Chapter 358, Puppet Control
Sheila Grey left, and Wu Heng went directly to the steward's office.
He knocked lightly on the door, then pushed it open and walked in.
Imiro was still sitting behind the desk, organizing documents in his hands.
He looked up at Wu Heng and asked, "Why didn't you interrogate the corpse yesterday?"
"There were some other leads, so I didn't rush to interrogate," Wu Heng replied.
"The matter involves framing a Guild deputy steward, it's not a small matter. Don't delay the investigation's progress." Imiro put the documents aside, reminding him.
He was clearly implying Wu Heng had delayed the interrogation.
"I understand," Wu Heng continued to explain, "The body came ashore after my suspension, so the important clue is still the person who killed the head of the Deer Antler Merchant Group."
"Do you have any leads now?"
"Only some scattered clues, still investigating."
Imiro looked at him and said, "I'll give you one day."
"Understood!"
"Hmm, go over there and split the spoils with Moya."
"Alright!"
...
Moya walked over from the side.
With a wave of her hand over the coffee table.
Yesterday's spoils were laid out in order on the table.
Weapons and armor, tools, scrolls, a bag of gold coins, lots of silver coins, and a book.
Quite a variety, and the amount of gold coins far exceeded the silver coins.
"Two curiosities, six magical items, thirteen scrolls, and a book," Moya said.
Wu Heng focused on the curiosities.
Besides the [Mist Condensing Evil Sword (Curiosity)] from yesterday, there was also the [Brute Armguards (Curiosity)].
[Brute Armguards (Curiosity)]
[Effect: Increases the wearer's agility.]
[Side Effect: Decreases rationality.]
(Description: Strength should be faced head-on.)
The second curiosity was an item that could help with mobility, but at a high cost.
Losing rationality.
Such curiosities that affected mental states were actually quite deadly.
Combat was not just a contest of strength, but also a game of thinking and tactics.
The more you fought, the less you thought—a rather fatal flaw.
"The Mist Condensing Evil Sword is a famous sword. Its effect allows the user to appear behind the target in battle, but the side effect is an influence on the user's psychological state."
"The second item is the Brute Armguards, which allows the wearer to move faster in battle, but the side effect makes the wearer more impulsive."
Seeing him looking at the two curiosities, Moya softly explained.
Wu Heng nodded and looked at the magical items.
There were many kinds of magical items, two of which were still single-edged long swords, with the magical effects of sharpness and armor penetration.
The remaining magical items were the [Spatial Ring (5 cubic meters)], the [Veil Cloak], the [Flint Ring], and the [Magic Incense Burner].
The number of items was still considerable.
But they weren't of much use to him.
He looked past a few one-time-use magical scrolls, and finally focused on the book [Magic Tattoo].
When fighting Kelanmu, his tattoos had shown a rather strange combat style.
Also, moving along the ground, physical attacks hardly affected the tattoo.
It seemed to be related to this book.
Did he tattoo himself?
One hand tattooing the other arm?
Moya gave a general introduction, mainly focusing on the curiosities and magical items, and continued, "The most valuable item here is the Evil Sword. Weapon-type curiosities are rare and expensive. My suggestion is that the Evil Sword counts as one share, and the remaining curiosities and items count as another."
Wu Heng frowned.
Was the Evil Sword really worth that much?
One item, worth all the other items combined.
"I have no objections!"
"Hmm, you pick first," Moya said.
Wu Heng replied directly, "Then I won't be polite, I'll choose the Evil Sword."
He had a few curiosities, but their effects were all auxiliary.
For example, the invisibility effect of the burial cloth, the illusion transformation of the veil, and the tracking effect of the tracking pendant.
Once in battle, they were hardly of much use.
And this Evil Sword, even though he wasn't proficient in swordsmanship.
Appearing suddenly behind the enemy could still pose a certain threat.
At least give them a scare.
Moya didn't say much, she directly put away the other items and handed him the Evil Sword, "It's yours."
"Thank you!" Wu Heng took it and put it into his spatial ring.
The transaction was over.
Wu Heng stood up, "Steward, I've made my choice."
"Hmm, quickly resolve the Deer Antler Merchant Group issue."
"Understood!" Wu Heng nodded and left the office.
...
Leaving the steward's office, Wu Heng went straight to his own office.
He picked up the skeletal investigator's report and looked at it, still no significant information.
It seemed Kalema didn't say much when he was alone in the room.
He took out the newly acquired Evil Sword, examining it closely.
He drew it from its scabbard.
The blade was sharp, exuding a sense of chilling killing intent.
In the middle of the open space, he practiced a couple of sword moves.
