MTLNOVEL Chapter 363 - 302, I Seem to Have Been Targeted
Chapter 363: Chapter 302, I Seem to Have Been Targeted
“`
Alive?
Upon hearing Glenda speak, Wu Heng furrowed his brows.
Skeleton soldiers directly attacked, yet they still left someone alive, hidden in some dark room no less.
Wu Heng took out a straw mat from his Space Ring, wrapped the dead body of the pirate captain, and then stowed it in the Space Ring.
Then he said to ‘Glenda’, “Take me to see.”
“Okay, this way!”
With the skeletons in tow, they descended into the lower decks of the ship.
The dim cabin was filled with the smell of stagnant air.
Upon arriving at the farthest corner, Glenda pointed to an inconspicuous spot.
Wu Heng glanced back, and two skeletons moved forward, sliding the door open horizontally.
This revealed an iron cage made of black iron bars.
The sudden appearance of the skeletons provoked screams from the women inside the cage; several of them huddled together, trembling in the corner.
Wu Heng swept his gaze over them, counting five people in total.
Three women and two men.
They were disheveled and bore visible injuries.
“We’re not with these pirates, don’t kill us, we pose no threat to you,” one of the men said.
“Who are you then?” Wu Heng asked.
“I’m from the ‘Adira Business Group’, no threat to you.”
“Why didn’t these pirates kill you?”
“I promised them a substantial ransom,” the man replied, hastily adding, “I’ll give you a ransom too, 500 Gold Coins. Just send the message, and you will receive the corresponding amount.”
It seemed they were captives of the pirates.
Pirates rarely left captives alive for ransom, but it wasn’t unheard of.
It depended on whether the price was worth the risk.
200 Gold Coins had been enough to tempt the Iron Barrel Pirate Group to audaciously attempt to assassinate him; 500 Gold Coins would definitely be tempting.
Wu Heng didn’t ask further and turned his attention to the person behind, a slightly shorter figure with unkempt hair, standing in the shadows but with a fierce glint in his eyes.
Wu Heng looked at him and asked, “Why are you wearing armor?”
“They had me swab the deck during the day, they gave it to me,” he replied.
“Are you with the caravan?”
“No, but I was also captured by them and brought aboard.”
Wu Heng glanced at him and then the women in the corner.
He lost the desire to question them further and simply said, “The few of you stay here. If they try to get out, kill them.”
Clatter~!
The following skeletons sprang into action.
Their spears went through the bars, pointing towards the inside.
Wu Heng, followed by Skull Crusher and Blood Axe, continued to walk out.
From behind, the voice of the business group man called out, “Sir, if the price isn’t to your satisfaction, we can negotiate further.”
Wu Heng ignored him and kept walking towards the exit.
He didn’t truly intend to verify the identities of these people or decide to kill them all outright.
When he returned to Gold and Silver Island, these matters would be left to the association to handle.
“Where’s all the money stored on the ship?”
“This way.” Glenda said a word, then flew up past the roof.
Wu Heng walked up the stairs and found the treasury room where the treasures were kept.
He pushed open the door to find a room filled with loot.
Apart from various goods, there was a small chest of Gold Coins and several barrels brimming with Silver Coins.
Catching pirates on Gold and Silver Island was far more lucrative than catching fugitives in inland cities.
In the past, even the most valuable items from a slain Level 16 Necromancer Wu Heng had encountered were the Robe and Space Ring.
Yet capturing a Pirate Group not only brought the value of the ship itself but also yielded a substantial amount of money.
Wu Heng looked at the goods and collected all the Gold Coins, Silver Coins, and valuable items into his Space Ring.
…
He returned to the deck.
The three Flying Dragon corpses that had fallen into the sea had also been salvaged.
One was charred, while the other two were pierced through the chest by Barrett’s bullets.
Even the leather saddle on their backs had been punctured with a large hole.
Flying Dragons had been a pre-determined target.
In this world, Skeleton Flying Dragons might only serve as flying mounts for Wu Heng, but in Zombie World, they could still demonstrate formidable combat capabilities.
At least, they could enhance the effect of aerial bombardment on ground targets.
The greater their number, the more significant their impact.
“Remove the saddles,” Wu Heng ordered.
Two skeletons stepped forward and took the saddles off the Flying Dragons.
Then Wu Heng began to cast [Bone Manipulation Skill].
The flesh fell off the Flying Dragon corpses, and three Skeleton Flying Dragons stood up consecutively.
[Skeleton Flying Dragon (Level 12)]
[Skeleton Flying Dragon (Level 13)]
[Skeleton Flying Dragon (Level 13)]
The levels were not significantly different from the previous batch of dragons.
The difference lay at most in one level.
Next, Wu Heng went to the cleared pirate bodies to identify if any were on a wanted list.
He wrapped the corpses in straw mats and placed them into his Space Ring.
He then began to cast [Corpse Battlefield].
Pirate corpses rose to their feet one by one.
Wu Heng then glanced at the distant pirate ship, rode a Flying Dragon over, and began to transform the rest of the bodies on board.
After everything had been converted, the fleet started to return to Cock-Tail Island.
They returned to Cock-Tail Island.
“`
The sky was already completely bright.
