Chapter 466, You Guys Just Study Potions
Philipa sat lightly on his lap, one arm around his shoulders, exuding a faint malty aroma of beer as she spoke.
Wu Heng also wrapped his arm around her waist. "We'll see. If the guild assigns us elsewhere, we'll have to leave Gold-Silver Island, and the tavern won't be able to operate."
Philipa twisted slightly, frowning. "Then Milisen's tavern won't work either. She really likes it."
Since she had a slave contract with Wu Heng, she naturally had to leave with him.
Milisen couldn't be left alone on Gold-Silver Island; she would leave with them as well.
"We'll see. If she likes it, opening another tavern elsewhere won't be hard," Wu Heng said.
With their current financial resources, opening a tavern would be effortless.
"And what if we stay?" Philipa continued to ask.
"If we stay, there's a good chance I'll become the Island Lord. By then, I can set up a personal guard or a merchant fleet for you," Wu Heng thought aloud.
"I don't do trade—too much accounting involved."
Wu Heng frowned at her. "You didn't account for things when you were buying supplies? How did you manage a fleet?"
"I was a captain. Why would I do accounting?" Philipa felt her argument was weak, waving dismissively. "Alright, let's not talk about the past."
She turned around, straddling him, her hands around his neck, looking at him seriously.
Slowly, her lips moved closer.
Wu Heng pushed her face back. "What are you doing?"
"I've never had a man before. Let me try!"
"Your mom's preparing lunch. If she sees you like this, she'll kill you," Wu Heng said.
Philipa replied, "The tavern's busy at lunch; she won't come back. Don't be so stingy! I've risked my life for you, and you still guard against me? It hurts my feelings."
Wu Heng leaned back to look at her.
Her tanned skin and braided hair radiated youthful energy.
Philipa, seeing his silence, tugged at her neckline, pulling one side down provocatively. "Stop pretending. Go ahead."
Wu Heng glanced at the girl, who was catching up to her mother's charm.
Leaning in slightly, he drew closer.
Philipa let out a soft gasp, her eyes wavering, her body trembling slightly as her legs unconsciously clamped around his thigh.
Wu Heng lifted her skirt, his hand exploring her toned and youthful body.
Philipa's cheeks flushed as her eyes turned dreamy. "What's next? Should we go to the bed?"
Wu Heng picked her up, placing her on the dining table. Her dress fell down to her waist, and the hem was pushed up.
Philipa suddenly seemed shy, covering herself. "Will it hurt?"
Unlike her tanned skin, the areas beneath her clothing were pale and delicate, creating a stark contrast.
Wu Heng adjusted her position and said, "It might hurt a little."
"Nonsense. I've seen plenty," Philipa muttered, pursing her lips.
Wu Heng raised an eyebrow, holding her waist as their skin met.
"Oh, f**k!" Philipa yelped, her body moving with the rhythm.
What followed were her coquettish cries interspersed with bursts of profanity.
Outside the door...
Milisen stood frozen, holding a tray of lunch.
Hearing her daughter's increasingly intense cries, her face flushed as she hesitated.
Carefully, she turned and went back downstairs.
After some time, the number of customers in the tavern had dwindled.
Only then did Milisen return upstairs with the lunch tray and knock on the door.
Wu Heng was seated nearby, while Philipa sat shamelessly rubbing her sore backside.
"Sir, lunch is ready." She placed the dishes on the table one by one.
"Let's eat together." The three of them sat at the table.
They ate their meal quietly.
In the afternoon, Wu Heng led a squad to patrol Lighthouse Street again.
Along the way, he stopped at an alchemy supply store to buy some needed materials.
Then he returned home.
...…
Late at night...
Wu Heng opened his eyes.
He went downstairs and entered the room where the ritual had been conducted previously.
Taking out blood and gold dust, he began drawing a magic circle on the floor.
The "Spirit Sight" circle, which he had used for "Xiaoxiao" before, was much easier to draw now.
With the last stroke completed...
The circle closed, and a burst of energy rippled outward.
