Chapter 459, Is that Little Soul Yours?
Like a miniature landscape.
Islands, ships, everything in the Emerald Sea was clearly displayed on the entire sand table.
Initially, it was thought that the island owner, 'Occam,' might calculate the trade routes of all merchant ships through personal ability or port ship information.
Now it seems entirely reliant on the strange artifact before him.
Which ships took which routes.
It was so clear.
Fortunately, the battle took place on Gold-Silver Island. If it had been at sea, with this god-like perspective, he would have been even harder to deal with.
He continued to look at the side effects.
Effective only at specific locations.
"What does this mean? It only works within the Emerald Sea?"
"Or does it mean that in different locations, it can display the full view of that area?"
Wu Heng scratched his chin.
He felt the first possibility was more likely.
After all, it was called the Emerald Sand Table, corresponding to the Emerald Sea.
If it were the second case, that would certainly be better, as he could gather relevant intelligence about every place he visited.
Just like a large map in a game.
He decided to test it when he had the chance.
After examining the most eye-catching strange artifact, his gaze fell on the second one.
A rather uniquely designed quill, with a vivid red tip.
[Passionate Quill (Strange Artifact)]
[Category: Strange Artifact.]
[Effect: Can deliver letters to the person in one's thoughts.]
[Side Effect: Requires the blood of living beings as ink.]
(Description: Each folded letter carries the count's tender affections for various lovers.)
Hmm?
Looking at this strange artifact, Wu Heng frowned once again.
The blank envelopes and letters were unrelated; clearly, this pen allowed messages to be directly transmitted upon writing.
Judging by the description.
Its original purpose was as a quill for writing love letters to lovers.
With its special effect, it had been repurposed by 'Occam' to relay messages and assign tasks to pirates.
"Using a strange artifact for romance? Truly unmatched."
The effect was delivering to the person in one's thoughts.
This point was probably inaccurately described.
Occam couldn't possibly know every pirate captain, let alone the ever-changing pirate crews.
More likely, he identified pirate ships using the sand table and then delivered the letters accordingly.
Or perhaps he used the abilities of the Seer profession to gather intelligence on pirates.
And then sent the letters.
"That must be it."
The more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
The side effect required the blood of living beings as ink.
This wasn't much of an issue—animals counted as living beings and weren't hard to acquire.
Nearby was a jar of red liquid.
Upon opening, it exuded a strong bloody smell, likely the ink for writing.
It had to be said, Occam's two strange artifacts were highly valuable.
Their functions were significant, and their costs minimal; the sand table had no cost at all.
If sold at a consortium auction, the price would surpass even the most expensive cursed sword.
Wu Heng examined the quill and then placed it back.
"All mysteries have been solved."
How the other party knew all the fleet routes, how blank envelopes were delivered.
Everything was explained after seeing the two strange artifacts.
The previous doubts didn't seem so extraordinary anymore, and the Seer profession was likely overestimated.
Any profession could gradually mobilize all pirates with these two strange artifacts.
But the Pirate King specifically required a Seer for succession, likely for other reasons.
He decided to check for anything special when converting the skeleton later.
Hopefully, the guild wouldn't demand this corpse.
There were still quite a few items left.
[Sage's Staff][Tidal Chainmail][Light Longsword][Stamina Belt][…]...
The ring contained a variety of items.
There were plenty of equipment and everyday items.
After all, reaching the level of an island owner came with wealth.
He took them out one by one.
Useless personal clothing and daily supplies were thrown aside to be discarded later.
Then, another spatial ring appeared.
With a casual wave, barrels filled with gold and silver coins materialized in the center of the open space.
Brimming and dazzlingly radiant.
What a haul, so much wealth!
Apparently, the bounty on him wasn't much in comparison.
Was being an island owner this profitable?
Or was it the Pirate King's treasure or the money accumulated as a pirate?
Either way, it was all his now.
"As expected, robbing others is the fastest way to make money."
Creak~!
At that moment, the door opened.
Andviel, Minnie, Philipa, and Milisen entered after finishing their meal.
Minnie held breakfast she had bought for him.
Upon seeing the barrels of gold in the room.
All four women widened their eyes.
Philipa was the first to rush over, hugging a barrel full of gold coins. "Wow, is this 'Occam's' money? So much, we've struck it rich."
She grabbed a handful, preparing to store it in her spatial ring.
Minnie stepped forward and stopped her. "What are you doing? These belong to the master. Why are you taking them?"
"So what if I take some? I nearly died at sea. Isn't my life worth anything?" Philipa shook off the hand grabbing her arm.
Minnie insisted, "You were saved from prison by the master. Otherwise, you'd already be dead."
"I caught so many pirates for him."
"What you're given is yours."
Milisen added, "Philipa, put it back. You're a member of the guild now, not a pirate."
Seeing no one taking her side, Philipa returned the coins. "Who cares."
Then, she sulked in a corner.
Andviel approached and asked, "Master, what did the steward say?"
"The guild's reinforcements will arrive at noon. The island will be safe by then," Wu Heng replied casually while eating.
"When are we going home?" Minnie asked.
"Soon. You can all head back first, and Andviel too. I'll stay here for the guild."
"Alright, we'll go back early and tidy up the yard."
