Chapter 459 - 235: Grand Opening of the Disaster Prevention Bureau

Chapter 459: Chapter 235: Grand Opening of the Disaster Prevention Bureau

The establishment of the Darkness Disaster Prevention Bureau was a major event worthy of the history books.

Yet within the Imperial City, and indeed across the entire kingdom, all seemed quiet. The atmosphere felt no different than any other day.

Twenty years ago, as Darkness and the Common World began to converge, Path Mystic Skills quietly emerged.

But in the spirit of "the greatest wonders hide in plain sight," most common folk remained unaware of these mysteries.

Nevertheless, over the past two months, the populace had still noticed some unusual occurrences.

First, the Ravens that had once filled the skies of the Daqian Territory all dropped dead overnight, returning a clear, blue sky to Daqian.

Next, the many Black-clothed People who crept along rooftops and scaled walls in the dead of night simply vanished.

The thirty-third year of the Zun’an era.

It was the thirtieth of June.

The sun shone brightly in a clear, cloudless sky.

Inside a modest home.

A middle-aged man in simple clothes and straw sandals was diligently chopping firewood in front of his house.

His wife, a pretty woman, had dressed herself with care and applied a touch of makeup, preparing to go out.

"Oh? Wife, are you heading out today?"

the man asked, smiling. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

He knew his wife had "night work."

But his wife never spoke of it.

In the past, his lovely wife would often slip out of bed at night, change into black clothes, and climb out the window. One day, he had asked, "Wife, what is it you do when you go out at night?" She had simply smiled and replied, "I have a particular set of skills. I use them to earn money. It’s best not to ask any more questions."

The man was skeptical at first, but in the end, he chose to trust her.

Lately, his wife had been staying home, and the man found he wasn’t quite used to it.

So now that she was happily heading out again, the man gladly saw her off.

As she was about to leave, his wife seemed to remember something. She turned back with a captivating smile. "Husband, I know you’ve had your doubts, but I truly couldn’t tell you before. Things are different now, though. My ’night work’... has a new master."

The man froze.

The beautiful woman giggled. "I work for the Red King now."

Her husband stared blankly for a moment, then became so overwhelmed with excitement that tears streamed down his face.

’The Red King!’

’That Red King!’

’The Red King who’s rolling in money!’

’Prince Zheng, who spends money like water!’

’The Red King who has a thing for married women!’

’We’re going to be rich!’

As he watched his beautiful wife leave, the man’s heart swelled with glee.

Similar scenes were quietly playing out all over the Imperial City.

Lovers and spouses, teahouse regulars, stage actors, street performers, chefs, professional Mourners, old gatekeepers, diligent Wandering travelers—the former agents of the Night Guard and Constellation all had identities that allowed them to hide in plain sight.

Ever since the Red King announced the formation of the Darkness Disaster Prevention Bureau that night, the dormant remnants of Ye Weiyang had been cultivating their Paths and waiting with bated breath. Now, their wait was over: the Darkness Disaster Prevention Bureau was officially open for business.

Heaven on Earth, once the Imperial City’s most prosperous "Nocturnal City," had undergone a ten-day "closure for renovation" and was now completely transformed.

Ten days prior, Zheng Xiu had instructed Zheng Erniang to post a notice at Heaven on Earth. The announcement, written with great passion and sincerity, declared that Heaven on Earth would soon be closing its doors.

The associated businesses and the ladies would be moved to the Painted Boats on the canal. To meet customer demand, ten more vessels would be added to the Zheng’s Painting Boat fleet over the next two months.

The city’s residents were still chewing on the juicy gossip about the "newly appointed Red King" when they were served another fresh, delectable piece: "Heaven on Earth is closing down." The news caused an uproar throughout the city.

Theories about the closure abounded. Some said that Zheng Xiu’s new status as a Prince came with too many restrictions. Others claimed he wanted to benefit the common good, while still others believed he intended to release the women contracted to Heaven on Earth from their service.

This even reportedly led to a few happy endings. Several regular patrons, fearing they would never see their favorite ladies again, boldly hired matchmakers to plead their cases. In the ten days the establishment was closed, several marriages were arranged, becoming the talk of the town.

Now.

’I knew it,’ Zheng Xiu muttered to himself, standing at the entrance to his own establishment and gazing up at the refurbished storefront. ’Something felt off. Turns out ’low-key’ has never been my style.’

Dressed in the brocade robes of a prince, Zheng Xiu stood before the entrance of the former Heaven on Earth.

Behind him stood Qing Shisan in the attire of a Wandering traveler. Further back were Zheng Erniang, Zizi, Lily, Pingping, Bobo, Yin Qingqing, and the rest of his retinue. The women, their faces covered by thin veils, surrounded the Prince, their cheerful chatter and laughter like the chirping of songbirds.

A perfect snapshot of Prince Zheng’s style.

"Of course," Qing Shisan replied, overhearing Zheng Xiu’s muttering. "Spend the most money to make the biggest splash. That’s always been Your Highness’s motto."

The pillars of Heaven on Earth, still encircled by bas-reliefs of various beauties, hadn’t been replaced yet. But the new sign was already in place. With a bamboo pole, Qing Shisan personally lifted off the red cloth, revealing the new plaque beneath.

The plaque was yet another personal gift from the Great Emperor, ensuring its prestige was second to none. Forged from pure gold, the three large words on it glittered in the sunlight.

As everyone knows, when a department with a long name gets a sign, an abbreviation is inevitable.

For example, as Zheng Xiu knew from stories, the "Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division" was simply abbreviated to "S.H.I.E.L.D."

The red cloth was pulled away, revealing the new department established right in the middle of the bustling market.

And so, the "Darkness Disaster Prevention Bureau" was shortened to three resounding words: Disaster Prevention Bureau!

"The Great Emperor has excellent penmanship,"

Zheng Xiu praised loudly.

The Great Emperor had been tirelessly producing calligraphy for the Zheng Clan lately. One had to understand that a piece of the Emperor’s calligraphy was a treasure on par with a family heirloom. Zheng Xiu did a quick count on his fingers and realized he’d need more than ten to tally them all up. It was clear the Great Emperor was giving the Red King an immense amount of face, practically writing for him every day.

The word "Darkness" was not something to be displayed publicly. Abbreviating the name to "Disaster Prevention Bureau" had a clear advantage: those in the know would understand, while those who weren’t would still get the general idea. Insiders would recognize it as the place for handling unnatural cases. Meanwhile, ordinary folk would take the name at face value—a bureau for disaster prevention. If a disaster struck, they could report it there, and among the mundane reports, clues related to the truly unnatural cases might be found.