This Lich Requests More Remuneration-Chapter 140 - 130 The Future of Corporate Slaves
Chapter 140: Chapter 130: The Future of Corporate Slaves
Chapter 140 -130: The Future of Corporate Slaves
After seeing off Withered Rose with polite farewells, Amberser couldn’t help humming a tune from his hometown.
Every time he made a big profit, he had a habit. He would strut just a little bit, but he couldn’t get carried away; otherwise, the money he earned would quickly be lost—a lesson learned from hundreds of years of life experience.
But what he hadn’t expected was for Katherine to suddenly appear behind him, saying, “That’s an interesting tune, I’ve never heard a song with such a rhythm.”
Amberser turned around and saw the Elf Queen, her eyes still red-rimmed, which made the atmosphere a bit awkward.
Previously, Katherine was just a fat sheep in Amberser’s eyes, ready for slaughter whenever he greeted her with a smile. But now that the deed was done, and in the near future, Katherine would be working for him while he took care of her lodging and meals, the feeling was completely different.
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He didn’t like subordinates of noble status and great strength; they were just uncontrollable factors. As a scholar, the thing he liked least was such “accidents.”
“Your Majesty, you really don’t need to think of yourself as a bargaining chip,” Amberser said.
However, Katherine replied, “What can I do? Isn’t that what you expect from a naïve and childish little girl?”
Amberser was shaken. She had overheard the conversation he had with Withered Rose? Their voices had been very soft, and they were quite a distance apart.
“You forget, I am also Legendary, and I advanced to Legendary as a Ranger. I can hear any sound in this castle,” Katherine said, staring at Amberser.
Amberser, with unabashed boldness, said, “Sorry, talking behind someone’s back is not nice, but that’s how we Liches are.”
Katherine paused, the Lich was too skilled at making excuses; most likely many had been tricked by him.
“So, when you controlled the Wheel of Fate and said you didn’t pry into the secrets of the Elf Tribe, you were also lying to me?” Katherine inquired.
Amberser replied, righteously indignant, “No, I was telling the truth. I never used your Wheel of Fate to pry into the Elf Tribe’s secrets. As I said, that was my gesture of sincerity. Business is all about honesty, and everyone who has worked with me knows I am the most honest and trustworthy person, even the Paladins of the Laine Empire have to admit that.”
“But you still knew the secret of the magic addiction!” Katherine said, a little agitated.
It was because of this secret that Withered Rose was able to gain the upper hand in negotiations. Katherine’s biggest vulnerability had been exploited, and no matter how hard she tried, she ultimately had no choice but to compromise.
“Your Majesty, you’re underestimating me. I’m also a Legendary, and before I became a Lich, I was a Mage from the School of Prophecy. To discover the secrets of the Elf Tribe, I didn’t need your Wheel of Fate at all,” Amberser said with a smile.
“Is that what you call honesty and trustworthiness?” Katherine’s eyes reddened again with frustration due to Amberser’s demeanor.
“That’s business for you. The assurance I give you is the truth, and that’s already considered a rare form of honesty among merchants on this continent.”
That was the reason Amberser hadn’t come clean with Katherine in the beginning. He wasn’t familiar with her, and direct negotiations could easily break down.
If he had revealed that he could treat the magical addiction, there would only be two outcomes. Either Katherine would agree to his outrageous demands, or the Elf Tribe would immediately start a relentless pursuit to kill him—there was no third option.
Only Withered Rose, sharing the same queenly status, could talk with Katherine in a way that would quell the Elf Tribe’s impulse to turn the table over, using a “sister-to-sister heart-to-heart” approach to ease the conflict. That way, the negotiation could proceed in the direction Amberser desired.
The same card revealed by different people would lead to different outcomes: some might get their hands chopped off, while others could just pick up the money chest and leave.
It was also the reason why Amberser involved the members of the Elegy Poetry Society from the start. A mere Lich was too insignificant compared to the Elf Tribe, and would merely be in a passive position during negotiations.
As if realizing something, Katherine took a deep breath and said, “You’re right, I am indeed a naïve and childish little girl. I’m not like the previous Kings who traveled the continent in their youth to experience the customs of different nations and to hone their wisdom and will.
“Whatever the reason, it’s my flaw, and that’s why I made wrong decisions that led to almost irreversible consequences. If it weren’t for your arrival, the Elf Tribe would be destroyed because of me. So, I should thank you,” she said.
Amberser was a bit confused by Katherine’s words and couldn’t help saying, “If you want to show gratitude, you should pay more, not work for me. What kind of thanks is that?”
Katherine said earnestly, “The problem is Silvermoon Tribunal doesn’t have a large supply of gold. Our Elf Tribe’s wealth isn’t measured in Gold Coins, and providing these Gold Coins is already at our limit. Don’t worry, I am a competent Mage myself. I’ll be a qualified research assistant; saving on the hiring cost of a Legendary Mage should compensate you, right?”
Amberser asked in disbelief, “Will you really work for me wholeheartedly?”
