NOVPUBChapter 1106: 349. Re-enter the Empire_3
This was a challenging process, but fortunately, with the experience from the last cultivation, this time the progress was rather swift.
“It’s been a long time, Jarvis…”
Morster, wearing a tawny rock mask, greeted him with a complex tone.
Noland Lee and Denise Green concealed their identities with masks, always maintaining a low profile.
He nodded slightly towards Morster and briefly introduced Denise Green who was beside him.
Morster’s mother was also a Resurrection Witch; he had long heard of the Companion Witch accompanying Noland, so he appeared quite composed now.
...
Morster gestured towards the Grave Vault behind him and said,
“Let’s move to another place to talk.”
The three of them entered the Tunnel of the Grave Vault, weaving through the mountains of the Blade Mountain Range.
They didn’t encounter anyone else along the way; Morster had obviously chosen the route deliberately.
After entering the Fortress within the mountain, Denise Green was taken to a secluded Dormitory to rest, while Noland followed Morster into the private Conference Room.
“You didn’t come to see me this suddenly just for tourism and old times’ sake, did you?” Morster asked,
“So, what do you need help with?”
Since the Earth Vein Pillar had been stationed in the Tatis Empire, the Empire’s isolationism had somewhat improved, but for outsiders wishing to understand the Empire’s internal movements, finding the right person was still essential.
Morster was indeed the perfect candidate.
Noland sat down in the chair opposite Morster and lifted his Hood,
“Indeed, I need your help with a matter. I accepted Professor Erica’s task to investigate the use of firearms by the Undead.”
“Uh…” Morster was momentarily taken aback,
“Is that it?”
“Yes, that simple.”
Noland displayed his Wizard Emblem, its three stripes signifying his status as a Third-Ring Wizard,
“This is my task before advancing to a Four-circled Wizard. Of course, that’s not all. I also need to record the battle conditions of the Undead using firearms at the front lines.”
Morster pondered for a bit, pulled open a drawer, rummaged through it, and took out a hefty document bag.
“Inside are research reports from the Division Intelligence Unit Three,” Morster placed the bag in front of Noland.
After expressing his gratitude, Noland used [Mage’s Hand] to open the bag and took out the documents it contained.
Morster, who stood on the sidelines, said,
“The first case of Undead Creatures wielding firearms occurred about six months ago. A low-ranking hundred-man Army unit, while clearing out a small Grave Vault, encountered Tomb Skeleton Soldiers capable of using guns. Since then, similar incidents have been cropping up. Up to now, almost every Grave Vault has quite a few Undead capable of using guns and hand grenades.”
Morster lit a Cigarette for himself, puffing as he continued,
“These kinds of Undead Creatures that can attack with firearms, we call them Undead Soldiers. They might be transformed from deceased Imperial Soldiers.”
Noland, in contemplation, asked,
“I’ve heard some of the Emperor’s children defected to the Undead Cult?”
Morster shrugged slightly,
“Bad news does travel fast. Yes, that did happen.”
“Did that occur before or after the appearance of the Undead Soldiers?” Noland asked again.
Morster rubbed his chin,
“Those two events happened almost simultaneously. Let me think… The defection to the Undead Cult by the Emperor’s offspring occurred after the first Undead Soldier appeared.”
Morster queried,
“Do you suspect that these defectors collaborated with the Undead Cult to develop the Undead Soldiers?”
“There is indeed such a conjecture,” Noland replied.
Morster tapped the Ashtray a couple of times to knock off the ash,
“I’ve had the same thought and even had someone investigate it, but with no result. However, now that you’re here, you might as well take a look at these reports for me; there are some things in here that I haven’t been able to understand. After all, I’m not well-versed in the study of Death Magic.”
As he spoke, Morster took another document bag from the drawer.