He said softly, "I wonder just how powerful Imiro is?"
As soon as he spoke.
Wu Heng was suddenly startled, his hair standing on end.
In that moment, he indeed had a thought of challenging Imiro.
Was he getting too bold?
A person who deterred pirates from landing, who was stationed on Gold-Silver Island to keep the island lord in check.
Why would he think of challenging him?
His eyes then fell on the weapon in his hand.
[Side Effect: Affects the wielder's mind.]
Was this what it meant?
Was this weapon affecting me?
"I have enhanced willpower; how could I still be influenced?"
He threw the weapon onto the desk.
This thing was truly evil.
If he really took up the sword and went after Imiro, maybe it would be fine. At most, Imiro would think he was crazy and beat him up, then investigate the cause.
But if he went to challenge other powerful people, he might not even know how he died.
...
Knock, knock, knock~!
Wu Heng had just sat down at the desk when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in!"
The door opened, and a woman in a gray cloak walked in, her head lowered.
She quickly entered, then removed her hood.
Milisen, Philipa's mother.
"Deputy Steward!" Milisen greeted respectfully.
It was clear that Milisen looked quite well.
Her mental state was also much better than before.
"What's going on?" Wu Heng asked.
In terms of intelligence gathering, her coming directly was quite risky.
If someone followed her or recognized her.
It could easily lead to trouble.
"Sir, today a gnome guest checked out, and when we cleaned his room, we found these." Milisen took a few items from her side pouch.
A black wig, some ragged strips of cloth, and various wooden pieces, seemingly parts of something.
Black hair?
A gnome?
The gnome's small stature didn't match any of the three who had impersonated him.
But it was clearly related to the matter.
"You said he checked out? Where did he go?" Wu Heng asked directly.
Milisen answered, "He headed towards the port, likely planning to leave the island."
Wu Heng nodded, starting to put on his leather armor, "Do you know which ship?"
"No idea!"
"Hmm, you did well. You should go back now; I'll come find you once this is handled," Wu Heng said directly.
"Understood, sir."
Milisen put on her hood and left. Wu Heng, after preparing himself, also left with 'Skull-crusher.'
He took a Guild carriage towards the port.
...
On the way, Sheila Grey was leading her squad, still questioning taverns.
The carriage stopped, and Wu Heng poked his head out, "Sheila Grey, I've got a lead."
Sheila Grey looked up, frowning, "What lead?"
"Get in first!"
Sheila Grey opened the door and climbed in.
Wu Heng quickly explained the intel he had received.
He didn't mention Milisen, only that the intel included the gnome and the black wig.
Sheila Grey nodded, pulled the curtain aside, and said to the squad outside, "Let's go, we're heading to the port."
The carriage resumed moving towards the port.
...
They soon arrived at the port.
They headed to the shipping office.
Seeing the Guild members' imposing manner, the shipping officer was a bit nervous.
"What can I do for you, sirs?"
Sheila Grey asked, "Did any ships leave today? What times?"
"Several ships left this morning."
"Which ships are leaving next?"
The officer immediately flipped through his records, "Dock 5, then Dock 7 and 9. In the afternoon, Dock 11..."
The group listened attentively.
Wu Heng had a thought, and Glenda and Xiaoxiao flew out from his body, invisible, heading towards the respective docks.
Sheila Grey also gave an order, "One team per ship, look for a gnome in a blue-gray robe, wearing a hood."
"Yes." The squads quickly split up, heading towards the cargo ships.
Soon, Glenda and Xiaoxiao returned from afar.
They entered his body.
The next moment, a shared vision from Glenda appeared in his mind.
A dimly lit cabin.
A gnome sat on a wooden bed, leaning on his knees, waiting for the ship to depart.
His eyes kept darting to the cabin entrance, looking anxious.
It was him!
"Dock 7!" Wu Heng said.
The group quickly followed, boarding the ship together.
...
In a small cabin.
The gnome sat on the wooden bed, arms resting on his knees, waiting silently.
Whenever he heard footsteps in the corridor, he would anxiously look at the door.
He had heard about what had happened recently.
The Guild had been getting stricter, and the person who hired him had disappeared.
"As long as I leave here, I'll be safe!"
The gnome took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
But he couldn't help regretting getting involved in this mess.
Tap, tap, tap~!
Suddenly, a series of rapid footsteps sounded again.
The gnome's heart tightened instantly.
Just as he was listening intently.
Bang~! A loud crash.
The door was kicked open.
Squad members blocked the entrance, weapons aimed at him.
The gnome's face changed dramatically, but he forced himself to stay calm, "Sirs, what's going on? This seems to be my room."
