Chapter 771, Night Battle
It looked like this Commander-in-Chief didn't live too badly.
The corpse collapsed to the ground, fat spilling out to both sides.
"Killing him outright—won't that make things messy later?" Glenda asked in a low voice.
Given Wu Heng's personality, there's no way he'd actually kill everyone in the base.
Now that the head of this place had been killed directly, dealing with everything afterward would be much more complicated.
Wu Heng kicked the corpse aside and sat down in the chair. "Let's interrogate the dead first, then decide."
[Speak with Dead] activated. The corpse clumsily sat up, murky eyes staring over.
Wu Heng asked straight away, "Why were you collecting my photos?"
The corpse replied, "To use satellite imagery to conduct a precision strike."
What the hell!
Hearing that answer, Wu Heng's heart skipped a beat.
Precision strike.
A phrase you'd only ever hear on the news, yet now he was the target.
Oh! So those missiles in the warehouse were meant for him.
Good thing this didn't get delayed further. If they'd gotten the photos, they really might have hit him one day.
No matter how many skeletons he had, no matter how high his level, he couldn't tank a modern missile.
Seeing Wu Heng's face darken, Glenda asked, "What does that mean?"
Xiaoxiao and Benny also looked over, curious.
Wu Heng explained, "It's an information technology thing. You locate a target, then use missiles or bombs to precisely hit and kill it."
The three Wraiths all nodded in understanding.
Xiaoxiao flew up to the corpse and spat, "You ate our food and you're still this evil. Big bad guy."
Wu Heng turned back to the corpse and continued asking, "How many main departments are there in this base?"
"Logistics, Equipment Development, Combat Units, Information and Communications..."
He rattled off several in one go.
Definitely more professional than what he had on his side.
But they were different. Wu Heng's side relied mainly on the skeletons for tech and combat. He didn't need so many departments.
Wu Heng asked the third question, "Are you the highest commander in this base?"
"Yes, but decisions are made in consultation with other departments."
Fourth question, "How did you become the top leader here?"
The corpse answered, "I held the primary armed command."
In the end, it was about who had the firepower. That's who got to be the boss. Techies and ex-officials didn't matter.
Without troops, you didn't even get a say.
Last question—Wu Heng said directly, "List all the department heads' names."
The corpse hesitated, then began naming them one department at a time.
Wu Heng took the pen and paper from the desk and wrote down all the names.
Once the five questions ended, the corpse lay back down.
Wu Heng opened the desk drawers. In the middle one—pistol, bullets, watch, and two open packs of Little Umbrella.
Below that was a diary filled with bookkeeping records.
He opened the rest of the drawers and pulled out several stacks of documents.
One file folder held the reorganized departments and names of their heads.
Also included: firearm distribution in the city, city layout, and nearby power lines around the base.
He flipped through all of it quickly.
Wu Heng then went to search the bookshelves behind.
In the middle was a hollow display rack, flanked by two symmetrical wardrobe doors.
The right wardrobe was a fake.
Behind it was a private bedroom—bed, TV, shower, fully equipped.
There was even a small door in the back that led to an emergency passage.
Damn, like Russian dolls—layer after layer.
Wu Heng found an outfit similar to the one the corpse wore in the closet and used a human-skin mask to replicate the corpse's face.
"You're planning to impersonate the Commander-in-Chief?" Glenda asked.
Wu Heng began changing. "Feels like my acting skills are skyrocketing."
"You can use the deputy outside the door to gradually replace everyone on this list and take over," Glenda said, glancing at the list.
Wu Heng buttoned up as he replied, "I don't have time to play house here every day as the Commander-in-Chief."
"Then what's your plan?"
"Handle it tonight." Wu Heng wrapped the corpse in a rug and stuffed it into his spatial ring.
...…
Knock knock~!
A knock came at the door.
Wu Heng put on the human-skin mask, and his appearance began to shift.
With a flick of the hand, the soundproof jar flew into his grasp and was stashed.
"Come in!"
The female deputy entered, scanned the room, and frowned. "Where's the person from earlier?"
"Left after talking. What do you need?"
The deputy said, "Commander-in-Chief, the cafeteria asked if you'd like dinner brought over."
"Send it in."
"Understood." She turned to leave.
Soon after, she returned with a tray, placing dishes on the coffee table before the couch.
"Sit. I need to talk to you for a moment," Wu Heng said.
The deputy narrowed her eyes. "Commander, we agreed—I'm only handling admin."
"Where are the skeletons from Sanfu Port stationed now?" Wu Heng skipped her comment.
The deputy froze, bowed slightly, and replied, "All placed in a warehouse, monitoring a few computers."
"No satellite training?"
"Per your order, no info was given—just loops of satellite launch videos."
Shit! These bastards.
They'd been acting with him this whole time.
Selling satellites, teaching skeletons—turned out they just stuffed them in storage.
Wu Heng took a deep breath. "Call all department heads for a meeting. Also, the heads of armed units in the base. Meeting room."
"What's the meeting about?"
"Killing Sanfu Port's leader."
"Yes, sir."
The deputy saluted and left the room.
...…
Meeting room.
One by one, ministers and commanders filed in.
They sat, crossed their legs, lit cigarettes, and chatted.
