Chapter 131: Illusion Veil

Chapter 131: Illusion Veil

[Illusion Veil (Artifact)]

[Type: Artifact]

[Function: Shapeshifting, Mimicry.]

[Side Effect: When worn, it unconsciously attracts men.]

(Description: When worn, the user and their clothing are enveloped in a 'female' magical illusion, including mimicking female voices.

The shapeshifting effect cannot deceive any physical form of inspection.

Perception of '30' and above will see through the 'shapeshifting' effect.)

Damn!

It's like the Witches' ability.

Back at the ruined temple, those scantily clad nuns with seductive expressions left quite an impression.

If they weren't Witches, old women with faces full of pustules, Wu Heng would have found them quite pleasant to look at.

The Witches' ability to change their appearance was called 'Shapeshifting.'

Even after turning into skeletons, this skill was retained.

But when disguising as living beings, there were added limitations.

This artifact clearly had something to do with the Witches; otherwise, how would it so closely mimic their ability?

The shapeshifting effect could turn someone into a woman and mimic voices.

It certainly met the requirements for disguise, but the side effect... attracting men.

Well… it's not unacceptable.

Attracting men, huh?

It's not like he'd actually be doing anything.

Besides, he might not even wear it for that long.

After quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

He directly asked, "How much for the veil?"

The woman glanced at him, smiling, "Two thousand five hundred silver coins."

"That expensive?"

When he bought the shroud, it was only 1,500 silver coins, and its invisibility effect wasn't any worse than this.

The woman maintained her smile, "Given the side effect and the effect it produces, it's worth the price."

The shroud's side effect was that living beings who used it would be infected by the death energy, causing their skin to rot.

For living creatures, that was a significant side effect.

Attracting men unconsciously didn't seem like a big deal by comparison.

"Alright, I'll take it." Wu Heng pulled out the corresponding amount from his space ring and handed it over.

After completing the transaction, the woman handed the veil to Wu Heng.

"This is yours now."

Wu Heng nodded, "Alright, I won't keep you."

"Take care, sir."

......

Leaving the Consortium, Wu Heng headed straight back to the Guild lounge.

Duke hadn't arrived, so Wu Heng was the only one in the lounge.

Sitting on the sofa, he reconsidered his plans.

He took out the 'veil' he had just bought and put it on his head.

A transparent glow enveloped his entire body from the top down before returning to normal.

Wu Heng lifted his arms, looking at his hands and body.

No visible changes.

"Damn, is it broken?"

He pulled out a mirror from his space ring and placed it on the coffee table, checking his reflection.

Upon seeing himself, Wu Heng's expression turned strange.

In the mirror, his face had become that of a woman with long golden hair, arched eyebrows, green eyes, and fair skin with a slight blush.

Damn, I look hot!

He really had turned into a woman.

But when he looked at his arms and body through his own eyes, nothing had changed.

The mirror, however, showed slightly raised breasts.

"Won't this attract even more attention when I go out?"

This appearance wasn't much different from the seductive nuns he had seen before. How many men would be staring at him if he went out like this?

"It'd be nice if I could tone down the looks a bit."

As he thought this.

A flash of light passed over his body again.

His appearance shifted, becoming less seductive.

This made Wu Heng smile with satisfaction.

He could adjust his appearance.

This artifact was totally worth it.

He continued, "Lower it a bit more."

"Lower it again."

After several adjustments, Wu Heng ended up looking like an ordinary middle-aged woman.

Not ugly, but not particularly attractive either.

A plain face, the kind that wouldn't draw attention.

Satisfied that there were no problems.

Wu Heng walked out of the lounge and headed to the front desk.

The staff member looked at him and smiled, "Ma'am, how may I assist you?"

"Nothing, just looking around."

Confirming that they couldn't recognize him, and that his voice was convincingly female, he left the Guild and headed toward the lower district.

......

Wu Heng left the Guild and made his way toward the lower district.

Based on the information he obtained yesterday, he arrived at the 'Spikes Gang' hideout.

The area was deserted.

Only two gang members leaned against the wall at the entrance.

Wu Heng sent out Xiaoxiao to scout the inside of the building.

If she found Roch, the leader of the Spikes Gang, he would send someone in to kill him.

Before long, Xiaoxiao returned and merged back into his body.

She shared the recent vision with him.

There wasn't a single person inside the building, not even in the courtyard.

