This Lich Requests More Remuneration
Chapter 325 - 302 Back then

Chapter 325: Chapter 302 Back then

Mr. Misfortune always believed that there can be capital punishment in this world, but it should not have any purpose beyond punishment and warning.

When a nation starts using death row inmates to create the Gates of Hell, the next step is to use serious criminals, followed by ordinary criminals, and finally, just picking someone to be the criminal.

The line is crossed step by step, and once it begins, there is no turning back.

Mr. Misfortune could not accept such actions, so he thwarted several criminal sacrifice operations—by killing those death row inmates before the sacrifices could take place.

But precisely because of this, he became a fugitive in the Kingdom of Impure Hymns.

However, for a Diviner Mage of Legendary Rank, if he did not wish to be caught, it was impossible for him to be apprehended.

This time, he revealed himself in public solely for Harvey.

After hearing Mr. Misfortune’s explanation, Harvey also lamented the brutality of war.

If it weren’t for Laine’s relentless pursuit, Tiflin would not have had to resort to this extent.

Understanding this, Harvey took the initiative to take his leave, needing to pass on Mr. Misfortune’s verbal message to his mentor as quickly as possible.

But just as Harvey was about to leave, Mr. Misfortune called out to him again, "Wait, take this with you."

Mr. Misfortune handed a metal Gold Coin to Harvey. It was unclear what material the coin was made of—it didn’t look like ordinary steel, and it lacked any magical effect. It appeared to be a mere craft item and the workmanship was not very exquisite, appearing to be a cheap item, no matter how one looked at it.

Harvey asked curiously, "What is this coin, may I ask?"

Mr. Misfortune said with a sigh, "It was a bet I had with your teacher. Bring it back to him; he’ll understand what I mean."

Harvey promptly tucked the coin away securely, then took his leave once more.

This time, Mr. Misfortune did not hold him back.

Harvey left the small house and headed straight for the Teleportation Circle.

Despite being a heavily guarded military stronghold, Harvey just walked straight in, completely undetected by anyone.

The eyes that looked toward Harvey were either blinded by the sand and dust or smeared with bird droppings. In any case, various bizarre incidents occurred, precisely allowing Harvey to vanish from everyone’s sight.

Looking toward the Tiflins, Harvey could vaguely make out many traces of transparent threads.

Harvey reached out to touch these threads but felt nothing at all, as if they were just an illusion.

"The power of fate is truly incredible," he murmured.

With a sense of awe, Harvey stepped into the Teleportation Circle. Unseen by all, he adjusted the teleportation direction and then returned to the desert.

Harvey dared not delay even for a moment and sped back to the underground factory as fast as he could to find Amberser, who was immersed in reviewing some documents.

Katherine’s recent detailed records of the Drow Elf’s actions had given Amberser many ideas on "educating" the Drow Elves, though it would require some time to implement them slowly.

Seeing Harvey’s quick return, Amberser said in surprise, "You’re back already? He must’ve been waiting for you, right?"

Harvey smiled and said, "You guessed it right, teacher. I had just set foot on Tiflin territory when Mr. Misfortune was already waiting for me."

Unable to resist commenting, Amberser said, "Mr. Misfortune... that old fellow is still quite childish at heart, using such a juvenile name at his age."

"Childish?"

Harvey didn’t see anything wrong with it. A Diviner Mage of Legendary Rank, calling himself Mr. Misfortune didn’t seem like an issue.

Without explaining, Amberser got straight to the point, "What did he send back with you? A verbal message, or a handwritten letter?"

Harvey promptly replied, "Mr. Misfortune sent a verbal message, saying that if we find him in two months and three days, we will obtain what you seek, teacher. Aside from the verbal message, there are also these two items."

Harvey then brought out a stone tablet and the coin, placing them in front of Amberser.

Amberser looked at the two items before him and seemed to freeze, motionless for a long time.

Harvey waited quietly by his side. After ten full minutes, Amberser finally emerged from his reverie.

Amberser handed the stone tablet to Harvey saying, "Take the tablet; it’s not for me; it’s a gift for you."

Harvey asked in surprise, "Ah? What exactly is this stone tablet?"

Amberser spoke calmly, "Years ago, he and I found this stone tablet, and then we both became Diviner Mages."

"This... such an important object? But I can’t see anything special about it."

"Of course, because the tablet itself is quite ordinary," Amberser said with a sense of reflection. "What truly made the two of us become Diviner Mages wasn’t this tablet, but rather the moment when the tablet appeared.

"At a certain moment in life, when you encounter something and then life takes a major turn, the key isn’t the stone tablet, but rather he and I at that time. This item is a token, indicating that the old fellow wants to take you on as his student."

Harvey was taken aback, and quickly said, "Teacher, I never considered this."

