Chapter 570, Why Do You Keep Mentioning Him Every Day
Zombie World, Conference Room.
The white owl flew a lap around the room.
Qi Hancai, who was now sharing its vision, opened her mouth wide in disbelief. "I can see through the owl's eyes. I can see myself! This… did I awaken a new ability?"
Wu Heng sat to the side, watching as Qi Hancai gasped in amazement, and said with a smile, "That's the benefit of using a profession scroll. You can think of it as the scroll helping you awaken an ability. With more practice, you might unlock other abilities in the future."
Qi Hancai was still in shock.
But she understood what Wu Heng meant.
This wasn't an ability she had naturally awakened—it was granted to her by the profession scroll she had used last time.
No need to consume Zombie Cores or potions—just tearing open a scroll had granted her a new ability!
At least Zombie Cores could be explained as altering genes, but this? This was just too exaggerated.
And from what Wu Heng said, continued training could unlock even more abilities.
It was sustainable.
She secretly glanced at Wu Heng.
In her heart, she was glad she had chosen to follow the right person.
The little owl landed in her arms, and Qi Hancai carefully held it. "So this little guy is mine now?"
The contract was established.
Tamed beasts naturally formed a bond with their owners.
The young owl now showed great affection toward Qi Hancai, no longer curling up timidly like before.
"It's yours. Give it a name," Wu Heng said.
Qi Hancai held the small owl in her hands, observed it carefully, and said, "It's so white… I'll call it Tangyuan."
"Nice name."
Qi Hancai smiled. "Thank you!"
"No need to be so formal," Wu Heng replied with a smile.
Qi Hancai gently held the little owl, her face filled with joy.
Wu Heng checked the time and said, "Have someone prepare a vehicle. I need to go to the clothing factory."
"You're going alone? I can drive you there," Qi Hancai offered.
"No need. I'll have a Skeleton drive me over for a quick inspection and be back soon," Wu Heng replied directly.
Qi Hancai didn't insist. She picked up the radio and relayed the instructions.
Then, the two of them stepped out of the conference room and waited at the entrance for two to three minutes.
A truck drove over.
After switching drivers, Wu Heng got in with his Skeleton attendants, and the vehicle left the factory area.
Heading toward the clothing factory.
...…
The area around the clothing factory had been cleaned up.
Snow and debris had been cleared away.
Wu Heng walked into the factory with his Skeletons. Inside, a large number of assigned Skeletons were gathered.
Two Mechano-Sorcerers were responsible for checking blueprints and recording equipment details, while the rest were ordinary Skeletons learning how to operate machinery.
He walked around the factory once.
He had the electrician Skeleton cut off the power, then stood at the factory gate and opened the Dimensional Gate.
Stepping through, he headed to the Island Lord's Manor.
After leaving the manor, he went to the factory that had been built on Gold-Silver Island.
He opened another Dimensional Gate, linking the factories between the two worlds.
"Move the equipment in—be careful not to damage anything," Wu Heng ordered.
The Skeletons, already prepared, immediately got to work.
They began moving the packed equipment through the Dimensional Gate.
Wu Heng had thought about where to set up the factory for two days before ultimately choosing the otherworld.
Here, he could purchase fabric and raw materials directly for production.
If he had kept the factory in the Zombie World, he would have needed to transport materials through the Dimensional Gate every time.
If the factories kept expanding, Wu Heng figured he'd spend all his time transporting materials between worlds.
It was much more convenient to keep everything here.
Moving the equipment was the most labor-intensive part, but once everything was set up, material procurement and product sales would be much easier.
The Skeletons worked tirelessly, and before long, the clothing factory in the Zombie World was completely relocated.
Wu Heng had the Mechano-Sorcerers handle assembly, while the electrician Skeletons set up the wiring.
He himself returned to Gold-Silver Island.
After all, once the Dimensional Gate was closed, there wasn't much else he could do to help.
...…
Back at the Island Lord's Manor.
Minnie helped him remove his coat and whispered, "Master, Sister Shanaila sent a message. You should check it later."
"When did she send it?" Wu Heng asked.
"I saw it in the morning, so the timing should be around then," Minnie estimated as she hung up his coat.
Wu Heng nodded. "I'll go upstairs and take a look."
"Would you like some lunch?"
"I'm not very hungry yet. I'll just have dinner later."
"Alright." Minnie smiled.
Wu Heng went upstairs and entered the radio room.
He skimmed through the logs—only 'Shanaila' had left a short message.
「I've arrived at the coastal port. Preparing to board a ship back.」
Wu Heng raised an eyebrow.
