Chapter 377 - Recognition (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As compared to the trembling mayor, Granger was relatively calm. According to Norfeller, the level-14 Warrior was not anxious at all. He even laughed when the mayor urged him to escape.

“What is there to be scared of? I’ve done well luring the Crimson Python away. Boss Gregory promised me that he would groom me as long as I did my part well. Hehe, now that my efforts were recognized by Boss Gregory, it really doesn’t matter whether you are the mayor of this town anymore. Why don’t you go to Aminya and live a luxurious life with me…?”

“He really said that?” Lin Li said as he frowned.

“Yes, Master.”

“Alright…” Lin Li nodded before closing his eyes slowly. Although it seemed as if he was resting his eyes, the smirk at the corner of his lips screamed that this young mage was planning to kill.

At the start, Lin Li had only thought that this Granger had attracted the Crimson Python to Black Clouds Town by accident. Initially, Lin Li had thought Granger could still be forgiven—although it was a dumb act, Granger had had no intention to harm anyone. Hence, when he sent Norfeller to spy on them, he was just expecting to find out what exactly attracted the python over. He did not have any intention of doing anything to Alexir’s family.

But now, it seemed that it was not like what he had thought. Since Granger had admitted himself that his act of luring the Crimson Python away from its nest was an achievement, it implied that he’d known about the deadliness of the python long before he did it. It meant that he had an ulterior motive in attracting it to Black Clouds Town!

Black Clouds Town was such an isolated town, with less than a thousand people living in it. There were even instances where the tax officials from Doland would forget to visit Black Clouds Town for taxes. A fool would know what would happen if an agitated Legendary beast were to dash into such a small town. It would not take more than half a day for the entire Black Clouds Town to turn into ashes under the python’s flames of rage.

And it was due to Granger’s selfish hope to get recognized by that darn Boss Gregory…?

Lin Li had never seen himself as a righteous man, but he was certain that he would not partake in something that would implicate a thousand lives like that…

“It seems like this Granger is a more promising man than his dad…”

“Master, do you want me to get rid of him?” Norfeller asked. After being with Lin Li for quite a while, Norfeller knew that every time Lin Li had that expression, it meant that he already had plans to kill…

“No, no…” Lin Li shook his head, and stood up from the rattan chair. He walked to the side of the balcony slowly, and looked at Black Clouds Town beneath him. “I have a sudden urge to know which boss’ recognition is more important than the lives of a thousand… Norfeller, call upon Ujfalusi. I have something for him to do.”

“Roger.”

Shortly after Norfeller left, there was knocking on Lin Li’s room door.

“Enter, Ujfalusi.” The magical wave of a Lich was quite special—it was always a suffocating death aura. Lin Li did not need to think much to conclude that it had to be Ujfalusi who was knocking on his door.

The door creaked open. It was indeed Ujfalusi who stepped into the room. He was in his usual torn and tattered black robe; his wide cape covered his head very nicely, leaving two b.a.l.l.s of green ghost-fire on his face that caused him to emit an extremely eerie vibe.

“Master, I heard from Norfeller that you wanted to see me?” Ujfalusi bowed and stood very ingratiatingly in front of Lin Li. Although he was standing before a very young master, he did not dare to show any sign of disrespect or arrogance. It was not only due to the fact that they had signed a soul contract, but also because of Ujfalusi’s knowledge that this young master had a terrifying strength within him.

The young master had used the same energy as the force in the bell tower in the ruins of Syer Town. He took little effort eliminating the Humerus Domain and destroying the powerful Humerus Wyrm.

That was a true Humerus Wyrm! Ujfalusi knew that it was impossible to defeat the Wyrm by himself. His ability to summon it was all due to a miraculous encounter a century ago, when he added his scent into the soul of the Wyrm. It was this very scent that allowed his level-20 ability of a Lich to summon the similarly level-20 Humerus Wyrm…

The Humerus Domain of a level-20 Lich, together with a level-20 Humerus Wyrm, was child’s play before this young master. He could remember how the young master had turned everything to dust with a ray of light. After becoming an Undead creature, Ujfalusi was afraid of very few things, yet he was really fearful of this young master.

“Have a seat.” Lin Li smiled after seeing the two b.a.l.l.s of ghost-fire in the Lich’s eyes.

To be honest, after returning from the ruins of Syer where he signed a Soul Contract with Ujfalusi, Lin Li could still not trust Ujfalusi fully, at least not as much as he trusted Norfeller. Unlike Ujfalusi, the blood oath Norfeller had with Lin Li was initiated by Norfeller, without the presence of any threat. On this basis, Lin Li felt that Norfeller genuinely wanted to follow him.

