Chapter 823, Isn't He Supposed to Like Men?!
Ghost Ticket Dispenser.
So such a thing really exists.
Even after living in this other world for some time, Wu Heng had never seen how train tickets were actually made.
The last time he rode a train in the Ekow Kingdom, Madam Slater had handed him the ticket directly.
The Ghost Train Ticket Dispenser before him looked more like an old, typewriter-like device dug out of some abandoned corner.
Its body was a heavy military green, worn and dented at the edges, with some inner components rusted over.
Below was a typing area, with a row of round keycaps neatly arranged and a long lever on the side.
Wu Heng examined it carefully, and the item's properties appeared.
[Ghost Train Ticket Dispenser (Exotic Item)]
[Effect: Prints tickets.]
[Side Effect: Sacrifices soul.]
(Description: An old ticket machine with special properties. If you're willing to sacrifice your soul, you may begin a special journey.)
Upon seeing the properties—
Wu Heng furrowed his brow again.
Sacrificing a soul... that price was steep.
But then he thought again—
And instantly realized something was off. The Second Prince couldn't have sacrificed his soul. Damaging the soul could cause anything from stupor to full dissolution.
The Second Prince wasn't high-level, and his soul couldn't withstand an Exotic Item's side effect.
Plus, considering the Bone Nail he found earlier, everything suddenly made sense.
The Bone Nail's effect was extracting remnant souls.
It was likely used to trade with the ticket machine for tickets.
As for the ghost trapped in the basement—there might be things Wu Heng still didn't know about that.
The three wraiths, Xiaoxiao included, were picking through other loot, each selecting items they liked.
After all, they were the prince's belongings—ordinary as they were, the craftsmanship was exquisite.
Once the looting was done—
The three wraiths flew back, gathering around to inspect the Exotic Items.
"Uncle, are there any more special Exotic Items?" Xiaoxiao asked.
Wu Heng said, "Two more. This one's a Church pendant. It adds holy damage in combat and makes your speech more persuasive. But the side effect is unshakable piety."
He glanced at the pendant again and explained based on its properties.
"What's piety?" Xiaoxiao widened her eyes.
Beni also looked over, waiting for his answer.
"It means great respect and sincerity. In the Church's case, it means deeply believing in their faith," Wu Heng said after some thought.
"Oh, then what does that mean in this case?"
Wu Heng scratched his head. "It means using this item will make you more submissive and devout."
"So, brainwashing?"
"That's one way to put it—and it's hard to reverse," Wu Heng agreed.
"What about that one? The keyboard?" Xiaoxiao pointed to the dispenser.
Wu Heng lifted the machine and solemnly said, "This is the ticket dispenser we've been searching for."
The three wraiths stared at it in surprise.
Glenda muttered, "So he really had it."
"So this is what it looks like? It's ugly," Xiaoxiao said disdainfully.
Beni chuckled. "Does it actually work? Can it print tickets?"
"It can," Wu Heng said. "Its function is to sacrifice souls to produce tickets."
The moment he said that, Glenda and Beni both floated half a meter back. Xiaoxiao hesitated, then backed off too.
All three wraiths now eyed the machine warily.
Exotic Items were special tools in this world. Some with strong side effects were even sealed away.
Hearing about soul sacrifice made them all worry they'd be next.
Wu Heng looked at them and said, "It only activates when used. If it killed on sight, the Second Prince would've been dead already."
That made sense. They floated back over.
Xiaoxiao asked, "Were those tickets made using wraiths?"
Wu Heng nodded. "That Bone Nail earlier was likely how the Second Prince harvested souls. But who knows if remnant souls work like complete ones."
Glenda frowned and said, "If they do, we could mass-produce tickets in the Zombie World."
"I was thinking the same."
With all the loot and items sorted, Wu Heng stored everything in his space ring.
Glenda hovered nearby and casually asked, "What now? The Second Prince is dead. What next?"
Wu Heng glanced toward the distant city. "Xiaoxiao stays with me. Glenda and Beni, go scout that city. It was probably the Second Prince's fallback hideout."
"Got it!" Glenda and Beni nodded and flew off.
Xiaoxiao floated in the air. "Uncle, I bet there's good stuff in the Second Prince's house. We should check it out."
