This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 136

The time was approaching 4 AM, and the street behind the inn, known for its fresh produce, had already come alive with people shouting about fresh vegetables.

The group of people in the street seemed a bit puzzled, and it was evident that something unusual was going on. Responding to Zeller's suggestion, they headed to the Lord's Mansion's office hall.

Matthew understood Zeller's intentions. This arrangement was most likely to ensure the negotiations for the local matters went smoothly and could seamlessly transition into the morning meeting.

Despite his exhaustion, there was no choice but to ask Mrs. Wesley, who had been hastily awakened, to prepare more coffee for everyone.

Inside the office hall, the atmosphere was rather tense. The three leaders of Rolling Stone Town each had their roles, and Lawrence confidently occupied a guest seat. The standoff between the two legendary figures was palpable, but Reiga and his team seemed to welcome it.

Matthew knew that Lawrence's presence added pressure, and without Richard, they might have been at a disadvantage in the negotiations before they even began. Even though Richard might be reluctant to participate, he had contributed his share to the Committee.

Of course, Richard had also shown his skill in catching thieves on multiple occasions. Matthew suspected that Richard played a significant role in maintaining law and order in Rolling Stone Town, besides himself.

The silence was broken by Lawrence. He smiled at the others and said, "Don't give me that look, as if I'm a venomous snake. Matthew and I are good friends, and after last night's cooperation, I think I can consider myself an honorary member of your group."

Everyone turned to look at Matthew for confirmation, and he nodded slightly. He then asked Lawrence, "Do you still need to impersonate Miss Alyanna, or can we conclude the performance?"

Lawrence replied, "Not necessary. The assassins from the Dark God Cult have been apprehended, and Alyanna's side is likely taking action regarding Deep Blue Harbor. My role can be considered concluded."

He explained further, "The Dark God Cult is one of the more active criminal organizations on the East Coast. They also have a keen interest in Rolling Stone Town. I initially came to warn you, but since you have the Silver Serpent, everything seems under control."

Lawrence couldn't help but complain, "Matthew, you should have told me about the Silver Serpent earlier. I wouldn't have been so nervous. After all, the Silver Serpent's unique ability is to deal with others inside his Domain. By that, I mean the roaming legends within his territory. Since those legends are like mice, and the Silver Serpent excels at catching mice, places where he resides typically have little to no thieves, am I right?"

With a provocative glance at Richard, he continued. Richard remained calm and said, "Well, I also know a bit about the abilities of the Twilight Singers. I've heard that you can draw power from the destruction and despair between grand events. Wherever bad things happen, you show up. Even though you're not the cause of the problems, your presence is rarely welcome."

"In the Age of Enlightenment, the gods called you crows. I have a more sinister hypothesis: since you can draw power from destruction, why not create some destruction of your own? What do you think?"

Lawrence appeared a bit apprehensive and responded, "Snakes are indeed the most sinister creatures, always ready to slander others. I can draw power from the destruction of major figures, organizations, and even the end of the world, but the core of a Twilight Singer is observation and song, not direct involvement. If you want to accuse me of bringing disaster to Rolling Stone Town, you are greatly mistaken. However, I understand; after all, snakes have limited brain capacity."

Richard sneered, "But your demi-god Domain is built on deceit and performance. I wouldn't even be surprised if this entire scenario were your own production!"

"Is that so? Do you think you're worth deceiving? Performance also requires effort, and I doubt you qualify as my audience to be deceived."

"Gentlemen, there's no need to get upset," Zeller intervened as a peacemaker. "I'm willing to believe that Mr. Lawrence has no ill intentions toward Rolling Stone Town. If it weren't for Mr. Richard's presence, the information he brought might prove useful."

"I just received a secret message from the front scouts, around 3 AM, stating that the army stationed at the southern trade station near the Red Earth Mountain Range has retreated. This is likely due to the capture of the Azorl assassins. The army consisted of over three hundred people, and if they were to attack the southern trade station, we might suffer some losses."

With that, he unfolded a piece of paper. Matthew noticed that when he entered the office hall with Zeller, he didn't have this paper. It seemed that Zeller and his scouts had a secret communication method with a high level of timeliness.

"Over three hundred people! That's a lot," Reiga exclaimed, his face filled with astonishment.

Zeller nodded gravely. For the current situation in Eindor's southern region, a well-equipped and motivated force of three hundred people could not be ignored. Rolling Stone Town's true elite consisted of around forty members of the Lord's Guard, at most supplemented by an equal number of Watch members, totaling less than a hundred people. Other groups like the Lord's Guard's attendants numbered around a hundred seventy. All the militia from various villages combined amounted to over a hundred people. Considering the town's permanent population, around six to eight thousand, along with the villages on the border, it barely exceeded ten thousand. Without factoring in the Hellgate Portal, around a thousand troops was a threshold, not due to the town's inability to afford more but because it would be very challenging to manage beyond that.

