This Lich Requests More Remuneration
Chapter 248 - 229: Harvey’s Impending Death

Chapter 248: Chapter 229: Harvey’s Impending Death

Katherine frowned and said, "You’re too full of yourself, your words are nothing short of blasphemy against the Deities."

Whoever heard of making a deal with Deities? Isn’t that just putting them on an equal footing? Such an act is the epitome of blasphemy.

Yet Amberser shook his head and said, "No, it’s definitely not presumption. After experiencing so many things, my own position has become increasingly clear. The Elven Gods must also see this, hence they gave you that crucial blessing to help me pass the test of destiny. If that’s the case, why not be more generous?"

Hundreds of years ago, Amberser was but a meaningless passerby in this world. But after the disappearance of Alchemy City, he had been steadily stepping into the very center of this continent’s stage.

This was the first time Laine had revoked the warrant for Undead, the Silvermoon Tribunal was saved from annihilation by Amberser, Alchemy City was packaged and sold by Amberser, Amberser had control over the Dreamweave Barrier of Emerald Dream Forest, and he could even go back to play Monger Greyriver in the Fury Tide Kingdom anytime he wanted... Amberser was steadily stepping onto the center of the stage, attracting many Deities to offer him olive branches; even the Elven Gods benefited him in a roundabout way.

The time had finally come for Amberser to play his role as the protagonist, perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity, so naturally, he sought to gain more benefits with this identity.

Though Katherine couldn’t fathom where Amberser’s confidence came from, she still promised, "I’ll convey the message as best I can, but... forget it, even if I say this could provoke the wrath of the Deities, you wouldn’t care, would you?"

"It seems you really do understand me well. Let’s go, it’s time to return," Amberser said.

Naomi transformed into a silver Giant Dragon and then suspended the Hourglass Artifact in front of the dragon’s head.

Streams of silver-white light burst forth from Naomi, wrapping around the hourglass like silken threads.

The hourglass reversed, and the sands within, like glimmering stars, fell -- the desert began to change rapidly.

The violent winds whipped up sandstorms, raising fury after fury, then quickly subsiding. In just a few seconds, the surrounding sand had risen and fallen hundreds of times, the sun and moon alternating as swiftly as a spinning wheel, dizzyingly fast.

The three of them were rapidly navigating through months of time, returning to their original point in time.

Once everything around them had calmed down, Naomi collapsed once more, but this time, she simply reverted from the form of the Time Dragon, looking very exhausted, without fully losing consciousness.

Amberser poured her a potion, instructed her to rest well in her private space, and then said to Katherine, "This is where we part ways, I hope the next time we meet, you’ll bring me good news."

After saying this, Amberser turned and flew towards Dew City.

Katherine stood on the scorching sand, watching Amberser fly to the horizon’s end.

She didn’t even know what she was watching; he was a Lich who constantly scammed her for money, yet as she watched him leave, Katherine couldn’t help but feel a twinge of reluctance.

But it was only a brief sentiment; Katherine promptly summoned her Giant Eagle and flew in another direction.

After all, she was destined to work for him until she cried; they were bound to meet again.

Amberser arrived in Dew City once again, and though to him it had been less than half a day, for the city, the war was already months in the past.

Amberser specifically checked on the "Undead Sand Lizard" he had prepared, and as expected, it was still lying in wait underground, everything going smoothly.

Now, all that was left was for Harvey to form a team for an adventure and then "die" in the jaws of this Undead Sand Lizard.

At that very moment, Harvey was in a tavern, tossing all his bets onto the gambling table.

Without distinguishing between small or large stakes, he bet blindly, indifferent to winning or losing, just seeking amusement.

Loud shrieks from the two beauties beside him, more excited than Harvey himself.

After following Harvey for two days, these women had earned quite a bit. This young Mage before them truly had money to burn, spending without a hint of pain. Harvey grabbed a bottle of strong liquor and chugged it, half the bottle sending him seven parts drunk, reveling in the final stretch of life, prioritizing joy above all.

While Harvey was enjoying himself, a cloaked, masked stranger suddenly approached him and curiously said, "Friend, you’re a Mage from the School of Prophecy, aren’t you?"

Harvey scrutinized the stranger, noting his exaggerated height, already over two meters. The stranger was fully cloaked in a linen cape, common attire for Desert People, yet his accent was nothing like that of the Desert People. Moreover, he was masked, showing not a hint of skin; such concealment suggested he was up to no good.

Under normal circumstances, Harvey would prefer not to associate with such people, as they tended to bring trouble. But now, with his end near, he welcomed any sort of thrill.

Harvey released the women he was embracing and asked out of curiosity, "The School of Prophecy is nearly forgotten, how did you figure it out?"

Due to the difficulty of entry, the school was on the verge of becoming an ancient legend.