He picked up the microphone and said, "Shanaila, can you hear me?"
On the other end, Shanaila's slightly lazy voice responded, "I'm here. What took you so long to answer?"
Wu Heng couldn't help but smile. "I was out this morning. You know, being the Island Lord keeps me busy—I have an entire island to manage."
"Bragging!" Shanaila said with a laugh before adding, "I'll be back on tonight's ship."
"How come? What about your own ship?"
"I don't have a personal ship anymore. I'm just the Honorary President now—I don't have that kind of privilege. I'll be traveling with the Starflower fleet heading to Gold-Silver Island," Shanaila explained.
It seemed that after losing her authority.
Even her private ship had been reclaimed.
Wu Heng said, "When you get back, I'll get you a new one—better than theirs."
"I don't really need a ship. I won't be traveling much anymore."
"If others have one, you can't be left out."
Shanaila chuckled. "Didn't know you cared so much."
Wu Heng's tone shifted. "I'll have Philipa pick you up."
"No need. That would take too long. If I wait for her, I'll have to stay here for several more days," Shanaila declined gently.
Wu Heng glanced at the Emerald Sea map on the Jade Compass.
There were no suspicious ships on any major routes.
The chances of encountering pirates were low.
However, recently, Dragon Traffickers, Vampire Fleets, and cult activities had all been occurring in the Emerald Sea.
They were all unstable factors.
Who knew if reinforcements from any faction might show up and decide to play pirate along the way?
After some thought, he said, "Alright, I'll have Philipa meet you halfway. She can escort you or switch you to another ship."
This time, Shanaila didn't refuse. "You sound sincere. I'll agree."
"Good. Keep an eye on the ships around you."
"Mm." Shanaila's tone suddenly softened as she asked, "Did you miss me?"
"I did."
"How much? Tell me."
Uh…
Wu Heng hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "I keep dreaming about you. The kind of dreams I can't talk about."
"Ugh, you're terrible. That's all you ever think about." Shanaila playfully complained, then whispered, "Wait till I get back."
"Did you miss me?"
Shanaila's voice was light. "I did. If I didn't, why would I be in such a hurry to return?"
"What part of me do you miss? Tell me."
Silence on the other end.
The voice on the other end paused.
Then the tone changed, "Why does it feel like you've gotten worse when I wasn't around?"
"Why is it okay for you to ask me, but when I ask you, I've suddenly 'gotten worse'?"
"I'm way older than you, kid."
The two chatted for a while.
Shanaila had to go out to buy some necessities for the ship, so she ended the call.
Wu Heng went downstairs and chatted with the maids.
By dusk, Andviel returned from outside.
They all gathered in the dining hall for dinner.
Then, they returned to their rooms to rest.
...…
Last night, the wind howled, and the rain poured.
That's how it was on a small island at sea—sudden storms came fast and heavy.
By morning, all of Gold-Silver Island was shrouded in moisture, with raindrops clinging to the tree branches and dripping slowly from the eaves.
Gradually, more people appeared on the streets, and the island began to bustle with activity.
Meanwhile, newspaper vendors pedaled their strange two-wheeled vehicles, dragging huge bundles behind them.
They stopped at several busy streets.
Opening the backpacks on the back of their bikes, they raised the newspapers high in the air.
"Issue Three of the Gold-Silver Bulletin! Civil unrest in Netalé City, port blockade, fire and smoke rising! Latest decisions from the guild headquarters! Come and read…!"
Rustle, rustle, rustle!
As soon as the call rang out, a crowd surged toward them.
...…
Residential District.
"What's the rush?"
"The third issue is out! Hurry to the tavern—you can still grab a good seat."
"Then let's move fast. I heard someone got a prime spot last time and resold it for a silver coin."
"No more talking, let's go!"
...…
Golden Sail Tavern.
The tavern was no longer what it used to be—it wasn't just an evening destination anymore. Customers came throughout the day.
More people came inside to listen to the stories, but even more stood outside, eavesdropping for free.
The tavern owner had just stepped out the door when he saw a crowd rushing over.
At first, he was startled.
Then, he quickly realized that the new newspaper issue had been released.
He signaled the bartenders to set up more tables and chairs while shouting, "Is Saban here yet? Someone go meet him and tell him the new paper is out."
"Got it!" A bartender rushed out the door, heading in the direction where Saban usually arrived.
After only a few steps, he spotted the bard, Saban, holding a newspaper in one hand and a baked pastry in the other, striding quickly toward the tavern.
"Mr. Saban, the boss sent me to tell you the third issue is out."
Saban waved the newspaper in his hand. "Already got it. Let's go."
