What it truly meant to be a historian was something Anbaixiu had never quite understood before, but watching the way Heji Stone chronicled things without pause, he could not help feeling a degree of admiration.
Even if he had no idea what the dwarf was writing.
He had no clue what sort of ink this fellow was using, but even Anbaixiu's perception could not detect the words upon the parchment. What was even more absurd was that no matter what, Heji Stone refused to tell him.
In Heji Stone's own words, chronicling history was an exceedingly solemn endeavor. As a rule, subjects under observation were forbidden from reading the accounts, lest their dissatisfaction sway the historian's records and compromise the accuracy of the archives.
Although Anbaixiu strongly suspected the fellow was embellishing and adding his own spin, he lacked proof and could only let it rest for the time being.
If the dwarf dared to publish any "history" that deviated from the facts in the future, Anbaixiu would go straight to his estate and haul away all of his gold as compensation for mental distress.
Once he set about serious business, Anbaixiu stopped caring about whatever Heji Stone was scribbling.
Anbaixiu lingered in the castle for merely half a day. Most of that time was spent digging through reference materials, leaving less than an hour for Isabel, checking in on the recent affairs of this golden-egg-laying hen and the problems she had encountered in alchemy.
It was then that Anbaixiu discovered Isabel's mastery of alchemy had already reached astonishing heights, surpassing his own in certain domains.
Isabel specialized in compounding magical potions. The thaw-delaying potion used earlier to swindle the desert dwellers had been developed entirely through her own research. It was not that potions with such functions had never existed, but none had ever been transparent.
Isabel had successfully refined both the potion's potency and its appearance—this was no stroke of blind luck, but entirely her own research achievement.
Small wonder that old rogue Gustavo Fring had constantly dropped hints to Anbaixiu, hoping to take Isabel on as his student.
Talented, diligent, fiercely devoted to alchemy, and largely free of tangled pursuits of fame and fortune—such a student was destined for greatness. Anbaixiu had even tactfully hinted that Isabel could go study under Gustavo Fring.
There was no need to keep talent bound tightly to oneself, for clever people always had temperaments.
In the past, Isabel had merely been an apprentice, and Anbaixiu could exploit her however he pleased. Now that her status and standing had changed, she deserved sufficient respect.
What if the girl grew resentful and staged an "accident" at a critical juncture?
Thus, absent any glaring conflicts, Anbaixiu preferred win-win arrangements—grounded in sentiment, tied by mutual benefit, collaborating smoothly. Such a model was the most stable and least prone to trouble.
Yet Isabel declined without a second thought.
"Teacher, I only want to learn from you."
Her tone was unwavering, leaving Anbaixiu somewhat helpless.
"I have very little left to teach you now. Gustavo Fring is not only a master of potion compounding, but his crafting of enchanted equipment is also world-class. You definitely will not lose out by studying under him."
Although Anbaixiu had swindled Gustavo Fring numerous times, he never slighted his rival's prowess. The man possessed genuine talent and learning; otherwise, so many kingdoms would not treat him as an honored guest.
Hearing this, Isabel flushed with anxious frustration, unsure how to explain herself. Finally, seemingly hitting upon a reason, she said to Anbaixiu, "Master Fring has been getting far too close to the people from the Goblin Bank lately. He has been taking out loans with great frequency. I suspect his finances are in serious trouble."
Isabel's reasoning made complete sense, and Anbaixiu grasped it the moment he heard.
"Well, that won't do. We can't let you get dragged into that mess. Students are obligated to help repay their teacher's debts. That old dog was scheming against me all along!"
Anbaixiu had never imagined that swindling him with the artifact gold coins would plunge Gustavo Fring into a financial crisis, let alone drive him to borrow from goblins—a race capable of bleeding a borrower drier than vampires!
He would have to tread carefully in their future cooperation. If that old rascal went bankrupt, those goblins would come knocking on Anbaixiu's door looking for trouble.
Watching the two of them, Heji Stone's recording quill never paused for an instant: "The brilliance of wisdom is like that inextinguishable lamp within an ancient library, illuminating forgotten corners of knowledge while inadvertently lighting the chambers of a student's heart. Regrettably, a lich is ultimately an unfeeling creature of evil, forever incapable of appreciating such delicate sentiments..."
Anbaixiu turned his skull in bewilderment. "What are you writing? Does that have anything to do with dealing with the Kuo-toa Goddess?"
Heji Stone replied hastily, "See, that's where you fail to grasp the craft. Your confrontation with the Kuo-toa Goddess boils down to a clash of interests, does it not? If I do not record every detail of the relevant context, how can I present a dialectical discourse?"
"Listen to you make it sound so real."
Anbaixiu sneered, but paid it no further heed. When it came to money, his conscience was spotless. In business, he had always treated both the young and the old with complete honesty; once his word was given, he never failed to deliver.
Let him chronicle it all properly. Let the whole world know that he was honest and trustworthy, the finest partner one could ever wish for.
Departing the castle, Anbaixiu made a decisive return to the Raging Tide Kingdom.
Here, work had already begun on laying the alchemy factory's foundation. The craftsmen were master builders hired from the dwarves, working upon an ocean island without the slightest hindrance. In very little time, the factory grounds had already been laid out according to the blueprints; full completion likely would not take long.
Amidst the bustling construction site, Anbaixiu found Princess Ariel. Her Royal Highness was personally directing the fishermen of the Raging Tide Kingdom to assist the dwarves.
