Chapter 699, Why Is It You
The assassination attempt on Philipa failed.
Immediately after, the sound of chaotic footsteps echoed.
A large number of patrol units and city guards gathered at the road ahead, swords drawn, crossbows loaded, all eyes fixed on the fleet.
Meanwhile, twelve Yeko Kingdom navy ships appeared at sea, quickly forming a blockade and tossing barrels into the water.
Floating on the surface, they completely blocked the port's exit.
Philipa glared sharply at the crowd gathering, scanning every move they made.
Having been a pirate and fought alongside Wu Heng in bloody battles, she showed no sign of panic.
"Philipa, why are you arresting me?!" The Fifth Princess struggled against the skeleton restraining her, shouting loudly.
Philipa turned and replied, "Sit still."
The Fifth Princess looked at the naval blockade and the soldiers gathering at the port, her face turning pale again.
The current situation gave her a clear idea of what was going on.
If the killer had just been the gang leader uncovered yesterday, the case would be nearly closed.
But the sudden mobilization of the army meant the investigation had uncovered new clues.
And clues tied directly to the city's leadership.
These people were endangering both the city and the entire Yeko Kingdom.
Looking around at everyone, the Fifth Princess turned back to Philipa and said, "I admit I lost. My life's yours. Take me with you to save Wu Heng. I'm still royalty."
Philipa looked at her seriously. "The Guild has high-ranking elders. Forget being a runaway Fifth Princess—even your father might not help."
"You're so rude."
"Tch." Philipa chuckled.
Behind her, scores of skeletons began gathering at the deck's edge.
Equipped in naval armor, holding rifles.
They used the railing as cover and prepared for battle.
Below, the army had completed formation—infantry up front, crossbowmen in the back, even ballistae being rolled out.
A chilling atmosphere spread instantly.
It was a pressure no mere pirates or bandits could generate.
Then two soldiers carried out chairs and placed them at the army's center.
A tall, thin man in a commander's uniform swaggered forward and sat down, legs crossed, facing ahead.
He mumbled something quietly.
Then a soldier rushed near the ships, shouting, "Crew above! All vessels are now under our control. Disembark immediately!"
"Talks too much. Shoot him," Philipa said.
Bang~!
A nearby skeleton raised a gun. The gunshot rang out, and the shouting soldier collapsed in blood.
The distant army flinched at the sudden shot.
Then the Yeko Kingdom army blew their horns.
A deep, thunderous horn blast rolled out.
Kill~!
Shouts of battle rang across the area.
The army charged toward the port.
Infantry led, crossbowmen followed, advancing until within range to attack.
As they neared, they began climbing the gangplanks.
Philipa peeked down and barked, "Shoot them, damn it!"
Skeletons rose from the deck's edge, gun barrels aimed at the crowd below.
Bang~!
Bang bang bang~!
Rifles opened fire, followed by machine guns stationed on higher platforms spewing fire.
Instantly, bullets rained from the docked ships. The front-line soldiers dropped in droves.
Boom boom~!
The ballistae hadn't even reached firing position before cannon shells hit them.
The machines exploded, operators torn apart.
"Blast those mages next," Philipa ordered.
The cannon shifted aim.
The mage squad below broke into panic.
An instant later, explosions tore through their ranks. Slower mages were blown sky-high.
The Fifth Princess and her maid huddled behind the railing, covering their ears.
What the hell was this?
The Kingdom's army, seemingly mighty, crumbled like nothing.
Charging straight in—only to fall like wheat before a scythe.
What were these weapons~!
"Princess, what are those?!" the maid yelled.
"Probably the mysterious weapons from Gold-Silver Island—the ones they used against pirates," the Princess replied instinctively.
Watching soldiers die en masse—
She felt a deep unease. Even if Netare City was in the wrong, these were still Kingdom soldiers.
But without fighting back, the Guild would've been slaughtered.
The consequences would've been even worse.
"Blast that commander!" Philipa barked again.
The cannon shifted again, barrel tilting higher.
