"Uncle, this is what you asked us to investigate. We split up and searched all day before we could confirm it."
Wu Heng had changed into clean clothes and was sitting at the tea table, thinking about how to deal with Hastur. Qiya, Raghav's nephew, was already waiting at the door.
He handed Wu Heng a file folder.
Inside were only five pages of documents. The file was titled Embrace of the Goddess of Prosperity.
Wu Heng read through the documents carefully, and a plan came to him.
"Thanks for your hard work. I'm heading out. You can get some rest."
Wu Heng waved to Qiya, then went outside, got on his motorcycle, and rode toward the military garrison on the street.
The garrison occupied the largest compound in the middle of the street. It was said to have once been a noble family's ancestral home. An Eagle Army soldier stood beneath each of the four pillars in front of the entrance, rifle in hand.
"I'm here to see Cooper Hark. Would you let him know?"
Wu Heng arrived at the garrison entrance and spoke to the soldier on guard. These men all did business with Raghav, so they knew one another.
One of the guards nodded and headed inside.
"Raghav, have you come up with more gold coins, or have you finally gathered enough goods?"
Cooper Hark asked in a low, cheerful voice.
Whenever Raghav came to see him, it meant he was about to make a tidy profit. The only problem was that this Indian man was timid and not decisive enough.
"Of course. See this gold coin? I've uncovered the secret of that little bird, and it's connected to Tumbbad's golden treasure. Let's find somewhere private to talk."
Wu Heng took out a gleaming gold coin and showed it to Cooper Hark.
"Brother Raghav, I admit I underestimated you. Come with me."
Cooper Hark started the car parked nearby. He drove Wu Heng for five minutes, taking him to an isolated area.
"We can talk safely here. What is Tumbbad's treasure? If I find it, I'll share it with you."
Cooper Hark asked eagerly.
He straightened his uniform, running a hand over the holster at his waist before smoothing out the wrinkles in his jacket.
"No need to look!"
"This is Tumbbad's treasure!"
Wu Heng took out the Money Pouch and tipped it gently over the seat. A heap of gold coins poured out, five times the pouch's volume.
"Can I take a look?"
Cooper Hark picked up a coin and tried biting it. It was real gold. He couldn't understand how such a small pouch could pour out so much of it.
But as long as the gold was real, that was all that mattered. As he spoke, he reached for the pistol at his waist.
"Of course. It's yours now!"
Wu Heng held it out to Cooper Hark. The gesture made Cooper Hark pause for a moment as he reached for his gun, but he continued and pulled out the pistol.
Cooper Hark took the pouch with his left hand and tipped it gently over the seat. Another heap of gold coins spilled out.
"Hahaha! I'm rich! Raghav, thank you for the gift. You're my brother for life."
A flash of viciousness passed through his excited eyes. His right wrist was about to lift the gun and turn it toward Wu Heng.
Crack!
Cooper Hark's laughter abruptly cut off. His right wrist fell limp, his fingers still loosely hooked around the pistol, keeping it from dropping to the car floor.
"Don't mention it!"
Wu Heng slowly released his grip on Cooper Hark's neck and activated Skin Graft.
A dry, skinless corpse was pushed out through the car door and fell into the muddy wasteland with a nauseating thud.
The military vehicle drove back to the garrison. A brand-new Cooper Hark, brimming with vigor, stepped out.
The four guards at the entrance saw Wu Heng wearing Cooper Hark's skin. They pressed their right hands to the brims of their caps, palms turned outward, and brought their legs together, standing at attention as they saluted in unison.
Wu Heng returned a somewhat clumsy salute and entered the office.
He dialed the personal number of Camille Werner, commander-in-chief of the Eagle Army's expeditionary force. Fortunately, he and Camille were distantly related in this body. After Wu Heng reported the situation, Camille agreed to meet him.
He found a fifty-centimeter-long box in the storeroom, took out the Money Pouch, and filled the box with gold coins. Then he carried it to the military command headquarters.
Half an hour later.
