Chapter 532, Say Something
The Church of Destiny was recently established and had no fixed territory.
This time, they had openly clashed with the guild, and even if they retreated now, the guild would issue wanted notices for them everywhere.
Therefore, there was no rush to leave.
Moreover, unlike others, he was a necromancer and had observed the entire island through his spectral spirits.
Lighthouse Street was prosperous, with merchant ships coming and going, and the houses and roads were well constructed. Outside the residential areas, various magical devices were still under expansion.
Compared to the islands and coastal villages he had seen, this place was far better.
"Grand Knight, what's your plan for tomorrow?" his subordinate asked softly again.
"You'll find out then. Let everyone else come back and rest. Spectral spirits will keep watch outside."
"Understood."
The subordinate retreated, carefully closing the door.
...…
The next morning.
Wu Heng and the squad leaders headed to the conference room for a meeting.
The assistant, 'Shiyali,' brought several staff members and laid out the prepared breakfast on the long table—each portion included dishes and soup.
Sheila Grey, clad in golden armor, sat at the head of the table. "Eat while we talk."
No one was polite; they all began eating at their seats.
Sheila Grey continued, "Yesterday, the squads checked two residential areas and the taverns on the commercial street. Today, focus on investigating the remaining residences. The areas already inspected should have tighter roadblocks to prevent the targets from slipping back in."
After assigning the tasks, Sheila Grey glanced at Wu Heng, who had finished his breakfast. Her eyes gleamed as she said, "Island Master Wu Heng, why don't you share some tips on dealing with necromancers?"
Wu Heng widened his eyes.
You're the one talking, so why drag me into this?
Sheila Grey maintained her smile. "Just mention a few key precautions to help everyone stay alert."
Wu Heng sighed and said, "Since the steward asked, I'll share the known intelligence and points to watch out for."
Everyone put down their utensils and turned to listen.
Wu Heng continued, "The enemy necromancer has at least two spectral spirits. This allows him to better observe the city and avoid our searches, making our investigation more difficult. The spectral spirits are also somewhat aggressive, so be extra careful."
"Secondly, the enemy can use shadow-based attacks from behind, possibly through necrotic shadows, though we're not certain yet. I don't know this spell myself, but if it's necrotic shadows, watch out for dark areas."
"Thirdly, beware of the enemy's undead minions. From last night's battle, we confirmed that he can use the Plague Insect Spell and Corpse Explosion. The Plague Insect Spell allows poisonous insects to hatch within dead bodies, and once the insects die, Corpse Explosion is triggered. If you see a corpse swelling or behaving abnormally, back away immediately to minimize harm."
As Wu Heng spoke, the squad members kept wiping sweat from their foreheads.
Necromancers were too difficult to deal with.
They could scout, you had to be wary of your own shadow, and their undead minions could hatch insects and explode.
How were they supposed to fight that?
It felt like they had no advantage at all.
Sheila Grey initially thought it sounded manageable, but as she listened, she noticed the squad leaders continuously wiping sweat and growing increasingly demoralized, as if they were being sent to their deaths.
"Alright, thanks, Island Master Wu Heng." Sheila Grey turned her head and glared at him in annoyance.
Wu Heng frowned in confusion. You asked me to speak, so why are you glaring at me now?
Sheila Grey clapped her hands. "Don't worry. Our job is to search and locate the targets. The skeleton guards under the island master will handle the combat. With so many of us, plus armored vehicles, we've already killed the level 18 Pirate King and the pirate fleet of the Emerald Sea. Why should we fear a newly established cult?"
The group murmured amongst themselves, realizing she had a point.
The enemy might not even be level 18, and they had already taken down level 18 Professionals.
Once the target was found, a single shot could leave nothing but bone fragments.
Wu Heng took wireless earpieces from his space ring. "One per squad. Those staying behind at the guild should also take one. Use this device to report any situation. I'll demonstrate how it works."
Each person took an earpiece, and Wu Heng showed them how to use it.
Many squad members had used similar devices before, and since they were simple to operate, a brief demonstration was enough for everyone to understand.
While they were fiddling with the earpieces, someone knocked on the conference room door.
A staff member entered, looking concerned. "Steward, there's news. The patrol pavilion in the northern district has been attacked. The guards stationed there were killed, and all the skeletons were destroyed."
The room fell silent as everyone's expressions darkened.
Sheila Grey's demeanor became instantly serious.
She fastened the sword from the table to her waist. "Everyone, follow the plan. Wu Heng, come with me to the scene. Those staying behind at the guild, tighten the defenses."
Swish!
Everyone stood up and headed outside.
They split up and followed their assigned tasks.
...…
Half an hour later.
The guild's carriage arrived at the northern patrol pavilion.
The pavilion served as a rest area for patrolling guards and typically housed a squad of skeletons to assist with city patrols.
The patrols were jointly selected by the guild and city hall, with the guild currently managing the patrol assignments.
Wu Heng and Sheila Grey got off the carriage.
In front of them was the cordoned-off pavilion and a gathering crowd.
A guard ran up—a middle-aged man with a serious expression and a hint of weariness in his eyes.
He saluted. "Island Master, Steward, we haven't disturbed the scene. Everything is inside."
"Let's go."
Inside the building, the tables and chairs were largely undisturbed.
Five corpses lay there—one had its head twisted backward, and the others had been killed by cold weapons.
The floor was littered with shattered skeleton bones.
Judging from the deaths, one had their neck snapped by a spectral spirit, while the others were killed by attackers who rushed inside.
However, this time, there was no Corpse Explosion or Plague Insect Spell.
The bodies were relatively intact.
"Have you questioned the nearby residents?" Sheila Grey asked.
The middle-aged guard replied, "We did, but no one saw anything. We discovered the situation during a routine patrol."
"You found it?"
"Yes, we were passing by and routinely stopped to check in. We usually greet each other and offer mutual support in case of danger."
Sheila Grey nodded. "Stay on guard outside and keep an eye out for suspicious individuals. They might have people in the crowd observing us."
"Understood." The guard stepped back outside.
Sheila Grey turned to Wu Heng. "This is retaliation. We killed their people yesterday, and now they're killing ours."
"It's more than retaliation."
Sheila Grey's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"We can't question the dead—put simply, they've already interrogated them. What did they ask those five people?"
Sheila Grey's eyes widened.
...…
Central district.
The road leading to the central district had checkpoints in place.
Patrols were more frequent than usual.
Defensive measures were in place within the guild. Teams of several people stood ready, and if anyone encountered a problem, surrounding members would immediately converge to provide support.
"I also need to order lunch, the same as breakfast, and have it delivered directly to the guild," Shiyali said, standing in the tavern as she placed the order for the group.
The tavern owner responded with a beaming smile, jotting everything down.
Maintaining good relations with the guild benefited the tavern's business.
Once she finished placing the order,
Shiyali put on her hood and adjusted the earpiece around her neck as she walked slowly outside.
Just as she stepped through the doorway, several tall figures blocked her path.
The air turned cold, carrying a faint stench of decay.
Shiyali's pupils dilated, and her heart raced as she forced herself to remain calm. Smiling, she said, "There aren't many customers in the tavern right now. Please, come in."
A hoarse voice replied, "Shiyali, the steward's assistant."