Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 217 The Gravedigger's Fear and the Lord's Scheme
Faced with such a desolate situation, the "Gravekeepers" and the "Witch's Ring" judges did not do nothing; in fact, they made a great deal of effort.

For example, they have always maintained a channel for people to advance from the lower-level shacks to the upper-level "Witch's Ring". As long as they can complete the first transformation, reach the fourth level, and pass the council's approval, they can instantly complete the class leap and become a member of the management.

Although the road is narrow, it still exists, at least giving those in the "Eternal Rest Shack" a little something to look forward to.

For example, they would regularly send monks out to buy orphans from war-torn, famine-stricken, or slum areas and bring them back to the valley.

These children were instilled with loyalty to the land of exile and received an introduction to necromancy, which was like injecting some fresh blood into this increasingly stagnant lake.

For example, lower-level mages have difficulty reproducing due to survival pressures, so the "Witch's Ring" has increased its investment in children in shantytowns, providing them with free mage skills training. Even if they cannot become mages, they can find a decent job in the workshop or the guide's office.

In addition, the "Witcher's Ring" encourages high-ranking mages to have more children, striving to increase the population of the Exile.

Throughout the exploitative exploitation of the lower classes by the upper classes, there has always been an inviolable ironclad rule: only their "excess" resources can be taken away, and their basic survival bottom line must never be affected.

Therefore, even though Little Finger's father was in debt for dozens of lifetimes and could never pay it off, he could still get life-sustaining medicine and continue to live on as a "shack mage" in the land of exile.

But no matter what they did or how much effort they put in, they could not reverse the gradual decline of the entire land of exile.

Unless the status of the "shack priest" is fundamentally changed.

But which of the leaders of the "Witch's Ring" would be willing to do such a thing?

At the same time, the Exiles also face another serious problem: the decline in undead creatures.

The undead creatures that survived on the Starry Continent were able to do so because they met the rare, unexpected event of "the underworld lord to whom they belonged accidentally perished during the period of their summoning and was unable to return, while the undead creatures themselves survived".

In the past, the number of necromancers was enormous, and the accumulation period was long enough, so even though the probability was small, a sufficient number of them had been accumulated.

In addition, by collecting some earthbound undead born from the special environment of this planet, and native undead such as the Cursed Ghost, the Exile was able to construct such a "undead complex".

However, in recent centuries, the situation has deteriorated rapidly. The rate of consumption far exceeds the rate of replenishment, especially during the Silver Duchy's conflict with the Qiyue Dynasty. As an organization protected by the Silver Duchy, it was also tempted by the bounty offered by the Silver Duchy, and the Exiled Lands became deeply involved in the conflict against Qiyue.

The massive losses during that period had a very negative impact on the Exiles, which subsequently faced a long-term situation where undead creatures were consumed in large quantities but replenished in small quantities.

To this end, the wise "gravekeeper" and the brilliant "court" also came up with many solutions.

The high-ranking mages of the "Witch's Ring" have an important daily task: to constantly summon undead creatures of various levels from different underworld districts and store them in the valley, praying day after day for their original overlords to perish as soon as possible.

The Exiles spent a fortune setting up a "Undead Material Recycling Station," where all sorts of bones, dead skin, zombie flesh, and corrupted tissue eroded by negative energy can be sold. This is the source of the giant mountain of skeletons outside Rustbone Town.

The council also spared no expense in training a group of skilled repairmen who were proficient in negative energy guidance and necromancy, and established a "stitching workshop" to specifically maintain, repair, piece together, and modify various damaged undead creatures, striving to extend their "lifespan".

A unique employment guarantee system was established to encourage necromancers on missions to bring back as much soulfire as possible.

As for the scholars of the territory, they have been dedicated to the research on the breeding of undead creatures in negative energy environments. Night Whisper was able to become a core member of the council's management team from his status as a lower-level shack mage because he made groundbreaking research results in this area.