“Of course, business is based on trust, and I definitely speak the truth,” Katherine said, mimicking Amberser’s tone, before she could not suppress a laugh.
Tch, this girl, trying to outsmart a Lich—she has no idea how many holes are in a Lich’s ribs.
Once the money is received, he’d send her off to Gloomyland, letting Withered Rose transport her to Laine to be a femme fatale.
Although he thought about transferring the assistant, Amberser still said, “Let’s discuss the details of your work after the formal negotiations.”
Speaking of negotiations, Katherine expressed some concern. “Although the Elf Tribe’s biggest problem has been resolved, I’m afraid this negotiation won’t be so straightforward. How was the Elf Tribe’s route of advance leaked? Have you found the cause yet?”
Katherine’s words made Amberser frown.
Recently, I’ve been so busy that I really forgot to follow up on this matter.
The Gates of Hell were indeed created by those Hell Believers, but to block the Elf Tribe’s path with such precision, there must have been a special intel channel.
Moreover, combined with Amberser’s prior unease, there must be someone plotting behind the scenes.
Seeing Amberser deep in thought, Katherine couldn’t help but say, “Aren’t you a Diviner Mage? Why don’t you just divine it? Then everything would be clear, wouldn’t it?”
Amberser answered without hesitation, “What if the divination shows that I’m dead? What then?”
It’s not that predictions couldn’t yield results, but rather that the results of predictions are uncontrollable.
The biggest problem with the power of destiny is that you can’t change the future you’ve already seen.
Amberser could only comfort himself by saying that until he saw it, the future was like Schrödinger’s cat, capable of being in a state of both life and death. Once you open the box and see the cat, your future is fixed and can no longer be changed.
Divining was possible, but a negative result was like putting an irreversible curse on oneself.
Therefore, each act of divination had to be done with extreme caution, and one had to be psychologically prepared, or else one would fall into a prolonged torment.
Amberser had experienced this feeling many times, so he would not readily resort to self-destructive means like divination.
Katherine then asked, “Isn’t it possible to just look at the past? If you don’t look at the future, wouldn’t that be fine?”
“There’s no such easy deal. Using the power of destiny is like throwing a stone into the river of time – you can create big ripples, but you can’t guarantee that the ripples will unfold into the shape you wish. Observing the past doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t see the future. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained,” he said.
The School of Prophecy is among the most unique existences within the Mage community. Many things within it defy the fundamental logic of magic, making it exceptionally difficult to get started and even harder to advance.
Seeing into the past and future is a life-threatening ability, even more dangerous than Amberser’s Destiny Weaving. Without sufficient benefit to motivate him, Amberser would not use it lightly.
Katherine said dissatisfied, “So, do we just do nothing and hope everything goes smoothly? Our Elf Tribe could very well face a second attack, and if the negotiations fail, our trade deal might also be affected.”
This struck a chord in Amberser’s vulnerable spot.
That was a lot of money, and he could not allow anything to go wrong with Katherine.
After thinking for a while, Amberser reassured Katherine, “Don’t worry. I will make all necessary preparations to ensure that nothing goes wrong with the negotiations. Rest assured, I will absolutely guarantee your safety, though it might be a bit painful. Can you endure it?”
Katherine found Amberser’s words a bit odd, “A bit of pain? What exactly are you planning to do?”
Amberser said to Katherine, “I am going to weave a future for you, a future where you will definitely survive.”
“This… is also the power of destiny? Aren’t you afraid of the side effects you mentioned earlier?” Katherine asked curiously.
“It’s different. Observing the future and shaping the future are two completely distinct applications. I don’t know how to explain it to you; you would have to read my fifteen books to discuss this with me. Anyway, I can do it. Do you trust me?” Amberser said to Katherine.
Katherine decisively responded, “There’s nothing to distrust. I’m quite sure you would do anything for money. So for the sake of this trade, you will definitely protect my safety.”
Katherine also hoped that the trade would proceed smoothly, as it concerned the life and death of the Elf Tribe.
“Good, then please give me your hand,” Amberser said politely as he extended his right hand to Katherine.
Katherine placed her palm in the hand of the Lich and immediately felt a strange force transfer from Amberser’s palm, like a cool breeze sweeping across her body.
This made Katherine’s face flush with embarrassment. What kind of strange spell was this?
If this man hadn’t been a Lich, Katherine might have suspected that he had taken advantage of her on purpose.
But Amberser had no such ideas and only said to Katherine, “What if I weave a future for you where you grow old and lose all your hair?”
Katherine screamed immediately, “Don’t touch my hair!”
“Tsk, such vain creatures. Fine, I promise I won’t harm your beauty.”
Thinking it over, since Queen Katherine was not willing to endure even that small discomfort, Amberser would have to think of something else.
That’s right, the Elf Queen wanted to work for him, didn’t she?
Then, let her be granted a future of being a corporate servant, working overtime until she collapses and weeps with pain. That should count as suffering, right?
