Alan agreed to Anbaixiu's terms, promising to compile a roster of the elite soldiers who had taken their own lives.
At first, Alan had felt some reluctance. Even though committing suicide meant they had descended to Hell, in his heart they were still the people of Ryan. But Alan truly had no choice, and Anbaixiu had merely asked for their detailed information.
To secure peace and preserve Ryan with nothing more than a roster and some dossiers?
If he refused, how could he face the people of the empire?
Yet offering this as payment left Alan feeling thoroughly uneasy.
It was just a roster, nothing more than a minor administrative nuisance devoid of real value. Would that greedy lich truly solve the dwarven crisis for so little?
All these doubts compounded Alan's mental exhaustion, bringing on a throbbing headache.
Anbaixiu, however, was decisive by nature. Having secured Alan's promise, he promptly cast a Sleep spell on him, letting the near-exhausted young man sink into a deep slumber.
Watching the soundly sleeping Alan, Anbaixiu murmured softly, "I hope you won't blame me when you wake up."
The magic mirror shut off. A moment later, Anbaixiu appeared within the royal palace of the Dwarf Kingdom.
Dwarven aesthetics had always been straightforward: grandeur and luxury, in stark contrast to their short statures and rugged features.
Although this newly constructed dwarven palace could not compare to the original, it was still a magnificent edifice worthy of being called a marvel.
Everywhere one looked were gold bas-reliefs, gilded ornamentation, crystal chandeliers, velvet draperies, and other luxuries; no one would believe such things could be built by a kingdom in exile.
The dwarves were truly wealthy, blessed to live upon the ruins of the ancient giant race.
The colossal hoards of gold amassed by the race that once ruled the world had all become the dwarves' treasury. Plundering ancient tombs for wealth was the dwarves' greatest strength, but their excessive opulence had left their martial prowess mediocre, allowing the Ryanites to beat them until they lost half their realm.
And now, excitement was written plainly across every dwarf's face.
For they knew the opportunity to reclaim their ancestral lands was right before them. The Ryanites were finished; the time had come to settle years of grudges and grievances.
Right after the battle against the Demonic Dragon, everyone had felt a bit constrained by propriety. But now that so much time had passed and Ryan was thoroughly mired in turmoil, it was time to strike.
In the deepest recess of the royal palace lay the dwarf king's bedchamber.
Ever since the capital had relocated, this king had never set foot outside, lingering within this bedchamber where even the windows were boarded shut. When conducting state affairs, he simply summoned his ministers to his presence.
The dwarf king's own explanation was that having lost most of their realm, he felt too ashamed before the ancestors to sit upon the throne, and would only show himself again once their homeland was reclaimed.
Only a select few knew that the real reason the dwarf king hid in the dark was that he had long since turned into a vampire.
At regular intervals, virgins of various races were delivered to the palace.
The dwarf king sustained himself on their fresh blood, living far more comfortably than Herki Stone.
As magic mirrors grew increasingly widespread, the dwarf king found them exceptionally convenient. He did not even need to let his ministers into the bedchamber that reeked of blood, handling everything through remote communication.
Thus, a massive magic mirror stood beside him.
At this moment, the mirror pulsed with light, signaling an incoming communication request.
The dwarf king put down his goblet of fresh blood, walked over to the mirror in bewilderment, and accepted the call.
When Anbaixiu's face appeared in the mirror, the dwarf king was genuinely startled.
"Who are you... Wait, it's you?!"
The dwarf king was not personally acquainted with Anbaixiu, but following the battle against the Demonic Dragon, the hero who sacrificed himself had become a household name. The dwarf king had read accounts of Anbaixiu's life and knew what he looked like. He simply had not expected to see him in the magic mirror. What was going on? An illusionary forgery? A magic mirror scam?
While he stood undecided and suspicious, Anbaixiu spoke first. "Honorable Majesty, I am indeed the lich you are thinking of. You seem rather surprised to see me, though. Allow me to make a bold guess—the dwarven gods haven't told you the news of my resurrection?"
These words verged on an insult, yet the dwarf king did not lose his temper. Instead, he stared at Anbaixiu with intense vigilance.
After a brief silence, the dwarf king abruptly changed the subject. "The resurrection of Master Ultraman is a wonderful thing for the entire world. Yet it seems you do not wish too many people to know about it."
Anbaixiu chuckled. "Rumor had it that Your Majesty was an irritable, hot-tempered brute. It seems those were mere falsehoods."
