This Lich Requests More Remuneration
Chapter 359 - 333: Becoming the Torch

Chapter 359: Chapter 333: Becoming the Torch

Lorencos was the one who had followed the Ironblood General the longest; they had known each other since they were young, with Lorencos being only a few years younger than the General.

Together they swore oaths, joined the army, fought the enemy, and became legends on the battlefield one after another.

Lorencos was the Ironblood General’s most trusted aide, and they had saved each other’s lives more than once—it could be said they were closer than spouses.

However, as Rachel Angelo became increasingly brutal, Lorencos began to feel lost.

The Empire’s fanatical faith once made Lorencos believe everything he did was just and contributed to the good of all humanity.

Undoubtedly, humans lived well under the Laine Empire, much better than in other kingdoms, so uniting the continent and bringing happiness to all humans was a noble cause worth fighting for.

However, while some would take such madness to the extreme amidst the bloodshed, others would find the fanaticism extinguished by the blood.

Rachel Angelo grew more extreme, more ruthless, and the minimum age of those slaughtered got lower and lower. Lorencos had discussed this issue with Rachel Angelo, but nothing could shake her resolve.

After all, she was a Paladin of the conquest oath; if she were to lay it down, she would become an Oathbreaker.

Lorencos had initially tried to conceal his inner confusion and not think about it, not reflect, so that nothing would trouble him. This worked quite well until the birth of Frodo.

Lorencos never expected to have a child at nearly sixty years old.

He originally did not want children; feeling burdened by his sins, he had no right to have children, but in the end, he acquiesced to his wife’s pleas, and together they conceived Frodo. Thanks to the power of the Holy Light, otherwise having a child at nearly sixty would not be easy.

Once a father, he inevitably had to think about many things. But as Amberser said, those old Laine folks had long been inseparable from the Empire.

Their relatives and friends were fanatical followers of the Empire; for one to become aware was a torture in itself.

They strove hard to preserve all they had, that was the foremost premise, and only then could they think about changing the Empire.

But under such a premise, they often ended up not being able to do anything.

Lorencos was no different from James Watson; in the end, he let Frodo become one of Rachel Angelo’s subordinates, and even a close guard.

And then, Frodo’s hands were stained with blood.

The guilt Lorencos had hidden deep within seemed normal on the surface, but when Frodo was turned into Undead, that wrapped guilt burst forth.

If not for this, Lorencos wouldn’t have allowed Allen, the traitor, to stay with Frodo for a night.

When Allen spoke of the unjust war, Lorencos could no longer hold back.

"Allen, you’re right. We’ve committed boundless sins, and the Holy Light should turn into a blazing flame to burn me. Frodo, both of us will fall into Hell."

Frodo was utterly stunned by his father’s words; he had only been somewhat shaken, and now his father was agreeing with the traitor?

Allen also found it exaggeratedly easy; he had been wondering how long it would take to find like-minded folks, and suddenly he found two, one of whom was a Legendary Holy Warrior?

"It must be the Lord of the Dawn’s blessing!"

Allen firmly believed in this great Deity.

However, although Lorencos thought Allen was right, he didn’t bow his head in submission, but instead asked, "Allen, what are you planning to do?"

Allen quickly answered, "First, we need to find more like-minded people. Our strength is too small, we aren’t enough to stop this war."

Lorencos then asked, "How long will you search? Even with the Lich causing trouble and the effects of the curse, we can only delay for a month at most. In that time, how many people can you find?"

Allen hesitated, as he had no answer to that question.

"I don’t know; I’ve only recently realized how little I understand about Laine. We were all blinded by fanatical faith, to the point it even sealed off our hearts. In this time, how many people I can find, maybe just a few. But no matter how slim the hope, one must always try."

Allen spoke with increasing conviction; this was never going to be an easy task.

Even if the Lord of the Dawn blessed him and he found allies immediately, it was impossible to grow from a few people to hundreds or thousands in a few days.

If such an event actually happened, it would surely be a trap laid by the Ironblood General.

But Lorencos wouldn’t let Allen off so easily, continuing to press, "If you don’t have confidence in yourself, how can you stop the war?"

Allen, no longer uncertain, calmly replied, "No matter the outcome, I will be there on the battlefield. If necessary, I will stand with the Impure Chant, helping them fend off Laine’s invasion. I don’t expect many to join me on the battlefield in just a few days, but I’m not what’s important. The important thing is that there are people who think like me. Even if I die on the battlefield, someone will remember what I did, and soon others will make the same choice."

Lorencos mocked, "You’re that confident? If you die, everything ends. I’ll deny this meeting ever happened, and I’ll join others in spitting on you, the traitor."

