CHAPTER 412: CHAPTER 412: GOD HUNTER’S STAGE (THANKS TO LIN WU FOR THE MONTHLY TICKET)

Of the two Government Soldiers, one was sealing the fabric, while the other ran back to the Government Office. The Government Soldier carrying the fabric headed towards the Government Office.

Suddenly, a man approached him, pressed a knife to his lower back, and said, "If you don’t want to die, give me what you’re holding!"

The Government Soldier froze, his body trembling. Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, he felt a sharp impact on the back of his neck. His vision blackened, and he collapsed.

Ji Youzhi, still holding Xiaosuisui, made his way to the Shuntian Prefecture Government Office, waiting for the constables to bring in the suspects for questioning.

Soon, the men dispatched to arrest the fabric store clerk and the embroiderer returned. However, the Government Soldier who had been ordered to secure the fabric evidence had not yet come back.

Ji Youzhi instinctively felt that something was wrong, and just as he was about to send someone from the Government Office to search for the Government Soldier securing the fabric, that very soldier returned.

"Lord God Hunter! I have sinned! Please, Lord God Hunter, punish me!"

Ji Youzhi’s heart lurched. There must have been a mishap with the evidence I ordered to be secured, he guessed as the scene unfolded before him.

"Did something happen on your way back to the Government Office?"

The trembling Government Soldier, tears streaming down his face, responded, "Lord God Hunter, your perception is keen! I was knocked unconscious on my way back. When I awoke, the fabric I had been carrying was gone!"

"The evidence is lost?"

Ji Youzhi narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on the Government Soldier kneeling and trembling on the ground.

"Yes! On my way back, I passed Li’s Pharmacy. I was robbed at the entrance. The man pressed a knife to my lower back and demanded I give him the fabric. Before I could react, I was knocked unconscious. When I awoke, I was inside Li’s Pharmacy, and the fabric I’d been holding was gone. The people at Li’s Pharmacy said they found me unconscious on the ground and kindly brought me inside, but they didn’t see any fabric!"

A chill went down Ji Youzhi’s spine. I was careless, he sighed in regret.

"Lord God Hunter, the evidence was lost because of me! I deserve death! Please, My Lord, punish me!"

Ji Youzhi waved his hand. "You belong to the Shuntian Prefecture Government Office, not my command. I cannot punish you."

He then added, "No matter. I initially thought this Noble Family’s case was minor—a quick trial and a verdict here would suffice. I didn’t expect a bigger fish to be involved. It seems this case will have to be personally investigated by the Divine Hunter Platform of the Palace."

The Divine Hunter Platform of the Palace was an internal Government Office established under Ji Youzhi’s supervision after the young Emperor assumed direct rule. It was not subordinate to any other Government Office and answered solely to the young Emperor. Its primary duties were to covertly investigate corrupt officials and major cases throughout the land. It had fifteen primary members.

These fifteen members were all highly capable and renowned for their ruthlessness. If anyone discovered they were being targeted by the Divine Hunter Platform, they were advised to ’congratulate’ themselves. They should then immediately examine whether they were guilty of corruption, abuse of power, or forming factions, as it was highly probable that the young Emperor himself had set his sights on them.

This was because all officials in the capital knew that Divine Hunter Ji took orders only from the young Emperor. Without the Emperor’s direct command, Ji Youzhi’s men wouldn’t concern themselves with matters that weren’t their business.

An official from the Shuntian Prefecture then said, "In that case, this subordinate will have the silk shop clerks, the embroiderer, and the shopkeeper who were just brought back sent to the Celestial Prison."

The Divine Hunter Platform did not have a separate facility outside the Palace for handling cases; thus, prisoners were held in the Celestial Prison. In the northwest corner of the Celestial Prison grounds stood a Mansion, its plaque reading ’Divine Hunter Platform’.

"Mm. Send them over."

Ji Youzhi nodded, then glanced at the Government Soldier who had lost the fabric.

"You, show us where you lost the fabric!"