This Lich Requests More Remuneration
Chapter 393 - 365: Extreme Solutions to Problems

Chapter 393: Chapter 365: Extreme Solutions to Problems

Amberser looked at the tall, young druid and couldn’t help asking, "Aren’t you a follower of the Father of the Oak? How come you have suddenly become a chosen worshipper of Lady Laila?"

This was no trivial matter. Even between a major god and a lesser god, one could not simply change faith at will.

It was only because Sylvanas was easy to talk to. Had it been Lord of the Storm Talos, if anyone dared to convert to his lesser brethren, they might just be struck dead by a thunderbolt right then and there.

Laila explained, "When I was resurrected, I couldn’t control my divine power, and it contaminated some of the druids’ bodies. The Father of the Oak allowed these druids to become my followers, with Brandir being among them."

Amberser remembered the scene at that time. He had knocked Brandir unconscious and left him beside that great banyan tree, then went on to dig on his own.

He hadn’t expected that this fellow would be so lucky. For mortals to sense divine power in advance was an immense advantage.

This lad had become legendary at the age of thirty—a genius with limitless potential.

But Brandir still held a grudge against Amberser for knocking him unconscious. Bowing his head in Laila’s presence did not mean he sincerely sought Amberser’s instruction.

Therefore, when Amberser asked, "How many Shadow Druids are there, and do you know where they primarily reside?"

Brandir responded indifferently, "If Master Ultraman isn’t even aware of these basic details, then I’m afraid you can’t offer me much advice."

Laila frowned. No matter how much of a homebody she was, she could hear the clear resentment in Brandir’s tone. Just as she was about to scold this mortal, she heard Amberser say, "It’s natural to feel disgruntled, and I can understand that, but I hope your displeasure is directed only at me, not at the Goddess you worship. Lady Laila may have just recovered, but your disrespect towards Her is a provocation towards me.

"Brandir Sunda, do you wish to duel with me once again?"

Upon hearing this, Brandir couldn’t help but reply, "Last time was just a moment of carelessness. This time I..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Amberser snapped his fingers.

Brandir just felt a chill at his back and as he turned to look, he saw Melina staring at him intently with her golden eyes.

An invisible magic barrier unfolded, enveloping Brandir within it.

From that moment, the magic power inside Brandir’s body seemed to have solidified, leaving him completely unable to use it.

"Anti-magic barrier? No... it’s not just that... I can’t even transform..."

As Brandir stood in shock, Melina had already approached him, her spear pointed directly at his throat.

A druid stripped of magic power was no different from an ordinary strong man, easily crushed by Melina as if he were but an ant.

The only way to deal with Melina was to launch a saturated attack from outside her anti-magic field, or to be a champion warrior that specialized in pure physical attacks; otherwise, Melina would simply overpower him unilaterally.

Brandir, who had never seen such an outrageous anti-magic effect, was so frightened by the spear at his throat that he didn’t dare to move even a finger, as cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Amberser waved his hand, and only then did Melina retract her spear.

But before Brandir had a chance to catch his breath, Amberser grabbed his throat, and a tremendous dark magic power began to erode his skin, causing a burning pain.

Melina had by now learned to roughly control her anti-magic effect, allowing Amberser to use magic while Brandir remained in a state of magic suppression, utterly unable to struggle.

"Young man, don’t be too hot-headed. The reason you are alive is thanks to Lady Laila’s protection. I have the utmost respect for the Goddess, so I am giving you a chance. But remember, there won’t be a second time, because I don’t want such fools to continue as Lady Laila’s followers."

Amberser let go, and Brandir clutched at his throat in agony. The skin had been corroded away by the dark magic power, and pus was now seeping out of the wound, leaving him unable to utter a single word.

Amberser didn’t usually like using such violent means to resolve issues. He preferred to greet with a smile, being decisive in action but always leaving some leeway in words.

But he didn’t have much time now to dig a hole and wait for Brandir Sunda to fall in; this arrogant young man wouldn’t submit until he was severely crushed.

And the tactic was indeed effective. After being dominated once again, Brandir Sunda finally put away his pride. For he had truly felt Amberser’s murderous intent; this Lich was really prepared to kill him and not just spare his life like last time.

Having experienced death, a person tends to mature.

