Lich for Hire

Chapter 98: Longtime Ally

The moment Ambrose claimed he carried news from the Golden Kingdom, the elf who had been watching him frowned. Though the elf stood far away, as long as Ambrose could sense the elf, he would also be able to detect minute shifts in the elf's features.

The Letterman representative before Ambrose was likewise taken aback.

"The Golden Kingdom? A message from the Dwarven King? That is not something to joke about."

"Report it," Ambrose replied calmly. "You'll know whether or not it's a joke soon enough. Of course, you could also expel me right now. But don't you want to keep your options open? Are you truly unwilling to hear the Dwarven King's offer before war breaks out, before you sign any contract with the elves?"

He smiled with utter confidence.

An undead wore only the expression he wished others to see. Anyone else would be hard-pressed to tell truth from falsehood.

The Letterman noble pondered for a moment, then said, "Very well. Esteemed guest, please follow me."

The elf Ambrose had been watching vanished swiftly into the distance, likely to report to his superiors.

Ambrose boarded a carriage with the noble guide, passing through the satellite town outside the main city.

Inside the carriage, the minor noble tried to probe for information, for a sense of Ambrose's background and the supposed message from the Dwarven King. Ambrose merely exchanged pleasantries and deflected with vague answers, revealing nothing beyond his name.

While fending off these inquiries, Ambrose quietly took out his Necromantic Codex and sent a message to Heki Stone.

[Megaman Tiga: Senior, can you send a message to the dwarven royals right now?]

The vampire seemed to have plenty of time. He replied almost immediately.

[Human-Hater: I sent a message earlier, but don't expect an immediate response. What's the matter? Caught another elf?]

[Megaman Tiga: Not quite. I ran into a new Twilight Warden. They have their eye on a friend of mine, Viscount Letterman. The Court of the Silver Moon is putting him under heavy pressure. I'm speaking with the viscount now and am hoping to borrow some influence from the desert dwarves. No troops—just some verbal reassurance would give him the confidence to keep stalling the elves.]

[Human-Hater: Hah, you really do know people everywhere. Alright. I'll contact the royal court now.]

[Megaman Tiga: Much obliged. Viscount Letterman is a friend of many years, someone I would entrust my phylactery to. He rules over tens of thousands of people. If he submits to the elves, it surely won't end well for the Golden Kingdom. I hope the dwarves will take this seriously.]

[Human-Hater: Rest assured. I'll let them know.]

Ambrose continued writing invisible arcane script in his Necromantic Codex. The young Letterman noble glanced over curiously. "Master Megaman, what are you writing?"

Ambrose answered solemnly, "I'm reporting to the Dwarven King. He treats this mission with grave importance and requires me to keep him informed at all times. Otherwise, I'd already be back in Sarcoma enjoying the royal court's honey-date wine."

"Informed at all times? The Dwarven King values us that much?" The noble found it hard to believe.

"A correction," Ambrose replied smoothly. "He values me. It was I who suggested opening talks early with the lords of Alkhemia. You understand as well, of course. Now that the alchemists are gone, this land is bound to be seized sooner or later. The elves of the Court of the Silver Moon have set their sights on it, but their exclusivity is well known. By contrast, the Golden Kingdom is the most inclusive nation of all and shares Alkhemia's former policies. I trust you can make the right choice."

The noble fell for the bluff completely.

The carriage soon passed through the town and entered the viscount's main city. As soon as Ambrose crossed the gates, he saw the towering statue of Thanos at the city center.

As expected, these were fanatics of Thanos. That put Ambrose at ease. The Letterman house was unlikely to submit easily to the elves.

The carriage rolled into a rugged, austere castle. Ambrose was shown into a spacious chamber in which to wait.

Meanwhile, the guiding noble hurried to Viscount Letterman's quarters and reported everything in detail.

Viscount Letterman appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties. He was tall and powerfully built, and his bald head was tattooed with patterns resembling lightning and storms. He wore silver mail, and a thick beard covered his face below his nose.

He seemed perpetually furious; even without a frown, the deep crease between his brows was unmistakable.

He was the classic stormpriest: forever angry, forever ready to bring about destruction.

Viscount Letterman asked his kin, "Do you think he really is the Dwarven King's envoy?"

"He seems like it," the man replied. "I saw no trace of deceit on his face."

"The Court of the Silver Moon, the Golden Kingdom... Do they truly think of this land as unclaimed territory?" The viscount snorted. "Arrogant beyond measure."

He slammed his fist onto the table. The thick marble surface shattered instantly. Lightning gathered within his body as sparks crackled through his beard.

His kin dared not speak and only bowed his head humbly.

After several deep breaths, Viscount Letterman reined in the lightning. "Take me to meet this envoy of the Dwarven King."

Elsewhere, Ambrose was reading Heki Stone's reply.

[Human-Hater: I reached the King's Hand—his cousin. He oversees nearly all administration, military, and diplomacy of the Golden Kingdom.]

[Megaman Tiga: Good. Please ask the King's Hand to hold on. The elves are still lobbying my friend Viscount Letterman to sign a contract. I don't yet know the exact terms, but they likely mirror the previous ones. Let me be blunt: what conditions can the Golden Kingdom offer to persuade Viscount Letterman to reject the Court of the Silver Moon's contract?]

