Chapter 674, The Steward Is Dead
Steal Body—the name alone oozes sneakiness.
Doesn't sound like a proper ability.
Reading the description again—it allows possession of a corpse.
That… doesn't seem very useful.
The possessed body won't last—it speeds up decay.
Which means the possession is temporary. The corpse breaks down quickly and can't be used for long.
Honestly, hard to think of a solid use for it.
We'll see later!
Maybe it'll be useful somewhere unexpected.
Before long, Beni returned as well.
"Battle's over."
Wu Heng looked up at the battlefield—the zombies were mostly wiped out, and the skeleton army was wrapping things up.
"Clean the field," Wu Heng ordered.
The skeletons began cleaning up.
Wu Heng gathered the corpse cores and walked along casting [Battlefield of the Dead], converting each body into a skeleton.
Once the field was cleaned up—
Wu Heng had the convoy come, boarded, and returned to the base.
......
Back to Gold-Silver Island.
The manor was just starting breakfast.
Wu Heng washed up briefly and joined them at the table.
Minnie said, "Master, Steward Sheila Grey came by yesterday. Apparently someone died on the island. She asked the Skeleton Prophet to help investigate."
Someone died on the island again?
"Do we know who the victim was?" Wu Heng asked.
"I overheard her talking to the Skeleton Prophet. Sounded like a member of the Guild, but I didn't catch the details," Minnie added. "She also said to let you know if you returned—she has something to discuss."
"Alright," Wu Heng nodded.
Soon breakfast ended.
Andviel left for city hall, and the three maids got to work.
Wu Heng picked up the phone and dialed the Guild Steward's office. After two rings, Shiyali answered.
"This is the Guild."
"Shiyali, it's Wu Heng. Sheila Grey said she was looking for me. Is she there?" Wu Heng asked.
"She is. Come by directly," Shiyali replied.
"I'm heading over now."
Wu Heng hung up and changed clothes.
He brought skeletons and left the manor for the Guild.
......
Steward's study.
Wu Heng entered to find the two elf sisters seated at their desks.
When they saw him, both smiled.
Wu Heng looked at Sheila Grey. "I heard someone died on the island?"
"A corpse was found in an alley behind the tavern on Lighthouse Street. He held a Whisperer insignia. We haven't confirmed his identity, but he likely wasn't Gold-Silver Island's Whisperer," Sheila Grey said directly.
Wu Heng frowned, thought a moment, and said, "He came to deliver intel and was killed?"
Sheila Grey nodded immediately. "That's what I suspect too. No way a visiting Whisperer dies right after arriving otherwise."
"Did you catch the killer?"
"Thanks to intel from the Skeleton Prophet, we know who it is. But we were too late—they left port and escaped Gold-Silver Island. We've issued a wanted notice to all Guild branches."
Wu Heng nodded. "Do you need me to help with anything?"
Sheila Grey wouldn't have called him without a reason.
"We're going to question the corpse. Shiyali, fetch the investigators. We'll find out why the Whisperer came," Sheila Grey said as she walked out.
Wu Heng and Shiyali stood and followed her outside.
They went down the stairs to the morgue.
Two coroners greeted them and handed over the autopsy report.
Sheila Grey glanced at it and told Wu Heng, "Nothing special. Cause of death—two fatal wounds."
Wu Heng nodded.
Soon after, Shiyali returned with two investigators.
Sheila Grey said plainly, "Begin."
Wu Heng stepped into the morgue and cast [Speak with Dead] on the corpse on the iron bed.
A moment later, the corpse sat up, its empty eyes staring.
Wu Heng gave the signal to start questioning.
Sheila Grey asked directly, "Why did you come to Gold-Silver Island?"
The corpse replied, "Brought vital intel to deliver to the island."
Everyone exchanged glances.
So their guess was right—he came bearing intel.
Sheila Grey continued, "Tell us what intel you brought."
The corpse answered, "In Netalei City, the Guild Steward was assassinated. Other members have also been killed. The coast is littered with bodies—the sea is dyed red with blood. The Ekow Kingdom has blocked all information, forbidding any word in or out."
