This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 181

Chapter 181: Mage Slayer and World Affairs

Finishing the letter, Matthew couldn't help but smile.

Lumiere was quite a genius—thinking to have a necromancer collect the numerous homeless bodies.

In a way, it's a solution to the problem, though whether it grants them peace is uncertain.

He recalled.

Apple Avenue was a prosperous road, connecting the Eastern coast to inland territories like Red Earth Mountain.

Known for its apple trees, the area mostly consisted of hills.

North of Deep Blue Harbor and south of Lion City, a portion indeed served as a buffer zone.

With ongoing conflicts on the Eastern coast, temporary body piles weren't uncommon.

But prolonged neglect posed a problem.

"Maybe I'll find a day to fly over there and see."

With so many bodies, Matthew couldn't deny his curiosity. However, he hesitated about taking away fallen soldiers without proper consent from their families, considering his ethical stance as a necromancer.

Folding the letter, he delayed replying as Lumiere hadn't mentioned this matter. Instead, Lumiere claimed he'd continue northward. Matthew wasn't sure where to send a response.

Better to wait for the Rainforest King to settle again.

Pulling out a roughly drawn map—copied from Rhaegar, albeit poorly scaled—Matthew pinpointed Apple Avenue's location.

Contemplating when to make the trip, he found himself at a sulfur mine two hours later.

There, he encountered a gleeful young Patton in a closed-off area.

He seemed well, clad in a proper leather uniform, towering more impressively than the typical minotaur.

"How was it?" Matthew inquired about Patton's day in Bigfoot City.

Patton, brimming with confidence, replied, "I've joined Stulock Industries and became the supervisor of the third workshop in the explosives factory."

Surprised, Matthew asked, "Did you meet that demon man named Simmons?"

Patton shook his head, "Simmons seemed cunning. I didn't want to deal with him in that state, so I found another way into Stulock Industries."

Watching intently, Matthew handed him a cup of milk, signaling him to continue.

Gulping the milk down, Patton continued, "After returning to Bigfoot City, I sought out some wandering minotaurs by the roadside. Conley, a minotaur ranger we met, mentioned they were former Stulock employees. So, I approached them for information."

Matthew inquired, "And they willingly cooperated?"

Patton waved his hand, "Not really. These folks are hopeless. Despite Stulock ruining their lives, they wouldn't openly complain. They'd never spill factory secrets without something in return."

"But they're manageable. I promised to help with sulfur mining if I got in, and their eyes lit up. They spilled everything after hearing that."

"By night's end, I knew details down to the number of meat buckets at a certain processing plant."

"The next morning, I reported to the factory that held the most information—a significant unit responsible for the initial explosives manufacturing."

"Upon my arrival, a female demon saw my sturdy build and assigned me to her workshop. I gladly accepted."

"Coincidentally, that morning, the previous workshop head was late due to oversleeping. The female demon, in a rage, sacked him and put me in charge temporarily. So, on my first day, I became the workshop head, overseeing six explosive production lines."

"All morning, I observed and learned about the factory's production lines. It wasn't as flawless as I imagined. I kept those improvement points in mind."

"In the afternoon, the demon woman summoned me to her room. Seizing the chance, I presented my ideas for line enhancement."

"As I left her room, I became the official workshop head."

Matthew listened, amazed, "Do you possess an innate knack for workshop management?"

"Not really," Patton shrugged, "She scoffed at my suggestions for improvement."

"But she praised my massage skills and hinted at frequent visits to her office."

"Ahem, those details aren't crucial. What matters is that within a day, I firmly established myself within Stulock Industries. Until that demon lady gets rid of me, I'm safe, so don't worry about my safety."

Matthew remained silent, changing the subject, "Did you discover anything significant at Stulock Industries?"

"I did!" Patton spoke solemnly, "They're not just manufacturing explosives from sulfur mines. They're creating a cannon called the Mage Slayer!"

Mage Slayer? Quite an intimidating name.