He double-checked the manuscript to ensure there were no mistakes before releasing two ghosts.
"What are we doing today?" Xiaoxiao asked curiously, looking at the circle.
Glenda also gazed at it with interest.
Wu Heng explained, "The materials for Spirit Sight are ready. It's time to give Glenda this ability too."
Xiaoxiao floated nearby, envious. "That's great! Aunt Glenda can chase down high-level enemies with a blade now."
"You make me sound like a gangster," Glenda said, then added, "Ordinary Professionals are fine, but high-level ones are still dangerous due to their knowledge and skills."
Wu Heng agreed.
The 18th-level Island Lord, Occam, hadn't shown overwhelming strength in battle...
But after death, he became a ghost retaining his original consciousness.
If he had attacked Xiaoxiao or Glenda instead of Wu Heng, things could have been dire.
"Glenda has a point. We should still be cautious," Wu Heng said.
"I don't even have sword-fighting skills. Why are you looking at me?" Xiaoxiao protested.
Glenda turned to Wu Heng. "What about the Island Lord's body?"
"It's been transformed. Only the ability to track people remains; all other abilities are gone," Wu Heng replied as he prepared the remaining materials.
Once everything was ready...
He said, "Glenda, follow the procedure. There's no danger."
"Understood!"
Glenda floated into the center of the circle.
Wu Heng placed the materials into the circle and activated it.
The materials disintegrated into energy and converged on Glenda.
The energies intertwined, forming a vortex.
[Skill Unlocked for Ghost: Spirit Sight.]
Without any issues, the process was a success.
Glenda returned to her original form, floating out of the circle.
"How is it?" Wu Heng asked while tidying up.
"Not bad. I can see your level now. You're almost at Level 18—you're truly an extraordinary human."
Xiaoxiao floated over. "I'll take you outside to look around."
Glenda nodded, eager to explore the world with her enhanced vision.
Seeing the two ghosts about to leave, Wu Heng cautioned, "Don't go near the guild. That old Gandalf guy can see ghosts."
"Got it!"
The two ghosts acknowledged and flew out.
Wu Heng cleaned up briefly before returning to his room to rest.
...…
The next day at the guild...
When Wu Heng entered his office, Andviel had already been there for a while.
Seeing him, she smiled and said, "Master, the squads have tallied the pirate flags they collected: 372 flags from small pirate crews, 147 from medium crews, and 13 from large crews."
That many pirate crews were killed?
During the battle with Occam, he had only glanced at the port, but there had been countless pirates.
The larger the pirate crew, the more ships they had.
Philipa's crew had three ships, let alone the others.
"Do all of them count for merits?" Wu Heng asked as he sat down.
Andviel checked her notes. "Currently, many pirate flags don't have merit records in the guild's system."
This meant some pirate crews weren't on the guild's bounty list.
They either operated secretly or were part-time pirates without much notoriety.
"Focus on tallying the major pirate crews and confirming their details."
"Understood," Andviel replied with a smile. "It looks like this battle has cleared the guild's entire bounty list in the Emerald Sea."
Wu Heng smirked. "Do you think word of our pirate slaying will spread along the coast?"
"It probably will. Master, you're about to become famous!"
"Keep it low-key. We still have plenty of enemies."
Andviel smiled warmly.
...…
Near afternoon...
Wu Heng's squad went on another patrol.
With nothing else to do, Wu Heng left the guild and found a secluded spot.
Donning a hood and veil, he boarded the Ghost Train.
In Lopez City, at the Snake Emblem Consortium...
Wu Heng entered the hall and presented his insignia.
The staff respectfully led him to a VIP room to wait.
Before long...
Rhythmic footsteps approached. The local head, "Lady Redily," dressed in a tailored red gown, knocked lightly and entered.
"Good afternoon, guest."
"Good afternoon." Wu Heng handed over his insignia. "Can you check the results of my previous request?"
Redily didn't take it, smiling. "The results are in. Please wait a moment."
She stepped out to give instructions.
Three coffins were brought in.
One by one, the coffins were opened.
