Chapter 805, The Manor Is a Decoy
"How did those undead get into the city? Are there spies in the city guard?"
"No one can say for sure."
Then came a lower voice asking, "How bad were the losses last night? Is His Highness okay?"
"What do you think? If something happened to him, the city wouldn't just be searching—we'd be at war."
"Damn undead."
"May the gods bless His Highness the Prince!"
The tavern was gradually filling up. The table next to Wu Heng's also filled.
Almost every table was discussing last night's events.
Even though everyone was trying to keep their voices down, Wu Heng could hear them clearly.
It was clear—there had been fighting in the city.
People even saw troops gathering and the Prince's manor spewing black smoke.
It wasn't fake news to confuse people.
But... why pin it on Rentam City?
Whether the undead were involved should've been obvious.
Wu Heng looked up as the barkeep approached with two others, glancing at the empty seats.
"Sir, if you don't have companions, these two guests would like to sit here."
"No problem. Go ahead," Wu Heng said.
The two sat down.
Wu Heng finished his last bite of bread and looked to the barkeep. "Got any rooms available?"
"Yes, sir. Planning to stay? Second floor has regular rooms, third floor's a bit better."
"I want a room on the second floor, in the back."
"I'll show you."
They went upstairs together.
The two who had just sat down saw Wu Heng leave and began whispering about the attack on the prince's manor.
On the second floor, Wu Heng glanced around, paid for the room, and confirmed his booking.
The barkeep took the money and said he wouldn't disturb him, then shut the door.
...…
The room was simple.
A round table in the center, and a bed in the back.
A side window overlooked the street.
Wu Heng sat at the table. Glenda and Benny, who had gone scouting, appeared beside him.
"How'd it go?" Wu Heng asked.
Benny spoke first. "I checked the garrison. Highest level was 18. There were several level-15 Professionals too."
Glenda added, "I went to the central Prince's manor. Heavy troop presence. I saw three level-18 Professionals."
Wu Heng's brow furrowed.
Just arriving here, and he already found four level-18s.
"What about the Second Prince? Anyone matching his description?"
Benny shook her head. Didn't see him.
Glenda added, "Nope. That manor isn't a residence. It's a trap, meant to lure people in."
So the Prince's manor was a decoy.
No wonder everyone in the city kept mentioning it—it was bait.
Floating nearby, Benny pondered aloud, "If the manor's fake, could the intel about the Second Prince being here be fake too?"
Wu Heng and Glenda both froze.
Glenda nodded. "Possible."
"I don't think so," Wu Heng replied after a pause, then explained under their questioning gazes, "He doesn't have a lot of level-18s. Most of his strength is concentrated here. He must be in this city. If he were outside and the info leaked, he'd be dead."
In this world, some classes can locate people.
A Seer could use personal items to find someone's location.
Wu Heng didn't have anything the Second Prince had touched, but surely the First Prince did.
So, it made no sense to waste his best forces on a trap. Even in the battle with Rentam City, he didn't use level-18s.
That alone showed he was low on top-tier strength.
Hiding elsewhere seemed even less likely.
Wu Heng concluded, "The manor's a fake. He's hiding somewhere else in the city."
"Makes sense," Glenda agreed.
Benny added, "So our next move is to search the entire city? It's kinda big."
"With the whole place on alert, it'll be even harder to find him," Glenda sighed.
Wu Heng didn't reply right away. After a moment, he said, "No rush. Let's keep an eye out for anything suspicious. If he's in the city, we will find him."
"I'll go take another look," Benny said, turning invisible and flying off.
Glenda glanced at Benny as she left, then told Wu Heng, "Be careful. There might be detection tools in the city. If it gets dangerous, get out."
"Got it. I'll be careful," Wu Heng smiled.
Glenda nodded and flew off too.
...…
The two phantoms departed.
Wu Heng took out fresh bedding and made the bed.
Noise came from outside. He looked out and saw patrols marching the street, pushing loiterers out to enforce curfew.
"Uncle, quick disguise! The innkeeper's bringing guards upstairs!" Xiaoxiao rushed in.
Wu Heng listened closely. Footsteps and chatter echoed in the hallway.
