This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 84 (Patreon)

In Eindor, negotiation was a common occurrence.

Eindorians had an almost obsessive enthusiasm for negotiations, be it in civilized societies or rural adventures. When people encountered conflicts and disputes, their first instinct was to choose negotiation.

Moreover, even if the initial negotiations failed, in most cases, both sides would agree to initiate a second round of negotiations and even introduce a "mediator" in the subsequent negotiations.

In Rolling Stone Town, the position of a mediator was often held by a respected figure in the town. In larger cities like Torrent City, there were official negotiation institutions to manage disputes from the civilian population.

Matthew had once read a book by a seasoned mediator, and the author wrote in the preface:

...

"How can we ensure better conflict resolution? We should do the following:

Before negotiations, ensure equal strength.

During negotiations, use various means.

After negotiations, do not blindly trust the outcome."

...

The first two points were easy to understand, but the third point, in Matthew's view, meant something like this:

Although using negotiations to resolve issues was a consensus among most Eindorians, there were still those who had no qualms about deceit. Examples of those who contradicted the negotiated results and betrayed the next day could be found in history.

So, even for negotiations that had become established facts, one had to be cautious and vigilant.

This was Matthew's first negotiation.

Facing a level twenty expert, although the person in front of him, Blorken, was likely a Water Elemental, the morning's lawful command of death still left a strong impression on Matthew.

To claim he wasn't nervous would be a lie.

But at this moment, Matthew knew he had to gather his courage. If he showed any weakness, this negotiation would be lost before it even began.

He walked up, maintaining a safe distance, and calmly spoke, "There is no Dragon's Tomb in this rainforest."

Blorken sneered, "The second sentence."

Matthew remained composed, "The internal conflict within the Sandstorm Thieves is likely a self-staged farce."

Blorken seemed a bit impatient, "The third sentence."

Matthew's mind was slightly shaken as Blorken's reaction exceeded his expectations. He had expected his two pieces of information to at least provoke a response. However, Blorken was completely unfazed. Blorken's attitude changed Matthew's approach. He made a quick decision and changed the content of the third sentence:

"We have a legend!"

After hearing this, Blorken instinctively raised his right hand, but before his staff could be lifted 15 degrees, his motion came to a halt.

"Legend? Do you think I'm a child? Why should it be easy to deceive me?" Blorken coldly stared at Matthew.

Seeing Blorken's attitude, Matthew finally breathed a sigh of relief. When Blorken had attempted to raise his staff, Matthew had prepared himself to use his immortality if necessary.

Afei and Afei followed, and if Blorken made any suspicious movements, the two undead assassins would strike swiftly.

Fortunately, Blorken finally showed some reaction to Matthew's words, although it was still skeptical.

"Deception is pointless. I think verifying the truth of my words is not difficult for you."

Matthew replied confidently.

Blorken's eyes revealed strong doubt, and in the next moment, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a skull. The skull faintly emitted a dim soul flame, clearly different from a normal undead. Matthew felt a strong but fragile life force, as if it could extinguish at any moment.

Blorken carefully cradled the skull in his arms and gently stroked its forehead and cheekbones. He asked with a gentle tone, "Emma, my Emma, he says they have a legend."

Hearing Blorken's voice, the skull, Emma, seemed to suddenly wake up. She flew out of Blorken's embrace, circled in the air, and then landed in his palm.

"Why did you wake me up this time, not with a kiss from your beloved? Little Blorken, have you stopped loving me?"

Emma looked at Blorken with a hint of complaint.

Blorken hugged her, kissing her forehead gently, "Sorry, my love, I was just in a hurry."

His tone was tender, his actions affectionate. Even his kiss was filled with love.

"I like your kisses; they remind me of when we were still in love. Back then, you were so young and radiant. But now you've grown old, and the negative energy has eroded your body and mind. I'm very worried about you, Little Blorken."

Emma said with concern.

Blorken coughed, "We can talk about this later, my love. Right now, I'm in negotiations with someone."

"Is that so?"

Emma did a 180-degree turn, glancing at Matthew and the others, and then turned back to Blorken, saying, "I'm afraid the boy is telling the truth. He has a guardian deity on him, and it's of a high level, probably not something an ordinary legend can achieve. At the very least, it's an upper-tier legend."