As the corpse spoke, the whole morgue fell silent.
The Guild's steward killed. Members butchered like sheep. Trapped in the city with no way to deliver news.
So many corpses that the sea turned red—it likely involved civilians too.
That this happened in the Ekow Kingdom was almost hard to believe.
But corpses don't lie—especially not a Whisperer who risked death to deliver a message.
Sheila Grey's brows furrowed. Seeing the stunned investigators, she reminded, "Record it word for word. No changes."
The investigators snapped out of it and began taking notes swiftly.
Sheila Grey took a deep breath and asked the third question, "Who killed the Netalei City Steward?"
"Don't know."
"Why has Netalei City become like this?"
"It's civil war. The army and high-level Professionals are involved."
Final question.
Sheila Grey paused, then asked, "What was your role in the Guild?"
"Steward's informant in Netalei City."
With the fifth question asked, the corpse collapsed back onto the iron bed with a thud.
That last answer confirmed the intel's authenticity.
The steward's informant was a Whisperer.
Sheila Grey stared at the corpse for a while before speaking. "Preserve the body and prepare it for transport to Guild headquarters. Coroners compile the autopsy report. Investigators summarize the records. Submit everything before this afternoon."
"Understood," they all nodded.
"Let's go. Back!"
Sheila Grey led the way out.
......
Back in the office.
Sheila Grey looked grim. Wu Heng's face was equally serious.
A heavy atmosphere filled the room.
A stationed steward was killed. The Whisperer sent to report it died on the island. This wasn't a small matter.
In essence, it was a challenge to the Guild's authority.
If they responded weakly, every steward in the land could become a target.
Sheila Grey knew this couldn't be ignored.
For Wu Heng, Netalei City belonged to the Ekow Kingdom, but under Guild jurisdiction near the Emerald Sea.
As a Standard Bearer responsible for spreading the Guild's core values and direction, he couldn't pretend this didn't concern him.
To put it bluntly, every Guild nearby was under his oversight. A steward died—it impacted him too.
And more than that, Wu Heng didn't want his colleagues in the Guild facing this kind of tragedy.
"What now?" Sheila Grey asked sharply.
Wu Heng said, "Report the truth. The Ekow Kingdom has sealed its borders citing internal affairs—we can't intervene. But the steward's death and the suppression of news suggest Netalei is involved. We should request direct island entry for a full investigation."
"Alright. I'll submit the report," Sheila Grey said, then asked, "Shouldn't you send one too, as a Standard Bearer?"
Wu Heng thought for a moment. "I will. But I need time—it can't be rushed."
Sheila Grey's report would focus on stating the facts.
Wu Heng's would have to include context and future handling strategies.
At the very least, it needed to show that he was taking it seriously.
Sheila Grey nodded in agreement.
"When are you sending your report?" Wu Heng asked.
"Before nightfall. The sooner, the better."
"Mine won't make it in time. I'll send it separately."
"That works."
After a brief discussion, Wu Heng got up to leave.
As he reached the door, a squad leader opened it and walked in.
Then came Sheila Grey's voice—
"Bring over the fifth princess of the Ekow Kingdom."
......
Back at the manor.
Wu Heng greeted the maids and went upstairs to his study.
Originally, he had planned to take a nap after returning from the Guild.
But after this, he was wide awake, mind filled with the situation.
Glenda flew over and asked, "What's wrong? Sitting there all gloomy?"
"A Whisperer died on the island. During Speak with Dead, we learned the steward of Netalei City was murdered. That's part of my area of responsibility as a Standard Bearer." Wu Heng gave her the gist.
Glenda listened carefully.
After thinking for a bit, she said, "Doesn't affect you, right? Sounds like a good thing."
"How's this a good thing? The Guild's full of people waiting for me to slip up."
Glenda grinned. "Does a slip-up even matter? This event gives you a perfect reason to interfere in the Ekow Kingdom!"