Amber Xu floated effortlessly, surveying his domain, and found everything in perfect order.
The humans who had sought refuge had built their homes, and their efforts in cultivating the land were already bearing fruit. With the aid of magical potions, they expected their first harvest in just a few days—likely to be a bountiful one.
As the humans calculated the amount of grain they were required to surrender, they were pleasantly surprised by how much better their lives had become. Watching the wheat near harvest, much of their previous unease melted away.
Following the recent battle, the Boar Knight and other lords had suffered heavy losses, and they dared not challenge Amber Xu any longer. Instead, they focused on their own companions. Three lords had perished on the battlefield, and upon their return, Amber Xu knew little of what the Boar Knight and others had plotted, but their actions were swiftly encroaching on the territories of the fallen.
Amber Xu was uncertain about the Boar Knight's rationale or whether he would recover from his losses. What he did know was that a great number of free people had fled recently, heading straight for his domain.
The population of his territory had now surpassed three hundred, a significant number by any measure.
The sudden influx of people did not trouble Amber Xu. Raul had grown into a competent administrator.
Amber Xu couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia. The Raul who once couldn't read and had blindly run to his territory was now taking on the demeanor of a human governor, managing their small populace with impressive organization.
The development of the territory was now on track, requiring no further concern from Amber Xu.
As for the three captives, they caused him no distress.
Harvey sat quietly in his cell, reading books as if it were his home, even bringing up the topic of rent. Allen and his fellow priests maintained their daily prayers and exercise routines, living with remarkable discipline. True to their word, the Holy Paladins had assured they would remain peaceful prisoners, giving Amber Xu no cause for concern.
This trait of honor was something Amber Xu respected. Few people were as true to their word as these paladins.
Amber Xu next visited Isabel's laboratory and was pleased to see a marked improvement in her alchemy skills. She could now craft more complex potions, and Amber Xu rewarded her with an enchanted ring.
The ring, taken from a Light Priest, was unfortunately only usable by humans. Still, it was perfect for Isabel. It had been imbued with a Healing Spell, usable once per day, capable of healing wounds and curing common ailments. Given that Isabel was now helping her brother manage the free people, the Healing Spell was more valuable than any combat spell.
After inspecting the territory, Amber Xu retrieved his Soulbox, carefully maintaining it.
To his surprise, he found himself with an unusual amount of free time.
Once perpetually busy, with endless experiments and a constant shortage of gold, Amber Xu now found his storehouses brimming with wealth after his business deal with Deceased Rose, who had already made her first payment.
However, the second phase of his mercury cultivation project had yet to commence, as it required vast quantities of metal ores. He would have to wait for Deceased Rose to take action before he could acquire the bankrupt mine.
And so, Amber Xu found himself unexpectedly idle.
For a Lich, this was hardly a good thing.
Without the limitations of a mortal body, he had no need for the mundane desires that drive the living. Amber Xu needed something to occupy his time, or the boredom and emptiness he would experience would be far more intense than that of any mortal.
"Perhaps I should count my gold?" Amber Xu mused, but quickly dismissed the thought as foolish.
Counting gold would never increase its quantity. As a rational Lich, he should relish both the process of earning and spending wealth.
Amber Xu thought for a moment before deciding to visit his headless companion for a drink.
After all, the man had gifted him several hundred thousand gold coins as a gesture of goodwill. It would be poor form to leave his guest alone to entertain himself without at least offering some hospitality in return.
Transforming into his human form, Amber Xu left the castle and flew towards Alchemy City.
He hadn't visited in some time, and he couldn't help but notice that the city felt more desolate than before. More shops had closed, the streets were emptier, and the few passersby had solemn expressions. From time to time, he saw people holding signs on the side of the road, looking for work, lamenting their inability to feed their families, or their need to care for elderly or children.
"This situation doesn't seem right," Amber Xu thought. "Have the Alchemists still not reached an agreement with the Silvermoon Court?"
He had expected that even if Alchemy City descended into chaos, it couldn't possibly maintain such inflated prices for long. Trade between nations was not just an economic matter, but also a matter of power. Alchemy City couldn't possibly watch its economy collapse without taking action. The golem army, which had been so lavishly maintained, was no longer in use. Were they waiting for the money to dry up and for the golems to be sold as scrap?
Surely, the golem legions would march on the Silvermoon Court, issuing a military threat to bring them to the negotiation table. Why had there been no word of such a development?
"Even the Alchemist Council, despite their madness, isn't stupid. This doesn't make sense."
With these thoughts swirling, Amber Xu arrived at the South Cross Street, the gathering place for adventurers, and entered the Iron Shard Embers Tavern.
Upon entering, Amber Xu spotted the one he was looking for: the Headless One.
Disguised as a human adventurer, the Headless One was in the midst of a drinking contest with a two-meter-tall orc. The two were chugging down large cups of fiery liquor, and though the orc winced in pain, he continued to drink. The Headless One, by contrast, remained unfazed, emptying his oversized cup without spilling a drop.
After one round, the orc was clearly staggering, but the Headless One swiftly grabbed another cup and downed it in one go. The orc, encouraged by the crowd's cheers, picked up a second cup, but halfway through, he collapsed, and the flames from the liquor engulfed his body, causing him to scream in agony.
The crowd roared with excitement, chanting the Headless One's name.
Amber Xu watched in exasperation. A Lich competing in drinking contests? Wasn't this a bit too cruel?
The Headless One, grinning like a child, slammed his cup on the table and declared, "I won! Today, drinks are on me!"
"Long live!"
"Praise you, my friend!"
"Gareth! Gareth!"
…
Amid the cheers of the crowd, Amber Xu found a quiet corner and ordered a mug of ale from the familiar orc bartender.
"Master Ultraman, it's been a while. Please wait, it will be ready shortly."
The orc bartender was as graceful as ever, pouring with an elegance that seemed out of place for an orc.
"What's going on here?" Amber Xu gestured toward the Headless One, who was surrounded by cheering patrons.
The orc bartender glanced at the Headless One, sighing. "You're asking about Gareth? That old friend of mine is quite a character. It's been years since I've seen a guest with such a hearty drink and generous spirit."
"No, I meant the 'drinks on him' part. It's the first time I've heard of someone paying for drinks after winning a drinking contest," Amber Xu said enviously.
"Well, that's his generous nature. Although, in truth, it's our boss picking up the tab," the bartender hinted with a look.
"Boss?" Amber Xu's curiosity piqued.
Following the bartender's gaze, Amber Xu spotted a large, red-skinned female orc in a distant corner, exuding strength like a lion. Yet, her gaze toward the Headless One was filled with flirtatious affection.
Wait… Was the Headless One being sponsored by this orc?
Could it be that his legendary powers were the result of the enchantments of a rich patroness?
For a moment, Amber Xu almost imagined the Bone Dragon unleashing a fiery breath that would reduce the tavern to ashes.
End of Chapter.