Curious, Matthew asked, "What does the cannon look like? What does it do?"

Patton fetched a pristine silver pouch from his waist and handed it to Matthew, "I managed to steal one. Take a look."

Matthew was astonished, "You stole their product?"

"And where did you get that storage item?"

Patton explained, "I sneaked into their warehouse after hours. Stulock Industries is lax inside."

"The warehouse was unmanned. I found several similar storage items discarded in a corner, so I took one."

"Same with the cannon. After rummaging through half the warehouse, I lost count of how many they had. Stealing one wouldn't make a difference."

"I also grabbed some gunpowder and more sulfur."

"This storage item is surprisingly spacious, larger than the ring Rhaegar boasts about!"

Taking the pouch, Matthew inspected it. It indeed had four compartments: one held the cannon, and the rest were packed with barrels of explosives and sulfur pouches.

Weighing it, the pouch alone was worth over two thousand gold coins. Patton had a knack for these things.

"This isn't the place for the cannon. Let's go to the surface."

Saying so, Matthew led Patton out of the underground to the North of the Oak Forest, northeast of the Erosion Mark near the protective umbrella.

He set the cannon on a hill, aiming it at the Erosion Mark.

On the interface...

"You obtained Mage 'Slayer Seventeen (Screaming Cannon).'"

Screaming Cannon: When used, it disables spellcasting within a certain area.

"Creating an anti-magic zone artificially? That's potent."

Matthew gestured for Patton to fire.

After a day at Stulock Industries, Patton was well-versed in the relevant knowledge. He adjusted the cannon and, after tossing a burning clump of dry grass inside, forcefully pulled the lever.

Boom! A louder noise than thunder resounded near the duo.

A burst of flame shot out from the cannon's muzzle. But no visible damage occurred.

At that moment, Matthew instinctively covered his ears, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

After a while, he still couldn't regain his composure.

"Warning: You've experienced hearing damage, reducing your hearing temporarily by 10%!"

"Your focus is temporarily reduced by 80%. Duration: 15 minutes."

"Darn it! What kind of cannon is this? It's just a noise-maker!"

Matthew finally understood its working principle.

Apparently, the Antu Empire greeted mages with noise!

Admittedly, it was a clever approach.

Concentration is crucial for mages. Anything that weakens their focus could cause significant harm.

Especially in an information asymmetry scenario, an abundance of these screaming cannons in a mage-heavy area might be devastating.

"But such intense sonic waves might also severely affect undead creatures. Stulock Industries has a space necromancer corps; they wouldn't use this

method against mages without protective measures."

After contemplating, he realized that knowing the cannon's function made it easier to counter. Simply plugging ears with cotton would help, not to mention sound-proofing spells.

"It seems like I need to expedite my learning of soundproofing spells."

Both Matthew and Patton returned to the Oak Forest, still reeling from the noise.

Patton even took out a light bulb from his pocket and showed it to Matthew.

Initially planning to test a Thunderous Blade to see if electrical stimulation could light the bulb, Matthew couldn't muster enough focus due to the temporary hearing impairment. He had to abandon the idea for now.

As they moved a short distance, several figures approached from the other side of the Oak Forest.

Matthew squinted and recognized Zeller bringing Sivak over.

"From tonight onwards, Sivak is your responsibility."

"Take care of his safety."

Zeller earnestly pushed the blushing Sivak toward Matthew.

Patton, dumbfounded, covered his ears, "Wait, are you two moving in together?"

"I haven't prepared your wedding gift yet!"

Struggling to hear, Matthew nodded, "Alright, alright, I understand."

Sivak blushed even more.

Zeller, somewhat surprised by Matthew's straightforwardness, focused more on Patton. In the latter's puzzled gaze, Zeller said firmly:

"Come with me. Don't cause any more trouble for Matthew."

However, Patton, struggling with his ears, asked, "What did you say?"

"Louder, I can't hear!" he added.

