This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 160

Chapter 160: The World Like a Muddy Fish Tank

"What's the matter? Tell me," Matthew asked curiously.

"A World Tree has appeared in your forest! Haven't you noticed?" Eli's voice was filled with excitement.

Matthew fell silent.

How long has it been since you visited the Oak Forest? And you're only realizing now?

He wanted to retort in this manner, but eventually, Matthew calmly replied, "I noticed. I planted it. What about it?"

Eli took a deep breath. "But that's a World Tree! Matthew, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Matthew shrugged, "I haven't seen you around lately, didn't want to disturb you."

Eli casually said, "No need to be so polite. If you need help, just let me know."

Then, his expression turned serious. "There's another very important matter."

Matthew nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

"Several days ago, at my lowest, a small white cat kept me company. We had a great time together. I even forgot I was human at times. Sometimes, I felt being a little cat wouldn't be so bad. I liked her. She liked me. I was certain we had a mutual affection. But yesterday, right before my eyes, she turned into a human and confessed she was a spy sent by the Withering Sect! At that moment, I couldn't accept it."

Matthew was surprised. The little white cat exposed herself? What kind of game was this? Baiting for a trap?

He then asked, "You couldn't accept that she was a spy for the Withering Sect?"

Eli sighed, "More than that, I couldn't accept that she turned into a human. The instant the little white cat became human, I lost all interest in her. I didn't even want to look at her, let alone talk to her!"

"Matthew, now I'm worried. Am I turning into a weirdo?"

Matthew blinked, "Not necessarily."

"Maybe I already am."

Eli widened his eyes.

Matthew chuckled, "Just kidding. It's normal to prefer little cats over humans. Cats are carefree, but humans... they're much more complicated."

Eli nodded, "You make sense. That's what I think too."

Then, he asked in surprise, "Wait, why aren't you shocked? She's a spy from the Withering Sect! Did you already know?"

"I not only knew but also took care of the Withering Sect's people. You can tell the little white cat, if she wants to stay, she can, but she mustn't do anything foolish. The Withering Sect serves as a cautionary tale."

Eli looked at Matthew with complex eyes.

After a moment, he murmured, "So, you knew all along."

"So, it was you who sent Lorand to accompany me."

"So, all this time, it wasn't the little white cat who was with me; it was you."

Matthew considered, "Pretty much. I was worried about your emotional state. But now, it seems your resilience is stronger than I imagined. Truly worthy of the legendary Ancient Tiger!"

His eyes conveyed encouragement.

Eli chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head, "I've sent the little white cat away. Once she turned into a human, I lost interest. I don't know why, this disappointment didn't bring much pain; instead, it felt like a relief. Maybe I've learned how to control my emotions, how to navigate through fluctuations in feelings. I might have the potential to become the mature man that Lorand speaks of. From now on, I don't think I'll fall for another woman. I've learned to bury my emotions deep inside, which is beneficial for my legendary journey."

Seeing Eli confident and articulate, Matthew felt both relieved for him and a sense of déjà vu.

"Oh, Lorand went to Highleaf Territory; he asked me to say hi to you," Eli mentioned.

"I know," Matthew replied.

Eli casually calling Lorand "Big Brother" didn't surprise Matthew. With Lorand's experience and methods, handling someone like Eli was child's play. It seemed Lorand had imparted a lot of his scoundrel experience to Eli. But Matthew wondered if Eli truly understood the essence of it.

"By the way, I'm planning to find something to do. After seeing the descendant of that World Tree, I believe the issue we discussed earlier about the Oak Forest needs immediate resolution."

Eli said seriously, "We must arrange a Life Sanctuary ceremony for the Oak Forest. Although the World Tree draws power directly from the forest, its existence burdens this land. Along with the issue of species singularity, within three years, minor problems might escalate."

Matthew, equally troubled, said, "I know. I've been monitoring this. But for the Life Sanctuary, aren't you incapable?"

"Not entirely, with someone's help, I might manage with some effort," Eli replied.

"Someone to help you?" Matthew inquired.

Eli proudly exclaimed, "Matthew, I'm introducing you to an expert! If he and I work together, I'm confident we can establish the initial framework for the Life Sanctuary within a month. He's a big shot from the Multiverse Tree Sea. You'll thank me! Oh, and when you meet him, be respectful. Big shots tend to have tempers, you need to be patient. Understand?"

Matthew nodded with a strange expression.

Eventually, Eli led Matthew to the north of the Oak Forest. There, a centaur paced nervously in circles.

"Mr. Obeest, this is Matthew, the Lord of the Oak Forest. Despite being a necromancer, he unexpectedly loves peace and nature. Please, don't judge him based on that," Eli earnestly introduced.

Mr. Obeest hurriedly replied, "No judgment, none at all."

