The Necromancer is amassing troops like crazy in the apocalypse

Chapter 445: Chapter 367, Reopening the Mall

“Who told you that?” Imilo asked.

“Philippa. She received a blank envelope with two pieces of information. The first was about ships from the Water Chestnut Trade Group passing near the route, telling her to plunder them. The second was that the bounty on my head has gone up to 500 gold,” Wu Heng said before describing the conversation he had with Philippa in greater detail.

Imilo listened silently.

Then he asked with a slight frown, “Was there any specific news in the letter?”

“No, Philippa only mentioned that when she woke up, the letter was under her pillow,” Wu Heng replied.

After thinking for a moment, Imilo said, “You don’t need to worry about the bounty. Don’t go out to sea for a while, and be careful in your daily life. It shouldn’t be a big problem.”@@novelbin@@

“Mm,” Wu Heng nodded.

On the island, he wasn’t really worried.

Pirates, no matter how wild, would not come ashore to kill him. If he needed to go to sea, he would use the Phantom Train, and no one would be able to track him.

Imilo continued, “About the plundering of the trade fleet, what did you tell that pirate girl?”

“Now, there’s a rumor among pirates about informants. I told her to get close to the trade group and cause trouble, allowing the fleet to escape,” Wu Heng answered.

The reason he was being more detailed with Imilo—

was mainly because Philippa would eventually need Imilo to speak on her behalf in order to be pardoned onshore.

Being clear now saved them from a lot of trouble later on.

Imilo nodded, “Good, just be careful about the extent. Don’t cause too much harm.”

“Alright.”

Imilo went on, “Lately, pirate activities have started to pick up again. It might be related to the envelope you mentioned. There might be new orders coming from above in a few days, so pay attention and collect more information.”

“Understood!” Wu Heng agreed, then said, “Steward, I’ll be heading back now.”

“Mm.”

Wu Heng opened the door and left the study directly.

This situation was tricky, with him being priced at a hefty sum by the pirates and the association about to set new targets.

It was an all-out war between him and the pirates.

……

He returned to his room.

“Master, you have a letter,” Andre Willow said.

“Oh, who’s it from?” Wu Heng walked into the room and sat at the desk.

“I don’t know, you should open it and see!”

Wu Heng picked up the envelope on the table, broke the seal, and shook the letter out.

Letters transmitted through the association had all been inspected.

No magic traps or poisons would be found inside.

After opening the letter, he saw neat and delicate handwriting.

‘Deputy Steward Wu Heng:

It’s only been a few months since we parted ways in Black Stone Town, but to think that you’ve advanced from being a captain to a deputy steward.

When I heard ‘Steward Slate’ mention it, it felt like a dream.

Although it’s a bit late, I still want to congratulate you on becoming a deputy steward.

I asked around, not many people know much about Gold and Silver Island, only some descriptions I’ve read in books. It’s said to be an island where pirates trade in illicit goods, and it’s quite dangerous too. You always handle things more seriously and cautiously than us, but take care and make safety a priority.

Life here is tolerable for me, though my accomplishments feel modest compared to yours.

I’ve been considering the possibility of transferring back to Black Stone Town. It’s where I am more familiar and seems to suit me better, even if it means being a team member again.

Take care of yourself, and I feel proud to have been a teammate and grown alongside you.

Wishing you all the best in your career and life.

— Cavina.’

Cavina!

A member of the fifth squad from Black Stone Town.

Even though he didn’t spend a long time with her before he was transferred to Lundham City,

during his time with the fifth squad, there was more of a feeling of mutual support and reliance among team members

and they were more like the comrades in adversity from the association squad stories.

Back then, he got along quite well with Cavina, especially remembering how every morning on his way to the association, she would prepare a hot cup of tea for him.

While in Lundham City, Wu Heng had written to her a couple of times, but after corresponding just twice, they had lost touch.

However, he had heard some news from Slate that she wasn’t given much attention in the association she was assigned to, and was even somewhat ostracized.

Thinking about it, it made sense, given that she and he had been exceptionally promoted at the time.

He had the Otherworld for rapid leveling and firearms to exceed his enemies’ capabilities.

Cavina didn’t have these advantages.

On her own, as a young woman, things were actually quite difficult for her.

“Master, who sent you the letter?” Andre Willow, holding a cup of tea, came over.

“Cavina!”

“Never heard of her, is she a friend of yours, master?” Andre Willow leaned on his shoulder from behind.

“A former squadmate, congratulating me on becoming a deputy steward,” Wu Heng said.

From the letter, he could feel the helplessness in the other person’s emotions.

Happy for Wu Heng’s promotion to deputy steward, yet feeling powerless about her own situation.

“Oh, is she also a captain now?”

“Yes, a captain who was promoted with me, but it seems she’s not having an easy time out there and wants to transfer back to Black Stone Town.”

After thinking for a moment, Andre Willow said, “If she was a teammate and you had a good relationship, perhaps you could transfer her to Gold and Silver Island. You have a trusted squad, and she could receive some support.”

Hearing Andre Willow suggest this, Wu Heng’s eyebrows lifted.

It seemed like a viable solution.

He was closer to the third squad, but it wasn’t a matter of trust.

It was simply cooperation in capturing fugitives.

