Push Away the Temple for Me

"Uncle, this is the information you asked us to look into. We split up and searched for an entire day before we could confirm it."

Wu Heng had changed into clean clothes and was sitting at the tea table, pondering how to deal with Hastur, when Qiya, Raghav's nephew, arrived at the door.

He handed Wu Heng a file folder.

Inside were only five sheets of paper, and the file was titled Embrace of the Goddess of Prosperity.

Wu Heng read the contents of the document carefully, a plan forming in his mind.

"Good work. I'm heading out, you go get some rest."

Wu Heng waved Qiya away, stepped outside, mounted his motorcycle, and drove toward the local garrison.

The garrison occupied the largest courtyard in the middle of the street, said to be the ancestral home of a noble family. Under the four pillars in front of the gate stood Eagle Army soldiers, each armed with a rifle.

"I'm here to see Cooper Hack. Please let him know."

Wu Heng arrived at the garrison entrance and spoke to the sentry. These men were Raghav's business associates, so they were naturally acquainted.

A guard nodded and walked into the courtyard.

"Raghav, have you come across new gold coins, or have you finally gathered enough cargo?"

Cooper Hack asked in a low voice, his expression full of delight.

Every time Raghav came to see him, it meant a small windfall, though he considered the Indian man to be of limited capacity and lacking decisiveness.

"Of course. See this gold coin? I've discovered the secret of that little bird, and it's related to the golden treasure of Tumbbad. Let's find a place to talk in detail."

Wu Heng pulled out a gleaming gold coin and showed it to Cooper Hack.

"Brother Raghav, I admit I underestimated you. Come with me."

Cooper Hack started his parked car, drove Wu Heng for five minutes, and arrived at an abandoned area.

"It's safe to talk here. What is the treasure of Tumbbad? If I find it, I'll give you your share," Cooper Hack asked excitedly.

He straightened his uniform, his palm brushing over the holster at his waist to smooth out the wrinkles in his coat.

"No need to look for it!"

"This is the treasure of Tumbbad!"

Wu Heng pulled out the Money Pouch of the Goddess and tipped it gently onto the car seat, spilling out a pile of gold coins five times the volume of the pouch itself.

"Can I take a look?"

Cooper Hack picked up a gold coin and tried biting it, confirming it was real gold, though he couldn't fathom how such a small pouch could hold so much.

But as long as it was real gold, that was all that mattered. He began reaching for the pistol at his waist as he spoke.

"Of course, it's yours!"

Wu Heng handed it over to Cooper Hack. This action caused Cooper Hack's hand to pause for a split second, but he continued to draw his pistol regardless.

Cooper Hack took the pouch with his left hand and tipped it onto the car seat again, causing another pile of gold coins to pour out.

"Hahaha, I'm rich! Raghav, thank you for the gift. You're my brother for life."

A flicker of malice flashed through his excited eyes, and his right wrist began to lift the gun.

Snap!

Cooper Hack's laughter cut off abruptly. His right wrist hung limp, his fingers barely hooked around the pistol, preventing it from falling to the floorboard.

"Don't mention it!"

Wu Heng slowly loosened his grip on Cooper Hack's neck and activated his Skin Graft ability.

A withered, skinless corpse was pushed out of the car door, landing in the muddy wasteland with a sickening thud.

The military vehicle drove back toward the garrison, and a brand-new, more spirited Cooper Hack stepped out of the car.

The four guards at the gate saw Wu Heng wearing the skin-suit; they pressed their right hands to their hat brims, palms facing outward, and clicked their heels together in a sharp salute.

Wu Heng returned a sloppy salute and walked into the office.

He looked up the number and dialed the personal line of Camille Werner, Commander-in-Chief of the Eagle Expeditionary Force. Fortunately, this body had some distant relation to Camille, and after reporting the situation, he was granted an audience.

He found a 50-centimeter-long box in the utility room, filled it with gold coins from the pouch, and carried it toward the military headquarters.

Half an hour later.

