This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 119 (Patreon)

Matthew observed the situation and opened the door to let Abing in. Abing entered and stared at Renaismae, utterly captivated by her presence. Renaismae, in return, looked back at him with one eye.

Abing turned his head away in silence, and the emotions within his soul fire seemed to become more subdued. Matthew found this situation somewhat amusing. Most undead beings had minds that were somewhat childlike, even though they might appear grotesque on the outside. Their souls were, in fact, quite pure. This was one of the reasons many necromancers preferred interacting with the undead. Outsiders couldn't understand this, often branding necromancers as perverts, corpse-lovers, or sadists. But the truth was more complex.

Now, Matthew patted Abing on the shoulder and explained through their contract that this round of enhancements was limited to zombies. Abing quickly understood and obediently stood by the door. However, this time, it was Renaismae who became uncooperative. Out of the blue, she walked over and bumped into Abing!

Although Abing had a higher level, his physical condition was quite average, and with Renaismae's strength, he actually lost two bones from the impact. Abing wasn't like little Fubo; his bones were genuine.

Renaismae pushed her luck and provocatively looked at Abing, extending her right hand. She seemed to want to arm-wrestle him, but Abing only glanced at her muscular arm, and in response, he drew two curved knives from his sides. Renaismae was taken aback and quickly retreated. In the process, she also grabbed the Emerald Breeze in her hand.

"Are you trying to rebel?" Matthew calmly asked.

Suddenly, the room's atmosphere dropped by ten degrees. Renaismae and Abing knelt in fear, and their soul fires flickered violently.

"Undead Contract: Needle Puncture!" This was the first time Matthew had used this harsh clause in the contract. As one of the contract's attached abilities, "Needle Puncture" could provide an intense, momentary stimulation to an undead being's soul fire, making them feel like their soul fire was about to be extinguished, thereby better intimidating them.

"Have I been too gentle with you all this time? Do you want me to change the way I treat you?" Matthew coldly asked.

The two of them knelt on the ground, their weapons left aside, and from the undead contract side, intense fear and remorse emanated. They might not yet comprehend why Matthew was angry with them, given their limited intelligence. Matthew didn't respond immediately. The stalemate in the small cabin lasted for about seven or eight minutes before he ordered the two undead to stand up.

Matthew didn't need to scold them; they wouldn't understand. As their master, all he had to do was make decisions and gauge their emotions. The treatment of the undead required a delicate balance between discipline and kindness.

The altercation between Renaismae and Abing reminded Matthew that he should occasionally show his temper in front of the undead. Thunder and rain were necessary for a stable relationship.

Now, Matthew ordered Abing to stand guard by the door, and with a wave of his hand, he infused Renaismae's body with eleven beams of strengthening light.

"Notification: Strengthening Successful. Renaismae's level has increased to LV14 (originally LV12)! Renaismae has gained 9 new keywords, with the following qualities—1 Gold, 2 Purple, 2 Blue, 2 White, 2 Gray."

In a way, it seemed quite balanced. The joy of receiving Gold swept away Matthew's slight discomfort. He carefully examined the Gold, Purple, and Gray keywords.

"Domain (Ocean/Gold): Your summoned companion Renaismae has obtained the initial qualification for the Ocean Domain, granting her the following abilities—Walking on Water (Renaismae can walk on the sea surface, granting a 20% movement speed bonus; note that this doesn't work on fresh water); Swift Swimming (Renaismae can quickly move through seawater, with a swimming speed equivalent to 130% of running speed); Manipulation of Furious Winds (on the sea surface, Renaismae gains the ability to summon and manipulate a gust of wind, up to 5 times daily); Domain Power (Renaismae can activate the Ocean Domain, causing intimidation, repulsion, and other effects on enemies)."

"Multi-shot (Purple): Renaismae can simultaneously attack multiple targets within her perception range of soul fires. When using 'Multi-shot,' her quiver must remain well-stocked, and her critical hit rate will slightly decrease."

"Gambler (Gray): Renaismae loves to gamble and always wins. While her gambling skills aren't exceptional, her extraordinary luck ensures victory. The only drawback is that every time Renaismae wins a significant gambling game, a mutiny will occur on her ship. This was something Renaismae was always puzzled about during her life. After becoming an undead, Renaismae may gamble with other less intelligent undead, with the stakes unknown."

