Lich for Hire

Hoffmann Ironfist had completely abandoned any thought of assassinating the Elven Queen. The elves were already preparing to withdraw and head home; the dwarves would be wise to go along with the current rather than fight it.

If anything were to happen to Catherine now, the elves might change their strategy—and at that point, they might not be so easy to talk to.

Although no concrete agreements could be formalized during this informal meeting, his exchange with Catherine alone made it clear that this was a real opportunity for the dwarves.

If they could fully absorb the territory of Alkhemia, the dwarven kingdom's population would instantly double. More importantly, it would gain a complete set of facilities for alchemical mass production.

This had once been Alkhemia's exclusive advantage, which other kingdoms had envied.

A healing potion cost Alkhemia half as much to produce as it did elsewhere, while its output exceeded other kingdoms' by more than an order of magnitude.

And though other kingdoms envied Alkhemia's industry, they couldn't replicate it. Those production lines had been built over decades by countless alchemists. Other kingdoms simply did not have the talent pool to do so, even if they had all the relevant blueprints and schematics.

With Alkhemia's production lines, the dwarven kingdom would be able to mass-produce magical potions and enchanted equipment. Coupled with its doubled population, its military strength would increase severalfold.

At that point, even if the Lyon Empire were to break through the desert's natural barrier, the dwarves would still have the strength to fight them off.