Wu Heng had become the commander-in-chief of the Eagle Army's expeditionary force.
The dry, wrinkled skin of the old man he was wearing made him uncomfortable.
The box of gold coins sat beside him, untouched. Something was burning in the fireplace, filling the room with the smell of roasted meat.
Wu Heng, wearing his uniform, entered the command headquarters. Two staff officers inside were discussing a plan.
"Commander-in-Chief!" they saluted.
"Put me through to the Marseille Engineer Corps."
One of the staff officers quickly picked up the phone and dialed the number.
"Hello, this is headquarters. Put me through to the Marseille Engineer Corps."
The call was transferred. The staff officer spoke again. "This is headquarters. Have your regimental commander take the call. The Commander-in-Chief has orders."
"Commander-in-Chief!"
Then he turned and handed the phone to Wu Heng.
"Hello!" Wu Heng took the phone.
"Good day, Commander-in-Chief. Noel Palmer, commander of the Marseille Engineer Corps, reporting!"
A sharp stomp sounded from the other end of the line.
Wu Heng gave his orders over the phone:
"Let's skip the formalities. Listen up."
"Immediately assemble all personnel from the Marseille Engineer Corps. Bring fifty tons of flour, a thousand bolts of cloth, and an equal amount of plastic sheeting. Mobilize every engineering vehicle used for excavation and transport, and proceed to the westernmost part of Tumbbad Village. Wait there for further instructions."
"If you don't have enough engineering vehicles, requisition them from nearby factories. All military and civilian personnel must cooperate with this operation without exception."
"Understood. The Marseille Engineer Corps will give this operation our full support."
The voice on the other end was firm and eager.
"Carry it out immediately!"
"Yes!"
After hanging up, Wu Heng told the staff officers to prepare a vehicle. He took his guards to the western side of Tumbbad Village.
Night had fallen, and a steady drizzle hung in the air. Wu Heng got out of the car, and one of the guards hurried to hold an umbrella over him.
The land around Tumbbad, perpetually shrouded in rain and clouds, gave off a foul, rotting smell. Row upon row of headlights cut through the thick darkness, their beams reaching dozens of meters ahead.
Wu Heng stood in front of the headlights, his shadow stretching out at an angle.
He gazed silently toward the temple of Hastur, considering whether his plan might work.
There was only one way to find out.
Wu Heng stood waiting for a while. It would take the Marseille Engineer Corps some time to arrive. He stayed out of the car, and the others stood in the rain with him.
"Get in and wait."
At Wu Heng's gesture, the whole team climbed into their vehicles and waited in silence.
About half an hour later, lights appeared in the darkness beyond the curtain of rain. They looked like a fiery serpent, growing brighter as they drew closer.
The rumble of engines cut through the patter of rain.
The long line of headlights stopped about fifty meters away. A capable-looking, square-faced middle-aged man ran through the rain to the car window.
"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief. Noel Palmer, commander of the Marseille Engineer Corps, reporting for duty."
"The corps has 1,078 personnel on its roster. 945 are present; the other 133 are gathering supplies and will arrive within the hour. Awaiting your orders."
The square-faced middle-aged man stood straight and delivered his report loudly with a salute.
"Form up and move out. Our destination is the temple ruins in Tumbbad Village."
"Yes, sir."
The headquarters and engineer corps convoys joined up and headed toward the Well of God. After fifteen minutes, they finally reached the towering temple once more, looming like a fortress.
A group of soldiers got out and began setting up field tents nearby.
"Noel Palmer."
"Here!"
The commander of the engineer corps stepped forward and stood at attention.
"Dismantle the outer walls and the upper floors of this temple complex!"
"Don't damage anything within thirty meters of the square well platform in the back courtyard."
"Yes, sir."
After receiving his orders, Noel Palmer ran back to the convoy.
Then bulldozers, excavators, and rock crushers charged toward the temple ruins one after another, followed by the demolition team's engineering vehicles.
Wu Heng sat in the temporary command room, took a sip of water, and waited quietly for the results.
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