Chapter 267: Why Are They All Dead

Chapter 267: Why Are They All Dead

As she spoke, the woman removed her shoulder straps.

The low-cut dress slipped off, revealing her fair and ample body.

The woman cupped her breasts with her hands and continued, "Malik offended you; I am his woman and am willing to atone on his behalf."

As she spoke, her expression became increasingly pitiful and helpless.

Her cautious and timid demeanor, coupled with her half-naked figure, had a special impact.

It seems she was quite adept at seducing men.

Wu Heng looked at her and said, "Where are the girls you captured?"

"In... in the cabin below. Malik built a secret room to avoid inspections. I can take you there," the woman said directly.

"No need; I can find it myself."

Wu Heng said, then pulled the trigger of the submachine gun in his hand.

Gunshots exploded.

Before the woman could react, her body was riddled with bloody holes.

She looked at her body in horror and slowly collapsed.

After confirming her death, Wu Heng glanced at the corpse.

He instructed the skeletons to drag the two corpses back into the banquet hall.

......

The hall was silent.

Only the corpses on the dining table dripped blood, drop by drop.

Rotting corpses, guests, servants, or guards—no one survived. The floor was covered with bodies; not even a groan was heard.

The woman just now was probably the only one who had walked out alive.

However, given her actions and involvement with the secret cult,

She was destined to die here.

"Drag all the corpses wearing formal attire over here," Wu Heng said.

Skull-Crusher and Blood Axe began to move.

They started searching the hall for corpses.

Many had been chopped into pieces, their clothes stained blood-red, making them hard to identify.

In the end, including the two killed in the corridor, a total of six corpses were laid flat on the open space in front of him.

Wu Heng looked at them first.

He took off a spatial ring from both 'Malik' and an elderly nobleman's fingers.

Without checking what was inside, he put them away directly.

Then, he took out a tablet and began comparing them to the guild's wanted list.

From the first Malik to the last person.

Among them, only one corpse matched the appearance on the wanted list, and it was an ordinary warrant without any item rewards.

Malik and the others were indeed not on it.

Wu Heng found a wooden door, opened the Realm Gate, and said, "Move all these corpses inside."

The skeletons began to act, moving all the corpses except the wanted criminal's to the other side of the Realm Gate.

Hiding these people's corpses could save him a lot of trouble.

Those ordinary sailors or guards, even if they died on the ship and were involved in imprisoning girls and drinking blood, no one would care about their lives or deaths.

Soon, the corpses were moved.

......

Wu Heng took out a radio earpiece and placed it on one ear. "Orlin!"

"I'm here, Deputy Steward."

"Bring your team over!" Wu Heng said.

"Are you sure it's on the ship? I'll immediately notify the guild to request reinforcements and organize personnel to forcibly board," Orlin said seriously.

Wu Heng said, "No need; it's safe here. Just bring your team up."

"Ah? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. Come on over!"

He hung up the radio.

Wu Heng walked out of the banquet hall, descended the wooden stairs, and entered the lower cabins.

......

Lower Cabin

Dark and damp, the air was filled with a musty smell.

The guards at the door lay limp and dead at the entrance.

Wu Heng went forward to check; they were already lifeless.

There were no external wounds.

They must have signed a soul contract with 'Malik'.

At the moment of Malik's death, their souls also dissipated.

"Found them, over there!" Glenda phased in from one side and said.

Wu Heng came to a wooden wall, looked around, and asked, "How do we get through?"

"There's a mechanism on the wall lamp to the left. Pull the lamp arm to open it," Glenda said.

Compared to Wu Heng, Glenda was more familiar with these mechanisms.

Last time in the study of the City Lord's mansion in Rentam City, she had led Wu Heng to the treasure room behind the secret door.

Of course, with Wu Heng's current insight, he might have found the mechanism by studying carefully.

But it would certainly take some time.

Having Glenda tell him directly was faster.

Wu Heng walked over and pulled the lamp arm on the wall lamp. With a 'click', the wooden wall opened a crack.

A gentle push opened it completely.

Inside was still dark; in three iron cages, shadowy figures curled up in the corners could be vaguely seen.

Weak, helpless, and shivering.

Wu Heng didn't approach them to avoid scaring them. Softening his voice as much as possible, he said, "You are safe now. I am a Deputy Steward of the guild. I received a commission from your families to bring you back."

There was no response from inside the iron cages.

Several doubtful gazes carried a bit of distrust.

"Whose hair tie is this? Your mother gave it to me to bring you back."

Wu Heng took out the hair tie and tossed it in front of the huddled group.

......

Outside the Cargo Ship

After the gray-feathered owl confirmed there was no one on board, Team 3 quickly boarded the ship, cautiously looking around.

The night wind was cold; the deck was empty, not a soul in sight.

It was as if it were a ghost ship floating on the sea.

"Check it out!" Orlin ordered.

The team spread out slightly.

They inspected the deck.

"Captain, there's blood here; it's not dry yet."

"There are signs of a fight over here."

"There's an ear over here."

They reported one after another.

Proving that a battle had just occurred on the ship.

Their small boat was not far away.

Yet they hadn't heard any noise.