After eating, Wu Heng collected all the money and items.
The women left the guild and returned home.
Along the way, Philipa strutted with the 'Whisperer' insignia hanging on her chest.
After all, her face had previously been on the wanted posters.
Especially now, with the large-scale capture of pirates on the island, it was better to avoid misunderstandings.
...…
The scorching midday sun hung high in the sky.
On the distant horizon, three ships slowly approached Gold-Silver Island.
"There was a battle ahead. The sea is littered with shipwreck debris," a sailor's voice called from the crow's nest.
On the distant horizon, three ships were gradually approaching Gold-Silver Island.
"There was a battle ahead. The sea is full of shipwreck debris," a sailor's voice called from the lookout.
在一6一9一书一吧一看无一错版本!
On the ship, many guild stewards and members who had come to assist moved to the bow, looking into the distance.
The sea near the port of Gold-Silver Island was littered with broken planks and debris.
The closer they got, the murkier it became, as if they were entering a swamp.
Some people in small boats were salvaging corpses from the sea.
"It's over. We're too late."
"Occam really wasn't honest; he dared to attack the guild."
"Imiro miscalculated the timing. If we had come one step earlier, perhaps we could have stopped this incident."
"I don't know if Imiro survived. If something happens to him, the guild might make Gold-Silver Island disappear."
The crowd discussed amongst themselves.
Footsteps sounded behind them.
An elderly human mage with white hair and a white beard, dressed in a gray robe, stepped out.
"Dean Janvito."
The crowd saluted.
The old mage nodded, looking at the scene ahead.
With a flick of his embroidered robe.
A detection spell quickly flew forward.
At the same time, several tamed beasts from behind also flew toward Gold-Silver Island.
In the vision of the tamed beasts.
At the port, there were workers repairing the harbor, skeletons on guard, and patrolling team members.
At this moment, a figure slowly stepped out from a carriage by the roadside.
Blond hair, blue eyes, dressed in a neatly tailored and luxurious noble suit.
Imiro?
He's unharmed?
Then, this place…
On the guild's ships.
Seeing Imiro step out, the crowd was somewhat surprised.
It seemed different from what they had imagined; at least, Imiro was unscathed.
The old mage's detection spell returned, also revealing the situation on the island.
He said in a deep voice, "Approach and land."
The ships moved forward again. Once docked, the crowd disembarked onto the devastated pier.
"Dean Janvito," Imiro nodded and said calmly.
The old mage looked around. "Steward Imiro, what happened to Gold-Silver Island…"
"Let's go to the guild. We can talk on the way," Imiro said as several carriages stopped nearby.
The guild members who had come to assist boarded the carriages separately.
Imiro and the old mage rode in the same carriage.
In the carriage, Imiro roughly explained the situation.
The old mage raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised. "You're saying that deputy steward killed 'Occam' and also repelled hundreds of pirate ships?"
Imiro nodded. "Indeed."
"Steward Imiro, do you want him to gain the guild's recognition?"
"I would never make such claims lightly," Imiro said seriously.
The old mage also felt his words were inappropriate and nodded with a smile. "Then I'll have to meet this young man when the time comes."
...…
"Uncle, a lot of people just arrived outside. They're all high-level Professionals."
Xiaoxiao flew back and whispered.
"Where?" Wu Heng asked.
"At the front gate, and there's an old man dressed like Gandalf," Xiaoxiao said.
"Who's Gandalf?" Glenda asked.
"Ah, an old man who uses magic, very powerful. I'll show you tonight."
From the window of the study, the guild's gate wasn't visible unless he leaned out to see a little.
"Let me take a look," Wu Heng said.
Xiaoxiao directly merged into his body.
The scene at the guild's gate appeared in his mind.
Many carriages were parked at the gate.
A group of people stepped out, among them the white-haired, white-bearded old man holding a wooden staff who had entered with Imiro.
Level 18, while the others behind him included Professionals at levels 15 and 12.
With this configuration, if they had arrived yesterday.
They could have indeed stopped the pirates' actions.
Then again, with Occam's Emerald Sand Table, he could see the movements of the guild's ships.
There would have been other countermeasures in place.
Knock knock knock~!
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
"Deputy Steward Wu Heng, Steward Imiro requests your presence in the study."
The staff member's voice came from outside the door.
"Understood."
Wu Heng answered and stood up from his chair.
Looking at Glenda, he said, "You go back first. I need to visit the steward's study."
Glenda directly merged back into his body.
Wu Heng opened the door and walked out.
...…
Arriving at the steward's study.
He knocked lightly on the door. After receiving a response, he walked in directly.
Inside the study, besides Imiro and the white-bearded old man he had just seen, there were several investigators holding pens and paper.
"Wu Heng, this is Dean Janvito, the leader of the reinforcements for Gold-Silver Island," Imiro introduced the old man.
Then he continued to introduce Wu Heng. "Wu Heng, the deputy steward of Gold-Silver Island. He played a crucial role in the pirate occupation incident."
"It was all thanks to your command, Steward. I was just following orders," Wu Heng said.
Imiro's cold face gave a slight nod.
The old man didn't respond but looked him up and down.
"That little soul creature at the door just now, is it your spirit servant? How did you acquire it?"