This Lich Requests More Remuneration
Chapter 423 - 395 Your Grudge is My Grudge

Chapter 423: Chapter 395 Your Grudge is My Grudge

When Kalgore Cruman opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a beach.

Instead of the sun, the sky was filled with stars.

"Am I still alive?"

To his surprise, Kalgore Cruman got up from the beach and carefully examined his body, only to discover that he had somehow returned to a state of full flesh and blood.

Just moments before his death, he had seen the vampire biting into his neck, so how could he still be alive?

Could this place be Hell?

Kalgore Cruman quickly looked around and felt many differences.

The beach was barren, but he felt as if the sands were alive, countless eyes staring at him; whenever he looked closely, however, they turned back to normal sand.

Even the stones seemed to grow mouths, whispering unheard words to him.

"By Geush! Is this some kind of divine punishment?!"

Kalgore Cruman cried out to the Orc God’s name; he usually was not a devout believer, but the current situation was too strange, compelling him to plead for divine protection.

But then, the voice of Hake Stone came through, "Stop calling for Geush. You should be worshiping Kancher’xis now, the Deity of us vampires."

Kalgore Cruman started, instinctively trying to turn into a shadow and flee, but found his body could not move.

Hake Stone floated leisurely in front of him, saying, "Conserve your energy. The blood flowing in you is mine. You are now my Blood Servant, understand?"

As if he hadn’t heard, Kalgore Cruman continued to struggle fiercely, shouting, "I will not be anyone’s slave again, never!"

His full resistance caused bizarre bulges to appear on his skin—the blood of Hake Stone punishing the disobedient servant.

One reason for using a vampire’s own blood in the transformation ritual is to establish complete control.

A senior vampire can completely control the actions of their progeny and even influence their thoughts. Hake Stone had converted Kalgore Cruman into a vampire because of his abilities, thinking that no one in the Elegy Poetry Society was more miserable than himself. How would he manage without a strong enforcer?

Therefore, Hake Stone did not seek Amberser’s help but decided to take this orc for himself.

If that damn Lich found out, he might even skin him alive.

As for Kalgore Cruman’s resistance, Hake Stone didn’t take it seriously at all. Every converted vampire went through this, thinking they could choose death over submission—but it was meaningless. Unless this orc had a vast kingdom to back him up, able to send hundreds of thousands of soldiers to finish off Hake Stone, the contract couldn’t be broken.

Thus, Hake Stone didn’t bother and simply let Kalgore Cruman struggle on.

Sure enough, after a few minutes, Kalgore Cruman collapsed from the severe pain.

This was not a pain that could be endured by sheer willpower. The blood would specifically drill into the depths of the marrow, as if someone was directly carving into his Soul, and no amount of endurance would help. It would not even become numb, just increasingly painful.

"Good, almost ten minutes. You’ve lasted longer than anyone I’ve seen. Now, can you see the reality?" Hake Stone asked.

Lying on the beach, Kalgore Cruman resignedly said, "I know I’ve lost. How long must I serve you before you set me free?"

Hake Stone chuckled, "Forget it. Your eternal life belongs to me now."

Resigned, Kalgore Cruman said, "Then kill me. I won’t be a slave anymore."

"That’s not up to you!" Hake Stone said furiously. "If you won’t accept, then keep enduring the pain!"

Hake Stone controlled the blood within Kalgore Cruman’s body, causing endless, agonizing pain that contorted his body like a shrimp.

But this time, Kalgore Cruman didn’t struggle; he just clenched his teeth and bore the severe pain.

When Hake Stone finally gave him a breather, Kalgore Cruman said again, "Kill me. Stop wasting time."

Even Hake Stone was stunned. He hadn’t been merciful in the slightest; any normal person would’ve been driven mad by the pain, yet how could this orc still speak such words?

Hake Stone imposed cruel punishment on the orc again, but after Kalgore Cruman writhed on the ground in agony, he repeated the same sentence.

If he could not be granted freedom, then end his life now.

Hake Stone was truly taken aback. How could this fellow be so determined? If Kalgore Cruman really chose to passively accept his fate, Hake Stone indeed had no other means to deal with him. He couldn’t force him to serve through spells like Charm or Puppetry.

What he needed was not a lifeless husk, but a subordinate with their own will.

If he’s just a puppet, he’s utterly devoid of thought and can’t fully wield his own power.