Thinking Patton was pretending, Zeller grabbed him, ready to escort him to Rolling Stone Town.

Before leaving, he told Matthew, "Seems like our tax collector needs to clear his mind."

"This is up to you. Remember to seal the spacetime rift as soon as possible."

Matthew was still somewhat confused but caught the latter part of Zeller's message. He nodded in agreement.

The bewildered Patton was taken away.

Meanwhile, led by Matthew, Sivak walked into the darkness.

"Over the next couple of days, you'll be staying in my graveyard. It might not be as comfortable as the Lord's manor, so I hope you don't mind." As they passed an oak tree, a tree nymph emerged and cast a natural spell on Matthew, restoring his hearing. He finally snapped out of that hazy state and could communicate normally.

Sivak lowered his head and said, "It's alright, it's a special circumstance. Uncle Zeller already told me about it." Matthew nodded lightly, feeling a bit awkward about the mention of Uncle Zeller. Upon reflection, it made sense. Both Zeller and Rhaegar were in their forties, so being associated with them made Matthew feel a tad older. Plus, little Patton and Sivak were noticeably younger.

"It seems everyone's in different generations," Matthew thought to himself. Otherwise, Sivak might end up calling him 'Uncle Matthew'? Wait, why did that thought sting a bit? He shook his head firmly, sure that it was merely a symptom of distraction, not his true feelings.

He spoke up, "By the way, where's that little devil, Nini?"

Sivak replied gently, "I've sealed her away. I don't like Nini; she's a bad woman."

"Matthew, do you like bad women?" He did, but Matthew felt too embarrassed to admit it. Instead, he just cleared his throat, attempting to change the subject.

But just then, as they descended the stone stairs into the graveyard, Matthew's workplace not far off, he noticed Sivak feeling uncomfortable in the chilly atmosphere.

She attempted to find someone familiar but stopped at the kitchen door. Besides Peggy, she found another young and beautiful girl, Asma.

Sivak quietly observed Asma, who curiously stared back. The atmosphere in the kitchen suddenly turned odd.

Matthew regretted following them. Yet, with a smile, Sivak asked, "Who's this young lady? Could you introduce her to me, Matthew?"

While Matthew contemplated how to explain Asma's complex background, Peggy walked in through another door. Surprised, she looked at Sivak and lifted her into a princess-like spin, saying, "Oh, my dear, Matthew said you were ill, but you look perfectly fine to me!"

"It's wonderful that you've recovered. I haven't fully decoded that recipe from the last time; I have a few questions for you," Peggy continued, eager to chat.

"Come, come, let me introduce you. Asma is our household mascot, in charge of catching mice and lice," Peggy said, one hand securely holding Sivak while the other rested on Asma's shoulder.

Though their expressions seemed reluctant, Asma obediently transformed into a small white cat, jumping around on the floor. Sivak's tense expression disappeared instantly.

Soon, laughter filled the kitchen.

Matthew sighed in relief and quietly left.

"These situations really suit Peggy; she seems to genuinely appeal to women." But watching the trio's joyful interaction, Matthew suddenly felt a bit down.

He glanced at the data panel. Fortunately, there weren't any odd elements added to the Minotaur domain!

---

Once Sivak was settled, Matthew took a stroll through the underground. The graveyard flourished; the arrival of the Dark Knight, Agus, significantly boosted its liveliness. This guy was restless and had a strong sense of ownership. Ever since Matthew ordered the formation of the graveyard army, Agus tirelessly scoured every corner, seeking suitable soldiers.

He didn't rush; instead, he thoroughly evaluated each member's qualities and backgrounds before finalizing the list. Today, upon encountering Matthew, Agus brought the selected individuals.

Upon a quick count, Matthew discovered six Dark Knights, twelve zombies, twelve skeletons, and twenty-four spirits. And two humans?

Pointing at the confused arsonists, Matthew asked, "They are human; can they be included in the undead army?"

Agus explained, "I find their qualities suitable for transformation into the undead."

