This Lich is a Better Landlord Chapter 82

The City of Alchemy had a massive city gate, thirty meters high and cast entirely from steel. Its weight alone exceeded a thousand tons. This gate was the symbol of the City of Alchemy and its most sturdy fortification. Carved with various mysterious magical symbols, the gate could withstand almost any type of attack.

To breach this gate, one would first have to drain the stored magical energy of the City of Alchemy; otherwise, all attacks would be negated by the magical defenses upon it.

The personal combat power of the alchemists might not be much, but their alchemical creations were enough to bridge the gap. Even if Gareth charged with all his might, he wouldn't be able to shake this gate.

But at this moment, this impregnable gate was slowly opening, the various gears turning and colliding with sounds like the booming of great bells.

James Watson, leading his Lionheart Paladin Legion, walked through the gate with a dark expression.

He knew he had been scammed. After James Watson had scoured the surroundings of Ambrose's territory for phylacteries and returned to the City of Alchemy, he found the gates closed and the city's entire magical defense system activated.

Looking at the dozens of Magitech Cannons on the gate, James Watson dared not approach.

Even as a Legendary-tier Cleric of Light, forcibly sieging the city now would be suicide. One round of bombardment would blast him into fragments.

The deal was clear: phylacteries in exchange for their captured paladins and his son, Alan. Yet these alchemists had closed the gates, clearly intending to renege on the debt.

But James Watson couldn't figure out why the alchemists would do this.

Was there some disadvantage for them in this transaction?

Although he didn't know the details like Ambrose did, James Watson had been the Supreme Adjudicator for so many years; a fool couldn't manage the laws of such a vast empire.

There must be an internal problem within the City of Alchemy, very likely throwing it into a state of extreme chaos, which was why they had sealed the city.

Thinking of this, James Watson ordered all his subordinates to begin praying.

Not praying for the Lord of Dawn to descend and slap the alchemists to death, but simply to create a strong Holy Light effect outside the city through prayer.

A pillar of light soaring into the sky appeared. As they chanted scriptures, it constantly changed shape.

Then came the long wait.

James Watson was waiting for a response from the paladins inside the city.

Alan and the other ten members of the Knights of Judgment had already been sent into the City of Alchemy. Perhaps they were under guard and might not see this soaring Holy Light, but this was James Watson's only hope.

And James Watson gambled correctly. When the city gate opened, his son, Alan Watson, was kneeling before him, respectfully welcoming his arrival.

Behind Alan were the other nine paladins and a special "army" of less than a hundred people.

"Father..." Alan said only one word before choking up.

Alan's luck was decent. He hadn't suffered much torture in Ambrose's castle, only getting beaten up by Gareth once. It wasn't a crippling injury, and a casual healing spell had restored him.

Aside from Starlight, the injuries of the other captured paladins weren't severe and were all within the range of divine healing.

Because ostensibly they were the people being rescued, the City of Alchemy hadn't sent them to prison. After being transported into the city by airship, these paladins were sent to an inn and even given some healing potions, which allowed them to recover even faster.

So, after seeing the Holy Light signal outside the city, these paladins discussed how to seize the city gate and let James Watson in.

Although all their equipment had been stripped by Ambrose, weakening their combat power significantly, paladins were still a class with amazing combat capabilities even unarmed. In a successful ambush, Alan knocked out two Justicars, seized the Automatons in their hands, and then began the paladins' counterattack journey.

After rushing out of the inn, these paladins ran to the main street. They first found a shop selling armor and weapons. Although the shop doors were tightly closed, the paladins smashed the door down for a "zero-dollar shopping spree," arming themselves.

With equipment, they grew bolder, directly capturing administrators of the City of Alchemy as prisoners to interrogate them about the situation inside the city. Although these administrators didn't know much, they still provided the paladins with a very important piece of intelligence.

The undead were sieging the city. Most of the City of Alchemy's forces were pinned down by the undead, leaving other areas with empty defenses.

At this point, the paladins split into two factions. One faction believed that the undead were class enemies and must be prioritized for elimination. The other faction believed the waters in the City of Alchemy ran too deep, and they should merge with James Watson first before considering purging the undead.

Alan had low seniority and was technically half a "culprit," so he had no say at all. It wasn't until the weak Starlight spoke up, ordering everyone to attack the city gate with full force, that a split was avoided.

Then came the ambush by ten paladins, seizing control of the gate and opening this impregnable door from the inside.