The dwarves' past performance had been utterly abysmal, and the dwarf king had a reputation abroad for being mercurial and volatile, leading everyone to consider him an unworthy tyrant. Yet the dwarf king before him possessed a sharp mind. Not only did he ignore Anbaixiu's bait, but he also pinpointed Anbaixiu's concerns in a single sentence. Such a man was definitely no brute.
The dwarf king paid no heed to Anbaixiu's flattery. His heart was gripped by tension. What was this lich after, appearing so suddenly?
The dwarf king could hardly be blamed for his anxiety; Anbaixiu's influence was simply too vast.
Setting aside his legendary deed of saving the world, the industries under his name alone were enough to sway the entire global economy. Previously, everyone had assumed he was dead, slowly encroaching upon and carving up his wealth. Progress had been mediocre, but since the lich was dead, they had been in no hurry and could take their time.
Yet if the lich was still alive, with his proven business acumen, within a decade every kingdom in the world would be surviving on loans. Compared to such a future, the dwarf king's identity as a vampire was hardly of prime importance.
"A matter as momentous as Your Excellency's resurrection has not been made public, yet you come calling unannounced. You must have something of great importance to discuss. Please speak; I am all ears."
Anbaixiu was truly pleased. He liked nothing better than dealing with clever people who understood boundaries, because it saved so much trouble.
Anbaixiu said placidly, "I have come for Ryan, Your Majesty. This teetering empire—I am taking it under my protection."
The dwarf king furrowed his brows. It truly was a monumental matter.
"I wonder which Ryan Master Ultraman is referring to? Is it the Ryan that seized others' territories, plundered other nations' resources, and slaughtered other races?"
"Heh, I was going to say that between nations there is no right or wrong, only struggles of interest, but I suppose the Lord of the Dawn would disagree. So let me address your question directly. The Ryan of the past was fanatical and cruel, and it is currently suffering its punishment. Thus, your demand for reparations from Ryan is reasonable. However, reparations are not all you want, are they?
"You want to destroy Ryan. You want to seize this opportunity to shatter Ryan's lands and devour them piece by piece.
"The Silvermoon High Court is too far away, and the elves will not intervene. The orcs have yet to fully resolve their food crisis; at most, they could seize a few cities, hardly in a position to contest you. The druids keep to the Emerald Dream Forest and rarely leave of their own accord... With a prize as succulent as Ryan laid out before you, you can claim the lion's share. That is why you do not just want reparations—you want Ryan's annihilation.
"Tell me, Your Majesty, am I right?"
"Indeed, you are entirely correct. But what is wrong with that? From where I stand, is this not exactly what I should do?" The dwarf king did not deny it, for he knew full well the lich before him was a clever man, making any pretense pointless.
"Of course there is nothing wrong with it. But I believe Your Majesty has overlooked one thing. Doing so brings benefits to the Dwarf Kingdom, but for you personally, is it truly a good thing?"
Anbaixiu's words brought a puzzled look to the dwarf king's face. He countered, "How could it possibly not be a good thing?"
Anbaixiu smiled. "Of course it isn't. Your Majesty believes that having turned into a vampire, you can rule this kingdom for eternity, so the larger the territory and the stronger the realm, the better?"
Anbaixiu's direct exposure of the dwarf king's secret deepened the king's frown.
Yet thinking of Herki Stone, who had turned him, and his connection with this lich, the dwarf king was not surprised. It would have been strange if the lich didn't know.
The dwarf king said displeasedly, "Master Ultraman, I suggest you get straight to the point and explain your purpose here. In a short while, the next round of negotiations will begin."
"Very well, then let me make it perfectly clear. Your Majesty always assumes expanding territory is beneficial, but allow me to ask: have you ever considered the attitude of the gods? Allow me to ask: since falling gravely ill, how many mistakes have you made? Why was there no divine favor for the dwarves in their hour of crisis, leaving you to watch helplessly as half your realm was lost? Furthermore, after turning into a vampire, can you still even be considered a follower of the dwarven gods?
"Your Majesty, do you honestly believe that by expanding your territory now, you aren't simply slaving away for the next dwarf king?"
The stone flagstones beneath the dwarf king's feet shattered, and a pair of bat wings unfolded from his back. Enraged, the dwarf king roared, "Lich, do you have any idea what you are saying?! You will pay dearly for your drivel!"
Chapter 569