This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 18

"Boss, look, there's a small cabin over there!"

With those words, he was about to walk over.

"Don't go, Mobley!"

Diane suddenly stopped the tall and impulsive act.

"Follow me, right now!"

As Diane spoke, he quickly retreated from the forest.

Mobley didn't understand, but still obediently followed Diane's footsteps.

They continued to move until they were completely out of the woods.

Mobley couldn't help but ask, "Why did we retreat? I say we could set a fire here! I can feel the vitality here, and if the fire burns brightly enough, we might make significant progress on the legendary road!"

Diane also seemed tempted.

But quickly, he shook his head. "I've said it many times to you and the others in the guild: restraint is the most important quality for arsonists. It's simple to give in to the desire to burn everything, but getting out of it unscathed is not so easy."

"Take a closer look at this forest; it's obviously recently artificially cultivated, and that cabin—I just sensed the presence of a domain in the woods. This means there's at least a powerful druid nearby, and Blackthorn probably died at his hands."

"Until we're sure of his level, I don't want to engage with a high-ranking druid in his domain."

Mobley scratched the back of his head, unconvinced. "But I've never heard of any powerful druids in Rolling Stone Town."

Diane looked at him impatiently. "Information needs to be updated. Tonight, we'll stay outside and tomorrow we'll gather information in town, prepare, make a plan, and then take action!"

"Understand?"

Mobley grumbled, "Fine, fine, you're the boss, I'll follow your lead."

The two of them circled around the oak forest.

Their figures gradually disappeared into the night.

At the edge of the forest.

Matthew's figure quietly emerged.

On his shoulder.

An oak fairy was chattering away, and she was particularly excited.

"These two people are no good... They're probably Blackthorn's associates, members of the Silver Frost Brotherhood."

Matthew glanced at the mission bar.

The progress of the maintenance task had not been updated.

But he didn't take it lightly.

In his view, the system wasn't all-powerful. Perhaps the mission would only update when he had gathered enough information himself. He trusted his intuition more than anything else.

"Did you get a good look at the two of them?" Matthew asked the fairy on his shoulder.

The fairy revealed a proud expression, then nuzzled Matthew's earlobe, appearing to enjoy herself immensely.

...

The next day.

The police station.

Snap!

Two lifelike portraits were placed on Bradley's desk.

Bradley was having breakfast, but when he saw Matthew, he wiped away the bread crumbs from his beard and quickly asked, "Are these two people a problem?"

Matthew nodded. "They may be related to the arson on the farm."

Bradley stared at the portraits. "I see. I'll gather some people to secretly track them. If they really have a problem, I'll apprehend them. But today is the opening day of the Spring Knowledge Festival, and there are a lot of people in town. I need to prioritize the safety of the townsfolk."

Matthew understood. He wasn't worried that Bradley wouldn't be a match for those two. This young captain was already a peak third-tier warrior, and taking on Blackthorn was well within his capabilities. Besides, he had many team members, well-armed and well-equipped.

It was widely known that combat below the fifth tier still adhered to common sense. Except for spellcasters who could work miracles, in a brawl between warriors, the side with more people, better armor, and better weapons would always prevail!

Even though Rolling Stone Town was in a remote area, it wasn't lacking in elite warriors. It was said that Lord Regar himself was a fourth-tier warrior!

The only thing they truly lacked here was spellcasters.

"These portraits are well done. Can you introduce the artist to me?" Bradley looked at the two portraits and said.

Matthew couldn't help but tease, "Oak fairies are probably the most discerning creatures in the world when it comes to appearances, and their princess is among the most selective. They prefer handsome men and young boys."

"As for you, Bradley, I hate to say it, but you look at least forty... Unless you shave your beard, they probably wouldn't want to see you."

Bradley was immediately unhappy. "Hey, don't say that. My mother praised me for looking quite spirited this morning! As for my beard, what's wrong with it? Don't you think it makes me look manly? As for my age, I'm only twenty-four this year! We're the same age, Matthew!"

Matthew shrugged. "Give my regards to Miss Liz, then."

With that, he left the police station.

...

The trading area.

The agricultural street.

