NOVEL NEXT Chapter 64: Conversation with the Dead
Chapter 64: Conversation with the Dead
In this battle, a total of six skeletons reached Level 5, unlocking 【Basic Soul】.
Counting Spear One, which had previously reached Level 5, there were now seven Level 5 Skeleton Warriors.
For convenience, the newly joined ones were named Spear Two, Spear Three, Spear Four, all the way to Spear Seven.
Using spray paint found at the hardware store, the skeletons' frames were numbered.
This way, they could be identified by their numbers to avoid confusion as the group grows.
Li Yanhong, after a brief moment of distraction, quickly snapped out of it.
She hurriedly said, "Ahem~! Well, we've agreed to complete the task for you, so we don’t need these two… uh… friends to help us."
Having two skeletons in her place at night would likely give her nightmares.
Wu Heng glanced at the skeletons, then at Li Yanhong, and said, "You can have them do some labor, but you'll need to teach them how to use tools like the generator and the angle grinder."
This was Wu Heng's idea.
Skeletons with Basic Souls have comprehension not much different from normal people.
Wu Heng was wondering if he could teach the skeletons to use these tools.
Whether or not the people at the auto repair shop stay, he still needed someone who could use these tools.
Human strength can't compare to that of skeletons.
Once the skeletons learn to use these tools to craft weapons, they could work around the clock without the need for sleep.
It would be very efficient labor.
"Boss, I don't think that's necessary!" Li Yanhong forced a stiff smile.
"It is necessary. These two are your responsibility now," Wu Heng said directly.
Skeleton Warriors that reach Level 5 have attributes higher than those of normal people.
He wasn't worried about these people doing anything to the skeletons.
Besides, there was no need to, unless they wanted to make trouble for themselves.
Seeing Wu Heng's firm tone, Li Yanhong had no choice.
"Then you have to guarantee they won't hurt us or go out of control."
"Hmm, as long as you don't harm them, they won't do anything."
"Well, alright then!" Li Yanhong reluctantly agreed.
Wu Heng continued to ask, "How many iron spears have been made?"
"We've completed 11."
"So slow?"
"It'll go faster once we get the welding rods back," Li Yanhong glanced at the people doing the hauling.
"Hmm, pick up the pace," Wu Heng reminded, then continued, "Do you know where there are any mutated creatures? I'm looking for mutated zombies."
"You're looking for mutated zombies? I heard from Qiangzi that there's a very powerful mutated zombie near the hardware store. He saw it when he escaped from there."
"Mutated dog?"
"No, a humanoid mutated zombie with a strange shape. Didn't you see it?"
Wu Heng frowned and shook his head, "No, I didn't."
"Then it might have left," Li Yanhong thought for a moment and said, "Are you planning to collect the 'White Matter' from the zombies?"
The matter of White Matter was well-known wherever there was radio reception.
Moreover, Wu Heng suspected that the reason Li Yanhong became the leader of the Xiao Dong Auto Repair Shop might also be because she consumed White Matter.
"Hmm, if you find any information on mutated zombies in the future, let me know. If the information is accurate, I'll reward you with food," Wu Heng said directly.
"Okay!"
The two continued talking.
From a distance, someone shouted, "Sister Hong, we're done here."
Li Yanhong turned to look and said, "I'll head back now."
"Hmm."
Wu Heng nodded.
The others, seeing Li Yanhong returning with two skeletons, had fear written all over their faces.
.........
Returning to the residential area.
Wu Heng had the skeletons carry the tools they had scavenged upstairs and pile the corpses onto the corpse heap in the distance.
With the battles, the number of corpses kept increasing.
However, Wu Heng's conversion efficiency was getting lower and lower.
He turned on the radio to listen to its contents and began to continue casting 【Raise Skeleton】 to convert more skeletons.
Nightfall.
Wu Heng led the skeletons back to the rooftop, and he himself returned to Blackstone Town to rest.
.........
The next day.
Wu Heng started early in the morning to convert more skeletons when the walkie-talkie crackled with static.
Wu Heng picked it up and heard Li Yanhong's voice.
"Boss, we brought some iron spears. We'd like to trade them for some food and anti-inflammatory medicine."
Wu Heng picked up the walkie-talkie and asked, "How many did you bring?"
"35!"
"Hmm, I'll meet you." Wu Heng led the skeletons out of the residential area.
Ordinary Skeleton Warriors have no intelligence and will attack any non-friendly unit.
So, Li Yanhong and her group couldn't get close.
Leading Bagdong and a few skeletons out the north gate, Wu Heng saw the cart filled with iron spears made from steel pipes.
Some were fixed with bolts, but most were directly welded on.
Wu Heng inspected two of them and felt quite satisfied. They were definitely sturdier than the ones he had wrapped with tape.
"Alright, Sword One, give them the supplies."
Sword One handed over half a bag of rice, two packs of sugar, and a box of anti-inflammatory medicine.
"These are for you first; the rest will be made up later."
Although he wasn't short of these supplies, the agreed-upon trade rules were standard, so it was best not to break them lightly.
Seeing the rice and sugar on the cart, a look of joy appeared on their faces.
This proved that the other party was true to their word, and they could continue to trade iron spears for food.
No more need to skimp and save.
"Alright, we'll go back and get to work," Li Yanhong said.
This kind of work wasn't difficult.
The machines did most of it; the most troublesome part was making the spearheads, sharpening them, and then welding them onto the iron pipes.
"Hmm, go back."
The two sides parted ways, and Wu Heng also returned to the residential area carrying the iron spears.
He distributed the iron spears to the Level 5 and Level 4 Skeleton Warriors.
The replaced daggers and long spears were given to the other skeletons.
The number of spear-wielding skeletons increased.
Leading the skeleton army, Wu Heng swept through the area around the residential complex, killing all the wandering zombies.
While gaining experience, he also eliminated potential threats.
The rest of the time, Wu Heng spent on the tedious process of converting more skeletons.
One by one, skeletons rose from the corpses, took the kitchen knives handed to them, and joined the skeleton army.
.........
Blackstone Town, Adventurer's Guild.
Wu Heng went to the bar and asked the staff, "Could you check if the commission I posted has been completed? The one about the antidote."
Last time, he had obtained a Level 2 Corpse Core and submitted it to the guild for antidote production.
Today, he came to check if it was done.
"Okay." The staff started looking through the records on the desk.
They looked from start to finish, then shook their head, "There's no record of completion yet."
"Thanks!" Wu Heng turned and walked out.
This commission was taking quite a while, probably due to the difficulty of the Level 2 Corpse Core.
He wasn't in a hurry, but keeping the Corpse Core for too long might cause it to rot.
Once the Corpse Core deteriorates, it might even produce a new poison.
He felt anxious but had no solution.
Halfway through, Wu Heng stopped walking.
He turned around and walked out of the town, boarded an unmarked carriage, and headed to the black market.
The carriage sped along the way and entered the Black Market Manor.
Wu Heng paid the entrance fee and entered the castle with Barson.
He went up to the second floor and stood under the bulletin board, looking at the commissions posted there.
His commission for the Alchemist's corpse hadn't been completed either, so he went back downstairs.
He wandered around the stalls on the lower floor.
Today, there were more people than usual, a chaotic scene with everyone wearing black cloaks.
Wu Heng walked around, casually browsing.
Then he squatted in front of a familiar stall.
His eyes fell on a book lying on the tattered cloth.
【Conversation with the Dead】
(Description: Grants a corpse within casting range a small amount of life and intelligence, allowing it to answer up to 'five' questions. The corpse must have a mouth and cannot be an undead creature. After casting, the unit can no longer be converted into a necromantic minion.)