Eli sighed, "The Multiverse Tree Sea is indeed the source of nature. I've heard the creatures there are arrogant, but it seems to be a rumor. Mr. Obeest is quite amiable!"

Then, he noticed Matthew standing at a distance with a calm expression.

Eli urged, "Matthew, come over here."

However, at that moment, four consecutive sounds of kneeling reached them from behind.

Eli turned and saw Mr. Obeest on all fours.

"Mr. Obeest, what's wrong?" Eli was taken aback.

Mr. Obeest buried his head deeply, "Greetings, Lord Matthew!"

Eli tried to help him up but found Mr. Obeest unmovable.

He complained to Matthew, "Matthew, it's rude of you to stand there."

Mr. Obeest hastily reassured Eli, "It's alright, it's alright. Big shots have tempers; I can manage."

Eli noticed Mr. Obeest's nervous expression and realized there was more to the story between the two.

At that moment, Matthew calmly stated, "I indeed need a Life Sanctuary, but this Oak Forest can only have one master."

Mr. Obeest pressed his head against the ground, "If you're willing, from now on, you'll be my master."

The proud centaur said this way.

Matthew turned without a response, "Rise. First, work with Eli to conduct the ritual. I'll decide

your stay based on the outcome."

Mr. Obeest profusely thanked him while on the ground.

Seeing this scene, Eli was puzzled and deeply worried.

He looked up at the towering tree canopy, feeling a sense of enlightenment.

...

Eli and Mr. Obeest took charge of the Life Sanctuary preparations.

Matthew only provided a small amount of money—

Compared to the enormous expenses within the alliance, the natural ceremony was incredibly cost-effective.

When Eli cautiously mentioned that the Life Sanctuary might cost a few hundred gold coins, Matthew almost thought he misheard millions. But that was the reality.

Free from the extravagant spending within the alliance, Matthew regained his calmness while planting trees and tending to graves.

Two days passed in a blink.

On the third day, on the eve of heading to the Crystal Palace for spell solidification.

Matthew sat in the workshop chair at the graveyard, continuously flicking two gold coins with his right thumb.

Portraits of Eckmonde and Roderick spun in the air before falling back down.

Snap!

Matthew extended his left hand, covering the two coins on the back of his right hand.

He didn't try to guess the side.

He just felt they were hot.

Three days ago, Eckmonde bet these coins to Matthew, in front of another legendary mage.

This left Matthew with no room to refuse.

However, it didn't mean he didn't doubt these two coins.

He sensed their extraordinariness, but their hidden mysteries were beyond his abilities to discern.

Handling these two enchanted coins became a predicament for Matthew.

"There might be a solution," he thought.

Matthew took out a magic bag specially designed to hold a large number of gold coins.

Inside were thirty thousand gold coins, the remaining payment to be delivered to Suerel soon.

Matthew took out two coins and threw them into the bag, each imprinted with the portraits of two legendary mages.

With this, they would be in Suerel's possession.

She might be one of the few people in the world completely unafraid of Eckmonde.

But within seconds, Matthew took the two magic coins out again.

"Not appropriate," he said.

"Legendary mages are shrewd, and archmages are almost omniscient. It's too risky to play tricks in front of her. It's better to be sincere."

Matthew massaged his temples.

In the end, he put the two magic coins back into his jacket pocket.

After this action, Matthew hesitated, staring at the magic bag containing thirty thousand gold coins.

After more than a minute of contemplation, he placed the bag in the corner of the workshop cupboard.

He thought of another solution.

...

"Hmm? You want to borrow money from me?"

Crystal Palace, reception room.

Today, Suerel wore a beige suit, giving off a refreshing autumn vibe.

She crossed her hands on her knees and smiled:

"Didn't you say you could gather the thirty thousand gold coins yourself?"

Matthew sincerely said:

"Sorry, couldn't gather it. I have to borrow from you."

Suerel squinted her eyes in a smiling manner, but still cautioned:

"Borrowing money from me comes with interest. Are you sure you want to do this?"

Matthew calmly replied:

"I'm sure."

Besides the interest to be paid, borrowing money from Suerel had many potential benefits.

The most direct one was the unbreakable debtor-creditor relationship.

Unlike a one-time service provided by a spellcaster, Matthew didn't plan to pay back this debt anytime soon.

With this bond, they were at least not strangers.

And having a relationship with an archmage, even if it involved debt, could be useful.

If Matthew saw the interest as Suerel's PR fee, it made him feel less uneasy.

Suerel looked at him contentedly:

"Smart young man. Those who owe me money always catch my attention. It's more advantageous than disadvantageous for young people like you."

"But just three days ago, you didn't think so. What changed your mind?" she added.

Her gaze unabashedly scrutinized Matthew.

After a few seconds, Suerel chuckled:

"So, it's them!"

Matthew felt a warmth in his chest.

The two magic coins flew out of his pocket and into Suerel's hands.

"Eckmonde and Roderick?" Suerel snorted.