Today was the opening day of the Spring Knowledge Festival, and residents from the surrounding farms and villages gathered in Rolling Stone Town.

The streets were crowded with people.

Matthew had to squeeze through the crowd and past a cart laden with white turnips and lettuce leaves.

He reached a corner of the market.

Under a makeshift tent.

A young man with long hair was glancing at the waists of passersby, his eyes flashing.

"Jeff! Stop looking, or there'll be no one to save you if you get caught!"

Matthew slapped him on the shoulder without any courtesy.

Jeff was startled.

"Matthew, is that you? Um, I wasn't planning to steal anything; I was just looking..."

He explained in a hurry.

Seeing that Matthew had no intention of getting tough with him, he heaved a sigh of relief.

"Is it oak seeds, right? Oh, and I'm out of the growth potion, and the druid I used to buy from disappeared. I haven't found a new source yet."

Jeff was a merchant.

He traveled between Rolling Stone Town and the Watcher's Highlands, making a living by selling the special products of both places.

His prices were reasonable, but unfortunately, he had sticky fingers and had been caught stealing several times.

The last time he was caught, he should have been sentenced, but Matthew had used his connections with Bradley to get him off the hook.

At the time, Jeff had been so grateful and vowed never to be a "sticky-fingered thief" again.

However, Matthew didn't trust him too much. If there were more human merchants traveling between Rolling Stone Town and the Watcher's Highlands, he would have found a different supplier for the oak seeds. But the seeds he needed were only available from the druids over there, and he didn't want to make a fuss.

As usual, Matthew chose two small bags of seeds.

After a brief inspection, Matthew furrowed his brow. "The quality of these seeds doesn't seem very good."

"Really? That can't be!" Jeff appeared nervous. "I specifically asked for the best seeds, and that chubby guy assured me they came from inside the Druidic Order, so the quality should be excellent... Damn it, I knew you couldn't trust human words!"

Matthew shook his head.

He had delved into the oak domain and could sense things quite clearly.

On the surface, these seeds appeared vibrant and full of life, but they seemed to have been rudely damaged by some kind of force internally.

Trying to germinate these seeds would result in a less than ten percent success rate.

This was not even close to the quality of the seeds Jeff had provided before.

"Did you buy these from a human merchant in the Watcher's Highlands?" Matthew pondered.

"Yep, I just told you that earlier. The druid I used to buy from disappeared, and they seemed to have some trouble in their forest. Matthew, you're not planning to reject these, are you?"

Jeff's face turned gloomy. "I might really have to go back to my old ways!"

Matthew did not mince words and gave him a once-over. "It's up to you, but the next time you're caught, no one will help you."

That said, Matthew still accepted the batch of seeds at a price twenty percent lower than the market rate.

After all, in Rolling Stone Town, only Matthew would buy oak seeds.

Jeff had helped him many times before, and this was the first time he had made a mistake.

"The next time you buy seeds, be sure to find a local druid. The human beings over there are no different from those here. Substituting lower quality for better quality is far too common."

The transaction completed, Matthew cautioned, "I understand, but I can't tell the quality of the seeds."

"By the way, I have news about the 'Sprouting Spell' you asked me to inquire about. If you need it, I can buy the spellbook for you next time."

Matthew nodded.

The Druid's "Sprouting Spell" could accelerate seed germination, a vital ability for those involved in tree cultivation. Mastering this spell could significantly enhance tree planting efficiency. Each step of tree planting was interdependent. If one link was affected, the overall efficiency would suffer.

Matthew, on the verge of leaving, suddenly remembered Jeff's notorious history as a "three-handed thief." He decided to inquire further, "Can you pick locks?"

Jeff hesitated and replied, "I can, but I haven't done it in a long time."

Matthew pressed on, "What about this lock?" He handed the lock-picking book to Jeff.

Jeff took the book and tested the lock by tapping it, listening closely. He then shook his head, "I'm afraid not. This is a complex lock, and my skills can't open it."

"But I can find a hatchet to break it open for you."

Break it open?

That was out of the question! Doing that would most likely result in the spells within the book self-destructing.

"No need, thank you."

