This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 193

Chapter 193: Mother of Desires and the Eagle-faced Guardian

Margaret's news was shocking.

On one hand, Matthew was surprised by her formidable combat prowess, truly holding her ground against a genuine legend despite being only at the fifth rank. On the other, he admired her stubbornness.

In theory, considering Margaret's displayed magical abilities, escaping should've been a breeze, but instead, she ended up plummeting into the Blood River to such an extent.

This indicated she never intended to flee from the start; her aim was to use Luticia as a stepping stone for her advancement to become a legend.

Unfortunately, the Blood Flag Clan's legends weren't easy targets. Despite the mutual damage on Blood Flag Kingdom's territory, in a sense, Margaret had won, but the risks ahead were now much greater for her.

Matthew was genuinely concerned about Margaret's situation. Unconsciously, he fidgeted with the dice in his hand. Suddenly, a thought struck him.

"Should I try the prophecy spell?"

"After all, I can use the dice in advance to determine the success rate of the prophecy spell."

Thinking about it, he acted on it and tossed the divination die casually on the uneven, muddy ground, quickly receiving an answer—1 point.

Matthew's face darkened. "Must be because of the uneven surface!"

So, he retrieved a cardboard from his bag and placed it on the ground before tossing the die again. This time, it spun on the cardboard for a while before gradually stopping.

Yet, the result remained the same—1 point.

"Alright, it seems this die exists solely to tell me that the prophecy spell isn't meant for me."

Matthew sighed, collecting his things. Later, he conversed for a while with the owl couple in the cave. With his amiable attitude, the two little creatures dared to speak near the cave's entrance.

Soon, he learned the names of the owl couple: Gugu and Jiji. Gugu was the husband, and Jiji, the wife.

Not long after, Matthew realized that these two timid creatures and their clutch of eggs were the first species to migrate into the Oak Forest before Mr. Spruce Chicken.

When Matthew inquired why they had come to this place, Mr. Owl replied, "We heard about a northern Oak Forest; it's vast and safe, devoid of terrifying predators, with countless uninhabited small caves. So, we came here with a 'let's try it' attitude."

Matthew was curious, "Heard about it? From whom?"

Mr. Owl explained, "The whisper of fallen leaves and the wind. We don't know when it started, but we could always hear their whispers, bringing us messages from afar."

Instantly, Matthew realized these owls were not simple creatures; understanding the messages from the fallen leaves and the wind implied they had inherent potential for advancing as natural spirits. Their spirituality was abundant, far surpassing Mr. Spruce Chicken.

"Indeed, with insufficient spirituality, they wouldn't have been attracted to the Sanctum of Life so early."

"In the initial stages of the Sanctum, the ratio of small animals attracted with high spirituality is exceedingly high."

Thinking so, Matthew became more vigilant. He conversed warmly with the owl couple, but during this interaction, he noticed that Mrs. Owl seemed reluctant to converse with him. Conversely, Mr. Owl was eager to share various experiences.

They talked for a long time, and when Matthew left the owl's cave, a message appeared on the data panel:

"Hint: You and Mr. Owl Gugu have become quite close after this conversation, becoming true friends. You have gained an animal companion. Your Minotaur traits +1."

"This can boost Minotaur traits too?" Matthew wondered.

Faintly, from the cave, came Mrs. Owl Jiji's scolding voice, "I've been saying I'm hungry! Yet, you chatted with that man for ages!"

"Do you even care about me anymore!"

Followed by a commotion, Gugu awkwardly emerged from the cave, comically scavenging for food.

Matthew chuckled silently. He reckoned Mrs. Owl Jiji might possess stronger spirituality, but she seemed challenging to deal with. There was only one vacancy for a natural spirit; he'd decide later.

Night fell.

A Duor warrior carrying luggage emerged from the Moonlit Forest. Arriving at the graveyard, she was taken aback by the lively scene there.

For a moment, Laila even doubted if she had taken the wrong path!

She witnessed zombies, under the guidance of Mother of Labor, Mo'sa'ki, industriously cultivating the land. Nearby lay corpses. As each pit was dug, the zombies awkwardly placed the bodies inside before hastily covering them up.

The sight was bizarre enough, but as Laila passed the workshop area, she was further astonished by the fervent atmosphere within.

She observed prisoners diligently manufacturing Blaze Gel in what seemed like an assembly line. In no time, raw materials were transformed by them into semi-finished products, perfected by a few arsonists into refined Blaze Gel.

Their proficiency indicated they had become skilled in this trade. What struck Laila the most was their enthusiasm for work.

