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Chapter 627, I Love You
Glenda's expression revealed confusion.
She only began to learn about the Secret Cult after following Wu Heng.
Before that, whether alive or as a ghost lingering in the basement, she had never heard of the Secret Cult.
Even if members of the Secret Cult had appeared, she wouldn't have known what it was.
She never expected her husband had dealings with them.
Wu Heng continued, "Things may not be as simple as we think. He was a member of the Secret Cult—and held a fairly high position."
Glenda asked in confusion, "He was just a bard. Why would the Secret Cult value him?"
"We'll ask him when the time comes. Then we'll know everything," Wu Heng replied.
Then he turned his gaze to the second ring.
Its style was very similar to the Secret Cult's, with a strange cat-headed, rat-toothed design.
It still looked rather bizarre.
"Recognize this ring?" Wu Heng asked.
Glenda shook her head again.
...…
Knock knock knock~!
As they were speaking, a knock came at the door.
"Return for now," Wu Heng beckoned, and the ghost returned into his body.
The door opened right after, and Steward Sheila Grey poked her head in. "You were looking for me?"
When Wu Heng returned, Sheila Grey and Shiyali hadn't been at the guild.
They had gone to the expo to coordinate patrols and oversee the area, since so many nobles had arrived on the island—it was essential to ensure security.
Then they got word that Wu Heng was calling for her and came back immediately.
Wu Heng smiled and pointed to the two rings on the table. "Caught a Secret Cult member on the island. Thought we'd investigate this together."
"Secret Cult?" Sheila Grey frowned and looked at the rings. "Where's the person?"
"Inside the space ring. Let's head to the morgue and bring the guild recorder with us," Wu Heng stood up.
"They're all dead?"
Wu Heng replied, "He resisted quite fiercely, and we couldn't risk anything going wrong—so we killed him."
Sheila Grey nodded without further comment.
She turned to Shiyali and instructed her to fetch the guild investigator.
Wu Heng also stood, and the two of them walked toward the basement.
Sheila Grey asked, "What was his identity?"
"Merchant guild representative."
"Purpose? What was he doing on the island?" Sheila Grey walked with her hand resting on her sword hilt, armor clinking as she moved.
"Not clear yet. We'll ask him," Wu Heng said.
"The Secret Cult really is like a haunting specter—popping up again," Sheila Grey said through clenched teeth.
"Yeah, it's never-ending."
They talked as they descended into the morgue.
A chilling sensation immediately enveloped them.
"Lord Island Master, Steward," the two coroners immediately stood and saluted.
"We'll be borrowing this room," Wu Heng said directly.
"Please do, my lord," the coroner responded politely.
Wu Heng walked deeper in, with Sheila Grey following.
"No corpse interrogation?" Sheila Grey asked curiously.
Wu Heng selected the innermost empty room, cast a Dancing Light spell to illuminate it, and replied, "The Secret Cult encrypts their personnel. We can't interrogate the corpse directly. I plan to awaken his soul instead."
Sheila Grey leaned against the doorframe, raising an eyebrow.
Using the word 'encrypt' on a corpse felt odd, but she understood the meaning.
The corpse had been restricted—trying to reveal internal secrets would trigger that limit.
It wasn't an unusual tactic.
"Go ahead—just don't mess it up."
Wu Heng took the body out and placed it in the center of the room.
Then he began pulling out ritual materials and arranged them around the corpse.
Once everything was ready—
He held a wooden staff, channeled magic, and struck it to the ground.
Whoosh~!
[Soul Awakening] activated, and a ritual array gradually spread out from the corpse.
As the ritual activated, Wu Heng brought out the Soul Jar and placed it in the array.
The soul inside the jar was drawn out by the formation.
A man's outline appeared.
This was one of the level 18 Vampire Exiles Wu Heng had killed—stored in the Soul Jar ever since.
He had even forgotten the guy's name.
The ghost appeared, glancing around in terror.
"Necromancer, what are you doing?!"
"Damn you! You can't do this! The blood clan won't let you go!"
Amid curses and screams, the ghost was dragged into the corpse.
Then magic surged toward the corpse like a tide.
A twisted ghost burst from its forehead.
Its face was unclear, and it roared thunderously at the outside.
Having had the experience of awakening Beni before, Wu Heng was prepared and casually waved his hand.
A bone cage appeared, instantly trapping the soul.
"Magnoro!" Wu Heng called.
The ghost continued thrashing like a mad beast, a mindless spirit.
Wu Heng frowned and called again, "Magnoro, wake up."
"Magnoro, representative of the Emerald Valley Merchant guild."
"Magnoro, the Secret Cult promised you immortality."
After calling several times—
The struggling ghost paused intermittently and slowly took on the corpse's facial features.
He looked at Wu Heng in terror.
Wu Heng sighed in relief. If he couldn't awaken him, he'd have had to let Glenda out to help shout.
"Island Lord Wu Heng, I think we should have a proper conversation. It's not worth it over a woman."
"I have some assets outside. I'm willing to give them all to you."
"Please, have mercy..."
...…
Outside the room.
Sheila Grey's eyes widened at the scene.
She had personally handed the [Soul Awakening] skill to Wu Heng and knew exactly what it did.
She also knew Wu Heng had used it to awaken Beni from the story.
But she hadn't expected the process to be so complicated.
Ritual array, materials, a complete soul—all necessary.
Without any one of them, the ritual couldn't be completed.
The entire procedure was far more complex than interrogating a corpse.
