Chapter 298, Looking Forward to Your Performance

Chapter 298, Looking Forward to Your Performance 

Shanera's status was even more important than previously thought. 

She was the president of the largest merchant guild, and her family members were key officials. 

If she were to die on Gold-Silver Island, it would certainly be a big deal. 

Now that she lived next door to him, Wu Heng was responsible for her safety as well. 

Seeing Wu Heng frown. 

Imiro said, "Just keep an eye on things. The Star Flower Merchant Guild has its own guards, so you might not even be needed." 

"Hmm, since the Steward has assigned this, I'll do my best," Wu Heng replied, not saying much more. 

He got along well with Shanera, after all. 

If she really needed help, he would do his best to assist. 

"Good." Imiro nodded and continued, "One more thing. Recently, pirate groups have been frequently disrupting shipping routes. The guild has set a target—you and Sheila Grey must each take down a tier-3 bounty pirate within the month." 

Wu Heng frowned again. 

A month. 

It seemed like a long time, but at sea, it was very tight. 

The sea was different from the land. One shipping route could take a month. 

Without precise intel, or if the pirates fled by the time he arrived, he could end up running out of time on the return trip. 

The guild's target was likely related to the disruption of shipping routes, but also to the incident where Shanera was kidnapped. 

"What happens if we fail?" 

"It'll be noted in your record and could affect future promotions." 

Oh, so there was no real punishment. 

He didn't have much ambition to climb higher anyway. 

Wu Heng thought for a moment and said, "Steward, I lack intelligence. Is there any source I can rely on?" 

Imiro sipped his water, "You'll have to develop your own contacts. The guild can assist you when necessary." 

Seeing that there wasn't much help from Imiro either. 

Wu Heng nodded, "Alright, I understand." 

With that, he stood up and left the Steward's office. 

Returning to his own office. 

......... 

Inside the room. 

Andviel, dressed in guild attire, sat straight-backed at the desk, working. 

When she saw Wu Heng enter, she smiled and asked, "Master, nothing serious, right?" 

"No, the Steward knows that Shanera lives next door and wants us to keep an eye on her safety. The second thing is that we need to take down a bounty pirate within the month," Wu Heng explained. 

Andviel frowned slightly, "Even the Deputy Steward has to take on tasks?" 

"Maybe the pirates are causing more trouble lately." 

"Hmm, the number of merchant fleets docking recently has dropped a lot. It must be the pirates." 

Wu Heng rubbed her head, "Yeah, it seems things on the island might not be too safe for now. Head home early if you're free this afternoon." 

"Alright. Are you heading home, Master?" 

"I'm off to buy alchemy materials, so I won't be joining you." 

"Okay!" 

Leaving the guild, Wu Heng hailed a carriage and headed to Lighthouse Street. 

Upon arrival at Lighthouse Street. 

Wu Heng visited the alchemy materials shop. 

Following the skeleton alchemist's list, he bought a certain amount of materials and alchemical tools. 

Then he chatted with the shop owner. 

Recently, the shipping routes had indeed faced issues, and supplies were becoming scarcer. 

It wouldn't be long before they ran out of stock. 

After chatting for a while, Wu Heng left the materials shop and headed into a nearby tavern to see if he could overhear any useful information. 

He stayed through dinner, but heard and saw nothing of value. 

After settling the bill and declining the colorful waitress's invitation, he headed home. 

......... 

Back at his place. 

A note from Minnie was left on the table. 

It said she had gone next door to learn painting from Sister Shanera. 

She had written it using Earth's Chinese characters, and they were surprisingly neat. 

Minnie's lively and warm nature had led her to grow close with Shanera, and she now affectionately called her sister. 

Confirming that Minnie was fine, Wu Heng went straight to the fourth floor. 

He handed the materials and alchemical tools to the skeleton alchemist. 

Expert One's six arms moved in unison, setting up the equipment and preparing potions. 

The fluidity of its movements surprised Wu Heng. 

The coordination of the six arms was impressive. Wu Heng thought it might make a decent swordsman or warrior. 

He watched for a while, then closed the door. 

Returning to his study, he sat at his desk, deep in thought. 

The guild's order to kill a pirate didn't really affect him much. 

If he failed, it would just be noted in his records. 

But in Wu Heng's original plan. 

He had intended to gather intel on the Dragon Pirate Group. 

Dragons had shown strong bombing capabilities in clearing zombies. 

He had long wanted to get his hands on a few more. 

"If I can pinpoint the pirate group with dragons, I could solve two problems at once. But how can I develop informants within the pirates?" 

