Chapter 688: No Corpse
Upon hearing the squad member's report—
The Guild members all wore grim expressions.
Even the Central Office's name was invoked, yet they were shown no respect.
Tapani's face darkened instantly, fury flashing in his eyes.
"Insolent!"
Level 18 Professionals were top-tier powerhouses in this world.
In the past, even the royal family of the Ekow Kingdom would have personally received them.
And now, they were being treated like this by some local garrison.
The elder mage Janvito stroked his beard and said with a smile, "Just soldiers guarding a port, following orders. No need to be angry at them."
Tapani replied, "So what do you suggest? We can't just slaughter our way through."
Janvito looked to the side. "Wu Heng, what do you think?"
Wu Heng said plainly, "Netare City is already under suspicion. We're not here to play nice—we're here to investigate. We must act decisively."
Tapani raised an eyebrow.
That was a critique of their lack of resolve.
"Then you take the lead. If anything goes wrong, I and the elder will back you," Janvito said directly.
Wu Heng nodded and ordered, "Philipa, make an announcement: the Central Office elders are leading this investigation into the city. Any obstruction to docking will be considered provocation and treated as hostility—subject to attack and a Guild bounty."
"Got it!" Philipa hurried to the bridge, picked up the mic, and made the announcement.
Her voice spread instantly across the sea via the loudspeakers.
Reaching the opposing ships and the port of Netare City.
"Ram through!" Wu Heng added.
The fleet restarted, forcefully advancing toward the port.
The massive cargo ships at full speed sent waves crashing, causing the blockade ships to sway violently.
Faced with mountainous vessels barreling toward them, the navy ships couldn't withstand the pressure and scattered.
The Guild fleet charged through, while the kingdom's ships scrambled to avoid them.
Both sides passed each other cautiously—neither used weapons.
But the Guild broke the blockade and docked.
Gangplanks dropped, and armored skeletons with weapons flooded the port, sealing the area.
Next came the Guild squads—level 15 Professionals and their followers.
On the battleship, Tapani, Wu Heng, and the others disembarked.
Clatter—!
At that moment, a large number of troops assembled at one side of the port.
No one approached—just watched cautiously from afar.
Tapani's face darkened. "Bring their commander here."
A team rushed over.
After a quick exchange, a man dressed as a commander was brought forth.
Tapani stood imposing without anger. His gaze made the commander visibly nervous.
"Name?"
"Gnaeus, sir!"
Tapani looked aside. "Write him down. If there's a next time, post a Central Office bounty."
Instantly, the once calm commander broke into a cold sweat.
"Sir, we were just following orders—it's not really my fault."
"Blame your superiors for using you. The port is under Guild control now. Make one mistake, and you'd better be ready to flee with your family," Tapani said, then turned and walked away.
Leaving the commander wiping sweat, lost in confusion.
Wu Heng began assigning tasks to Philipa.
Regardless of the local Guild's state, the port needed guarding.
If something went wrong, it would be their escape route.
After arranging the fleet—
Wu Heng joined the others to head toward the Guild Hall.
......
The streets were eerily empty.
Few residents were in sight, and all shops were closed.
Only soldiers in guard uniforms rushed toward the port.
When they saw the approaching Guild members, no one intervened—they only watched from a distance.
"Wu Heng, aren't you from the Ekow Kingdom?" asked Elder Tapani.
Wu Heng shook his head. "I served as a squad member in northern Ekow Kingdom for a short while. Only a few months."
"How did it feel?" Tapani asked.
Elder mage Janvito added, "I heard Wu Heng wasn't treated very well here."
Wu Heng smiled. "I wouldn't call it mistreatment. The Ekow Kingdom had many anti-necromancer laws. I didn't know them back then, so I ran into trouble."
He paused slightly, then added, "Back then, it wasn't a good place for necromancers—but for citizens, it was decent."
The others nodded and said no more.
They picked up the pace.
......
City Lord's Mansion.
The City Lord 'Daxil' was in his forties, a level 16 Ranger in a purple robe, looking like a calm bard.
He stood in the courtyard listening to a messenger report the Guild fleet had entered the city.
As the report continued, his expression grew serious.
"Who came ashore?" Daxil asked.
"I saw elves, dwarves, and mages. Not sure of identities. Oh—and a black-haired, black-eyed man. Likely Wu Heng of Gold-Silver Island."
Daxil narrowed his eyes, thinking deeply.
"Since they're already in, let it be. Tell everyone to avoid conflict."
"Yes." The subordinate nodded and left.
Daxil, seated in the courtyard, suddenly turned to the side.
A few seconds later, footsteps approached. A burly man in a commander's uniform entered.
He was square-faced, bearded, walking with steady steps.
"The Guild entered, forced past the port," he said.
Daxil nodded. "I heard. Central Office members and Wu Heng are here."
"I saw their ships. Pretty impressive—like floating islands..."
"Luciana." Daxil cut him off sternly. "Don't speak further. Don't risk relations with the Guild."
The man scoffed. "Afraid of them?"
But he didn't argue further. He asked indirectly, "What's your plan?"
"The Central Office came to investigate. We'll cooperate," said Daxil.
The man raised a brow. "Handle it well."
......
Guild Hall.
The Central team sat on one side; local Guild members stood opposite.
