This Lich is a Better Landlord Chapter 72

The chest was entirely filled with phylacteries.

Each one was only the size of a palm, forged entirely from mithril, enchanted with powerful defensive magic, and brimming with the aura of the undead. It was impossible to distinguish them from the outside; one could only confirm what was truly inside by breaking the magic and opening the box.

This chest of phylacteries had cost Ambrose a fortune in gold coins. It could be said that the most valuable thing in the entire castle was this chest of phylacteries.

Ambrose randomly picked one and teleported it to Withered Rose via the Codex of the Undead. Then he sent another message: [Lady Rose, I'm counting on you. I have placed my life in your hands. This is a secret between you and me; please do not tell anyone.]

[Withered Rose: Rest assured.]

Ambrose closed the Codex of the Undead with satisfaction, then dragged Harvey, who was reading in his cell, out.

Harvey had been living quite the comfortable life these days. He had unlimited access to a vast number of magic notes and ancient tomes, no shortage of food or drink, and no work to do. Even the skeletons monitoring him were starting to look pleasant to his eyes.

Ambrose suddenly pulling him out surprised Harvey a bit; he thought another ritual was about to take place.

However, Ambrose placed an exquisite small box in front of him and said, "Harvey, can I trust you?"

Harvey looked bewildered, not knowing how to answer.

*Wait, I'm... like... a prisoner, right?*

But denying it probably wouldn't lead to a good outcome, so Harvey braced himself and said, "My Lord, what are your orders?"

Ambrose said, "I am about to face some trouble, so I need someone trustworthy to do something for me. Harvey, can I trust you?"

Ambrose asked again, his tone even more serious this time.

Harvey didn't dare to be perfunctory and said very sincerely, "My Lord, although I am your prisoner, I have been well taken care of during this time and have indeed learned a lot. If you have any orders, My Lord, I will do my best to carry them out."

This was genuine. Harvey had never seen a boss as generous as Ambrose. For a place like a library, others would definitely put hundreds of locks on it and charge by the second for reading. How could they possibly open it up for you to read freely?

Just for this alone, it wouldn't be an exaggeration for Harvey to call Ambrose "Teacher."

Harvey also knew that having taken such a huge advantage, he would have to pay it back sooner or later. Presiding over the prophecy ritual last time was just the beginning. After all, his food cost two gold coins a day; other expenses were calculated separately.

"Good, I knew I could count on you." Ambrose handed over the silver-white small box and said to him, "Take my phylactery and leave this place. Leave the City of Alchemy and go as far away as possible."

Harvey's eyes widened. He thought he was going to be asked to preside over a second magic ritual. He never expected that he would be entrusted with a phylactery.

This was a Lich's phylactery. How could it be given to him, a... a prisoner?

"My Lord, you're not joking, are you?"

"Who's joking with you? Take my phylactery and leave, then find a random place to bury it. Do not tell anyone. The fewer people who know, the safer I am," Ambrose said very seriously.

Harvey felt his shoulders become heavy. This trust came too suddenly and was too absurd; he didn't know whether he should agree.

He stared carefully at Ambrose's face, trying to spot some clue, but no matter how he looked at the skull, he couldn't read an expression.

After thinking for a long time, Harvey asked a question in a solemn tone, "My Lord, there are many books related to the School of Divination in your library. The author is 'Elden Lord,' and many of them are sole surviving copies that I have never seen elsewhere. do you know this author?"

Ambrose said with slight embarrassment, "Well... actually, that is my pen name. Some books haven't been published, so they aren't exactly rare lone copies, just my own research notes."

In the hundreds of years after his transmigration, Ambrose had given himself many nicknames and used many pen names when submitting books. When he stepped into the gates of the School of Divination in high spirits, he gave himself the chunibyo pen name "Elden Lord." It was just that later, when he abandoned the power of prophecy, he never used that name again, and the remaining manuscripts were never published.

Harvey revealed a look of relief and smiled. "I understand, My Lord. I will guard your phylactery well. By the Goddess of Magic, I will defend this phylactery with my life."

This change surprised Ambrose a little. *What's up with this guy? Why did he suddenly get so serious?* Swearing to a deity was no small matter; even non-Paladins wouldn't dare to do it recklessly.

"Why did you suddenly ask about my pen name?" Ambrose asked curiously.

Harvey made a strange expression and said, "You might not believe it, My Lord, but I only became a mage apprentice because I accidentally obtained [Introduction to the School of Divination] written by you. Strictly speaking, you are my teacher."

"Wait, you mean you got started just by self-study from a book, and in the School of Divination at that?"

Ambrose was astonished. The School of Divination was originally the hardest to enter. Even with a teacher guiding hand-in-hand, one might not produce a qualified student. This kid Harvey got in by self-study? Wasn't his talent a bit too high?

Harvey smiled and said, "I only realized now why my intuition told me to charge with Paladin Alan when the battle started back then. For me, being captured was indeed my greatest luck."

In fact, Harvey had suspected it for a long time because the magical structure Ambrose used when designing the previous prophecy ritual was very similar to the style of that "Elden Lord." As an insider spotting the tricks of the trade, Harvey had already guessed that Ambrose had some connection to "Elden Lord."

He originally thought they were friends who exchanged magic, or perhaps master and apprentice... He didn't expect them to be the same person.

Harvey bowed low to Ambrose and said sincerely, "Thank you, Teacher. Not only did you help me become a mage apprentice, but you also allowed me to become a true Divination Wizard. I will protect your phylactery with my life."

"Ah, this... actually, you don't have to put your life on the line..."

Ambrose felt a bit of appreciation for his talent. This kid's aptitude was even higher than imagined. He would be valuable to use in the future; it would be a pity if he got killed.

Harvey, however, didn't catch the issue in Ambrose's words and said firmly, "Teacher, I will leave now. When you are done with your business, you can come to find me in Salokmar."

Salokmar, also known as the Golden Desert Kingdom, the Kingdom of Time, the Kingdom of Dreams... It was a nation where humans, dwarves, and various desert races lived together. Like the City of Alchemy, it was also a kingdom where the undead could walk freely.

"You brat, you were actually already prepared to run away, weren't you?" Ambrose said.

"A prisoner who doesn't want to escape isn't a competent one," Harvey said with a smile. "Goodbye, Teacher."

Ambrose nodded. With Harvey's current skills, as long as he was careful, there wouldn't be any big problems going to Salokmar.

"By the way, when you go out, send Raul to see me," Ambrose instructed.

Harvey agreed immediately, then quickly left with Ambrose's phylactery. A short while later, Raul came before Ambrose, trembling with fear, and said respectfully, "Master, what are your orders?"

Ambrose took out another exquisite small box and said to Raul, "Raul, can I trust you?"