He put on a mask, stuffed his space ring into his clothes, and asked, "What's the search for?"
"Looking for outsiders. Innkeeper said you were one, so they came."
Bang\~!
The door burst open.
Uniformed guards stormed in and scanned the room.
The captain's cold eyes swept the place. "Alone?"
"Alone."
"Why are you in the city?"
"Heard His Highness was recruiting. Came to try my luck."
The captain looked him over. "Good timing. Mercenary?"
"Hunter for a few years. Strong too," Wu Heng replied.
"Hmph! It's the strong ones that die the quickest."
Another guard who had finished searching said, "Captain, nothing suspicious."
The captain nodded, gestured for them to leave, and told Wu Heng, "Don't wander."
"Understood," Wu Heng nodded.
The guards all left.
The innkeeper came in, apologetic. "Sorry, sir. They check once or twice a day."
"No problem."
The innkeeper smiled, shut the door, and ran after the patrol.
...…
"Uncle, they're gone. Headed to the next tavern," Xiaoxiao flew back in.
"Yeah, this city's really on edge," Wu Heng said, closing the curtains and taking off his mask.
"Will they come back?" Xiaoxiao asked.
"They're only checking taverns for outsiders. One round should be enough."
Xiaoxiao floated closer. "Then should I keep watch outside?"
"No need. Just let me know if there's any danger."
"Okay, Uncle. Give me the tablet—I wanna watch cartoons tonight," Xiaoxiao said.
Wu Heng handed her the tablet. After using [Mansion Spell] to wash up inside, he lay on the bed.
Staring at the ceiling, he went over the plan in his head.
The attack on the Prince's manor had put the entire city on high alert. That was a major obstacle for him.
The assassins were likely sent by the First Prince.
"Why the hell are they blaming Rentam for it?"
"Damn it, just dumping all the crap on us!"
He took a deep breath and tucked his arms behind his head.
The next step was finding the Second Prince's actual location.
Couldn't just open a gate and declare war on the entire city.
His original plan was to quietly assassinate the prince—not start a skeleton rampage.
That would bring the Guild and the Church down on his head.
If the phantoms couldn't find him, he could always ask a couple corpses.
Or use something the Second Prince had touched with the [Tracking Pendant] to find him.
With that thought, he glanced at Xiaoxiao, who was watching her show.
Then he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
...…
Morning.
Wu Heng came out from [Mansion Spell] after freshening up.
The three phantoms were chatting about last night at the round table.
Seeing Wu Heng come out, Glenda handed him a sheet of paper and said, "This is a map of the city I drew. This is what it looks like from the sky. I've marked a few suspicious spots."
Wu Heng took it and gave it a look. It showed the rough outline of the city.
Several locations were circled separately.
"Let's go. Let's eat first, then wander around according to the map," Wu Heng said as he walked out the door.
He went downstairs and ordered breakfast.
The bartender walked over and asked, "Guest, would you like to keep the room?"
Wu Heng paid for another day. "Keep it."
"Very well, sir." The bartender took the money and cheerfully saw him to the door.
Wu Heng stepped out and blended into the street crowd, heading toward the marked spots on the map.
...…
Along the way, each zone had guards stationed.
After wandering around, he arrived at a bustling area.
The noisy market had just ended. Bits of produce and animal droppings still littered the cobblestone road, and a mix of strange smells lingered in the air.
Wu Heng walked along the street, still calculating his next steps.
He needed a breakthrough to gather more intel on the city.
He continued walking and gradually veered off the main street, turning into a dim alley.
He stopped and turned around to wait.
Soon, several figures followed him in, blocking one end of the alley.
The leader was a burly man in his 30s, face full of flesh, with a horizontal scar across his head that looked like a centipede.
Behind him were four more, all armed, their eyes full of mockery.
"You sensed us tailing you? A Professional?" the scarred brute grinned, showing yellow teeth, and eyed him up and down.
Wu Heng calmly asked, "Gentlemen, you follow me in broad daylight—I could call the guards."
The brute scoffed. One of his lackeys jeered, "Go ahead, shout. See if the guards show up, or just come pick up your corpse."
