This Lich Requests More Remuneration-Chapter 129 - 120 The Basic Morals of an Alchemist

Chapter 129: Chapter 120 The Basic Morals of an Alchemist

Chapter 129 -120 The Basic Morals of an Alchemist

Night had fallen, and Isabel was organizing a small mountain of experimental data by candlelight.

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Even though it contained extremely valuable knowledge, Isabel wished she could forget it immediately, as the content was too horrifying to contemplate.

Isabel had once thought that the Lich Lord was one of the rare benevolent ones, but the information before her revealed a cruel truth.

The Lich was still a Lich after all.

Undead have no morals or bottom line, they are capable of anything.

Isabel’s hands trembled, but she dared not stop, fearing she too might become the subject of one of these experiment reports.

Fear reddened her eyes, but Isabel found no one to confide in. Her brother Raul had become a devoted follower of the Lich Lord, obeying his commands unconditionally.

Were he to know her feelings, Raul might even punish her severely.

The only person Isabel could think of now was her teacher, the ever-elusive Castle Ghost.

Perhaps he was the only one who could offer her a bit of solace.

“Teacher, please save your poor student, I’m going mad,” she whispered.

Large tear drops fell, blurring the ink and staining the parchment.

As Isabel frantically tried to clean it, a magical light flashed, and the stained parchment was swiftly restored to its original state.

“What’s there to cry about? If you’re tired, go and rest,” a puzzled voice said.

The voice surprised Isabel, prompting her to look up and see a dark-haired youth with distinctive features.

“Teacher…” Isabel managed in a tearful voice before she burst into uncontrollable sobs.

Amberser frowned at the sight of the fragile girl, realizing he had overestimated human endurance.

Once again, his fingertips emitted a magical glow that settled on Isabel. The spell of serenity and concentration gradually calmed her down.

Embarrassed, the young girl wiped her eyes and said to Amberser, “I’m sorry, teacher, I couldn’t hold it back.”

Amberser asked, “Is your capacity to handle pressure lacking? You can’t bear this amount of work?” Isabel quickly said, “No, it’s not the workload that’s the problem, it’s that these experiments… are too cruel, too inhumane, and I just find them utterly terrifying.”

“Is that the reason?”

Realization dawned on Amberser’s face.

“It’s normal, this is the reaction humans should have, given that Drow Elves resemble humans in appearance.” Amberser tried to console her, “Maybe this will make you feel better; Drow Elves love nothing more than to capture Elves from the surface and brutally murder them to please their deity, Rose. They have a long and storied history of torture methods to inflict on High Elves. Does knowing this make you feel any better?”

Isabel’s eyes widened in shock. A country girl like her hadn’t known this; she’d only heard that Drow Elves were liars and murderers who should never be trusted under normal circumstances.

“But… but… Even if Drow Elves are bad, does that make it right to treat them like that?”

Amberser didn’t blame Isabel, but rather said with pleasure, “Good question, it’s time for you to think about this issue.”

“Teacher, what do you mean?” Isabel asked, confused.

“What I’m saying is, you’ve reached the point where you need to consider the definition of what constitutes a test subject. It’s a sign of an Alchemist coming of age.

“You think these experiments are cruel because Drow Elves look human, eliciting your empathy,” Amberser continued.

Isabel quickly said, “No, it’s not just that they look human. They think, they feel emotions… does the Lich have the right to reign supreme over them, to use them as mere test subjects?”

Amberser shook his head, “Of course not.”

“But these experiments…” Isabel started, suddenly unsure what to say next. Was the teacher also against the Lich Lord’s experiments?

However, Amberser went on, “It’s not only that there is no hierarchy between Undead and the living, the same holds true between humans and other species. What matters is who wins and who loses; the losers end up on the operating table or the dining table.

“Do you think those frogs and lizards that died by your hand were inferior? Have you never heard the classic anecdote of the ascetic?”

Isabel shook her head.

Amberser had no choice but to explain, “Here’s the story: there was a human noblewoman who loved eating meat until one day she accidentally drank an Animal Conversation Potion.

“Then she discovered animals are sentient and have emotions. Before being slaughtered, a yak was telling its companions about its newly born child, and when faced with the butcher, lamented that its fate was the same as its mother’s.

“Hearing the words of the animals, the noblewoman felt sick to her stomach, and decided to be a vegetarian forever.”

Isabel said in confusion, “So, is that a good thing?”

Yet Amberser replied, “The story isn’t over yet. The noblewoman struggled to quit eating meat and managed for a few years. When she became a true vegetarian, she encountered a-speaking Treant. A wise and emotional elder, he generously allowed the noblewoman to understand the language of plants. It turned out that vegetables and fruits feel pain, and they too have their families and friends.”

Isabel: …

“What do you think happened to the noblewoman in the end?” Amberser inquired.

“She… starved to death?”

“No.” Amberser said with a smile, “She started eating meat again.”

Isabel: …

Amberser patted her shoulder and continued, “Humans eat birds, birds eat insects, insects eat grass… We live in a world where every species possesses intelligence and emotions. Survival of the fittest isn’t about status or morality; it’s merely about individual needs.”

“Drow Elves become experimental subjects not because they are inferior or because they are cruel or evil, but because they did not escape.”

“Liches, humans, or the frogs you dissect and grind up are all equal beings. We simply adapt to our place in nature or strive to climb to higher levels.”

