Chapter 596, Blushing Maid Beni
"Even if it could be useful, in the current environment, its effectiveness might be quite limited," Qi Hancai shared her thoughts.
Even though Qi Hancai hadn't paid much attention to railguns,
after the news came in, the base had some internal discussions about it.
After all, someone had seen related news before.
A brief explanation of its use was enough to understand its general principles and function.
In the current situation, even firearms weren't highly effective against zombies, let alone a weapon that required a massive power supply.
More importantly, it was still in the research and development phase.
It hadn't even been deployed before the apocalypse, let alone now.
Wu Heng, however, considered it from a different angle.
His first thought was how it could be used in another world.
Mounting it on warships or using it for defensive fortifications were both viable options.
The key concerns were the power supply and whether this weapon could be used stably.
"Can the skeletons rescue them?" Wu Heng asked.
Qi Hancai nodded, "It shouldn't be a problem, but it will require adjusting the original plan and crossing the border to reach them."
"At this point, borders don't mean much anymore. Have Li Yanhong's team handle the rescue. Even if the railgun is useless, those researchers could still prove valuable to us," Wu Heng said.
"I'll inform Yanhong right away and have her arrange the rescue." Qi Hancai agreed immediately.
She understood the importance of talent.
Several projects at the base had been stalled due to the lack of specialized personnel.
After discussing the railgun, Wu Heng asked, "Anything else?"
"No, everything at the base is running smoothly."
Wu Heng nodded and stood up. "Alright, take me to tour the factory."
Qi Hancai stood up as well, carrying her small owl as she walked out with him.
Outside, the rain was still falling as the two of them walked out of the dormitory under umbrellas.
They first headed to a factory building.
Upon entering, they saw several wooden training dummies lined up at the entrance.
The dummies were fitted with stab-resistant vests, covered in scratches.
"Boss, Sister Qi," Qiangzi greeted as he walked over.
Behind him, several others stood up and saluted.
"How's the stab-resistant vest coming along?" Wu Heng asked.
From the scene, it was clear that Qiangzi's team hadn't been slacking off—the pile of damaged stab-resistant vests was stacked into a small hill.
"Come this way," Qiangzi led them deeper inside to a particular wooden dummy.
The dummy's stab-resistant vest was also covered in scratches, but the fabric was only cut open without any major seam failures, and the metal plates inside hadn't fallen out.
"This is the improved fabric—the best version so far. We've increased its toughness, and on the inner side of the metal plates, we added a wire mesh that's sewn into the fabric, preventing the plates from falling out due to seam failures."
Qiangzi explained while handing over a sample for demonstration.
The outer side was a metal plate, while the inner side had welded wires that were integrated into the fabric.
This approach was certainly unconventional but creative.
He then added, "It's still not as good as the genuine stab-resistant vests."
"Keramu!" Wu Heng called out.
Skeleton attendant Keramu stepped forward, drew his blade, and slashed diagonally downward.
A piercing metallic screech rang out.
A thin, long scratch appeared on the stab-resistant vest, but the metal plate remained intact, unlike the previous versions where it would fall out.
Wu Heng pondered for a moment.
This method indeed solved the issue of metal plates falling out, but it also increased production complexity.
It was much more intricate than the original design.
"Document the fabric and process details. I'll have a few test units manufactured to see the results. You all keep refining the design. If you need personnel or materials, coordinate with Qi Hancai and Li Yanhong." Wu Heng confirmed his decision.
Qiangzi's eyes lit up.
The others behind him also showed excitement.
Their hard work over the past few days had finally been recognized.
"We'll finish writing it up tonight and submit it to you tomorrow," Qiangzi promised.
"Good!"
Wu Heng acknowledged and left, while Qiangzi's team immediately began organizing materials and writing the process details.
After leaving the factory, Wu Heng and Qi Hancai visited Gaorong's mechanical research lab and the bullet production workshop.
He briefly inspected each site, making his presence known.
Finally, he had lunch at the cafeteria.
Then, he returned to his room and traveled back to Gold-Silver Island.
...
Stepping out of the portal,
he released all the ghostly spirits. Glenda went to continue writing her manuscript, while Xiaoxiao pouted as she translated the newly purchased bard skill books.
Beni, on the other hand, watched the two spirits working.
Wu Heng opened the door and went downstairs to the courtyard.
The maids were playing shuttlecock.
