This Lich Requests More Remuneration

Chapter 81 - 81 81 Cruel Malicious and Insane

?Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Cruel, Malicious, and Insane! Chapter 81: Chapter 81 Cruel, Malicious, and Insane! The moment Garey Woz’s soul appeared, Amberser threw aside his feather pen and swiftly cast several defensive spells on himself, then prepared to make a break for it by jumping out the window.

But Garey Woz simply pointed a finger lightly at the window, and it turned completely into gold, merging with the wall, impossible to open again.

With no way to escape, Amberser stopped trying, thinking to himself that at worst, he would just be reborn again. He stood his ground, waiting for the Withered Rose’s arrival.

Looking at the window turned to gold, Amberser said with a tone of envy, “Transmuting objects into gold, truly a Legendary Grace to be envied.”

Amberser’s envy was genuine, for if he possessed this Legendary Grace, he would not be so impoverished.

Yet Garey Woz shook his head and said, “You’re mistaken, my Legendary Grace is not about transmuting objects into gold, but now is not the time to discuss it. We can have a proper exchange later on.”

“Not planning to make a move?” Amberser said, puzzled.

Garey Woz shook his head once more and calmly said, “I also lack confidence in snatching away this child under the watchful eyes of that Undead Queen.”

No sooner had the old man finished speaking than several blurry shadows appeared around Amberser. It was the Withered Rose and her Death Knight guards, who had entered the room using a group invisibility spell and were preparing to ambush the old man. Unexpectedly, even their High-Level Invisibility Spell had been seen through.

Amberser suddenly felt at ease, knowing that with the Withered Rose present, at least in terms of fighting power, they need not fear the wretched old man.

Garey Woz, without looking at Amberser’s smug expression, turned to Naomi and said, “Child, let me tell you the truth. You are my great-granddaughter and the only relative I have left.”

Naomi did not speak; she couldn’t accept the so-called truth. All she wanted now was to flee from this place. It did not matter to her whether the old man was the mysterious chairman or a relative; she did not want to know.

Escape might be disgraceful, but for Naomi, it was the most relaxing option.

“Just like the Shadow Druid said, I am conducting a great experiment, but for a long time, I have been stuck and unable to make progress. Until one day, my daughter died unexpectedly. Though I was estranged from her due to my obsession with my research, her death still brought me an inexplicable grief.

“But it was this indescribable grief that led my soul into a special state. At that time, I realized that grief could bring me closer to the goal I sought to reach.

“Thus, I started paying attention to my granddaughter. I personally educated and raised her, cultivating a deep bond. On the day of her death, my grief was many times stronger than before, but following the grief, my soul once again transcended, confirming that I was on the right path.”

At this moment, Garey Woz spoke in a tone so calm it was as if he were telling someone else’s story, not caring whether Naomi could accept it or not, he continued, “Therefore, I had a crazy idea. If I severed all ties of kinship, perhaps, I could truly transcend the mundane world and enter the realm of the Deity.

“However, because the experiment was in its final phase, I couldn’t raise you myself. I had you sent to the Shadow Druid’s tribe, to be raised by them…”

Amberser suddenly interjected, addressing the chairman, “It’s not just about raising her. Shadow Druids would not feel any affection for a sacrifice, but clearly, the girl had a decent childhood. You must not have told them she was a sacrifice when you first struck the deal with them. Instead, you instructed them to take good care of her, revealing the truth only recently, right?”

Upon hearing this, Naomi was also confused and asked excitedly, “Why? Why go through such unnecessary trouble?!”

If it wasn’t for the warm treatment she had received as a child, Naomi wouldn’t be so desperate now.

Amberser snorted coldly and explained, “Because you weren’t miserable enough, so his heart wouldn’t ache enough.

“He said it himself, didn’t he? Only sufficient grief can stimulate his already numb soul. He didn’t have time to cultivate a bond with you. If you’d been treated coldly since childhood, would you be heartbroken now? Despairing? If you yourself aren’t heartbroken and despairing enough, how could this twisted old man feel grief?

“He’s using the most cruel and heartless means to lash his conscience, allowing him to completely forsake human emotions.”

Garey Woz did not refute but instead praised, “When I wrote you an invitation letter years ago, it was the best decision I made. It’s just a pity you turned it down.”

Naomi canceled her Black Panther Transformation and slumped to the ground, helpless. She could never have imagined that the truth of the matter was so cruel—that such malevolent people could exist, and they were her last remaining family.

Amberser sighed and cast a Sleep Spell on Naomi again.

Without sleeping, the girl would go mad.

Looking at Naomi, who had fallen into a deep sleep, Amberser said to Garey Woz, “Back then I was still human, incompatible with creeps like you. But I have a question. Is soul transcendence as simple as you claim? Any slight misstep could cause the experiment to fail. What if the girl dies before you reach the realm of the Deity? Wouldn’t that be a waste of effort? Don’t tell me you have calculated it, because when it comes to souls, I’m more specialized than you are.”

Garey Woz replied, “Because that is my Legendary Grace. I can ensure that alchemy experiments that might succeed become guaranteed successes, thereby avoiding all experimental errors. Though the conditions for use are stringent, if everything goes according to my plan, the ritual magic will undoubtedly succeed. However, you have disrupted my plan.”