"We just assassinated him—going back to loot would be suicide."
"True," Xiaoxiao said. Then, grinning, "But I already got plenty. I'm giving some to my mom. She's never seen stuff like this."
"Such a good kid, Xiaoxiao."
"Hehe~"
......
Wu Heng pulled out more straw mats, wrapped up the corpses, and stored them away.
He sat on a rock, thought for a bit, then began assembling a portable radio.
Once it was connected, he spoke into the mic: "Wen Mansa, can you hear me?"
After two or three minutes, Wen Mansa's voice came through: "Master, I'm here!"
"How are things on your end?"
There was a pause on the other side, her tone puzzled. "Did something happen, Master? We just talked this morning."
If not for the fact that no one else could operate this device, and she knew Wu Heng's speech patterns so well—
She might have thought someone was impersonating him.
Wu Heng quickly replied, "Things got messy here. Just checking how it's going on your end."
The ghost train always gave him a strange sense of time distortion.
They had spoken earlier that morning, even discussing the messenger.
"Everything's normal here. Please be careful, Master. If there's danger, just come back. This isn't urgent," Wen Mansa said, her tone serious.
"No worries. I already killed the Second Prince," Wu Heng said.
Silence on the other end.
After a long pause, Wen Mansa asked, "Really?"
Just this morning they were wondering if the messenger could lure him out—and now he was dead?
A prince of the Kingdom.
Surrounded by high-level Professionals and constant protection.
Yet he died at the hands of her Master alone.
That... was honestly a little surprising.
"The body's right under my feet," Wu Heng said.
"Uhh..." Wen Mansa suddenly didn't know what to say.
Maybe she had underestimated her Master's strength.
What luck had she had back then—
To meet a Master like this in some dump like Rentam City.
"Master, what are your plans now? I'll assist however I can," Wen Mansa said, suppressing her excitement.
Wu Heng said, "The Second Prince is dead, but the conflict isn't over. Is there a gentler way to pass his authority to you?"
The word "pass" made Wen Mansa's heart race.
Given the current land she controlled—
She might as well be a queen. And now she was going to get even more.
She thought for a moment and said, "You said the Second Prince had a decoy. Can we use him as a puppet ruler?"
"The decoy's dead. Died even earlier than the prince."
"Ugh..." Wen Mansa frowned. "What about controlling the ministers?"
"They're all split by department. It's not as simple as grabbing one or two people," Wu Heng replied.
Wen Mansa said, "Then I need time to think. Once I have an idea, I'll let you know."
"Good. Don't leak anything yet. No one knows he's dead."
"Understood! The messenger is already en route—will this mess up your plan?"
"Shouldn't be a problem. Calling him back now would raise suspicion."
"Then we let him proceed as planned," Wen Mansa replied.
"Also, make sure the fortress is prepared. If news leaks, they might launch an attack," Wu Heng said.
He didn't expect it to leak, but they needed to be ready.
Better safe than sorry.
"Got it. I'll start arranging things right away," Wen Mansa replied firmly.
"I'm done here. I'll update you if anything comes up."
"Yes, Master. Please stay safe."
"Mm."
Wu Heng gave a grunt, ended the call, and stowed the radio.
He sat on the stone, waiting for Glenda and Beni to return.
......
It was already dusk.
Orange afterglow filtered through the branches, casting dappled light.
Occasionally, wild beasts wandered near—only to be scared off by Xiaoxiao and retreat into the woods.
Wu Heng idly chatted with Xiaoxiao.
As the sky darkened, Glenda and Beni finally flew back.
Beni said, "I circled the whole city. The highest-level Professional inside is level 18. Feels more like a mini-fortress."
No wonder the Second Prince fled here. Looked like a planned backup shelter.
Normally, cities like this wouldn't have level-18 Professionals stationed.
"What about the troops?" Wu Heng asked.
"They're elite, but not as numerous as the last city," Beni replied.
Wu Heng nodded.
Then Glenda added, "I visited the central mansion. There's a woman being cared for. Must be the Second Prince's consort."
A consort?
A prince's wife is called a consort. Only when he becomes king does she become queen.
Wu Heng and the wraiths frowned.
Beni blurted, "Wasn't he supposed to like men?!"