Cavina wanting to transfer back to Black Stone Town clearly indicated she no longer wanted to stay where she was.

It could be a good move to bring her over to his side. As a deputy steward, he did have the privilege to recommend squad members, and he could help her.

At the same time, he would have a squad he could trust.

“Mm, that makes sense, you’re smart, Wei’er.”

Andre Willow smiled and whispered softly, “I learned from you, master.”

Wu Heng nodded, taking out a piece of stationery from the drawer.

He wrote a reply to Cavina directly.

The content was simple; he described the situation on Gold and Silver Island, which was no longer just a small island where pirates traded goods but had now been transformed into a bustling maritime trade center, even more prosperous than the mainland.

The latter half mentioned that he had just arrived on Gold and Silver Island and didn’t have a trustworthy team under him, suggesting that she could also help him if she came over.

He phrased it subtly to avoid making her feel like he was deliberately helping her.

After checking the letter twice to ensure there was nothing inappropriate in the wording, he sealed it in an envelope with wax.

“Wei’er, take this to the front desk and mail it out,” Wu Heng handed it to Andre Willow.

Andre Willow took it and said, “Master, may I write a letter to my kin in Lundham City as well, to report that I am safe?”

“Of course!” Wu Heng thought for a moment and then added, “Ask Mini tonight if she wants to write one too. Doesn’t she have two friends in Lundham City?”

“Alright, I’ll write mine first and then teach Mini how to write a letter tonight.”

“Mhm.”

He sat with Andre Willow in the room for a while.

Then he left the association and hailed a carriage, heading for Lighthouse Street.

…

The carriage stopped outside the Conch Tavern.

Wu Heng entered, wearing an ‘Illusion Veil.’

Compared to last time, the tavern was noticeably busier.

In broad daylight, the first-floor hall was filled with numerous patrons drinking and chatting.

There were a few more waitstaff than before.

Millicent, in a beige top and light blue long skirt, was dressed loosely, but her voluptuous figure was still hard to hide.

Philippa really didn’t inherit any of her physique advantages.

Upon seeing a familiar figure enter,

Millicent was initially startled, then, after instructing a staff member, led Wu Heng upstairs.

After entering the room,

Wu Heng took out the Soundproof Pot and placed it in the middle of the room.

A faint barrier enveloped the room.

“My lord, what is this for?” Millicent looked at the Soundproof Pot.

“It’s for soundproofing, so our conversation isn’t overheard.”

“Oh, my lord thinks of everything,” she noted.

“The tavern seems to be doing well,” Wu Heng remarked.

Millicent quietly said, “A few days ago, when the association was searching Main Street for fugitives, many people found it bothersome and came over here. The crowds have been growing, and the rooms are now all full.”

It seems that the recent search by Xi Ligui and her team actually helped the tavern’s business thrive.

“Mhm,” Wu Heng nodded, continuing, “You did well with the intelligence last time. It played a significant role in the progress of the entire case.”

“It’s what I should do,” Millicent replied with happiness on her face, still humbly thanking him.

Wu Heng continued, “You mentioned last time about the lack of a high-class chef; take this money and use it to hire a few skilled ones.”

With that, several large bags full of silver coins came into view.

The bags were opened, and the shining silver coins made Millicent’s eyes widen instantly.

Even though she had dealt with pirates, she still came from a village and was a country person at heart; seeing such an amount of silver coins suddenly belonging to her was somewhat unsettling.

“This, this is too much,” she exclaimed.

“Run the tavern well, and live a better life for yourself,” Wu Heng advised.

“Oh, okay, thank you so much, my lord,” Millicent thanked him, bowing deeply.

Her loose clothes draped downward, revealing her exaggerated fullness.

“Keep it safe and don’t let others see it; if they get greedy, it could be dangerous for you,” Wu Heng warned.

“Mhm, I’ll hide it under the bed,” she replied.

Millicent opened a hidden compartment under her bed and placed all the silver coins inside.

Wu Heng continued, “Keep running the tavern for now, and in a few days, I’ll arrange for two skeletons to protect your safety.”

“There’s no need, my lord. The tavern has many people coming and going; having those things would easily draw unnecessary attention,” she responded.

“Keep them in your room, and don’t take them out.”

“Oh, alright!”

The two talked in the room for a while.

Wu Heng asked her to continue eavesdropping on the people in the tavern.

After all, with his bounty posted, some pirates might risk coming ashore.

After talking for a while,

Wu Heng put on the Illusion Veil again and left the tavern.

He took the carriage back to the center, got off, and walked back to his lodging.

…

After returning,

Wu Heng and Mini had lunch together.

Then they went up to the fourth floor.

He opened the boundary door and headed to Zombie World.

Outside the mall, there were already many vehicles from the refuge parked.

A large group of survivors from the base cleared out junk cars, set up checkpoints, and moved supplies.

Taking out the walkie-talkie, he called Qi Hancai directly.

She responded quickly, “Great King, we are in the second-floor hall. Could you please come over?”

Wu Heng went downstairs immediately.

He then saw Qi Hancai, Li Yahong, and others all gathered around a long table.

Li Yahong and Qiangzi had also come over.

“We’ve discussed and decided to make use of this roundabout, to reopen the mall,” they said.