“Heh, if you hadn’t tried to make me your scapegoat, I wouldn’t bother with you. Since you’re planning a scheme against me, don’t blame me for fighting back. Still, you suddenly show up now, looking like you don’t plan to fight. Are you proposing to cooperate with me?” Amberser said with a smirk.

Garey Woz nodded and said, “How much do you know about this ritual?”

“I know that even if you succeed, you wouldn’t become a Deity, but a Divine Artifact—a real one capable of casting a Wishing Spell. That’s practically the same as suicide,” Amberser stated confidently.

Garey Woz replied, “That is enough, for the Wishing Spell is originally a magic that only a Deity can cast at will. I don’t care if my will vanishes, as long as I can reach the realm of a Deity.”

“Why? It makes no sense.” Amberser asked curiously.

If one lost their self, what use was there in becoming a Deity? To become a tool at others’ disposal, wouldn’t that be worse than being human?

“Alchemy is a fascinating subject. When I first synthesized a potion using alchemy, I was completely captivated. Once this path begins, it cannot be stopped. I only want to keep moving forward, to reach the pinnacle. As for how I reach that pinnacle, in what form, I don’t mind,” he said.

Finally, a hint of emotion crept into Garey Woz’s tone, indicating he hadn’t entirely lost his human feelings.

Amberser looked down with even more disdain and said, “Doesn’t the God of Alchemy care about you maniacs? Like before, by delivering divine punishment to ensure you wouldn’t dare to blaspheme against the Deities?”

Garey Woz shook his head and replied, “Divine punishment? Do you think his curse before was to punish us? You are mistaken, he was actually taking us a step further.

“The God of Alchemy is not a Deity of faith, just like the God of Justice. As long as someone practices justice, even if they don’t know the name of Tyr, they can provide Divine power to the God of Justice. With every new formula created by an alchemist, the God of Alchemy’s divine power grows stronger. As long as someone continues to advance in alchemy, his power will keep increasing.

“He doesn’t need faith; what he needs is mortals like us who are willing to give up everything for the sake of alchemy. He doesn’t care whether we blaspheme, because even acts of blasphemy against the Deities will leave a mark on the history of alchemy capable of transforming the world, and he, too, will ascend to an even greater realm because of it.

“So, he is the most selfish one after all, constantly suppressing us, forcing us to emit a brighter Soul Fire. In the years I’ve been working to lift the curse of divine punishment, the development of alchemy has surged past centuries before.

“He has never cared for us, merely taking from us alchemists. Therefore, since there is a way to become a Deity, and I have the capability to achieve it, why not do it?”

Amberser hastily waved his hand to interrupt Garey Woz’s speech; he didn’t want to listen to such blasphemous talk. Every lunatic has their own logic, no matter if it’s self-consistent or not. Whoever believes them is a fool.

“Cut the nonsense; get to the point. What do you want to talk about?”

Garey Woz answered, “Help me complete the ritual, and I will become a Divine Artifact capable of casting the Wishing Spell, and you can be in control of this Artifact. It’s a win-win, isn’t it?”

Amberser replied, “Flint won’t agree to that, your underlings have put so much thought into this, they won’t be without their own desires.”

“It doesn’t matter, we can sacrifice them all and make them part of the Artifact. I am their leader, as long as I bring this child back, they will not suspect anything. By then, all you need to do is launch a surprise attack, and with the power of the Undead Queen, you can easily turn them into offerings.” Garey Woz spoke calmly, revealing a plan of extreme malevolence, not even sparing his own people.

Both Amberser and Withered Rose, the two Liches, were a little shocked. This old man was more cruel than the Undead, discarding not just emotions, but also his allegiance to order, embodying chaotic evil in his ruthless pursuit of his goals.

“What do you say? It’s all profit for you, and you have no reason to refuse, right?” Garey Woz urged, “I don’t have much time left. If we don’t start the transformation ritual now, it will all be for naught.”

Amberser was indeed inclined to agree because logically speaking, there was no downside to agreeing, and it would maximize benefits while minimizing risks.

Yet, there was an odd sense of unease in Amberser’s heart.

The prophecy had not yet been fulfilled.

The Druid girl Naomi was supposed to be murdered, to die in the Hall of Wisdom, not sent down to the sewers for sacrifice. But currently, she was alive and well, which meant, whether Amberser agreed or not, events would not proceed according to Garey Woz’s plan.

But the question was, what had gone wrong? Logically, by simply nodding in agreement, all risks would be negated.

Could this girl escape her fate?

No, that was a waste of thought. Since the Druid girl was destined to be killed in the Hall of Wisdom, there was no need to ponder the reasons. What Amberser needed to consider was why, after the ritual was disrupted, he would still be found in the sewers, actively presiding over the ritual?

Clearly, in the prophecy, Amberser had not chosen to cooperate, which led to a series of changes including the ultimate destruction of Alchemy City, which ascended to the sky in ruins.

What was missing, which part had been overlooked?

The flame within Amberser’s soul flickered uncertainly. He blocked all external signals and used all his soul power to think, connecting all the clues he had at his disposal.

What was needed was an external force, a very powerful one, powerful enough that even after cooperating with Garey Woz, it could still disrupt the game. But who could it be?

Suddenly, a name came to mind — James Watson.

Amberser shuddered and then asked Garey Woz, “Where are the Paladins of the Laine Empire, and the Supreme Decree James Watson? Where are they?”