Chapter 450, Fish and Treasure
Returning to Gold-Silver Island.
Minnie and the others were still resting.
The skeletons that followed were instructed to wait in the courtyard, while Wu Heng entered the radio room on the third floor.
Entering the room.
He picked up the notebook in front of the skeleton investigator and glanced at it.
It was still blank, with no records.
Considering Philipa's talkative nature, even if there were no intel, there would at least be some casual ramblings.
Something had gone wrong on her side as well.
Wu Heng refrained from picking up the microphone to contact Philipa.
If her ship had been taken over by others.
Any sudden radio signals would only worsen the situation.
From the spatial ring, he took out [Tracking Pendant] and a sailor's headscarf.
He pricked his fingertip, letting a drop of blood fall onto the skull on the pendant, moving the headscarf closer.
The skull began gnawing on the edge of the headscarf.
A ghostly blue flame flickered, pulling toward the east.
She was still alive.
"Just two more days; the guild reinforcements will arrive. Philipa, hang in there," Wu Heng muttered.
Only two days left.
By then, he could set out to rescue her.
Philipa might be a bit crazy, but he didn't want anything to happen to her.
Leaving the room.
Wu Heng stood in the courtyard, scanning the surroundings.
Both the front and back courtyards had large open spaces where Minnie had planted flowers, fruit trees, and some vegetables.
Looking around, he retrieved four armored vehicles from the spatial ring and placed them in the open spaces of the courtyard.
Two in the front courtyard and two in the back.
Though they cluttered the space and crushed several flowerbeds.
Security took precedence over aesthetics; flowers and vegetables could be replanted later.
"From now on, you'll operate the armored vehicles to protect this place," Wu Heng instructed the newly brought skeletons.
The skeletons immediately got to work, climbing into the driver's seats and weapon control positions.
Once that was settled.
Wu Heng returned to the residence, setting up skeleton guards on the external balcony of the building and mounting machine guns on the railings.
Ensuring that any attempted assault on the house.
Would be met with a hail of bullets.
Turning intruders into sieves.
Exiting the balcony room.
Minnie, Andviel, and Milisen descended the stairs one after another.
"Master."
"Sir..."
The two maids greeted coyly, while Milisen gave a respectful bow.
"Did I wake you up?"
Minnie smiled. "Not at all. It's time to wake up anyway. What would you like for breakfast, Master?"
"Anything is fine. I'll show you the new defenses I set up. In case of danger and I'm not around, you can command the skeletons to operate the weapons."
"Huh? Okay!"
Wu Heng took the three women to the courtyard and introduced the armored vehicles and weaponry.
Minnie and Andviel were familiar with firearms, making it easy to understand.
Beyond their offensive capabilities, the armored vehicles provided excellent defense.
Considering the combat style of this world, it would be challenging for cold weapons to penetrate armored vehicles.
After explaining everything and giving additional instructions.
He returned to the dining room for breakfast.
After eating, Andviel headed to the guild.
The current situation was tense, so at least half a day at the guild was necessary.
...
In the study.
Having spent the previous night clearing zombies.
Wu Heng felt a bit drowsy, resting his head on the back of the chair with his hands folded behind it, contemplating the situation on Gold-Silver Island.
As it stood, the one controlling the blank envelopes—the Pirate King—had completed their arrangements on Gold-Silver Island.
The commercial fleet's guards had been lured to sea and were now missing.
Many pirates had infiltrated the island, while the number of guards increased.
If conflict broke out, the pirates could quickly mobilize reinforcements, and the high-ranking figures of the commercial guilds would become easy targets.
Meanwhile, guild reinforcements were still two days away.
The guild was waiting for reinforcements, but what were the pirates waiting for?
"It doesn't matter what the pirates are planning. It has nothing to do with me."
If war erupted and the guild was at a disadvantage, I could send Andviel and the others through the portal and escape Gold-Silver Island via the Ghost Train.
Or, I could simply open the portal and crush everyone.
However, keeping the portal's existence a secret would mean eliminating all witnesses.
Ultimately, even the guild might investigate me.
Not worth it.
I must prepare as much as possible on my side.
I'll go back in the afternoon, kill more zombies, and try to reach Level 17 in the next two days.
Knock, knock, knock~!
As these thoughts raced through his mind, there was a gentle knock at the door.
Wu Heng squinted toward the door as Andviel opened it to inquire.
She closed the door again.
Walking over, she said, "Master, you have a letter. It was delivered directly by a staff member."
A letter?
Wu Heng glanced at it. It wasn't a blank envelope.
Taking it, he tore it open and retrieved the letter inside.
The paper was slightly yellowed, the handwriting fluid and bold, appearing feminine yet forceful and deeply etched.
It wasn't from Wen Mansa, nor Madam Slater.
The content wasn't a letter at all.
It was a story.
「Among the fish, there has always been a legend of a mysterious treasure, brimming with pearls and the power to rejuvenate the shoal.
Finally, a small fish developed bright eyes, capable of discerning truths and predicting dangers in the sea.
The fish celebrated joyfully, embarking on a grand journey, crossing trenches and turbulent currents toward the treasure.
But as they approached the treasure, conflict broke out within the shoal, and the adult fish elected a new leader.
This new leader also had bright eyes.
The new leader claimed the treasure, gaining the ability to observe other shoals in the sea.」
"What nonsense is this?"
Wu Heng frowned, staring at the letter.
Was this just a story?
He checked the envelope again.
There was no address, only the recipient: Gold-Silver Island, Deputy Steward Wu Heng.
"Master, what's wrong?" Andviel asked curiously, seeing him examining the letter repeatedly.
Wu Heng replied, "This letter is strange."
"Not from Wen Mansa?"
"No, the handwriting doesn't match. Andviel, could you check with the front desk about where this letter came from?" Wu Heng handed her the envelope.
"Alright!" Andviel took the envelope and left.
Alone again in the room.
Wu Heng began analyzing the letter's content.
The letter recounted a story of fish searching for treasure.
Stripping away the fairy tale aspect, it seemed to allude to the Pirate King's treasure.
Pirates often likened themselves to fierce sharks.
But from whose perspective was this story written?
What were they trying to convey?
Wu Heng took out paper and pen from a drawer.
Jotting down the key points.
A fish with bright eyes gained the qualification to claim the treasure.
During the treasure's discovery, the shoal fought internally and elected a new fish, also with bright eyes, to claim the treasure.
The new leader obtained the ability to observe other shoals.
Fish equal pirates.
Bright eyes symbolize discernment and foresight.
Foresight and discernment are reminiscent of the prophets encountered.
The island's prophet, the Old Barrel Tavern's leader, Macintosh.
Wu Heng frowned even deeper.
Summoning Glenda's ghost from his body, she hovered nearby, surveying the room.
"What's up?"
Wu Heng asked, "Do you remember where the Old Barrel Tavern's leader was buried last time?"
"In the cemetery behind the hill. I know the place," Glenda nodded.
"Go check if her body is still there."
Glenda stared at him.
"Checking a body? Are you planning to steal it?"