Chapter 346
Chapter 346: Collecting the spoils of war
Han Shuo was in no rush to leave. When Emily saw Cecilia and the Dark Mantle members slowly making their way over, she felt like she needed to a bit cautious, maintaining an appropriate distance from Han Shuo to avoid rousing suspicion.
After all, Emily was the daughter-in-law of the Betteridge family. No matter what she felt towards Hand Shuo in private, they couldn’t let outsiders know of it. Be it Emily or Han Shuo, that particular bit of information would only bring them unnecessary troubles in the foreseeable future.
After he saw the bone staff in Han Shuo’s hand, Ancient Lizard King Dagassi’s attitude towards the latter had grown considerably better. His long years of life had also seemingly forged an incredible level of patience. His expression remained unchanged as he watched Cecilia and the others slowly inch their way over.
“I can just take care of these people if you think they’re in the way, it won’t take me too long.” Dagassi casually remarked. A wicked grin crossed his face as he saw their timid approach.
Dagassi’s attitude towards Cecilia and the others could only be described as extreme contempt. He wasn’t afraid to let them overhear his conversation with Han Shuo. For a demi-god existence like himself, Cecilia’s group were no different than ants, an eyesore that only needed a flick of a limb to eradicate.
Cecilia and her team had only approached the group because they saw Han Shuo and Emily getting along well with the Ancient Lizard King. Cecilia’s face blanched when she heard Dagassi’s offer. She couldn’t help but take a few steps back and stare nervously at Han Shuo.
“No need, they are my colleagues.” Han Shuo’s answer allowed Cecilia to heave a sigh of relief. But only when she saw the Ancient Lizard King nod at Han Shuo did she slowly walk over to their side. She first nodded at Emily and then spoke to Dagassi, “Powerful being, I am of the Lancelot Empire and in charge of dealing with the enemy this time, I…”
“I have no interest in your words.” Dagassi interrupted before Cecilia could make much headway, let alone finish, “Puny human girl, those who dared to invade lie dead. Whatever happens in this area is under my control, and the underground world is not a place for you humans to set foot in. I won’t kill you since you are his colleagues, but if you value this temporary amnesty, I hope you leave this world as quickly as possible.”
“I…” Cecilia was about to say more, but was quickly stopped by Emily, “Alright little sister Cecilia, as far as I can see, we’ve successfully completed our mission. Even if it wasn’t exactly due to our actions, the name of the Redbud Knights will no longer be spoken on this continent. We should definitely leave. We’ve accomplished a great deed here.”
“Of course, grandpa dotes on me the most. If I’m willing to help you, he’ll help too.”Cecilia proudly replied.
“Then I’ll have to thank you in advance!” Emily was overjoyed.
“Hehe, us sisters shouldn’t be so polite. Right, tell me about how you saved that cocky brat previously. Now I’m very interested in his matters!” Cecilia snickered.
While the two women leading the Dark Mantle members away, Han Shuo also crammed all the weapons, armor and money bags that had been sorted out by the skeletal warriors into his space ring. His space ring could only hold a part of them, the rest was stuffed into Celt’s space ring.
Han Shuo remembered the space ring of the fire grand magus Marceau in the end. He conveniently asked the old Lizard King Dagassi to break its magical enchantment brand and harvested roughly three hundred thousand gold coins from it. There were also some valuable magical equipment, the most precious of which being a strange tent.
The tent looked as if it could only accommodate two or three people, however, when Han Shuo actually went inside, he discovered that the space was much wider than he’d imagined. It was divided into three levels, with a hundred rooms of various sizes. Each room was clean and brightly decorated, luxurious carpets covering the floor.
There were several magic laboratories containing magical equipment on the top level, along with a library on fire magic. There were even two storage rooms with a number of fire attributed magical items. This should be the place where Marceau normally carried out magic experiments.
The unassuming tent had turned out to be a valuable space treasure, the area inside no smaller than Han Shuo’s residence in the City of Brettel. This magical tent was definitely created by the combined effort of a space sacred magister and a grand alchemist.
The accommodations of this tent was even much larger than that of the space ring. More importantly, when used for traveling in the wilderness, hundreds of adventurers could stay in it when this tent was set up. For mercenaries who often went out for missions, this kind of space treasure was of a value that was comparable to a divine artifact.
