Perfunctory and Earnest

"Damn shorty! Die!" Over a dozen Mage Hands seized Herki Stone's body, yanking violently. Anbaixiu had originally wanted to wring his neck, only to discover that this dwarf vampire didn't have one! Herki Stone thrashed frantically, even sprouting bat wings, but he still couldn't break free from the Mage Hands Anbaixiu had summoned through pay-to-cast magic. Herki Stone could only yell, "Wait! Don't be rash! What on earth did I do wrong? At least let me know why I'm dying!" "What kind of trashy gossip did you write? What did you make me out to be?!" Anbaixiu was beyond furious. He had only just discovered a book titled *The Legendary Life of the Lich Ultraman Tiga*. It wasn't unusual for someone to write his biography; after all, he was a hero who had sacrificed himself to save the world. It would have been stranger if there weren't one. But the moment he saw the author's name, it turned out to be Herki Stone! Anbaixiu had felt a bad premonition right away. Flipping through it had left him trembling with rage. Brazen fabrications! Pure slander! When had he ever had illicit affairs with all those women?! Back then, he had still been a lich—a lich was just a bag of bones! How could he possibly fool around with women! To make matters worse, this bastard was a talented writer. He had written it with vivid eroticism and thrilling twists. Combined with Anbaixiu's fame, the book had shot straight to the top of the bestseller list. Now, anyone who had read it was gossiping enthusiastically about Anbaixiu's romantic exploits. If he had actually done those things, fine—let them envy him. The problem was that Anbaixiu hadn't done a single thing! Why should he bear this stain on his reputation? Anbaixiu roared, "Die! I'm sending you straight to Hell today!" Herki Stone nearly had his wings ripped off. After Anbaixiu beat him black and blue, the dwarf vampire presented all his earthly possessions with both hands. Even Anbaixiu was a bit taken aback. Why had this fellow surrendered so readily? The gold in that dungeon amounted to at least ten million gold coins. Anbaixiu had originally only planned to shake him down for half, but the guy had handed over everything without hesitation. Gold wasn't of much use to Anbaixiu anymore, but it was genuinely rare to see Herki Stone be so cooperative. "Have you lost the will to live and decided to give away all your wealth?" Anbaixiu asked, his anger largely dissipating in bewilderment. Herki Stone rubbed his wings, which felt nearly dislocated, and said helplessly, "I suddenly realized money is useless. Lately, I've been drinking dragon blood straight. A single mouthful contains enough magic to sustain me for a month. All my room and board are covered by the merfolk now, so I have nowhere to spend it anyway. I suddenly realized that aside from my book collection, gold has no value to me." Pausing mid-sentence, Herki Stone couldn't resist adding, "I've been having nightmares lately. Feels like my time to go to Hell isn't far off. You can't take money with you when you die, right?" Anbaixiu asked curiously, "Nightmares? Aren't you writing doctrines for Aige these days?" Herki Stone wasn't a divination wizard; there was no reason he should be foreseeing an unfortunate fate. Besides, Herki Stone was essentially the 'pope' of the God of Freedom, Aige, which should grant him some divine protection. How could he be having nightmares? Herki Stone said helplessly, "Whatever. I've seen through it all. That's just life. When I get to Hell, look out for me, will you?" "You're overthinking it. Even if you go to Hell now, you won't need my protection. You're actually quite famous down there," Anbaixiu said. "Huh?" Herki Stone blinked, baffled. "Remember all those works I asked you for earlier? They're selling quite well in Hell," Anbaixiu said. It wasn't an exaggeration. Herki Stone's writings were very popular in Hell, mainly due to the lack of competition. Among all the novels Anbaixiu had brought down, Herki Stone's 'historical gossip' was by far the most entertaining. Consequently, any devil with a bit of spare change would tip a few coins for his work, and some had even begun pestering for updates. Anbaixiu hadn't bothered paying it much mind, though. He had merely been testing the magic mirror's broadcasting reach, not looking to advertise for Herki Stone. Shocked, Herki Stone exclaimed, "You mean I'm a celebrity in Hell, too? My work can actually make money?" Anbaixiu nodded. "Yeah, you're pretty famous, and you've earned quite a few soul coins." "Then where's my cut of the royalties?!" "Pocketed by me. Got a problem?" "No, no, just asking." ... Herki Stone had gotten smart. He stopped fussing over this so-called income. Whether he would have a good life in Hell depended entirely on Anbaixiu's favor. Clinging to a thick thigh was what