Brandir Sunda wasn’t foolish, just too accustomed to being hailed as a genius, which had made him haughty. Now, it was time to bow his head.

After struggling to heal his throat, Brandir Sunda hoarsely shared the intelligence regarding the Shadow Druids with Amberser. Most of these Shadow Druids, being outcasts, did not settle in the Emerald Dream Forest, but instead in various dark and dangerous forests across the continent.

Brandir Sunda had already located several of their strongholds, estimating there were roughly forty-thousand Shadow Druids; not a large number, but not insignificant either.

After gathering this information, Amberser reflected for a moment, then said to Brandir Sunda, "I have two different methods here, choose whichever you prefer. The first, using the power of the Emerald Dream Forest, it wouldn’t be hard to completely annihilate these Shadow Druid tribes. Kill all the adult Shadow Druids and bring the children back to be raised."

Brandir Sunda quickly said, "That’s impossible, Father of the Oak would never allow us to massacre each other like this, and Lady Laila, you wouldn’t stand by and watch this slaughter happen, would you?"

Laila nodded and said, "Indeed, excessive slaughter is against the natural order; the deity would not allow such things to happen."

Amberser wasn’t surprised and calmly said, "I knew it, the Father of the Oak is merciful. Then listen to the second method. What the Shadow Druids find most repugnant is Alchemy. Set a trap, lure them out. Once they’re captured alive, bring them back for gradual reeducation. We wouldn’t need to kill them, but we could separate them and re-educate each individually. Regarding the trap, I can help; Melina’s magic suppression abilities combined with my Alchemy should be sufficient to solve the problem."

To his surprise, Brandir Sunda still shook his head, "Sorry, we don’t have the manpower to reform these brethren one by one. Master Ultraman, this time it’s the Father of the Oak who permitted us to change our faith, but there are too few Druids who believe in Lady Laila to complete the task given to us by the Father of the Oak."

"And there’s a limit on numbers?" Amberser asked in surprise, "How many people do you have?"

Brandir Sunda embarrassedly held up one finger.

"Ten thousand? One hundred thousand?" Amberser asked.

Brandir Sunda shook his head, "Barely one hundred."

Amberser couldn’t help but look towards Laila, seriously? Sylvanas was being too stingy, wasn’t she? The Druids of the Emerald Dream Forest numbered close to a million, and she only gave Laila one hundred to reclaim all the Shadow Druids. Was this some kind of joke?

But Laila just smiled and said, "If it weren’t difficult, why would I say I needed your wisdom?"

Amberser said helplessly, "That leaves only one method then. Brandir Sunda, do you know what acceleration is?"

Brandir Sunda said with confusion, "Do you mean the Acceleration Spell? I can perform that, but what does it have to do with the Shadow Druids?"

"I’m not asking you to cast an Acceleration Spell, but for you to infiltrate the Shadow Druids and push them towards radicalization. They’re extreme environmentalists, right? Go in there and fan the flames. If they want to destroy civilization to rebuild the forest, you say the Shadow Druids are also harming the forest. Aren’t their weapons made from oak, and don’t they wear bark and animal skins? If that’s not destruction, what is?"

Brandir Sunda quickly said, "But, that doesn’t count, we only use the forest reasonably. Our weapons are made from naturally fallen branches, and our clothes come from legitimate hunting..."

Amberser hastily interrupted, "You say it’s reasonable and that makes it so? Then why can the Shadow Druids be so extreme? Your teachings already have many interpretations. What defines nature? The Druids of the Spore Consortium playing with corpses aren’t much better than us Undead. Brandir Sunda, I’m not here to argue with you, I’m pointing you in a direction.

"Any faith, when pushed to the extreme, isn’t far from collapse. What you need to do is to push the Shadow Druids to the extreme so that when they collapse, they’ll naturally seek help from like-minded kin. By then, you will be able to reclaim them in a natural course of events.

"Handle the specifics yourself. You are the youngest Legendary Druid; I don’t need to teach you how to understand nature, do I?"

After hearing this, Brandir Sunda was greatly shocked. Could things really be played this way?

It sounded preposterous, but upon careful consideration, it made a bit of sense.

If the Lich was right, and any extreme belief would eventually lead to collapse, then wouldn’t Laine also be close to that point?