Killing a legendary creature? Then why is she just a little zombie after death? Matthew was puzzled, wondering if Daniya hadn't noticed Renaismae's marvelous physical attributes. But he soon became intrigued by the "Gambler" keyword.

"Renaismae, if you want to continue following me, you have to get rid of this habit," Matthew said sternly. Renaismae licked her lips and chuckled, "Daddy!"

Matthew raised his hand as if to slap her, and Renaismae flinched, then obediently extended her head for Matthew to hit. It was both heartbreaking and funny.

Matthew, somewhat exasperated, had to take it step by step, like correcting his daughter's pronunciation, while also instilling the idea that taking things forcibly was a wrong concept.

Matthew's persistent efforts finally paid off. "Notification: After your lengthy instruction, Renaismae realizes that 'Taking Things' is wrong behavior. Her keyword 'Taking Things' is changed to 'Taking by Force.'"

"Taking by Force (Gray): Renaismae lacks moral values. If she likes something, she won't hesitate to take it by force."

Now, he had to make sure to keep the "Taking by Force" concept in check. Undead beings didn't possess many valuable items, and incessant stealing would lead to selling organs and bones in the long run. If such corrupt behavior spread, it would make it difficult to have functional undead in the future. Thankfully, "Ocean Domain" and "Multi-shot" were outstanding abilities. Matthew remembered that Abing had only achieved "Domain Power" at Tier 4, while Renaismae had obtained it at Tier 3, indicating her potential for further domain enhancement.

The ocean was a vast domain, and in the era of Enlightenment, many deities vied for it. Its potential was astonishing, and Matthew looked forward to her next enhancement.

Lost in thought, he continued to examine the keywords.

"Sea Monster Slayer (Purple): Renaismae excels in knowledge of sea monsters (20+), understanding their habits and weaknesses. All her attacks deal an additional 40% damage to sea monsters. Renaismae has a reputation of 1 point among sea monsters because she once participated in the killing of a legendary sea monster. When the figure of 'Blood-colored Seagull' roams the deep sea, weaker deep-sea creatures often choose to flee."

"Quick Opportunism (Gray): Renaismae lacks a moral compass and, when it comes to temporarily unowned items, she observes for a while and has a chance to opportunistically seize them."

Killed a legendary sea monster? Then how did she end up as a little zombie? Matthew was confused, wondering if Daniya had not recognized Renaismae's unique qualities. However, his attention was quickly drawn to "Quick Opportunism."

"Renaismae, if you want to continue following me, you need to get rid of this habit," Matthew said sternly. Renaismae drooled for a moment and laughed, "Daddy!"

Matthew made a show of wanting to hit her, and Renaismae flinched before obediently extending her head for the expected punishment. It was both heartwarming and amusing. Matthew had no choice but to correct her pronunciation as if he were raising a daughter and, at the same time, instill the idea that taking things by force was an incorrect behavior.

Matthew's persistent efforts finally paid off.

"Notification: After your lengthy instruction, Renaismae realizes that 'Quick Opportunism' is wrong behavior. Her keyword 'Quick Opportunism' is changed to 'Taking by Force.'"

Taking by Force (Gray): Renaismae lacks moral values. If she likes something, she won't hesitate to take it by force.

Now, Matthew had to ensure that she would follow the concept of "Taking by Force."

Matthew, with his head in his hands, suffered from a severe headache. In the end, he made an inhumane decision. Addressing Abing, he said, "From now on, wherever she goes, you follow her. If she tries to take something from others, stop her. This is my command, understood?"

Abing stood there, utterly confused.

Matthew glanced at the final blue sky and white clouds.

...

"Air Bubble (Blue): Renaismae can create a bubble that envelops a voluntary target's head. The bubble contains sufficient air for the target to breathe underwater for over 30 minutes."

"West Wind Shot (Blue): Renaismae summons a west wind to bless herself and her arrows. Her movement speed increases by 15%, and for each enemy hit by her arrows during the duration of the effect, her movement speed increases by an additional 1%, up to a maximum of 50%."

"Rocket Crafting (White): Renaismae can craft special arrows, including white phosphorus rockets, fuel rockets, and explosive rockets."