"Heh, allow me to introduce myself, I’m Hasting, an Adventurer who just arrived in Dew City. I have an assignment which requires a Diviner Mage like you. Would you be interested?"

"Hasting?" Harvey pondered the name, having no particular recollection of it, but his intuition told him it was significantly related to him.

Could it be the "teammate" he had seen in his prophecy?

What Harvey’s prophecy had shown was himself teaming up with others for an adventure, only to be ambushed and killed by magic beasts in a cave. After waiting so long, was the prophecy finally about to unfold?

Harvey didn’t even entertain the idea of trying to refuse and see what would happen; devoid of desires, he awaited death, without a thought of struggling.

After learning of the prophecy, Harvey spent half a month recording everything he could and then persuaded that "Sawtooth Blade" to set him, a man close to death, free.

The adversary was initially skeptical, but after Harvey accurately foretold several days of desert weather and helped her catch a traitor in her tribe, Sawtooth Blade finally believed in Harvey’s ability to predict the future.

Harvey left everything he had to the Orc and began to enjoy his last days.

The inevitable was always bound to come.

Just as Harvey was about to agree, he suddenly heard someone snort coldly, "Don’t listen to him; this Hasting is notorious for scamming novices. The quest he took on is to hunt Sand Lizards, which are legendary creatures, but the reward is only three thousand. He can’t afford to hire you!"

Harvey turned toward the voice and saw a person, also completely cloaked in a cloak, but quite small in stature, wearing a mask and sitting in the corner of the tavern; it was this person who had just spoken.

Harvey was a bit confused. He had been ready to accept his fate, so why did someone suddenly leap out to prevent him from dying? Had he drunk too much and was hallucinating?

Strange, but very intriguing.

Deciding to watch the drama unfold, Harvey asked Hasting, "Is that so?"

Hasting replied with indifference, "Half-true, half-false. You think he’s trying to save you? Hah, this guy took on the same quest as me; he just wants to steal the job."

Harvey looked at the diminutive man and asked, "What do you say, friend?"

Hasting interjected without waiting for a reply, "I’ll offer a hundred Gold Coins. After the quest is done, we split the reward. Hales, let’s see how you’re going to outbid me."

Hales, the short man, didn’t even glance at the provocative Hasting; he walked over to Harvey and whispered, "Don’t listen to that big fool. What’s the use of just talking big about money? Everyone knows how dangerous this task is, or else it wouldn’t have hung unclaimed for so long. Friend, let me tell you, I never intended to complete the task, but quests involving legendary creatures will still pay out ten percent as commission even if you fail."

Hales took out a dark, slippery-looking disc and said to Harvey, "This is a Sand Lizard scale. You team up with me, we take a trip to that place, and then we hand this in, claiming we fought a Sand Lizard. Three hundred Gold Coins will smoothly go into the pocket, and then we can slowly divide the reward. There’s no risk at all."

Harvey laughed, "If you can exchange this thing for a reward, why don’t you just go by yourself? Why do you need a teammate?"

Hales replied with a hint of mystery, "You don’t understand. If I go claim the reward alone, won’t people know I’ve faked it? We’re talking about the Sand Lizard, a legendary creature. If I alone fought and survived against a Sand Lizard, who would believe it? You have to get a few teammates and pretend we together drove away the Sand Lizard. Don’t worry, I’ve already found other teammates; now we just lack a Mage."

Seeing the two of them whispering to each other, Hasting roughly pulled Harvey aside and said excitedly, "Don’t listen to that guy; he’s the swindler. I guarantee we’ll split the reward, and I have a way to deal with the Sand Lizard, though the odds of success are slim. You’re a Diviner Mage; you should know why I’m seeking you out."

Each of them had their rationale—one appeared to involve low risk but also low return, while the other appeared highly dangerous but promised a significant reward.

Harvey was indifferent to the risk and gain; what he was concerned about was which of these two would be his ultimate destiny?

When it came time for him to die, which one of them would be standing by his side? How could he reach the predetermined end?

After pondering a while, Harvey grabbed a Gold Coin from the betting table and said to them, "How about this, I’ll give you money, and you two work with me to hunt down this Sand Lizard."

Hasting and Hales were taken aback for a moment, never expecting this turn of events, but seeing the glistening Gold Coins, they quickly agreed.

Harvey happily stuffed the coins into their hands and then asked, "When do we depart?"

Hasting and Hales responded in unison, "Meet at the city gate in two hours."

Harvey paused for a moment; weren’t these two supposed to be enemies? How could they... He instinctively wanted to use "Detect Lies," but he restrained himself.

No matter, it was all part of fate’s grand plan. Why worry about the details?

But soon, Harvey began to regret it.

Because he waited at the city gate for a full five hours, and neither of them showed up.

After having been blown by the wind for a long while, the effects of the ale finally began to wear off, and it belatedly occurred to him, "I haven’t fallen for a scam, have I?"