Chapter 736, We Set the Rules
Hearing that Glenda had infiltrated the squad, Wu Heng felt relieved.
Everything was going according to plan.
Wu Heng said, "Keep watching. Let me know if there's any news."
"Got it!" Beni turned and phased through the wall.
Wu Heng took a sip of tea, opened the door, and headed downstairs.
In the main hall, Wen Mansa was seated while the housekeeper massaged her shoulders.
Seeing him come down, Wen Mansa asked, "How did it go?"
"Pretty well. We'll organize another operation tomorrow. As long as the commander tries to send a message using a beast, we'll catch him," Wu Heng replied.
"Good thing you're here, otherwise I really wouldn't know how to handle this," Wen Mansa said with a relaxed smile.
"Alright, let's get some rest. Hatel, you can rest early too. Leave the rest to the skeletons," Wu Heng said.
"Yes, Master," the housekeeper bowed.
Wen Mansa affectionately took his arm and walked with him back to the bedroom.
...…
Outer District.
A swarm of skeletons began moving quickly through the streets.
Though they weren't conducting door-to-door searches, the clatter of footsteps, rattling bones, and clanging weapons still left residents on edge.
Everyone feared getting caught in something they didn't understand.
Inside one house—
"It's fine. They're not doing full searches—must not want to cause a scene," one man said, peeking through the door crack.
When the patrol moved on, he returned to the table and sat down.
Around the worn wooden table sat five people—a standard five-man squad.
The man who'd peeked outside said softly, "That went smoothly. The escorting skeletons weren't high-level."
Another on the left added, "Felt like a test run. The cargo wasn't much and not even vital supplies."
"Makes sense. They rely on skeletons—they don't need heavy logistics."
"Doesn't really matter. If we stir up trouble nearby, we can delay their shipments."
"That works—any slowdown is helpful."
They whispered quietly.
Then the lookout glanced toward the silent swordsman. "Oliver, how are you holding up?"
"Oliver? Oliver!"
After several calls, the swordsman finally reacted. "Better. Just a bit dizzy."
The others frowned.
"Where are you hurt? You've been awfully quiet," one asked.
"Headache. No energy to chat," Oliver replied.
Still, the others kept watching him, hands drifting toward their weapons.
Clearly, they weren't buying his answers.
Oliver frowned. "What's with you guys?"
They exchanged glances. Something about Oliver was off, but they couldn't quite say what.
The room fell silent.
Everyone trying to figure out what felt wrong.
Then came a soft tapping at the window.
One got up, cracked it open. A gray-brown beak poked in, delivering a note.
He unfolded it and read quietly, "Leave by morning. Wait two kilometers out for the next team. Have them change outfits."
He burned the note in a candle flame.
"Oliver, you okay?"
Suddenly someone asked.
They all turned—Oliver slumped sideways.
He hit the ground.
The nearest rushed over—then froze. "He's dead!"
Dead?
All eyes widened.
...…
A gray owl flew through the night, over the Outer District.
Dodging two beast patrols, it dove into a shop through an open window.
In the dim room,
A tall, lean man in robes fed jerky to the owl from his spatial ring. "Good job."
The owl gave no response, just swallowed the meat.
Across the room, a pudgy man asked, "Sir, won't killing the convoy stir chaos in the city? Wen Mansa's gotten more ruthless since the fighting began."
"Chaos is the goal. As long as they can't find us, we call the shots," the lanky rogue scoffed.
Compared to them,
The real trouble was that woman in the City Lord's Mansion.
Push her too far, and a little riot or arson in the outer district could be devastating.
Those were future plans—soon to be executed.
"As you command," the fat man said.
"That's all for today. They won't find anything. Go rest. Tomorrow we'll—"
The rogue choked.
Face flushing, veins bulged.
The owl suddenly flared, flapping to escape.
But a hand seized its neck. Crack—the head twisted off.
The fat man gasped. "Sir, what are you—"
Before he could finish, the rogue's neck snapped, twisting 180 degrees to face him.
The neck twisted like a rope.
The fat man screamed and ran.
But froze mid-step—then his neck also turned unnaturally. He collapsed with a thud.
A deep, drum-like thump echoed.
Silence returned.
Only a patrol's footsteps echoed outside.
...…
Wu Heng jolted awake.
A phantom floated in—Glenda.
He looked at sleeping Wen Mansa, gently withdrew his arm, and followed.
Into the study.
"How'd it go?" Wu Heng asked.
"Found the one behind it," Glenda replied.
"Already?"
"He just sent orders to my squad. I followed it to his hideout—an outer district shop."
"What about him?" Wu Heng donned his armor.
"Killed him to prevent escape. You just need to collect the body."
With Glenda's power, no one in Rentam could resist her possession.
"Take me there."
Armored up, Wu Heng left the room.
Down the stairs.
At the second floor, a door creaked open—Hatel peeked out.
Recognizing him, she stepped out in a loose gown.
"Master, heading out this late?"
The drooping neckline revealed ample cleavage.
"Out on business. If Wen Mansa wakes, tell her I went to arrest someone."
"Yes, Master." She nodded.
Wu Heng said no more. With skeletons in tow, he hurried out.
...…
The streets were empty.
Doors and windows were all shut.
A skeleton patrol approached. Wu Heng stopped them. "Follow me."
They obeyed.
"Auntie, didn't they suspect you?" Xiaoxiao asked.
"A little. I didn't know their names, only had the body," Glenda said.
"How did they suspect?"
"I think it was my tone or accent. They started doubting as soon as we spoke," she recalled.
It had gone fine at first.
But after two exchanges, they sensed something was off.
"Then what?" Xiaoxiao pressed.
"Before anything else, a beast brought the message. I chased it—whether they figured it out or not didn't matter," Glenda said casually.
"Weren't you worried they'd escape?"
"The city's crawling with patrols. If they flee, they'll get caught anyway," Glenda said confidently.
"Oh!"
Glenda led Wu Heng to the shop.
He checked the doors and windows—one was open.
He ordered the skeletons through the window, then opened the front door.
The interior was dim.
Two human bodies lay on the floor.