This Lich Requests More Remuneration
Chapter 554 - 493: The Lich’s Greatest Weakness

Chapter 554: Chapter 493: The Lich’s Greatest Weakness

The pale elf before me spoke with a hint of teasing, as if coquettishly addressing someone else, even though the Dragon Emperor and he were both male.

But this coquettishness did not induce disgust or excitement, only a chill of terror, as if the bottomless Abyss itself was whispering to the onlooker standing on its edge.

The Dragon Emperor did not answer the other’s question; even though his greatest secret was exposed, and even though there were no others around, this was a question he would absolutely not answer, much less admit to.

The Power of Time was ineffective against this pale Elf, which meant, undoubtedly, that he was the incarnation of a Deity.

The chilling sensation was the effect of the Divine Power leaking from the Deity, but the Dragon Emperor could not guess who this Deity might be, not right away at least.

Suppressing the fear in his heart, the Dragon Emperor guardedly said to the pale Elf, "Your Excellency, as a Deity, you must know the rules of Aeo. Gods must not meddle in the affairs of the Mortal Realm. I am the Emperor of Laine; you should be well aware that speaking to me at length could invite the punishment of Aeo. Even the Elven Gods cannot escape it."

The pale Elf shook his head and said, "No, I have nothing to do with Corellon. I just thought elves were quite beautiful, so I chose this form to embody. My visit today is not to reveal your identity. This is a wager between the Dragon Pantheon and the Lord of the Dawn. I would not interfere in such a crude and boring manner... I just want to offer you a friendly reminder."

The Dragon Emperor was not the least bit less vigilant. He did not believe in free lunches, nor did he believe that a deity shrouded in evil aura would show goodwill without expecting something in return.

What Evil Gods and Devils loved the most was to toss out bait, enticing others to fall from grace on their own.

The pale Elf ignored whether the Dragon Emperor believed him or not and kept talking, "I know you’re about to attend an appointment that crosses a thousand years. I believe you don’t need me to remind you that it’s a trap. The Lich knows your identity, so he must have made arrangements to ensure once you go there, you won’t be able to come back."

"I am well aware of that," the Dragon Emperor replied.

Now that Arthur Laine had been resurrected and even sent him an invitation, his identity surely could not be hidden, it was just that the other party had no evidence to expose it.

Moreover, the Dragon Emperor was confident that no matter how one might try to verify it, they would not be able to find any evidence.

Because he had already devoured that poor wretch’s Soul, even if that Lich came checking, no problems would be found.

As long as he could maintain his identity as the Emperor of Laine, the Laine Empire would continue to serve his purposes. With the strength of an entire Empire to back him, plus his own power, he was not afraid of whatever scheme the Lich might be plotting.

"I know you’re prepared, and the Lich now has no chance of killing you. However, you also know that the Lich has also made his preparations. Even if he can’t kill you, he will certainly be able to retreat with ease. Furthermore, he can use various means to force you to act according to his plans. You can’t deny that the Lich is capable of that, can you?" the pale Elf said.

The Dragon Emperor did not argue, as this was exactly what troubled him the most.

The Time Dragon was not so easily eliminated, and neither was the Lich an easy foe to dispose of.

According to the intelligence known, the Lich had prepared an unknown number of Life Caskets.

After the death of the Silvermoon Knight, there was no one in the Laine Empire capable of utterly destroying the Lich’s Soul.

The Dragon Emperor even considered whether he should use the Power of Time to resurrect the Silvermoon Knight, but he feared that the Silvermoon Knight might have already ascended to the Divine Realm.

Once the Silvermoon Knight entered the realm of the Lord of the Dawn, he would learn the whole truth. To resurrect him might mean that the Holy Slash would be aimed at himself, the Emperor.

In the Dragon Emperor’s view, the Moonlight Sword of the Silvermoon Knight was possibly not much inferior to Arthur Laine of those days, and with bad luck, he could end up with two formidable enemies.

After much hesitation, the Dragon Emperor dared not resurrect the Silvermoon Knight. Without the Holy Slash of the Silvermoon Knight, it was very difficult to find a way to deal with the Lich, let alone one that could foresee the future.

For a long time to come, this Lich would likely remain a severe menace to the Laine Empire, and the plans for unifying the whole world would be severely impacted.