The arrival of the first shipment of grain brought a radiant smile to Ariel's face that she could not suppress.
The people of the Raging Tide Kingdom had tasted fluffy bread for the very first time, and savored assorted meats for the first time. Such provisions offered far more nourishment than fish, giving the laborers far greater vigor for their toil.
With the Raging Tide Kingdom visibly heading in a promising direction, Ariel was naturally overjoyed; the hard work of recent days was finally bearing fruit.
Because of this, upon seeing Anbaixiu once more, Ariel completely forgot her royal station and greeted the lich with immense courtesy. "Master Ultraman, have you come to inspect the construction of the alchemy factory as well?"
Ever since Anbaixiu had reshaped the terrain using World Weaving, sparing the people of the Raging Tide Kingdom the misery of relocation, Ariel had come to regard Master Ultraman as a person of fine character, nothing like the greedy, cruel figure of rumors.
After all, driving out a handful of Raging Tide citizens would have been effortless for him. However reluctant the kingdom might have been, it would have had no choice but to yield on such matters. Yet he had exerted no coercion, choosing instead to resolve the issue with mighty magic.
Where else in this world could one find a wizard so reasonable—let alone a lich? Among the undead, such a disposition was practically saintly.
"Your Highness, there is a matter with which I require your assistance."
Anbaixiu's request came rather abruptly, yet Ariel answered without hesitation, "I will do everything within my power. What do you require, Master?"
"I know this ocean is immense. There are many islands that may be unfit for human habitation, yet should be capable of sustaining several thousand Githyanki eking out an existence.
"Your Highness, I need to locate these Githyanki. The races dwelling beneath the waves only know which trenches harbor the densest shoals of fish, while only the people of Raging Tide living upon the islands know where viable land can be found. That is why I need your help."
Ariel agreed without a second thought.
It was merely guiding the way; how could she possibly decline such a request?
"That will not be a problem at all. I shall personally lead our most seasoned navigators. My flagship—"
Before Ariel could finish, Anbaixiu cut in, "Princess Ariel, that was your finest vessel in the past. Now, please accept this gift from me."
Anbaixiu led Ariel to a wide clearing. Amidst the shimmering glow of a teleportation array, a twenty-meter-long blue warship materialized before them.
"Freshly forged by dwarven artisans, custom-built especially for you. As a testament to our collaboration, please bestow a name upon this vessel."
Naturally, this warship could not rival the repeatedly upgraded Black Tide, yet it was still a fine masterpiece among Anbaixiu's recent commissions.
Furthermore, because Gustavo Fring had used the gold coins, more than half of the ship's production cost had been deflected onto Gustavo Fring's shoulders. Even counting the expense of the Simulated Soul, the cost had amounted to a mere twenty thousand gold coins.
Such petty change served nicely as a favor bestowed upon another.
Ariel gazed at the azure warship, which bore the triple-lightning crest of Talos specially inscribed upon its hull—evidently a gift prepared well in advance.
Ariel felt a touch of warmth; this lich truly exhibited boundless sincerity.
"Thank you. If I am to name her..." Ariel pondered a moment before saying, "Then let her be called the Grey River."
Anbaixiu fell silent for a heartbeat. The name brought a twinge of embarrassment.
This was precisely why he disliked reviving old disguises; it inevitably led to awkward moments like this.
All Anbaixiu could say to Ariel was, "One must look forward in life."
Ariel smiled. "Master speaks the truth, but looking forward does not mean forsaking our cherished memories of the past."
Anbaixiu looked upon Her Highness with newfound respect. For her to voice such a sentiment showed that she had indeed matured considerably.
"Very well. In that case, Princess Ariel, please make your preparations. Time presses heavily upon me."
Ariel nodded and turned to depart. She went to muster the finest navigators and the sailors most intimate with these waters, setting out to help Master Ultraman find that band of Githyanki.
Once Ariel was gone, Heji Stone, the vampire sheltering beneath an umbrella, manifested beside Anbaixiu.
"By the God of Alchemy, were you lurking behind me the entire time?" Anbaixiu said, startled.
"Did you truly believe I was utterly helpless? I am a legend after all," Heji Stone could not help retorting. "You truly are quite the character. The Undead Queen, the Elven Queen, a goddess, this Raging Tide princess... Just what sort of charm does a bag of bones like you actually possess?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Nothing at all. Seeing you completely oblivious brings me great satisfaction."
Heji Stone once more scribbled furiously with his quill: "His speech and deportment resemble the movements of a classical melody—harmonious and enchanting, inadvertently kindling the hearts of noble ladies. Alas, within his chest no living heart beats, only the hollow whimper of cold wind rushing past. He is a dead thing destined never to comprehend emotion..."
Anbaixiu glared at him and warned, "A friendly reminder: I am a divination wizard. My intuition is exceptionally keen."
Heji Stone proclaimed emphatically, "I swear to the heavens, everything I write is absolute truth, without a single word of falsehood—sworn on my sacred honor as a historian!"
Anbaixiu let out a cold laugh. "Then I certainly hope you can afford the compensation for my mental anguish when the time comes."
Before long, Ariel returned leading a crew of weather-beaten sailors.
With a broad sweep of his arm, Anbaixiu said to Heji Stone, "Let's go, Historian. Time to find those Githyanki."
Chapter 458