Chapter 506: Spy Within a Spy
Over time, it seemed the old shaman hadn't changed much.
His skin was wrinkled, yet his body remained robust.
He was an old orc with green skin and a burly physique.
Wu Heng slowly descended from the stairs, smiling as he said, "Long time no see, Deputy Steward Eskar."
The orc shaman's furrowed brow immediately relaxed, revealing a smile that looked somewhat fierce due to his orcish features. "Deputy Steward Wu Heng!"
When Wu Heng left Rentam City, his title was Deputy Steward.
News of him becoming a Banner Holder had yet to reach this place.
"How have you been lately?" Wu Heng asked as he sat opposite him.
The orc shaman replied calmly, "Lady Wen Mansa has been managing the city well, and the Guild has remained peaceful."
"Wen Mansa told me it's thanks to your presence in the city that public order is so stable," Wu Heng said.
The orc's smile widened slightly, and he nodded, internally feeling validated that his presence indeed contributed to the city's peace.
"Deputy Steward Wu Heng, is there something important bringing you back this time?"
"Nothing major, just came back to take a look and handle a few things."
"Hmm, the outside world is often unstable. Returning here, to the city Wen Mansa has built, would ensure a life free of worries," the orc shaman said in the tone of an elder.
Wu Heng responded plainly, "The outside world also holds greater opportunities. While on Gold-Silver Island, my steward was a prince of the elf race and the strongest Tier 18 Professional. He once killed a Tier 17 Vagabond with a single sword strike, slicing him in two. There's also Dean Janvito, an 18th-level mage whose disciples are spread across the continent, wielding immense influence. I might even join his research association in the future, though I'm still hesitating."
The orc's brow twitched.
Clearly, he was surprised by the things Wu Heng had just said.
Two Tier 18 Professionals: one was the strongest elven prince, and the other a mage whose disciples were everywhere.
Incredible. The outside world was truly fascinating.
Just one trip outside had connected Wu Heng to such powerful figures.
In Rentam City, Tier 18 Professionals were practically legends.
After a moment of reflection, he said, "That's indeed different from a small place like ours."
After talking about the two Tier 18 Professionals he knew, Wu Heng continued, "I invited you here today to discuss something, Deputy Steward Eskar."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Someone gave me a few mining agreements." Wu Heng pulled out several documents.
[Sergan Tribe Iron Ore Procurement Agreement]
[Diaborg Copper Mine Procurement Agreement]
[...]
The orc shaman glanced at them and immediately understood their significance.
The locations listed were all orc tribal areas.
The mineral supplies were set for three years.
This ensured that the orcs wouldn't deny the agreements or fail to fulfill them.
The orc shaman looked up at Wu Heng and nodded. "If you can guarantee there won't be disputes later, I can help negotiate this."
"Don't worry, there won't be any disputes."
"In that case, I'll assist with the negotiations. These tribes have signed agreements, so they'll adhere to the terms. Who will handle the goods afterward?"
"Wen Mansa will manage them," Wu Heng replied.
He didn't plan to stay long here, and the mining provisions would last several years.
It was better to leave it to Wen Mansa to handle.
"Very well, I can ensure this won't be a problem," the orc shaman confirmed. Then he added, "One more thing. Once winter passes, I hope the city can provide more jobs for the orcs."
Wen Mansa glanced at Wu Heng, and seeing no objection,
she nodded and agreed, "That's fine. The City Lord's Mansion needs more craftsmen, and the outer district requires more workers for expansion. Orcs can be given priority, but we need to address public safety in advance. You must ensure the orcs won't cause trouble."
"I'll take care of that."
The three of them discussed further and finalized the arrangement.
It was essentially an exchange.
The orc shaman would assist with the mining agreements, and Wen Mansa would provide more jobs for orcs next year.
This would bring more orcs into Rentam City.
They continued with casual conversations, with the orc shaman expressing curiosity about Gold-Silver Island.
Wu Heng, in turn, asked about the orc tribes' stance toward the Ekow Kingdom.
The discussion lasted until around four in the afternoon.
The shaman then departed.
...
After the orc shaman left, Wu Heng handed all the agreements to Wen Mansa.
"Master, what are your plans for these resources?" Wen Mansa asked.
Wu Heng said, "I'll think about it and arrange something later."
Copper and iron were valuable resources, but Gold-Silver Island was quite far from here.
Transporting them to Gold-Silver Island via railway would be costly and time-consuming, making it more practical to buy from the island's merchant fleets.
If Wu Heng used the Ghost Train, he didn't have the time to handle these back-and-forth trips.
He would decide later whether to use the resources locally or sell them for revenue.
"Understood," Wen Mansa nodded.
They had dinner together in the dining hall.
...
Late at night, in the bedroom.
A faint knock on the door sounded.
Wu Heng and Wen Mansa both opened their eyes.
"What is it?" Wen Mansa asked.
From outside, the stewardess's voice replied, "Master, Madam, someone outside is requesting information."
"Come in and explain," Wen Mansa sat up, leaning against the headboard.
In the darkness, the door opened.
The stewardess entered, wearing her black-rimmed glasses and a beige nightgown.
"What's going on? Speak," Wen Mansa ordered.
The stewardess explained, "There's word outside inquiring about the City Lord's Mansion, specifically asking who killed the three Tier 15 Professionals and whether there's a powerful figure in the mansion."
"Did you respond?"
"No, I planned to consult with the Master and Madam before deciding how to reply," the stewardess said.
Wu Heng listened, slightly confused.
It seemed Wen Mansa's stewardess had a unique background.
He turned to Wen Mansa. "What's going on?"
Wen Mansa tidied her loose hair and began explaining the situation.
The stewardess, Hartle, was the wife of a municipal official and was placed in the City Lord's Mansion as an infiltrator.
During an attempt to steal documents, she was caught by the skeletal mage Deadbone.
High-level skeletons possessed intelligence comparable to living beings, often exceeding it. While they had artificial souls, they lacked emotion and couldn't speak.
When exposed, Hartle confessed everything.
Wen Mansa didn't kill her.
After confirming she wasn't bound by a slave contract, Wen Mansa signed a slave contract with her.
Hartle became Wen Mansa's slave.
This was why Wen Mansa trusted her so much.
Under the slave contract, there was no concern about Hartle developing harmful intentions toward her.
Currently, Hartle's husband was using her to gather intelligence on the City Lord's Mansion.
Meanwhile, Hartle provided false or trivial information while covertly gathering intelligence in return.
After hearing the explanation, Wu Heng looked at the two women in amazement.
A spy within a spy!
"Why not just kill that man?" Wu Heng asked curiously.
Wen Mansa explained, "Hartle's husband is tied to other factions. Killing him would prompt them to bribe someone else, so it's better to keep him in place and monitor his actions."
"Which faction?"
"The Ekow Kingdom."
Wu Heng frowned. "The Ekow Kingdom again?"
Was Hartle's husband associated with the merchant from before?
It didn't seem likely.
If they were working together, their plans wouldn't be so disjointed.
If they weren't, why was the Ekow Kingdom involved again?
And why were they all so fixated on Rentam City?