This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 135

"In short, the underground information I received told me that a team of Zoller assassins secretly infiltrated Rolling Stone Town this evening. I'm not sure about their exact location, but considering the nature of Zoller, they will definitely strike tonight."

"Furthermore, two Dark God Cult assassins have been following me since I left Deep Blue Harbor. I thought they might attack me on the way, but they didn't. It wasn't until we entered Rolling Stone Town, especially when the dance started, that I felt a strong sense of danger."

"It seems they want to kill Aeliana here. While achieving their goal, they can also tarnish Rolling Stone Town's reputation. I estimate they will strike in the latter half of the dance, around 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Of course, this time is not entirely accurate because I'm not a prophet."

In the dressing room, Lawrence spoke quickly.

Matthew nodded with a serious expression.

If it was indeed Zoller assassins, then the Southern Trading Post must be facing a threat. Based on their experience attacking the Golden Wilderness from the Red Soil Mountains, they often use a decapitation strategy to eliminate the lord's family before launching a full-scale assault. Since the assassins are already on their way, the main army can't be far behind. If Lawrence's information is correct, it's significant for Rolling Stone Town.

"So, besides warning us about the assassin threat, are you also Lady Aeliana's spokesperson?" Matthew asked.

Lawrence shrugged, "Not entirely. I have my own will, and negotiations with Aeliana are just one of the reasons I came to Rolling Stone Town. Once I'm done with that, I have no more business in Deep Blue Harbor. Aeliana actually wanted to come in person, she still has some feelings for your lord, but her proposal to manage Deep Blue Harbor was rejected by me. I find that place extremely boring, dealing with a bunch of old men and their shady politics isn't my cup of tea. Compared to that, Rolling Stone Town, which is on the brink of a big event at any moment, is where I prefer to be. Can there be a profession that loves big news more than a poet? Oh, sorry, Matthew, I don't wish for Rolling Stone Town to have constant turmoil, but it seems to be the trend. The news of Ronan's loss in the star realm has been spreading in the South, and at first, people didn't believe it, but now it's been further confirmed by various sources. After losing the guardian of the South, the whole southern land is in chaos, and Rolling Stone Town probably can't fend for itself. From what I know, many crime organizations from the East Coast see Rolling Stone Town as a fat sheep and have sent spies to gather information. Losing a legendary mage's protection, Rolling Stone Town's future is uncertain. But don't worry, in your face, Rolling Stone Town is about to welcome a great legendary poet!"

Lawrence imitated Aeliana's voice.

However, the exaggeration in his tone was still familiar to Matthew.

Seeing him so confident, Matthew couldn't help but joke, "So, Legendary Poet, who's better in a fight, you or Mr. Ronan?"

Lawrence answered decisively, "Me!"

"Not even one-tenth as good as him!" Matthew retorted.

Then he complained, "Are you comparing a poet to a mage? That's not fair! I excel in other areas."

Matthew challenged, "Do you mean deception?"

Lawrence acted as if he hadn't heard the barb in Matthew's words and said, "I mean art!"

"Poets are born for art, and there's no reason to compare us to those crude mages in the field of combat. That would be an insult to art."

Matthew chuckled and reminisced, "Even in the Enlightenment era, the goddess of art, in the end, became one of the war goddesses' concubines. It seems art should not be profaned."

Lawrence stroked his chin, "Is that so? This suggests that war might be a higher form of art."

While the two were chatting, a small black cat suddenly jumped into the dressing room through the window.

The cat entered without a word, stood on its hind legs, and raised its head, gazing at the two of them with wide, innocent eyes.

Lawrence casually asked, "Is this your cat?"

Matthew saw Eli and found it amusing. He wanted to pick up the little black cat, but as soon as he approached, it quickly retreated a few steps. It still didn't speak, just stared at Matthew and Lawrence.

"Are you two having a disagreement?" Lawrence asked curiously.

Matthew sighed, "He's a druid, and he seems to have a slight crush on the image you're presenting as Lady Aeliana."

Lawrence suddenly looked horrified and stretched out his hand to cover the cat's gaze, sternly warning, "Don't get infatuated with me! Young man! I know what kind of games you druids play, but I'm a conservative person."

This time, he used a male voice.

Eli looked at him in surprise and then turned to look at Matthew.

Matthew helplessly spread his hands, "I just found out that Lady Aeliana is actually a disguise by a man I know, and he's brought important information to Rolling Stone Town. Eli, you must be disappointed again."

The little black cat hesitated for a moment, then screamed hysterically, "No, I don't believe it!"

"Can you let me get closer, Lady Aeliana..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Lawrence hurriedly pulled down the zipper on the side of his dress, and the upper part of his dress slid off.

"Uh, can I see this?" The cat's voice trembled with a hint of desire, and its nose became unusually wet.

But in the next moment, a bunch of heart-shaped chest hair entered its sight.