The commander, already stunned, saw the cannon aimed at him. He panicked and bolted.
Boom boom~!
The area behind him erupted.
Shards of flesh and limbs flew. His body was tossed like a rag doll.
"Damn, just missed," Philipa slapped the railing.
If he didn't die, he could recover with potions. So close.
Philipa glanced back—toward the Emerald Sea. The Yeko navy lingered, not approaching.
"They're dispersing!" the maid shouted.
Looking back to the port—
The charging army was retreating in shambles, leaving only corpses behind.
Some still alive but severely wounded lay screaming.
"What now?" the Fifth Princess asked.
Philipa scanned the area and told the heavily armored skeleton beside her, "Split the Wyvern Skeletons into two groups—one hits the ships at sea, the other targets those hiding inland. The rest will clear the path for Wu Heng."
There were still plenty of enemies around.
Though they retreated, they merely hid behind buildings.
And Wu Heng hadn't returned yet.
Her side had ships and coastal defenses.
Wu Heng was still in the city—likely in greater danger.
It didn't matter if the HQ people lived—but Wu Heng must survive.
As the command went out, a whirring sound rose from the large freighter.
One by one, Wyvern Skeletons leapt off the sides, circling in the sky before splitting up.
Upon reaching altitude—
Their chest compartments opened, releasing a torrent of iron rain from above.
Smoke and dust filled the sky, blotting out the sun.
......
On the main road to the port—
The Guild quickened its pace.
Not just Wu Heng and the HQ staff, but also local members and family members were in the group.
Both sides had laid their cards on the table.
Anyone left behind would be executed.
"Uncle, there's poison smoke," came a voice in Wu Heng's ear.
At the same moment, black, pungent smoke rose from both sides, rolling toward them.
"Poison gas! Gear up!" Wu Heng shouted, donning his gas mask.
Others followed suit, using gear or hoods to cover their faces.
The clerics rushed to the elder and old mage, placing hands on them, casting shields to repel the gas.
The two strongest members had to be protected—only then could others survive.
Mage Janvito swung his staff, summoning a gale.
The gas dispersed—then rolled back in.
"We already gave you a killer. Why not leave? You're choosing death," came a cold voice from the fog.
Vague figures emerged through the smoke.
"It's the level-18 Commander-in-Chief," said Glenda.
Wu Heng stepped up and said softly, "It's the city's Commander—an 18th-level Professional. I investigated him before."
Elder Tapani narrowed his eyes.
No wonder. The city had an 18th-level Professional.
He nodded and spoke forward, "Killing Guild HQ members—do you know what that means? Not just your deaths—your families, your entire Kingdom will suffer."
Meanwhile, people behind him began collapsing from the gas.
Antidotes were ineffective; clerics could only protect a few with shields.
Tapani turned and whispered, "Danger. Get Wu Heng and Sim out with teleportation."
Janvito asked, "What about the others?"
"Let fate decide."
"Alright."
The group whispered quietly.
From the fog came mocking laughter. "Heh~! More people? Fine, we'll kill them too."
"Arrogant!"
Tapani roared and dashed into the fog.
Wind and thunder followed his move.
Inside the smoke, his silhouette clashed with foes—sword light and fist force exploded everywhere.
"Kill~!" Battle cries rang all around.
Kingdom soldiers emerged from both sides, covering mouths but clearly immune.
Likely armed with special antidotes.
"Defend!" Janvito shouted, staff raised. Boom boom~!
Chains of lightning struck from the sky.
Those hit collapsed, charred black.
Guild members drew weapons and charged.
Bang bang bang~!
Near Wu Heng, skeletons raised machine guns and mowed down waves of enemies.
He used [Battlefield of the Dead] to cast [Raise Corpse].
The dead rose as Rotting Corpses, claws bared.
When killed, they turned into bowl-sized spiders.
When spiders died, Cursed Blast triggered.
Necrotic poison spread all around.
Wu Heng's position became a zone of separation.
"Stop killing—find their commander!" Wu Heng ordered.
The three wraiths stopped fighting.
