Chapter 618, Naval Cannon
As he spoke, the old man's eyes drifted upward, as if recalling the past.
"And then?" the middle-aged man asked curiously.
"An accident..." the old man's voice faltered, as if something choked him. After a pause, he continued, "An accident took her away. To escape the grief, I left Rentam City—left it all behind."
"She was so kind, so smart. I often wonder, if none of it had happened, how different things might have been."
The old man lifted his wine glass and took another sip.
The two fell silent again, the ship still gently swaying with the waves.
The middle-aged man also took a sip and said, "It wasn't your fault. She wouldn't want to see you trapped in sorrow."
"Let's hope so."
...…
The next morning, Shanaila got up, pulled out a new corset from her spatial ring, slipped her arms through, then slapped the man beside her. "Help me fasten this. No awareness at all."
"I don't like this one," Wu Heng sat up and helped fasten the clasps at the back.
Shanaila rolled her eyes. "I'm wearing it to go out, not for you to look at."
"Fair enough." Wu Heng fastened it, then kissed her elf ears.
"Still not done kissing, huh?" Shanaila touched his cheek, full of affection.
Then asked curiously, "Why is your skin so much better now?"
She didn't know when it started, but Wu Heng's skin had become smoother and glossier.
It even seemed tougher.
"Really?" Wu Heng asked back.
He knew very well—it was due to the level 3 corpse core potion and the awakening of [Keratin Armor].
Even without the black keratin layer, his skin had become smoother.
"Of course it has. It's obvious. How did you do it? Teach me," Shanaila said with envy.
"It's a self-ability. Once it matures more, you can try it too," Wu Heng replied.
Shanaila's eyes lit up—there was a way to improve skin after all.
"I'll trust you."
She then looked him up and down. "Aren't you growing a bit too fast?"
"Isn't that good? I can protect you better."
"Yes, I love it!"
They got dressed and headed downstairs together.
The skeleton chef had breakfast ready.
Everyone came down gradually and chatted while eating at the table.
After breakfast,
Andviel went to city hall, and Shanaila took Minnie and two others to oversee the exhibition renovations.
Even if they couldn't help much, it gave them something to do.
Better than being bored at home.
Once everyone left the house,
Wu Heng went upstairs to the study and entered the Zombies world.
...…
Stepping out of the realm gate,
Wu Heng used the intercom to call Qi Hancai, but got no response.
He went to the window and looked outside.
The skeletons were on guard, nothing unusual.
He opened the door and went downstairs.
Exiting the hotel, he asked the skeleton guard at the door, "Where's Qi Hancai? Point the way."
The skeleton pointed toward the sea.
She must've gone to the warship.
Wu Heng headed straight toward the dock. From afar, he saw figures moving on the warship.
His approach drew some attention.
Qi Hancai waved and walked over. "Those two Korean soldiers are teaching skeletons to pilot the ship. I watched a bit. It's all automated—it's not hard."
"Let's go take a look." Wu Heng boarded the warship.
Qi Hancai followed.
Seeing Wu Heng, the two soldiers and Xinhe quickly came over and saluted.
Wu Heng nodded. "Give me a tour of the ship."
After some nudging, Lee Seunghoon was pushed forward and said cautiously, "The ship is 114 meters long, 14 meters wide, standard displacement 2,300 tons, and can carry 145 crew."
He recited it like a textbook.
Wu Heng raised a brow. "Only 145?"
"That's just the number of beds designed. If beds aren't needed, we can carry more," Lee Seunghoon explained.
So the ship had 145 bunks.
But if it's just for skeletons, no beds were needed—they could fit a lot more.
Warships on Gold-Silver Island could carry 300–400 people. A ship this size couldn't be worse.
Modern warships were more complex. Combat strength no longer relied on headcount.
It was all about firepower.
"Continue," Wu Heng said.
Lee Seunghoon continued, "Equipped with a 127mm naval gun, RAM short-range anti-air missile launcher... At the stern there's a helicopter pad. The helicopter was flown away when the outbreak started."
They walked from bow to stern,
getting explanations along the way.
Wu Heng's handheld autocannon used 23mm rounds.
This ship's naval gun was 127mm—truly powerful.
As for anti-air missiles, they might not be as useful in the other world.
There weren't many flying creatures. Even if wyverns showed up, he could deal with them more efficiently.
No need to waste missiles.
At the stern was a marked circular platform. According to Lee Seunghoon, it was for a carrier aircraft.
But during the outbreak, someone flew it away.
No matter—he could station a skeleton wyvern there for the same effect.
And it didn't need fuel.
"What's the range of the 127mm naval gun?" Wu Heng asked.
"Effective range: 10,000 meters."
Ten thousand meters.
That was far enough.
Wu Heng nodded and walked through the ship.
After exiting, he said, "Teach the skeletons how to operate the ship and perform maintenance in three days."
The two sailors behind him were sweating. "That's too little time."
"We don't have the luxury for slow training. Get to it!" Wu Heng headed out.
"Okay, okay." The two wiped their sweat.
Wu Heng looked around and pointed at a few high-level skeletons. "You lot, protect them. Don't let them try anything foolish."
After hearing the cannon range, Wu Heng wasn't taking chances.
Didn't want them firing at shore.
The two quickly swore, "We won't do anything bad. Please trust us, Chief."
"Do your best, and you'll be rewarded." Wu Heng patted their shoulders.
They saluted again and thanked him softly.
Wu Heng left the ship and walked back toward the base with Qi Hancai.
On the ship, Lee Seunghoon and the other began explaining the ship's controls to the skeletons.