[Human-Hater: He says Letterman may retain his original fief, so long as he nominally submits to the Golden Kingdom. Our policies differ little from those of Alkhemia. Different races and faiths may live freely.]

[Megaman Tiga: That's not sincere enough. The land already belongs to my friend. If you desert dwarves wish to take it, you should at least send troops to seize it. Know that my friend worships Thanos, Lord of Storms. Anyone who tries to take his land will pay in blood.]

The Necromantic Codex fell silent for a long moment before a new reply arrived.

[Human-Hater: Then what does Viscount Letterman actually want?]

Ambrose smiled faintly and began to write in earnest.

[Megaman Tiga: First, large quantities of gold. Alkhemia lacks no basic supplies. It has sufficient food and daily necessities, but after the economic crisis, prices have become wildly unstable. Viscount Letterman and the other lords all need gold to stabilize wartime prices. The Golden Kingdom's economy is based on archaeology; the crisis caused by the Court of the Silver Moon hardly affects you. Gold will not be in short supply.

[Second, the elves' Twilight Wardens specialize in assassination. Many lords were forced to sign contracts under threat of violence. Even resistance requires the means to survive. Surely the Golden Kingdom can spare some strength to protect these lords.

[Finally, beyond preserving their existing territories, you will need additional vacant land. Presumably, the Golden Kingdom seeks this region for strategic relocation, which entails migration—and migration requires space. I can identify which lords have fully sided with the elves, and their territories can serve as resettlement targets. To seize them, however, you will need local assistance. Why not begin with mercenary arrangements to establish early cooperation...]

Ambrose's fingers flew, outlining numerous broad yet comprehensive terms.

Whatever fierce debate occurred on the other side, by the time a servant knocked to summon him, Heki Stone finally sent a reply. [Human-Hater: The King's Hand agrees with your proposal in principle. Details will require further negotiation.]

Ambrose replied smoothly. [Megaman Tiga: Naturally. I will now convey the Dwarven King's sincerity to the friend with whom I share a lifelong bond, Viscount Letterman.]

Closing the Necromantic Codex, Ambrose rose and left the cramped reception room.

After winding his way through the castle, he was led to a high tower to meet his "phylactery-worthy friend," Viscount Letterman.

The viscount maintained a stern expression and cut straight to the chase. "Master Megaman, you claim to carry a message from the Dwarven King?"

"Indeed. Viscount Letterman, surely you might invite me to share a drink first?"

"My time is precious," Letterman snapped. "I will not waste it on pointless courtesies."

Unruffled, Ambrose replied, "I know you are pressed, but haste will solve nothing—least of all matters concerning the survival of your domain. Tell me first: have you signed a contract with the elves?"

Letterman frowned and lied. "Elves? I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Negotiation requires sincerity," Ambrose said evenly. "I know the Court of the Silver Moon has sent Twilight Wardens to make contact. They are targeting every lord in the region, and some have already been deceived into signing a contract. If you have already done so, what we discuss today would be a different kind of transaction altogether."

Letterman studied Ambrose carefully. In the end, he finally nodded. "The elves have indeed presented terms, but I have not yet agreed."

Ambrose smiled. "Excellent. Then the task entrusted to me by the Dwarven King may yet succeed. Let me be forthright as well. This land must have a new ruler. The Dwarven King of the Golden Kingdom is the best choice. He is a man I would entrust with my life. He promises that if you submit to the Golden Kingdom, everything will remain as is. Your lands will not change. We will not drive you from your home as the elves intend."

Letterman frowned. "Is that all? No concessions, no gifts—you expect me to submit on the basis of a verbal promise alone?"

Ambrose smiled. "My lord, you may not yet see the situation clearly. There are only two buyers. One wants your land; the other does not. Which offers the better deal? With your wisdom, the answer should be obvious."

"Your proposal is meaningless." Letterman sneered. "Accepting the Golden Kingdom means openly opposing the Court of the Silver Moon. War will follow immediately. I would be shedding my own blood to weaken the Dwarven King's enemies—and you claim there is to be no benefits for me at all? Do you take me for a fool?"

Ambrose nodded appreciatively. "Your insight does you credit, my lord. Very well. I can guarantee that the Golden Kingdom will provide real military assistance. However, you know as well as I do that the Lyon Empire is currently at war with the Golden Kingdom. Redeploying troops is no simple matter. And in Alkhemia, you are not the only partner they must consider."

"What do you mean?" Letterman roared. "Am I to be some sort of second-class partner now?!"

Ambrose replied calmly, "Just as nobles are ranked—duke, marquis, count, viscount, baron—so too the allies of the Golden Kingdom. The Dwarven King truly wishes to cooperate with you, but he needs a reason to prioritize your aid.

"For instance, a modest amount of gold and a share of your mineral outputs, paid as mercenary fees. With such resources, it would only be reasonable for the Dwarven King to aid you first. No one could object. I swear, as the Dwarven King's longtime ally, that the cost will be well within what you can accept."