Chapter 130: Nighttime Assassins

Chapter 130: Nighttime Assassins

[Skeleton Terrorclaw (Level 13)]

[Level: 13]

[Attributes: Constitution 27, Strength 28, Agility 31, Intelligence 11, Perception 17, Charisma 7.]

[Traits: Hollow Skeleton, Basic Soul, Echo Location, Uneven Terrain Crawl.]

[Specialization: Biological Mutation.]

[Echo Location]: By striking surfaces like the ground or walls, it can detect concealed targets.

[Uneven Terrain Crawl]: Can crawl on special terrain, Agility +3.

[Biological Mutation]: Constitution +3, Agility +3, Perception +2.

The most prominent attribute of the Terrorclaw is its agility, which has reached 31 points.

That's already quite a fast speed.

The traits include [Echo Location] and [Uneven Terrain Crawl].

Echo Location works by striking the ground to determine the enemy's position, a detection ability that allows it to find targets even if they are hiding inside buildings.

The ability is pretty impressive.

Uneven Terrain Crawl enables climbing on rugged surfaces.

Its ability to climb walls vertically must be influenced by this trait.

But it doesn't seem particularly useful, as my spiders can also climb walls and webs.

More importantly, this humanoid appearance gives off a strange discomfort.

After reviewing its stats, Wu Heng named it 'Terrorclaw' and immediately added it to the patrol squad.

Once the Terrorclaw left.

Wu Heng crouched down, rummaging through the fallen flesh, and found a corpse core filled with red veins.

He covered his hand with a plastic bag and took out the core for a closer look.

Compared to the previous corpse cores.

This one had more densely packed red veins, with a slight gradient toward purple.

It gave off a feeling of being full of neurotoxins.

Wu Heng frowned as he examined the core.

A Level 3 corpse core?

Probably not. A Level 3 mutated zombie wouldn't be this easy to kill. It's likely still a Level 2 core but with some changes.

Holding the core, he walked to a nearby building.

The Skeleton Alchemist emerged, bowing slightly in greeting.

Among the entire skeleton squad, the Alchemist Skeleton had the highest intelligence and was also the most capable.

Wu Heng handed it the corpse core and said, "Test the toxicity of this and then develop a potion from it."

The Skeleton Alchemist respectfully accepted the core and placed it into a nearby 'organ jar.'

Without any refrigeration equipment here, the organ jar became a great container to preserve such materials.

Then, the Skeleton Alchemist handed over newly prepared healing potions, mental potions, and a materials list to Wu Heng.

Wu Heng nodded, "Alright, I'll get it ready for you by tomorrow."

After leaving the Alchemist Skeleton's room, he wandered around the district.

Then, he used the portal to return to his residence for some rest.

Night fell.

The empty streets were shrouded in darkness.

Tap, tap, tap~!

A patrolling mercenary group had just passed by.

Several figures darted out from the damp alleyways, wearing leather armor, short blades at their waists, and scarves covering their faces.

They were fully wrapped up.

After scanning their surroundings and finding nothing suspicious, they quickly moved toward the residential area.

Ducking into another dark alley, one of them said, "Leave no one alive. Take the bodies. Collect the money. Be quick."

"Understood!" the others nodded.

"Move."

After confirming the plan, they swiftly headed toward the building.

Vaulting over the fence.

They lit a censer and placed it by the side of the building.

Wisps of blue smoke began to seep through the door cracks and windows.

After a while.

One kept watch while another quickly approached the door, crouching down to pick the lock.

Click.

The lock clicked, and the door was unlocked.

Everyone's faces lit up with joy—it seemed the plan was even easier than expected.

They exchanged glances, gently opened the door, and walked inside.

"No one's on the first floor," someone whispered.

According to the intel, the target had two attendants.

Why wasn't there anyone on the first floor?

There was no time to think.

"Move, head upstairs, quickly," they said.

Tap, tap, tap~!

They quickened their pace, the sound of footsteps echoing up the stairs.

When they reached the third-floor corner, ready to ascend to the fourth floor.

They suddenly stopped in their tracks.

Standing at the top of the stairs were several figures, blocking the way up.

Among them were hunched Hollow Skeletons, with silver-white moonlight casting skeletal shadows on the floor through their bones.

"Shit, undead!"

The group was taken aback.

Before they could react, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh~!

Several crossbow bolts and spells were fired.

Then, the skeletons pounced, killing all of them.

Their bodies lay strewn across the staircase.

Meanwhile, a figure leaped off the third-floor balcony, landing a mid-air kick to the head of the lookout outside, twisting their neck at an unnatural angle and leaving the body limp.

Picking up the censer from the corner, Wu Heng snuffed out the flame, holding it in one hand and dragging the body back inside with the other.

The door closed once again.

In the living room, eight bodies were neatly arranged on the ground, a linen cloth spread underneath to prevent blood from spilling everywhere.

The skeletons had already noticed the intruders as soon as they approached the building.

Skeletons didn't need sleep; they could keep watch day and night.

