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Chapter 584, Someone Died
Shanaila raised an eyebrow. "When you say 'various places,' what exactly do you mean?"
"For example, the capital cities of kingdoms or races, as well as some major cities," Wu Heng shared his thoughts.
"That's too difficult. Information transmission is already a challenge. The number of capital cities and major cities you're referring to is far greater than you imagine." Shanaila gently stroked his hair. "So, your goal is a bit too ambitious. You could start with the Emerald Sea region."
Wu Heng held her, his mind deep in thought.
What he had in mind wasn't simply printing newspapers on Gold-Silver Island and transporting them elsewhere.
Instead, he wanted to establish newspapers in multiple cities—first, to quickly gather local news rather than relying on word-of-mouth from traveling merchants.
Secondly, it would allow for a wider dissemination of his story, increasing his renown.
The information transmission problem Shanaila mentioned could be solved using radio stations. It was just a matter of assigning people to operate them.
The main issue was the lack of printing presses.
There were only three available, which wasn't enough to distribute across multiple locations.
"It's not the right time now, but I can start laying the groundwork." Wu Heng lifted his head and pulled down one of her shoulder straps.
"What are you doing? We're outside." Shanaila grabbed the slipping strap.
"It's fine. Minnie and the others are in the living room reading comics. They won't disturb us before dinner," Wu Heng said.
Shanaila hesitated for a moment before letting go, allowing him to slide the strap down.
The strap hung to one side, revealing her pale white undergarment.
Wu Heng wrapped his arms around Shanaila's back and unfastened her bra.
Since they were sitting, it was already a bit loose. As the dress's shoulders slipped down and the bra straps unhooked, both pieces of clothing naturally slid downward.
Delicate and beautiful collarbones, smooth, fair skin, full and round curves.
Even though he had seen them before, he never got tired of looking.
Like a perfect work of art.
Wu Heng leaned in for a kiss, but Shanaila pressed a finger gently against his forehead. "Enough, you're all sweaty. Wait until after you've showered."
"It's fine." Wu Heng leaned in, taking her into his mouth.
Shanaila's cheeks turned slightly red as she embraced him, gently stroking his hair.
After a while, Wu Heng lifted his head and said, "With all your years of business experience, tell me—if I introduced a potion that could enhance a person's physique, making it feel like they'd gained a level or two, would it have a market?"
"You're like a child." Shanaila took out a handkerchief, wiped the saliva off, then said, "If such a potion truly exists, you'd only be a well-known potion supplier at best. You'd certainly make a lot of money, but you wouldn't become a trading fleet."
"Then what does it take to form a trading fleet?"
"You need ample funds, a business network of your own, and the ability to establish connections with other nations' trade fleets. At the very least, you need to be involved in multiple sectors." Shanaila explained.
"Alright, I'll think about it some more."
Shanaila readjusted her clothes and asked, "Do you really have such a potion?"
"I do." Wu Heng nodded.
Shanaila gave him a serious look. "Don't tell anyone. Keep it as secret as your level. Otherwise, you'll bring trouble upon yourself. Let me think about how to handle this matter."
"Don't worry, I know." Wu Heng reassured her.
"Good boy!"
"Can you stop talking to me like I'm a kid?"
"Fine, I see you have quite the ego."
"Stay over tonight."
Shanaila shook her head. "In a couple of days. I'll come over once I finish setting up my new place."
"Alright."
The two sat in the stone pavilion, chatting for a while.
Shanaila left the island lord's manor, and Wu Heng returned to his own residence.
...…
Near dusk.
They had dinner together.
Minnie came downstairs and said, "Master, a message came from Sister Wen Mansa."
Wen Mansa had indeed not contacted him for some time.
Wu Heng headed toward the staircase, saying, "I'll check it out. Weren't you all planning to visit Shanaila's new place? Come back early."
"Understood, Master." With that, she gathered the other maids and left the island lord's manor.
They headed toward the residence Shanaila had recently purchased.
Wu Heng went upstairs and entered the radio room.
He glanced at Wen Mansa's notebook, which indeed recorded a message requesting to speak with him.
He picked up the receiver and said directly, "Wen Mansa, can you hear me?"
There was a brief commotion on the other end, followed by a woman's voice. "My lord, the lady is dining in the restaurant. I'll fetch her."
From the voice and the way she addressed him, it must have been Wen Mansa's housekeeper.
Her name was Hartel.
Soon, Wen Mansa's voice came through. "Master."
"Wen Mansa, I saw your message. You needed to talk?" Wu Heng asked.
Wen Mansa's tone was serious. "Steward Slater delivered a corpse. Female, in her twenties. Her name was Loberini. She apparently provided you with intelligence in the past."
Provided intelligence?
Wu Heng frowned, trying to recall the name.
If Slater sent it, she was certainly a resident of Blackstone Town.
He had lived there for a while, but he had no memory of this name.
Moreover, back then, he had merely been a small team member—there was no way he had informants.
"I don't remember her. Any distinguishing features?" Wu Heng asked.
Wen Mansa hesitated before saying, "Her features are somewhat blurred and hard to recognize, but Steward Slater said she used to work at a tavern under the name Beni."
Beni…
Wu Heng's eyes widened instantly.
Beni was dead.
In his mind, an image surfaced of a smiling girl in the tavern.
His tone grew serious. "I remember now. She provided me with information before. How did she die?"
"According to Steward Slater, after you left, she wanted to join the Guild and become a Whisperer. She was assigned to a village to investigate an outsider cult. She was either discovered or met some other misfortune. Her body was dumped at the village entrance and wasn't found for several days." Wen Mansa explained.
She died trying to become a Whisperer.
She got herself killed.
Wu Heng didn't know what to say.
Instead of remaining a tavern maid, she had sought a meaningful path, which he respected.
But he hadn't wanted her to die because of it.
No mission was worth dying for.
Wen Mansa continued, "Her tongue was removed, likely to prevent her from being questioned post-mortem. Her body is also severely damaged. If you have no other plans, I'll arrange for her burial."
"Does she have any family?"
"Apparently not. The only people who knew her were the tavern staff and nearby residents. It's said she came from an outlying village."
Wu Heng leaned against the table, deep in thought.
He hadn't interacted much with Beni, just once or twice.
She was timid, but she had that cautious sense of justice often found in small, ordinary people.
Wu Heng still remembered how her eyes lit up when she learned that her information had saved kidnapped children.
A light different from the glimmer of receiving money.
Slater had brought the body to him, meaning Beni must have mentioned him before her death.
Truthfully, they weren't close.
But he didn't want her to end this way.
"How long has she been dead?" Wu Heng asked.
Wen Mansa answered, "Over a week. The cold weather has preserved the body, but it's warming up soon. It won't last much longer."
Wu Heng quickly considered the situation on Gold-Silver Island.
Then he said, "Preserve the body for now. I'll come over tomorrow. Don't let it deteriorate."
"Understood!" Wen Mansa's tone softened. "I'll wait for you to handle it."
"Alright. I'll make some arrangements."
"Mhm."
Wu Heng ended the call and stepped out of the radio room.
...…
The next day, Zombie World.
In the meeting room, Wu Heng looked at the people seated on both sides of the table. "Tell Wang Haibing to dismantle another power plant setup. It must be done within five days. Gao Rong, you need to produce several newspaper printing machines or find any available printing factories."