"Soothing Hearts (White): Long sea voyages often lead to mental issues among sailors. As an experienced captain, Renaismae possesses unique techniques to soothe troubled minds."

The blue and white qualities were impressive. Matthew's blood pressure slightly decreased. However, the last "Soothing Hearts" gave him a bad feeling, considering Renaismae's various misdeeds.

Combining these with Renaismae's traits, Matthew already had a good idea of what her unique soothing technique entailed.

...

As the Mark of the Dead stabilized over time, the large-scale preparation for the Death Wasteland ceremony proceeded smoothly, giving Matthew more free time.

The following day, at the Lord's mansion's office hall, Matthew arrived carrying a few newly purchased magnets. Reiga greeted him, and Zeller couldn't help but look puzzled at the magnets.

However, their attention didn't linger on Matthew for long. The morning meeting began.

"We have two pieces of bad news. Merchants from the south claim that there has been friction between the Red Earth Mountain and the Golden Plains, leading to a bloody incident. The extent of casualties on both sides is still uncertain, but if not handled well, this incident could lead to a war between two territories. Red Earth Mountain just got a new lord who issued many unreasonable decrees, and it's said that there's a lot of internal conflict. This incident might be an opportunity for them."

Zeller reported the situation with a serious tone.

Reiga furrowed his brows and set down his coffee. "Are you suggesting that Red Earth Mountain might start a war with the northern regions? Once a war starts, Golden Plains won't stand a chance, and their ambitions might not be limited to just the Golden Plains, right?"

Zeller nodded, affirming Reiga's concerns. "Your worries are well-founded."

With that, he unfolded a small map that delineated the territorial boundaries around Rolling Stone Town.

Rolling Stone Town was situated at the southern border between two territories. One was the Highland Leaf Territory to the southwest, and the other was the Golden Plains to the southeast. Beyond the Golden Plains lay the Red Earth Mountain, which Matthew had passed on his carriage journey. It was a prosperous commercial territory, poised for potential conflict.

"As soon as Red Earth Mountain's lord manages to raise enough troops, they'll be looking to expand. To sustain that army, they won't just target the Golden Plains; Rolling Stone Town will be a thorn in their side too."

Zeller continued, "There have been reports of tensions and skirmishes between several territories in the south. Some have even escalated into full-fledged wars. For instance, the northern region of Deep Blue Port has been a battleground for a while. These signs indicate that the civilizations you mentioned are disappearing."

Matthew hadn't expected his knowledge to become outdated so quickly. He was genuinely concerned about the deities' purpose behind these actions.

However, at the moment, a large-scale war seemed imminent in the south. Matthew wondered how the Seven Saints Alliance would handle it.

"Actually, Rolling Stone Town isn't that afraid of a war," Zeller added.

Suddenly, Reiga, with a serious expression, looked at Matthew and said, "Are you prepared for this?"

Reiga's words caught Matthew by surprise.

He instinctively shifted his gaze away. With both hands gripping the newspaper, he awkwardly replied, "Of course, I'm always ready for battle."

Zeller couldn't help but stare at Reiga, who had changed the topic.

"Another piece of bad news comes from the Highland Leaf Territory. Two weeks ago, there was a sudden collapse of the Highland Reservoir. It caused a massive flood that submerged the fertile land at the base of the mountain. It also destroyed the super waterwheel operated by the Highland lord for many years. The Highland Territory has been severely affected by the flood, and the villagers have been displaced. The cotton production for this year will undoubtedly decrease. Although we have a long-term supply agreement with the Highland Territory, natural disasters are not covered by the contract. They may postpone their cotton supply next year. However, our textile factory in Rolling Stone Town relies on a steady cotton supply. You'll need to figure out a solution for that, Reiga."

Reiga grimaced, holding his head. "Cotton again? Can't we consider next year's problems next year?"

"Can't we have any good news today?" he grumbled.

Zeller chuckled and said, "Of course, we do have good news. The Lord of Deep Blue Port has sent us a letter of request. If you agree, the 47-year-old, with seven daughters as beautiful as flowers and her remaining youthful charm, the lady lord will visit Rolling Stone Town with her youngest daughter. This is great news for the town's young bachelors."

He glanced at Matthew as he spoke.

