Anbaixiu spent quite some time making his way back from the Underdark to his alchemy workshop.
When he had teleportation, long-distance travel had never felt like an ordeal. Only after losing his ability to teleport did Anbaixiu realize what a hassle traveling truly was.
He finally managed to return to his old lair, only to find Catherine sitting by the dungeon entrance, her arms wrapped around her legs and her head buried in her knees.
Why did that posture look so familiar?
Ah, right—last time Melina had been mocked as an idiot, she had sat on the bed in this exact same pose.
Anbaixiu asked in surprise, "What happened? I've only been gone for a little while, and you're already depressed?"
Catherine raised her head, her eyes rimmed with red as though she had been crying.
"They... they were all lying to me..."
Catherine tearfully explained everything to Anbaixiu.
Originally, Catherine had been brimming with confidence, determined to make those drow elves pledge their loyalty to her. Her approach was simple and direct: first, let the drow rest, eat, and drink their fill, and then sit down with them one by one for heart-to-heart talks.
At first, things went quite well. The drow elves gradually let down their guard and opened their hearts, recounting their tragic experiences to Catherine.
Catherine had deeply sympathized as she listened. She had never imagined that the backgrounds of these drow were so wretched. From birth, each was assigned a cute little spider that grew up alongside them. Yet as soon as they learned to speak, they were forced to learn vicious magical incantations, and once they mastered the spell, the very first target they had to cast it upon was the little spider they had raised.
Such an inhumane upbringing was designed to strip away mercy and love from the drow from their earliest childhood.
After completing this ritual, the drow began rigorous training: assassination, poisoning, infiltration, torture... Every single trial eroded whatever humanity remained in their hearts. Upon reaching adulthood, they had to venture to the surface to hunt down a high elf and sacrifice them to Lolth the Spider Queen in order to become true drow Matron Mothers.
Of course, these captured drow elves were all underage, but through years of torment, they had long since become brutal monsters completely devoid of humanity.
When Catherine first tried to talk with them, the drow had resisted fiercely. It was only after Catherine "reformed" them with her sincere heart that they finally opened up, some even breaking down and weeping in her arms.
After having a good cry, the wariness and suspicion on their faces gave way to smiles.
Catherine believed she had successfully reformed them, so she kept the five drow she had grown closest to by her side, eating, drinking, and sleeping alongside them.
Then, right when Catherine let her guard down, she was stabbed.
Even a legend was only flesh and blood when caught completely off guard. Catherine, wearing only her nightgown, could not stop the blade.
Perhaps Catherine's charisma had played a role, however, as the dagger had missed her vitals, merely inflicting a severe wound.
Then, the five drow elves—whose soul bindings had been undone by Anbaixiu—took Catherine hostage to escape the dungeon.
As it turned out, they succeeded.
None of the undead guards along the way intervened, allowing them to smoothly escape all the way to the dungeon's main gate.
And then, they stepped into a magical trap.
Anbaixiu had prepared this long in advance. Knowing the drow elves would definitely stir up trouble, he had casually laid down a Hold Person trap.
Every single drow fell for it. Then the two undead guards, Dahei and Erha, emerged from the shadows. First, they moved the wounded Catherine aside and poured a healing potion down her throat, then rounded up all the escaping drow and threw them into the cells.
Catherine had taken a massive blow—not physically, but mentally.
They had shared everything with each other, and Catherine had even promised them a better life. Why did they still betray her?
Catherine could fathom no reason why these drow would rather risk death to flee than stay by her side and live well.
After listening to her account, Anbaixiu asked in bewilderment, "Why would you ever believe their words were true? Catherine, they are drow elves!"
Flushed with shame, Catherine buried her head back into her knees.
Anbaixiu walked over and patted her head. "Don't take it to heart. Being deceived isn't your fault; the fault lies with those who deceived you. Now that you understand what drow elves are like, keep your kindness tucked away until you truly comprehend them. Come with me now. Let's deal with those runaways."
Catherine looked up and asked with a trace of agitation, "What are you going to do to them?"
"What? Still thinking of letting them off?" Anbaixiu asked.
Catherine had indeed wanted to plead for their mercy, but the words faltered on the tip of her tongue, eventually turning into: "No, I'll do as you say."
When it came to taming drow elves, she truly lacked the ability.
Since that was the case, she might as well listen to the lich. As for those drow, Catherine recalled their late-night talks, followed by the memory of the blade plunging into her body. Since they had chosen betrayal, Catherine would no longer plead on their behalf.
Anbaixiu said with satisfaction, "Good, you've made progress. But rest assured, I don't intend to kill those traitors."
"Huh? Why? That doesn't sound like you at all."