Wu Heng eyed him up and down, "Don't know me? Or did you think the Guild wouldn't find you here?"
The gnome's face changed, and he suddenly flung his hands forward, fingers spread wide.
Two oversized, exaggerated wooden puppets lunged forward.
Suddenly, the puppets opened their large mouths, one spraying black oil, the other spitting flames.
Whoosh~ Boom!
Instantly, an explosion echoed.
The cabin was instantly engulfed in flames.
The squad members at the door scattered to avoid the fire.
The gnome's fingers twisted again, and a dog-shaped puppet emerged from his spatial ring.
He mounted its back, charging forward with his head down.
"You useless fools, if you have the guts, go catch 'Ewald,' don't waste your strength on me."
The gnome shouted, riding the puppet, speeding away.
The flames continued to spread through the cabin.
Wu Heng watched the fleeing figure and immediately drew his rifle, pulling the trigger.
Bang, bang, bang~!
Bullets whizzed out, hitting the target precisely.
Blood splattered, and the gnome fell from the puppet, staggering as he tried to stand, fingers still attempting to operate.
Sheila Grey's footsteps were light, her form a shadow, shooting forward and sending the gnome flying again.
Her longsword was pressed against his throat.
"Damn it! I... I give up." The gnome spat blood, speaking loudly.
His equipment was removed.
He was also detained by squad members.
"Evacuate the crowd, organize people to put out the fire, Team One come with me to take the prisoner back." Sheila Grey ordered again.
"Yes!"
Team One took the prisoner away, while the others organized a firefighting effort.
...
In the dark dungeon.
Imiro, Moya, Kalema, and two investigators came downstairs.
Wu Heng stepped forward and recounted what had happened.
The group looked at the gnome in the cell.
The gnome turned over, looking towards them.
"Hmph, come to see your daddy? I have the right to come and go from the island freely, you've taken me for no reason, I'll report you to the Guild." The gnome cursed loudly.
On the ship, he had surrendered, but once in the Guild's dungeon, he changed his story.
Wu Heng glanced aside.
Imiro, hands behind his back, said directly, "Kill him and interrogate the corpse."
Clearly, his patience had run out.
Upon hearing this, the gnome's face changed instantly, "Imiro, you're insane, the Guild doesn't allow random killings."
"Kill him!" Imiro said bluntly.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Arrows shot through the iron bars.
Instantly, the gnome's body was riddled, his face filled with shock and terror as he fell to the ground.
Wu Heng immediately used [Speak with Dead], and the corpse sat up.
"Who killed the head of the Deer Antler Merchant Group four days ago?" Wu Heng asked.
"Me!"
"How did you kill him?" Wu Heng continued.
The corpse replied, "I controlled three puppets, disguised as you, and killed the target."
With that, the whole scenario became clear.
The reason there were three people.
It was actually the gnome controlling three puppets, mimicking Wu Heng and the skeletal servant.
Given the dim light and the dying victim, it was difficult to discern more clues.
It easily led the suspicion towards the only necromancer in the Gold-Silver Island Guild.
During the investigation, the single set of small footprints Sheila Grey mentioned was because the gnome had retracted the puppets and fled alone.
It was all the gnome's doing, yet the investigation had always been focused on three people.
The investigators behind kept taking notes.
Wu Heng continued, "Why frame me?"
The gnome replied, "Ewald promised me money."
"What did he say to you?"
"He told me to imitate your appearance; the rest wasn't my concern."
One last question.
Wu Heng thought for a moment and asked, "Tell me everything about this 'Ewald.'"
"Ewald, captain of the Oruchi."
After answering, the corpse collapsed back to the ground.
...
The dungeon returned to silence.
Imiro spoke directly, "Notify the port, the Oruchi cargo ship is not allowed to leave. Search for 'Ewald.'"
"Yes!" Everyone nodded.
"Imiro, you should pay more attention to Gold-Silver Island. These people even dared to target a deputy steward." Kalema said with a smile.
Imiro nodded, "I was focused only on the pirates. It seems I need to pay more attention to local security."
Kalema then looked at Wu Heng, "Since everything has been clarified, as of today, Wu Heng's position as deputy steward is restored."
"Thank you!" Wu Heng expressed his gratitude.
"I may have carried some professional bias when I previously removed you. Deputy Steward Wu Heng, I hope you don't hold it against me." Kalema sighed.
"Not at all, we were just following procedure."
"Hmm!" Kalema nodded, leaving with Imiro.
...
Wu Heng followed behind with Sheila Grey.
Sheila Grey said, "Kalema isn't so bad after all. He even apologized to you."
"Yeah."