“This thing is no artifact, but its practical value is even greater than one. If you want, it can sell for at least three hundred thousand gold coins.” The Ancient Lizard King told Han Shuo after understanding the tent’s marvelous ability.
“Such a magical treasure comparable to a divine artifact, I won’t be selling it. It’s better to keep for my own use.” Han Shuo replied to the Ancient Lizard King.
After stripping all the dead knights and dark elves of their valuables, Han Shuo and the Ancient Lizard King Dagassi returned to the ruins of the gourd-shaped mountain. Thanks to the earth elite zombie, a tunnel leading out of the underground space had been dug, and all of the lizardmen filed out through it.
“Where is our great ‘true God’?” The leader with the longest tail anxiously asked as soon as Han Shuo and the old Lizard King Dagassi arrived.
Pointing at Dagassi in human form, his long tail swishing through the air, Han Shuo smiled and explained, “Isn’t that him?”
Hearing Han Shuo’s words, the lizardmen appeared somewhat horrified as they looked at the Ancient Lizard King. Only when they felt a familiar presence from him did they feel relief and submit. Under the orders of their leader, the lizardmen kowtowed towards Dagassi, their mouths rapidly speaking in lizardmen tongue.
The old Lizard King was no longer bound by the ancient magical formation in his human form. He also rumbled forth in gibberish, conversing with the lizardmen in gratification. Han Shuo didn’t understand a thing, but refrained from speaking. He just stood there with a dry look.
The earth elite zombie stood there for a while after leading the lizardmen out and watched the bunch while crudely touching its head. It was even somewhat frightened of the Ancient Lizard King. Sensing the latter’s powerful presence, it silently went to Han Shuo’s side, pulling the corner of his clothes as it sent him a message, “Is there anything else ah? If not let me go back!”
Han Shuo was dumbfounded as he looked at the earth elite zombie who’d just sent a message to him. He had yet to open his mouth to speak when on the other side, the Ancient Lizard King’s attention had been caught by the earth elite zombie. He was stupefied, and asked in disbelief, “Did, did this zombie warrior just communicate with you?!”
“Ehh… I think so.” Han Shuo replied. He was also inwardly a little shocked. The earth elite zombie could originally communicate with him, but only in the form of listening and obeying orders. The messages had also been simple reports of the fights, unlike now when it’d expressed its own opinion.
It appeared that, unwittingly, the earth elite zombie was gradually developing an autonomy like the little skeleton. This also showed that it was getting stronger and stronger, otherwise it couldn’t have developed its own ideas so quickly.
“If I didn’t hear wrong, he wanted to take the initiative to return to the necromancy dimension. He is your summoned creature, but also has his own consciousness?” The Ancient Lizard King couldn’t suppress his wonder. He could also sense the message sent by the earth elite zombie to Han Shuo.
“He is different from other ordinary undead creatures. You’ve also seen it, he can utilize the power of earth to move freely underground and create tunnels. Hehe, this has to do with my magical cultivation. I can use this art to alter the summoned undead. It not only gives them higher intellect, but also more power and even the ability to evolve.” For some unknown reason, Han Shuo had a favorable impression of the Lizard King. He could feel the latter’s passion and trust in him and understood in his heart that he wouldn’t harm Han Shuo. Therefore, Han Shuo answered without concealing anything.
“Unbelievable. Unbelievable indeed. Even my master couldn’t bestow undead creatures with intelligence and the ability to evolve. It seemed your techniques are even more incredible than I’d imagined.” Dagassi exclaimed.
“Hehe, I also think this art is amazing. I believe that once I break through again, I may possess power on par with yours.” Han Shuo confidently said. He remembered that Chu Cang Lan earlier could traverse the moon at the “nine changes” realm. He also understood that the “carnal” realm would definitely increase his power tenfold, or even a hundredfold.
“Very good. I look forward to our next meeting. If I’m still alive then, we will definitely have the chance to meet. Maybe you really can help me at that time.” Dagassi said contentedly. He turned back to the lizardmen and resumed his quick gibberish.
After the lizardmen leader listened to Dagassi’s words, he turned to Han Shuo and said respectfully, “From now on, us lizardmen of the underground world will follow your instructions.”