"An upper-tier legend?"

Blorken was surprised, "There aren't many upper-tier legends in the entire south!"

"Oh, my poor beloved, this corrupt world has tainted your flesh and decayed your body. The necromantic spells have blurred your vision. Can't you see the obvious mark on the guardian deity? The sign is so clear that it can't be missed."

Emma said with concern.

Blorken's eyes emitted a bright white light, and after a few seconds, he furrowed his brows and said, "Ronan."

"But I heard he was trapped in the Star Realms," Emma urged, "but he won't be stuck in the Star Realms forever. You know his capabilities, and your judgment now worries me. Promise me, don't let the negative energy continue to erode your mind; that's your sexiest organ, and my favorite."

Blorken's facial muscles twitched slightly, but soon he was at peace. "I'll be careful, Emma."

The skull, Emma, looked particularly concerned as she turned to Matthew and his group. "Let me talk to the boy; I'm better suited to negotiate with normal people than you are."

Blorken took a deep breath and didn't say much, essentially agreeing with Emma.

"Hello, young man. I'm Emma. What's your name?" The skull seemed kind.

Matthew responded politely, "Hello, ma'am. I'm Matthew."

"Nice to meet you, Matthew," Emma said cheerfully. "People have a lot of misunderstandings about Blorken. In fact, he's a good boy, always has been. He's just not very good at expressing himself. When he was still a magic apprentice, a few troublemakers hid all the frogs used for dissection because they didn't want the dissection class the next day."

Matthew realized that this skull was apparently essential to Blorken, so he played along, asking, "What happened then?"

Emma sighed, "They made Blorken angry and wouldn't reveal the location of the frogs. So, in his anger, little Blorken used malicious transmutation magic to turn them all into frogs and put them in the materials cabinet for the dissection class. It wasn't until the next day that the teacher noticed something was wrong. Those unfortunate troublemakers were saved from a brutal fate, but Blorken was severely punished for it. Later, I learned about this incident and tried to console him, finding out that he just wanted a proper dissection class. With such a dedicated student, can you really say he's not a good person?"

Matthew was left speechless.

It seemed that not only did Emma view Blorken differently, but Blorken also held a deep fondness for Emma.

Just then, a voice came from behind Matthew: "Emma? Are you Lady Emma, who once served as a prophecy teacher at the Alliance's Magic Academy in Pharaoh City before you passed away? Yes, I remember you taught Mr. Blorken."

As expected, Hughie was quick to arrive after the altercation, and he seemed to know Emma to some extent.

Emma happily replied, "Yes, I didn't expect someone to remember me. After my husband passed away and I heard the news of Blorken's defection from the Seven Holy Alliances, I became melancholic and soon departed from this world. But Blorken dug me out of my coffin and found a way to preserve my memories and wisdom. I'm sorry to meet you all in my current state. I don't look too wicked, do I?"

Hughie stammered, unsure of how to respond.

Matthew smoothly changed the subject: "As you said, Mr. Blorken used to be a decent person, but his recent actions have been far from honorable. This morning, he tainted the Black Banyan Dream with a profane book, seized the Verdant Branch of the Rainforest Soul, and then acted tyrannical in the rainforest, causing unrest and fear among the local creatures. People are anxious about who he'll target next. I came here to negotiate for these reasons. I hope to resolve this peacefully. However, if Mr. Blorken continues on his current path, our differences may not be solvable through negotiations."

Emma immediately said, "I'll make sure he returns the Verdant Branch, but not right now. We still need it at the moment. As for the Black Banyan Dream, I'm sorry; I promise you Blorken won't profane it again. Listen, little Blorken!"

Blorken showed an exasperated expression. "Emma, that kid threatened me!"

Emma instantly raised her voice, "I'm asking if you heard me! You indeed went too far this morning, scaring that little fox. I didn't even make you go and apologize at his door. What's more, he's reasonable about it!"

Blorken, irritated, said, "I know. Afterward, I will return the Verdant Branch. I also promise that I won't profane the Black Banyan Dream in the future."