Listening to this pale Elf before him, it seemed that there might be a way to deal with the Lich?

With a mix of suspicion and excitement, the Dragon Emperor asked, "Respected Deity, do you have a way to resolve this issue with the Lich? Aren’t Gods supposed to refrain from taking action against mortals?"

The pale Elf shook his head and said, "Of course, it can’t possibly be me who takes action, as these Liches are almost becoming a curse amongst all gods. However, dealing with that Lich isn’t hard. You could completely do it; you just need a little hint from me."

"Not hard?"

The Dragon Emperor felt like laughing. These Liches had scared the gods into not daring to speak loudly before them, and yet he had the face to say it wasn’t difficult. This nameless deity must be very concerned about keeping up appearances.

The pale Elf once again saw through the Dragon Emperor’s heart, giggled with a mocking tone, and said, "Whether it’s the gods or mortals, most people think that only killing your enemy counts as revenge or success. But look at what that Lich has done—how many times has he truly eradicated his foes? A spiritual victory is more lasting than a violent one, and it can achieve your goals better. Don’t you agree?"

"Spiritual victory, you mean..." The Dragon Emperor pondered for a moment and reached a ludicrous conclusion, "I should take out a large sum of money to bribe him?"

The pale Elf smiled wickedly and nodded, "You’ve got it. That’s the first method, and also the most straightforward and useful. Guess, what price would that Lich name to sell you the resurrected Arthur Lane? And for how much gold would he be willing to work for you?"

The Dragon Emperor clenched his fists, the thought of the Lich submitting to him filled him with excitement.

That was correct, that Lich had done so much just for money, and Laine was certainly not short on funds.

Perhaps other Emperors of Laine might refuse to collaborate because of the Undead’s status, but he, being a resurrected Magic Dragon, saw humans and the Undead as "Foreign Races" in his eyes, all the same.

The Dragon Emperor mused, "As long as this Lich is on my side, everything becomes simple. But, I’m afraid it’s not that easy."

It wasn’t that he was afraid the Lich was too determined; he was afraid he couldn’t afford the price.

Had it been not long ago, when the Lich only had a castle and was nearly bankrupt, he could have made him his Court Mage for a million Gold Coins. But now, how much gold would he have to pay to hire this Lich, rich enough to rival the wealthiest of nations?

Or should he settle for a preliminary cooperation agreement by simply throwing money at the problem?

That might be enough; even if Arthur Laine were resurrected, given his nature, he wouldn’t likely amass large quantities of money. In terms of financial prowess, he stood no chance at all.

Without the support of this Lich, how long could a lone Arthur Laine hold out?

Would he dare to reveal his identity, forcing Laine to divide itself? Knowing Arthur Laine, the brash man would more likely sneak into his own Royal Palace and seek a king-to-king duel rather than drag most of the empire’s people into war.

This approach certainly seemed feasible. The Dragon Emperor was about to express his thanks when he saw the pale Elf shake his head and say, "Hold on, mortal Emperor. Have you considered what if the Lich doesn’t accept the deal?"

"Is it his obsession? Can the Undead endure that?" countered the Dragon Emperor.

The pale Elf’s lips twisted into a cold smile, then he said, "It’s precisely his endurance that caught the attention of some major figure. If you underestimate this Lich, you will definitely suffer a loss."

"Then I presume you must have an alternative plan," the Dragon Emperor inquired.

"Of course, I’ll tell you secretly. Do you know what the Lich’s biggest weakness is?"

The Dragon Emperor frowned and said, "Being countered by Holy Light?"

The pale Elf shook his head and said, "No, it’s the intelligence he’s so proud of. He’s been an Adventurer for hundreds of years, a career that has honed his will and given him a deep understanding of human nature. Since he’s unaffected by faith and emotions, he can always analyze problems and find solutions as if he were an outsider.

"But that’s also his greatest weakness. Once he loses his calm, that Lich is finished. And only you can make that happen. Do you understand what I mean?"

The Dragon Emperor was silent as he reflected for a long time, then suddenly looked up.

Excitedly standing up, the Dragon Emperor clenched his fists and said, "I see, it’s like that. I understand! If this Lich refuses to cooperate, then he’s as good as dead!"