Chapter 555, Significant Changes
A six-armed aunt?
Macintosh?
Six arms are a characteristic of the Berwila race. The only aunt Xiaoxiao could recognize would be Macintosh, the leader of the old Wooden Barrel Tavern.
The letter I wrote to her not long ago, and she's already here?
"Let me see!" Wu Heng beckoned.
Xiaoxiao circled once overhead before diving straight into his body.
Immediately after, the scene was shared in his mind.
The initial perspective was from the sky, overlooking the entire port. In spirit vision mode, every person emitted varying degrees of light, representing their levels.
Soon, Xiaoxiao's gaze settled on a group of people.
Leading them was a Level 15 figure, wearing a hood and a loose cloak, followed by three others, all close to Level 10.
After landing on the island, the group looked around.
Then they headed to the old Wooden Barrel Tavern, which was now renamed the Golden Sail Tavern.
They entered the tavern and booked a private room.
Then, they went straight upstairs.
In a private room, they removed their hoods, revealing their true faces.
As soon as Xiaoxiao recognized them,
She flew straight back to inform him.
"It really is her. How bold—she came straight to the island." Wu Heng muttered.
He released Xiaoxiao again, letting her float beside him. "It's her, right? I said she faked her death to escape. Look, I was right."
Back then, it was also Xiaoxiao who discovered the suspected 'Macintosh' leaving the island at night.
And now, she was caught again as soon as she arrived.
Xiaoxiao seems fated to counter her.
"Xiaoxiao is really impressive." Wu Heng praised.
Xiaoxiao raised her head slightly, crossed her arms, and struck a proud pose.
Wu Heng thought for a moment and greeted Minnie.
Then, he took a carriage to the guild.
...…
Golden Sail Tavern, inside the private room.
Macintosh sat at the table, using her Seer ability to sense several items.
One by one, she placed the items beside her.
Knock knock~!
The door was knocked on, and three figures quickly walked in.
One person said, "Leader, we gathered some intel. The owner of Gold-Silver Island is Deputy Steward Wu Heng. All the pirates in the Emerald Sea were wiped out by some new type of device he used. Now, there are no more pirates in the Emerald Sea."
Another added, "I went to the Black Crow's Nest Tavern. It's much more orderly than when we were there. I heard the gang was disbanded, and now they only do legitimate business—not even selling hallucinogens anymore."
"Also, the streetlights set up in the central district make it as bright as daytime at night. They say it's a new tool developed by the guild, and soon they'll be used on Lighthouse Street and in residential areas."
"This Wu Heng… What's his background? He's even more outrageous than when Imiro was in charge…"
The group spoke one after another, summarizing the gathered intelligence.
The entire Gold-Silver Island had undergone a massive transformation since they left.
They had only been gone for a few months.
But the changes were enormous.
Macintosh listened carefully, then waved her hand to signal silence before asking, "Did you find out about any major recent events or recruitment activities?"
One of them replied, "I heard that not long ago, a necromancer came to the island. It took several days to take him down—he was probably a high-level Professional."
"The city hall is recruiting clerks and patrol guards, but only island natives can apply. I heard the pay isn't bad."
Macintosh's eyes shifted slightly.
It seemed Wu Heng's letter asking her to gather intel for him was indeed real.
"Let's eat first. Tonight, we'll check out the central district. I want to see the effect of those streetlights."
"Alright!"
The three agreed and began eating.
They had just taken a couple of bites.
The door was knocked on again.
Their expressions tensed immediately, becoming alert.
Macintosh quickly put on her hood, and one of them opened the door.
Standing at the entrance was 'Kavina,' the guild's squad leader. Her gaze swept across the room before settling on 'Macintosh.'
She said, "Madam Macintosh, Island Lord Wu Heng requests your presence at the guild."
The faces of everyone in the room changed.
They hadn't expected Wu Heng to have his eyes on them from the start.
Was intelligence on Gold-Silver Island really this efficient now?
Then what was the point of bringing them back?
"You all stay in the tavern," Macintosh instructed her subordinates before looking toward the door. "Let's go, I'll come with you."
"This way, please. The carriage is already at the entrance." Kavina stepped aside, and Macintosh walked straight out.
She took the carriage to the guild.
...…
Guild, inside the meeting room.
The air conditioning sent out a cool breeze, making 'Macintosh' exclaim, "You guys sure live well."
"Just some small conveniences." Wu Heng poured two cups of tea and handed her one.
"When did you find out I was on the island?" Macintosh took the cup but placed it on the table.
"As soon as you got off the ship."
Macintosh gave him a deep look. "Did you write that letter?"
"Yeah, didn't I sign my name on it?"
Macintosh asked in confusion, "Your intelligence gathering is this strong, so why call me back? Are you just messing with me?"
Wu Heng raised an eyebrow, surprised she brought this up first.
Xiaoxiao spotting her today was just a special circumstance.
He couldn't always monitor the port.
Besides, not all enemies could be identified by their level alone.
"Different methods. Have you thought about it? Do you want to come back and help me?" Wu Heng asked directly.
"What do I have to do? What do I get in return?" Macintosh remained unusually calm, speaking as if in a gang negotiation.
She showed no fear of the young island lord.
Wu Heng replied, "You'll collect intelligence on the island for me and help deal with dangerous situations. In return, I offer you protection and an official position—not as a gang leader, but as a core member of Gold-Silver Island's administration."
"You trust me?" Macintosh asked.
She had already considered what she would gain and lose before coming.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have brought people with her.
"I'll sign a slave contract with you," Wu Heng said.
Macintosh's eyes narrowed instantly, her tone mocking. "Wu Heng, you sure talk big. Two sentences, and you expect me to sign a slave contract? Or are you just bringing me back to humiliate me?"
"I have some secrets, so I need my subordinates to be reliable."
Macintosh quickly glanced at the skeletal servants behind him and asked, "And if I refuse?"
"Then nothing. Seeing you alive is good enough for me as a friend," Wu Heng smiled.
"I don't quite get what you mean," Macintosh said. Seeing that he wasn't planning to detain her, she added, "I'll think about it. Whether I agree or not, I'll let you know. Just don't make things difficult for us later."
From her tone, refusal seemed more likely.
"Stay on the island for a few days and see the changes."
"Alright. If there's nothing else, I'll head back."
Macintosh got up, wrapped herself tightly again, and left.
Before Wu Heng could get up—
The door opened again, and Sheila Grey peeked inside. "Was that a woman just now?"
"How do you know?" Wu Heng asked.
"Just by the way she walked," she said, then looked at him curiously. "What were you two doing in here?"
That question—
It felt like they'd been caught doing something suspicious.
Wu Heng said, "That was Macintosh. Didn't you recognize her?"
"Macintosh? She's back? What for?" Sheila Grey walked in and closed the door.
"I want her to join Gold-Silver Island and continue gathering intelligence for us," Wu Heng replied.
Sheila Grey frowned. "Because of that necromancer from the Destiny Sect?"
"Yeah. When Macintosh was here, intelligence on the island was handled well. If she comes back, it'll be easier to detect any future threats."
This wasn't something he had to explain to Sheila Grey.
But since they were both responsible for Gold-Silver Island's security, it was better to be upfront.
Sheila Grey sat down, pondering. "She has deep ties to the pirates. Aren't you worried she'll leak our intel?"