The arsonists turned pale and kneeled, trembling, "Lord Matthew! We'll never slack off during work hours again! Please spare us."

Before Matthew could respond, Agus interjected reassuringly, "Don't be afraid; becoming undead isn't as terrible as you think. Look at me; I'm perfectly normal, right?"

The arsonists trembled even more.

Matthew gestured to halt Agus's extravagant ideas for now. He inquired, "Why so many spirits?"

Agus explained, "Spirits are more agile and generally have higher levels. I believe they're suitable for scouting duties."

Thinking, Matthew asked, "Can you train different types separately?"

Agus modestly responded, "A bit."

"Alright, the first patrol team's roster is set; train whoever you wish," Matthew declared.

Looking at the trembling arsonists, Agus hesitated, "My lord, what about them?"

"Not now; let's see next week's production of the Fire Adhesive," Matthew replied stoically.

The arsonists were gratefully escorted back to their workspace.

Later, as Matthew passed by, he saw them working diligently. He wondered if given a sewing machine, they'd turn it into a spinning wheel!

"All in a day's work," Matthew smiled and left the workshop window.

The other residents in the graveyard seemed relaxed. The Hellfire Nightmare occasionally ventured deeper into the dungeons; initially worrying Matthew, he eventually let it be. The creature could access the Ethereal Plane and had a good survival instinct.

Among the skeletons and zombies that didn't enlist, a dice-rolling game became popular. Groups of them were seen tossing stone-carved dice, no matter where Matthew went. Needless to say, this trend probably stemmed from Renaismae. Unfortunately, he didn't cross paths with her this time, leaving the lecture for another meeting.

There was good news, though. Firstly, through the "Training Kin" initiative, two skeleton soldiers transformed into "Skeleton Assassins." Oddly, intentionally or not, they remained stealthy after acquiring the assassin template. Agus hadn't noticed them while selecting soldiers!

This discovery happened when Matthew inspected the skulls. These two had reached level 10, possessed intelligence, and could understand Matthew's basic commands, proving quite formidable. Deciding, Matthew added them to Agus's patrol to monitor the graveyard surroundings.

Secondly, in some corners, "Negative Energy Clusters" had started growing. These were excellent magical materials. Refined, they'd yield valuable "Negative Energy Crystals." Mixing the crystals with underground spring water produced a coveted potion called "Ansular Suspension." It could restore undead life and vitality, something they all desired.

However, the clusters weren't abundant yet, so Matthew delayed collection, fearing it might hinder further growth.

"Darkland Thorn could significantly promote the growth of Negative Energy Clusters. I need to diversify the plantings," he pondered, looking at the sparse thorn quantity nearby.

After his round, Matthew found Sivak's room dark. Instead of entering, he went to the adjacent stone house, planning to revise the combat techniques he'd recently learned.

But then, his brain trembled slightly, flooding him with vivid and detailed visions, as if from a movie montage! Instantly, his body shivered involuntarily!

"Notification: Your ability 'World Events' is active!

Based on your profession level, domain count, and perception, three messages have

been captured: 'World-Level,' 'National-Level,' and 'Personal Relevance.'

World: The Eastern Guardian 'Chen' (Legendary Mage) has slain the Sea Fiend (Legendary Creature/Behemoth) in the Eastern Sea, ending a millennium-long threat!

National: The Giant Troll tribe has seized control of Stone Armor City in the North. Their leader, King Clark, has claimed the area, vowing to restore the ancient Giant Troll Empire. Thus, the Giant Troll Kingdom becomes the first nation established on the Aendu Continent since the ascension of the Tianlun Palace.

Personal: Within Eskana (Between Realms), the Bru Tribe has torn apart the previous ceasefire agreement with the Blood Flag Kingdom.

The Bru Tribe claims to have captured the only male heir of the Blood Flag Kingdom.

The Blood Flag Kingdom refutes this, stating the royal family has no male heir...

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