"Good," Emma said contentedly with a yawn. She turned to Matthew and said, "You and little Blorken are both necromancers. You should have much in common. There's no need to be constantly hostile. Now that little Blorken has made concessions, talk to each other. Don't be too impulsive, young man. Alright, little Blorken, I'm a bit tired. Take me back."

Blorken didn't hesitate and carefully cradled the skull. After giving her three loving kisses, he reluctantly placed Emma back in his embrace.

After Emma left, the affectionate look on Blorken's face instantly disappeared, replaced by a fierce and malicious expression. "Kid, don't think I'll be as easy to deal with as Emma! I've made the concessions I'm going to make. I can promise you and the Rainforest Soul behind you that I'll do my best not to harm the local wildlife in this area. But I want that piece of land to the west of the rainforest for my factory to fulfill my wishes. So, tell those natives to stay away from my factory, or I don't know what might happen. Furthermore, for some time, my people will be moving around in the rainforest. If the wild beasts or the locals attack us, don't blame me for being ruthless. Only if you agree to these terms can we temporarily coexist without hostilities, thanks to Emma."

Matthew knew that this negotiation wouldn't end well. He decided to be vague, saying, "I'm not sure if the Rainforest Soul will accept these conditions, especially after you robbed her. But I will convey your words to her."

Blorken coldly chuckled, "She will accept."

"Kid, I don't know what kind of conditions the Rainforest Spirit has promised you, but no reward is worth more than your own life. You're not as lucky as having a little bat sacrifice itself for you, right?"

Matthew's heart skipped a beat. He realized that everything that had happened in the Black Banyan Dream was known to others even after he left.

"What are you planning in the rainforest? The Dragon's Tomb? It doesn't exist."

He tried to pry more information from Blorken.

But Blorken just smiled faintly. "Don't ask too much, kid. Don't waste your time anymore. My people have already left while we were negotiating. You won't be able to track them."

"About me, you understand, what's in front of you is just an image, the real me is thousands of miles away."

With that, he turned to leave. Ten steps later, he turned back, looking at Matthew solemnly. "Forget it, out of respect for fellow necromancers, I'll give you one last piece of advice."

Matthew asked, "What is it?"

"Remember to roll up your sleeves when wearing robes with narrow cuffs like that, so it doesn't affect spellcasting."

Blorken said seriously, "Also, your second button on the inner lining of your top isn't fastened. You should button it up immediately."

After saying that, his figure immediately collapsed into a puddle of water.

Hugo came over and asked, "So, was this negotiation a success or a failure?"

Matthew didn't answer. Instead, he quickly turned to look at the pained Bobo. "Let's tend to your injuries first."

...

Hissing! The gloves, emitting sparks, were taken off one by one and thrown into a pool of water by the mire. White vapor immediately rose from the water.

After peeling off three layers of iron, Bobo's fair, plump fists were exposed.

"No burns, but there are some minor fractures," Matthew carefully examined her hands.

As a necromancer, he was a natural surgeon. Not many professions dared to claim they knew bones in front of a necromancer.

"I've received professional training; how could I get burned?"

Bobo said somewhat sheepishly. "But fractures are inevitable, as I suspected. The energy charge of level one is too great, for both the fists and the gloves. But you all saw just now, it's really cool, right?"

Matthew smiled and nodded.

Without hesitation, he took out a scroll from his bag and tore it open. Magic waves flowed into Bobo's fists and wrists, and a part of it spread along her skin to other areas.

She went, "Huh," and flexed her wrists. The minor fractures in her hands had already healed, and the bruises on her skin were gone.

"Is this a basic wound healing scroll? It must be expensive, right?"

Bobo asked, somewhat embarrassed.

"It's not," Matthew smiled and shook his head.

Seeing Bobo's slightly embarrassed expression, he certainly wouldn't tell her that he was using an 'intermediate wound healing scroll'! Fortunately, this stuff wasn't expensive in White Rock City, after all, necromancers were natural surgeons.

"Are you kidding? This is an intermediate scroll!" Hugo suddenly chimed in, "Matthew, you're really rich! This scroll would sell for over 120 gold in Coraldo City, and that's assuming people generally don't value minor injuries there."