Red Earth Mountain was three to five times the size of Rolling Stone Town, and as prosperous. Combining the previous intelligence, their main forces were attacking the Highleaf Dominion and sweeping the Golden Plains. The maximum threat they posed to the southern trade station was only a quarter of their numbers. Seeing this, Matthew realized that the new Lord of Red Earth Mountain had organized a conventional force of over 1200 troops in a very short time, which was no easy feat.

Even if they repelled this current army from Red Earth Mountain, there remained a significant hidden threat.

"The war potential of Red Earth Mountain is quite formidable, and the fall of the Golden Plains will cause a significant rise in grain prices this year. If Highleaf Dominion is also occupied by them, Rolling Stone Town's economy will be severely affected. Of course, the more significant issue is their threat to us. Even with legendary mages to deter them, they might still attempt to test us from time to time, which is troublesome," Zeller summed up gravely.

The others had serious expressions. Only Lawrence appeared nonchalant and said, "Three hundred ordinary people in an army? They are just chickens and dogs. I can drive them all away by myself!"

Richard asked, "With just your words?"

Lawrence shrugged, "Occasionally, I use my hands."

Reiga questioned, "If you are so powerful, why didn't you directly help Alyanna pacify Deep Blue Harbor?"

Lawrence replied casually, "I'm just her cousin, not her father. I'm not obligated to solve all her problems. Once you become a legend, you'll understand that dealing with mortal matters is best kept to a minimum. They distract you, become a burden, and I personally dislike all the killing. It's not as elegant as applause and praise. By the way, I almost forgot; I'm here to negotiate on behalf of Alyanna and you!"

Zeller and Reiga exchanged glances. Zeller then asked, "Tell us your conditions."

Lawrence immediately launched into a lengthy explanation, and Zeller cautiously responded with a few vague and ambiguous remarks. This back-and-forth continued, with both sides engaging in an intense verbal battle.

Matthew, along with Richard and Reiga, found no opportunity to interject. The heated debate between the two tall men was not particularly entertaining.

Matthew decided to take this opportunity to return to his office. He believed that the two would eventually reach a favorable outcome. During this time, he decided to continue studying his magic.

Lately, he had been learning two spells: "Soul Gaze" from the Necromancy Domain and "Petrification" from the Transformation Domain.

The former was progressing smoothly. Matthew sat in his comfortable chair, crushed a squirrel's spleen, and, in the next moment, his eyes seemed to turn into two terrifying black holes.

...

At approximately 4 AM, the streets behind the inn, renowned for its fresh produce, bustled with activity as people loudly touted their fresh vegetables.

The group of people in the street appeared perplexed, indicating that something unusual was afoot. Heeding Zeller's advice, they made their way to the Lord's Mansion's office hall.

Matthew comprehended Zeller's intent. This arrangement was likely to ensure the negotiations for local matters went off without a hitch, transitioning seamlessly into the morning meeting.

Despite his fatigue, there was no choice but to rouse Mrs. Wesley, who had been roused from her slumber, to prepare more coffee for everyone.

Inside the office hall, the atmosphere was palpably tense. The three leaders of Rolling Stone Town each had their roles, and Lawrence confidently occupied a guest seat. The standoff between the two legendary figures was evident, but Reiga and his team appeared to welcome it.

Matthew knew that Lawrence's presence added pressure. Without Richard, they might have been at a disadvantage in the negotiations before they even began. Even though Richard might be reluctant to participate, he had contributed his share to the Committee.

Of course, Richard had also showcased his talent for apprehending thieves on multiple occasions. Matthew suspected that Richard played a substantial role in maintaining law and order in Rolling Stone Town, aside from himself.

The silence was disrupted by Lawrence, who smiled at the others and said, "No need for that suspicious look, as if I'm a venomous snake. Matthew and I are close friends, and after last night's collaboration, I believe I can consider myself an honorary member of your group."

All eyes turned toward Matthew for confirmation, and he gave a subtle nod. He then asked Lawrence, "Do you still need to impersonate Miss Lysanna, or can we conclude the charade?"

Lawrence responded, "It's no longer necessary. The Azorl assassins have been apprehended, and it's likely that Alyanna's side is taking action regarding Deep Blue Harbor. My role can be considered concluded."

He elaborated further, "The Dark God Cult is one of the more active criminal organizations on the East Coast. They also have a keen interest in Rolling Stone Town. I initially came to warn you, but since you have Silver Serpent, everything seems under control."

Lawrence couldn't help but quip, "Matthew, you should have told me about the Silver Serpent earlier. I wouldn't have been so nervous. After all, the Silver Serpent's unique ability is to deal with others inside his Domain. By that, I mean the roaming legends within his territory. Since those legends are like mice, and the Silver Serpent excels at catching mice, places where he resides typically have few or no thieves, am I right?"

