“How about half the credit goes to me, and half to you?”

The once bustling gambling den was now eerily quiet.

Inside the lavish private room, the plump Golden Pig sat by a round table. Above the table, a hanged corpse dangled from the ceiling beam, yet Golden Pig smiled as if nothing were amiss, as if a charming girl from the Red Lantern Alley were sitting beside him.

Chen Ji sat down opposite him and asked curiously, “Lord Golden Pig, if we catch the Jing Dynasty spy tonight, the credit will be significant. Are you truly just giving it to me?”

Golden Pig poured Chen Ji a cup of hot tea and slowly began, “Over the years, thanks to Lord Grand Secretary’s trust, I’ve been managing the Privy Directorate’s finances. Initially, I didn’t understand much. Stores selling grain and oil, brothels, gambling dens, tailor shops – I fell into many traps and lost a good deal of money. But the Grand Secretary never said anything, only telling me not to fear making mistakes.”

Chen Ji suddenly realized that Golden Pig was likely another orphan adopted by the Grand Secretary. Despite his young age, he wielded significant financial power within the Privy Directorate, and even his financial losses were tolerated by the Grand Secretary. Their relationship must be extremely deep. In almost every word, Golden Pig revealed his admiration for the Grand Secretary. To the outside world, he was the ‘Poisonous Minister,’ but to Golden Pig, he was like a father figure.

Golden Pig continued, “Later, I indeed discovered I had a talent for business and gradually learned the ropes. I realized that third-rate investments involve investing effort, like laboring over a small business such as a noodle shop. Second-rate investments involve investing in skills, doing what others cannot, like making sugar frosting. First-rate investments involve making money from money, yielding enormous profits, like a money house. But even these aren’t the most brilliant investments…”

Chen Ji mused, “Then what is the most brilliant investment?”

Golden Pig chuckled, “Investing in people, of course.” He sighed, “Over the years, my most sound investment was helping Pegasus. At that time, I wasn’t yet Golden Pig, and he was just a minor secret agent. Every time we apprehended a spy, he’d be at the forefront. No matter how tired he was after the work, a bowl of beef noodles would make him wipe his mouth and happily go to sleep. Watching him eat, it was as if beef noodles were the most delicious thing in the world.”

“Later, when I became Golden Pig, he was still just a low-ranking Pigeon-level agent. So I gave all my credit to him, helping him gain access to a cultivation path and become the Pegasus he is today. Over these years, the lower nine ranks have come and gone like fleeting blossoms, but only Black Serpent and I have remained steadfast. Black Serpent has White Dragon’s patronage, and I have Pegasus.”

For a moment, Chen Ji actually felt a touch of human warmth within the cold and ruthless Privy Directorate. He imagined the two-faced Golden Pig, after apprehending a spy, taking the young Pegasus to a noodle shop for beef noodles. They would likely peel garlic and chat, perhaps remarking, ‘That was a close call.’ No matter how he thought about it, it felt somewhat unreal. No wonder he, despite being merely one of the lower zodiac ranks, was much tougher than Cloudy Sheep or Bright Rabbit.

“May I ask, Lord Golden Pig, at what rank does one gain access to a cultivation path?” Chen Ji asked softly.

Golden Pig drained the tea in his cup. “Seahawk. That’s a threshold. Once you become a Seahawk, you’re no longer a minor agent. Even civil officials wouldn’t dare look down on you. At the same time, you’ll also have the chance to glimpse the Great Dao of Immortality.”

“Then, if I am promoted, what would you require of me, Lord Golden Pig?” Chen Ji asked curiously.

Golden Pig chuckled, “Currently, the ‘Seahawk’ position in Luocheng is vacant. I’m not sure if Lord Grand Secretary intentionally left it open or if there simply isn’t a suitable candidate, but someone will eventually fill it. Many of my industries are located in Luocheng, so naturally, I’ll need someone to oversee them. No need to do anything else, just make sure no one bothers them.”

“What industries do you have, My Lord?” Chen Ji asked curiously.

Golden Pig laughed heartily, “Just acquired a new one, perfect for you to get acquainted with… Bring him in!”

Two secret agents dragged in a short, thin merchant and made him kneel on the ground. The merchant, sniveling and weeping, pleaded, “My Lord, this humble one, Asakura, has always conducted business honestly. This gambling den has absolutely no connection to the Jing Dynasty spies!”

