Preparations for Return

Vinayak threw the flatbread forcefully. It flew out of the flour circle, carrying an enticing wheat fragrance, and landed at the very edge of the nest.

Hastur, tormented by hunger, instinctively pounced.

The drone seized this opportunity, flying straight and fast down the passage. Hastur noticed the Goddess of Prosperity's money pouch about to disappear. Grabbing the flatbread, it climbed along the inner wall in pursuit.

Wealth and food, it wanted both.

The moment the drone reached the well's opening, Wu Heng abruptly lifted the well cover and snatched the money pouch, his force pulling the drone over.

Hastur also caught up to the well opening at this moment, extending a bloody hand to grab the drone's wing while baring its fangs to bite at Wu Heng's palm.

Wu Heng didn't want to be bitten and turned into a lingering slug.

The instant his right hand left the well opening, he slammed the metal cover down heavily with his left.

Duang!

The closing metal lid collided with Hastur's head, emitting a deep bell-like chime that echoed in the well for a long time.

"What a wonderful celebratory sound!"

Wu Heng exclaimed.

The skin and flesh on the back of his right hand were scraped off by the well cover, revealing clear veins and palm bones. No blood flowed out, which was rather strange.

He took out a bag of blood plasma from his personal space, tore it open, and quickly restored his hand before putting the remaining plasma back.

Only then did he begin to examine the wealth pouch in his hand.

The Goddess of Prosperity's money pouch was deep crimson all over. Calling it a money bag was more akin to a hollowed-out heart.

Wu Heng gently pulled open the pouch. A small pile of gold coins instantly poured out, clinking as they fell to the ground. Wu Heng quickly closed the pouch.

He peered inside through a tiny gap. Countless miniature gold coins occupied more than half the space within the pouch. Judging by the reduced scale of the coins, the space was about 50 cubic meters.

The gold coins were piled up like a small mountain. Wu Heng saw a new gold coin emerging from the ground at the very bottom edge, viewed from a slanted angle.

These gold coins were likely generated by some divine property of the pouch, not simply gold from the outside being placed inside.

Crucially, he observed from the slanted angle that there was a layer of opaque, water-ripple-like black film at the bottom of the coins.

Wu Heng was very familiar with this situation. The entrance to the Spatial Tomb had the same spatial membrane when he entered the Lighthouse's private space.

This indicated that there should be another deeper space within the money pouch, but Wu Heng currently had no way to open it.

Wu Heng pondered for a moment. Based on novels from his past life, these divine artifacts usually required a master.

In local legends, Hastur stealing the Goddess of Prosperity's money pouch angered the gods.

If the money pouch still belonged to the Goddess of Prosperity, the gods likely wouldn't have been so enraged. Therefore, if the money pouch did have a master, it should currently be Hastur.

Wu Heng thoughtfully touched the Lighthouse Mark and checked the plot quest two for Tumbbad: Kill the Son of God (Quest Reward: 3000 Survival Points).

"Hey, Raghav, it hasn't disappeared yet. The flour circle is about to vanish."

Vinayak stood inside the nest. Hastur, having lost the money pouch, was frantically battering the flour circle. He anxiously shouted at the camera.

Wu Heng heard him, glanced at the monitor, took out the bag of flour Vinayak had placed by the well, filled a throwing device with flour, and hung it on the drone.

He opened the well cover, dropped the flour bag directly down, and simultaneously suspended the drone inside before quickly closing the cover.

Hastur below heard the commotion and tried to climb up, only to find the well cover closed. It could only furiously pound the outside of the flour circle. None of its actions affected the flour.

The dark-skinned middle-aged man and the blonde-haired youth quickly picked up the flour bag that had landed directly inside the circle and reinforced the surrounding flour circle.

The drone, carrying the throwing device, flew above Hastur and released its mechanical claws.

As the throwing device approached Hastur, it exploded. The flour inside burst out, covering a 4-meter radius.

Hastur let out a pained roar and turned into flying ash.

Wu Heng, outside the well cover, showed an expression of "just as expected."