Allen confidently said, "Of course, I’m confident. For over a thousand years, Laine has worshipped the Lord of the Dawn. I believe in the Lord of the Dawn, whose radiant light will never lack for warriors. I’m just the first one, the one who ignites the fuse; even if I burn out, others will continue to come forward to save the Empire."

This was the truth Arthur Laine had told him—men die, but ideas do not.

The hundreds of millions of people in this empire, Allen did not feel that he was the most special one among them. The warriors of the empire were just lost; they didn’t know what to do, and they didn’t even know if they had any like-minded companions around them.

Allen would tell these lost warriors that many people had already seen the decay of the empire and were prepared to risk their lives to save their country.

After listening to Allen’s words, Lorencos was silent for a long time, until Frodo couldn’t help but ask, "Father, what’s... what’s wrong with you?"

To Frodo, Lorencos said, "Child, you still have a chance for redemption. If you don’t want to fall into hell, then follow Allen."

Frodo was still a bit reluctant to accept this. Why suddenly should he mix with a traitor?

It didn’t make sense. Even if there was something wrong with the empire, was it necessary to commit treason right away? Couldn’t he continue to stay in Laine and then try to find a way to change it?

Unable to restrain himself, Frodo retorted, "Father, perhaps there is another way..."

"Perhaps there is, but you won’t live to see it," Lorencos sighed. "Just like Allen won’t be able to gather enough strength before the war starts, if you hesitate any longer, you won’t have another chance for redemption. Do you think the curse has really disappeared?"

Frodo recalled the sensation of slowly transforming into the undead, and that inescapable fear once again enveloped his heart.

Could it be that he really had no other option?

Frodo looked at Allen in doubt, but Allen shook his head and said, "Although I don’t know how many sins you have committed, I want to tell you that if you change your stance just to seek redemption, it is meaningless. This is a sacrifice, not a transaction, Frodo."

Allen’s own understanding of the Holy Light was becoming deeper and deeper. The old him would have cared about merits and rights or wrongs.

But now, he was no longer obsessed with such calculations.

To uphold the vows and fight for justice, there was no gain or loss, no size of merit; these things were utterly unimportant.

If Frodo was to act just to redeem himself, he would never receive the forgiveness of the Lord of the Dawn.

Lorencos sighed and said, "You’re right; I was mistaken."

"So, whatever I do now, I’m going to hell?" Overwhelmed by so much information, Frodo felt his brain was about to shut down.

Allen nodded; he wouldn’t lie to Frodo just to gain an extra hand.

"Frodo, go back and think it over thoroughly. But if you can, please don’t betray me. I need more time to gain more people’s support. And if you clear your thoughts, then come here to find me. I’ll wait here until the war starts."

Two days later, Allen waited for the father and son, along with a few more Paladins they brought with them.

Initially, Allen even thought Frodo and Lorencos had changed their minds and brought people to capture him, but the number was too small.

Turns out, these Paladins had been persuaded by Lorencos.

Just as His Majesty the Holy King said, there were quite a few Laine people who harbored the same thoughts as Allen. They simply didn’t dare to show it, nor did they know who around them shared their sentiments.

The present Allen was like a torch, drawing countless moths ready to leap into the flames.

Lorencos said, "Actually, there are more than these people. At least thirty people in Flow Flame City are willing to follow us, they are all my subordinates, and I know them well. But they are too weak. Our desertion will surely bring pursuers, and taking them would only lead them to their deaths for nothing."

Allen wholeheartedly agreed with Lorencos’s words. Like-minded people did not necessarily need to gather together.

It was better to leave some sparks than to have them all wiped out by a hunt from Flow Flame City. Sooner or later, those sparks would blaze into a towering inferno.

Everything was going surprisingly smoothly. In a few days, Allen had under his command six High-order Holy Warriors and one Legendary warrior.

Along with Allen himself, this was already considered an extravagantly powerful force.

Being few in number yet all elite gave them an advantage that quickly became apparent. Allen effortlessly dodged two waves of pursuers from Flow Flame City.

But at this moment, Allen suddenly noticed something strange. While evading the pursuers, he saw a few Tiflins sneaking into Flow Flame City.

Without considering the risks, he stayed outside of Flow Flame City.

After waiting for half a day, he watched these same Tiflins leave Flow Flame City successfully.

With no missing limbs or any obvious injuries, they left perfectly intact.

This didn’t fit the style of the Ironblood General, a ruthless person who would not hesitate to eradicate other races. There was no rule about "not slaying envoys during war."

If these Tiflins could leave safely, there was only one possibility; they had brought news that greatly pleased the Ironblood Generals.

Were the Tiflins about to surrender? Or were there Tiflins looking to betray their race? Or maybe they were spies planted by the Ironblood General from the start?

No matter what, this information was certainly very significant.

Allen had to consider an issue, whether he should try to ascertain this intelligence or warn key figures first, such as that Lich whose mere thought made him shudder unconsciously.