The three wyverns he raised lounged inside their iron cages, watching the lively scene like domesticated dogs.
As Wu Heng stepped out, the maids waved in greeting.
"Go on, keep playing. I don't need anything," Wu Heng said casually.
The maids nodded and resumed their game.
Wu Heng walked to the other side of the courtyard and activated [Mansion Technique].
A rift and stone gate appeared.
Behind it, artillery emplacements and a storage chamber packed with skeletons were revealed.
Due to the recent purge of the Divine Fate Sect, the number of skeletons had increased significantly.
The storage chamber was now practically packed to the brim.
"Everyone, come out," Wu Heng commanded.
Clatter~!
The skeletons jostled as they exited the storage chamber, standing in formation on the courtyard's open ground.
Wu Heng began reorganizing them.
The mutated skeletons were sent back into storage, while the remaining skeletons stayed outside.
Those above level 10 were assigned to guard the manor, while skeletons between levels 5 and 10 were put on patrol duty around the island.
The lower-level ones were sent to work at construction sites in the expansion zone, handling transport tasks.
The skeletons were divided into three groups based on their levels.
Wu Heng's gaze landed on a particularly burly skeleton.
[Skeleton Warrior (Level 17)]
The former Grand Knight of the Divine Fate Sect.
He had been wounded by Wu Heng's grenades, and then "finished off" by Babuchi, who took credit for the kill.
He was now at the same level as Skeleton Ronin Keramu.
Although not yet level 18,
he was still among the higher-tier combatants. After all, there were only two level 18 skeletons on the island—the Skeleton Seer and Skeleton Grand Boxer.
He counted as an elite fighter.
A level 17 warrior would also make a decent skeletal attendant, providing protection.
As for raising him to level 18…
Wu Heng had once thought the same about Keramu when he first became his skeleton attendant.
But even now, he hadn't reached level 18.
Experience from killing zombies couldn't be shared with skeletons, making their level-ups painfully slow.
"Once Keramu reaches level 18, I'll help you level up next. For now, your job is to guard the manor."
Wu Heng instructed the level 17 Skeleton Warrior.
He then assigned him to a post near the main building to oversee security.
With all skeletons sorted,
Wu Heng lay back on a recliner in the courtyard, basking in the sun, watching the maids play.
As dusk approached, Andviel returned from outside.
The group had dinner together, casually chatting about interesting happenings on the island.
...
Nightfall arrived.
After taking a bath, Wu Heng returned to the study for a quick check.
Glenda floated over and said, "For the new issue of the newspaper, I'm thinking of publishing a new short story."
Wu Heng looked at her in confusion. "The detective stories have been doing well. Wouldn't stopping them for an issue affect their popularity?"
"It might have some impact, but I also want to see how this short story is received," Glenda replied seriously.
With a flick of her fingers, she used telekinesis to float a stack of papers from the desk into Wu Heng's hands.
"Take a look first. If you don't approve, we'll scrap it. The final decision is yours."
Wu Heng nodded, picked up the pages, and started reading.
The title made his eyebrows raise.
It was called "Blushing Maid Beni".
Just from the name, it was clear the story was about Beni.
He glanced at Glenda, then at Beni in the distance.
Then, he focused back on the story.
The plot was simple: Beni was orphaned at a young age and followed a leather merchant's wagon to Blackstone Town.
She started out as a tavern maid, doing basic tasks like serving drinks and food.
Then Wu Heng appeared. By providing intelligence, she helped save the town's children and found a true purpose for herself.
Later, after Wu Heng left, she was unwilling to remain just a maid and infiltrated a cult led by an 18th-level Professional to gather intelligence.
Unsurprisingly, she was discovered by the cult.
Holding onto her gathered intel, Beni denounced the cult and the brainwashed villagers, then resolutely stepped into the flames, letting herself be consumed.
Glenda's writing was exceptional. Wu Heng's intelligence gathering, Beni's sharp insights in identifying suspects—her keen observational skills stood out.
Upon learning that she had indirectly saved the town's children, her kindhearted nature shone through.
By that point in the story, her identity as a tavern maid no longer mattered—she was simply a smart and kind person.
In the end, she confronted an 18th-level Professional, condemned them, and walked into the fire, displaying a core of unwavering integrity and courage.
Even most Professionals wouldn't have been able to do the same.
The entire story was over two thousand words, vividly portraying a girl of humble origins but unwavering righteousness, walking into the flames.
