Book 4: Chapter 80 (1/2)
Mr. Skelly nodded and nodded again. “I see,” he said. “I see. You’ve recruited some nobles to help you conquer the world. It’s not such a bad idea, and you don’t have to worry about any logistics of running an empire for a long period of time since we’re leaving soon anyway.”
“Yeah,” Tafel said. “It’s really convenient. I can give out promotions to people without having to worry about actually rewarding them, and they’ll work themselves to the bone for me.”
“I knew it!” Henry VIII said from his spot in the corner. He flinched when Tafel stared at him with a blank expression. The translator that Tafel had brought over through a portal looked away as well. Henry gulped. “I, I mean, knew what? I didn’t hear anything.”
“Anyway,” Tafel said, turning back to Mr. Skelly. “Here’s a map of the known world.” She pulled a map out of a portal. “It’s a bit crude, but this is where we are.” She pointed at a spot on the map and furrowed her brow. “I think. No, I’m pretty sure we’re here, yeah.” After reassuring herself, she nodded. “So far, my underlings are exploring outward from this region over here. You have some undead working for you, right? Do you think you can take over this region over here?”
Mr. Skelly stroked his chin. “Well,” he said. “I don’t have too many undead with me.”
Tafel waited for Mr. Skelly to elaborate, but he didn’t say anything. The two of them stared at each other. “And?” Tafel asked, breaking the silence.
“Ask me how many undead I have,” Mr. Skelly said and cleared his throat.
Tafel sighed. “How many undead do you have?” she asked in an exaggeratedly bored voice. “Let me guess; you have around three hundred. I haven’t heard any rumors of graveyards and cemeteries being robbed, so you can’t have that many, but you probably have enough to take over a small city.”
“You almost guessed right,” Mr. Skelly said. “I have a little over three hundred”—he paused and grinned—“thousand skeletons.”
“Three hundred thousand!?” Tafel asked, her voice cracking. “Why do you have three hundred thousand!? Isn’t that more than you had back home!?”
Mr. Skelly’s grin widened. “That’s right,” he said and stroked his lower jawbone. “You see, you weren’t the only one who’s been busy. I’ve already saved the world. There was this giant ritual site underground; it was really massive. It must’ve taken a group of necromancers dozens of years to prepare everything, but I ruined their plan ahead of time and took control of all the undead they gathered. Which reminds me, you shouldn’t act so rampantly. There’s dark organizations, like that group of necromancers, hidden under the normal-looking surface of the world.” He gestured towards Henry VIII. “Even the pope was expected to be an expert capable of smiting devils and demons.”
“Is that so…?” Tafel asked and frowned. “Are you sure it was a ritual site and not a mass grave?”
“Yep.” Mr. Skelly nodded. “Well, it could’ve been both, but it was definitely an evil ritual too.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Tafel said and sighed. “Does this mean I should stop my plans? Why does world domination have to be so difficult?”