They scattered and flew in different directions.
Wu Heng checked the lines—his Rotting Corpses could hold for now. He moved to help others.
Firing his rifle, raising more corpses.
Necromancer—perfect for this kind of fight.
As long as there were corpses, he could keep going.
......
"Wu Heng, the island lord is in that building—he's commanding everything," Beni whispered.
Found the commander.
"Tell Glenda to kill him."
"Can't. He's using an artifact," said Glenda.
Figures. Well prepared.
"I'll do it," Wu Heng said.
"The building's a trap. They're waiting for Janvito to teleport in."
"Sneaky bastard." Wu Heng strode toward Janvito. "The island lord's leading the enemy."
"Where?" Janvito asked.
"In that building. He's giving orders through runners," Wu Heng pointed.
Janvito looked at the distant structure. "I'll go kill him."
"Let me. Skeletons are better suited for indoor fights," Wu Heng said.
"You'll fight your way in?"
"I'll bring back his head. Just hold on," Wu Heng said, motioning to Kashu and Keranmu.
A magic array lit beneath their feet, enveloping Wu Heng and the skeletons.
Janvito's eyes widened. "You... learned it?"
They vanished.
Janvito stood stunned. "When did he switch to the necro path..."
He muttered, then waved his staff.
Arrows of energy rained from the sky, felling more enemies.
Screee~!
An ear-piercing screech.
Bang~!
A ballista bolt as thick as an arm shot from afar, smashing through Rotting Corpses. One Guild member flew backward, impaled.
Janvito glared and summoned lightning to blast the ballista.
......
The array flashed.
Wu Heng and the skeletons appeared in a dim alley—across from the target building.
Shadows of guards could be seen on the roof and in corners.
They waited for two or three minutes.
The wraiths scouted again.
Glenda said, "The City Lord's inside. The figure in the hall is a decoy. There are traps and high-level guards—it's a clever setup."
Sneaky bastard!
Hiding in the dark, commanding with decoys and ambushes.
He'd clearly assessed the Guild's strength.
Then Beni said, "Over fifty heavily armored troops in the courtyard. Horses ready at the back."
Xiaoxiao added, "Five sentries at the entrance, three on the roof."
Wu Heng quickly simulated the attack in his mind.
Didn't seem too tough.
No high-levels—main guy's only level 16.
With wraiths, he couldn't escape.
"Ready to raise hell?" Wu Heng handed two heavy machine guns to Kashu and Keranmu.
The skeletons expertly disabled safeties and took position.
"Ready!" Xiaoxiao shouted.
The other two nodded.
"You take the sentries. We go in."
......
Inside the house, inner room.
"City Lord, heavy losses at the port. They have unknown weapons. Our forces were repelled. Commander gravely injured," reported a soldier.
Darsil's eyes widened in anger—then he quickly composed himself.
An entire army failed to capture undefended ships?
Were the Guild elites really this strong?
"Send the saboteurs to sink the ships."
"Yes, my lord," the soldier replied and left.
Another reported, "Fierce fighting in the city. The Commander is battling their elder. Our troops are advancing."
Compared to the port, the alley fights were going better.
"And the white-bearded old mage?"
"Still in the field. Very powerful."
Knowing the mage was still occupied, Darsil relaxed.
"Spare no cost. Keep attacking."
"Yes!"
As they left, Darsil muttered, "You chose not to leave. Don't blame me."
......
Wu Heng and the skeletons exited the alley.
[Hatred Sense] activated—he sensed the sentries' gaze.
"Someone's approaching. Kill him."
A whisper from the dark.
Crack~!
Suddenly, the sound of bones snapping. The voice stopped mid-sentence—his neck twisted like a rope.
Wu Heng strode toward the door.
One by one, the sentries' necks snapped, bodies slumping.
They reached the courtyard gate.
"Break it down!" Wu Heng ordered.
Bang~!
Kashu kicked it open.
Inside, heavily armored soldiers in shining silver turned to face them.
Thanks to 08a for the tip.