The story was excellent, but it carried a heavy, oppressive weight.
Wu Heng looked toward Beni in the distance.
Beni averted her gaze and whispered, "It's not Lady Glenda's fault. I told her the story myself."
Wu Heng smiled. "It's a great story, but the ending is too heavy. Aren't you afraid people might riot and tear down the island's manor?"
Glenda said, "It's not that serious, is it?"
"Even I still feel guilty for not saving Beni, and now you're publishing it? The reputation I've been building up recently might take a massive hit."
Reputation rises steadily, but public opinion is another matter.
"There is an ending," Glenda explained. "The conclusion is that you later summoned her as a spirit, avenged the villagers and Beni by destroying the cult."
"Then why didn't you write that part?"
"I wanted to check with you first," Glenda said with a smile.
"Fine, add it in, then let's go prepare the prints. We'll have them printed tonight."
"Got it!" Glenda wrote the conclusion.
Wu Heng took the spirits with him to the printing warehouse.
...
The next morning.
Early at dawn, people had already started gathering around the streets, either sitting by the roadside or aimlessly walking back and forth.
When the newspaper vendor arrived—
The crowd surged forward, scrambling to buy a copy.
The bard "Saban" snatched a newspaper and squeezed out of the crowd. He frowned at the bite marks on his flatbread and turned to yell, "Who the hell bit my bread?! Get your own, damn it!"
Grumbling, he stomped off to the side, munching the remaining bread while skimming through the newspaper.
As per his arrangement with the tavern, he was supposed to read the newspaper there as soon as it came out.
Of course, he had to review it in advance to get a general idea of the content.
After scanning through news from nearby kingdoms and cities, his gaze landed on a serialized story in the corner.
Blushing Maid Beni?
A romance story?
No detective story this time?
What the hell?
The whole island was waiting to find out who the murderer was, and you stopped the serial?
He frowned and kept reading, his expression darkening as the story unfolded.
A growing sense of frustration filled his chest.
He wasn't sure if skipping the detective story would anger the tavern-goers, but he knew this new story was just as compelling.
As a bard, he appreciated a good tale.
The genre was different, but it wasn't any worse than the detective series.
Adjusting his mood, Saban folded the newspaper and hurried toward the tavern.
...
Knock knock knock~!
Wu Heng sat in his study, waiting for news about the newspaper's reception when someone suddenly knocked on his door.
The knocks were crisp, like a stick tapping against wood.
Wu Heng frowned.
If it were the maids, they would ask if he was inside after knocking. If he wasn't, they wouldn't enter.
Why was someone knocking so insistently without saying anything?
Puzzled, he opened the door.
Standing outside was the six-armed alchemy skeleton.
The lowest pair of hands held two bottles of potions, which it immediately presented to him.
Wu Heng frowned, trying to guess what they were.
[High-Power Enhancement Potion].
Both bottles bore the same name.
"Tier 3 Corpse Core Potion?" Wu Heng looked at the skeleton, his heart surging with excitement.
The alchemy skeleton gave a slight nod, confirming it.
How long has it been since we tried making this potion?
Wu Heng had almost given up hope that it could ever be successfully brewed.
But now, out of nowhere, he was presented with a surprise.
Overjoyed, Wu Heng took the potions and said, "Keep brewing the other corpse core potions. Let me know immediately if you need more materials."
The alchemy skeleton saluted and turned to return to the alchemy lab upstairs.
Wu Heng shut the door.
Staring at the potions in his hand—
He pondered for a moment, then opened the door again and called out, "Minnie!"
"Yes, Master?" Minnie's voice came from downstairs.
"If you're not busy, come upstairs."
Quick footsteps echoed from the stairwell as Minnie, in her maid's uniform, hurried up.
She carried a tray of sliced fruit and looked at him curiously. "Master, what do you need?"
Wu Heng glanced at the potion.
He said directly, "I'm about to take a new type of potion. Keep an eye on me. If anything goes wrong, use an antidote potion and a healing scroll immediately."
Worry flashed across Minnie's eyes.
"Is it one of your enhancement potions?"
"Yes, an upgraded version."
Minnie hesitated. "I can test it first. If it's safe, then you can take it."
Wu Heng smiled and ruffled her hair. "My body is tough. I'll be fine."
Minnie nodded.
Wu Heng prepared a few potions and scrolls as backup.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the potion and drank it down.