But the same problem remains: improvements can only slow the deterioration, not reverse it. All that the management of the Exile is doing is like bailing water out of a leaky boat; it can only slightly slow the sinking.

There were also some clear-headed individuals. One necromancer once suggested completely halting the undead creatures from going out on missions and allowing them to rest and recuperate for several decades. This, he argued, was the most reliable way to replenish the undead population.

However, how do necromancers in the shack area make money if they don't go on missions?

If they don't make money, how will they repay the debts to those mages in the Ring of Wizards?
At that time, we creditors will not only fail to recover the debts, but we will also have to spend extra money to support them. Are these monks doing charity work?

This strategy, which severely infringed upon the interests of vested groups, was naturally met with fierce criticism and was ultimately abandoned.

All good strategies in the world are ultimately no match for human nature.

The gravedigger let out a long, drawn-out sigh as he recounted the heartbreaking events of his exile.

"So, Little Night Whisper, this isn't a matter of money; it's a matter of the survival of the Exile."

"Whatever that young nobleman wanted to do with these mages and undead creatures, what he actually took away was the seed we were still struggling to maintain, the foundation upon which the Exile depended for its existence!"

"If this group of shack mages and undead creatures were taken away in large numbers, and they really did receive the treatment promised by that nobleman, then not only will they not come back, but can we also keep the rest of them?"

"Will necromancers from the Starry Continent still come to our Land of Exile in the future?"

As the "gravekeeper" posed one question after another, all the mages in the council held their breath.

The "gravekeeper" stood up, his tall figure commanding respect from everyone present, and said, word by word:

"At the current rate, the Land of Exile may be able to hold on for a few hundred more years. If we all work together during that time, or if fate smiles upon us and a major turning point occurs that is favorable to us, we may... be able to continue this flame left by our ancestors for even longer."

"To protect this last homeland for all the necromancers on the continent!"

"However, if that guy shakes our foundations, perhaps in a few decades, the Valley of Exile will completely lose its vitality and become a real tomb."

"Then what will our 'Witch's Ring' council deliberate on? Whose tombstone is more beautifully carved?!"

"This is the legacy left by our generations of necromancers, and we cannot let it be lost in our hands."

The gravedigger gave his final verdict decisively: "Therefore, I refuse!"

"This matter ends here."

"It's all gone."

The heavy metal door opened silently once more, and the tomb keeper disappeared inside. As the deep darkness was slowly cut off, a group of commentators remained, sitting around the table with varying expressions.

[Night Talk] He pursed his lips tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. He felt that his calculations were correct, but the term "gravekeeper" also seemed to make sense.

But if we just endure this half-dead state, will we really be able to wait for the day when things change?

As the mages of the council rose and left one by one, beneath the surface of calm, undercurrents began to surge.

No matter how reasonable the tomb keeper's words may be, the interests of a certain group have now been harmed.

They began actively making contacts, and Night Whispers, who had been trying to promote cooperation, was naturally an important target for them to win over.

In the stillness of the night, deep within the stone corridor of the upper area of ​​the Valley of Exile, in the mage tower of Night Whisper's own residence, several figures dressed in robes gathered around the observatory, whispering amongst themselves.

“Night, don’t be fooled by him. He makes it sound so high-sounding…” A hoarse voice broke the silence first. It was the old mage with sunken eyes from the afternoon council meeting.

After [Night Whisper] had settled the accounts, this person suddenly realized that many of the "bad debts" that could be wiped out at any time due to the person's death now had a chance to be partially realized.

He thus became a staunch supporter of "Night Talk".

At this moment, the old monk's tone was full of sarcasm, "What do you mean by the survival of the land of exile, or the legacy of our ancestors? It's nothing but selfishness, he's afraid of losing the 'slaves' he can use!"

