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Chapter 582, Missed me that much?
"When did you come back?"
"Arrived on the island this morning."
"Was the journey smooth?"
"With Phillipa escorting with so many ships, how could it not be? The trip was even shortened by several days," Shanaila said with a smile.
On the other side, Phillipa, who was feeding a parrot, poked her head over and pounded her chest with a fist.
Shanaila continued, "You already know about Starflower. For the sake of the consortium's reputation, I still hold the title of president on the surface, but I no longer have any real authority. After some time, this identity will be removed with some excuse."
"It's fine. We have a big family business. Even if you do nothing, I can take care of you," Wu Heng said.
The maids widened their eyes and looked at Shanaila in unison, as if watching a play.
Shanaila's face turned red as she glared at Wu Heng, "I can't just sit around at home every day."
"Gold-Silver Island is so big. There's no way you won't find something to do," Wu Heng said.
Minnie chimed in, "Sister Shanaila, does this mean we can live together now? No more sneaking over every day?"
"Who's sneaking?" Shanaila said, then continued, "Not yet. If I move in directly, there'd be no point in the consortium keeping me as honorary president. On the surface, we only have some commercial cooperation with the Island Lord's mansion."
"Oh! Your people really like to meddle," Minnie muttered.
Speaking of wood elves, Phillipa suddenly remembered something and said in a tattletale tone, "When we landed on the island, Shanaila's clansmen blocked the way. If I wasn't there, they wouldn't have let her through!"
Wu Heng raised an eyebrow, "On this island, someone dares to push you around?"
"It wasn't really bullying. The agreement I made with the elders was to give up all consortium assets, but the assets on Gold-Silver Island are my own and have nothing to do with them. They just needed to verify that," Shanaila explained.
Phillipa said, "You're too easygoing. If it were me, I'd slap them twice and see if they dared to come bother me again."
Shanaila said calmly, "They were just following orders. The consortium isn't really after just one property."
"If you have trouble, tell me," Wu Heng said.
"Got it~!" Shanaila sent him a gaze full of affection.
Then, she continued, "The Starflower fleet delivered the supplies you ordered last time, including five large warships. I saw the order. Someone will come to deliver them in the next two days."
"Andviel will inspect the cargo. Phillipa, you go check the ships tomorrow," Wu Heng instructed.
"Alright," Phillipa nodded.
Wu Heng looked at Shanaila, "Don't leave tonight."
Shanaila's face turned even redder as she nodded.
...…
Late at night.
Shanaila curled up in his embrace.
A blush still lingered on her face.
"Missed me that much?"
"If you didn't come back soon, I was going to the wood elves to find you," Wu Heng hugged her tighter.
Soft, smooth, filling his chest.
Shanaila pushed away his wandering hand and asked, "Was the newspaper your idea?"
"Yeah, it's working well on the island."
"I didn't expect you to be so good at self-promotion. It's a great idea, and it'll help you prepare for level 18," Shanaila smiled in praise.
"Since it's been acknowledged by President Shanaila, I guess the newspaper is pretty good."
Shanaila lightly bit his chest, annoyed, "I have no real power anymore, stop calling me president."
"I'll take care of you from now on. Nothing will be worse than before."
Shanaila buried her head in his chest again, "After running Starflower for so long, handing it over still leaves an empty feeling in my heart."
Wu Heng gently stroked her hair and softly said, "Why don't you be the head of Gold-Silver Island's trading fleet? You'll have full control over it."
Shanaila lifted her head and smiled, "It's not that easy to start a trading fleet. The established ones are already well-known. If we join now, we'd just be setting ourselves up for failure, and we don't have any standout resources."
Gold-Silver Island was just an island. Though the territory was vast, with many undeveloped areas…
It was still just an island.
Many resources had to be imported.
There were no unique resources that could be exported.
And as Shanaila said, starting a trade fleet now would likely lead to suppression from others.
On Gold-Silver Island, people gave way to them.
But once they ventured outside, no one would.
Wu Heng thought for a moment and said, "I'll think about it and see if we have any unique products. Then we can discuss it in detail."
"Alright, I'll follow your lead," Shanaila looked up at him, eyes filled with fondness.
She reached out and stroked his head.
Wu Heng pushed her hand away and lightly patted her full hips, "Raise them a little."
Saying that, he flipped her over onto her stomach.
"Again? It's so late."
Wu Heng patted her again, "You stay up late anyway. Hurry up."
Shanaila moved her upper body back slightly and raised her hips just a bit.
...…
The next morning, after breakfast…
Shanaila returned to her residence to handle remaining matters.
Wu Heng took a carriage to the guild.
Passing through the hallways, he stopped at the steward's office and knocked on the door.
After getting a response…
He opened the door and walked in.
"Looking for me?" Wu Heng asked.
Behind the desk, Sheila Grey looked up, "Luan and his master left yesterday. They must have left right after the competition. I haven't received any news."
"That fast?"
"Yes, and very secretively," Sheila Grey thought for a moment and said, "I plan to write a letter to the guild detailing everything, to prevent rumors from spreading at the headquarters."
Wu Heng raised an eyebrow.
He understood Sheila Grey's concerns.
From the way Luan looked at him after the match, it was clear he was unwilling to accept the result.
Leaving quietly afterward suggested something was up.
Wu Heng wasn't worried—he had won fair and square. There was nothing to hide.
But Sheila Grey had a point. Reporting to the guild first would ensure the truth was clear.
"Alright, you write a letter to the guild. I'll send one to Steward Imiro."
"A letter to Steward Imiro?"
"Macintosh is in charge of intelligence, right? When they arrived on the island, she used her Seer ability and overheard them mentioning Imiro. It's best to inform him," Wu Heng explained.
"Got it," Sheila Grey began writing.
Shiali brought Wu Heng paper and a pen.
After finishing, they exchanged letters to confirm their versions matched.
Once sealed, Shiali took the letters to the front desk.
They would be sent out today.
...…
Afternoon.
Wu Heng returned to the Island Lord's mansion.
He handed the written battle report to the skeleton in charge of printing, "For the new issue, rearrange the layout. Put this article and the illustration in the most prominent spot. Trim other content if needed. Print it tonight and distribute it tomorrow."
The skeleton took the document and began formatting.
The printing press clanked as newspapers rolled out.
Specter Glenda appeared, "So you want everyone to know about this, huh?"
"Sheila Grey's concerns make sense. If I publish the duel, send copies elsewhere, everyone will know the truth. If he doesn't spread falsehoods, it's just a normal loss. If he does, he'll just be a petty, dishonest loser."
"You're becoming more like a necromancer."
"Doesn't sound like a compliment."
...…
The next morning.
Newspaper boys shouted in the streets, "Issue four! Challenger's identity revealed! He's a prince from a neighboring kingdom! Come take a look!"
The calls filled Gold-Silver Island with excitement.
So the challenger had such a background.
A prince, and a candidate supported by the guild, yet he was beaten down on Gold-Silver Island.
A long line formed before the newspaper stand.
Papers were sold one after another.
...…
At the port.
Bundles of newspapers were loaded onto different ships.
"These are for the various guilds. Handle them carefully and keep them dry."
With shouts, the newspapers were loaded onto merchant ships.
They were sent to various guilds across the Emerald Sea.
...…
Inside a tavern.
Bard Sabban cast two buffs on himself.
He strode onto the stage.
After bowing, he spoke loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, before I tell a story, let me first share the details of this duel. The challenger isn't just anyone…"
The crowd fell silent, listening intently.