Necromancers are frantically stationing troops in the apocalypse.

Chapter 1017, The Second Hero
Sim stood by the window, his round-framed glasses reflecting the starlight that stretched across the sky.

He never expected that on his second day at Treasure Island, he would witness the legendary hero's ascension.

“Viola!” Sim whispered the name.

Without a doubt, the person who became the hero was the witch 'Viola' who issued the cards.

The tavern features witch stories written by bards, and the market has stalls where cards are exchanged and sold.

This cult witch, who was once on the association's wanted list, was somehow made a hero by Treasure Island.

Sim suddenly remembered a book he had read that featured a hero.

Wherever he goes, even the most poisonous swamps will bloom with flowers.

Sim returned to his desk, picked up his pen, but hesitated to write anything.

Should I write a report to headquarters?

If he were to write, he would be passing on information as soon as he arrived on the island, like an informant planted there.

I won't write it down! If headquarters finds out from other channels, I'll be even more unable to explain myself.

"Damn it!" Sim tugged at his hair, then threw the letter aside.

It's better to be dissatisfied with headquarters than to offend Treasure Island.

……

The cacophony of vendors' cries on the cobblestone streets of Treasure Island abruptly ceased.

The baker's baguette in his hand, the tavern waitress's silver tray tilted—everyone came out of the shop and looked up toward the island lord's mansion.
The Milky Way reverses direction, and a waterfall of stars cascades down.

The island's native inhabitants had all witnessed this scene before, except that the last time it happened was when the Pope attacked Treasure Island.

They were gathered by the association in an open space in the central area and saw the same magnificent starry sky.

At the time, people didn't know what it was until the next day, when the island lord's residence published a newspaper.

The island lord has been declared a hero, and last night's extraordinary phenomenon is a symbol of becoming a hero.

"Has someone else become a hero?"

"It must be Miss Viola. Many people have already guessed that Viola will soon become a hero."

"Bullshit! I think it's the Rabbit God Messenger. Everyone says she's the church's messenger, so she's the one who became a hero first."

After a brief period of commotion.

Some of the merchant representatives who remained on the island, as well as people from various factions, also hurried towards their residences.

A new hero has appeared on Treasure Island, which could change the entire situation.

The message must be relayed immediately.

……

Wood Elf.

Inside the reception room of the Grand Elder's residence.

The incense smoke rose gently, appearing like a thin veil in the sunlight.

Inside the reception room, the Wood Elf's Grand Elder, 'Bonifa', picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced ahead out of the corner of his eye.

Sitting opposite him was the local archbishop of the Papacy, draped in silver hair.

The archbishop narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of impatience flashing in them.

"His Holiness the Pope is quite displeased with the Wood Elves' recent actions..." The archbishop put down his teacup, the bottom of which made a crisp sound as it hit the table. "If this continues, it may affect our long-standing... harmony."

The Grand Elder, Bonifacio, smiled slightly, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out. "They're just a few small churches. The Vatican is magnanimous; why bother with such insignificant cooperation?"

"The Holy See is naturally magnanimous." The archbishop's voice remained elegant, yet it carried a hint of coldness. "But as the archbishop of the Wood Elf settlement, I cannot sleep at night, and I feel deeply guilty."

Bonifa said, "The Wood Elves have always been the most steadfast supporters of the Holy See, with tens of thousands of believers throughout the country and spread across major cities. You need not worry about that."

The archbishop tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, the rhythm slow and heavy.

This wasn't the first time he'd come to talk about this; perhaps he'd practically worn down the threshold here in the last few months.

"Elder!" The archbishop did not intend to continue with the euphemisms, his voice low and deep, "The Holy See has issued an order that if the churches of the Spirit Revelation Cult are not eliminated within the Wood Elf territory, the Holy See will send the Holy See to handle the matter personally."

He leaned forward slightly, his hair falling down and gleaming in the sunlight. "It's hard to say whether you and the other elders will still be able to sit here and drink tea then."

Bonifa's fingers stiffened slightly.

As time passed, news from the Holy See quickly reached the ears of every race.

It turns out that those who are heroes of the Papacy are given the title of Holy See.

"Look... we need to convene an elders' meeting, and we'll give you an answer then, okay?" Elder 'Bonifa' intended to delay again.

The archbishop sneered, "You must give me an answer today. If you don't, it means that the Wood Elves have completely betrayed the Church, and I will report this truthfully to the Holy See."

As soon as he finished speaking, the air seemed to freeze.

Inside the room, only the sound of their breathing remained.

Just as the First Elder, 'Bonifa,' was about to speak with a solemn expression...

Ta Ta Ta Ta~!

Hurried footsteps sounded, and a servant entered quickly, bowed respectfully, and then leaned down to whisper a few words in the elder's ear.

Bonifa frowned and said, "Archbishop Elwin, please wait a moment, I need to take care of some things here."