"This late? What's the big deal? I just rescued some girl group members—was about to enjoy a show."
"What else? The skeleton-powered freak—got his photo now."
"Relax. Once we confirm his looks and size, we can do a pinpoint strike. No matter how strong he is, a missile'll blast him in bed."
"If he dies, do the skeletons vanish too?"
"According to U.S. studies, powers vanish when the user dies."
"Your 'according to' makes me nervous."
"Not much territory left. We'll clean the rest up. The real issue is killing the guy—then what about Sanfu Port and Huaguo Central?"
"If Wu Heng's dead, they're nothing."
The group got riled up, smoke filling the room.
Creak~!
The door opened.
Everyone looked up. The Commander walked in with the deputy and two helmeted figures behind.
Everyone frowned, curious.
The Commander looked... off. His posture, aura—totally different.
Did he awaken a power?
Or secretly ingest a corpse core to enhance himself?
"You've got the skeleton user's photo? Can you confirm his look?"
Someone near the door exhaled a smoke ring and asked.
Wu Heng ignored him and asked the deputy, "Everyone here?"
She double-checked and nodded. "All here."
Wu Heng stepped aside. "Do it. Make it quick."
At his words, the helmeted skeletons lunged forward.
"What's this?!" one man yelled.
Next moment—his throat exploded from a punch, body slamming into the wall, blood and smoke spewing.
"Shit, you've lost it!" Someone reached for their pistol.
Too late—the gun and hand flew, severed. A second blade flashed, slicing a throat.
Panic broke out. Chaos. Total mess.
The two skeletons charged into the turmoil.
"Commander, if you have something to say—"
"It's all yours, really."
"Spare me, Commander!"
Pleas rang out, but the slaughter didn't stop.
"Help!" The deputy screamed, eyes wide, and bolted.
At the door, she saw all the guards outside lying dead.
One last man broke his own neck trying to flee down the stairs.
She froze mid-step, legs trembling.
Inside the meeting room, it was over.
Blood hung thick in the air. The entire upper management had been wiped out.
"You want to die?"
The deputy shuddered. "N-no, Commander, I don't."
"Come back." Wu Heng sat back down.
Stiffly, she walked back and knelt. "Please don't kill me."
"Look up." Wu Heng removed the mask.
She trembled as she raised her head—saw his real face.
"Know who I am?"
"I-I don't…" she stammered, eyes dodging.
"I'm the skeleton leader you tried to kill. But I flipped the table. Makes sense, right?" Wu Heng said. "I still have a use for you. Play smart and cooperate. Be dumb, and join your bosses."
She trembled and replied, "I can help you take this place. I know it inside out—operations and all. I can help."
"Quick thinker. Wait over there," Wu Heng praised.
He then pulled out the documents and started matching photos to identities.
He cast [Speak with Dead] on one.
The corpse sat up, staring at him.
The woman huddled in a corner, holding her head.
Wu Heng asked, "How do I shut off the power?"
"Two systems. After cutting main power, you need to shut down backup too."
"Where are they located...?"
"..."
Interrogation done, Wu Heng had a skeleton drag the woman over.
"You remember where he said, right?"
"Y-yes."
"Take me. Whether you live depends on how you do," Wu Heng said.
"Okay. I'll lead." She obeyed and took them outside.
By now, it was fully dark.
They passed patrols, exchanged nods, and kept walking.
Wu Heng reached the breaker room and pulled the lever.
The entire base dimmed. Then backup kicked in—spotlights and street lamps came back on.
He shut off the backup system.
The base was plunged into darkness.
Wu Heng locked the woman in a room.
Then opened the portal—skeletons poured out, charging toward the armory, barracks, and gates.
...…
Perimeter wall.
With power cut, the world seemed veiled in darkness.
Guards on the wall, confused, questioned what happened.
In the dark, a chilling clatter echoed.
Like leaves dragging or gnashing teeth.
"Flashlight—point that way!" someone yelled.
The beam revealed a swarm of armored, armed skeletons at the base of the wall.
"Damn! Skeleton monsters."
"Sanfu Port is attacking."
"Shoot! Hurry!"
Gunfire thundered, muzzle flashes lit the dark.
Bullets blew holes in the skeletons, but they staggered up again, surging forward in a wave.
...…
"We've taken the wall and armory, no problem. Madam Glenda stayed by the armory to block any approach," Benny flew back to report.
"What's that gunfire then?"
"Some squads are still resisting. Not a big deal—few in number," Benny replied.
The real danger was the heavy weapons—but even that wasn't much.
Ghosts were unstoppable here.
Even in an armored vehicle, they could kill.
Wu Heng nodded, dragged the deputy from the next room. "Take me to the radio room."
...…
Sporadic fighting lasted all night.
At dawn—
Skeletons dragged corpses to the central yard, while the rest were locked in the dorms.
As long as they didn't resist, skeletons wouldn't kill them.
If they did—they'd die.
8 a.m.
A convoy from Sanfu Port arrived at the Central Base.
They passed through the civilian zone and entered the military compound.
Qi Hancai had her people wait outside, while she entered the office alone.
Seeing Wu Heng at the desk, her eyes widened. "You... You wiped out the entire rescue team? In one night?"