With a taunting glance at Richard, he continued. Richard remained calm and said, "Well, I also know a bit about the abilities of the Twilight Singers. I've heard that you can draw power from the destruction and despair between grand events. Wherever bad things happen, you show up. Even though you're not the cause of the problems, your presence is rarely welcome."

"In the Age of Enlightenment, the gods referred to you as crows. I have a more sinister hypothesis: since you can draw power from destruction, why not create some destruction of your own? What do you think?"

Lawrence seemed somewhat uneasy and responded, "Snakes are indeed the most sinister creatures, always ready to slander others. I can draw power from the destruction of major figures, organizations, and even the end of the world, but the core of a Twilight Singer is observation and song, not direct involvement. If you want to accuse me of bringing disaster to Rolling Stone Town, you are greatly mistaken. However, I understand; after all, snakes have limited brain capacity."

Richard sneered, "But your demi-god Domain is built on deceit and performance. I wouldn't even be surprised if this entire scenario were your own production!"

"Is that so? Do you think you're worth deceiving? Performance also requires effort, and I doubt you qualify as my audience to be deceived."

Gentlemen, there's no need to get upset," Zeller intervened as a peacemaker. "I'm willing to believe that Mr. Lawrence has no ill intentions toward Rolling Stone Town. If it weren't for Mr. Richard's presence, the information he brought might prove useful."

"I just received a secret message from the front scouts, around 3 AM, stating that the army stationed at the southern trade station near the Red Earth Mountain Range has retreated. This is likely due to the capture of the Azorl assassins. The army consisted of over three hundred people, and if they were to attack the southern trade station, we might suffer some losses."

With that, he unfolded a piece of paper. Matthew noticed that when he entered the office hall with Zeller, he didn't have this paper. It seemed that Zeller and his scouts had a secret communication method with a high level of timeliness.

"Over three hundred people! That's a lot," Reiga exclaimed, his face filled with astonishment.

Zeller nodded gravely. For the current situation in Eindor's southern region, a well-equipped and motivated force of three hundred people could not be ignored. Rolling Stone Town's true elite consisted of around forty members of the Lord's Guard, at most supplemented by an equal number of Watch members, totaling less than a hundred people. Other groups like the Lord's Guard's attendants numbered around a hundred seventy. All the militia from various villages combined amounted to over a hundred people. Considering the town's permanent population, around six to eight thousand, along with the villages on the border, it barely exceeded ten thousand. Without factoring in the Hellgate Portal, around a thousand troops was a threshold, not due to the town's inability to afford more but because it would be very challenging to manage beyond that.

Red Earth Mountain was three to five times the size of Rolling Stone Town, and as prosperous. Combining the previous intelligence, their main forces were attacking the Highleaf Dominion and sweeping the Golden Plains. The maximum threat they posed to the southern trade station was only a quarter of their numbers. Seeing this, Matthew realized that the new Lord of Red Earth Mountain had organized a conventional force of over 1200 troops in a very short time, which was no easy feat.

Even if they repelled this current army from Red Earth Mountain, there remained a significant hidden threat.

"The war potential of Red Earth Mountain is quite formidable, and the fall of the Golden Plains will cause a significant rise in grain prices this year. If Highleaf Dominion is also occupied by them, Rolling Stone Town's economy will be severely affected. Of course, the more significant issue is their threat to us. Even with legendary mages to deter them, they might still attempt to test us from time to time, which is troublesome," Zeller summed up gravely.

The others had serious expressions. Only Lawrence appeared nonchalant and said, "Three hundred ordinary people in an army? They are just chickens and dogs. I can drive them all away by myself!"

Richard asked, "With just your words?"

Lawrence shrugged, "Occasionally, I use my hands."

Reiga questioned, "If you are so powerful, why didn't you directly help Alyanna pacify Deep Blue Harbor?"

Lawrence replied casually, "I'm just her cousin, not her parent. I'm not obligated to solve all her problems. Once you become a legend, you'll understand that dealing with mortal matters is best kept to a minimum. They distract you, become a burden, and I personally dislike all the killing. It's not as elegant as applause and praise. By the way, I almost forgot; I'm here to negotiate on behalf of Alyanna and you."

Zeller and Reiga exchanged glances. Zeller then asked, "Tell us your conditions."

Lawrence immediately launched into a lengthy explanation, and Zeller cautiously responded with a few vague and ambiguous remarks. This back-and-forth continued, with both sides engaging in an intense verbal battle.

Matthew, along with Richard and Reiga, found no opportunity to interject. The heated debate between the two tall men was not particularly entertaining.

Matthew decided to take this opportunity to return to his office. He believed that the two would eventually reach a favorable outcome. During this time, he decided to continue studying his magic.

Lately, he had been learning two spells: "Soul Gaze" from the Necromancy Domain and "Petrification" from the Transformation Domain.

The former was progressing smoothly. Matthew sat in his comfortable chair, crushed a squirrel's spleen, and, in the next moment, his eyes seemed to turn into two terrifying black holes.

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