"Please go ahead! But I will wait for your return." The archbishop nodded.

Bonifa led his attendants to the next room, and after using a soundproof pot to block out the noise, he asked, "What's going on?"

The attendant lowered his voice and said, "The Fifth Elder used the Treasure Island artifacts to send back a message saying that the Milky Way hangs upside down above Treasure Island, and a second hero has appeared. It is speculated that it is the recently publicized 'Viola'. Elder Sanera has not yet sent back any news."

Second hero!
The elder's pupils suddenly contracted.

They had similar speculations at previous elders' meetings: Wu Heng's rapid rise to herohood might be due to mastering a method of promotion.

By following this method, a second hero can be created.

As the months passed, the matter was gradually forgotten by everyone.

But unexpectedly, a second hero suddenly appeared, and it was 'Viola'.

A wanted criminal who was once on a wanted list.

It wouldn't be surprising if any elder of the association became a hero, but for a wanted criminal to become a hero must be because of Treasure Island.

The attendant glanced cautiously at the First Elder, whose face showed shock, and then continued, "The Fifth Elder also said that the Elders' Council's previous decision was correct and that we can increase our investment in Wuheng."

The elder narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded slowly. "I understand. Do not reveal this matter to anyone."

"Yes!" the attendant replied and withdrew.

The Grand Elder, however, did not leave immediately. Instead, he sat in the room and pondered quietly for a while.

He slowly got up, put away the soundproofing pot, and walked towards the reception room next door.

Back in the reception room, the archbishop was still sitting in his chair, his impatience growing more pronounced. Upon seeing him return, he said directly, "Bonifa! Just say it: are you going to obey the holy decree or go to your death with the Church of Spiritual Revelation?"

Bonifa's polite smile faded, and he sat down again opposite him. "Archbishop, you haven't received any news about Treasure Island yet?"

The archbishop frowned, but has not yet responded.

Bonifa continued, "Let's wait a few days; the sanctuary may send over new instructions."

"Is this your excuse for continuing to delay?" The archbishop abruptly stood up. "I will report this to the Holy See as fact. You can expect the wrath of His Holiness and the Holy See!"

Bonifa said calmly, "No need to see me off."

"Hmph!" The archbishop snorted coldly and strode away.

……

Island owner's mansion.

Wu Heng and Sanera appeared in the courtyard of the island lord's mansion.

As soon as I entered the living room, I heard a noisy discussion coming from inside.

The maids and Little were gathered around Viola, asking her all sorts of questions about her feelings about becoming a hero.

The other three ghosts sat not far away, watching with smiles.

"Now you can't kill him anymore?"

"Will the attack method still involve using smoke?"

"You're a hero now, aren't you even more powerful than your Smoke Demon Protector?" "Yeah, you lure it over here, and we'll catch it!"

Viola was a little flustered by the questions, her cheeks flushed, but she couldn't hide the excitement in her eyes. Even though some of the questions sounded a bit unpleasant, she answered them with a smile.

Only when Wu Heng's footsteps approached did everyone fall silent and turn to look.

"Owner!"

"Wu Heng~!"

“My Lord, Lady Sanella.”

The crested parrot flapped its wings and cried out in a shrill voice, "Leader! Hero! Leader! Hero!"

"Uncle, Aunt Viola has become a hero!" Little Xiao flew over quickly and said loudly.

“I saw it from outside.” Wu Heng’s gaze fell on Viola. “Congratulations on becoming a hero.”

Viola immediately knelt on one knee, placed her right hand on her chest, and performed a standard human knight's salute, saying, "I have lived up to your expectations, sir, and have been promoted to hero."

His voice was low and deep, with a slight tremor in it.

Wu Heng reached out and patted her shoulder. "We made an agreement before you joined."

“I am willing to die for you, my lord,” Viola whispered.

Wu Heng chuckled, "What nonsense are you talking about! Once you become a hero, your life will be worth even more."

"Yes!" Viola stood up, her eyes still filled with excitement.

Hero!

It is the ultimate dream of professionals in this world.

Viola, having achieved this, still felt like she was dreaming, as if it were all unreal.

The elders of those associations and the leaders of various forces all stood still, while he alone became the hero.

Such a short time after signing the contract with Wu Heng.

The group sat down in the living room. Wu Heng accepted the herbal tea that Minnie brought him and asked with a smile, "How does it feel to be a hero?"

The other maids also turned to look.

Viola pondered for a moment, "The magic in my body seems to be inexhaustible, and there seems to be a new power, a power I've never felt before."

"This is the power of heroes. The reason why heroes are so powerful is that ordinary professionals cannot kill them..." Wu Heng also told Viola what he knew.

The other party listened very attentively; when they were protecting the Divine Punishment Cult, they never had the opportunity to learn about these things.

