That's How We Necromancers Do Things

Chapter 181: Chapter 102: Promotion! Lynch, Tier Two Mage

"Senior Brother, do you happen to have any spare materials you could help me out with?"

Whenever Raymond, pained by the requests, was about to refuse, Lynch would aptly bring up, "Senior Brother, I think that iron ore share we just discussed could use some reconsideration..."

Or he would say, "Senior Brother, I just remembered, it seems there’s a small associated hematite vein in the West Ridge mining area."

This went on back and forth. By the time dusk fell and Raymond was ready to get up and leave, he was horrified to discover that Lynch had used a combination of "friendship prices" and "future iron ore revenue projections" to swindle him out of more than half of the mid-tier Negative Energy Crystals he was carrying, as well as several types of precious Yin Attribute materials used for strengthening a zombie’s bones and tendons.

Looking at his now half-empty Space Ring, then at Lynch’s face, which was practically written all over with "Thank you for taking care of me, Senior Brother," Raymond felt his heart bleed.

"Alright, that’s enough! That’s it for today!"

Raymond practically shot to his feet as if escaping, snatching the newly signed iron ore share contract from Lynch and heading for the door.

"You have the materials, and I’ve taught you the trick. Just remember to deliver the iron ore to Red Ridge Castle on time. I have military duties to attend to, so I’m leaving!"

He was terrified that if he stayed a moment longer, what little he had left would be completely cleaned out by this junior brother of his.

Everyone said he, Raymond, was as cunning as a fox, but compared to his junior brother... he was in a different league entirely. ’When I was his age, I was still just a simpleton.’

"Take care, Senior Brother! Come back and inspect our progress often!" Lynch enthusiastically escorted Raymond to the edge of town, waving goodbye with a brilliant smile.

Raymond practically fled in disarray.

Watching his back disappear into the twilight, Lynch returned to the garrison, satisfied.

In the cellar, the Corpse Demon lay within a Negative Energy Array. The blackish-purple aura around its body seemed much more condensed than before. freewebnσvel.cѳm

Lynch carefully took out a portion of the mid-tier Negative Energy Crystals he had just acquired from his senior brother, along with several other materials. Following the new method Raymond had taught him, he began a new round of enhancement on the Corpse Demon.

Feeling the pure energy from the materials slowly merge into the Corpse Demon’s body, sensing its aura gradually strengthen, Lynch’s heart filled with joy.

’With this "startup capital" sponsored by my senior brother, the first step in advancing the Corpse Demon’s strength toward Tier Four is finally complete.’

Lynch began to calculate silently in his mind.

’Plus, Senior Brother has already agreed to help me report my merits for retaking the mining area and stabilizing Lakefront Town to the military headquarters. Once my military contributions are evaluated, I’ll be able to exchange them for some resources at the legion’s quartermaster department. Although the quartermaster’s stock is often incomplete due to the niche nature of Undead System materials, it’s still a channel.’

’Furthermore, I can’t neglect the academy. I need to write letters to my mentor regularly to "report my progress," and I should be able to get some good things that way. There’s also the black market... once the iron ore trade is on track and I have a stable cash flow, I’ll have to pay it a visit.’

’Can’t put all my eggs in one basket. My resource channels must be diversified.’

Lynch looked at the Corpse Demon, its aura gradually growing heavier and more substantial, his eyes filled with anticipation.

****

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed since the incident with Andis "demanding justice."

A light snow had fallen a few days prior, and the remaining patches had not yet fully melted, dotting the sides of the newly paved stone road outside Lakefront Town.

The road was clean and tidy. Instead of the withered yellow weeds and mud common to desolate villages in winter, it was lined with rows of hardy evergreen shrubs.

These plants were clearly well-tended, standing tall and straight in the biting cold wind, adding a pleasant touch of vitality to the lakeside town in winter.

At the town’s entrance.

The newly built stone walls were already quite impressive, flanked by two watchtowers manned by armored Soldiers wielding crossbows.

Outside the main gate, a continuous stream of refugees formed a long, orderly queue.

Most of them were sallow and emaciated, their eyes filled with fear and unease. They were mostly refugees fleeing from the southeastern Sardinia Province.

In the queue, Arthur and his family of three shuffled along with the line.

He was originally a Secretary in a small town in Sardinia Province, a respectable clerk who had lived a stable, comfortable life.

But then the flames of war spread. The Blue Scarves and all sorts of bandits ran rampant, destroying his home. He had no choice but to sell all the valuables he couldn’t carry and flee north with his wife, Martha, and their eight-year-old daughter, Belinda, joining the tide of refugees.

Their original destination had been the prosperous, war-free provinces to the north, but not long after they set out, their travel money was stolen...

In their despair, they heard from fellow refugees that Lakefront Town, near the Red Ridge Mountain war zone, was willing to take in refugees and even provided food, lodging, and job opportunities. Clinging to this last shred of hope, they made their difficult journey here.

At this moment, the family of three was dressed in thin, tattered clothes. freewebnovёl.ƈom

Arthur hugged his shivering daughter tightly. Seeing her once-chubby cheeks now sunken and her body nothing but skin and bones, his heart ached.

His wife, Martha, was also pale from the cold, managing to draw a little warmth only by linking her arm with her husband’s.

Walking on the clean stone path, the three of them were hesitant, afraid that their mud-caked, broken shoes would dirty the road and provoke the guards into driving them away or even whipping them.

"Mama, I’m hungry..." Belinda said in a small, weak voice.

Her little face was grimy, making her look utterly pitiful.

Martha hugged her daughter tightly, her heart aching, and comforted her in a low voice, "Be good, Belinda, just hold on a little longer. As soon as we get into the town and register, there will be food. I heard that here... as long as you’re willing to work, you can fill your belly."