Golden Pig calmly squatted before him and said, “So you say there’s no connection? If there’s no connection, why did the Jing Dynasty spy pass through your establishment? And why did a fight break out in your shop? Sign the property deed honestly, and you’ll be spared physical suffering. Otherwise, your entire family will be executed or exiled to Lingnan… Give him the paper and pen.”

The secret agent tossed the prepared contract onto the ground and said coldly, “Boss Asakura, sign it and leave your handprint.”

Chen Ji: “…”

So, this is how Golden Pig acquired his industries?! This wasn’t about making enormous profits from a small investment; it was about making enormous profits from no capital at all!

The gambling den owner, trembling, finally pressed his handprint onto the document and was then dragged away like a heap of mud.

Chen Ji asked, puzzled, “Lord Golden Pig, this businessman isn’t a Jing Dynasty spy, is he…? Doesn’t the Chief Judicial Office intervene?”

Golden Pig cast a glance at him and earnestly replied, “Of course he isn’t. But I manage the Privy Directorate’s finances, and so many people need to be supported. Naturally, I have to find ways to generate revenue and cut expenses for Lord Grand Secretary, to share his burdens. Heh heh, Lin Chaoqing of the Chief Judicial Office isn’t in Luocheng today. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“What if someone finds out?” Chen Ji asked curiously.

Golden Pig stood up and patted his shoulder. “Gambling dens cause immense harm, and Boss Asakura is deeply sinful. He’ll commit suicide out of guilt tonight. Don’t worry, no one will find out.” At this, he smiled at Chen Ji. “I’m telling you all this because I consider you a confidant. You wouldn’t report me, would you? Rest assured, following me is much more rewarding than following Bright Rabbit or Cloudy Sheep. From now on, the court will pay you twenty-four taels of silver annually, and I’ll give you another twenty-four taels, for a total of forty-eight taels.”

Chen Ji thought to himself that forty-eight taels wouldn’t be enough for his costly cultivation. “Is this only for a select few, or for everyone?”

Golden Pig replied, “Everyone gets it. Our brothers risk their lives daily; what’s twenty-four taels of silver a year good for? The civil officials restrict our salaries, but Lord Grand Secretary naturally has his ways. Many people underestimate my position, saying I reek of money, but what do they know? I manage all the internal subsidies and pensions for the Privy Directorate. When life is tight, how can we not be meticulous with our finances?” Watching Chen Ji’s expression, he slowly added, “Once you become a Seahawk and gain access to a cultivation path, you’ll receive additional cultivation resources monthly.”

Chen Ji probed, “What kind and how much do ordinary Seahawks receive?”

Golden Pig thought for a moment. “For a typical martial artist’s cultivation path, if there’s no merit that month, they usually receive about six aged ginseng roots. If there’s merit, the more merit, the more they receive.”

Chen Ji’s heart stirred. So this was the most crucial part. With over two hundred cities across the twelve prefectures of the Ning Dynasty, that meant over two hundred Seahawks. The monthly distribution of cultivation resources alone would be an astronomical sum! Just the six ginseng roots distributed this month, totaling around one hundred ninety taels, would be more money than many people could earn in ten years!

Golden Pig gazed intently at Chen Ji and said seriously, “But you must remember, this is given to you by the Grand Secretary, not by the court.”

Chen Ji understood. Golden Pig wasn’t in charge of offices like the maritime trade, silver mines, or textile production bureaus, whose earnings were for the Emperor’s imperial treasury. Instead, Golden Pig managed the Grand Secretary’s personal coffers. He stood up, cupped his fists, and declared, “Lord Golden Pig, your subordinate will bravely face any danger for Lord Grand Secretary, without hesitation!”

Golden Pig smiled, stood, and took his hand. “Luring and eliminating the Jing Dynasty spy tonight is one achievement. If we can capture the rogue spy who defected, that will be an even greater accomplishment. I know you’re exceptionally clever, so I’ll be relying on you for this matter.”

Chen Ji pondered for a moment. “Lord Golden Pig, are there any clues?” In fact, this was what concerned Chen Ji the most. This Jing Dynasty spy had seen his face. He had to find this person before the Privy Directorate did. Until he found them, he wouldn’t rest easy.

