This Lich Requests More Remuneration
Chapter 315 - 293: Drow Elf Reemployment Plan

Chapter 315: Chapter 293: Drow Elf Reemployment Plan

High above in the sky, a small airship was flying at an incredible speed.

It hadn’t surpassed the speed of sound, but a velocity of four to five hundred kilometers per hour far exceeded that of all other airships.

Melina sat at the prow of the airship, spreading her arms to feel the raging wind, which, when she opened her mouth, made a whirring sound.

The child had temporarily forgotten her grand goal of marrying Katherine when something fun came up.

And Katherine sat on one side of the airship, also curiously stretching out her hand to feel the frightening speed.

She rode her giant eagle in the sky all year round, but she had never experienced such speed. Perhaps her pet could reach this speed flying on its own, but with Katherine riding it, the speed had to be halved.

Therefore, she was shocked by the airship’s ability to fly so fast.

"How can this thing fly so fast?" Katherine asked Amberser, full of curiosity.

Amberser was sitting at the very back of the airship, carefully watching the several jet engines at the stern.

Airships were actually easy to make; just weld a few thick steel plates into the shape of a ship, add a couple of stabilizing wings, with the most important part being the jet engines at the back.

Amberser had crammed a total of ten jet engines into this airship, and two had already broken down.

Amberser estimated that by the midpoint of the journey, either all engines would have failed or the ship would fall apart.

If these were different passengers, Amberser certainly wouldn’t dare to be so reckless; an explosion would mean death for everyone aboard.

But Melina, a Legendary Rank Death Knight, had a body made from the corpses of three Orc Legendaries, much sturdier than the airship itself.

As for Katherine, there was no need to worry about her. If the ship exploded, she could summon her pet at a moment’s notice, ensuring she wouldn’t fall to her death.

Hearing Melina’s question, Amberser explained, "Praise be to the God of Alchemy, this is yet another breakthrough in alchemy. This thing can solve many transportation issues. I’m planning to start up the airship transport industry. Do you want to invest? It’s definitely a lucrative business!"

As soon as Katherine heard Amberser talk about money, she instantly became vigilant. The Lich was proficient in business, but the profits were often his alone; she had never seen him engage in a mutually beneficial partnership.

"You’re trying to swindle my money, aren’t you? Every kingdom has its own teleportation circle system, what’s the point of airship transport?" Katherine challenged.

"The issue of cost. Large teleportation circles are generally controlled by states and the freight is very expensive. Transporting one hundred tons of cotton a hundred kilometers away using a teleportation circle equates to the cost of five hundred tons of cotton.

"And if you were to have a caravan transport it over land, not to mention the rugged roads and various dangers, the cost would also far exceed the value of the cotton. So generally, it’s woven into cloth nearby and then transported. But even so, the transportation of such low-priced goods like fabric has always been very expensive. In the place of origin, half a cartload of cloth goes for one Gold Coin, but in other places, the price at least quintuples.

"As for food, except in times of war, nobody uses teleportation circles to ship food, but if you rely on human labor to transport food, how much will be consumed along the way? To carry one pound of food a hundred miles, it costs two to three pounds of food. Water transport is somewhat better, with lower consumption, but of the Nine Great Kingdoms, how many have waterways that cover the whole country?

"Teleportation circles are best suited for transporting small, lightweight, and expensive items like jewelry. My plan for airship transport is especially for these lower-priced goods. Once airships are mass-produced, the cost of transport will be very low, plus they’re fast, unaffected by terrain, and safe—just right for the transportation of large quantities of goods."

Listening to Amberser’s lengthy explanation, Katherine felt it all seemed persuasive, but upon further thought, something felt amiss.

"If it’s such a profitable venture, why didn’t Alchemy City get into this business before? They have plenty of airships, right?"

Amberser glanced at Katherine, noting that the girl had indeed become smarter and wasn’t so easily fooled anymore.

"They do transport as well, but their airships are meant for noble travel, serving as touristic transport, safe but slow.

"Alchemy City is already a kingdom abundant in all sorts of cheap goods because alchemy can produce excellent crops and improve land, as well as create convenient looms. In Alchemy City, each city is self-sufficient, and not once have they lacked for food, even during wars. Other consumer goods are produced in home workshops or alchemy factories, so more often than not there’s a surplus of production that can’t be sold.

"When other countries come to pick up goods, it’s a straight handover, and the transport problems of other kingdoms’ merchants are theirs to solve. There’s no domestic demand for it, and obtaining permissions for external operations is too troublesome; that’s why they don’t venture into this industry. Perhaps I’m the only one on the continent who could undertake such a business; it’s a monopolistic opportunity."

Without hesitation, Katherine pressed, "A monopoly? Why?"

