Chapter 588, He Definitely Wouldn't Be Afraid
At this point, everything was already quite clear.
The Church of Destiny had established a gathering point outside Blackstone Town, recruiting followers while also drawing in church members from other locations.
Beni, a tavern maid, had tried to deliver intelligence right under the nose of an 18th-level Professional.
The chances of success were indeed low.
"I understand now," Wu Heng nodded.
Beni asked in a low voice, "Was my intelligence useful?"
"Very useful. Information related to an 18th-level cultist would be considered a first-class merit in the Guild."
"Really?"
"Really!"
Beni's face lit up with joy.
Wu Heng said, "Glenda, Xiaoxiao, help Beni get familiar with being a wraith."
"Alright!" Glenda nodded.
Xiaoxiao, who had been looking out the window, also nodded.
The three wraiths floated to the side and began discussing the traits of wraiths and what they could do.
...…
Wu Heng sat at his desk.
He opened Beni's status and took a look.
[Wraith]
[Level: 2]
[Attributes: Agility 13, Constitution 9, Intelligence 8, Perception 10, Charisma 13.]
[Traits: Invisibility, Incorporeal Movement.]
So low!
Beni's attributes were terrible, even lower than what Xiaoxiao had started with.
Using an 18th-level wraith to exchange for such a weak one was a definite loss in terms of value.
It also proved that [Soul Awakening] was quite a mediocre skill.
But on a personal level, Wu Heng was glad he had learned it.
It gave him the opportunity to bring Beni back.
Judging from this process, casting the skill placed immense pressure on the soul, causing deep-rooted fear.
The suffering and pain endured in life made the soul incredibly unstable.
Upon awakening, the soul was more like a mindless ghost. It needed someone trustworthy or familiar to call upon its past consciousness.
He wasn't entirely sure if his analysis was correct, but it seemed highly probable.
"And then there's the Church of Destiny…" Wu Heng stroked his chin.
He and the Church of Destiny were practically sworn enemies by now.
They both wanted each other dead, and now they had killed Beni.
"Since I'm here, I might as well wipe them out."
"An 18th-level Professional? With enough firepower, there's nothing to worry about."
Since he had the intel, he needed to take this opportunity to eliminate the Church of Destiny. If they were allowed to grow, they would eventually come to Gold-Silver Island seeking trouble.
Besides, Beni was now his wraith.
If the Church of Destiny wasn't dealt with now, it could become her Unfinished Business.
If that happened, hunting them down later would be a hassle.
First, he needed to establish the power plant and newspaper in Rentam City. Then, he would find the Church of Destiny and deal with them before returning to Gold-Silver Island.
With his plan set, he pulled out the mystical item Lovesick Feather Pen and a blank letter from his spatial ring.
Spreading the paper, he began writing.
The letter was addressed to Madam Slater.
He briefly summarized the intelligence he had gathered.
Then, he warned her not to take any risks. Once he finished handling Rentam City, he would come to find her.
They would take care of the Church of Destiny together.
After finishing, he reviewed the letter thoroughly.
Holding it in his palm, he visualized Madam Slater's appearance and silently recited her name.
The next second, the letter vanished.
With that taken care of…
He glanced at the three wraiths huddled together.
Wu Heng opened the door and headed downstairs.
Wen Mansa was still dealing with matters, though it was a different batch of people now.
The housekeeper spotted Wu Heng and quickly walked over, adjusting her black-rimmed glasses before bowing slightly. "My lord, do you have any instructions?"
"I'll be using the study. Don't let anyone disturb me. I'll be back before dinner," Wu Heng instructed.
"Understood, my lord." The housekeeper nodded.
Wu Heng nodded back and returned to the study.
He recalled all three wraiths, then opened the Dimensional Gate to the zombie world.
...…
Stepping through the gate, Wu Heng looked out the window.
The snow piled up in the factory yard had melted, leaving puddles across the concrete ground.
Wu Heng picked up the radio and called Qi Hancai directly.
Before long, there was a knock at the door.
Qi Hancai entered.
She wore a gray sweater beneath a long woolen coat, with a small owl still perched on her shoulder.
"How's the progress on what I assigned last time?" Wu Heng gestured for her to sit and got straight to the point.
Qi Hancai answered, "The power plant equipment is ready. We found newspaper printing machines in Enzhou City, and they'll be transported here by tomorrow."
It had taken him seven days to reach Rentam City.
The printing machines were still en route.
"Can they arrive by noon tomorrow?"
Qi Hancai thought for a moment. "If they arrive on time, I'll have the team test them. Everything will be operational before noon."
Wu Heng continued, "Anything else I need to know?"
"Everything else is running smoothly. Two skeleton armies have moved on to the next city, and logistics are keeping up. The central station conducted another trade—gold and some ammunition," Qi Hancai said while glancing at her notebook.
Wu Heng nodded.
After finishing their discussion, they went out to store away the traded grenades and machine gun rounds.
Then, he returned to his quarters and traveled back to the city lord's manor.
...…
Wu Heng headed downstairs.
Dinner was already prepared.
After eating with Wen Mansa, they took a short walk in the courtyard before heading to the bedroom early.
The days here felt longer, but compared to Gold-Silver Island, nightfall came much earlier.
On the bed.
Wu Heng stroked Wen Mansa's silky, fiery red hair. "Alright, don't force yourself."
Wen Mansa lifted her head and kissed his waist. "I missed it too."
Wu Heng pinched her cheek. "Once the baby is born, it'll be fine."
"Mm." Wen Mansa carefully moved forward, leaning into his embrace.
Wu Heng held her close. "I'll help establish the power plant and newspaper here. The power plant will need a site, and the newspaper will require staff to distribute publications regularly."
He explained the functions and importance of both.
Wen Mansa was already familiar with solar panels and streetlights, so she quickly grasped the power aspect. As for the newspaper, Wu Heng had brought examples to show her.
She understood it all easily.
"There's a suitable location. I'll have someone take you there tomorrow," Wen Mansa nodded.
"Alright," Wu Heng agreed.
Wen Mansa then asked, "Master, isn't it time you found a proper lady for yourself?"
"Uh… why bring that up now?" Wu Heng looked at her.
"It just feels like the right time."
Wu Heng pulled her closer. "Aren't you afraid that if I take a wife, she'll bully you?"
"No way! Master, you're in charge. You'd never let anyone bully us."
...…
West of Blackstone Town, Iron Rock Village.
A figure wrapped in a long coat stood at the entrance, a restless golden leopard pacing at his feet.
At that moment, several figures emerged from the village.
They saluted and reported, "Steward, the village is empty. We found a large number of burned corpses behind the village, likely the villagers. Every house was looted, valuables and tools taken."
Another added, "Some rooms showed traces of cult activity. We can confirm a cult had stayed here."
Madam Slater's eyes narrowed, her expression instantly turning cold.
They had been tracking their movements without losing the trail.
But along the way, they had discovered three villages completely wiped out.
Ruthless.
"Investigators, document everything. Record all their crimes. The rest of you, re-secure the village. We'll stay here tonight and resume the pursuit tomorrow," Madam Slater ordered.
"Yes!" the team responded.
Inside a prepared room…
Yuli hung a Light Stone from the ceiling. "Aunt, do you think we can handle this cult? They seem scary."
Madam Slater prepared food for the golden leopard and said calmly, "We'll keep tracking them. Once we find their location, we'll call in the local guards to eradicate them. We won't engage directly."
"This kingdom is such a mess. Where are we even going to find guards?" Yuli grumbled.
"Let's see what happens first."
"If Wu Heng were here, he definitely wouldn't be afraid of these cultists."
"True."