“That’s right,” another slightly overweight mage, [Rotten Sac], chimed in. “As long as the Land of Exile exists, their family will be the guardians of the graveyard for generations, controlling the territory’s treasury and public assets. They’re just uncrowned great lords!”

"And what about us? We work ourselves to the bone, squeezing those poor wretches below us, and the little interest we collect is enough to cover the costs of recruiting high-ranking undead, the materials needed for our own juniors' advancement, and even just looking at our ancestors' notes!"

"Now that we finally have a way to make money, he just cuts it off with a few words? It's really... really pathetic!" The complaints of the group were partly true, but also somewhat distorted by their emotions. As they talked, the topic veered further and further off track.

“Before, when we lent money, he would whine and complain incessantly, imposing this and that restrictions, acting like a compassionate bodhisattva who was looking out for those ‘shack monks.’ Now, he disagrees with conditions that are clearly in the best interest of those ‘shack monks.’ Isn’t that hypocrisy?”

"I think he's just afraid that if we make too much profit and have too much capital, we won't listen to him anymore..."

The fourth mage, who had been sitting in the corner, chimed in with a rant: "That old guy's always dreaming of immortality. The undead creatures and necromancers in the valley are all his experimental subjects... He's not worried about the number of undead creatures decreasing; he's worried about not having enough experimental subjects!"

Greed is like a raging, poisonous fire; once ignited, it can easily burn down the barriers of reason.

In the past, these guys' greed was directed at the lower classes; now, they are unhesitatingly targeting the gravediggers who are hindering them from obtaining greater benefits.

In contrast, Night Whispers showed deep hesitation.

As a rational person, he felt that the "gravekeeper" made sense.

However, he also felt that the young nobleman seemed gentle and refined, and had been reasonable in the previous negotiations. If they had communicated properly, there might have been a more suitable way to cooperate.

【Night Whisper】speaks slowly, calming the others' agitated emotions, "Well then, since the 'Gravekeeper' has made a decision, we should respect him. I will personally go and inform Lord Chen Mo, and talk to him again to see if there are any alternative solutions."

During these past few days of heated debates and undercurrents within the Exile Council, Chen Mo has been busy for a moment.

I took the little girl to look at bones on the east side, then on the west side, and back to our residence we were still looking at bones.

During this time, he also spent a small amount of money on some “shack area” charity work.

This is on someone else's turf, and it's inappropriate to openly solicit favors, but there are many ways to work around it.

He arranged for Minotaur Kane to bring back some food, medicine, and blankets from the Echo Market. Through Little Finger's connections, these items were distributed to impoverished families in certain "shacks" under the guise of collecting and exchanging True Name Spells for the Underworld.

In fact, most of the true name spells that these low-level mages know are common ones, the few that everyone knows. But that doesn't matter, as long as Chen Mo is willing, he can exchange for them.

Chen Mo also made a special trip to visit Xiaomuzhi's father, a middle-aged monk who was already unable to walk and looked emaciated.

The shack was low and dark, filled with herbs and a hint of decay. Lord Chen Mo showed no disgust and sat on the creaking, dilapidated wooden stool, speaking gently with the gaunt, cloudy-eyed middle-aged mage and leaving some food and medicine.

Before leaving, the lord comforted him and repeatedly urged, "You must persevere. Little Finger is a wonderful child. He has been working hard for you. If you give up, he will be very sad."

Upon hearing this, Little Finger, who was usually shrewd and cunning, burst into tears.

He found it hard to imagine that such a great man could be so at ease in his own dilapidated environment and utter such words that touched his soul.

Of course, Little Finger didn't know that during this time, Frost had said a lot of good things about him.

That title "Madam" wasn't given lightly, so sometimes a quick wit can really bring unexpected rewards.

During this interaction, the simple-minded Kane Stonehoof, emboldened by alcohol, inadvertently pulled out a video player and boasted extensively about the benefits enjoyed by his own territory, the Vast Ocean Territory.