Elder Tapani asked, "Report the Guild's current state."
A local Deputy Steward stepped forward. "Netare City's chaos has cut off all outgoing messages. The Steward and two squads are missing."
Eyes narrowed across the team.
Missing.
More likely, based on intel—they're dead.
Worse than death—without a body, there are no clues.
"Where did they vanish? Was there an investigation?" Tapani pressed.
"The city was too chaotic—deaths daily: gangs, enemy soldiers, cults. We couldn't investigate," the Deputy Steward said bitterly.
Tapani glanced at Wu Heng. Seeing no objection, he said, "From today, I'll remain at the Guild. Wu Heng, Lord of Gold-Silver Island, will investigate the missing Steward and squads. You must cooperate fully. Let's uncover the truth quickly."
"Yes," they all nodded.
"Return to your posts. We're here now—you'll be safe."
"Thank you, Elder. Thank you, Lord Wu Heng. Lords."
They saluted and left.
......
After meeting the locals—
Tapani gathered the Central members in a conference room.
His gaze landed on Wu Heng. "Any plans?"
As a top investigator, the Guild entrusted Wu Heng with the case.
The others were backup and to handle emergencies.
But things looked difficult.
The secret messenger who went to Gold-Silver Island said the local Steward was dead and the city blocked intel.
Now, there's not even a corpse or suspect.
And Netare City itself is a suspect.
No clear path forward.
Wu Heng said, "I want to check the archives first."
"Go ahead!" Tapani nodded. "Dean Janvito, Mr. Sim, choose two level 15 Professionals and two squads to assist Wu Heng. The rest stay with me."
"Understood." They nodded.
Two level 18s were assigned to him. Sim the investigator had limited combat skills.
Janvito was the main protector.
Wu Heng chose a dwarf and a cloaked bloodkin among the level 15s and left the room.
After asking directions, they hurried to the archive room.
Janvito reminded him, "Secret messengers usually aren't recorded—only at the Central Office."
"I know. I'm just checking, maybe we'll get lucky," Wu Heng replied.
He wasn't after messenger records—they rarely existed locally.
He wanted the Steward's file.
Secret messengers might leave vague notes under their assigned Steward.
He'd learned this on Gold-Silver Island.
Philipa, acting as his informant, had no file—but a vague mark existed under Wu Heng's.
If something happened, they could at least confirm it preliminarily.
They arrived at the archive room.
The administrator rushed up. "Sirs."
"Bring me the Steward's file."
"Yes, sir."
Soon, a thick file was handed over.
Wu Heng opened it and read carefully.
It listed three names—all people released for capture failures or redemption.
He wasn't sure if his informant was among them, but there was a chance.
He took out a tablet and photographed each page.
Then wrote the three names on a paper. "Kaitan."
"Lord Wu Heng," the dwarf stepped up.
"Memorize these names. Go to City Hall and check for property or records. Bring more people—they might resist. Be forceful."
"Understood." The dwarf selected teammates and departed.
Wu Heng exited the archive, leading the rest to the Steward's residence.
......
Stewards usually lived near the Guild.
On Gold-Silver Island, the Steward's home was directly behind the Guild Hall.
In Netare City, it was in a nearby residential area.
As they approached, guards were visible.
Not Guild members—Netare City guards.
Seeing a fierce group approaching, the guards grew nervous.
They shouted, "Who are you?!"
"Central Guild investigation. Who ordered you to guard this place?" Wu Heng demanded.
Central Guild?
The guards clearly hadn't received the news. They looked confused.
"No entry allowed. Please speak to our captain," one said.
Wu Heng didn't bother with words. "Arrest them."
His group rushed forward and seized the guards.
"Sirs, what are you doing? Let's talk!"
"This is Netare City!"
Panic spread among the guards.
Wu Heng said, "Send one to report. Anyone else speaks—gag them."
He released one to deliver the message.
Wu Heng led the rest into the Steward's residence.
The door opened easily. Footprints crisscrossed the dusty floor.
"Someone was here recently. The prints aren't covered by dust," said Wu Heng.
The investigator took notes.
Wu Heng examined the room—decor, paintings, everyday items.
The Steward lived well.
A high-ranking life by local standards.
"Items are missing—someone took them."
The investigator kept recording.
Wu Heng entered the bedroom and found a frequently worn garment.
From his space ring, he pulled out a [Tracking Pendant], dripped blood on its skull.
The skull came alive.
He gave it the garment—it bit and chewed.
Wu Heng watched closely.
The skull lost life and drooped.
This artifact tracked any living target.
Before he had a prophetic skeleton, he relied on this.
If no target is shown, the person is dead.
"If the Steward had no anti-tracking gear, he's likely dead," Wu Heng told them.
The investigator noted it.
While they spoke, a middle-aged man in captain's uniform rushed in.
Several patrolmen followed.
The captain scanned the group, noting their attire and aura.
His eyes narrowed.
He stepped forward and saluted. "Captain of Squad 7, greeting Guild lords."
Then handed over a cloth pouch. "Recovered funds—all accounted for."
Wu Heng took the pouch, weighed it, and asked, "How do you know the Steward isn't coming back?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" The captain frowned.
Wu Heng stared at him. "The Guild only suspects the Steward is missing. How are you so sure he won't return—and dared to take his things?"