And in this residence, aside from Barson and Bagdong, there were also Sword One, Sword Two, Crossbow One, Crossbow Two, and four Skeleton Witches.

Not attacking immediately was to let them come inside, avoiding causing too much commotion outside.

Wu Heng sat on the sofa, looking at the censer in his hand.

[Hallucinogenic Censer]

(Description: When burning, the incense induces effects such as exhaustion, dizziness, and hallucinations after being inhaled for a certain amount of time.)

So, they came prepared, even bringing a magical item.

He didn't bother to think too hard about their identities.

He directly cast [Speak with the Dead], and the first corpse sat up.

Wu Heng asked directly, "Who are you?"

"Spikes Gang."

Spikes Gang?

A local gang?

Rentham City's gangs and mercenary groups were chaotic.

The outer district and the area outside the city were filled with gangs.

Walking down the street, you could randomly pull anyone, and they might be a gang member or a mercenary.

Had he been targeted by a gang?

"Why did you come to my place?" Wu Heng continued asking.

"To kill everyone in the house."

Damn!

Such deep hatred.

He thought they were after money, but it turned out they wanted him dead.

"Who sent you to kill me?"

"Our boss, Roch."

Wu Heng leaned back on the sofa, thinking for a moment, "Why does he want me dead?"

"I don't know!"

"Is your boss human or orc?"

"Human!"

After five questions, the corpse collapsed backward.

Wu Heng cast the skill again, and the second body sat up.

He asked directly, "Why did Roch send you to kill me?"

"The boss took a contract. The job was to kill you."

Someone hired the gang to kill me?

"Who hired your boss, or what's their identity?"

"I don't know."

Wu Heng nodded, thinking for a moment before asking, "How many members does your gang have?"

"Over a thousand members."

Damn.

That's not a small gang; they've got over a thousand members.

"What's Roch's level?"

"He's rumored to have reached Level 10."

"Are there others with high levels?"

"In the gang, there are a few more at Level 7 or Level 8, all core members."

After five questions, the second body collapsed again.

Wu Heng continued calling up the other bodies, asking several more questions.

He asked about Roch's appearance, the gang's location, and whether they had any backers.

From the conversation, he gathered some information.

The 'Spikes Gang' wasn't a particularly large gang in the area. Most of its members were active outside the city, with only the boss and a few core members entering the outer district.

It was a gang from outside the city.

The only thing he hadn't learned was who hired the gang to kill him.

He could roughly guess a few suspects.

But he couldn't say for sure.

Opening the portal, he had the bodies taken back to the other world.

......

As dawn broke, Wu Heng made himself some instant noodles for breakfast.

He hadn't felt sleepy all night.

He muddled through the night in a daze.

After breakfast, he immediately left his residence.

He headed toward the inner city's central district.

Instead of entering the Guild, he walked straight into the 'Serpent Emblem Consortium' across the street.

At this hour, the lobby was nearly empty.

Some staff were still cleaning.

"Good morning, sir. How can I assist you?" the receptionist smiled.

Wu Heng showed his 'insignia' and continued, "Is Miss Laixia here?"

"Yes, sir. Please wait in the lounge."

Wu Heng was led to a private lounge. After sitting on the sofa, he waited quietly.

He had even suspected the Serpent Emblem Consortium of last night's assassination.

After all, he had exchanged a large amount of silver coins here, essentially flaunting his wealth.

But after reconsidering, he dismissed his suspicion of the Consortium.

With such a large organizational structure, he was just one of many clients.

Even if they wanted him dead, they wouldn't hire a small gang like the 'Spikes Gang.'

The Serpent Emblem Consortium wasn't exactly a benevolent group either, and killing people was hardly a challenge for them.

Soon, the sound of crisp footsteps echoed, and the door opened. The beautiful 'Laixia' walked in.

She looked like she had just woken up, still slightly groggy.

Closing the door, the woman smiled, "Good morning, Mr. Wu Heng."

"Good morning." Wu Heng greeted her and said, "I came today to ask if the Consortium has any items that can conceal one's appearance."

"Of course, we do. I'll have someone fetch them." The woman gave instructions to the staff outside and then sat down across from him.

After a brief conversation, two items were brought in and placed on the coffee table before them.

"Trickster Earrings, they blur your face when worn. It's quite a good item. Illusion Veil, an artifact, changes your appearance when worn..." the woman introduced them one by one.

Wu Heng's gaze fell on the two items on the table.

[Trickster Silver Earrings]

(Description: Silver earrings inscribed with illusion magic. When worn, they create a blur effect over the wearer's face, preventing creatures with perception under 20 from recognizing their features.)

An item that could blur one's face.

It seemed a bit weak compared to just wearing a mask that covered the entire face.

But the idea behind this item made sense.

Eyes and hair color could also give away someone's identity. Blurring everything would make it harder for others to recognize them.

But it didn't feel like what he needed.

He looked at the second item.

[Illusion Veil (Artifact)]

[Type: Artifact]

[Function: Shapeshifting, Mimicry.]

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