"I understand your concerns. You're too cautious, suspecting even a beloved mage leader. Is that right?" Matthew hurriedly denied:

"I haven't."

"But your suspicion is not entirely wrong. Eckmonde is indeed not a good person."

Suerel lightly tapped one of the coins, turning it into a shiny voucher:

"Roderick's spell coin hides a voucher that can be used in any magic item shop produced by Roderick's factory. It gives a fifty-thousand reduction on purchases over five hundred thousand. That old man is still as stingy as ever."

Then, she flicked Eckmonde's coin, turning it into a dark green gem:

"This is a backdoor left by Eckmonde—a dark green gem. Holding this token allows entry into the 'Snake Mountain Society,' a secret organization where Eckmonde gathers talented mages. They work for him, and in return, he rewards them handsomely."

Matthew contemplated:

"Do these people include Blorken from the Dragon Cult?"

Suerel nodded:

"The Snake Mountain Society needs someone to do the dirty work, and Blorken was the former vice president of the society."

"Joining this organization will help you grow rapidly. Aren't you tempted?" she asked.

Matthew shook his head:

"I just want to follow my own path."

Suerel snapped her fingers:

"Understood. As a reward for you borrowing money from me, I'll take care of this dark green gem. If Eckmonde comes looking for it later, tell him I took it from you willingly."

"He won't dare to harm you."

Matthew thanked her repeatedly.

"If your moral standards were lower, joining the Snake Mountain Society would be a good choice. Many mages in the alliance want to join but lack the opportunity. My point is, among all those doing Eckmonde's bidding, there's only one Blorken. If you can pass your own moral test, this secret organization can help you become stronger."

Suerel spoke in a tone of regret.

Matthew remained steadfast:

"Joining another organization too early would only distract me. My current responsibilities are enough; I just want to proceed step by step. I don't aim for quick success."

Suerel nodded:

"Having your own ideas is a good thing. You aren't swayed by my construct arts or Eckmonde's organization. I believe you'll make your mark in the future."

"But you don't need to harbor too much hostility towards Eckmonde. He's not as bad as you imagine. Okay, I admit I know he has done many bad things, but he's probably not completely rotten yet. Eckmonde's existence represents the essence of this alliance."

"For money, for power, for knowledge—mages do anything. That's why many forbidden experiments persist within the alliance. Morality is a luxury for mages. Only when a mage is powerful enough can they afford to show compassion for ordinary people. Like me. I don't agree with their methods, but I can understand them. After all, not everyone can make a living with legitimate skills."

"That being said, you might think the alliance is beyond redemption after my words. However, every time this world faces a crisis, it's these supposedly irredeemable mages who step forward to support it."

"Take Eckmonde, for example. I know he instigated Blorken's defection, collected the forbidden material Dragon Mountain Ash under the guise of the Dragon Cult, and was involved in several cases of human trafficking—all to support his nonsensical magical research. There's no washing away these sins. It's inhumane and even heinous. Yet, forty-nine years ago, when the star beast Dorola invaded the Eindor continent, breaking through the dimensional barrier, it was Eckmonde who stood at the front lines."

"The battle in the star realm was extremely brutal. Many mages died in the campaign. Eckmonde himself was seriously injured, his chest torn open by Dorola's tail, his heart completely crushed, unrecoverable to this day. Even legendary restoration magic almost failed to save him. Even after driving away Dorola, the lingering power still troubles Eckmonde's nerves. He has completely lost the ability to sleep for forty-nine years. He can't close his eyes. His soul also bears the permanent trauma left by Dorola."

"But forty-nine years ago, what happened on this continent? Just continuous months of ice storms in the northern tundra. Down south, the coast experienced several heavy rains. No one knew what breaking the dimensional barrier meant for the Eindor continent.

All we knew was that after the ascension of the heavenly palace, many mages died every year in external battles."

"After listening, Matthew was speechless for a long time."

Suerel looked at him brightly:

"I tell you this not to extol Eckmonde's greatness or the greatness of mages—it's not that way. Before the ascension of the heavenly palace, the gods also sacrificed a lot to protect this world. It's just that now this responsibility falls on our heads."

"Even if you're powerful, you're still insignificant to this world. All we can do is find our place and try to do our best. This world is like a murky fish tank, and we're like fish inside it. If you disdain the polluted water, you can choose to be self-righteous. If you have no moral bottom line, joining in would be just a revelry. But if you have ambitions and want to peek above the water's surface, then you must exert yourself, learn to discern the way forward in the murky water, gather strength. Only then might you someday catch a glimpse of the entire fish tank. And when that time comes, do you know what you'll need?"

Matthew earnestly replied:

"Please, enlighten me."

"Money!"

"Money!"

"Still money!"

Suerel snapped her fingers cheerfully and got up:

"Let's go to the workshop."

"Take off your clothes first."

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