Strongest Dimensional Necromancer-Chapter 85: Fearless Ones

"Eh? You don’t know what it means? What are you, some kind of village boy? Oh, you are."

Riven scowled, but he didn’t say anything. His eyes narrowed, his heart beating fast as he heard that.

Malum shrugged. "I will just tell you. Disciples are the personal students of someone. It’s actually quite a big deal then. Being a disciple means that you represent the person, their honor and image. You get to share in their influence and power, and learn their techniques.

"If you ask me, I’ll say it’s like being born as a prince. But that’s only in the context that it’s a Skull Lord’s disciple."

Riven swallowed because he was getting the idea. "How many disciples does the Faceless Lord have?"

Malum looked at him as if he was insane. "Disciples? The Faceless Lord had none before now."

"So he wants me to be his first-ever disciple?"

Malum snorted. "You’re not special. He’s only doing that because, for some reason, you have gained his interest by gaining the interest of the dead Necromancer King.

"Besides, it would be fun to watch the expression of the other Skull Lords when they realize my master has pulled a fast one on them."

Riven almost sneered with bitterness before he calmed down when he remembered that he was indeed not special. Kivara had told him again and again that the world was too big.

Of course, why would a Skull Lord just have an interest in him like that? Of course, they wanted something. Everyone always wanted something from the other.

Malum continued. "But it isn’t that easy. My master won’t just make you his disciple because of that."

Riven nearly rolled his eyes. "...of course it’s not that simple..."

"You have to prove your worth."

He sat up when he heard that. "Prove my worth?"

Malum turned to him. "I will only speak further if I know your intentions. Do you accept the offer?"

Riven gave it serious thought. And the only conclusion he could get was that the Faceless Lord was trying to use him, but at least he was a bit honest about it. He wasn’t that stupid to think that the attention the Faceless Lord had on him was simply because he needed to know what the Necromancer King wanted.

And he wasn’t stupid enough to think he was some young hero that could defy the heavens on the way to power. The cold reality was that he needed a sponsor, a support until he could stand on his feet.

And he needed it more than ever because the people Zandrel worked for wanted him just as much as the Faceless Lord did, but they weren’t going to play nice about it.

"I accept the offer," he declared solemnly.

Malum smiled and nodded. "Then you will become his disciple after you prove your worth."

"What will I have to do?" Now that he had made his decision, Riven was going to stand firmly behind it, and he was ready to earn things with his hands.

Malum smiled. "Good. To tell you that, I’ll have to tell you about those who inhabit that place!"

With that, he pointed. They had reached the center of the city, and right there in the middle was a city within a city. It was made with a combination of black and green stones.

There were no walls encircling it. Rather, formations had been set into the ground, fully circling it. People could be seen doing normal things that they usually did, but what surprised Riven was that as he watched, he saw faint aura covering everyone, light green.

"That...?"

"This is the population that remains of the Capital City of the Necromancer King. They continue to live here even though it is far removed from immediate civilization. They are also necromancers and pride themselves as the true blood of the Necromancer King."

"It’s not true?" Riven asked when he heard the tone Malum used.

The man snorted. "True? The Necromancer King is the Necromancer. He has no heir or family. Well, unless for now, we don’t know which you are.

"Either way, they continue to wait here and await the rebirth of the King. And from within, they created an organization. The Faceless Ones. Actually, the organization was made by the last remaining guard of the Necromancer King."

Riven sat up. The Faceless Ones? So original.

"The organization is how the city funds itself. They take work. Any work. Bodyguard. Assassination. Stealing? Kidnapping? Just pay them enough money."

Riven blinked. That wasn’t actually what he was expecting, but he shrugged. That works as well.

"The Faceless Ones are feared in the West. And unlike other organizations, they have a Skull Lord directly backing them."

"Wait, the Faceless Lord is backing them?"

"Well, he didn’t stop them from forming the organization in his name. And when it started, he thought it would be fun. But now that they’ve turned into something big, he’s even used them a couple of times."

"The Faceless Ones drew attention from all over, and those who want to join them come from all over. They don’t care about your Sigil. Well, they’ll probably like it if you are a necromancer, but either way, if you are strong, then you will become one of them and swear before the Faceless Lord!

"Not really," Malum laughed. "But seriously, Riven. Don’t swear on his name and go back on your word. My master controls one of the gates. Oh, I shouldn’t have said that."

Riven could only stare, unblinking, at the man. He couldn’t even make all that much sense of what he was saying. But most importantly, he was vaguely understanding where Malum was driving at, and he didn’t like the conclusion so far.

Malum clapped, the sound muffled by his bandaged hands. "Riven! You have been charged by Lord Faceless to win this decade’s recruitment process of the Faceless Ones! Although people might not like the Faceless Ones, the power they hold is real, and if you are part of them, then it’s sure that they will sponsor you. So it usually attracts a lot of people."

Riven sighed in relief. If it was that, then he was sure he could snatch a place for himself. "That’s it? Wait, why are you laughing?"