mattered—what was a little royalty money worth? Herki Stone quickly shifted the topic. "So you didn't come to see me today just over that biography, did you?" "Of course not. I came because I need you to do something for me." Anbaixiu's expression abruptly turned serious. "I need you to go to Ryan and help officiate a ceremony." "Me? Go to Ryan? If you want me dead, just say so!" Herki Stone couldn't hold back any longer and cried out, "I'm a vampire! I can't even stand sunlight, and you want me to go to Ryan?! Holy Light is a hundred times stronger than sunlight—the moment I touch it, I'll melt!" Anbaixiu countered, "What are you imagining? Since I'm sending you, I can naturally keep you safe. I'll have the Ryanites suppress all their Holy Light to guarantee your safety." "Will the Ryanites listen to—" Herki Stone started to object, but caught himself, shifting from rhetorical disbelief to a genuine question: "Will the Ryanites really listen to you?" Anbaixiu nodded. "Of course. I'm Ryan's great savior. If I tell them to do a little thing like this, how could they refuse?" Herki Stone didn't doubt the weight of Anbaixiu's words, but he still couldn't fathom why he needed to be the one to go. "What exactly are you trying to do? What kind of ceremony requires me to officiate?" "I discussed it with Rose. We need to end the Ryan imperial family's reign in the most formal manner possible. But the Ryanites will never run this ceremony with care. Never mind that anyone knowledgeable has likely died off—even if there are people who know the proper details, their hearts won't be in it." Anbaixiu understood human nature all too well. The Ryanites loathed the undead and were only holding their noses to tolerate the appearance of the Rose of Decay. Expecting them to conduct the ceremony properly was out of the question. More likely, they would simplify everything, going through the motions in the most perfunctory, minimalist fashion with just a few token words. Anbaixiu couldn't let them get away with that, which made Herki Stone the ideal candidate. Whatever else one might say about him, Herki Stone was a formidable historian whose grasp of Ryan's history ran deeper than that of most living Ryanites. After all, the fellow had lived for several centuries, outdating the oldest living Ryanite by several generations. "I need you to handle this flawlessly, without the slightest error. I'll make things clear to the Ryanites and have them cooperate with you fully. If anyone gives you trouble, tell me directly, and I'll make them kowtow and repent at your feet." Hearing this, Herki Stone immediately grew excited. "I'll do it! I definitely want to see the Ryanites kowtowing and begging for forgiveness before me!" Because only a few days remained until the ceremony Anbaixiu mentioned, Herki Stone could hardly wait. He teleported straight to the Ryan Imperial Capital. Awaiting him was the Supreme Arbiter, James Watson, his face exceptionally dark. The old man had spent his entire life despising the undead, yet here he was, personally receiving a vampire and even casting protective magic to shield him from the Holy Light so he could walk freely through the Ryan Imperial Capital. Herki Stone had never imagined he would one day set foot in the capital of Ryan. Giddy with excitement, he pulled out his Necrotic Codex to show off in the chat, just as Anbaixiu used to do. [Dislikes Humans: Greetings, friends. Currently in the Ryan Imperial Capital, just stepped off the teleportation array.] However, the group was dead silent. Not a single person chimed in. After waiting for ages, Herki Stone snapped the Necrotic Codex shut with a sour expression. Without Anbaixiu around, there wasn't even anyone to brag to anymore. The Elegy Poetry Society might as well have disbanded. In a foul mood, Herki Stone acted all the more arrogant. He floated two meters into the air, looking down at James Watson. "You're Ryan's Supreme Arbiter? Is the venue for the ceremony ready?" For the first time in his life, James Watson found himself looking up at a dwarf. He wanted nothing more than to purify him with a blast of Holy Light, but he could only grit his teeth and endure it. "The venue is in the imperial palace. Please follow me." James Watson led Herki Stone toward the palace. The already desolate palace grounds were now completely deserted, without a soul in sight. Ever since the entire imperial family perished, this place had resembled a haunted house. If not for the upcoming ceremony, no one would have even bothered to sweep it clean. The grand hall once used for sacrificial rites had been modified in preparation for the Ryan imperial lineage's final handover ceremony. James Watson had put in some effort, having had the hall thoroughly cleaned and newly decorated. Yet the moment Herki Stone walked through the doors, he pointed at the carpet and scoffed, "Are you idiots? A platinum rose carpet? That pattern was used for the founding ceremony of Ryan! Are we founding an empire today? Blooming golden roses at a time like this? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?!" Herki Stone's words made James Watson flush crimson with anger, but he could only retort, "This is the only pattern we have!" The platinum rose emblem had been used since the founding of Ryan. Who could have foreseen that the rose representing the imperial family would one day 'decay'? Where were they supposed to find a different design on such short notice? There wasn't even time to draft one. Herki Stone, however, had come prepared. He produced a blueprint and tossed it to James Watson. "Remake it according to my design. Don't tell me a vast nation like Ryan can't even manage that." James Watson caught the blueprint. Glancing at it, his expression shifted to surprise. Much as he detested the undead, the design before him genuinely impressed him. The decorative style clearly stemmed from the same lineage as the Ryan imperial tradition, but many altered details lent it an air of solemn gravity, fitting the theme of this ceremony far better. This was no careless doodle. The designer clearly possessed a profound knowledge of Ryan's history, along with exceptional aesthetic taste. Could this vampire actually be an artist? Even so, James Watson didn't want the hassle. Just as Anbaixiu had suspected, this ceremony was the ultimate humiliation for the people of Ryan. Why go through so much trouble? 'Good enough' was plenty. James Watson said, "There's no time. It's completely impossible to remake everything in just a few days." Herki Stone sneered and brought out a magic mirror right in front of him. Anbaixiu soon appeared in the mirror. After listening to Herki Stone's account, Anbaixiu calmly asked the Supreme Arbiter, "Are you certain there isn't enough time?" "Indeed, there is not enough time." James Watson dug his heels in. Ryan was shorthanded and overwhelmed everywhere; who had time to waste on such trivial matters? "How many days do you need?" Anbaixiu asked. James Watson replied, "At least two months of preparation. But there are less than ten days left before the World Council." Anbaixiu smiled. "Fine. What if I postpone the World Council by six months?" James Watson was instantly aghast. "How could that be possible?!" That date had been set by the Lord of the Dawn Himself! Who would dare postpone it? This fellow's arrogance was outrageous! Anbaixiu didn't care. He said coldly, "If I say postpone, it gets postponed. If you botch this ceremony, I guarantee no one will attend that council." This was no empty threat; it was a simple statement of fact. Be it the orcs, the dwarves, the elves, the druids, or the overseas realms—every kingdom would give Anbaixiu face. If he actively stepped forward to prevent it, the World Council simply wouldn't happen. James Watson sighed in defeat. "Why must you make things difficult for me? A few days really isn't enough to redecorate. Just custom-ordering carpets with these patterns is completely impossible in time." "If time is short, then accelerate it." With a flick of Anbaixiu's finger, a massive spatial gate appeared in the center of the imperial hall. "This is my private demiplane. The flow of time inside has already been adjusted: one day outside is one month inside. Send every single worker in. Once everything is done, bring it out and set it up. Ten days should be plenty for you to finish redecorating, shouldn't it?" Although Anbaixiu had ended up in Hell, his private space was merely anchored to specific spatial coordinates; it hadn't been destroyed when his soul fractured. As long as Anbaixiu still held those coordinates, he could open it at will and make use of its temporal dilation. James Watson couldn't help asking, "What exactly are you trying to accomplish? Why go to such lengths?" He truly couldn't understand. Was the end of the Ryan imperial family really so important to him? "That's none of your concern. Just do your job. And let me warn you—don't push me on this. Otherwise, I couldn't care less whether Ryan falls to ruin, and I won't even show face to the Lord of the Dawn!" Anbaixiu couldn't be bothered to explain. The concept of the undead reclaiming their humanity was far too shocking; uttering it might give this old man a heart attack on the spot. Besides, explaining it was a hassle—better to keep up the air of mystery. Hearing Anbaixiu invoke the Lord of the Dawn to pressure him, James Watson recalled the divine oracle he had received earlier. He said to Anbaixiu, "My Lord happens to have a message for me to relay. He said He will personally reward you, and whatever you desire, you shall have. Why not try praying to my Lord? Perhaps that would save you all this trouble."