"I've told you not to get infatuated with me! Young man, I'm a man, and I'm much older than you!" Lawrence quickly put on his clothes and adjusted his wig. His movements were very charming, but the little black cat was completely stunned.

"This can't be!" It screamed hysterically. "You're okay, Eli?" Matthew asked. "I'm fine, Matthew. I'm a person who has sealed his heart to love a long time ago. Almost falling in love with a man doesn't make me depressed. I'm stronger than you think. I'm fine."

Matthew then asked, "Can you help me call Rega in?"

Eli answered in a somewhat flat tone, "No."

Matthew asked, "Why?"

Eli replied with a despondent tone, "Because my heart hurts."

"Do I have to force you to admit it?" "Let me take a break... My Aeliana... Why?!" A low sobbing sound followed.

Matthew couldn't help but feel sorry for him and gently activated the Oak Domain, hoping to provide some healing through the power of nature. But in the next moment, Eli's body trembled as if his soul was ascending to the heavens.

"Notification: With your help, your partner Eli has successfully accessed the subdomain of nature, 'Oak'! Current status: Exploring for the first time."

Could this be happening? Matthew was surprised, but he realized it made sense. After all, during the Samantha incident, Eli had accidentally resonated with the Oak Domain.

This time, his emotional state was similar, and breaking through the domain's restraints seemed like a natural progression. Eli had inadvertently entered the domain.

So, notifying Rega fell on Matthew's shoulders.

He and Lawrence quickly dressed, and Matthew cautiously opened the dressing room's door. He had planned to slip out unnoticed while no one was paying attention. However, the moment he pushed the door, he knew he had miscalculated.

The entrance wasn't crowded, but all the influential men in Rolling Stone Town were squeezed into the corridor between the dance floor and the dressing room's entrance. They appeared to be engaged in conversations, but their sharp gazes were fixed on the dressing room door.

Matthew pushed the door, and all eyes turned towards him, including Rega's.

Matthew had no choice but to improvise. He waved to Rega and called out, "Lady Aeliana's foot injury is worse than we thought, and I can't handle it alone. Rega, can you come and help?"

The people outside heard this, and their eyes lit up like wolves in the night.

"What kind of secret code is this?"

"Don't listen to what he said, watch what he's doing. In summary, he said he can't handle it and needs Rega's help."

"Matthew looks quite young, but why is he so inadequate?"

Ignoring the harsh whispers, Matthew watched Rega.

Although Rega seemed eager to enter, he hesitated. Matthew's patience ran out, and he grabbed Rega and dragged him inside, slamming the door shut.

Bang!

The dressing room door was closed again.

The people outside unconsciously shrank their necks.

A moment later, the sign hanging on the door slightly trembled.

The people outside all revealed meaningful expressions.

Behind the door...

Matthew leaned against the doorframe and quickly explained the situation to Rega, saying, "To avoid raising suspicion among the assassins, I had to sacrifice my reputation."

Rega looked bewildered as he stared at the three of them and asked, "What on earth are you talking about? Assassins and men?"

After a significant amount of talking from Matthew and a strip-tease display by Lawrence, Rega finally grasped the situation.

"So, you're saying that Aelia sent her cousin to impersonate her and negotiate with me, and it just so happens that her cousin is your friend? And this friend claims there will be an assassin attack at our ball? Is that correct?" Rega inquired skeptically, fixing his gaze on Lawrence.

Lawrence nodded and said, "That's right. I'm here on behalf of Aelia, and I believe you can understand her predicament."

Rega pondered for a moment and responded, "I can understand Aelia's situation, but I'm dubious about your information. The security in Rolling Stone Town has always been good, and I've never seen any assassins or killers."

Matthew reminded them, "Lawrence mentioned the Zealot Assassin Corps, which aligns with the rumors about the Red Earth Mountains we discussed earlier. We need to be cautious."

Rega nodded in agreement, "You're right. So, what do we do?"

Lawrence replied, "It's quite simple. The assassins have different targets – you and me. So, we should stay together for the rest of the night. We can't stay in the dressing room the whole time, or it'll raise suspicion. But we can't blend into the crowd either, as we might hurt innocent people. Is there any secluded place nearby suitable for an ambush?"

Rega immediately answered, "There's a garden nearby, but it's usually neglected. Most of the landscaping is overgrown with weeds, but it looks decent at night, not too dilapidated."

Lawrence decided, "That will do. We will go to the garden and try to lure the assassins there. Matthew, you should notify other trustworthy helpers and prepare them."

After further discussion, the three of them deliberately made their clothes slightly disheveled and left the dressing room one by one, attracting curious gazes from the crowd. Matthew made sure to lock both the glass door and the main door to prevent anyone from disturbing Eli, who was still in deep concentration.

The ball continued, but people's attention seemed to linger on Matthew, Rega, and "Aelia."

Shortly after leaving the dressing room, Rega invited "Aelia" to take a walk in the garden, and people discreetly observed them through the corridor between the dance floor and the garden. They were impressed by Aelia's ability to have fun.

