Chapter 126: The Not-So-Cold Mad Scientist
Abyss was stunned.
He stared at Lannis, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Her grave isn’t in this world? This… This is truly unexpected.”
“Hehe, surprised, aren’t you?” Lannis said, her wrinkled face beaming with pride, as she noticed Abyss’s astonishment. “That’s right, my mistress, Miss Rebecca, died over forty years ago, and her final resting place isn’t even in our world, Hai-Teweru! Even with all your skills, you can’t resurrect someone from another world!”
Abyss realized he had underestimated the genius alchemist’s abilities. He had assumed Rebecca was simply a brilliant alchemist and mechanic, skilled in creating various potions and devices. He hadn’t anticipated this level of mastery.
If she had died in another world, she must have possessed a way to travel between worlds! This explained the principle behind the Spatiotemporal Solvent Machine…
“Please tell me!” Abyss exclaimed, his excitement growing instead of diminishing. “Tell me how your mistress traveled to another world! And tell me, are the solvents produced by that machine from another world as well?”
Lannis had expected Abyss to give up. She disliked necromancers, partly because they were always surrounded by death, their gloomy presence clashing with her vibrant personality. And partly because necromancers had a terrible reputation in Hai-Teweru.
No one liked those who summoned hordes of undead, terrifying or even killing those who stood in their way, those who were cunning, deceitful, and disrespectful towards the deceased.
Encountering such a polite and respectful necromancer was already a surprise. She hadn’t anticipated his insatiable curiosity. If Abyss were a typical necromancer, he would probably be plotting to kill her and interrogate her soul.
“Ha! You strange boy! Aren’t you disappointed at all?” Lannis paced back and forth behind the door, her movements erratic. “You’ll never get this machine, and you’ll never resurrect my mistress! Leave! I won’t tell you anything about her!”
She grabbed a small bottle with a nozzle and a rubber bulb attached to it. She aimed the nozzle at her feet and squeezed the bulb, spraying a few drops of potion. The potion exploded upon contact with her boots, releasing a pungent odor and a series of small pops. She hopped around, her eyes wild, glaring at Abyss.
“Explosion! Explosion! Leave this place! Stop asking! Or I’ll blow this entire factory to smithereens!” she shouted. “But you must take those children with you! I don’t want to harm them! But I will destroy this machine, ensuring you’ll never unlock its secrets and create another Spatiotemporal Solvent Machine!”
“But don’t you miss your mistress?” Abyss asked suddenly, his voice calm and gentle, a stark contrast to the raving mad scientist before him. “Don’t you want to see her again? According to the records, you were her most loyal companion, her most trusted assistant… Her death must have devastated you. But I can mend that.”
Lannis stopped hopping, her eyes fixed on Abyss.
He continued, “This might disappoint you, but my abilities far surpass those of ordinary necromancers. I can travel between worlds. It’s not a perfect skill yet, but I’ve never failed.”
Lannis tilted her head, her black eye staring at him sideways.
“If you help me, if you tell me how to reach the world where Miss Rebecca died, I can bring her back. And not as a mindless puppet, but as a complete, sentient, and free-willed high-ranking undead,” Abyss said, smiling, spreading his arms wide. “She must have unfulfilled wishes. I’ll help her achieve them. And you must have things you wanted to tell her, things you wanted to do with her. This is your chance.”
Abyss’s words were like a siren’s call, tempting Lannis, shaking her resolve to protect the Spatiotemporal Solvent Machine.
She stood there, speechless, her mouth agape.
“Well, you probably don’t believe me yet. Let me introduce you to a friend who can vouch for my abilities,” Abyss said, unfazed by her silence. He rubbed one of his rings.
Wisps of smoke flowed from the ring, swirling and coalescing on the ground, gradually forming a human shape. The smoke solidified, and a tall, slender female elf stood before Lannis.
She had long, flowing white hair, violet eyes, and a beauty that could take anyone’s breath away. She wore a magnificent, form-fitting gown that accentuated her perfect figure. Her bare feet hovered an inch above the ground, her every movement graceful and elegant.
A Gray Elf! One of the most noble elven sub-races! Even Lannis, in her madness, recognized this reclusive race, rarely seen by outsiders, known for their beauty and their unwavering commitment to peace. They resided in hidden mountaintop palaces within the Elven Kingdoms, emerging only during times of great turmoil, offering aid to those affected by war and mediating between nations, seeking peaceful resolutions. They were natural diplomats, artists, and mages, their innate magical talent granting every adult Gray Elf power exceeding the seventh tier. But they never abused their power. Their lifespans were five times longer than humans’, but their birth rate was incredibly low, their entire population numbering only a little over a hundred.
“Kevrielfield, you Gray Elves despise lies above all else. Could you tell her about your life as my follower?” Abyss asked, looking at the summoned elf.
“Of course, my dear Master Abyss,” the Gray Elf said, smiling warmly, performing a complex and elegant Gray Elven courtesy before turning to Lannis. “Life as Master Abyss’s follower is not much different from my previous life. I enjoy freedom, I revel in beauty. The only difference is, I now have a reliable companion, a leader worthy of respect and admiration. And all I need to do is be by his side when he needs me.”
Lannis’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Gray Elves never lied. They considered lying and selfishness to be the ultimate shame. Making a Gray Elf lie was as difficult as convincing an adult Dark Elf to abstain from sex for ten years. Lannis was certain that this Gray Elf summoned by Abyss was indeed undead. Her prosthetic eye could detect heat, and although the elf radiated warmth, it was significantly lower than a living being’s.
“You… You can really do it?” Lannis asked, her voice trembling, her arrogance, stubbornness, and madness replaced by a flicker of hope.
“Give me the clues, and I’ll handle the rest,” Abyss said, nodding confidently.
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