The two pushed through the crowd and stepped into the tavern.
Saban straightened his posture.
His chest puffed out, filled with confidence. It felt good to be the center of attention.
"Good morning, everyone. I'll start by sharing the news from the paper, and then we'll read the detective story."
...…
Black Crow Nest Tavern.
A bard was reading a scene from the detective story.
"What does that prove?" Gregson sneered.
"It proves that the writer was going to spell a woman's name—Rachel. But for some reason, they didn't finish. I guarantee you, when this case is solved, there will definitely be a woman named 'Rachel' involved."
...…
Nautilus Tavern.
A bard stood on stage, playing both roles.
"How did you determine one person's height? Was it just your deduction? Or was it a guess?"
The bard turned to the other side, playing Detective Wu Heng. With a confident expression, he answered, "It's simple. By analyzing the length of someone's stride, you can deduce their height. No complicated calculations needed… When people write on walls, they instinctively write just above their eye level. The writing inside this room is exactly three 'Jing' feet above the ground. That's too much of a coincidence—it's like a child's game."
"Then how did you determine their age?"
"If someone can easily step over two and a half 'Jing' feet, they're definitely not an old man…"
"And what about the fingernails and the Indian square-toed cigars?"
"The writing on the wall was done with a bloody index finger. Under magnification, I found traces of plaster scraped off while writing, meaning the person's nails weren't trimmed… I'm not boasting, but no matter the brand of hallucinogenic leaves, I can identify them at a glance."
The bard kept narrating.
The audience listened in silence.
Someone muttered in confusion, "That explanation about old men doesn't make sense. A Professional's abilities increase with level—age and physical condition aren't that different. An 18th-tier Boxer doesn't even age at 100."
"You're an idiot. At this point in the story, Wu Heng hasn't even switched professions yet. He's obviously investigating ordinary people. What are you gonna do, investigate an 18th-tier Professional? They'd just kill people outright."
"Shh, keep listening."
Over at the bar counter.
Philipa leaned on her elbow, listening to the bard while cross-referencing the newspaper.
"Wu Heng really is amazing. I knew I had good taste."
...…
Golden Sail Tavern.
On stage, Saban suddenly paused.
He bowed to the audience before saying, "The continuation of the story will be in the next issue."
Then he added, "Folks, the newspaper only serializes up to this point—this has nothing to do with the tavern."
The room was silent for two seconds before erupting in an uproar.
"Damn it, another cliffhanger."
"I was just getting into it, and you end it here?"
"When's the fourth issue coming out? I can't handle the wait…"
...…
Guild, Steward's Study.
Shiyali frowned. "Can he really determine someone's age based on their stride? That seems far-fetched. He should at least consider the differences between Professionals."
Sheila Grey closed the newspaper and replied, "He said the place he came from had no Professionals. Their focus was on weapons called 'machine guns.'"
Then she added, "You've heard about the pirate attack on Gold-Silver Island, right? He deduced the fake death of the Old Barrel Tavern's leader and uncovered 'Occam,' the Pirate King."
Shiyali raised an eyebrow.
Sheila Grey smiled. "The steward at the time was Imiro. Wu Heng pieced together and deduced the entire incident. I don't think catching an ordinary criminal would be any trouble for him."
"If you put it that way, it probably has to do with his environment," Shiyali remarked before pausing and smirking. "You sure defend him a lot."
"I'm just stating my opinion," Sheila Grey said without hesitation. She then asked, "Why do you keep bringing him up every day?"
...…
Wu Heng reclined on a lounge chair in the courtyard.
Annette massaged his shoulders, Robe kneaded his legs, and Minnie picked up a fruit and fed it to him.
Wu Heng opened his status panel, where his Renown kept increasing.
[Level: 18 (134,567/305,000)]
[Renown: 18 (29,171/48,000)]
The third newspaper issue had boosted his Renown to 29,000.
In two more days, it would likely reach 30,000.
But problems were emerging.
The third issue's growth seemed slower than the second. He suspected future issues would slow even more.
And this was just level 18—there was still level 19 Renown to reach.
It was clear that relying solely on Gold-Silver Island wouldn't be enough to become a Hero.
He needed to expand his reach.
The success of the detective stories proved they were well-received.
Even though some details clashed with this world's reality, a story was a story—people didn't nitpick too much.
If it was popular on Gold-Silver Island, it would likely do well elsewhere.
Expanding distribution…
Newspapers were difficult.
By the time ships delivered them, the news and intelligence would already be outdated.
A better approach would be to compile the full serialized story into a book and distribute it everywhere.