Matthew calmly retrieved the spellbook.

Jeff looked at the silver-edged book reluctantly, "Why don't you try the 'Craftsmen Protection Association'? They have locksmiths too."

"The Craftsmen Protection Association?"

Matthew had heard of this organization in Rolling Stone Town, but he wasn't very familiar with it. He had obtained his cabin through Bradley's introduction and hadn't paid much attention to it.

"Yes, it's an organization led by Mr. Richard, created to protect the legitimate rights and interests of craftsmen. Many carpenters, stonemasons, and workshop workers are members of the association."

Jeff spoke with deep admiration, "Mr. Richard is a true gentleman, isn't he? He's one of the few people in the Five-Man Committee who is willing to do real work. The craftsmen really respect him."

"The association building is north of the Craftsman's Quarter; you should be able to find it easily."

Matthew thanked Jeff for the suggestion.

Navigating through a pile of tomatoes, spinach, and pig dung, Matthew finally reached the town square.

The marketplace was becoming more crowded.

...

The Craftsmen Protection Association's headquarters stood in stark contrast to the bustling marketplace. Directed by the guidance of the receptionist, Matthew found his way to the locksmith's office on the second floor.

The office door was ajar.

"Knock, knock, knock!" Matthew tapped on the door while peering inside.

Inside the office, there was only one man in his thirties. Dressed like a gentleman, he sat with utmost decorum, engrossed in reading a thick book.

"Mr. Richard?"

Matthew was somewhat surprised, "I thought this was the meeting place for locksmiths."

Richard set down his book and joked, "I see, it's Matthew, the outstanding citizen just a step away. Please come in."

"You're right; this is indeed a room for locksmiths. However, they've all gone to the market to enjoy the Spring Knowledge Festival. You know how it is."

Matthew nodded in understanding.

He was about to say his goodbyes when Richard suddenly asked, "Do you need someone to pick a lock for you?"

Matthew nodded.

"Yes, what kind of lock is it? A household lock or…"

Richard hesitated and asked carefully.

Matthew forthrightly presented the spellbook, "A magical book's complex lock."

Richard's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Did you accidentally lose the key?"

Matthew candidly replied, "Not that complicated. I am its new owner."

Richard pondered his response for a while.

Then, with his fingertips just grazing the lock of the spellbook, he paused, his mouth half-open.

After a long delay, he hesitantly said, "Hand it over. I'll try to open it for you."

Matthew didn't hesitate and handed over the book.

Richard's reputation in town was excellent, and Matthew wasn't concerned about him tampering with the spellbook.

But the locksmith's behavior seemed a bit peculiar.

"Could he be a lock enthusiast but lacking the necessary skills, and he's afraid of damaging the book and having me blame him?"

That's what Matthew thought.

Just as Richard's fingertips touched the lock on the book, there was a "click."

The lock on the book actually popped open on its own!

...

Inside the office, there was a moment of silence.

"What the heck! This lock was already open! How could you be so careless?" Richard chuckled.

Matthew continued to observe him.

About half a minute later, Richard, somewhat awkwardly, said, "Or maybe it just happened by chance? It seems like the lock opened itself…"

Matthew still didn't say anything, keeping his eyes locked onto Richard.

It was a very long moment.

Then, Richard cautiously uttered, "You know, this could be me opening the lock for you. Let's say you owe me a favor?"

Matthew agreed, "Sure."

He then scanned the quest log.

"Hint: Richard used his universal dexterity to unlock 'The Warding Psalms' for you.

...

Note: Universal Dexterity, a fifth-tier thief ability, allows opening 95% of the world's physical locks and 60% of magical locks below the fifth tier."

As Matthew's adventure continued, he found himself indebted to the resourceful and talented locksmith, Richard.

Chapter 19 >>

• You can access the Table of content from HERE.
• You can access publicly available chapters of "This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees" right HERE.
• Your invaluable feedback and ratings mean the world to me. Please take a moment to rate this novel at Novelupdate.
• You can also check out the other Novels I'm currently translating by clicking HERE.
• If you come across any mistakes within this chapter, kindly notify me in the comments below, so that I can make the necessary corrections.