Unlike his warmth toward Nicholas, Chen Xu's tone was as cold as frost when addressing the two terrorists who had attacked his employer, making Balin and Howard, whose hearts were already in their throats, even more nervous.
"Mr. Chen Xu, the Blue Star Dungeon Mutual Assistance Treaty has regulations that do not allow nations to kill each other within dungeon worlds. Are you going to violate the treaty?" In his desperation, Balin could only find this excuse. After all, this was an assassination mission, not a gift-giving spree; no one would carry valuable items on them.
Hearing this answer, Chen Xu shook his head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. The treaties of Blue Star are aimed at Blue Star humans. But as for you two, who can prove you are Blue Star humans? I believe you are Akhan fallen ones who have mastered illusion magic. Mr. Nicholas, what do you think?"
"I agree with Mr. Chen Xu's view. Blue Star humans currently advocate mutual help. Anyone capable of such a treacherous assassination from behind must certainly be an evil dungeon monster in disguise," Nicholas echoed without hesitation.
Chen Xu nodded with satisfaction and signaled Bone Guard Two to adjust the two men's positions to the ground. Having them hanging in the air like that meant he had to keep looking up, which was a bit tiring.
Bone Guard Two leaped up and delivered a mid-air kick, shifting their positions from the middle of the spear to the very tip, causing their bodies to slam into the ground.
Chen Xu walked over to their heads and squatted down. "So, gentlemen fallen ones, have you considered your options?"
He grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and held it before the eyes of Balin and Howard, letting the soil leak through his fingers bit by bit.
"After all, compared to soulless, thoughtless dust, it is much more interesting to remain a person, is it not?"
Whether it was because Chen Xu's threat was too effective, the influence of the constant necrotic aura emanating from him, or the powerful sealing effect of Bone Guard Two's spear, Balin and Howard were actually trembling all over, with visible beads of sweat covering their foreheads.
Seeing them so terrified they could not even speak left Chen Xu speechless. He only wanted to make another profit; these two had not even attacked him. This was an internal British matter for them to fight over; Chen Xu only cared about whether he could squeeze some oil out of the situation.
"Mr. Nicholas, these two, uh, rare fallen ones—are you interested in collecting them? For a friendship price, I only need that Elf Heart and Siren Brain you mentioned at the beginning. How about it?" Looking at the two men on the ground, who were beginning to pollute the environment with foul-smelling fluids, Chen Xu could only switch targets.
"Mr. Chen Xu, how could that be enough? I will add a bottle of Diluted Holy Water. Although it might not be suitable for your use, it is still a common item on the market," Nicholas said with great joy, quickly accepting the proposal.
Originally, Nicholas had intended to see if he could ask Chen Xu for these two men. If he could bring them back to his family, he would have evidence to unite neutral forces and pressure those other families. However, since Bone Guard Two had subdued them, the right of disposal was in Chen Xu's hands. Now that Chen Xu had proactively suggested a trade, Nicholas took the opportunity immediately.
"Hahaha, Mr. Nicholas, your generosity leaves me at a loss." Seeing that Nicholas not only did not haggle but even proactively raised the price, Chen Xu knew that such a quality client—no, a quality mark—would not be found twice.
Since Nicholas was so generous, Chen Xu did not dawdle. He summoned Rathma directly and had him cast Heretic Bone Cage on the two men, locking them inside. At the same time, Chen Xu engraved multiple sealing runes onto the bone cage. Under the simultaneous effect of both, even without Bone Guard Two's influence, the two men could not perform any movements.
Next, he cast a lifestyle spell—Mud Coffin—to wrap around the bone cage, preventing others from seeing the two inside. He also called over four skeleton soldiers to carry the coffin.
"Mr. Nicholas, I see it is not convenient for you and Miss Elizabeth to carry this cargo. I will have my skeleton army escort you and your goods back. You can contact someone to receive the goods once you arrive," Chen Xu said to Nicholas with a smile.
"Then I thank you, Mr. Chen Xu."
...
After finishing this side quest for Nicholas, Chen Xu originally intended to withdraw the skeleton army to the Undead Kingdom, but Xuan Chu said that several skeleton heroes had all unlocked the same advancement ascension task.
【Extolling the Name of the Lord of the Undead: Reputation is also an important part of the struggle for the throne. The newly born Lord of the Undead has yet to make a name for himself. As his most loyal servants and most valiant warriors, it is only right to launch a grand war to spread the name of the Lord of the Undead. Use your actions to express your loyalty to the Lord of the Undead!】
Since that was the case, Chen Xu had no reason to object. He went directly to Liu Yisi to ask for a more comprehensive map of the surrounding monster distribution and gave it to Xuan Chu, letting him and the other skeleton heroes handle it as they saw fit. After all, the Scourge Lands were not entirely full of entities that the skeleton army could bully at will, or the Akhan Dynasty would have reclaimed the territory long ago.
At the same time, he told Liu Yisi to manage the situation. If Daxia did not have enough manpower to take over so much territory, he could ask other countries if they wanted it. As long as Chen Xu received a cut after the transaction, Liu Yisi agreed.