Hake Stone had many such puppets, so there was no need to expend so much effort to turn him into a vampire.

Looking at Kalgore Cruman, who lay still, Hake Stone grew ruthless once again and subjected him to cruel torture for another time.

But after tormenting the orc for over two hours, Kalgore Cruman’s response remained the same, demanding either his freedom or death.

"Damn it, if that lich can charm the Elf Queen into warming his bed, why can’t I control a mere orc."

Hake Stone couldn’t help but think of calling Amberser out to share some tips on how to coax others.

However, to avoid the lich stripping a few bones from the orc, Hake Stone decided to handle it himself and asked, "What’s so bad about becoming a vampire under me? Eternal life, powerful spells, all it means is you can’t bask in the sun. Is that too great a price to pay?"

Kalgore Cruman answered yet again, "I’d rather die than be a slave."

Hake Stone was at a loss for words; this guy was truly a hard nut to crack.

"Alright, I’ll back down a step. I’ll grant you a measure of freedom, but you must work for me and obey my commands."

Upon hearing this, Kalgore Cruman looked up at Hake Stone and pressed, "Can I be free? Sleep whenever I want and eat meat whenever I crave it?"

Hake Stone paused before asking, "Is that all the freedom you want?"

Kalgore Cruman said excitedly, "Exactly, that’s freedom! No one will dock my rations, nobody will force me to rise before daybreak to toil, freedom is sleeping when I wish, eating when I desire!"

Hake Stone looked at the young orc before him, noting the faint scars that lingered on his body—remnants from his time as a living being that would probably heal completely in a few years, but were still clearly visible now.

So, it turned out this orc was a runaway slave; no wonder he was so resistant to that identity.

But the orc wasn’t too bright, by the look of things, so why not play along? Who says a slave has to be called a slave? He could be an employee, a follower, an ox or horse... a change of the name, and he’s no longer a slave, right?

Hake Stone smiled at the orc and said, "Good, I promise you that. Sleep whenever you want, eat as you wish, but once you’re well-rested and full, you work for me!"

After some thought, Kalgore Cruman said to Hake Stone, "Swear to Geush... no, swear to your deity, what’s-its-name!"

Rolling his eyes, Hake Stone replied, "It’s Kancher’xis, remember the name, or the deity will punish you, and I won’t be able to save you. Then you’ll always be somebody else’s slave."

Kalgore Cruman quickly shut his mouth.

Hake Stone, pleased with the outcome, said, "Now, tell me your name and your story..."

Hake Stone needed to learn more about the orc’s background, and also gauge his true abilities.

Kalgore Cruman gave a brief introduction of himself, which wasn’t something worth hiding: a newly freed slave following the trail of his enemy to the sea.

Unfortunately, he had encountered Hake Stone, the vampire.

"You are indeed that lich’s enemy?" Hake Stone exclaimed in surprise. What on earth had that lich done to have enemies from ten generations back come knocking? He must not fear being taken down, right?

But then a cunning plan crossed Hake Stone’s mind.

He walked over to Kalgore Cruman, patted his thigh, and said, "Alright, now you are my serv... subordinate, and your grudges are mine. I will help you seek justice."

Kalgore Cruman looked at Hake Stone in shock. This vampire was rather decent, granting him freedom as promised, and now even vowing to avenge him?

Hake Stone thought to himself that this was a perfect opportunity to extort tens of thousands of Gold Coins from the lich, enough to pain his heart for days.

Just as he was about to take Kalgore Cruman to see Amberser for the money, a disturbance came from the sea once more, and an angry voice boomed, "Despicable, shameless mortals, I’ve finally found you!"

Hake Stone turned to look out at the sea where towering waves were rising—a tsunami several tens of meters high was rushing towards them.

And atop the surging waves, a naked and ugly man was roaring at the two of them.

Startled, Hake Stone said, "What the hell is going on?"

Equally astonished, Kalgore Cruman said, "I clearly chopped his head off, how can he still be alive?"

After saying this, Kalgore Cruman turned to Hake Stone and said, "Boss, you just said my enemies are your enemies, right? What do you make of this..."

Hake Stone felt a surge of irritation clutch his chest, nearly driving him to spit blood.

"Damn it, I never catch a break!" Hake Stone cursed and then roared up at the sky, "Diga Ultraman! Someone is crashing the party!"