Chapter 300, "Waiting for the Target"
The guard let him through, and Wu Heng walked right in.
The six-armed woman was as richly dressed as ever, with gold adornments on her neck and wrists.
"What kind of information are you looking for?" The woman glanced up at him, using one of her arms to brush her hair back.
Wu Heng asked, "Is it okay to talk here?"
The woman was momentarily stunned and glanced around. "You all leave for now."
The people in the room left immediately, except for the two guards at the door.
The woman said, "Go ahead, what do you want to know?"
"Information about pirates."
The woman's hand froze for a moment, then she looked up at him. "You may have wasted your trip. We have some intel on the island, but pirate groups never stay in one place, and I can't provide any details."
From her tone, Wu Heng could tell.
She was hesitant about discussing pirates.
The reason wasn't hard to figure out.
Just like in Rentam City, any gang that gave intel to the guild would be shunned by other gangs.
Here, the consequences could be far more severe.
Pirates were known for being ruthless.
"Alright, I won't bother you then," Wu Heng said, turning to leave.
As he walked away, the woman called after him, "Two bodies were found at the harbor. Something might have happened; you could check it out."
Wu Heng looked back at her. "Thanks."
Leaving the Barrel Tavern, Wu Heng headed toward the harbor.
......
The area was as lively as ever.
But there were noticeably fewer ships docked.
Heading to the harbor management office, Wu Heng flashed his guild badge and asked, "Where are the bodies that washed ashore this morning?"
The harbor manager, a human with a bandana on his head, immediately took his feet off the desk when he saw the badge. "In the back. It's been reported, and they'll be burned this afternoon."
"Take me to see them."
"Oh, sure!"
The man led Wu Heng to the back.
In a simple stone building, two pale, bloated bodies lay on display.
"You can leave now. I'll call you if I need anything," Wu Heng said.
"Yes, sir." The man left without hesitation.
There wasn't much to worry about here; the bodies were scheduled for cremation anyway.
Once the harbor manager left.
Wu Heng cast [Speak with Dead] on the corpses.
The body sat up from the floor and turned its head toward him.
Wu Heng asked, "How did you die?"
The corpse responded, "I was killed by pirates."
"In which area?"
"Near the 'Romulo Shipping Lane' by Gold-Silver Island."
"Which pirate group?"
"The Iron Barrel Pirate Group."
The Iron Barrel Pirate Group?
Wu Heng had looked into this group before.
According to the records, this pirate group had flying dragons.
And collecting dragon corpses was part of Wu Heng's long-term plan.
"Do you have any other intel on the Iron Barrel Pirates?"
"No."
"What's your trade caravan's name?"
"The Adira Merchant Group."
After five questions, the body collapsed back to the floor with a thud.
Wu Heng was about to question the second corpse.
But footsteps approached from behind him.
Several guards in uniform entered the room.
"Deputy Steward, we're here to burn the bodies."
Wu Heng pointed to the corpse he had just questioned. "Take this one and burn it. I'll take the other one for investigation."
"Oh, sure!"
The guards carried the body out, and Wu Heng had a skeleton wrap the other one in a grass mat.
He stored it in his spatial ring.
Then, following the guards, he left the harbor's back area.
Walking back, Wu Heng considered the intel issue.
Searching randomly like this wouldn't help him find pirates, and it might draw unwanted attention.
He needed to plan more carefully before investigating further.
......
Back at the guild.
As soon as he entered his office.
Andviel handed him a letter. "Someone dropped off this letter for you."
Wu Heng took a look at the envelope. It was blank and didn't bear the guild's seal.
"Who sent it?"
"A child dropped it off at the front desk, then ran off right away," Andviel said.
A child?
Left it and ran?
Wu Heng handed the letter to Skull-crusher. "Open it."
Skull-crusher casually tore open the envelope, and a sheet of paper fell out.
It landed face up, revealing a message: "Tonight, at the Lighthouse District, in the house with the blue triangular flag, a wanted criminal will appear."
A wanted criminal?
And delivered to him in this way?
Was this from the Barrel Tavern? Or someone else?
"Master, could this be a trap? No one passes on information like this," Andviel suggested.
Wu Heng frowned.
He couldn't figure out who had sent the message, and it didn't seem like the style of the Barrel Tavern.
"It doesn't matter. The motive isn't important. I'll go check it out."
"It might be dangerous."
Wu Heng smiled. "See if Team Three is around. If they don't have any missions, have them come with me."
"Yes, Master."
......
Night fell.
In a quiet room in the Lighthouse District.
Wu Heng sat by the window, watching the building across the street.
According to the letter, the wanted criminal was in that house.
But everything seemed calm.
"Deputy Steward, we're in position. Ready to storm the building at your command,"
came the voice of Team Three's leader, Olin, through the radio.
Wu Heng looked down from the window, seeing Team Three in the alley opposite the target building.
With a single command, they could charge in.
Wu Heng replied, "Hold on, wait for my signal."
"Understood!"
As he spoke, Glenda, who had been scouting, flew back and said, "Did you piss someone off?"
Wu Heng frowned. "Why do you say that?"
Hovering in midair, Glenda said, "That house is clearly a trap. The moment you enter, you'll be skewered by a crossbow trap."
Wu Heng's frown deepened.
So, the intel was a deliberate attempt to lure him here.
"So, this is a setup," Wu Heng said.
"Yeah," Glenda continued, "If it's a trap meant for you, the enemy is likely nearby. Once you spring the trap, they'll come to clean up and confirm your death."
Wu Heng nodded. "So we just need to trigger the trap and wait for them to show up."
"Exactly."
Wu Heng contacted Olin through the radio and said, "Don't go in yet. The building's trapped. Stay where you are."
"Understood!" Team Three retreated back into the shadows.
Wu Heng thought for a moment, then pulled the second corpse from his spatial ring.
He cast [Raise Corpse], and the body wobbled to its feet.
Wu Heng threw a cloak over the rotting corpse and ordered, "Go into that building and search it."
The corpse, obeying the command, staggered down the stairs toward the house across the street.
Wu Heng and Glenda watched from the window.
As soon as the door opened.
Boom~!
A deafening explosion.
In the next second, the corpse flew backward, a metal spear impaled through its chest.
The spear's runes glowed and detonated.
The corpse's chest vanished instantly.
Its organs splattered everywhere, and the upper half of its body shot into the sky.
At the window, Wu Heng narrowed his eyes.
Glenda hovered above, scanning the street.
They waited for the enemy to show themselves.