Catherine couldn't believe Anbaixiu would spare traitors. This was a lich who dared to strike at deities, notoriously ruthless in his usual dealings.
"Killing must have purpose. I never engage in meaningless slaughter or unprovoked torment. I respect every form of life equally."
Anbaixiu said this with utmost piety. This was indeed his greatest insight since reincarnating as a lich.
Transitioning from human to lich meant changing species, allowing Anbaixiu to view all life from a different perspective—a far more impartial one: assessing who held greater value, and how that value could best be realized.
Even Anbaixiu himself was placed upon this scale; only then could it truly be considered fair.
And the drow elves' betrayal was actually a step in Anbaixiu's plan. There were only twenty of them in total; if he eliminated five in one go, how could the game continue?
Besides, these drow elves were worth a fortune if sold. How could he just slaughter them casually?
Anbaixiu led Catherine to the dungeon cells. The five drow elves were bound in chains and strung up on crosses, bruised and swollen as though they had been severely disciplined.
"Those two rascals... how could they hit them in the face?" Anbaixiu muttered in displeasure.
Just as Catherine thought Anbaixiu was feeling sympathy for the drow elves, his next words came: "A ruined face won't fetch a good price."
Catherine stared at Anbaixiu in shock. "You're going to sell them?"
Anbaixiu nodded. "Of course. What other use do they have? Many nobles would love a drow elf as an heirloom—who knows, maybe they'll bear a half-elf and improve the family bloodline."
"How could you do that? You might as well kill them!" Catherine could not accept such an outcome. Killing traitors was fine, but being bought as a noble's 'heirloom' was far worse than death. Catherine could hardly bear to imagine what kind of abuse they would suffer.
Yet no sooner had Catherine spoken than the five drow shouted loudly, "No, no, no! Don't kill us! We're willing to be slaves! Sell us to anyone, just please let us live!"
Catherine's eyes went wide. She had never expected the drow elves would choose such a fate.
Anbaixiu chuckled. "See, you still don't understand drow elves. Chastity means nothing to them. As long as they survive, what does being an heirloom elf matter? There will always be a chance to escape. As long as they're alive, no humiliation will ever weigh on their minds. It's precisely because they possess almost no sense of shame that drow elves betray without the slightest hesitation."
Catherine was rendered speechless by Anbaixiu's words. She truly had been far too naive.
What she thought was good wasn't good to the drow at all. Was it this difference in mindset that had caused them to betray her?
Catherine fell into deep thought, while Anbaixiu addressed the five drow: "Catherine is softhearted and cannot bear to see you tortured, but I also know such petty benevolence means nothing to you. Every drow is ambitious by nature. Therefore, I can offer you another choice."
Anbaixiu's words puzzled the five drow. The lich before them was clearly far sharper than that foolish elf; they held no rosy expectations for their future.
Ignoring whatever they were thinking, Anbaixiu continued, "I know you desire freedom, so let's make an agreement. I have fifteen more drow elves under my command, and there will only be more in the future. I will place these drow under your leadership. Your task is simple: assist Catherine in making these drow willing to follow her orders.
"For each of you, as long as you can make one hundred drow elves willingly obey Catherine's commands, you may go free. This contract I swear in the name of the God of Alchemy, and I will never violate it! If you agree, I will place a magical brand upon you, and once you fulfill the terms, I will set you free.
"Of course, you can also choose the second option: I kill you right now."
Without a moment's hesitation, all five drow elves chose to sign the contract with Anbaixiu. Each was then assigned three drow elves, dividing the twenty drow into five groups.
Anbaixiu gave them plenty of time to confer among themselves, then pulled Catherine aside and whispered, "I'm entrusting these drow to you. The only thing you need to do is give ambiguous responses to whatever they say. Neither agree nor disagree, and meticulously record all their words and deeds—down to the smallest detail. Understand?"
Somewhat puzzled, Catherine said, "I'll do it well, but why are you letting drow manage drow? Won't they be even more dangerous if they band together?"
Anbaixiu wanted to tell her that her destiny was to work overtime for him until she cried her eyes out; before fulfilling that future, she wouldn't die no matter what.
Yet saying that would surely infuriate Catherine, so Anbaixiu told her instead, "Only drow understand drow best. They are inherently hierarchical. Only they know how to make drow loyal; all you need to do is document their methods. As for danger—what, you got stabbed once and now you're scared?"
Catherine said resolutely, "I'm not scared! This is a task the gods gave me, and I won't be careless again!"
"Very good. Then I'll leave it in your hands."
Having given his instructions, Anbaixiu returned to his laboratory, drew out a sheet of parchment, and pondered how to write a letter to James Watson.
After some thought, Anbaixiu decided to start with Alan owing him two hundred thousand gold coins.
Chapter 297