After making the arrangements, Chen Xu asked Liu Yisi for a rest room, intending to first fuse the three fragments he had earned from Nicholas.
【dungeon space fragment, fragment attribute (Mine): Can be synthesized with other space fragments or fused into a dungeon.】
【dungeon space fragment, fragment attribute (Factory): Can be synthesized with other space fragments or fused into a dungeon.】
【dungeon space fragment, fragment attribute (酒坊): Can be synthesized with other space fragments or fused into a dungeon.】
"As expected of an old industrial nation, even the fragments they produce are so distinctive." Judging by these fragment affixes, Chen Xu felt that the dungeons around the world were actually filtered by the World Will, which would control the landing points of dungeons according to each country's culture and background for easier clearing.
【Undead Kingdom fusing dungeon space fragment, space expanding】
【Mine and Runic Stone Pillars fusing, generating new region: Rune-energy Stone Mine】
【Undead Kingdom fusing dungeon space fragment, space expanding, obtained region: Old Factory】
【Undead Kingdom fusing dungeon space fragment, space expanding, obtained region: Eerie Distillery】
【Rune-energy Stone Mine: A large-scale rune-energy stone mine. The rune-energy stones contained within are enough to refine magic equipment for an entire nation!】
【Old Factory: A very dilapidated factory that does not even have a front gate. The machines inside are all rusted. At the same time, a new energy source must be found for it; the Undead Kingdom does not produce electricity.】
【Eerie Distillery: A distillery with very distinct undead characteristics. It is said that some skeleton knights and black knights possess brewing skills; perhaps they can produce fine vintages for you. Stationing black knights or skeleton knights can periodically produce alcohol.】
With three fragments, one new region was synthesized and two additional regions were added. Currently, there were seven regions in total, only three away from legendary-tier.
Furthermore, the Rune-energy Stone Mine was a great asset. Rune-energy stones had excellent performance in mental strength amplification and rune bearing, making them essential materials for magic equipment. Owning a mine with such large reserves was no longer a simple matter of financial freedom.
However, Chen Xu could not think of any use for the Old Factory and Eerie Distillery. He did not understand what the facilities in the factory were meant to produce, let alone have the energy to start them.
As for the distillery, Chen Xu himself had no hobby for drinking, so his impression of alcohol was limited to those strange products. Snake wine, velvet antler wine, ginseng wine, tiger bone wine.
"Hmm! If tiger bones can be used to brew wine, can dragon bones do it too?" Chen Xu thought of the dragon bones buried in the Dragonfall Swamp. But Chen Xu did not know the trade, and his only black knight, Xuan Chu, was still commanding at the front line, so he would consider it later. For now, he would continue his studies.
...
Three days later, Chen Xu had just finished reading 《Artificial Soul Prosthetics》 when his learning process was interrupted. Liu Yisi had been unable to find him through the Soul-Inducing Token and only managed to contact him through the dynasty messenger, Akhan Morini, to reach him.
"There is a task from above that needs your support. Your life as an exchange student will have to be paused for now."
"Support? Who?" To Chen Xu, leaving Akhan did not matter, as his books were all in the Undead Kingdom and could be taken out to read at any time. In the Akhan capital, he could only occasionally go to the third floor of the Tower of Balance to consult Professor Cyntia and chat about Zhang Jingping's past.
"You should know her. She is also from this year's Dragon Seed Program, Shen Mengqi."
"Her?"
Chen Xu was a bit curious. Wasn't Shen Mengqi a cultivator? Why would she need a Necromancer like him for support?
"Yeah, I don't know the specifics either. The higher-ups just told me to notify you to return to the Daxia Military Academy Dungeon Preparation Base to find Xia Qiming. He will tell you the specific mission details." Liu Yisi waved his hand, indicating he did not know the details.
"Was there a time limit mentioned?"
"As soon as possible. Do you have anything else to handle? I can help you here."
"Nothing much."
It was just that Chen Xu's skeleton heroes were still performing their advancement tasks. Based on Xuan Chu's reports every night, there were still many places the skeleton army could attack.
"I will do a test first." Chen Xu intended to return to Blue Star first to see if he could normally recall his skeleton heroes across worlds.
"Test? What test?" Liu Yisi did not quite understand.
Chen Xu teleported directly to the dungeon entrance in Daxia City No. 1 and returned to Blue Star.
Then he summoned Rathma, who had the least impact on the battlefield. One moment Rathma was throwing bone cages at monsters in the Scourge Lands, and the next he was summoned to Chen Xu's side, looking completely confused.
"Praise my Lord! I wonder what business my Lord has for summoning me here?"
"It is nothing. You can go back." Chen Xu waved his hand and sent Rathma back. After returning to Daxia City No. 1 and saying goodbye to Liu Yisi, Chen Xu headed straight for the military academy.
...
Daxia Military Academy Dungeon Preparation Base, Dragon Seed Program Operations Room.
"Teacher Xia, what is the mission? Surely you do not want a Necromancer like me to become a cultivator too."
The door to the operations room was not closed. Xia Qiming was sitting with a woman dressed in ancient attire.
"It is not that we want you to become a cultivator, but rather that we want you to pretend to be one," Xia Qiming said.
"Huh?"
Rate on N.U.
