Chapter 456 - 234: Darkness Disaster Prevention Bureau

Chapter 456: Chapter 234: Darkness Disaster Prevention Bureau

On the back of the mirror was a painting of a cat’s paw pad, along with a note that read four words: Blood binds to master.

Zheng Xiu had no idea what the Orange Cat would think, but his gift came with a hidden motive.

’It thinks I’m trying to curry favor, but it doesn’t know I’m just finding another way to fleece it.’

His gift delivered, Zheng Xiu felt quite pleased with himself.

The Eternal World Painting experiment was a success. Zheng Xiu had actually managed to cobble together something akin to a "cell phone" in this world.

It was more practical than the Ravens and didn’t require the creation of Crow Fosterers.

For days, Zheng Xiu had been pondering how Zhu managed to establish Ye Weiyang—an organization that spanned the entire world and dealt with its Deceitful Objects—in just twenty years. After much thought, he concluded that the most critical factor was the transmission of information.

Talent could be recruited from anywhere. As long as he had money and was powerful enough, Zheng Xiu wasn’t worried about a lack of subordinates. But to build a new organization capable of rivaling Ye Weiyang, one with a reach that spanned the globe, he needed a complete, timely, and effective system for transmitting information.

Zheng Xiu greatly coveted the Crow Fosterers’ Instant Teleportation and the network of Ravens that covered the world. But Zhu would never have left the method for creating Crow Fosterers in the secret records of Ye Weiyang. So now, Zheng Xiu had no choice but to forge a new way forward using the Painter Path.

The result was rather amusing: a supernatural version of a cell phone had just been born into this world. And despite a slight lag, Zheng Xiu was already very satisfied.

The first trial run of the Eternal World Paintings produced only thirty samples. Zheng Xiu traveled by carriage to deliver them to the Auspicious Workshop himself.

The workshop was bustling with feverish activity. Yan Jiji, bare-chested and holding a small hammer, came out to greet him personally.

Zheng Xiu placed orders for the second and third batches with Yan Jiji. He then took out a Small White Jade Bottle filled with his blood and handed it to the craftsman.

Just as Zheng Xiu was about to leave, Yan Jiji suddenly remembered the order from the Ministry of War. He discreetly pulled the Prince aside to a quiet corner to tell him about it.

"Siege Equipment? Are we going to war?"

If Yan Jiji hadn’t mentioned it, Zheng Xiu would never have guessed the Ministry of War would entrust such a confidential order to a Zheng Clan enterprise. Back when he was building his fortune, Zheng Xiu had always steered clear of commodities like official salt and Official Iron. For one, it was too easy to get taken for a ride by the Court, and for another, mishandling such matters could bring disaster.

Zheng Xiu didn’t blame Yan Jiji for accepting the Ministry of War’s order. Directives from above were often non-negotiable; at the foot of the Emperor’s throne, everyone was a subject. The Ministry of War’s method of breaking the Siege Equipment down into individual components for the Auspicious Workshop to manufacture was clearly a measure of secrecy. They likely never imagined that Yan Jiji’s eye was so sharp he could mentally assemble the parts and figure out what they were building.

As Yan Jiji described it with words and gestures, Zheng Xiu got the gist: the Ministry of War seemed to be ordering some kind of "iron siege vehicle."

"Your Highness, so... should we deliver the goods?"

Yan Jiji scratched his head, watching Zheng Xiu’s thoughtful expression, and asked with a good-natured smile.

After a moment’s thought, Zheng Xiu nodded. "Deliver them! Of course, we’ll deliver them! For the Ministry of War to give this order to the Auspicious Workshop is unprecedented. It’s likely tied to my new status as Prince, and the Great Emperor must have sanctioned it. Just treat it like any other job. Guarantee the quality and finish on time." Zheng Xiu patted Yan Jiji’s shoulder and added with feeling, "Old Yan, the Auspicious Workshop is a sterling part of the Zheng Clan’s reputation. We can’t let this messy business break your ’principles’."

"Besides," he continued, "no one else has figured it out. If you don’t talk and I don’t talk, who will ever know what these parts are for? Who knows, maybe completing this task for the Great Emperor will help you advance further along your Path."

"Pah!" Speaking of his Path, Old Yan waved a dismissive hand, wiping the sticky sweat from his brow. He shook his head and laughed. "I don’t care about any Path. As long as I can make a living, ensure the skills of the Yan family aren’t lost, and not cause Your Highness any trouble... why, if you asked this Old Yan to build a Heaven-Reaching Tower, I’d do it gladly!"

Zheng Xiu grinned. He loved this kind of straightforward, unpretentious craftsman who just got the job done. He immediately pulled a wad of silver notes from his robes. "More money!"

"Thank you, Your Highness! Your Highness is too generous!"

Yan Jiji accepted the reward, overjoyed.

Since he was already there, Zheng Xiu couldn’t just reward one person. He distributed a round of silver throughout the workshop, and by the time he left, it was already afternoon.

As for money, Zheng Xiu had more than he knew what to do with. As long as it made everyone happy, that was good enough.

Sometimes, just throwing money around was its own kind of joy.

Who could possibly understand?

Back at the Red King Mansion, Yin Qingqing was standing outside his study, waiting quietly.

"Your servant, Qingqing, greets Your Highness."

She solemnly placed a black Token into Zheng Xiu’s hands.

Zheng Xiu took it and froze for a moment. On the Token was a single character: "Secret."

"The Holy Emperor has learned of Your Highness’s recent endeavors and has commanded this servant to personally deliver the secret order to you." Yin Qingqing’s head was bowed, her eyes downcast, her expression unreadable. "The one who holds this secret order can command the Secret Ministry."

"Anything?"

Zheng Xiu asked inquisitively, toying with the black Token.

Yin Qingqing replied, her face impassive. "Yes... short of treason."

Simply put, the Great Emperor knew Zheng Xiu was overwhelmed with matters concerning Ye Weiyang, so he had deliberately handed over command of the Secret Ministry to him.

But Zheng Xiu knew that, in the end, the Secret Ministry was still the Great Emperor’s personal force—a double-edged sword. However, Zheng Xiu was desperately short on manpower right now. He couldn’t possibly send out all the Assassins from the Brotherhood; that would leave the Red King Mansion completely undefended. The Great Emperor’s gift of the Secret Ministry’s command perfectly solved his pressing need for personnel.