"Indeed, under Matthew's leadership, even these evil criminals are willing to reform and strive for betterment."

Laila was deeply moved.

Accidentally, she caught sight of the restless ghosts in the adjacent area and the dark knight, Agus, patrolling with a deep desire for the bodies of the arsonists.

It was as if she had finally understood something.

Until late at night, Matthew led another group of deceased individuals from the village in the Golden Fields to the graveyard. After handing the new arrivals to Mo'sa'ki, Matthew was pleasantly surprised to find the waiting figure—the Shadow Sworn, President of the Oak Merchant Consortium.

"How did it go?" Matthew greeted.

Laila smiled shyly, "Quite smoothly."

Then, she handed over the luggage containing goods from Cordo City, underwater breathing potions stored in the storage items, payment from the delivery, and the account books.

Matthew didn't rush to inspect these but instead took Laila to his workshop for a brief rest. The two conversed about her experiences in the southern region.

"So, most parts of the Rainforest are closed off?" Matthew handed her a glass of milk.

Taking it but not drinking, Laila replied, "Yes, at least three-quarters of the areas we traversed through were sealed off. I suppose it's the Rainforest Spirit's self-preservation measure—thick thorns envelop the forest, allowing only a few indigenous people to pass through. When I passed by, I noticed some outsiders, probably from Zeewater City or small settlements in the northwest. They exhibited severe symptoms of a voodoo curse when nearing the Rainforest. I suspect recent events within the Rainforest triggered the Spirit to resort to more extreme measures. Fortunately, I wasn't targeted by the Rainforest Spirit, so I smoothly reached the Golden Coast."

"Regarding Cordo City, many events unfolded after we left. The most significant was Yuanlian uniting various forces within and outside the city, forcing the original lord to step down and becoming the new lord himself. During this period, Cordo City underwent turbulence, and the Oak Merchant Consortium's shops were forcibly closed for some time. Fortunately, our goods were in high demand on the Golden Coast. Sulfur essence sells the fastest, followed by Froststorm Scrolls and

Dust of Revelation. Herbal elixirs sell moderately, but the least marketable items are those sword oils you shoved my way."

Matthew shrugged, not delving much into the origins of the sword oils.

"Yuanlian becoming the lord of Cordo? Did that fat man trouble you?" he inquired.

Shaking her head, Laila replied, "On the surface, Yuanlian shows respect to you. The Oak Merchant Consortium's operations weren't affected. But behind the scenes, I still feel something's amiss. I dismissed the employees he recruited for us earlier. Then, I found two Jango-mixed individuals to temporarily manage the shop's security and sales. Their abilities might not match those recommended by Yuanlian, but they're more reliable. I've thought it over; our products don't need intricate marketing techniques—their scarcity alone can attract numerous customers. Most of the time, our shelves are empty. It's better to open for business periodically than every day."

She hesitated and added, "I apologize for not informing you before changing the employees."

Shaking his head, Matthew assured her, "You're the President of the Oak Merchant Consortium. I promised you earlier; your salary would be highly related to the Consortium's profits. I trust you'll work earnestly, making decisions that align with the Consortium's interests."

"Yuanlian isn't an easy person to deal with. He's a full-fledged ambitious and conspiratorial man. Being cautious around him is normal. If I were in your shoes, I'd do the same. You're doing great. Also, finding more suitable business strategies impresses me."

Faced with Matthew's naked praise, Laila appeared somewhat unsure, just pressing her lips together, containing the smile not to express too much.

Then, Matthew counted the accounts and cash. This round trip fetched Laila 6,000 gold coins. With the purchase of underwater breathing potions for 30,000 gold coins and some Cordo City specialties, this batch alone, when sold at the trading post, was estimated to bring back around 240,000 gold coins! Additionally, about 12,000 gold coins worth of goods were slowly being sold in the Cordo City shop.

At the current turnover rate, with a couple more trips from Laila, the Oak Merchant Consortium's assets on the books would rapidly exceed a million!

However, Matthew was aware that this rapid expansion pace wasn't sustainable. Just this batch of underwater breathing potions could satisfy the Southern market for a long time. If sold all at once, prices would plummet rapidly, given the market's demand and purchasing power.

Yet, Matthew wasn't in a rush.

The framework of the Oak Merchant Guild has been established, and now it's time to try trading other varieties.

Maybe even delve into operating some larger-scale goods with not-so-high profits. This might require forming their own caravan.

As long as Matthew doesn't completely fall out with the Moon Goddess, this model can continue.