Lumiere didn't have a concept of money and was just listening with interest.

After hearing what Hugo said, Bobo didn't react much either. The light on her helmet kept changing, much like neon lights from Matthew's past.

Matthew offhandedly explained, "I didn't buy it from a place as expensive as Coraldo City."

Saying this, he wished he could pinch his thigh – how could he only think of buying underwater breathing scrolls from Coraldo City and not investigate the local prices for special products in White Rock City and Rushing Rapids City?

If, as Hugo said, this scroll sold for 8 gold in White Rock City, and could fetch more than ten times the price in the Gold Coast, then Matthew needed to establish this north-south commercial route!

Of course, it wasn't the time to think about these things right now.

While Bobo's injuries were healed, the recent battle had left everyone mentally and physically exhausted.

Because the undead in the swamp had been swept away by the tornado, the followers of the Dragon Cult probably had fled as well.

So, theoretically, this was now the safest place in the rainforest.

Matthew found a nearby spot to set up camp. He asked Hugo to stay in the makeshift camp, with Albin protecting Bobo. He then went with Lumiere to explore the area.

The road was calm.

As Matthew had suspected, the deeper parts of the swamp were deserted.

He asked Lumiere, "If you were in my shoes, would you accept this negotiation result?"

Lumiere said unsurely, "I don't know, that necromancer is really powerful. I could feel it; in a one-on-one battle, I wouldn't be his match."

"But letting him loot the rainforest would be a humiliation for me. Perhaps I can endure it temporarily, but those mercenaries won't let it go. Even if they give their last drop of blood, they will fight to the death with the Dragon Cult's people."

Matthew sighed, "Then they'll all become accomplices of the necromancer."

Lumiere was at a loss for words.

He remembered the huge celestial body that had just appeared. Without Bobo's bomb, he didn't know how to deal with it.

"I didn't mean to mock your people, I have great respect for their valor," Matthew said, "but it's best to keep them from provoking Blorken next time before the second round of negotiations. That will disrupt my plans."

Lumiere nodded and asked, "There's a second round of negotiations?"

Matthew said seriously, "Perhaps I shouldn't call it the second round of negotiations. The next time we meet will probably be the time to settle life and death."

"Actually, the idea of confronting him is not wrong, because Blorken never had any intention of negotiating with us."

“Kid, I don't know what kind of deal the Rainforest Soul promised you, but no reward, no matter how generous, is worth more than your own life. You're not lucky enough to have a flying squirrel to sacrifice for you, are you?”

Matthew's heart skipped a beat.

He realized that everything that happened in the Black Banyan Dream had been known to others after he left.

"What are you doing in the rainforest anyway? The Dragon's Tomb? It doesn't exist."

He tried to pry more information out of Blorken.

However, Blorken just smiled faintly, "Don't ask too many questions, kid. Don't do anything useless. My people have already been sent away during our negotiations, and you won't be able to track them down."

"As for me, you understand, there's only a mirror image in front of you. The real me is miles away."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Ten steps later, he turned back, looking at Matthew solemnly.

"Alright, for the sake of both being necromancers, I'll give you one final piece of advice."

Matthew asked, "What is it?"

"When wearing robes with narrow, tight cuffs like that, always remember to roll up your sleeves to avoid interfering with spellcasting," Blorken said seriously. "And one more thing, the second button of your inner shirt isn't fastened, make sure to do it up right away."

With that, his figure immediately collapsed into a puddle.

Hugh approached, "So, was this negotiation a success or a failure?"

Matthew didn't answer. Instead, he quickly turned to the pain-stricken Bopo and said, "Heal first."

Sizzle!

The sparking gauntlets were removed one by one and tossed into a nearby water pool. Steam rose from the water as the three layers of metal skin came off, revealing Bopo's pale, slightly plump fists underneath.

"No burns, but there are some minor fractures," Matthew carefully examined her hands. As a necromancer, he was a natural surgeon, and not many professions dared to claim knowledge of bones in front of necromancers.

"I've had professional training, how could I get burned?" Bopo blushed. "But some minor fractures are inevitable, as you can see. One-tier overcharging is too much for both my fists and the gauntlets. But you all just saw how cool it was, right?"