Orlin used his trained beast to fly around the ship again, confirming that there was indeed no one. He said directly, "Let's go below deck."

The others nodded, weapons in hand, and entered the ship.

......

Clang~!

Stepping into the corridor, an iron sword dangled underfoot.

Then a strong, nauseating smell of blood hit them.

Their faces grew increasingly grim, and they quickened their pace.

Passing through the corridor full of battle traces, when they pushed open the doors to the banquet hall, everyone's expressions changed dramatically.

The person in front instinctively stepped back, bumping into those behind.

The seemingly spacious and luxurious hall was already filled with corpses.

The dead were miserable, faces unrecognizable.

Many corpses were incomplete, chopped into several pieces, no longer resembling human forms.

Yet it was still eerily quiet.

Not a single sound.

"Damn it, what's going on?"

"These corpses look like rotting corpses. Did the Deputy Steward do this?"

"One person killed everyone on a ship?" someone questioned.

"How should I know!"

The dwarf Orlin gestured for everyone to be quiet.

Continuing to wander around aimlessly might reveal more unpleasant surprises.

Using the strange communication device on his head, he asked, "Deputy Steward, we're on the cargo ship. Where are you?"

From the radio earpiece came Wu Heng's voice, "I'm on the deck. I didn't see you."

"We'll be right there."

Orlin didn't want to stay here any longer, motioning his team to leave immediately.

They quickly ascended to the deck.

From a distance, they saw Wu Heng standing on the deck with several girls wrapped in animal skins.

A few glowstones illuminated the surroundings brightly.

......

"Deputy Steward!" Orlin approached.

"Have someone register these children's names and addresses. The rest of you tie the small boat below to the stern; we're heading back," Wu Heng ordered directly.

"Understood." Orlin immediately gave orders.

At this time, 'Sharktooth', who had stayed underwater, also climbed up the rope ladder.

"Sharktooth, go to the helm; we're heading back."

Sharktooth went down directly.

Soon, the cargo ship slowly began to move, approaching the port.

Orlin returned and said, "Deputy Steward, how should we explain this to the guild?"

These dead people weren't worthy of pity.

But the guild still had its procedures and regulations.

Not a single survivor on the ship; there would certainly be inquiries when they returned.

Asking the Deputy Steward now would give them an idea, so they wouldn't say the wrong thing later and provoke someone who could kill everyone on a ship alone.

Wu Heng said directly, "The people here captured these children and planned to hold a blood banquet—that is, drink the blood of living people. After I boarded the ship, I was attacked and had to fight back."

"They actually wanted to drink children's blood. These people really deserved to die," the dwarf angrily slammed the wooden rail.

"Indeed!"

"Deputy Steward, did everyone attending the banquet die?"

Wu Heng shook his head, "No, a few nobles with good skills jumped ship and escaped."

"Oh, I see. I know what to say now," Orlin said.

The two stood at the bow, enjoying the cool breeze.

Wu Heng suddenly thought about the ship and asked, "How are captured ships like this usually handled?"

According to the guild's regulations, spoils of war are distributed among the members.

If they can't use them or want to exchange them for merit, they can donate them to the guild.

Ships should also count as spoils.

The dwarf said directly, "There are two cases. If it's a wanted criminal's ship or a ship without affiliation, it's considered spoils and can be disposed of freely. If it's not a wanted criminal's ship, and a battle just happened on it or some special circumstances, it doesn't count as spoils."

Wu Heng nodded, indicating he understood.

The dwarf added, "This ship imprisoned these girls and even had a secret room. It's definitely a criminal's ship and will most likely be classified as spoils. I'll inform you if there's any news."

"Good, keep an eye on this matter."

"Understood."

Dawn broke on the horizon.

The cargo ship approached the dock.

Leaving a few people to guard the ship, the rest went to the guild to get more personnel.

The girls didn't cry or make a fuss; they huddled together and followed them to the guild.

Arriving at the guild.

Orlin went to handle the matter.

Wu Heng also returned home, glanced at the two girls sleeping soundly in the bedroom, and went to another room.

He opened the Realm Gate and went to the Zombie World.

......

Turning on the light.

In the bedroom, several corpses lay flat.

The smell of blood filled the entire room.

Wu Heng searched their bodies.

No magical items were found, but he found some gold and silver jewelry and some coins.

He had the skeletons move the corpses out.

Wu Heng then took out the spatial rings he had looted and began to inspect them.

[Spatial Ring (2 cubic meters)] [Spatial Ring (5 cubic meters)]

Both spatial rings weren't large.

They were relatively common in terms of space.

Wu Heng connected his mind to the internal space and took out the items one by one.

[Water-Walking Belt]

(Description: A belt engraved with water flow effects, allowing creatures to swim faster in water.)

Inside, he found a magical item.

It enhanced swimming ability.

He continued to look at the other items.

Personal clothing, some daily necessities engraved with special effects, a large amount of silver coins, and a small bag of gold coins.

Also, property deeds on Gold-Silver Island and freight cooperation contracts.

He threw aside the items he had no use for.

Wu Heng had the skeletons move the corpses outside and converted them all into skeletons.