Redily explained, "As per your request, we've gathered three Level 15 corpses: two alchemists specializing in potion research and one mechanist focusing on innovation and development."
Wu Heng was pleasantly surprised.
Such efficiency here?
On Gold-Silver Island, he had submitted requests repeatedly but couldn't gather any Level 15 corpses.
Yet here, his first request yielded three.
Feigning calm, he asked, "What were their causes of death?"
Redily replied, "One died of natural causes, one's cause is unknown—it was transported from a distant location—and the last was assassinated. You needn't worry, though; as long as you don't publicize this, there won't be trouble."
Wu Heng wasn't concerned about trouble.
Once turned into skeletons, only a forensic necromancer might reconstruct their appearance.
Besides, they'd be confined to the lab, out of sight.
"Even Level 15 Professionals get assassinated?"
Redily pondered. "You might not be aware, but the coastal regions are in turmoil. Many factions and families are clashing, leading to casualties."
"Could you elaborate on the reasons?"
Redily glanced at him, deciding to share some information with her valuable client. "You've heard of Gold-Silver Island, haven't you?"
Wu Heng's mind stirred. "Yes, the pirates' island."
"Recently, all the pirates attacked Gold-Silver Island, aiming to kill the stationed guild members and kidnap merchant guild representatives."
"How does that relate to other families?"
"Pirates have long been active in the Emerald Sea. Major pirate crews have high-level Professionals backing them, creating deep connections with smuggling merchants, supporting families, or bribed officials. Now that the pirates are wiped out, many are taking this opportunity to retaliate against those linked to them, causing widespread assassinations and brawls."
Wu Heng listened quietly.
The situation's development surprised him.
In other words, with the pirates dead...
Those who had hesitated before were now taking action against pirate collaborators.
Sensing her observing him, Wu Heng said, "Pirate deaths are a good thing."
Redily agreed, "Indeed, we don't like them either."
"I'm satisfied with these three corpses. Any progress on tools to conceal appearances?" Wu Heng shifted the topic.
He knew far more than the rumors circulating outside.
"Not yet, but we'll continue searching for you."
"Good. Please submit a new request. I need all Level 15+ Professional corpses, preferably those who died of natural causes or accidents."
"Understood. We aren't pirates; we conduct business within the rules."
Redily drafted the new request.
Wu Heng paid and stored the corpses away.
Without lingering, he left the consortium.
In a secluded spot, he boarded the train back to Gold-Silver Island.
...…
Upon returning home...
The sky had turned to dusk.
After dinner, Wu Heng transformed the corpses in the backyard.
All three skeletons stood up.
[Skeleton Alchemist (Level 15)]
[Skeleton Alchemist (Level 15)]
[Skeleton Mechanist (Level 15)]
Wu Heng focused on the mechanist.
Its attributes emphasized Intelligence and Constitution.
Its specialties were particularly notable.
[Specialties: Craftsmanship (Master), Mechanist Expertise (Master), Device Modification, Offensive Pressure, Rune Fusion, Energy Overload, Construct Exterior Crafting, Construct Interior Design.]
All specialties were related to machinery and structure.
"You're Expert No. 2. You're Expert No. 3. And you're Mechanist No. 1. Follow me upstairs," Wu Heng named them one by one, leading the skeletons upstairs.
He sent the two alchemists to the lab and called for Mechanist No. 1.
Taking out a third-tier corpse core, he instructed, "The three of you will focus on researching this material and developing potions to enhance living beings."
The skeletons didn't respond but remained standing.
"Alright, start your research. If you need anything, make a list, and I'll prepare it for you."
The skeletons turned and began working.
Wu Heng closed the door.
Taking Mechanist No. 1 downstairs...
The third floor housed Minnie and Andviel, with rooms left for Milisen and Philipa.
Wu Heng decided to set up Mechanist No. 1's workshop on the second floor.
...…
He chose a room on the north side.
The room was furnished with wooden tables, shelves, and cabinets.
"From now on, this will be your workspace."
Wu Heng said, taking out three thick stacks of blueprints.