Wu Heng could only impart some theoretical knowledge, since the panel couldn't display Viola's attributes, and she had to figure it out herself.

"Oh, right!" Wu Heng put down his teacup. "The association still owes me 12 second-level merits. According to tradition, every six second-level merits can be converted into one first-level merit. You can see what kind of rare items and props you need when the time comes."

Viola's breathing became rapid.

"Thank you, sir."

The rest of the family members also smiled.

Xiao Xiao boasted, "The association's oddities are just average. We have something much more amazing, right, Uncle?"

“Yes!” Wu Heng said to Viola, “I’ll tell you about these things later.”

"Yes, my lord."

Just then, there was a knock on the courtyard gate. Minnie got up and quickly went to open the door, then ran back quickly and said, "Master, Miss Letili and some representatives from the merchant guild have sent gifts to Sister Viola, as well as the Wood Elf's guards. They said that the Fifth Elder invites Sister Shanera over."

Sanera looked at Wu Heng, "He's probably asking about Viola too."

"Just tell him the truth. The wood elves aren't outsiders," Wu Heng said with a smile.

“Okay!” Shanera continued, “You should take me to my place; it’s not good to leave directly from here.”

Wu Heng stood up and said before leaving, "Viola, if you don't want to show up, let Minnie accept the gift first. Oh, and make sure to have a big dinner to celebrate for Viola."

"Okay, my lord."

"Yes, Master."

The maid and Viola nodded in unison.

Wu Heng then grabbed Sanella's arm and used the [Teleportation] spell to disappear.

……

After dinner.

The living room was brightly lit.

Viola, the maids, Little, and Benny sat around on the carpet covered with gifts, like a group of children on a treasure hunt, excitedly unwrapping the mountain of congratulatory presents.

Even though Treasure Island has recently lost some of its limelight, the gifts sent by various factions still pile up into a small mountain.

Inside the Serpent's Emblem Consortium's gilded mithril box lies a sapphire ring that increases mana regeneration.

These exquisitely designed magical items with special effects have always fetched a high price.

The other factions also sent exquisite crystal bottles, jewel-encrusted dresses, and various rare gifts.

"Wow! This is so beautiful!" Minnie held up a string of gemstones, which refracted tiny specks of light under the lamp.

Robbie curiously fiddled with a mechanical birdcage, gently tapping the bird's head and making a chirping sound.

The group looked through the gifts, occasionally letting out a gasp of surprise.

Sanella sat on the sofa, her gaze sweeping over the lively crowd, and said to Wu Heng beside her, "The Fifth Elder and I have confirmed Viola's news. She'll probably be attending the Elders' Council meeting via radio now."

"Aren't you attending the council of elders?"

Sanella said, "You don't know how I got up here, and I don't like participating in these things either, they're incredibly boring."

“The elders are all wise men; they know how to choose.” Wu Heng took a sip of tea. “You should also level up quickly. Once you become a hero, the wood elves will no longer have any concerns.”

Sanera slapped away his mischievous hand and glared at him. "I've already tried my best! I wasn't even this tired when I was a sailor. I trained every day, and I lost so much weight that my belt loosened by two notches. And you still complain that it's too slow?"

"You look best like this." Wu Heng took the opportunity to put his arm around her waist, his hand sliding under the silk fabric to touch her delicate skin. "You're even more captivating than before."

"Xiaoxiao's still here, don't make me hit you." Shanara's ears turned red, and she nudged him with her elbow.

Wu Heng smiled and said, "Shall we take a bath together tonight?"

“Then wait until I finish training!” Shanera did not refuse.

After sharing the gifts, the group headed to the training room together.

The sky was completely dark.

The rest of the people returned to their own rooms.

In the dimly lit corridor, Sanera, dressed in her pajamas, walked directly into Wu Heng's bedroom.

Around the corner, Viola glanced at the closed door, sighed, and returned to her room.

……

Early morning, Jin Yin Island Street.

The newspaper vendor stood on a wooden crate, holding the Treasure Island Express high in his hand. His loud cry pierced through the morning mist: "Latest newspaper! Viola has been promoted to hero... the second hero of Treasure Island!"

"Look, look! Treasure Island has a second hero, our own hero."

On the front page, Viola's image, adorned with starlight, almost filled the entire page, with a prominent gold-embossed headline below:

The second hero of Treasure Island is born! The legendary journey of Viola, the Smoke Queen.

At the same time, the hawking cries rang out.

A large crowd immediately surrounded the area, rushing to buy the newspapers being sold.

port!

Stacks of newspapers were carried by sailors onto different ships.

These ships are all merchant ships and association vessels bound for various places, and news of the second hero of Treasure Island will also be sent to various places along with them.

A captain took the newspaper that a sailor had bought from below.

After glancing at it, he said, "It seems that Treasure Island is about to cause a sensation all over the world again."

"I'm used to it!" the first mate said with a smile.

(End of this chapter)