The fleet was docked at the port.
Wu Heng opened the boundary door, allowing the Skeleton Army and the Skeleton Flying Dragons summoned last night to enter, leaving the pirate skeletons to continue guarding the ships.
He then put on the [Conductor’s Hat] and returned to Gold and Silver Island.
…
Upon reaching Gold and Silver Island.
Wu Heng went straight to the Association and delivered the corpses listed on the wanted orders to the mortuary.
He then proceeded to the Steward’s Office and knocked softly on the door.
After receiving a response, he pushed the door open and walked in.
Steward Imilo, still seated behind the desk, spoke, “Last night, were you ambushed?”
“It wasn’t exactly an ambush. The Iron Barrel Pirate Group passed me false information, trying to lure me into a trap they’d set up,” Wu Heng explained.
“Hmm, I’ve heard about it from Olin. Last night, we also seized the ships at the port and captured more than twenty people,” Imilo said.
Wu Heng wasn’t particularly concerned about the follow-up issues onshore.
Besides, with the Association’s capabilities, as long as they were on the island, capturing the other party would be achievable.
Wu Heng continued, “Based on the intelligence last night, I located the ‘Iron Barrel Pirate Group’s’ fleet and killed their captain and several key members.”
Imilo’s eyebrows furrowed as he looked up from his desk, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
He had been ambushed the night before, and by morning had already killed their captain?
The biggest problem with pirates was the difficulty of pinpointing their exact location, even with prior intelligence to attempt a capture.
If the enemies simply fled, it was very hard to catch up with them.
And he had just killed them?
“Where are the bodies?” asked Imilo.
“They’ve been sent to the mortuary for examination.”
“Well done,” Imilo praised, despite his inner doubts.
Wu Heng then continued, “Steward, I also discovered some intelligence that I feel I should report to you.”
“Speak, what is it!”
“I may have become the target of a bounty by all the Pirate Groups.”
Imilo’s brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed once more.
A Vice-executive of the Association being targeted by all the Pirate Groups was indeed a rare occurrence.
“What happened, tell me in detail.”
Wu Heng nodded and gave a thorough account of finding the mysterious letters and, after questioning the corpses, learning that he was wanted by the Pirate Groups.
After all, he was a Vice-executive of the Association.
Having risked his life for the Association for so long, he couldn’t just shoulder this matter alone.
The Association had to exert some effort too.
“Where’s the letter? Let me see what it looks like,” Imilo inquired.
Wu Heng took out several blank envelopes and handed them over.
After a brief inspection, Imilo placed them back on the desk.
“I’ve never seen this kind of letter before, it must be some kind of Special Item,” he said.
This was more or less what Wu Heng had thought.
Special Items always had the potential to display many strange and unusual effects.
“Yes, I think it’s a Special Item as well,” said Wu Heng.
After pondering for a moment, Imilo spoke, “Don’t leave the island for now. I will negotiate with Gold and Silver Island to strengthen the port’s control, and I will start investigating the matter of the letter.”
“Alright,” Wu Heng nodded, then added, “I also captured a few pirate ships, which are now docked at a small island nearby. There are a few hostages on board who were kidnapped by the pirates.”
“Just bring the ships to the Association’s port. Tell them that they’re your spoils of war, and you can dock as usual,” Imilo instructed.
Wu Heng looked up and said, “During the fight, I used Bone Manipulation Skill, and the crew consists of skeletons. Will that cause any issues?”
Imilo’s eyebrow quirked, “Indeed, it might attract some attention. Have the third squad accompany you; let them handle the docking, and keep your skeletons inside the ship’s hold.”
“Understood!”
…
Afternoon.
Wu Heng had the fleet approach the port.
The third squad was already waiting and took over the ships.
“Are these the hostages?” Olin had people brought up from the ship’s hold.
Wu Heng nodded, “It’s them. They claim to have been kidnapped by pirates, but their true identities are uncertain. Take them back for investigation.”
“Alright,” Olin nodded and directed his members, “Take them back, and be careful not to let them escape.”
The squad members watched as the hostages walked away.
The man who initially promised a ransom kept looking back with thanks, shouting he wouldn’t forget the agreed terms.
Wu Heng didn’t bother with him.
After handing over the task to Olin, Wu Heng headed for his residence.
…
Back at his residence.
Mini came out to greet him with a big hug.
She clung to him like an octopus.
Wu Heng patted her uplifted leg, signaling her to come down.
“Shall I prepare dinner, master?” asked Mini.
“I already ate outside, just prepare some water for my bath.”
“Okay!”
Wu Heng soaked in a hot bath, then returned to his room to sleep.
He slept until past four in the afternoon before getting up and going downstairs.
Just as he descended to the first floor, he saw Mini and Wood Elf Shanaela chatting in the living room.
Seeing Wu Heng come down, Shanaela showed a gentle smile, “Did our chat disturb you?”
Wu Heng sat down opposite her, “No, I got up because I’d had enough sleep.”
“Hmm,” Shanaela leaned back in her chair, looking at him as she said, “Did the Association assign more tasks?”
“They did ask us to go kill pirates, but it’s not a big deal; don’t worry!”
“That’s good to hear.”