose had prepared in advance. Who knew where she had gotten intelligence on the Lyne Imperial Capital? She really was a powerful figure with influence everywhere.

[Tiga Ultraman: It is an honor to serve Madam Rose. I will certainly produce the initial design for you within three months at most.]

Three months was not actually much time.

High-level Undead Troops required more materials and more complex structural designs. It was not something that could be done simply by shrinking a skeleton and changing its shape.

That was because all high-level undead involved one crucial issue—magic.

Like Amber Xiu, a bargain-bin Legendary lich, the magic he himself had mastered was enough to fill more than a dozen books. High-level undead were bound to possess powerful spellcasting abilities. Amber Xiu needed to make choices and redesign their structural forms, along with plans for modifications related to their souls.

Read the correct version without errors!

Magical experiments were extremely complicated and precise, requiring a great deal of time for verification.

But this was a major client, so Amber Xiu prepared to work overtime and finish the first draft early.

"Good thing I'm a lich now. I no longer have worldly desires like eating, sleeping, or using the toilet."

Amber Xiu was quite pleased with his choice. He took out a pile of parchment and began calculating with full concentration.

Isabelle quickly finished preparing the Tranquility Potion, but she did not dare stop, afraid that Amber Xiu might give her some other command. While pretending to stay busy, Isabelle observed her surroundings, trying to find a way to escape.

The laboratory door was right in front of her. Perhaps she could rush out while Amber Xiu was not paying attention?

No, no. The Ancient Castle must be covered in Magic Traps. The moment she opened the door, one might trigger and turn her into a stone.

There were also plenty of Magic Materials in the cabinets. Perhaps she could secretly concoct several potions to deal with this lich?

Still no. Isabelle was merely an alchemy apprentice. She had no ability to brew such advanced potions. Even her teacher probably could not manage it.

While she was distracted by her chaotic thoughts, Amber Xiu suddenly said, "If your emotions are unstable, drink a bottle yourself. Those potion ingredients are expensive. You can't afford to compensate me if you waste them."

The words startled Isabelle. She nearly thought she had been struck by Mind Reading Magic.

Isabelle no longer dared to pretend to be busy. Following Amber Xiu's command, she drank a bottle of Tranquility Potion. It had a faintly bitter taste, but it was not unpleasant.

After drinking it in one gulp, Isabelle felt her racing heartbeat settle, and her hands stopped trembling. Having calmed down, Isabelle suddenly looked at the empty bottle in her hand.

Of the twelve bottles of Tranquility Potion, she had drunk one. Who were the remaining eleven prepared for? Could it be that her brother had really captured living people for this lich to use as experimental material?

No, no. If they were experimental materials, there would be no need to prepare Tranquility Potion. They could simply be killed.

Unless this lich truly had no intention of killing anyone.

Isabelle looked at Amber Xiu in confusion. Could it be that she had encountered a kind lich from legend?

(End of Chapter)