When asked about clues regarding the defected spy, Golden Pig began to curse. “That spy was severely wounded and should have been easy to catch, but a sudden rain erased his tracks. Now, trying to find him in Luocheng is like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

Just then, a cat’s meow echoed from outside the window. No one paid it any mind, assuming it was just a stray cat seeking shelter from the rain under the eaves.

Chen Ji cupped his fists and said, “Then, Lord Golden Pig, please continue to wait here for the Jing Dynasty spy. I’ll go down and see if there are any clues about the defected spy.” With that, he exited the private room, pulling his bamboo hat lower.

Inside the private room, a secret agent said, “My Lord, he now knows our plan to lure the enemy. Shouldn’t we be wary of him tipping them off?”

Golden Pig nodded. “Keep a close eye on him; don’t let him leave ‘Asakura’. Although Dream Rooster confirmed he’s not a Jing Dynasty spy, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

Chen Ji walked down from the second floor. Secret agents, hands on their waist-daggers, guarded every passage, almost every one of them carrying a hand crossbow at their hip. Under such deployment, if the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Bureau were to come and silence witnesses, they would undoubtedly pay a heavy price. But what did that have to do with Chen Ji? He only cared whether he himself would be exposed.

However, just as he was halfway down the stairs, he inadvertently looked down and spotted a familiar figure: none other than his elder paternal second brother, Chen Wenxiao! Strange, why would Chen Wenxiao be in a gambling den in the middle of the night? Was it also related to the Jing Dynasty spy? No, that wasn’t right. His face was puffy and his eyes were dark, a far cry from his usual refined gentleman’s appearance. He was clearly a true gambling addict! Chen Ji suddenly recalled the rumors about himself being a gambler, feeling there was more to the story.

As he pondered, Chen Wenxiao stealthily looked around. Chen Ji pulled his bamboo hat lower and walked away in another direction.

Inside the gambling den, copper coins and silver scattered across the floor, and a trail of blood dripped from the entrance to the backyard. This must be the escape route of the defected spy. Chen Ji followed the blood trail towards the backyard. Upstairs, the secret agent beside Golden Pig leaned on the wooden railing, his gaze closely tracking Chen Ji’s movements. When he saw Chen Ji try to leave the gambling den, his eyes narrowed, and he gestured silently to two secret agents downstairs, signaling them to follow. However, Chen Ji stopped before exiting the gambling den and turned into another corner, at which point the secret agents relaxed.

Chen Ji went to a corner, bending down as if searching for clues, and whispered, “Dark Cloud? Dark Cloud?”

In the shadows of the corner, Dark Cloud, soaking wet, meowed, “I’m here!”

Chen Ji’s expression was hidden beneath his bamboo hat. He whispered, “How did you find your way here?”

“I wanted to tell you at the medical clinic that Consort Jing plans to have Chunhua seduce you, but then I found you weren’t there,” Dark Cloud replied. “I asked many cats along the way to find this place.”

Chen Ji asked in astonishment, “Wait, you asked many cats?”

“Yes,” Dark Cloud said, somewhat confused by Chen Ji’s astonishment. “You humans ask other humans for directions. What’s so strange about us cats asking other cats?”

“Can they answer questions…? I mean, even those who haven’t gained sentience can answer you?”

“Fat Orange and Cow Cat definitely can’t; they’re not very smart, so asking them is useless. But Tabby Cats can; they’re quite intelligent, good fighters, and control large territories. However, Tabby Cats can be difficult to deal with and have bad tempers,” Dark Cloud replied.

Chen Ji’s mind reeled. This was a development he had never imagined. Luocheng was practically teeming with stray cats! He quickly asked, “Then can you get them to help me find someone? They were severely wounded and disappeared after fleeing Asakura gambling den last night!”

“Where did they flee to?”

“I don’t know.”

“That might be difficult…” Dark Cloud fell silent for a moment. “We’d need to find a Calico Cat. They have good cat connections, so we can send them to various territories to ask the Tabby Cats.”

“This matter concerns my life and fortune. We must find this person before the Privy Directorate does!”

Dark Cloud curled its paws and thumped its chest vigorously. “Leave it to me, rest assured!”