Chapter 643, Damn, Another Cliffhanger
"Is Wu Heng alright? He looks worse than last time," Beni said with concern as she looked at Wu Heng.
Xiaoxiao replied, "He's fine. Uncle's used to it. It just hurts a bit, but it's not dangerous."
Beni then flew over to Glenda's side. "Lady Glenda, should we notify the maids?"
"No need. They wouldn't be of much help even if they came in," Glenda replied.
Seeing that both of them said so, Beni didn't say more.
She just floated nearby, still watching with a worried look.
...
The dizziness and spinning gradually faded, and Wu Heng felt much clearer.
Unlike the pain from enhancement potions, mental pain felt like his soul was being stirred—disorienting and painful in a spiritual sense.
He let out a deep breath and sat up straight in his chair again.
Looking at Beni, he said, "No need to worry. It's a normal reaction."
Xiaoxiao and Glenda had also been nervous the first time they saw him take potions.
But after seeing it a few times, they got used to it.
Plus, in such situations, spirits couldn't really help.
They could only watch and worry.
"As long as you're okay." Beni nodded and flew back to Xiaoxiao, continuing to watch the movie on the tablet.
Wu Heng took out two bottles of mental potion and drank them.
Once the mental discomfort faded, he checked the newly unlocked trait.
[Hostility Perception]: Possesses acute sensitivity to hostility and malice.
The description was short but fairly clear.
It allowed detection of hostility and malice directed at oneself.
It should be considered a perception-type ability.
And it was a bit like the level-18 prophet's [Foresight Domain], which warned of imminent danger.
Wu Heng's [Hostility Perception] likely wasn't that strong, but being able to sense hostility still served as an early warning.
In Wu Heng's view, mentally awakened abilities were generally better than those from enhancement potions.
After all, he was a mage, and close combat relied mainly on skeleton servants.
He glanced at Xiaoxiao, thinking of asking her to secretly focus on him to test the ability.
But after thinking it over, he gave up on the idea.
He could already sense spirits naturally, and his own spirit wouldn't generate hostility anyway.
He closed the panel and looked again at the remaining two enhancement potions.
He picked one up, uncorked it, and drank it in one go.
The bone-deep, searing pain returned.
Cold sweat poured as his body curled into a ball.
This time, Beni only glanced his way and didn't fly over like the first time to ask questions.
[Constitution +2, Strength +3, Agility +3.]
The system prompt appeared, and the side effects began to fade.
Wu Heng drank a healing potion to ease the strain on his body.
After resting for about five minutes, he opened the last bottle and downed it.
His body tensed again as he gritted his teeth through the pain.
[Constitution +3, Strength +2, Agility +3.]
Another system prompt appeared.
His stats increased, though no new ability was unlocked.
Still, unlocking one trait from three potions wasn't bad.
The last two potions both boosted constitution-type attributes.
It felt like they were going to surpass his intelligence.
He opened the panel again to check his stats.
[Name: Wu Heng]
[Level: 19 (174538/355000)]
[Renown: 19 (3142/66000)]
[Stats: Strength 53, Agility 41, Constitution 60, Intelligence 56, Perception 37, Charisma 36.]
His experience had reached 174,000—almost halfway to the next level.
The dispatched skeleton army was proving effective.
He estimated it would max out within a month.
Renown had reached 3,100, but it lagged behind the experience gain.
He needed to come up with a solution.
Constitution once again became his highest stat, now at 60.
It meant his physical condition had reached a terrifying level, though he still felt some lingering soreness.
But once fully recovered, poisons would have greatly reduced effects on him.
Next highest was Intelligence, at 56—important since he was still a mage.
That stat couldn't fall behind.
Strength and Agility were also helpful in crises or unexpected situations.
In short, all attributes were useful.
Most Professionals could only focus on improving a few major stats.
But with potions, he could raise all of them together.
Overall, not bad at all.
After finishing the potions, Wu Heng stood up and said to the three spirits beside him,
"I'm going back to rest."
The three spirits nodded.
"Good night."
"Bye, Uncle."
"Rest well. Don't wear yourself out."
Wu Heng smiled and nodded, leaving the study to return to his bedroom to rest.
...
The expo craze continued. Today was also the release day for a new issue of the newspaper.
For the island's ordinary residents, the expo simply added more places to join the crowd in an otherwise plain life.
Things like intricately carved wine glasses and brilliantly colored wool carpets were meant for nobles.
They had little to do with regular people.
Even the pens and watches released later by the Island Lord were too pricey for the average person.
You could see them, but they weren't yours.
But today's newspaper was different.
The paper's release was like a storytelling session every seven days.
It didn't cost anything and didn't depend on status—everyone could enjoy the exciting tales.
On this day, everyone had the same topic to discuss.
And they enjoyed it thoroughly.
"Extra, extra! New issue of the paper! Full expo sample list! Gold-Silver Island's newest warship defeats a major pirate group! Plus the latest detective story... Come and take a look!"
The newspaper boys' voices rang through the streets.
Poets and townsfolk who'd been waiting rushed up to snatch copies.
...
Golden Sail Tavern.
Saban, wearing a black wig and deep blue fitted robe, stood on the wooden stage loudly recounting the latest paper.
His outfit mimicked Island Lord Wu Heng's attire.
First, it was what he wore during rehearsals. Second, it helped immerse the patrons more in the story.
"On the night of his death, the Sadieus brothers were by his side. Suddenly, Major Shulto let out a cry, hand trembling as he pointed to the window."
"The brothers quickly turned and saw a long, vicious face on the window."
"Startled, Commander Shulto died before he could reveal the treasure's location."
"The next morning, they found the window in their father's room open, all the cabinets and boxes rummaged through. On one box was a torn piece of paper with the words 'Four Signatures.'"
After finishing the last sentence, Saban gave a slight bow and stepped down from the stage.
Only then did the quiet, focused drinkers realize the story was over.
They cursed loudly.
"Shit! It ended again."
"Damn it, another cliffhanger..."
"Shameless bastard."
...
Port.
A ship captain about to set sail stood on a crate and shouted loudly.
"Be careful with these! They're going to the Guild headquarters. Store them in a dry hold. No open flames allowed!"
Below, workers carried sealed newspapers and books, loading them onto the ship.