Since the system hadn't prompted the completion of the "Kill the Son of God" quest, it meant Hastur hadn't been killed.

As expected, a brand new Haska reappeared on the inner wall of the Well of God. However, the money pouch was gone from its waist, and it was extremely agitated, its saliva trailing onto the ground as it roared.

Mythological legends were generally exaggerated accounts based on historical facts.

Wu Heng carefully reviewed the local legends about the Goddess of Prosperity and Hastur. One thing he was certain of was that the so-called "God of Greed," Hastur, was definitely not that powerful.

After being torn apart by the gods, it was revived by the goddess using her own womb, but it could never leave the womb for the rest of its life.

Therefore, Wu Heng suspected that Hastur's revival was not its own ability but was related to the Goddess of Prosperity's womb.

He naturally wouldn't let go of what he suspected was the goddess's flesh and blood. While completing the plot quest, he tried to use the Siphon ability on the surrounding flesh and blood passage, but he couldn't absorb any of it.

Thus, he deduced that either it was due to the Goddess of Prosperity's divine power, or this so-called goddess's womb was itself a living entity.

However, no matter how he speculated now, the problem was that relying solely on flour within the Well of God would not be enough to kill Hastur.

As dusk approached, Wu Heng decided to return to his residence in Pune first to find some helpers and items before figuring out how to deal with Hastur.

With the intention to leave, he glanced at the monitor. The three people at the bottom of the well were anxiously arguing in panic.

Hastur was still circling the three people inside the Well of God, roaring and showing no signs of disappearing or falling asleep.

"I need more flatbread and flour. You guys take turns guarding. I'm going back."

Wu Heng's voice emanated from the monitor by the passageway, and the three of them finally stopped arguing.

"Boss, don't forget about us."

"Old friend, I hope you're worth trusting. I've only ever sold gold coins to you at a discount."

"Boss, you have to save us! My sister says she really admires you."

The dark-skinned middle-aged man's words made Wu Heng pause; Hakob's sister was a 200-pound, dark-skinned, chubby girl.

He fastened the manhole cover tightly, engaged the latch, and scanned his surroundings. Finding a large stone weighing over a hundred pounds, he dragged it over and placed it on top of the cover.

Before leaving, he took one last look at the monitor. Watching the three of them looking helpless at the bottom of the well, he thought to himself: One must rely on oneself!

Wu Heng packed his belongings, climbed back up the rope to the surface, retrieved the rope, and made his way back to Pune.

He rode his motorcycle along the gravel-strewn streets toward Raghav's residence, intending to change his clothes first.

"Are you hauling cargo for Rajaji?"

A green military sedan was parked on the side of the road with its door half-open. A young, handsome British soldier sat sideways in the seat, his arm resting on the window frame as he chatted with another bearded, middle-aged soldier outside.

"This is a gift for my girlfriend."

"I've never seen you this generous, you..."

The young soldier stopped mid-sentence when he saw Wu Heng riding the motorcycle toward them.

"Hey, Raghav."

He stepped out of the car as he spoke, adjusted the green peaked military cap in his hand, placed it on his head, and walked over to Wu Heng, blocking his path.

"Cooper Hack?"

Wu Heng replied tentatively.

"That little bird that often visits your place—does he work for you?" Cooper Hack pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and glanced around.

Wu Heng knew he was asking about Vinayak, who sold the gold coins.

"No, he doesn't work for anyone. He is his own master."

The young soldier, Cooper Hack, looked around once more, leaned in close to Wu Heng, and whispered:

"I don't care about that. I can give you the tobacco license, but it's temporary. It won't be like this forever."

"Listen, I'm getting promoted in a month and leaving this Fantasy Plantation. By then, there will be no one left to connect you with Superintendent Sahib. You have one month."

After saying this, Cooper Hack turned, got back into the car, and drove away.

Wu Heng had no interest in Raghav's tobacco trade and headed straight back to the residence.

Are you willing to trade your collections, monthly tickets, and recommendation tickets for two pairs of scissors from me?