Chapter 136: This Is My Tribute

Hesia stood his ground, making no move to interfere. He simply watched the changes overtaking Bruce and thought to himself:

‘Looks like the power of the Red Dragon Bloodline really does need intense emotions to be fully activated. It’s just that Bruce’s activation method… seems to be a real pain in the butt.’

Dimi, on the other hand, was completely dumbfounded, rooted to the spot.

He wailed, his voice cracking, “Boss! I told you! That’s an Undead Dog! You just wouldn’t believe me!”

Bruce, having easily dealt with the two small fry, now locked his furious, burning gaze onto Wilson.

It advanced on him step by step, its bald tail held stiffly erect. A low growl, like rolling thunder, rumbled in its throat, and the sharp teeth in its snarling maw glinted menacingly.

“Now it’s your turn, scum.”

Wilson was stunned, his mind a complete blank.

That bastard Rupert’s intel was definitely faulty!

But what Dimi said wasn’t right either! What kind of fucking Undead Dog shoots fire from its ass?!

Honestly, despite the terrifying scene, Wilson was a seasoned Stalker with years of experience crawling through the muck. He instantly determined that if he put everything he had into escaping, he might just be able to slip from the beast’s grasp.

But the deadly problem was… behind him stood an even more terrifying presence.

He now wished he could drag Rupert out and flay him alive.

That bastard had sworn up and down that their target was just a con man living off cheap tricks!

What truly kept him from making any sudden moves was what he’d seen a moment ago. When he’d risked a sideways glance at the Mage called Galen, he’d clearly seen the pitch-black skull on the man’s long-handled weapon. It was grinning, staring right at him with an incredibly excited gaze, and *laughing*.

He didn’t know if this dog was an Undead Dog or not, but the man behind him was definitely a powerful Undead Mage! Fleeing from such a presence was impossible.

Why hadn’t he killed him on the spot? Why hadn’t he even bothered with the newbies who ran off?

That’s it!

‘He isn’t killing. He’s observing, *choosing*!’

‘He must have taken a liking to my agility! He wants to turn me into a higher-level Undead Creature!’

‘But… but I don’t want to become one of the Undead!’

Wilson wailed internally.

‘I was cooped up in jail for so long. I haven’t had a chance to unclog those wonderfully winding sewers in ages.’

He glanced despairingly at Dimi beside him, who was shaking like a leaf.

‘As hateful as Rupert was, Dimi—the one who found the “target” in the first place—deserved to die even more!’

‘If he hadn’t insisted on provoking this Undead Mage, how could I have gotten dragged into this mess!’

Just as Wilson’s mind was racing, trying to figure out how to beg for his life, he heard a loud CLANG.

His subordinate, Dimi, had already thrown his Money Bag and weapons to the ground without a moment’s hesitation.

Then, using both hands, he frantically tore at his own clothes, shouting with a sob in his voice:

“Tribute! Master! This is tribute!”

“Honored Master Undead Mage, I know the rules! Spare my life, and I swear I’ll work hard to earn more money and offer you even more tribute!”

He stripped with astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, he was stark naked, shivering in the night wind. He even bent over and presented his ass to the dog.

“M-Master Undead Dog! See? My ass is bare too! We… we’re the same!”

Wilson stared, dumbfounded. ‘Has this moron lost his mind?’ he thought. ‘Why would you bring *that* up?’

‘What if that reminds the dog of the pain of its bald butt and it shoots fire again…’

But then, something unexpected happened.

After seeing Dimi’s bare ass, the fire-breathing dog—so ferocious just moments before—actually stopped growling. Its bald tail even gave a couple of happy wags.

At the same time, a calm voice came from behind Wilson.

“Acceptable. Now get lost.”

And just like that, as if granted a royal pardon, Dimi scrambled away into the darkness, not daring to look back even once.

Wilson remembered what Dimi had said the first time they met: when you meet an Undead Mage and an Undead Dog, strip naked and run for your life.

At the time, not only had he mocked the man relentlessly, but he had even suspected he’d hired an idiot.

But now, the truth was staring him in the face.

He had to admit, compared to that pathological liar Rupert, Dimi had apparently never lied to him.

That even included this time when he said he had found Galen’s trail.

With this realization, he frantically began laying out all his valuables on the ground: his Money Bag, his Curved Saber, his Lock Pickers, and even a small pouch from his secret stash of pepper powder.

Then, he started stripping faster than he ever had in his life.

He cursed himself for being so obedient. His grandmother had always told him to bundle up when the weather got cold, but he really didn’t need this many layers of thermal underwear.

He was scared out of his wits, especially when he felt the monstrous head on the staff extend a long tongue and lick his face.

“Master Undead Mage! I have more tribute! I’m more sincere!” he yelled incoherently as he stripped. “I… I can even unclog sewers! I’m much more useful alive than as an Undead, Master!”

Tossing his last shirt to the ground, Wilson copied Dimi, doing his best to wiggle his bare ass at Bruce. The cold wind raised goosebumps all over his skin.

Yet, he held the pose for what felt like an eternity, and only silence answered him from behind.

The Master Undead Mage didn’t readily tell him to “get lost” like he had with Dimi.

‘Why isn’t the Master saying anything…’ Wilson’s heart hammered in his chest. ‘I… I want to get lost…’

He shivered from the cold but didn’t dare to look up.

He could only carefully, inch by inch, slowly shuffle in the direction of the town.

‘Did Dimi’s trick actually work? Is the Master silently letting me go?’

Just as a sliver of hope rose in his heart and he was about to pick up the pace—

“SHUNK! SHUNK! SHUNK! SHUNK!”

An entire row of sharp stone spikes erupted from the earth, forming an impassable barrier before him and completely sealing his escape route!

Wilson, terrified beyond belief, immediately threw his hands up and turned around, his movements stiff and jerky.

To his despair, the Master Undead Mage had walked right up to him.

The crone-like head on his staff was now staring at him with excitement, its grin stretching even wider than before.

‘It’s over…’ Wilson’s heart sank. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees.

‘This Undead Mage… he really has taken an interest in my perfect physique!’

…

Hesia looked at the stark-naked man before him.

Of course, Hesia hadn’t let Dimi go because his ass was whiter. The moment the man had appeared, Hesia had already used his [Assessment Skill] on him.

This man, Wilson, was displayed as Level 16, far higher than anyone else.