The mercenary guilds offered extravagant mission rewards, civil servants received generous salaries and various benefits, food and supplies were inexpensive, and there was even free education and barefoot doctors…

So much so that whenever Lao Niu came, many "shack monks" would pool their money to buy some wine, even if they didn't know where their food money would come from the next day, just to get Lao Niu drunk and listen to him show off and boast.

From fear to longing, it often only takes a little sincere effort.

Just as everyone was eagerly anticipating the news, the council once again rejected Chen Mo's cooperation. When Night Whisper came to inform them in person, she felt as if she had been stabbed a thousand times by those piercing gazes.

He was a child who came from the shantytown. Many of these people were uncles, aunts, and neighbors who secretly gave him half a piece of black bread and a bowl of bland vegetable soup when he was hungry and cold in his childhood.

He wanted to do something for them, but felt powerless.

When facing Chen Mo, [Night Whispers] made no official attempt to conceal or embellish the situation, directly explaining the concerns of the higher-ups.

To his utter surprise, after listening to Chen Mo's words, Chen Mo pondered for a long time before finally making another unprecedented and enormous concession.

The young lord patted Liu Shuang's head beside him: "My little princess is kind-hearted. She helped me several times when I was down on my luck, so I can't bear to see her sad."

"She wants to help the mages here, so I have to do everything I can to help her!"

"Since you have concerns, I'll take another step back."

"If you won't allow the release of silver, then we won't release silver!"

“I will continue to hire people and pay them the same amount. I will rent a base in the Duchy of Silver to settle these recruited mages and undead. Rest assured, I keep my word. Without the permission of the ‘Witcher’s Ring,’ I will never take them out of the borders of the Duchy of Silver.”

"You can even send people to follow along, that way you won't have to worry about me using your mages to sacrifice to some evil god!"

At that very moment, [Night Whisper] completely believed the lord's words. He was a womanizer who would spend a fortune to make a beautiful woman smile. He had no principles and no bottom line, just to make that delicate little girl next to him happy.

Well, it seems that the frost-like creature might seem weak. It appears that the basil who received the monk didn't reveal that she was almost scared to death by the little girl's intimidating presence.

Of course, Liu Shuang's kindness was just an excuse.

After spending some time with them and gaining a deeper understanding of the management structure of the Exile, Chen Mo was almost certain that once these low-level mages were freed from the shackles of the "Witch's Ring," the subsequent events would no longer be up to these high-ranking mages to decide.

In short, the first step is to get people out of there; where you get them is not important.

Once they experience the warmth of Lord Chen's sunshine outside, most of them will never think of returning to this gloomy place.

Whether we continue negotiating to take them away or release them to pursue their own better lives, there are plenty of ways and methods.

They're not in debt anymore, so why should they still be controlled by your "Witch's Ring," right?

I'm determined to break into this corner of the land of exile!
Well, I should put it this way: I'm determined to save these poor souls in the Land of Exile!
However, in this silent game, will the wise "gravekeeper" of the land of exile grant him his wish?

At least on the scene, Chen Mo had won at this moment. Hearing such a resolute and powerful answer, the monks and their families in the surrounding shacks were all moved to tears.

Chen Mo's remarks inadvertently caused a far-reaching consequence.

As the first savior of the necromancers in the Exile, the beautiful and kind-hearted Princess Liushuang later gained far greater prestige among the necromancers of the Vast Sea Territory than Lord Chen Mo himself.

Whenever the Unicorn Valkyrie goes out, her entourage is a nightmare, filled with bone dragons.

　I'm recommending a promising new book: "Invasion of the Heavens: Only I Know the Whole Plot!"

　　Summary:
　　The cycle of heavens and the myriad worlds.

　　While all the reincarnators were still struggling and praying for their lives.

　　As a PhD in history and a passionate film and television enthusiast, Chen Fu has begun to look down upon the masses.

　　Those who are interested can take a look, or bookmark it for future reference.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)