"Could they have run?" Wu Heng muttered.

Not finding his target.

Wu Heng wandered around the area, unintentionally throwing flirtatious glances at a few burly men.

Then he entered a nearby tavern.

Taverns were often a place full of gossip, and he might overhear some information or wait for his target to return.

It wasn't peak time at the tavern, but it was still decently populated.

Wu Heng found a corner seat.

A bartender immediately approached, "Ma'am, what would you like to drink? We have a special selection of drinks for ladies."

Wu Heng glanced at the menu and ordered a fruit wine.

The prices in Rentam City were higher than those in Blackstone Town.

Even a fruit wine meant for ladies cost 75 copper coins.

A bit on the pricey side.

After paying, the bartender brought his drink.

Wu Heng quietly sipped his drink while eavesdropping on the conversations of the other patrons.

......

"It's been dangerous out there lately. I heard several merchant caravans have gone missing."

"Yeah, we were supposed to escort a caravan, but the job got canceled because of it. Now we're just sitting around doing nothing, almost out of money."

"It's for the best. Going out now is just asking to die!"

"Word is that the 'Warhammer Party' has blocked the entire road. I bet the Iron Guards will move soon; this delay is hurting tax revenue."

"Let's hope so... those bastards must be desperate for money, going crazy like this!"

Wu Heng drank while listening in on the conversation.

It wasn't related to the Spikes Gang, but he had heard about the 'Warhammer Party' before.

Duke had mentioned it a few days ago.

Bandits robbing merchant caravans, with the leader and core members being wanted criminals, all with pretty hefty bounties.

They were talking about that same 'Warhammer Party.'

Things had gotten to the point where no merchant caravans were leaving the city anymore.

They were ruthless.

Wu Heng stayed for a while but didn't hear anything about the Spikes Gang.

Just as he was about to leave and find somewhere to take off the veil.

His gaze was drawn to the stairs leading to the second floor.

The second floor had private rooms, usually used for meetings.

From the staircase came the sound of footsteps on the wooden boards.

The first thing he saw was a pair of slender, white legs, clad in a deep green embroidered dress with a high slit, offering a tantalizing view from below.

Then, a woman draped in a dark blue shawl with wavy red hair gracefully descended the stairs.

The tavern instantly fell silent, and every man's eyes were drawn to her.

Wu Heng also looked up.

The woman wasn't necessarily more beautiful than Slater from the Golden Cat or Laixia from the Serpent Emblem Consortium.

But she had a unique allure of her own.

She had the charm of a mature city woman, full of seduction, yet with the elegance of a noblewoman.

She possessed an inexplicable pull over men.

"Sister-in-law!"

The gang members standing at the base of the stairs called out in unison.

Damn!

Whose gang leader's woman was this?

"What's going on with the Spikes Gang? Coming to a tavern with so many guards?"

"I heard the Spikes Gang provoked someone, so their boss is being cautious, assigning more guards to protect his woman."

"Bullshit. The Spikes Gang is a fringe gang; who could they have angered? If they had, they'd have run already. I think this woman has a lover, and Roch assigned guards to keep an eye on her. That guy had his manhood injured in a fight a few years ago and can't touch women anymore."

"Damn, in that case, I'm available! Why not pick me?"

"You're not better than me! She'd choose me over you."

"..."

Listening to the whispered gossip, Wu Heng stood up.

He followed behind the 'Spikes Gang's Sister-in-law' as she left the tavern.

......

Night fell.

Wu Heng returned to the Spikes Gang's residence.

Standing in the shadows, he waited for a while before Xiaoxiao flew back.

She shared her vision, showing the interior of the hideout in his mind.

Roch wasn't there. The woman from earlier was sitting by the bed, sorting through something.

Roch wasn't here?

Had he fled after the assassination attempt failed?

That didn't make sense—if he had run, why would he leave his men and his woman behind?

Standing in the alley, Wu Heng decided not to waste any more time.

Whether in the Guild or the zombie world.

He didn't have the luxury of time to investigate further.

He had Barson and Bagdong get ready, then they vaulted over the wall into the courtyard and unlocked the door to enter the building.

The room wasn't large, and no one was inside.

On the bed lay a deep green embroidered dress, a shawl, and some light purple lace undergarments.

At that moment, the sound of water running and rising steam came from a separate room.

Wu Heng made a gesture.

Bagdong immediately charged into the room.