Wu Heng now held the identity of the Commander-in-Chief of the Eagle Expeditionary Force.

The dry, wrinkled skin of the old man felt uncomfortable against his own.

The box of gold coins sat untouched beside him, and something was burning in the fireplace, emitting the smell of roasted meat.

Wu Heng walked into the command center in his uniform, where two staff officers were discussing a plan.

"Commander-in-Chief!" the two saluted.

"Connect me to the Marseille Engineer Corps."

One of the staff officers quickly picked up the phone and began dialing.

"Hello, this is Headquarters. Connect me to the Marseille Engineer Corps."

The line was patched through, and the staff officer spoke again: "This is Headquarters. Put your commander on the line; the Commander-in-Chief has orders."

"Commander-in-Chief!"

He then turned and handed the phone to Wu Heng.

"Hello!" Wu Heng took the receiver.

"Greetings, Commander-in-Chief. Noel Palmer, Commander of the Marseille Engineer Corps, reporting to you!"

A sharp click of heels echoed through the phone.

Wu Heng issued his orders to the other end:

"No small talk. Listen closely."

"Immediately assemble all personnel of the Marseille Engineer Corps. Bring 50 tons of flour, 1,000 bolts of cloth, and an equivalent amount of plastic sheeting. Mobilize all excavators and transport vehicles, and head to the westernmost edge of Tumbbad Village to await further instructions."

"If you don't have enough engineering vehicles, requisition them from nearby factories. All military and civilian personnel are to cooperate with this operation unconditionally."

"Understood. The Marseille Engineer Corps guarantees full cooperation with this operation."

A resolute, excited voice came from the other end.

"Execute immediately!"

"Yes, sir!"

After hanging up, Wu Heng ordered the staff officer to prepare a vehicle and headed to the west side of Tumbbad Village with his guard detail.

The sky had already turned dark, and a drizzling rain fell. Wu Heng stepped out of the car, and a guard quickly held an umbrella over him.

The year-round overcast skies and dark clouds gave the land of Tumbbad a foul, rotting stench. Rows of headlights cut through the thick night, illuminating the path for dozens of meters.

Wu Heng stood before the headlights, his shadow stretched long and slanted.

He gazed silently in the direction of the Hastur temple, contemplating the feasibility of his plan.

You have to try everything to know if it works.

Wu Heng stood and waited for a while. It would take time for the Marseille Engineer Corps to arrive. He didn't get back in the car, so the others stood in the rain with him.

"Get in the cars and wait."

Wu Heng waved his hand, and the team filed into the vehicles, waiting in silence.

About half an hour later, lights appeared in the darkness through the curtain of rain, resembling a serpent of fire, growing brighter as they approached.

The roar of engines pierced through the rustling sound of the rain.

The long line of lights stopped when they were 50 meters away. A capable-looking middle-aged man with a square face 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 Engineer Corps has 1,078 personnel on roster, with 945 present. The remaining 133 are gathering supplies and will arrive within the hour. Please instruct."

The square-faced man stood at attention, saluted, and reported in a loud voice.

"Organize the troops and move out. Target: the temple ruins in Tumbbad Village."

"Yes, sir."

The convoys from Headquarters and the Engineer Corps merged and headed toward the Well of God. After 15 minutes of driving, they finally arrived once more at the towering, fortress-like temple.

A group of soldiers disembarked and began setting up military tents in the surrounding area.

"Noel Palmer."

"Present."

The Engineer Corps commander stepped forward and stood at attention.

"Tear down every outer wall and attic of these temple ruins for me!"

"Do not damage anything within a 30-meter radius of that square-well in the backyard."

"Yes, sir."

After receiving his orders, Noel Palmer ran back to the convoy.

Soon, bulldozers, excavators, and rock crushers charged toward the temple ruins, followed by the demolition team's engineering vehicles.

Wu Heng sat in the temporary command post, took a sip of water, and waited quietly for the results.

Would you be willing to trade your collection and recommendation votes for two shoe brushes from me?