Chapter 388, The Conspiracy of the Devil's Hand
"Damn it, why are there so many undead?"
"They've come to take revenge on us! They've crawled out to get their revenge!"
"What should we do? The ships have been taken by the undead. How are we supposed to leave?"
The drunken pirates sobered up instantly.
They shouted in panic while hastily putting on their armor.
They were pirates.
They had always expected retribution might come someday.
But they hadn't killed enough people in their lifetime to justify this. It was like the deaths caused by all pirates had been placed on their shoulders.
The pirate captain's face also showed shock, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings.
His mind was racing for a way to retreat.
This was an isolated island; without the ships, there was no chance to escape.
Swimming to any other coast was also not an option.
With no other way out, the captain drew his weapon and shouted, "Shut up! You're all pirates, so what's with the panic? These skeletons aren't that smart. Follow me, we'll loop around and retake the ships."
The pirates were visibly shaken but still drew their weapons, following the captain as he began running to one side.
The plan was to lead the skeletons on a chase.
And then seize the opportunity to take back the ships.
The undead charged after them, relentlessly pursuing the fleeing pirates.
...
Amidst the skeletons.
Wu Heng used [Divine Descend], transferring his consciousness into one of the ordinary skeletons.
He adjusted the helmet on his head.
Fixing his gaze on the pirates running in circles in the distance.
He pointed his weapon forward, and the masses of skeletons around him instantly surged in different directions.
Encircling the pirates who were trying to lead them in circles.
The next moment, the skeletons closed the circle, lunging fiercely towards the pirates.
In an instant, the pirates were engulfed, and only the sounds of hacking and desperate screams coming from beneath the skeletons indicated that they were still resisting.
Gradually, the screams ceased.
The skeletons then returned to their standby positions.
...
On the sea.
Wu Heng disengaged from [Divine Descend] mode, and Glenda flew back from afar.
"All the pirates are dead," Glenda said.
"None escaped or hid?"
"No. There weren't that many pirates, and you used so many skeletons. Even if they wanted to hide, there was nowhere to hide," Glenda replied.
"True." Wu Heng nodded, then ordered, "Forward, bring us ashore."
The merchant ship moved forward again, slowly approaching the shore.
The island had once again fallen silent.
A large number of skeletons stood there, awaiting further commands.
Wu Heng glanced around and ordered, "Clean up the battlefield. Gather all the bodies and equipment."
Clatter~!
The waiting skeletons immediately began moving, cleaning up the battlefield.
Wu Heng, along with Keramu and Skullcrusher, boarded one of the pirate ships to check its cargo.
All three ships had plenty of cargo.
Mostly textiles and leather.
In one of the holds, they even found a large stash of gold and silver coins, along with some golden and silver utensils.
He put everything into his space pouch, walked out of the ship, and returned to the island.
The bodies had already been gathered, piled together in a bloody heap.
Wu Heng had the pirate captain's body dragged out, wrapped it in a straw mat, and stored it in his space ring.
As for the rest of the bodies, he used [Battlefield of the Dead] to transform them all into skeletons.
He reopened the portal, letting the summoned skeletons return to the other side.
As the skeletons entered the portal,
Wu Heng took out [Conductor's Hat] again, summoning the ghost train and marking this location.
If he needed to come here again, he wouldn't need to sail—he could use the ghost train instead.
Once everything was handled,
He boarded the ship again, letting the remaining skeletons operate the seized ships to return to Golden-Silver Island.
He had originally thought about using the ghost train to return while the skeletons sailed the ships back.
But after some consideration, he worried something might go wrong.
A bunch of skeletons docking ships without him present might cause unnecessary panic.
He still needed to keep his travels off the island a secret.
Better to play it safe.
He returned to the cabin, lying down to take a nap.
...
By the time they returned to Golden-Silver Island, it was already the following evening.
He hired a carriage, first delivering the body to the guild's mortuary, and then returning to his residence.
As he walked into the living room,
Minnie and Andviel immediately came over.
"Master, you're back! Sister Viel and I were so worried about you!" Minnie said, clinging to his arm.
Andviel also hugged his other arm, looking at him with gentle eyes.
"It was just a minor mission, nothing dangerous." Wu Heng hugged both of them as he sat on the couch and continued, "Anything happen these past two days?"
Minnie said, "Not much. Sister Shanaila came by once and stayed for a bit. She asked where you were, and I told her you were out capturing fugitives."
"Mm, anything from the guild?" Wu Heng hugged the little fox girl on the other side.
Andviel leaned obediently against his chest and said softly, "Nothing from the guild either."
"Good. What's for dinner tonight?"
"Please wait, Master. It'll be ready soon." Minnie got up and went to the kitchen to hurry the skeletons.
Before long, dinner was served.
The three of them sat together and started eating.
After dinner, the two girls bathed the little owl in the courtyard.
Wu Heng went up to the third-floor radio room to contact Philipa.
"Philipa, are you there?"
"I'm here. How did it go? Did you catch those damn pirates?" Philipa asked.
"They're all dead."
"Wow, you're so efficient."
Wu Heng continued, "The bodies have already been sent to the guild for verification. Once their identities are confirmed, it will count towards your intelligence reports."
"Oh, great!"
"Keep it up; two more to go."
"Understood." Philipa sounded full of enthusiasm.
"That's all I needed. You can go back to your business."
"Alright."
He hung up and sat in the study for a while.
Minnie had prepared bathwater, and with the two girls attending him, Wu Heng enjoyed a comfortable bath.
As night fell, they each returned to their rooms to rest.
In the dead of night, Wu Heng suddenly opened his eyes.
He left the room and saw Shanaila, dressed in her nightgown, cautiously climbing down from the rooftop at the end of the hallway.
Wu Heng dismissed the approaching skeletal guards and helped her down, "Why didn't you send word ahead?"
"I don't know how to send messages with paper cranes," Shanaila rolled her eyes and asked, "You came back and didn't think to come find me."
"I just got back, it was late, so I didn't want to disturb you."
"Yeah, right."
Wu Heng lifted her off the ground, asking, "Bedroom, study, or even the courtyard?"
Shanaila glared at him, "You want to go to the courtyard? Are you crazy?!"
"Then the bedroom it is."
"Do as you please; I came all the way here anyway!"
Wu Heng smiled, carrying her towards the bedroom.
...
In a coastal city, in a well-decorated tavern.
A man in a robe, wearing a beaded bracelet and holding a book in one hand, appeared at the tavern's entrance.
He glanced around, then bent his knees and sprang up.
Grabbing hold of an open window on the second floor, he climbed inside.
The room was empty, but from the inner chamber came faint breathing sounds.
The man was just about to step inside.
From the bedroom, a woman's voice said, "What is the captain of the Devil's Hand doing here?"
The man stopped, not entering further, and said, "I'm here to propose a collaboration—a big one."
"Get lost. The stench of the sea on you is revolting. I have no interest in working with you."
The man sat down nearby and said, "Golden-Silver Island's Deputy Steward Wu Heng, Steward Imiro—are you interested in them?"
"Explain clearly."