Alan was fearless in battle, suffering multiple injuries on his body. Even after receiving treatment, he still looked bedraggled, his armor torn and his face covered in blood and dirt.

Facing his scarred son, James Watson showed no expression of pity. He simply said coldly, "Paladin Alan Watson, you should address me as Supreme Adjudicator. Your reckless actions have caused heavy losses to the Empire. Your crimes will be judged upon our return to the country."

Alan lowered his head. He didn't refute or explain, merely responding loudly, "I am willing to accept judgment, Supreme Adjudicator."

Only then did James Watson turn to look at the peculiar army behind Alan. They looked more like commoners.

"Tell me the situation in the city, and who are these people behind you?"

Alan quickly explained, "The City of Alchemy has encountered a massive siege by undead, so it has entered a state of chaos. As for these commoners behind me, they are all believers of the Lord of Dawn. Previously, we promised to let them join the Empire and become subjects of our Ryan..."

These hundred or so people were the commoners and serfs Starlight had recruited earlier. But after Starlight was ambushed and the Knights of Judgment were all captured, no one cared about these people anymore.

Fortunately, Starlight had paid in advance when settling them, so they didn't run out of food immediately. But after the paladins were captured, most of them still fled. They couldn't go to the Ryan Empire anymore and had to find another way out.

Some returned to their original lords to beg for a living, while others tried to establish a foothold in a place like the City of Alchemy.

Only a few were willing to wait for the future Starlight had promised.

Geronimo was one of them. After witnessing the power of the Holy Light, he could no longer accept being a serf. Even if Starlight had been captured, he wasn't ready to give up.

Therefore, when the pillar of Holy Light appeared outside the city and chaos reigned inside, Geronimo organized the remaining people. Whether to fish in troubled waters or protect themselves, grouping up was the right move.

The result was bumping into Alan and the paladins on the road. That power of the Holy Light was so familiar! Geronimo immediately led his people to follow. Since they were technically on the same side, Alan wouldn't refuse their help.

However, the counterfeit artifacts they brought had been snatched by Ambrose. These mortals couldn't help much in combat and could only serve as cannon fodder or cheerleaders.

Casualties were not insignificant along the way; some died, and some fled in fear.

Those who managed to follow Alan all the way to merge with the main force numbered less than sixty.

Alan told James Watson what had happened in the City of Alchemy in as concise a language as possible. But he didn't know about the ritual magic in the sewers, so he thought it was simply an undead siege.

James Watson sensed something was wrong.

"If the undead have already entered the interior of the city, why waste magical energy activating the external city defenses? Moreover, to deal with the undead, why didn't those alchemists ask us for help? This defies logic."

James Watson pondered for a moment. Two choices lay before him.

One: Take his men and leave the City of Alchemy immediately. Who cared how chaotic it was inside? He had a powerful Paladin Legion; no one could stop him if he wanted to leave. His goal had been achieved—Alan and the other paladins were rescued. Returning now would count as a triumph.

Two: Choose to wade into the muddy waters and join this baffling undead siege. And he could only stand on the side opposing the undead, effectively working for the City of Alchemy.

Between the two choices, there seemed to be no hesitation. A normal person would choose the first option.

But those were undead!

Although the City of Alchemy was a city mixed with alien races, there were still many humans inside. Allowing undead to slaughter humans went against the teachings of the Lord of Dawn.

When faith and interest conflicted, most people would choose to flexibly change the standards of their faith.

But from James Watson at the top down to any random soldier in the legion, they were all fanatics of the Lord of Dawn. Leave the undead be?

Impossible. They couldn't restrain themselves at all.

So, even knowing he was making a foolish decision, James Watson could only clench his fist and declare loudly, "Holy Light, protect us and dispel all darkness! Everyone, follow me. Purge those filthy undead!"

Brilliant platinum light shone upon these Ryan people, like the sun descending upon the mortal world.

The Lionheart Paladin Legion began to advance toward the place in the city where the aura of the undead was strongest. Regardless of what schemes the City of Alchemy had, the undead were there!

At this moment, Ambrose was atop the high tower, loudly asking everyone where James Watson and his Paladin Legion were.

Then, that intense Holy Light, palpable even without looking, answered his confusion.

These religious maniacs were shouting about "Holy Light," "Honor," and whatnot, charging right at him.

Ambrose made a decision with the utmost speed—run immediately. Hide in the sewers first.