...…
Qi Hancai gave him another base tour.
In the afternoon, they returned to the port to wait.
Soon, a cargo ship appeared in view.
It slowly docked at the port.
More than twenty people disembarked—men and women—all from the original base.
"Chief! Sister Qi!" they greeted.
"Good work," Wu Heng nodded.
Qi Hancai smiled, "Let's rest a bit before assigning tasks."
After capturing Sanbu Port,
managing it was difficult—no trusted people, and communication issues.
With only Xinhe as a translator, it was tough.
Now that their people were here, things would be easier.
They all entered the base together.
Qi Hancai assigned them rooms and gave some job orders.
From now on, food distribution and warehouse management
would all be handled by their own people.
Once everything was in place, she returned to the hotel.
At Wu Heng's room, she knocked.
Hearing a response, she entered.
...…
Inside,
Wu Heng said, "Start building the logistics team. I plan to use this place as a base to push inland."
Qi Hancai raised a brow, "Will you lead or send skeletons?"
"Important targets I'll handle myself. The rest, skeletons will take."
This place wasn't as vast as his home country.
The whole nation was about the size of a province.
The military factories or research centers could be found by pressing onward.
Unlike back home where they were hard to locate.
Qi Hancai thought, then said, "I'll get a map and mark key places for better planning."
"Leave it to you," Wu Heng smiled.
Qi Hancai smiled lightly, "That's how it should be."
Wu Heng gestured, and Qi Hancai leaned into his arms.
...…
Gold-Silver Island.
Wu Heng delivered the corpse cores to the alchemy lab and checked the finished potions.
Plenty of level 1 and 2 potions had been made.
No new level 3 corpse core potions yet.
But there was no rush—it was only a matter of time.
Wu Heng came downstairs as Minnie returned, joyfully pouncing on him. "Master!"
"So happy, huh?" Wu Heng caught her and spun her mid-air.
"Not really! Just spent all day at the site with Sister Shanaila. So tired. But seeing you makes me feel happy," Minnie said sweetly.
"How's the renovation going?" Wu Heng sat down and let Minnie sit on his lap.
Minnie thought a bit. "Progress is smooth. The designer said, while chatting with Sister Shanaila, it could be done in two or three days."
"Pretty fast."
Minnie suddenly remembered something. "Oh! The designer also said the prep on Lighthouse Street is done. They'll install streetlights tomorrow and power them up."
"If you're free tomorrow, go to the design institute and tell them to start early. Get all the lights up so the island looks better before the exhibition," Wu Heng said, patting her bunny butt.
"Got it, Master," Minnie said softly.
At that moment, the door opened.
Andviel walked in with a much larger owl on her head. She looked at the two and laughed. "Minnie's clinging to Master again."
"I am not! You wicked fox," Minnie retorted.
Wu Heng opened his arms. "Come, Viel. Let Master hold you too."
Viel, who'd just teased Minnie, blushed slightly and walked over.
She leaned into him and softly said, "Master."
"Good girl!"
Soon, dinner was served.
Robé and Annette also returned from the courtyard and greeted Wu Heng.
Then they sat obediently at the table.
And they all ate dinner together.
...…
Both the Zombies world and Gold-Silver Island were progressing as planned.
In three days, the exhibition would begin, and by then, the skeletons should be trained on the warship—ready to move it to the city.
Early the next day, Wu Heng headed to Port No. 2.
Gnome designer Yousef followed. "Lord of the Island, how can I help?"
Wu Heng pointed at a gap near the port. "I want to build a bigger dock over there, mainly it needs a large enough gate."
"You mean a repair-type dock?"
"Yes. Keep it 200 meters long, at least 30 meters wide, and minimum 5-meter draft," Wu Heng said, recalling the frigate's size.
Yousef's pen paused, eyes widening.
He thought for a moment and then softly asked, "My lord, our warships are only about 60 meters long. Are you sure it needs to be this big? Not multiple smaller docks?"
"The measurements are fine. Build it exactly as I said," Wu Heng said firmly.
"Understood, my lord." The gnome quickly took notes.
"Finish in three days. If it's tight, make the gate first—with a lock."
"Three days is tight. I'll have to transfer workers from other sites."
"Do it. Finish this first," Wu Heng instructed.
The gnome designer nodded. "I'll get it done in three days."
"It's in your hands," Wu Heng said and rode off in a carriage.
Back at the Lord's Manor,
he put on the [Conductor's Hat].
The Ghost Train appeared, and Wu Heng boarded it.
...…
Lighthouse Street.
Clank clank~!
Squads of skeletons carried metal poles onto the main road.
Under the crowd's gaze, the slender poles were erected, and electrician skeletons started wiring and installing bulbs and lampshades.
"The Lord built us streetlights!"
Someone recognized them as the same type from the central district and shouted.
The surrounding crowd erupted.
"He really built them for Lighthouse Street—same as the center!"
"He didn't lie to us!"
"Now it'll be bright like daytime here too!"
The news spread quickly through the cheers.
The street filled with people watching.
Watching the lights go up,
lampshades fixed, and a Gold-Silver Island flag hung on each pole.
The Lord really installed lights for the commoners.
What the newspaper said was true.
...…
Lopez City.
Wu Heng put on a mask, again becoming the recorded image of the fisherman.
He waited a while in the consortium's VIP room.
The door opened, and local representative Letilie entered.
She smiled, "Good afternoon, guest."
Wu Heng smiled too. "Any news on the last commission?"
Letilie grinned confidently. "Of course!"