This Lich Requests More Remuneration
Chapter 351 - 328: The Role of Mr. Misfortune

Chapter 351: Chapter 328: The Role of Mr. Misfortune

Amberser looked at Mr. Misfortune in the mirror and for a moment did not know what to say.

Why would Zariel swap a contract with Mr. Misfortune, clearly a losing deal, making such a move simply because Mr. Misfortune was a Diviner Mage?

Although rare, this profession could not match the collapse of an entire kingdom.

Even for Goddess Tiamat, it wasn’t just about harvesting the souls of millions of people. Should the Impure Chant collapse, more Tiflins would die in the ensuing war, and a great portion of those Tiflin souls would fall into the depths of Hell.

Why pass up such a good deal?

After some thought, Amberser asked, "Have you already signed the contract?"

Mr. Misfortune shook his head and said, "Not yet, I am waiting to finalize the list of those who need to be saved before I negotiate with Zariel, but it’s essentially settled."

"Then don’t sign the contract; leave this place. I remember your ancestors renounced their status as the impure ones quite early on. Your family is not involved in this transaction, and as long as you leave Impure Chant, you should survive."

Although Mr. Misfortune’s family was distinguished, as one of the earliest impure ones, theirs was a thin lineage. The cause lay in the time when the Council of Injustice first seized significant power, and Mr. Misfortune’s ancestor believed such actions were a desecration of heroes, therefore stepping down from the Council.

Back then, Zariel had not even made a pact with the Council of Injustice.

So Mr. Misfortune was not on the list for damnation to Hell; was it not easy for a Diviner Mage like him to escape if he wished?

Mr. Misfortune bitterly smiled, "I’ve spent my life striving for this kingdom, to wash away the shame of my ancestors. If I run now, when the kingdom is in peril, what purpose does my life even serve?"

Not all the undead were devoid of their own obsessions.

Mr. Misfortune had devoted his life to the land beneath his feet. He may well have known that Zariel was deceiving him, but he was out of options.

Altering the fate of an entire kingdom was beyond his capabilities.

In the face of Amberser’s silence, Mr. Misfortune said with a smile, "Don’t be like that, you’re a Lich, what’s the need for all this sentimentality?"

Amberser replied indifferently, "I just think the deal is too much of a loss. How can I bear a transaction knowingly doomed to fail?"

Helplessly, Mr. Misfortune said, "Then what else can you do? To be honest, if you can help me with this problem, my life is yours to take, certainly a better fate than falling into Hell."

Amberser, stroking his chin, said, "Let me think. What puzzles me is, the nobility of Impure Chant should belong to Goddess Tiamat, so why is Zariel the one negotiating with you?"

Mr. Misfortune explained, "Zariel claims Goddess Tiamat has fully authorized Her to deal with me. Do you think She is lying to me?"

Amberser shook his head, "That’s not likely. Devils don’t meddle with what you know, for it would invalidate the contract. For example, if you ask a devil for a million Gold Coins, they’ll give you exactly that amount, because it’s what you are aware of. However, devils will play tricks on how they deliver it to you—it could be as compensation, indemnity, or even tainted money that frames you.

"Not a single Gold Coin less, because that’s a fact recognized by the contract holder. Since Zariel has declared Goddess Tiamat has left this matter entirely up to Her, it can’t be a lie. Goddess Tiamat has agreed to Zariel’s transaction with you. This is what I really can’t understand—why would She agree?"

There are two parts to this latest Impure Chant contract: if the Gates of Hell open successfully and keep Laine’s forces at bay, then the entire region of Impure Chant falls into Hell; if the Gates of Hell are destroyed, then all thirteen families of the impure ones fall.

Although these stakes seem different, they have one thing in common—they can be divided.

Zariel and Goddess Tiamat could settle accounts, soul by soul; they could always split them up.

But this new deal is different, focusing on Mr. Misfortune’s allegiance; something indivisible—you can’t have Mr. Misfortune serve two Hell Lords at the same time.

It’s impossible; both Goddess Tiamat and Zariel belong to the category of strong control freaks, neither would permit a follower with dual allegiances.

It’s also impossible to split Mr. Misfortune in two; his greatest value lies in his status as a Legendary Diviner Mage, cutting up his soul would be futile.

Amberser shared his doubts with Mr. Misfortune, who after some thought said, "Could they perhaps replace it with something else, like all other souls going to Goddess Tiamat, while I become Zariel’s subordinate?"

Amberser laughed, "Then Goddess Tiamat would suffer a huge loss, forfeiting millions of souls for nothing. If She doesn’t agree and simply divides the souls with Zariel, wouldn’t that be more profitable?"

In the new contract, the original millions of souls were reduced to a few hundred thousand, shrinking to one-tenth—Goddess Tiamat would be losing big time. How could She agree, unless Zariel had somehow steamrolled Her?

This, however, seemed highly unlikely. The Grand Dukes of Hell were cunning; even if Goddess Tiamat couldn’t beat Zariel, She wouldn’t be so easily overpowered as to lose Her voice entirely. Since the two Hell Lords had collaborated, they must each have the power to maintain their autonomy.

