Amber Xu was not particularly inclined to meddle in the affairs of others, but as the Headless One was a guest, both out of courtesy and logic, he felt obliged to offer a few words of advice. When the guests were happily drinking their free alcohol, Amber Xu finally made his way through the crowd and approached the Headless One.
"Well, well, Diga, my brother, you've come for a drink as well?" The Headless One greeted, enthusiastically slinging his arm around Amber Xu's shoulder and introducing him to the lioness-like female orc next to them. "This is my brother."
The female orc, with a bashful expression, spoke to Amber Xu, saying, "Master Diga Ultraman, I've heard of your name. Last time you were here, with just three words, you swindled several thousand gold coins from the Saint Paladins of the Ryan Empire. Such tactics are truly impressive. I'm the owner of this tavern, Ona Hellfire."
"Hellfire," Amber Xu thought, the surname sounded familiar—likely from one of the well-known orc tribes.
Another rich patron, it seemed.
Amber Xu politely greeted the tavern owner before pulling the Headless One aside, whispering, "Brother, what have you been up to these past few days? You're a married man!"
The Headless One let out a drunken burp and casually replied, "So what? I haven't done anything. I'm just here for a drink. Is it forbidden for a married man to drink? The God of the Undead above, I've lost my head, and now I can't even enjoy a drink?"
"A drink? You've practically mesmerized that female orc with your gaze!" Amber Xu retorted.
He certainly didn't buy the excuse of just having a drink. Anyone with eyes could tell that Ona Hellfire seemed eager to devour the Headless One.
"Ona... She's a good woman, but I just see her as a sister," the Headless One said dismissively.
That was a classic playboy line. Before Amber Xu transmigrated, such words were liable to earn a man a knife in the back.
"Gareth, I have no issue with your romantic life, but you must think carefully—if your wife finds out, it might just spark a war."
The fury of his Bone Dragon wife would be enough to shake Alchemy City to its core. One wrong move, and half the city could turn to rubble—perhaps even Amber Xu's domain could be reduced to ashes.
At the mention of his wife, the Headless One took another gulp of alcohol, musing, "I'm beginning to think this marriage might have been a mistake."
Amber Xu said nothing. It was not a topic he was in a position to discuss.
Since his transformation into a Lich, Amber Xu's heart no longer beat, and with it, the hormonal drives that influenced mortal thoughts had also disappeared. His emotional experiences, eroded over centuries, were now little more than faint recollections. He had traded these fleeting joys and sorrows for eternal solitude. Whether that was a fair trade was debatable, but Amber Xu was beginning to feel the side effects. Like now, he could only stand back and observe with cold logic.
He couldn't even comprehend the situation between the Headless One and his Bone Dragon wife. They were not only both undead, but their physical forms were also drastically different. Yet, somehow, they were married. Love truly was a mysterious force.
Perhaps there was a hidden story between them.
Before the Headless One could continue complaining about his marriage, the tavern door suddenly swung open, and a man dressed in a gold-and-red robe entered. Two full-metal golem robots followed behind him—alchemy city's mechanical automatons.
Upon seeing his attire, the patrons immediately set their drinks down, their faces filled with tension.
That gold-and-red robe belonged to an administrator of Alchemy City.
Thanks to the Alchemist Council's focus on academics, Alchemy City's administrative structure was simple: there were only two positions, the Council members and the administrators, all of whom were alchemists.
The administrators were responsible for all practical matters, from civil affairs to the military and law enforcement. However, to outsiders, the distinction between them was unclear—only insiders could tell which administrator oversaw which areas.
But one thing was universally understood: when an administrator appeared, it was rarely a sign of good news.
Alchemists preferred to hide in their laboratories, fiddling with potions and vials, and whenever they ventured outside, it was with a stern face, as though the world owed them millions in gold. The administrators, unless absolutely necessary, would rather control the golems remotely than appear in person.
Now, this administrator walked into the tavern with a scowl on his face, clearly ready to handle a very troublesome matter.
The patrons, mostly adventurers, all grew tense. Given their questionable pasts, many had likely crossed lines and feared the administrator's visit might spell trouble for them. Two drow elves, upon noticing the administrator's arrival, quietly moved toward the window, preparing to slip away.
The administrator held his head high, unperturbed by the gazes of the crowd, and walked directly to the bar. He produced two vials of potion and spoke to the orc bartender.
"I am here to investigate a missing persons case. The vial on the left contains a powerful truth serum; drinking it could cause severe brain damage, turning you into a fool. The vial on the right is a lie-detecting potion. Drink it, and if you lie, your insides will be corroded. Choose one."
The orc bartender looked at the two strange-colored vials and helplessly glanced at his boss.
Ona Hellfire stood up and walked over to the administrator. She spoke with a calm but firm tone, "Sir, we have always operated legally. If you wish to conduct an investigation, simply ask your questions. There is no need for such extreme interrogation methods."
The administrator, though no taller than Ona's shoulder, maintained his cold demeanor in the face of the lioness-like female orc.
"This is a diplomatic matter initiated by the Ryan Empire. It concerns the relationship between our two nations. There is no room for leniency. Choose one potion to drink, or I will send you all to prison for obstructing an official investigation."
His words were as sharp as a guillotine, causing Ona's fierce expression to tighten in displeasure.
The Headless One set his glass down and asked, "Ona, do you need my help?"
Ona flashed him a gentle smile before replying, "It's alright, Gareth. I can handle it."
The Headless One shrugged in resignation, and Amber Xu, too, let out a sigh of relief.
This administrator was fortunate; he had nearly been crushed into a bloody pulp.
Ona turned to the orc bartender, saying, "Tell the truth, don't hide anything." Her words suggested he should choose the lie-detecting potion—if he spoke honestly, there should be no issue.
The bartender reluctantly took the potion and drank it.
Once the potion was consumed, the administrator asked, "A few days ago, did a Saint Paladin by the name of Allen Watson come through here?"
At the mention of this name, Amber Xu set down his glass.
Diplomatic tactics? So this is how they play, is it?
End of Chapter.