Matthew nodded with a smile. Without hesitation, he took out a scroll from his bag and tore it open.

Magic ripples flowed into Bopo's fists and wrists, and some of it spread along her skin to other parts of her body. She exclaimed, "Is this a beginner's wound-healing scroll? It must be expensive, right?"

Matthew shook his head with a smile. When Bopo looked a bit embarrassed, he certainly wouldn't tell her that he had actually used an "intermediate wound-healing scroll"! Fortunately, this thing wasn't expensive at all in White Rock City, as necromancers were naturally skilled surgeons.

"This is an intermediate scroll!" Hugh chimed in. "Matthew, you're quite wealthy! This scroll sells for over 120 gold in Coldo City, even with the general lack of attention to injuries."

Lumiere had no concept of money but was still listening with interest. Bopo seemed unfazed after hearing it and just looked at her helmet's light flickering, much like neon lights from Matthew's previous life.

Matthew wished he had pinched his thigh.

Why did he only think about buying water-breathing scrolls from Coldo City and selling them inland, without investigating the local prices for White Rock City and Torrent City specialties? If Hugh was right and this scroll sold for over ten times its value in Coldo City, it meant this north-south trade route had to be established!

Of course, it wasn't time to think about these things right now. Bopo's injuries had been healed, but after the battle they had all been through, their spirits were exhausted and they needed a rest.

Since the undead in the swamp had been taken away by the tornado and the followers of the Dragon Cult had most likely retreated, this place theoretically became the safest in the rainforest.

Matthew and his companions found a nearby place to set up camp.

He left Hugh to stay at the temporary camp, had Abing protect Bopo, and personally explored the surroundings with Lysanna.

The journey was calm. As Matthew had guessed, there were no signs of life deep in the swamp.

He asked Lysanna, "If you were to make a guess, who do you think Zeller would send here? If I were him, Li Weiqi would definitely be one of them, and probably Zeller himself, right?"

Matthew was still speculating.

In the front, a low, small hut suddenly appeared in their field of vision.

...

"Danya's Home (Strange, why would I need such a sign? No one is likely to visit me.)"

"Is this the residence of the Dead Girl Danya?" Matthew instantly perked up. He went around the fence and noticed a withered garden behind the house.

In the garden was a huge boulder, and Matthew could sense the faint but clear presence of life on the stone!

"Earth elemental?" Matthew realized instantly. The one who had spied on their battle with the Undead Sphere earlier was most likely him!

But Matthew didn't act recklessly.

He returned to the front gate, and as per the customs of the necromancers in White Rock City, he performed a common trick.

Poof!

A sprinkle of bone powder was scattered on the fence gate.

A greenish glow emanated from the door with a series of eerie cat meows. After a few seconds, a coarse voice came from the direction of the garden.

"How come Danya has been gone for so many years and still doesn't have a boyfriend?"

"She's been gone for who knows how many years, but guys are coming one after another?"

"I really feel sorry for my best friend. Oh, you're a necromancer, so you're here for Danya's treasure, aren't you?"

The Earth Elemental ambled over with a yawn. She leaned against the inner side of the fence and seemed disinterested, as if she was only going through the motions.

"According to the rules, you can choose from 'Quick Questions and Quick Answers' or 'Flying Bird Chess'. Quick Questions and Quick Answers mean I ask, you answer, a total of three questions, no more than twenty seconds of thinking time. The answers in this segment are quite diverse, as long as they are reasonable. Of course, there is also an optimal answer."

" If you answer all three questions correctly or choose the optimal answer for a question, you can enter."

Matthew knew about Flying Bird Chess. It was quite popular in White Rock City, but he only knew how to plant trees and didn't understand the basic rules. So he had to choose Quick Questions and Quick Answers.

The Earth Elemental chuckled, "The first question: What profession do necromancers hate the most?"

Lu Miai breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't think this was a difficult question. Necromancers naturally hated their bane, such as paladins.

However, Matthew thought for two seconds and replied, "Necromancers."

The Earth Elemental trembled and seemed more awake. "What is your relationship with Danya?"

"Benevolent fellow," Matthew responded.

Chapter 85 >>

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