If it wasn't something important, the cost made it a losing deal.
But on the other hand, as long as materials were available, anyone could be turned into a soul and questioned endlessly.
Everything you wanted to know could be dug out.
Even interrogation methods were evolving.
...…
Footsteps echoed from the stairwell.
Sheila Grey tilted her head slightly to look.
Shiyali was approaching with two guild investigators.
"The investigators are here," Sheila Grey informed.
"Let them in."
As she spoke, Shiyali and the investigators reached the door and saluted Sheila Grey.
"Go on in. The one inside is a Secret Cult member. Just record everything as normal," Sheila Grey said.
The two investigators entered the room. Sheila Grey and Shiyali stood on the other side.
"Wu Heng, begin," Sheila Grey said.
Wu Heng nodded and looked at the soul inside the bone cage. "Magnoro, what's your position in the Secret Cult?"
Magnoro's eyes narrowed. He replied, "I don't know what you're talking about. I request guild protection."
Wu Heng held up the two rings. "These Secret Cult rings—do you think we're asking randomly?"
With a casual wave, necrotic energy turned into a vine whip that lashed the soul.
The ghost howled loudly, its form breaking apart repeatedly.
"I'll talk! Stop hitting me!" Magnoro yelled.
The whipping stopped. Magnoro's eyes flickered. "You want to investigate the Secret Cult? I'll cooperate, but you must promise to let me go."
Wu Heng snapped his fingers. The whip struck again.
Magnoro's soul broke apart once more. "Stop! I'll talk! I'll talk!"
Wu Heng warned, "Two more lashes and your soul will shatter completely. Don't push your luck."
Magnoro's face filled with fear. "I'm from the Secret Cult. Yes, I am."
Wu Heng waited two seconds.
Magnoro remained fine.
That meant the Secret Cult's safeguards didn't work on soul interrogation.
No brain-exploding like during corpse interrogations.
Wu Heng turned to look behind.
Sheila Grey told the investigators, "Record everything truthfully."
Scratch scratch scratch~!
The investigators began writing rapidly in their notebooks.
Wu Heng continued, "Why did you come to the island?"
"To attend the expo. I'm a merchant too," Magnoro replied.
"And the Secret Cult's goal?"
Magnoro's expression kept changing. He knew if he didn't speak, he'd get hit again—and too many hits would destroy his soul.
He said solemnly, "To investigate the state of Gold-Silver Island, and to retrieve a lost artifact from you."
"Besides you, did any other Secret Cult members come to the island?"
"No one else..." Magnoro paused, then changed his answer. "Maybe. I don't know. The Secret Cult is very secretive."
Wu Heng paused briefly to allow the investigators time to write.
Then he asked, "What does the other cat-headed ring represent?"
Magnoro answered, "The Cat-Rat Society."
Wu Heng looked at Sheila Grey, who also shook her head.
"What do they do?" Wu Heng pressed.
Magnoro replied cautiously, "It's a subordinate group under the Secret Cult. Gangs, small merchant guilds, low-ranking government officials—all fall under the Cat-Rat Society."
Sounded similar to the guild's Whisperers.
Spread across all walks of life, providing intel or assistance from the shadows when needed.
Wu Heng continued, "What's your position in the Cat-Rat Society?"
"I... I can mobilize a certain amount of power."
Not a low-ranking member, then.
"I'm done. Do you have anything else to ask?" Wu Heng turned to Sheila Grey.
She stepped forward as Wu Heng stepped back.
Magnoro instantly cried out, "Steward Sheila Grey, I wanted to visit you upon arriving, but didn't have time. I'm willing to cooperate with the guild. Please protect me—Wu Heng will kill me!"
Sheila Grey said coolly, "Depends on your performance."
"Say it!"
"Just one question—name every Secret Cult and Cat-Rat Society member you know," Sheila Grey said.
Magnoro's expression shifted again. "Steward Sheila Grey, I have all their names in my head. I can help you catch them and earn merit. Let me stay by your side—I'll be your assistant."
Wu Heng snapped his fingers. The vine whip lashed again.
This time, convinced that naming others could save him, Magnoro didn't back down, even as he howled in pain.
Sheila Grey gave him a look and turned to leave. "That's enough. We've got the records. The rest is yours."
Shiyali and the investigators followed her out.
Magnoro cried in panic, "Steward, save me! Wu Heng will kill me—I can help you!"
No reply came from the hallway.
Sheila Grey left with the others.
...…
In the room, only Wu Heng and the trapped soul remained.
With a thought, Glenda flew out from his body.
Her gaze locked on the soul in the bone cage—filled with rage and hatred.
She loathed this man to the core.
As Magnoro faced Glenda again, his soul quickly retreated, eyes darting around in panic.
Wu Heng asked directly, "Magnoro, why did you try to kill Glenda? Things have come to this—be a man and give her the truth."
Glenda didn't curse or react.
She just stared directly at him, waiting for his answer.
She had waited until now for this answer.
Though terrified, facing 'Glenda' gave Magnoro a glimmer of hope for survival.
It was still better than facing Wu Heng.
He floated forward again, face earnest. "It was my fault. I don't know what clouded my mind—I did something inhuman."
"Glenda, I loved you. Think about how I treated you—devotedly. I even wrote love poems for you. Did you forget?"
"I know I was wrong. Please forgive me."
"We were husband and wife. I'll submit to you and Wu Heng. I'll spend the rest of my days repaying you."
"You died, and I've lived in guilt. I never sought another woman."
"Glenda, I love you..."