"Because I have connections in every kingdom. You’ve met the Princess of Fury Tide Kingdom, haven’t you? Doesn’t she listen to every word I say? With the Elf Tribe, there’s your connection. I also know the Dwarf King, and Gloomyland is my biggest client. Even Laine’s Supreme Decree is begging on his knees for me to take him as a lackey. So tell me, with these kinds of connections, wouldn’t it be simple to build a continental airship transport route? But only I can do it; a monopolistic business can’t lose."

"Alright, you make it sound good, but I’m sorry, I don’t have the money to invest with you."

After Katherine stepped down from her role as the Elf Queen, the amount of money she could access was very limited. In a state of having no income and solely relying on handouts, let alone investing in stocks, even affording meals became a problem for her after she left the Silvermoon Tribunal.

Having learned about Katherine’s situation, Amberser exclaimed in surprise, "No way, are you coming to freeload off my food again?!"

Last time this girl had already been eating and drinking at Amberser’s expense, and the money hadn’t been earned back yet, and now she was at it again?

"Father, I have money, I can pay for Sister Katherine!"

Having had enough fun shouting into the fierce wind just now, Melina crawled into the cabin and immediately took out her small purse upon hearing the conversation between the two.

Amberser took a look and saw that there were not many Gold Coins in it, only various shiny gems.

The Gloomyland was known for its abundance of mines producing plentiful gold and gems, so Princess Melina’s purse contained no copper coins or silver coins, only these valuables.

But Amberser said earnestly, "Who let you squander money like this? This is the hard-earned money your mother has struggled to save, not to be spent casually on others. I’ll hold onto this money for you, so you don’t spend it recklessly."

Melina whispered, "But I don’t see mother being tired."

The Withered Rose usually lay around inside the palace and rarely went out, there was no need for her to personally mine.

"The hardships of your parents are just not visible to you. When you get back, be good to your mother."

Amberser tossed the small purse into his private space, thinking the child was not too bright. Carrying so much money would only get her swindled; it was for her own good that he held onto it.

After making a tidy profit, Amberser then turned his head toward Katherine and said, "This flying ship transport project I’m considering is actually with you in mind."

"With me in mind?"

Katherine became vigilant. Why did that sound so familiar?

That’s right, the previous princess from the Fury Tide Kingdom had been swindled by him with the same words. This Lich probably had told the phrase "for your good" to hundreds of people.

"Of course, it’s with you in mind. You’re going to be the queen of the Drow Elves, but have you considered how to settle them? Even if they truly have changed their ways, are you planning to have them move to Silvermoon Tribunal to live?"

Katherine naturally replied, "Of course, if they sincerely repent, then they are our kin. The Silvermoon Tribunal will welcome all Elves."

Amberser shook his head and said, "You might accept them, but that doesn’t mean the other Elves will. The blood feud between the High Elves and the Drow Elves goes back many years, do you think it can just be dropped at a whim? Not every Elf has a pure and kind Soul like you do. In fact, the mainland’s view of the High Elves is forever tied to words like ’obsessive cleanliness, pretentiousness, arrogance, self-esteem, and holding grudges.’

"Even if you could force them to accept it with your charm, would you really want to make things difficult for your own people? You can’t just bully the original Elves for the sake of the newly joined Drow Elves."

Katherine had to admit that Amberser had a point, a problem she had not considered before.

Amberser continued, "The flying ship transport business is exactly right for the Drow Elves. It will extract them from their original lifestyle of assassination and robbery, rescuing them from a life of crime. Moreover, this industry requires trust above all. As long as the Drow Elves can sustain this business, it means they have reformed. By then, the Elves of Silvermoon Tribunal should be able to accept the return of their kin.

"Many things are appreciated better from a distance. Hearing about your nemesis turning over a new leaf from hundreds of miles away, whether you accept it or not, the conflict won’t be as sharp. Once most Elves have come to accept this situation, integration will become much easier."

It’s no wonder the gods thought she couldn’t accomplish this great deed on her own; they had to seek help from this Lich. In such a short time, he had thought everything through so thoroughly.

Eagerly, Katherine said, "You speak wonderfully. Indeed, there is nothing you set out to do that you can’t achieve."

Amberser chuckled, "Of course, I’d deceive anyone but you. With this flying ship project, on behalf of the Elf Tribe, make your investment."

But just as he finished his sentence, the body of the flying ship suddenly shook violently, and amid the sounds of snapping bolts, the flying ship began to disintegrate in the air.

Katherine and Melina hadn’t grasped what was happening when Amberser had already cast a Flight Spell on them and pulled both to escape the disintegrating cabin.

After the disintegration, the flying ship exploded violently and turned into a shower of fragments in the sky.

Katherine, watching this scene unfold before her eyes, couldn’t help but ask Amberser, "Did you assign the Drow Elves to this task with the intention of killing them off to lower the difficulty of the mission?"