"Tomorrow, I'll ask the Six-Armed Woman for intel. It'll just cost me some money." 

Sitting in his chair, he went over the plan in his head. 

Then he opened the portal to the zombie world. 

......... 

In the other world, it was also noon. 

The auto repair shop's convoy formed a long line as survivors scavenged for supplies in the area. 

Loading them onto the trucks and transporting them back to the bus station. 

Wu Heng stepped out of the hotel. 

In the distance, Li Yanhong spotted him and quickly walked over. 

She took two bottles of tier-1 corpse core potions from her backpack and handed them over, "The alchemical skeleton gave these to me when I delivered the corpse cores." 

Wu Heng glanced at them and, after confirming they were tier-1 corpse core potions, said, "Keep one for yourself. Take it when you have time." 

After several doses. 

Li Yanhong's constitution had improved, and Wu Heng no longer needed to watch over her each time. 

"I've taken several bottles, but I still haven't awakened any abilities." 

"It's not that easy. Even without awakening, improving your physique is a good thing," Wu Heng encouraged her with a smile. 

"Alright!" Li Yanhong took the bottle and put it in her backpack. 

She continued, "Oh, by the way, the survivors who joined a few days ago mentioned seeing what looked like a wrecked armored vehicle on the roadside while they were escaping." 

"An armored vehicle, on the roadside?" 

Normally, you wouldn't see such things in the city. 

"They weren't sure, just said it looked like one when they passed by. They were fleeing from a zombie horde, so it might not even be real," Li Yanhong added. 

Wu Heng thought that made sense, "Where did they see it?" 

Li Yanhong pulled out a tablet, opened the map, and zoomed in on a location, "They said it was here, but the car was moving fast, so they could only confirm it was along this route." 

Wu Heng took the tablet and looked at the map. 

The location wasn't on the main road but on a southern road. 

It was the direction those people had escaped from. 

"What's the situation with the zombies?" 

Li Yanhong continued, "The zombies followed them, so there shouldn't be many left in the area. I think we can check it out." 

That made sense. The group had escaped with a large horde following them. 

Even though the skeleton dragons had bombed the horde from above all day, it lasted until dusk. 

There might be some zombies left, but the number should be small. 

"Get ready, let's go take a look!" 

"Got it!" 

Li Yanhong went off to make preparations. 

Before long, the bus and two trucks rolled up. 

Wu Heng boarded the bus with his skeletons, and the convoy headed toward the location. 

......... 

The bus moved slowly. 

The sound of bones grinding echoed from outside. 

Li Yanhong briefed him on recent developments and future plans. 

It seemed there had been a meeting. 

She covered everything in detail. 

Wu Heng listened and had no objections. 

He felt the auto repair shop's development strategy was solid. 

After the conversation, Wu Heng said, "When there's time, make another trip to the prison to bring all the alchemical skeletons over." 

As the frontlines kept expanding, it was becoming inconvenient to keep going back to the prison. 

Wu Heng figured it was best to relocate the alchemical skeletons to the fourth floor of his Gold-Silver Island residence. 

That way, he could easily resupply materials and retrieve potions without sending Li Yanhong every time. 

"Okay!" Li Yanhong agreed right away and added, "What about the freezers and those jars?" 

"Leave the freezers, but bring the jars." 

The freezers could be replaced nearby. What mattered most were the materials and organ jars left behind. 

"Got it, I'll arrange for it tomorrow." 

"Good girl!" Wu Heng praised her. 

Li Yanhong rolled her eyes and then said, "I'm not going home tonight. I'll let you see just how good I can be." 

"Looking forward to your performance." 

"You're the one performing!" 

As they bantered, Qiangzi's voice came over the radio. 

"Sister Hong, we've spotted the armored vehicle ahead. It really is an armored vehicle." 

Li Yanhong picked up the radio, "Are there any zombies?" 

"There are, but not many, only a few hundred. They've been drawn toward the convoy." 

Wu Heng released Xiaoxiao, who shot through the roof, hovering in the air for a look ahead. 

After returning to his body, he shared the vision. 

In the distance, he saw two military green armored vehicles. 

At the same time, about two hundred zombies were clawing their way toward them. 

"Skeleton army, attack. Eliminate the zombies," Wu Heng ordered the large-headed skeleton behind him. 

Clatter, clatter~! 

The skeleton troops, who had been marching steadily, suddenly charged forward. 

They crashed into the approaching zombies, spears, iron swords, and battle axes stabbing and slashing, cutting down the zombies in a flash. 

The convoy pulled over to the side. 

Several people got out, their gazes falling on the bloodstained armored vehicles.