As the night wore on, Matthew danced with Judy for a while, but she soon found him boring and left him alone on a couch by the dance floor. He noticed that Sophia had left the party an hour earlier and appeared quite tired, saying a hasty goodbye.

The clock across the room displayed eleven o'clock, and Matthew squinted, thinking, "If there are assassins, it's about time they make their move." He didn't use his abilities but relied on perception to look for suspicious individuals. However, as an amateur, he found it challenging to spot skilled shape-shifters or disguise experts. He regretted not bringing Layla, who could recognize the scent of Zealots.

As the clock's hands slowly advanced, an hour passed. Some of the guests left, and the security team changed shifts. Matthew couldn't spot any sign of the assassins. "Could Lawrence's information be wrong?" he wondered. He knew Lawrence had become a demi-god and his abilities had likely improved after the Zewater City incident. It made no sense for him to lie. So, where were the assassins?

Frustrated, Matthew thought to himself, "These assassins are quite patient! Let's see how long you're willing to hide!"

He looked toward the garden where Rega and Lawrence had moved their act from the dance floor. They seemed to enjoy themselves but would soon have to let the assassins in as the dance floor was nearly empty.

Another hour passed, and it was now past 1 a.m. The guests had dwindled, with many leaving the party. Matthew noticed that even Judy had retired to the inn with the help of two knights. The security team had also changed shifts, and only the three of them remained.

Matthew yawned and thought, "I wonder if the assassins have given up."

Rega suddenly asked, "What if assassins suddenly appear from the shadows now? Can the three of us handle it?"

Lawrence laughed, "That's unlikely. We've alerted them, and they might have backed off due to the exposure."

Rega wasn't satisfied and said, "That's probably because of your poor acting, Lawrence. You couldn't even play the role of a woman convincingly!"

Lawrence retorted, "Well, you couldn't act like a man either!"

After some back-and-forth, Matthew suggested, "They should be allowed inside now. The dance floor is almost empty, and staying in one place might arouse suspicion."

As they contemplated the situation, a guard rushed in, interrupting their conversation. He reported, "My lord, Mr. Richard is outside with a group of people!"

They all turned to the guard in surprise, and Matthew asked, "Mr. Richard? The one who went out to buy groceries tonight?"

The guard continued, "Yes, my lord. He saw a group of suspicious individuals near the inn's back wall while he was buying groceries, and he decided to apprehend them. He was concerned that they might have accomplices, so he brought them here for your inspection."

Outside the inn, a well-dressed Richard stood with a group of people. They knelt on the ground, bound together by a long rope.

After listening to the explanation, they were all left dumbfounded. Even the supposed "thieves" on the ground looked puzzled.

Taking a step back, Lawrence said, "You've got all the assassins with you!"

"Are you the 'Silver Serpent'?" Rega asked.

Richard was surprised and appraised Lawrence, "A newly ascended demi-god? 'Twilight Serenade'?"

They all exchanged wary glances, realizing they were dealing with someone powerful.

The group fell silent for a moment before Richard chuckled, "Rolling Stone Town is quite the hidden treasure. First, we lose the protection of the legendary mage Ronan, and now we have a top-tier wandering legend like the 'Silver Serpent' on our doorstep."

Richard then turned to Matthew, "So, who is this? Your friend has impressive connections. In the era of the Ascension of the Seven Saints, demi-gods are rarely seen."

Matthew was about to respond when a snowy owl flew in, carrying a magical message. Matthew caught it, but the letter exploded into a flurry of feathers, reforming into a magical message.

A white-robed mage appeared on the magical message and greeted Matthew, "Hello, Matthew. The first list of participants for the 'Traces of the Departed' project has been finalized. The details are in the physical letter."

The mage continued, "I will personally lead the team, and I hope you welcome our visit."

As the image faded, the feathers regrouped to form a physical letter in Matthew's hand. Lawrence asked, "Matthew, is there something you're not telling us?"

"You seem to know this person," Richard added.

Matthew answered, "His name is Eckmonde, the Archmage of the Northern Aerial City."

And as they discussed further, the conversation was abruptly halted when a flash of light appeared, revealing an image of a white-robed mage on the message. The mage smiled and said, "Matthew, it's been a while. The first batch of participants for the 'Traces of the Departed' project has been confirmed. The specific schedule is in the written letter."

Eckmonde continued, "I will personally lead the team, and I hope you won't mind our visit. It looks like you're quite busy over there."

As the message concluded, the feathers regrouped into a physical letter, landing in Matthew's hand. Lawrence and Richard exchanged knowing glances.

"Matthew?" Lawrence's voice sounded somewhat dry. "If I'm not mistaken, that person was—"

"You know Eckmonde, don't you?" Richard inquired.

Matthew nodded, "He's Eckmonde, the Archmage of the Northern Aerial City."

However, before they could continue, a snowy owl delivered another message, and the cycle began anew.

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