CHAPTER 555: CHAPTER 12: IMPERIAL EAGLE DEPARTMENT

The speed of the Golden and Silver Qilin was significantly faster than that of ordinary Dark Beasts and horses. What usually took the time of two incense sticks to reach Wohua Main City, now only took half a cup of tea’s time.

The neatly arranged cyan floor tiles, the spotlessly clean Wohua Avenue, the towering High Gate, the whole Imperial City exuded an aura of the strong.

Duke Mansion was located to the east of Imperial City. Under the reflection of various official residences with different heights of doorposts, the declining Blood Cherry Duke Mansion resembled an old man in his twilight years.

What awaited the group of ladies was merely two flickering lanterns in the slightly chilly night breeze.

Since all the servants were dismissed, only a few slaves remained at Duke Mansion, including Hong Shan, a granny in charge of cleaning and cooking, plus a night watchman who also handled the stables.

The spacious Duke Mansion appeared particularly desolate, and the meals prepared by the slaves lacked even a bit of oil.

After seeing this, Chi Xi, without a word, took the cooking granny to get things arranged.

"Last July, the eldest young master was selected into the Imperial Dragon Rider Reserve Camp, and he only gets a leave every three months. The last time Lady and Miss sent a letter, it coincided with the young master’s return home," Hong Shan, having learned from Hongling about Yue Jinghua’s conflict with Ji Yun, couldn’t help but show a worried expression afterwards.

The Miss pretending to be young master Yue Chen might be able to muddle through, but the Ji Family is known for their narrow-mindedness. If Ji Yun had been saved by that unfamiliar woman, it might still be good; otherwise, the days in Duke Mansion may be even more difficult.

"Uncle Hong, don’t worry. ’When the troops come, the general blocks; when the water comes, the earth covers.’ I have my own way to shut the Ministry of Revenue up," Yue Jinghua was not at all worried about this. After eating the meal prepared by Chi Xi and being settled into rooms by Hongling, everyone dispersed.

Yue Jinghua stayed in the same courtyard she had when she was a child. Although Duke Mansion had fallen into decline, the mansion was still very large.

When it was deep into the night and all was quiet, Yue Jinghua left Duke Mansion alone.

She followed Wohua Avenue swiftly, finally stopping in front of an inconspicuous small civilian house.

It was the third period of night, and the lamps in other civilian houses around had long been extinguished, only this house still had a tiny oil lamp burning.

A gray-haired old granny was seen sitting before a cushion, with a script laid out in front of her, murmuring what seemed to be chants, as if in prayer.

Yue Jinghua approached the small house and knocked on the door. The old granny inside didn’t even lift her head, as if she were deaf.

"Selling beef?" Yue Jinghua asked.

The chanting of the old granny inside paused for a moment, then she replied, "From where is this beef?"

"From Mazaro Farm," said Yue Jinghua, uttering the code left to her by Old Kuru.

"How much for a pound of beef?" The old granny had already put down her scripture, her eyes sharply peering outside.

There was a strange young man outside.

"A pair of eagle eyes," no sooner had Yue Jinghua spoken, the old granny inside rushed out eagerly.

She flung the door open, nimble and agile, hardly resembling an old granny, "You are the disciple mentioned in Old Kuru’s letter, where is the token?"

Yue Jinghua took out the token left by Old Kuru, and upon seeing the token, the old granny’s expression relaxed.

She made way and let Yue Jinghua into the house.

She had just entered the room when the oil lamp inside suddenly dimmed, Yun Jinghua felt an abrupt emptiness under her feet and found herself stepping into a Transmission Array.

Yue Jinghua had ventured out late at night specifically to locate the Imperial Intelligence Department where Old Kuru had once stayed, known as the Eagle Department.

Back when Old Kuru was in Wo Hua Imperial City, he was in charge of an intelligence branch called the Eagle Department, which, though a part of the Imperial Military Department, operated independently. The members inside were all very mysterious, and even the Imperial Military Department struggled to fully track their movements.

Yue Jinghua had no intention of getting involved with the people from the Eagle Department, but after arriving in the Imperial City and seeing the Ji Family’s surveillance network, she knew that establishing her own network was essential for survival here.

Since there was an existing intelligence department, she didn’t mind taking advantage of it.

This Transmission Array was cunningly arranged; Yue Jinghua had entered unwittingly and was instantly teleported into a pitch-dark forest.

Ten Dark Practitioners wearing cloaks with eagle and dog patterns stood in the woods like specters.

Within the Eagle Department, the roles were clearly divided into Eagles and Dogs.

Eagles referred to those adept at hearing. They could always gather information unknown to others through various channels.

Dogs were those skilled in tracking. Once a target was tracked by a Dog, even at the ends of the earth, escape was nearly impossible.

Such is the existence of the so-called Eagle Department.

By day, they appeared as ordinary people, laborers, and travelers; but at night, they transformed into members of the Eagle Department, gathering all the information they had collected during the day.

"Is this the new successor to the Eagle Department chosen by that undying Kuru?" Upon seeing Yue Jinghua, the few Dark Practitioners in eagle-patterned cloaks uttered disgruntled noises.

Ever since Old Kuru, that guy, left for a woman and hid in the shadows of the Empire, the Eagle Department, known as the third ear of the Empire, had been leaderless. They were dissatisfied with each other and unable to choose an appropriate new leader.

Just as the Empire was planning to restructure the Eagle Department, Old Kuru brought news that he had found a new successor for the "Eagle Department."

"Has Kuru turned foolish staying at Mazaro Farm, this kid, doesn’t fit the recruiting criteria of the Eagle Department at all, too conspicuous-looking."

Being too distinctive could easily attract attention.

"He hasn’t learned the Tracking Technique either, and would only drag us down during missions."

Lacking the Tracking Technique makes it easy to expose targets and even bring unnecessary trouble to fellow operatives.

"Oh, if you all are so confident, then how about making a bet with me? If I can silently disappear among you within three days, recording everything about your lives without notice, then would you accept me as the new leader of the Eagle Department?" Yue Jinghua made a silencing gesture and took out a token, flaunting it before everyone.

"Are you kidding, trying to track us with just a newbie like you, a little infant?" All present were core members of the Eagle Department, spending their lives mastering concealment and tracking, and they absolutely wouldn’t believe they were outsmarted by a mere girl.

The crowd was completely unaware that unknowingly, they had already fallen into Yue Jinghua’s trap.

Even the old lady leading the way didn’t believe that just Yue Jinghua alone could monitor all of them.

"Let’s wait and see then. If, after three days, I can clearly explain the whereabouts of each one of you, you must unconditionally accept me as your new leader and follow my lead," Yue Jinghua confidently smiled.