Stroking his chin, Amberser pondered, "So, we’ve found half of the answer. Zariel doesn’t want you per se, but rather needs you to do something for Her. I suspect this task must be beneficial enough to Goddess Tiamat, more profitable than those millions of souls. But the question remains, what could you possibly do that would benefit a Hell Lord?"

Mr. Misfortune bitterly smiled, "I haven’t studied nearly as much as you. I’m just more familiar with the power of destiny, the only thing I have that might be exploited. But do Hell Lords also need to divine the future?"

Feeling that Amberser’s speculation was somewhat off, and still just a mortal, Mr. Misfortune wondered, what good could his powers really do for a Hell Lord?

Amberser shook his head and said, "Divining the future is certainly not accurate, but it must be related to your abilities. As for what that might be specifically, it’s impossible for us to guess without any clues. Just imagining, we would guess wrong ninety-nine percent of the time. Brother, are you sure you haven’t kept any secret skills from me?"

Mr. Misfortune rolled his eyes at Amberser.

"If I had any hidden skills, would I not use them now? I am about to go to Hell. There’s no point in guessing blindly; it’s no help to our current situation."

Mr. Misfortune had just kindled a glimmer of hope, only to have it immediately extinguished. No wonder he couldn’t divine the kingdom’s future—now it seemed to be the Goddess of Fate’s mercy on him, not wanting him to despair for too long.

As a result, he and Amberser, two disobedient children, insisted on unearthing the bloody truth, and the outcome was naturally tragic.

Mr. Misfortune wanted to persuade Amberser to stop his efforts, to avoid getting himself entangled in the end.

"Arthas, I have never asked you for anything in my life, but this is the request of a lifetime. Even if I’ve struck a deal with Zariel and saved most of Tiflin, I’m not sure how long they’ll hold against Laine’s invasion. If you have any strength to spare, please help them."

Amberser chuckled and said, "You need not ask; I just set Flow Flame City ablaze."

"What?"

Mr. Misfortune was startled. He burned Flow Flame City? How had the Lich managed that?

The cities of Laine were all protected by strong Holy Light Magic Arrays. Maybe not very powerful against other races, but for the Undead, it was a doubling in the effectiveness of an attribute counter. Just approaching would have turned them to ash, right?

Mr. Misfortune said excitedly, "Don’t joke about something like this!"

"Who’s joking? And not only have I burned Flow Flame City, but I also plan to find Zariel and ask what exactly She wants you to do."

Amberser spoke so earnestly that Mr. Misfortune was a bit baffled. This guy couldn’t seriously mean it.

"Why would Zariel tell you?" Mr. Misfortune asked.

"Let’s try; maybe She will tell me."

Mr. Misfortune did not know where Amberser’s confidence came from. Before, when he managed to find out about the contract with Goddess Tiamat, it was because that contract brought only despair with no chance of being broken.

Now Amberser was going to ask again, but why would Zariel tell him something so crucial?

In business, you keep your bottom line hidden; revealing your hand at the start, how would you negotiate a price?

But Mr. Misfortune was still touched because Amberser could have easily left, but for his sake, he was willing to take the risk once more.

Realizing this, Mr. Misfortune sincerely said to Amberser, "Arthas, back then, I was too impulsive and too idealistic. Over the years, our estrangement was mainly my fault; I am sorry."

"Sorry isn’t as good as Gold Coins. If I end up saving you this time, you’ll owe me several billion."

Mr. Misfortune chuckled.

"Billions? Ten times more wouldn’t be a problem."

Looking at Mr. Misfortune’s bitter face in the mirror, Amberser silently cut off the communication and then teleported to Gloomyland.

Chances were nine out of ten that Zariel wouldn’t tell Amberser the truth, but it was still worth a try.

When he arrived in Dark Hell, Amberser handed over the hair he had collected to Withered Rose and said to her, "The curse is very effective; don’t let them have any rest."

Withered Rose was more than happy to trouble Laine, and taking the hair, she commenced the spellcasting. Flow Flame City would likely not see peace for days to come.

"Melina, stand here in a moment."

Amberser placed the unsuspecting Melina on the altar and began chanting in the language of Devils.

Each Devil had their own summoning ritual, and Amberser was now reciting the one specific to Zariel. Usually, after finishing, a fierce combat was needed as a sacrificial offering for the summoning.

The Grand Duke of Hell had different habits from other Devils; She wasn’t interested in slaughtering the weak. If you had two powerful warriors engage in a fatal duel, that might catch this Grand Duke of Hell’s attention enough to honor the fight with Her presence.

But Amberser had no time to find two warriors to battle it out here, so he let Melina stand in place, hoping she might draw Zariel’s gaze.

True enough, when Amberser was halfway through his summoning chant, Zariel appeared above the altar, Her body forged of fierce flames.

Zariel looked at Amberser coldly and said, "Lich, you’d better have a good explanation, or this sacreligious summoning will be justification enough for me to punish you severely."