Chapter 698, It's Him
"What's wrong?" the cleric beside him turned curiously.
"The army is gathering from the camp, heading this way."
The light pillars visible to the wraiths indicated level, and such a dense and synchronized movement could only be the city's troops.
Which also meant one of the two captured individuals held a critical secret.
Something serious enough to make the city dare to go head-to-head with the Guild.
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room froze.
"Lord Wu Heng, where did you hear that? Are they crazy? Gathering troops against the Guild?" The cleric was still skeptical.
Not to mention whether they'd dare do it—
Even if they succeeded, HQ wouldn't let the city off the hook.
Unless they were ready to give up the city and live the rest of their lives on the run.
Wu Heng said plainly, "Go inform the elders, and repeat my exact words."
"Yes!" The team member immediately left the room.
Wu Heng turned his gaze to the Whitewing Gang leader, whose face now clearly showed a hint of joy—a look of being moments away from rescue.
"Kill him. We'll ask the corpse," Wu Heng ordered.
The gang leader's face changed drastically, eyes wide. "You're crazy! No, no—ask anything! I'll tell you everything, just don't do this!"
A skeleton attendant stepped forward, stabbing a short blade into his chest.
Blood gushed forth.
Two more stabs followed to hasten death.
Soon, the room filled with the scent of blood. The cleric frowned, but the investigator calmly recorded everything.
Wu Heng stood up and cast [Speak with Dead].
The corpse sat up on its knees, eyes turning toward them. "The population being sent to 'Bejaya City'—who was the official behind it?"
"Minister of the Interior, Morris."
"What was the purpose of transporting these people?"
"Not sure, but I suspect it was religious in nature."
Wu Heng turned to the cleric, who stared straight ahead.
As if saying, "Why are you looking at me?"
"It wasn't our church."
Wu Heng shifted his line of questioning.
"When you were captured, the man in dark clothing—who was he?"
The corpse replied, "Someone sent by Morris. We were supposed to help him get out of the city."
"Was he from the Snake Emblem Consortium?"
"Not sure. I don't think so. The Consortium left a long time ago."
Five questions done, the corpse collapsed with a thud.
Wu Heng turned to the investigator. "Got it all down?"
"Yes, noted."
"Let's go to the elders' room."
......
Leaving the room.
Elder Tapani was issuing commands; all rangers in the team had been deployed.
The others were also prepared for battle.
Seeing Wu Heng come out, and spotting the corpse being dragged out, he asked, "What did you learn?"
"The man behind trafficking women and children is the Minister of the Interior—Morris. As for the other man, he's most likely not from the Snake Emblem Consortium," Wu Heng reported.
Tapani nodded. "Kill him, question the corpse, then break through to the port."
It seemed they had made up their minds.
No more going through standard Guild procedures.
The two entered the room, bringing with them a scent of blood.
Inside, Janvito was still interrogating—without much success.
He glanced over.
Tapani spoke directly, "Wu Heng questions, investigator records."
Wu Heng glanced at the room, took the record book, and said, "Kill him. Speak with Dead."
The old man's face changed. "You have to follow proper procedure!"
Two swift stabs through the chest, and his body slumped.
Wu Heng wasted no time and cast [Speak with Dead].
The corpse sat up, eyes fixed on them.
Wu Heng asked, "Are you from the Snake Emblem Consortium?"
"No."
"Who ordered you to impersonate them?"
"The Commander-in-Chief, Luciana."
The room fell silent.
Everyone's expression turned grim.
Wu Heng was surprised, but it made sense.
Technically, the whole city was under the Lord's jurisdiction, but he rarely appeared. The only level-18 Professional here—it wasn't shocking he was behind it.
"Did the City Lord's office know about the Guild's involvement?"
"Yes."
So the whole setup had been prearranged.
To mislead the Guild with false leads and get them to wrap things up quickly.
Wu Heng continued, "Was the death of the local steward connected to these two?"
"Yes!"
Everyone tensed again.
Tapani's eyes flashed with anger.
So they'd been putting on a show.
And the true killers were these very two.
One final question remained.
Wu Heng asked, "Tell us what you know about the steward's death."
The corpse replied, "I only know that the Commander-in-Chief set up an ambush and killed the steward and several others. Their bodies were burned along with other battle casualties."
Five questions done. The corpse slumped again.
Tapani turned to the investigator. "Recorded?"
"Yes," the investigator nodded.
"Wrap the body."
Someone brought out a straw mat and rolled up the corpse. Tapani stored it in his spatial ring.
The interrogation ended.
A ranger rushed in.
"Elder, enemy troops have crossbows ready and are heading this way."
"How many?"
"A lot. Over five thousand."
Faces turned grim. "To the port. We'll fight our way aboard and escape."
"Yes."
The group moved out immediately.
Wu Heng ran back to his room, grabbed the radio, and called Philipa. No response.
He said, "The city's army is coming after us. Get ready to board and evacuate."
Then he put the device away.
Leaping from the upper floor, he followed the group toward the port.
......
Port.
A squad of city guards stood at the gangplank, looking up at the female captain and the skeletons. They smiled. "Captain from HQ, right? The Elder sent us to call you to the Guild. Urgent matter."
Philipa's eyes sharpened. She scanned the soldiers below. "The elder sent for me?"
The messenger's eyes twitched.
He instantly realized he'd slipped up.
A dagger slipped from his sleeve, lunging at Philipa's chest.
But Philipa was ready. She swiftly retreated, while a skeleton attendant stepped in, slicing at the attacker's head.
Clang~!
Metal rang out. The attacker staggered back several steps.
The soldiers behind him drew their weapons, shouting, "Kill everyone and take the ship—there's a reward from the Commander!"
They charged forward.
At the same time, forces surged from the alleys below the port, and ships on the sea moved in to block escape.
Philipa narrowed her eyes at the mass of charging soldiers.
Trouble.
It was full-scale war with the army.
"Prepare for battle."
"Also, lock up the Fifth Princess and her maid."