This Lich is a Better Landlord Chapter 41

In a magnificent, golden palace, the seat of the Ryan Empire's Cardinal Tribunal, James Watson, editor-in-chief of [Legendary Incantations], sat before his desk, meticulously reviewing a thick stack of reports.

Perhaps, at this moment, it was more appropriate to call him the Supreme Adjudicator of the Ryan Empire, Lord Watson.

Being an editor was merely a side job; James Watson's primary duty was to pass judgment on the heretics within the nation.

The only legal faith in the Ryan Empire was that of the Lord of Dawn. Any act of worship toward other deities within the empire's borders was considered heresy.

But the Ryan Empire had recently expanded its territory considerably. Many of the newly incorporated freemen couldn't immediately adapt to such stringent religious laws and still clung to their old gods.

These people were human, however—compatriots who could be educated. James Watson didn't just send everyone to the pyre without a second thought. Instead, he carefully read the investigative reports sent to him, devising tailored faith-promotion plans for the new territories based on their different regions and circumstances.

Whether through gentle persuasion or strict enforcement, his methods were always clear, effective, and targeted.

The work seemed daunting, but for James Watson, a devout believer who had risen from the ranks of a grassroots cleric, it was second nature. He was confident that in a few years, the people in these regions would become staunch followers of the Light.

Problems that would take others ten days or even half a month to resolve, James Watson could handle in just over half a day. This was the very reason he held the position of Supreme Adjudicator so securely.

Only after his official duties were done would James Watson begin his part-time work of reviewing manuscripts. He usually treated this review process as a form of entertainment, a delightful game where he would read articles written by heretics and then harshly reject them.

After scribbling reasons for rejection on a few manuscripts from dwarves and elves, James Watson's gaze was caught by a peculiar article.

[My Paladin Friend Alan—A Brief Discussion on the Effects of Faith on the Youth]

"What is this?"

The title alone told him it was a submission for the supplement of [Legendary Incantations]. These tabloid-style stories and fabricated tales had become quite popular recently. James Watson usually paid them no mind; no matter how well they sold, their influence couldn't compare to the main publication of [Legendary Incantations].

In fact, James Watson hoped those heretics would write more of these supplementary gossip pieces. Let them continue down their path of depravity, allowing [Legendary Incantations] to become a true treasure of human magical academia. Thus, he was very lenient with the approval process for the supplement, typically giving submissions a cursory glance before passing them.

But that name—Paladin Alan?

James Watson looked at the author's name: William Harvey. A name he'd never heard before, either a pseudonym or some insignificant nobody.

But after reading just the opening, James Watson's expression changed.

The Supreme Adjudicator's brow furrowed, and he began to rub the ring on his finger. A screen of light unfolded before him, but where a clear communication image should have been, there was only a cascade of static.

This was a communication ring linked to his son, Alan, allowing them to speak anytime, anywhere. Now, the connection was lost.

This article probably wasn't fake. His son, Alan Watson, had truly been captured, and by a lich, no less.

James Watson picked up the article again, carefully reading every sentence. His face soon turned ashen.

The article portrayed James Watson as an irrational, fanatical zealot who had brainwashed his son with a twisted version of the light's doctrine, using all sorts of inhumane methods to torture the bodies and minds of others. If it were merely such a distortion of the truth, he could have dismissed it. James Watson had endured countless instances of slander and defamation in his life; a single article would have no effect on him.

What truly enraged James Watson was how the article analyzed the faith of the Lord of Dawn from a different perspective. The author, adopting an observer's viewpoint, suggested that the Lord of Dawn was not much different from other gods. The Lord of Light, the God of Nature—their doctrines were similar, their followers acted in similar ways, and even their enemies seemed to be the same, all hating the undead. Yet, the followers of the Lord of Dawn were far more exclusionary than the druids.

The author argued that this was a blasphemy against the Lord of Dawn, a misinterpretation of the doctrine of Light. Under this distorted faith, the Ryan Empire was creating countless tragedies and conflicts, all a result of Supreme Adjudicator James Watson's personal ambition.

This line of analysis made James Watson's expression turn ugly. The Ryan Empire was currently engaged in aggressive expansion, which naturally involved war. The article's arguments were nonsensical and lacked any substantive evidence, but it reeked of conspiracy theory—and readers loved nothing more than a good conspiracy theory.

James Watson was certain that once this article was published, such theories would spread like wildfire, placing the Ryan Empire in an unfavorable public light. It might not affect the outcome on the battlefield, but it was an undeniable disadvantage.

However, if he didn't allow the article to be published, his son Alan would likely lose his life.

"I clearly told him to go to Silvermoon High Court, so how did he end up in the City of Alchemy? That brat, could he have heard that nonsensical prophecy too?"

James Watson wished he could drag Alan before him and give him a harsh scolding. The paladin's training pilgrimage had been arranged long ago. The boy must have changed the plan himself and run straight to the City of Alchemy.

A prophecy claiming that a treasure capable of granting godhood lay in the sewers of the City of Alchemy had been circulating in the Ryan Empire for some time. But a legendary-tier expert like James Watson disdained such things. Logically, Alan wasn't an ignorant boy, so how could he have believed a prophecy and run off to the City of Alchemy?

But dwelling on that now was pointless.

"Foolish! Reckless! Utterly clueless of the world's dangers..." James Watson cursed under his breath.

The author had made it clear: if he wanted Alan to live, he had to publish the article and then use the editor's comments to reply whether he was willing to pay the ransom. The ransom itself wasn't an issue, a mere few million gold coins. But the article's impact on the empire was too great. It absolutely could not be published, or he would become a traitor to the empire.

After a moment of deliberation, James Watson said in a sorrowful tone, "Alan, forgive me."

James Watson placed his palm on a crystal on the desk. A flash of holy light erupted, and a paladin clad in silver-white armor appeared before him, kneeling respectfully on one knee.

"My Lord Adjudicator, your orders."

"Select ten men from the Knights of Judgment and head to the City of Alchemy to find my son, Alan. If he's alive, do your best to rescue him. If he cannot be saved, then utterly annihilate the lich who abducted him. Be cautious. You may be facing a legendary-tier undead."

The paladin spoke with immense confidence. "Rest assured, my lord. The Knights of Judgment were founded to combat the legendary. The shame of the past will never be repeated."

Hearing the words "shame of the past," James Watson couldn't help but recall the legend. Before he was born, the Ryan Empire had dispatched an entire legion of paladins to hunt down a headless knight. The result had been a catastrophe. The paladin legion suffered heavy casualties, and the headless knight cut a bloody path out of the empire, eventually vanishing without a trace.

This was a major historical event etched onto the empire's pillar of shame. It was after that humiliating pursuit that the empire established the Knights of Judgment, a force specifically designed to deal with special enemies like legendary undead. Unfortunately, the Knights of Judgment had been established for many years, and the older generation of paladins never got their chance to redeem their honor; all of them had already returned their souls to the divine kingdom of Light. The new generation of Knights gritted their teeth and trained relentlessly, all for the day they could avenge their predecessors.

Though their opponent this time might not be their old nemesis, the opportunity to face a legendary undead was a challenge the Knights of Judgment had longed for.

Let this undead's soul be an offering to the Lord of Dawn. May that evil soul find purification.

James Watson stood up, clenching his fists. "Remember, no matter what terms the enemy proposes, do not agree. The Ryan Empire does not negotiate with threats."

"As you command, my Lord Adjudicator."