Matthew was puzzled and asked, "Do we even have any communication with Deep Blue Port?"

Zeller explained, "Back when Reiga was young, he had an engagement with that lady lord. It was an arrangement made by both of their parents. According to the agreement, Reiga was supposed to marry that gentle and virtuous lady lord, but he was too rebellious in his youth and secretly broke off the engagement. This incident caused quite a stir at the time. To make amends, Reiga's father even personally traveled to Deep Blue Port, but despite their efforts, relations between the two parties grew cold. Since then, Rolling Stone Town and Deep Blue Port have been almost like strangers. However, in recent years, Reiga got married, and that lady lord lost her husband, so they somehow rekindled their connection. I've seen the letter she sent to Reiga, and although it doesn't express affection, it implies some ambiguity. So when Deep Blue Port people come to visit, it's not just a benefit for the town's bachelors, but it might also bring a second chance of romance for Reiga."

Reiga grumbled, "Hey, can you stop saying these things in front of me? Aren't you afraid I'll deduct your salary?"

He turned to Matthew and said, "I apologize for their words."

Matthew shrugged, "I didn't say anything."

Zeller retorted, "Is there anything that can't be said about these matters?"

Reiga looked around and whispered, "Speak more quietly, don't let Sophia overhear, I'm afraid she'll get the wrong idea."

He then got more serious, "Reuniting with Aeliana after so many years might not be feasible. And for the sake of Sophia, I wouldn't consider marrying her. Besides, merging the two territories through a lord and lady's union can be quite troublesome. Would she move to Rolling Stone Town, or should I go to Deep Blue Port? These are things we need to discuss."

Soon, he seemed to realize he had said too much and abruptly changed the topic. "Matthew, why did you buy so many magnets?"

Matthew honestly shared his struggles in learning the Disintegration spell.

"Disintegration? Is that the kind of magic that can strip a person's clothes off?" Reiga suddenly became interested.

Sensing Matthew's and Zeller's strange glances, he explained, "What I mean is, this spell can quickly disintegrate an enemy's armor. It's a spell with significant strategic value, and we must help Matthew master it, right?"

Zeller diverted his gaze, looking at Matthew and asking, "What kind of problems are you facing now?"

Matthew, in distress, explained, "I've found that casting spells from the Transformation field requires a strong impulse, like the Malicious Transformation spell—it's clearly malicious, but the sensation for Disintegration is strange. I can't quite grasp it. Even though I'm filled with anger, resentment, and malevolence towards magnets, I can't seem to turn them into dust."

"Impulse for spellcasting? It seems someone wasn't making things up when they said Transformation field spells are similar to a sorcerer's casting method."

Zeller pondered, "Reiga, can you help him?"

Reiga, bewildered, asked, "How can I help with this? I'm not a mage."

Zeller encouraged him, "Your taunts can significantly incite emotional fluctuations in people. It doesn't have to be malice, just something to trigger the impulse Matthew needs for spellcasting."

"Come on, you can do it."

Reluctantly, Reiga set down the newspaper and told Matthew, "To be honest, I think you should start paying me."

He said to Matthew.

Matthew smiled apologetically.

"Your hairstyle today makes you look like a big frog."

Reiga unexpectedly commented.

Matthew didn't react much.

Reiga pondered for a moment and added, "I didn't finish what I said last time. That night, aside from your mother, your sisters also said I was great."

Matthew scratched his head and couldn't help but say, "Can you go a bit further?"

Reiga had no choice but to say, "I think the minotaur skeleton in your family is excellent. How about giving it to me?"

In that instant, a familiar emotion welled up in Matthew.

He seized the opportunity to harness the spellcasting impulse. With a swift lift of his staff—

"Disintegration!"

A gray flash.

Reiga's pajamas disappeared without a trace!

"Congratulations, Matthew!"

Zeller's eyes gleamed with amusement.

However, at that moment, a figure, holding up her skirt, suddenly rushed out from the corridor, saying, "Daddy, Daddy, how does my new dress look?"

Behind the office desk.

Reiga, now bare-chested, frantically grabbed the newspaper.

But the newspaper only covered his chest hair, leaving his upper body exposed.

Sophia, wide-eyed, watched the scene, her little eyes darting between Reiga, Matthew, and Zeller.

Then, she meekly retreated.

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