Wu Heng raised a brow. "I don't think I've wronged you."
Another said, "This is our gang's turf. Tough luck for you. Two silver coins and we'll go drink. Then you can be on your way."
This city really was a mess.
The main roads were tightly patrolled, but the alleys were fair game for gangs shaking down unlucky passersby.
"His Highness is conscripting troops—if your gang's so capable, why not help out?" Wu Heng asked.
He didn't know much about Earth's ancient days.
But in this world, when trouble hits the city, gangs are usually drafted into the army.
"You've got a lot to say. Get him! See how much gold he's got—take it all and toss him naked in the street," the brute barked.
His men laughed wickedly and approached with wooden clubs.
"Kid, remember this next time."
"Break his arms and legs—he'll never forget."
"Hmph! Let's just beat him to death."
As they spoke, the clubs came swinging down.
Wu Heng raised one hand and caught a club mid-air, right in front of a stunned face.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
After a few loud smacks, bodies hit the ground.
The brute's face turned pale. "Y-you can go! We of the Redwind Gang respect strength."
He turned to run.
Next second, his body froze in place, then step by step, backed deeper into the alley.
Thwack!
A broken stick struck his neck.
His neck snapped, his head slumped to the side, and his body collapsed.
"Hmph! Petty thieves," Xiaoxiao said.
"Nobody around," Benny reported.
Wu Heng cast [Speak with Dead] on the scarred body. It sat back up.
Its head hung to the side, but its eyes opened and looked this way.
Wu Heng asked, "Why weren't you drafted into the army?"
The corpse answered, "The city needs us to manage certain areas and handle matters the army can't."
"Who attacked the prince's manor?"
"Assassins from Rentam City."
So, the outside world truly believed it was Rentam's doing.
They really pinned this shit on him.
"Where's the Second Prince?"
"At the prince's manor."
Three questions done—no useful intel.
These gangsters didn't know anything important.
Wu Heng thought for a moment and asked, "Who's your boss?"
"Sid."
"Where is he?"
"In the gang's base, just behind here."
Five questions done. The corpse laid back down.
Wu Heng said to a phantom, "Benny, check the courtyard."
"Got it," Benny replied and flew off.
Wu Heng pulled out his storage ring, packed up the corpse, and stored everything.
...…
Wu Heng finished cleaning up.
Benny flew back. "Two level 5 Professionals in the hall. One level 10 in a room, counting money. Must be the gang leader."
"Let me get a look. We'll go in directly," Wu Heng said.
Benny merged into him and shared the view.
It wasn't far. Once Wu Heng locked the location, a magic circle lit up beneath him.
Next second, he appeared in a courtyard.
"Who are you?!"
"How did you..."
The two in the hall looked up, spotted Wu Heng, and froze.
Crack! Crack!
Their necks were twisted.
A man with a broadsword rushed out, saw the bodies and Wu Heng, and opened his mouth.
Then froze.
Crack!
His neck was twisted like a rope.
...…
"Too easy!" Xiaoxiao cheered.
The three phantoms appeared overhead.
Fighting low-level Professionals felt like stomping ants.
Actually, at level 20, anyone was an ant to him.
Wu Heng looked at the gang leader on the floor.
He cast [Speak with Dead]—the body sat up and looked at him.
"Where's the Second Prince?"
"At the prince's manor."
Again with that answer.
It seemed everyone believed the Second Prince lived there.
Wu Heng thought, then asked, "Where's Blaise?"
"Don't know."
Huh? He knew Blaise's name?
That name came from the level 18 rogue Wu Heng caught.
Said the guy gave him two tickets and hired him to kill Wen Mansa.
"Who is he?"
"An 18th-level Professional who handles intel in the city."
Not a merchant?
So that rogue lied to him.
...…
Outside the city, inside a wooden cabin.
An elderly figure returned from outside.
All eyes inside turned toward him. One asked, "Well?"
"The city's under full lockdown. It'll be tough to get back in anytime soon," said the elder.
"The Second Prince? Can we find him?"
"No trace," the elder said as he sat.
The questioning figure fell silent, then looked to the corner. "Viola, can your class locate him?"
"I know a Seer can."