Although the skeletal mage had been utterly penniless in life, it still left Lynch with a decent inheritance.
This included its own remains, along with a small leather bag.
The bag didn't hold much, just three items.
First was an animal-skin notebook filled with scribbled research notes on Undead Magic. Clearly, this was the skeletal mage's study record. It was somewhat useful but couldn't be fully trusted. It could, however, serve as a reference to improve his own theoretical knowledge of Undead Magic.
Next was an ancient, incomplete map made of a peculiar material. Dark pigments marked barely legible details and ancient text, exuding an air of mystery. Without a doubt, this was a treasure map. Lynch had no time to study it now; he would look into it later.
Finally, there was a sticky note with extremely hurried, scribbled handwriting. The ink still looked fresh.
Lynch picked up the note. Reading it by the sparse moonlight filtering through the trees, he saw the message:
"You idiot! Who told you to slaughter that village on your own?! The Holy Light Court has already noticed you. It is extremely dangerous now. I found a hidden tomb for you. Hide there immediately and absolutely do not come out for the time being. If you get caught, do not drag me down with you."
Lynch's pupils shrank slightly. "This guy... has an inside contact and partners nearby?" he thought.
His heart skipped a beat. He vigilantly scanned the pitch-black forest. The nerves he had slightly relaxed after his victory pulled taut once more.
Everything that needed handling was done. This battlefield was no longer worth lingering in. Before leaving, his gaze swept over the still-unconscious Holy Light foursome.
Kill them?
He dismissed the thought the moment it flashed through his mind. That was definitely out of the question.
Heaven knew how many mysterious tracking and prophetic methods the Holy Light Church possessed. If the truth came to light and they discovered he was the culprit, there would be no place left for him in the entire Grimsby Empire. Besides, while grudges and brawls were common among apprentices, it had not reached the point where murder was necessary. That would completely shatter an unspoken rule, leading to unimaginable consequences.
"Furthermore, I need to destroy the tracks as much as possible," Lynch decided.
With his mind made up, he immediately ordered his Skeleton Servants into action. They further scattered the already chaotic piles of bones, covering up any obvious signs of battle. They also picked up some of the tattered weapons left behind by the enemy skeletons and mixed them into their own ranks.
Once this was done, Lynch wasted no more time. He quickly and stealthily led his large skeleton army out of the woods. To be safe, he stopped after covering some distance to carefully erase the footprints and drag marks left by his troops, wiping away their trail as much as possible.
It took over two hours before Lynch and his army reached the edge of the Black Swamp. They halted in a hidden, rugged ravine.
Beneath the cliff face, he found a natural small cave concealed by vines. It was not spacious, but it was hidden enough.
"Everyone inside. Enter dormancy."
Following Lynch's mental command, the skeletons faithfully executed the order. They squeezed into the depths of the cave one by one, then sprawled haphazardly across the ground, leaning against walls or lying flat on their faces.
In the blink of an eye, they became indistinguishable from a lifeless pile of dry bones. In this state of deep dormancy, they emitted almost no energy fluctuations. Even if someone chopped them up for firewood, they would not move unless their master awakened them again.
As for the highly meritorious Bone Jade, things were much simpler. Lynch directly chanted a Spell, sending it back to the Netherworld to rest and recover.
Having finished everything, Lynch did not linger. He got his bearings and sprinted toward the academy. He first returned to his dormitory to store his quest items before heading to the staff residential area of the Undead Major.
It was a neighborhood of standalone villas located at the edge of the mountain behind the Undead Major district. Surrounded by tall, eerie trees, the air here was perpetually tinged with a faint aura of death.
Relying on his memory, Lynch walked straight to the detached cottage belonging to Annabella and knocked gently.
A moment later, the door pulled open.
Annabella appeared in the doorway. Her exquisite, pale face carried a hint of exhaustion, though it did nothing to diminish her stunning figure. Though somewhat surprised by Lynch's late-night visit, she stepped aside to clear a path. "Come inside first."
After all, she held this recently outstanding student in high regard.
Truth be told, she had been swamped these past few days. Leading the few staff members of the Undead Major and a handful of capable senior apprentices, she had meticulously scoured almost every suspicious area around Saint Roland City. Yet they had found absolutely nothing, leaving her in a foul mood.
Lynch thanked her and cautiously stepped into the living room. At her gesture, he sat down on a rather vintage leather sofa.