“Human, you are not the supreme being of intelligence looking down upon all. If you wish to love all intelligent creatures, you must first become a Deity. Only a supreme Deity has the right to break free from the cycle of survival of the fittest, for only when you no longer need to eat can you contemplate what it feels like to be eaten.”

Isabel pondered for a while and then softly said, “But… can’t we choose other methods, like painless ones such as euthanasia?”

Amberser nodded in agreement and said, “That’s a correct thought. As an Alchemist, you should respect your experimental subjects.”

“Never take it for granted that you control the life and death of others. Don’t experiment when you’re not certain, don’t waste data obtained through life, don’t let your subjects endure unnecessary pain, and definitely don’t sacrifice your lab rats for experiments that are both boring and meaningless. This is the basic morality of a scholar conducting research.”

“But at the same time, don’t be bound by the term ‘slaughter.’ Just as humans need to eat and to consume meat, in the eyes of a Shadow Druid, aren’t steaming, boiling, roasting all forms of slaughter? In the eyes of the Jackalwolf People, gutting a human isn’t cruel; to Withered Branch Creatures, felling trees is an outrage; Drow Elves throwing High Elves to spiders is merely a traditional rite of passage, the most devout offering to Goddess Rose.”

This was a truth that Amberser had come to understand after living many years in this world. Initially, he had looked down upon the world with the superior mentality of a human, feeling that as a human, he held a responsibility towards every species in the world.

Afterwards, he realized that humans were merely one among many beings; even Deities could be cruel, and Aeo permitted the existence of Hell, proving this was not his happy earthly home.

On Earth, saying ‘all things have spirits’ is self-comfort, but here, if you lament that ‘all things have spirits,’ even a Goblin would scoff at you, “Isn’t that obvious?”

Speaking with the tone of someone who has been through it, Amberser said, “In short, don’t apply your moral standards rigidly across different worlds.”

“Different worlds?” Isabel seemed to have heard something strange.

“That’s not the point; the point is whether you can accept this cold reality. Like the noble lady in the story, either come to terms with everything and go back to eating meat, or starve yourself to death. If you can’t come to terms, then don’t be an Alchemist.”

After listening to Amberser’s words, Isabel felt somewhat enlightened yet not entirely clear.

Although she had not completely come to terms, the cruel experimental records in front of her no longer seemed so distressing.

Seeing the staff resume their work, Amberser didn’t want to waste more time. Every time he transformed into human form, it was because he had to go out and meet people.

Today was no exception, as the negotiation day with the Elf Tribe had arrived.

With Amberser’s efforts, he had finally completed his research before this day. Although the manuscript was still being organized by Isabel, most of the experiments were already successful.

He now had enough confidence to meet those Elves from the Silvermoon Tribunal.

Watching Isabel resume organizing the data, Amberser left the castle humming a happy tune.

It’s indeed easier to persuade one’s own trained students; a few words and they continue working hard. With other Alchemists who have their own set of standards, they’re either plotting something behind your back or constantly asking for more money, which can be quite annoying.

That was also why Amberser didn’t employ those Alchemists; they’re difficult to persuade and control costs are too high.

Having left the castle, he merged into the night.

Amberser flew towards the now-ruined Alchemy City, where the negotiations were to take place atop the rubble.

Representing the dwarves of the Golden Kingdom was Hoffman Ironfist, the King’s Hand, while the elves were personally represented by Queen Katherine of the Elves.

Honestly, the scene was a bit too grand; Amberser had thought the elves might send a figure similar to a prime minister at most.

As the mediator and initiator of the negotiations, it was Amberser’s responsibility to prepare the venue.

Deciding to keep things simple, Amberser chose a relatively flat area within the ruins and quickly erected a huge platform with a few earthen wall spells, then threw some tables and chairs around, going for a “minimalist” vibe.

Having set up the site, Amberser also conjured dozens of ghostly Netherfire, illuminating the area so it could be seen from afar.

Right about the appointed time, a troop of dwarves appeared in the vicinity.

The embassy of the desert dwarves had arrived.

Looking over, Amberser noted that they were all elite Dwarf Iron Guards, each encased in heavy steel armor, with even the eyeholes inlaid with crystal.

Hoffman Ironfist walked in the center. Though not tall, Amberser did not dare to underestimate him, for he was clearly a warrior of Legendary Rank.

However, the dwarf beside Hoffman Ironfist seemed overly jovial, waving at Amberser the moment he spotted him and saying, “Brother, it’s finally nice to meet you.”

Hake Stone, the vampire, floated above ground, standing half a head taller than the other dwarves, and warmly approached Amberser upon seeing him.

Amberser was quite fond of this friend who had brought him significant business, and the two greeted each other warmly without any awkwardness of a first meeting.

After a brief chat with Hoffman Ironfist, Amberser promptly showed the dwarves to their seats.

Now, all that was left was for the elves to arrive, and the negotiations could begin.

However, even after the appointed time had passed, there was still no sign of the elves.

Hoffman Ironfist expressed his dissatisfaction, “These arrogant elves, do they not even understand the basic courtesy of being punctual?”

Amberser also felt something was amiss. The queen’s presence signified the importance they placed on the negotiations; why would they be late?

Amberser opened his palm, allowing several Dice of Destiny to spin in his hand before they transformed into a sequence of images.

The elven delegation was trapped within a sea of fire, surrounded by many fierce-looking monsters roaring on all sides.

“Is that… Hell Demons?”