Chapter 827, Probing
The smoke-wolf, which had been sprinting fast, suddenly dispersed. Looking back in fear at the figure chasing from the sky, the smoke scattered instantly.
It then transformed into several smoke animals and fled in different directions.
[Lightning Beam] struck down, successively destroying two of them, and continued chasing the farthest one.
But after just two steps, the fleeing animal vanished on its own.
Completely disappeared.
Wu Heng's expression turned ugly.
Lost her!
"Check if there's a light pillar from the witch's level."
The two wraiths ascended again, observing the other fleeing directions.
Then came back and said, "Uncle, nothing."
"Same here, probably hiding," Beni added.
"She escaped again," Wu Heng gritted his teeth.
This was the third time the witch had escaped.
The first was against Steward Imiro. The second, surrounded by Imiro and old mage Janvito. And now, she slipped away from him.
The witch's abilities were really something. Not even talking about her combat power—just her self-preservation alone was rare among Professionals.
"Uncle, it's okay! We beat five of them, so what if one got away? Don't be sad!" Xiaoxiao floated over and gently comforted him.
"Alright, for Xiaoxiao's sake, I'll catch her next time," Wu Heng said, piloting the flying carpet back.
By now, the fight in the rubble pile area had ended.
The skeletons entered standby mode, with a few corpses laid out on the open ground.
......
Retracting the flying carpet, Wu Heng landed from the sky.
The surrounding skeletons stepped back, making space.
"Strip the equipment off those corpses."
The skeletons moved immediately, starting to remove the gear from the bodies.
Once everything was removed, Wu Heng stored it in his spatial ring.
Then he activated [Mansion Spell]. "Drag the corpses inside."
The five corpses, each wounded differently, were pulled into the 'Mansion Spell'. Wu Heng approached the first body and cast [Revival Spell].
Whoosh Cough cough cough!
The corpse suddenly opened its eyes, spurting blood from mouth and nose.
Wu Heng used [Life Sustaining Spell] to stabilize his vitals, then fed him two pills.
With a thought, a cage assembled midair, trapping the 'revived' Professional inside.
Wu Heng repeated the same process to revive the others.
One by one, iron cages appeared, imprisoning the five gravely wounded.
"You guys, get in and watch them," Wu Heng ordered from outside.
The skeletons began entering the Mansion Spell.
"You're Wu Heng of Rentam City, right? Cough cough~! Your target should be the Second Prince—we share a goal. We can cooperate," one man coughed and spoke.
"We can work together. Our conflict was a misunderstanding," another added.
"I'll pay to buy my life. Name your price, Wu Heng. Think about it."
"Even if I leave, I won't tell anyone what happened here."
"Wu Heng, you name the conditions."
Everyone started talking. With the skeletons entering one after another, the space became noisy.
Wu Heng looked at them without surprise.
Anyone in this situation would try to talk.
"Watch them. If anyone acts up, give 'em a few stabs—just don't hit anything vital," Wu Heng said as he walked out.
The Mansion Spell closed. The shouts inside vanished.
Standing on the rubble pile, he scanned the surroundings.
After recalling the wraiths, he donned the [Conductor's Hat] and returned to Stedi City.
Half an hour later, the train arrived.
Using the cover of night, Wu Heng cast [Teleportation Spell] several times to return to the 'Princess Residence'.
......
Residence, side room.
The magic circle gradually took shape, and Wu Heng's figure appeared.
The two wraiths followed him in.
This was where Glenda, possessing a Secret Cult member, was staying. As an outsider, she had to be placed in the side room.
In the dim study, Glenda sat at the desk, reading by the light of a glowstone.
Seeing Wu Heng arrive, she asked, "Where'd you go just now?"
"Took a trip to Nilari City. Planned to check things out and ran into two factions still fighting—so I beat them all," Wu Heng replied casually.
"Five taken down. The witch turned into smoke and escaped again," Wu Heng added helplessly.
Glenda raised a brow and looked at him oddly. "Did you go easy on her?"
"Go easy? That smoke form of hers is strange. Xiaoxiao and I chased her halfway through the forest and still couldn't catch her."
Xiaoxiao chimed in with her testimony. "Yeah! Beni and I couldn't possess her, and Uncle threw lightning like crazy—but still missed."
Hearing Xiaoxiao, Glenda nodded.
After thinking a bit, she said, "Now that she's gone, you should consider what intel she might leak. At the very least, the First Prince will learn about your strength. But don't worry—at your current level, that prince may not be able to threaten you."
Wu Heng wasn't the same person he was back in Blackstone Town.
No longer worried about Ekow Kingdom's policies or the officials above.
Even if they knew his strength or that he killed their hired assassin, they wouldn't pose much threat.
Attack Gold-Silver Island?
Or report him to the Guild?
He hired Secret Cult assassins—would he report himself?
Unless he's an idiot.
"Mm. I'll be careful."
Glenda continued, "Next time you ride the Ghost Train, don't leave us outside."
"Something happen?"
"I asked you where you went because twice I felt our connection cut off. Must've been when you boarded the train. No real harm, but still—be careful," Glenda explained.
"Alright," Wu Heng nodded.
Glenda added, "This body's too old. I can probably hold it together for two or three more days before issues show. You should prepare."
Wu Heng replied, "Tomorrow I'll find an excuse to send you out, then dispose of the corpse somewhere remote."
"That works."
"I'll head back now."
"Mm." Glenda nodded and resumed reading.
Wu Heng used [Teleportation Spell] to return to the main building.
......
Upstairs, he entered the study.
Opening the door, he saw the princess resting on the desk.
Her hair was messy, dressed in neutral gear like a mercenary on a mission.
The door opening startled her awake.
Seeing Wu Heng, she calmed.
"All done?" the princess asked, smoothing her hair as she stood.
After signing a contract, the signee naturally trusted and obeyed the one they signed with.
So, she spoke even more respectfully now.
"Handled. Are you all set?" Wu Heng walked over.
The princess made space at the desk. "I've organized everything. Besides his habits, there's also the Second Prince's journal—you'll need to get familiar with both the content and handwriting."
A stack of notes was pulled out.
She continued, "You'd better find a reason to rest tomorrow. One night might not be enough to absorb it all."
Wu Heng looked over the material. "Making excuses invites suspicion."
"If a minister tests me, things might go wrong."
Wu Heng stared at the documents, thought a moment, and said, "No worries. It's manageable."
Then, in a wide space, his body began to blur at high speed.
In the blink of an eye, six identical Wu Hengs appeared.
They formed a circle and began discussing.
"You go over his small habits with me."
Another Wu Heng said, "Once she finishes, tell me his speech patterns."
The two on the right tore the notes in half and each took a portion.
The rest began mimicking the handwriting.
The study became lively at once.
The princess stood there, rubbing her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.
Just what kind of person is he?
......
The next day.
In a solemn hall.
Wu Heng, dressed in splendid royal garb, sat tall in the highest seat.
Below stood Minister Edwin and the burly Commander-in-Chief Seldan.
The minister kept glancing up.
Then he bowed slightly, straightened up, and smiled with a soft yet wary gaze. "Your Highness, since your visit to Nilari City, it's been some time since we've spoken like this. Seeing you today reminds me of when I taught you to read. Do you recall who corrected your sword form when you first trained, helping you progress in swordsmanship?"
As he spoke, his eyes locked sharply onto Wu Heng.