While his instructor went to pour tea, Lynch looked around. The walls were adorned with skeletal specimens of unknown creatures. What caught his attention the most was a mounted Shadow Leopard head hanging above the fireplace. The leopard head was incredibly lifelike. Even in death, it still exuded a faint, oppressive aura, clearly indicating it had been a powerful High Tier Magical Beast in life.
Soon, Annabella returned carrying a bone teacup. The liquid inside was a deep, inky green, with a few faintly glowing tea leaves floating on the surface.
"Thank you, Ms. Annabella," Lynch said, taking the cup with both hands. It felt icy cold to the touch.
He took a cautious sip. Instantly, a bone-deep chill flowed through his entire body, immediately revitalizing his exhausted mind. To his further delight, his Spiritual Power seemed to have grown just a fraction.
"This is Ghost Moss Tea. I brewed it using Ghost Moss that grows along the tributaries of the Nether River as the main ingredient from my time studying abroad in the Undead Realm," Annabella explained casually, taking a seat on the adjacent sofa. "Drinking this tea in moderation over a long period can slowly nourish the soul and purify Mana. It is very beneficial for us Necromancers."
Lynch's eyes lit up at the words. Throwing all thoughts of savoring the taste out the window, he tilted his head back and GLUG GLUG GLUG—he downed the entire cup in one breath, not even sparing the few dregs at the bottom.
Finished, he smacked his lips, still wanting more, and looked at Annabella with puppy-dog eyes.
Annabella shot him a withering glare. "This tea has a dark and cold nature; drinking too much will harm your body. The energy inside is enough for you to digest for a few days. We'll talk about more later."
She paused, her tone softening slightly. "If you perform well in the academy's unified exams, I might consider rewarding you with some more, or even giving you a few tea leaves to brew yourself."
Secretly thrilled, Lynch patted his chest in guarantee. "Rest assured, Ms. Annabella! I will give it my all. I definitely won't let you down."
"Don't make empty boasts. I want to see actual results," she said, glaring at him ominously and letting out a nasal sound of threat. "If you bomb the exams... hmph."
Snorting softly, she changed the subject. "Alright, spit it out. You came looking for me in the middle of the night. Did you run into a bottleneck in your training?"
"Ah! Right!" Lynch slapped his forehead as if just remembering his actual purpose, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Ms. Annabella, I almost forgot until you mentioned it. I have something important to report."
He hurriedly recounted his encounter in the forest that night, editing and embellishing the details as he went.
Naturally, he omitted crucial facts—like his possession of Bone Jade and his massive skeleton army. Instead, he emphasized that he was forcefully dragged into the conflict. He claimed the opposing Necromancer seemed to be in poor condition, and that by relying on the terrain and a stroke of pure luck, he barely managed a successful sneak attack to kill him. Oh, and he just happened to "inherit" a tiny bit of the man's legacy along the way.
He knew that given Annabella's wealth and high standards, she would never covet the meager scraps of a down-and-out Necromancer.
"What?!"
Hearing his account, Annabella shot up from the sofa. All traces of lethargy and exhaustion vanished from her face as she snapped, "Why didn't you say something so important sooner?! You actually dawdled until now to report this?!"
Lynch shrank his neck. "Well, Ms. Annabella, your Ghost Moss Tea was just too effective. I-I got so caught up in the feeling of my soul being cleansed that I almost forgot what I came here for..."
Annabella glared fiercely at him, looking like she wanted to strangle the brat, but now was clearly not the time to bicker over this.
She made a prompt decision. "Let's go. Take me to the scene immediately!"
"Right away!" Lynch agreed instantly.
The two quickly headed out. Outside the villa, Annabella frowned when she saw Lynch's sluggish walking pace. She directly pulled out her ornate Magic Staff and rapidly cast a Spell, ripping open a swirling portal to the Netherworld.
NEIGH!
A tall, magnificent Undead Warhorse leaped out, treading on thin air. Its entire body was constructed of pale bones, and Nether Soul Fire blazed within its eye sockets.
"Get on."
Annabella vaulted onto the Undead Horse with athletic grace. Then, without a word of warning, she grabbed the dazed Lynch by the back of his collar and hauled him up behind her like a baby chick.
"Hold tight."
Before the words even faded, the Undead Horse pushed off with all four hooves. It bolted forward like a bolt of black lightning, leaving nothing but a faint trail of dark smoke in its wake.
"Holy shit—too fast, too bumpy!"
Lynch had never ridden such a thing before. Nearly flying off backwards, he instinctively wrapped his arms tight around his instructor's slender yet powerful waist.
"So slender... so soft..." he thought.