As for the Soul Contract with Ujfalusi, it was not signed willingly. It was signed when they were at the ruins of Syer, where Lin Li threateningly held his sword at Ujfalusi’s neck. Now that his powers hadn’t yet recovered, Ujfalusi naturally would be very respectful to himself. But, what would happen after he regained the power he lost and his status as a Legendary Lich? Lin Li could not be certain that he would be as obedient as he was now…

Hence, Lin Li rarely let Ujfalusi do anything for him on normal days. He would hand most of the tasks to Norfeller on the days he really needed manpower. The reason behind Lin Li’s decision to let them stay at Black Clouds Town was not only to ensure that the two Undead creatures would not stir up trouble elsewhere, but also for Norfeller to watch Ujfalusi…

However, Lin Li was rather satisfied with Ujfalusi’s performance the night before.

It was Ujfalusi and Norfeller who’d worked together to hold back the Crimson Python before Lin Li arrived in Black Clouds Town. Due to that, Ujfalusi drained all of his mana, and required Lin Li’s help to cast a level-18 necromagic spell: Soul’s Cage. It would not be wrong to claim that Ujfalusi was a key contributor to at least half of the success that night.

“Oh, yes. Ujfalusi, after that Crimson Python died, it left this behind…” After asking Ujfalusi to take a seat, Lin Li took out the magical crystal of the Crimson Python from his pocket.

It was a magical crystal left behind by a mutated Crimson Python. Although it was a Legendary-level crystal itself, the natural ability of the python caused its crystal to be a little weaker as compared to the crystal of the Salamander. Despite that, this magical crystal was an exorbitant treasure. If it were discovered by others, it would drive numerous mages crazy.

“Legendary magical crystal!” exclaimed Ujfalusi. As a Lich who had once reached the Legendary-realm, he was aware of the ma.s.sive amount of mana contained within such a magical crystal. Ujfalusi also knew the miracles a mage could create with that crystal.

That was something every mage dreamt to own. It was similar for the Lich who’d once reached the Legendary-realm—when he saw the crystal in Lin Li’s hands, the two ghost-fires in his sockets lit up significantly…

Then, he saw the young master throw that crystal to him…

“I’m giving it to you.”

“Huh?”

The ghost-fire in Ujfalusi’s eyes froze. He did not even realize it when the Legendary magical crystal flew towards him. Ujfalusi watched as it landed on the ground and rolled to the side of his feet. It was lucky that the crystal fell on thick carpet…

“M-Master, do you really… want to give this to me?” Ujfalusi asked with much difficulty after a minute. His already rough voice became even more hoa.r.s.e. It was as though his throat was filled with sand. If one did not listen properly, one might not be able to listen to what he was exactly talking about.

Until now, Ujfalusi was still in disbelief. How could this young master give the Legendary magical crystal away so easily? Did he not know that a mage would be able to raise his ability by a grade despite being one himself?

“Yes.”

“Why?” The news was so shocking that Ujfalusi actually forgot to address Lin Li as his master.

“I’m not a stingy man. Since you helped me do things, I will not ill-treat you. Ujfalusi, your performance last night was worth rewarding with a Legendary magical crystal.”

Although Lin Li had made his stand very clearly, Ujfalusi used around 10 minutes to digest what his master was talking about. Then, he slowly stood up from the rattan chair and bowed deeply before Lin Li.

“Thank you, Master.”

“Alright, have a seat…” Lin Li smiled. He knew that he had won the loyalty of this Lich entirely this time.

“Yes.” Ujfalusi picked up the magical crystal carefully and used his black robe to clean off the dust on it. The process was slow and delicate. It was as though he was not holding a magical crystal, but his own eyeball.

Lin Li smiled as he lay in the rattan chair and patiently waited for Ujfalusi. He only started speaking after Ujfalusi finished polis.h.i.+ng his crystal.

“I heard that there is a spell by the name of Haunted Spirit which can let evil spirits possess living people. Then, the Necromancer will be able to know what these spirits saw, and even sacrifice the evil spirits in order to control the possessed. Is that true, Ujfalusi?”

“Yes, Master. Haunted Spirit is a level-18 Necromagic. I have the ability to cast it, but require some time to prepare. Other than that, I need some magic ingredients to aid me too. Master, do you need to use this spell on someone?” Ujfalusi replied politely after putting away the Legendary magical crystal carefully.

“Yes.” Lin Li nodded. “The mayor of Black Clouds Town, Alexir, has a son named Granger. I’m interested to know whom Granger has been seeing recently.”

“Alright, I will prepare it immediately.”

“If you need any materials, you can approach Gavin. He will help you gather them.”

“Noted.”

The next day, Lin Li found an excuse to bring Ujfalusi and Norfeller out to visit the mayor and that level-14 Warrior.

Perhaps it was due to guilt, but Alexir was unusually polite to the three of them. Compared to him, his son who dreamt to gain recognition treated the guests coldly.

It was alright for Lin Li, though. Since Lin Li did not have any good intention to begin with, he might feel guilty if that fella was too friendly towards him…

After coming back from the mayor’s house, Lin Li stopped mentioning the Crimson Python. However, he called Ujfalusi over to discuss matters in private very frequently these days. Even Gavin was clueless about the topic of their discussion.