This is the unique advantage of the Oak Merchant Guild.

On the other hand, Laila reported some anticipated operational difficulties: "When I purchased this batch of underwater breathing potions, it triggered a trend in the price increase for underwater breathing potions in the city of Koldo."

"Adding to that, the ongoing Naga civil war, the underwater breathing potions along the Golden Coast will be extremely scarce for some time. Unless we find a more stable source, the cost of procurement afterward might increase exponentially."

Matthew nodded in understanding.

The challenge for the secondary trader lies here. Quick profit in the early stages is easy, but the real challenge is how to maintain that efficiency.

Matthew is well-prepared for this.

Regarding demand, he plans to advertise in Rapidstream City, Jade Courtyard, White Rock City, and even Deep Blue Harbor. Especially the East Coast, where the demand for high-quality underwater breathing potions is higher.

Once the reputation is established, a stable clientele won't be an issue.

However, for procurement, Matthew initially intends for Laila to visit several cities along the Golden Coast to compensate for this shortage.

But to fundamentally solve the issue, he needs to make another trip to the Golden Coast for a deeper collaboration with the Naga.

However, commerce isn't his main focus. Ensuring the healthy operation of the Oak Merchant Guild to provide some financial support for his tree planting endeavors is his primary aim.

For now, what's more important to him is learning and tree planting.

As he looks at the numbers constantly rising on the accounts, Matthew suddenly feels a bit emotional.

"In no more than three months, these numbers will surpass two hundred thousand. I wonder what Lumié would think when he sees this?"

"I wonder where he is heading up north now. Hopefully, he won't be tricked into mining again."

After a preliminary count of goods and cash, Matthew allowed Laila to rest.

He arranged for her a considerable vacation—markets need time to digest these high-level magical items, and people need time to rest.

Matthew didn't intend to use Laila like a workhorse. A round trip three to four times a year was his maximum expectation.

The only thing that made Matthew feel a bit awkward was Laila coming back late at night and having to stay in a house in town; the cemetery was too cramped, despite Laila having no objections to this.

Matthew felt it was time for a second expansion of the cemetery!

After a short two to three hours of rest, early the next morning, Matthew, with sleepy eyes, went to Cauldron House.

Then, he teleported to Suirel's Crystal Palace.

But to his disappointment, he was turned away at the Crystal Palace gates.

It seemed Suirel hadn't exaggerated before; seeing the Archmage was indeed not an easy feat.

Matthew had planned to inquire about Margaret's situation under the pretext of repayment, but now it seemed impossible.

When he tried to ask for more reinforcement, the cat in charge of reception coldly told him, "Prepare over a million gold coins, and I'll schedule an appointment for you."

Matthew had no choice but to leave silently.

However, on his way back to Cauldron House, Matthew received some good news.

David, the Gnome Mechanic, told him that the second batch of mage delegations would arrive in Rolling Stone Town by the end of August.

This meant another opportunity for him to earn big.

However, simultaneously, this also meant that the launch of Matthew's S-level project for tackling the trace of the deceased was approaching.

To fully eliminate the scourge of the trace of the deceased, Matthew had to rapidly improve his strength while dealing with the professional challenges.

This made Matthew's burden a bit heavier.

In the upcoming period, Matthew's daily routine of three tasks expanded to six—the new additions being corpse chasing, brushing up on basics (including studying spells), and further research on the trace of the deceased.

Apart from these, Matthew's schedule in July included two major events. The first was the "Potato Dog Fighting Competition" on July 17th.

This was the only traditional event held in Rolling Stone Town during the summer.

As the name suggests, the event involved dog fighting.

Families with fierce dogs in Rolling Stone Town could sign up for this event. The winner of the first competition was awarded a cartload of potatoes, hence the name.

The rewards for subsequent winners became increasingly generous. Besides the indispensable potatoes, the City Hall also made trophies and distributed cash prizes.

Matthew had no intention of participating in the Dog Fighting Competition. Instead, Rega had put the annual Outstanding Citizen award ceremony before the Dog Fighting Competition.

However, for the past few years, Rolling Stone Town hadn't produced any genuine outstanding citizens.

This year was different.

Matthew was set to become the first substantiated recipient since the inception of this award.

This segment was Rega's attempt to dispel the rumors and various stereotypes about Matthew among the residents.

Naturally, Matthew couldn't afford to take it lightly. At the very least, he had to put the residents' minds at ease.

The other significant event was at the end of July, during the scorching heat.