"Don’t be so anxious, it’s quite normal for a student to have multiple teachers. In my lifetime, I’ve had over a dozen," Amberser said. "There’s no rule saying a person can have only one teacher in their lifetime."

Harvey asked with surprise, "You’re talking about different fields, aren’t you?"

It’s one thing to learn carpentry from a carpenter and blacksmithing from a blacksmith, but having two teachers in the same profession is considered ethically problematic.

Both Amberser and Mr. Misfortune were Diviner Mages. If Harvey were to also become Mr. Misfortune’s apprentice, his reputation would suffer once word got out.

"Forget about that. Do you know how rare Diviner Mages are? Including my senior, you, and me, I haven’t even met ten in my lifetime,"

As someone who had seen much and lived for centuries, the fact that he had encountered fewer than ten colleagues demonstrated how truly scarce this profession was.

It wasn’t surprising, given the impossibility of imagining how difficult it was to start as a Diviner Mage.

Fate is such, if you don’t understand it, then you just don’t. No amount of teaching can help with the initiation. It’s like how some people simply can’t grasp that 0.999... equals 1, so deeper concepts are even more elusive.

Harvey had exceptional talent. In Amberser’s opinion, as long as Harvey wasn’t killed, he was destined to achieve far more than Amberser ever could as a Diviner Mage. Such immense talent, combined with the rarity of Diviner Mages, it made sense the old fellow would want to take on an apprentice.

"That old man must have taught you quite a bit, right?" Amberser asked.

Harvey nodded. After witnessing the threads of fate, he had a vague grasp of this power... no, it would be more accurate to say he understood another way to use the power of fate.

Amberser didn’t press further, simply warning Harvey, "Don’t be greedy, don’t mess around. The power of fate can be used, but it must not be abused, or people can really die. I can’t save you anymore."

Harvey smiled faintly, "Don’t worry, teacher. I’m someone who’s already died once; I won’t be reckless."

"Is there anything else?" Amberser asked.

"Mr. Misfortune didn’t say anything else, but he did mention that the Tiflin Kingdom is currently using criminals for sacrifices, preparing to build more Gates of Hell to resist Laine’s invasion."

"Has it become so dire?"

Amberser didn’t expect Tiflin to be so impulsive; this was a gate that shouldn’t be opened casually. This path would likely lead to rapid collapse.

Harvey didn’t have more specifics, he could only repeat Mr. Misfortune’s words verbatim.

"Alright, I’ve got it. Go on with your tasks. In two months, I’ll seek out that old man, and you should be ready to go with me," Amberser said.

"Understood, teacher," said Harvey, before hesitantly adding, "But, I have one more question."

"What’s the question?"

"About the bet you both made back then, I want to know what it was for."

Harvey was very curious—how would Diviner Mages bet against each other? Predicting each other’s futures?

When Amberser heard Harvey’s question, he rubbed the coin between his fingers and said, "Both he and I took out a special item, hid it, and whoever found the other’s item first would win. He gave me his family crest, and I gave him a special coin. I put his family crest on a carriage leaving town. It took that guy three days to catch up with the carriage and another two days to come back to me."

"And how long did you take, teacher?" asked Harvey, curiously.

"Me? I didn’t find it," admitted Amberser, matter-of-factly.

"Huh?"

Harvey couldn’t wrap his head around it. How could Amberser have won if he didn’t find the item?

"To win, that scoundrel threw the coin into the sea. Sure, I knew he tossed it in, but how was I supposed to fish it out?" Amberser said, clearly annoyed.

"Oh, that..."

Mr. Misfortune really wanted to win, but that seemed like taking things too far.

"Hang on, if you didn’t find it, how did you win?" Harvey pressed.

"Because I had two identical coins. I just showed him the second one and claimed I fished it out from the sea, and he conceded," explained Amberser.

Harvey: ...

It sounded like the teacher had been prepared to cheat from the start, which was quite devious.

"Didn’t he ever consider you might have two coins?" Harvey asked.

Amberser said with a smile, "He figured it out later, but by that time the bet was long over. In that respect, he’s just like you—always a step behind and lacking quick wit. No wonder he wanted to take you on as a student; you’re quite alike in that way."

Harvey: ...

How come that doesn’t sound very flattering?

"So, what was the original reason for you and Mr. Misfortune’s bet?"

Two Diviner Mages with a wondrous destiny to perceive the power of fate from the same slabs. If they worked together, two Legendary Diviner Mages... just the thought was terrifying. If so, the teacher might not have spent half his life in exile.

With a sigh, Amberser said, "He comes from a noble family, one of Tiflin’s most prestigious. He invited me to join him in our efforts ’for the good of the whole world, for everyone...’ "