Rolling Stone Town would celebrate Sevyn's 16th birthday, marking her coming of age.

Matthew had been quite troubled recently about selecting Sevyn's birthday gift.

And these were just the major events.

A series of minor tasks densely populated Matthew's calendar, making his days exceptionally busy.

Time flew by like flowing water.

By mid-July, Rolling Stone Town seemed like an oven, with even the oak trees curling their edges under the scorching sun.

But the cemetery remained refreshingly cool.

Sevyn's awakening was nearing its end, and theoretically, Rega should have been planning to move back.

However, from his recent attitude, it seemed he hadn't even considered it.

Matthew didn't mind, though. After all, Rega would have to pay for long-term stays here. Matthew could offer discounts for accommodation, but as for dining expenses—

That was Peggy's call!

One evening, after dinner, Matthew took a walk in the Oak Forest. Ori, usually shy and averse to human contact, leaned against his shoulder, occasionally brushing Matthew's cheek with her soft mane.

The evening breeze remained extremely hot.

Yet amidst it, Matthew faintly detected a strong, distinctive, and subtly stimulating odor.

He placed a hand on Ori's back, slowing his pace.

Closing his eyes, he tried to sense the source of the scent.

Surprisingly, he realized it was coming from all directions.

A familiar sensation surged within him.

Matthew closed his eyes, experienced a flash of insight, and saw two frogs mating in a small pond three hundred meters away. In the bushes to his left, crickets chirped loudly. Fireflies ascended from the Oak Forest, male ones displaying their glow, emitting strong mating signals.

And five hundred meters away, Mr. Grouse was riding another, smaller member of his species, exuding vitality!

Whoosh.

All these visions converged in Matthew's mind in an instant.

A slight flutter tugged at his heartstrings.

On his data panel...

"Tip:

Your 'Sanctuary of Life' in the ritual space has recruited another batch of species. The current prosperity level of the Oak Forest species is at 13. In early summer, a remarkable reproduction symphony is taking place within your territory. Given your accumulation in the Oak Domain, you not only gain a third opportunity to explore the Oak Domain but also enter another sub-domain of nature called 'Reproduction.'

As a reward for stepping into this domain, you will gain one of the following three abilities—

1. Flourishing Life (You can slightly increase the mating rhythm of animals within the domain and enhance the reproduction speed of corresponding species).

2. Mother of Desires (You can temporarily obscure a target with desires, turning them into beasts solely focused on reproduction, usable three times a day).

3. Extinction (You can permanently deprive a target of their reproductive ability; you can use this ability on a maximum of ten targets)."

The 'Reproduction' domain. It's a particularly special sub-domain, a crossover between the natural domain and the life domain.

Matthew hadn't expected to horizontally control the Reproduction domain through his mastery of the Oak Domain. It was quite a rare and valuable leap.

Among the three abilities, Matthew initially discarded Flourishing Life. Its effect was relatively ordinary, something his Sanctuary of Life already possessed. Forcing a region to flourish against natural will was somewhat contrary to nature.

So, this ability was rather lackluster.

As for Extinction, it seemed intimidating at first glance, but upon careful thought, it was like a curse with minimal benefits. Matthew wasn't someone who liked to harm others secretly.

Thus, he ultimately chose Mother of Desires.

This ability could serve as a control mechanism, similar to the effects of a Coughing Wand.

However, right after he made the choice, this ability underwent a new change.

"Tip: You've obtained the new ability 'Mother of Desires.'

Your mastered spell 'Confusion of Love' (from the spellbook 'Chapter of Rouge') has tripled its original effect!

As a reward for delving into this domain, you've also gained a permanent status—'Reproductive Penetration.'

Reproductive Penetration: Your genetic material possesses a strong penetrating property. When engaging in reproductive activities with different species, you'll have the ability to surpass reproductive barriers.

In other words, you can create a series of races that belong to you."

This permanent status left Matthew at a loss for words. He wasn't a dragon, why would he want to create his own race?

After leaving the Reproduction domain, Matthew felt a pull from another force.

Adjusting his focus, he allowed this force to tug at his soul, entering that mysterious and expansive world.

Seconds later, when he opened his eyes, he faced the disdainful countenance of the Eagle-Faced Guardian.

He stared coldly at Matthew, saying, "You can't come in here..."

Before he finished his sentence, Matthew fiercely charged towards him, shouting, "Get lost!"

...

"Tip: You've entered the 'Oak Domain' for the third time!

You've had a severe conflict with the 'Eagle-Faced Guardian,' the guardian of the domain..."

...

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