The next morning, Cao Mingzhi arrives early outside the estate.

  Upon seeing Henwell, he eyes him curiously and, after a long pause, finally asks, “So what actually happened?”

  Henwell leads him into the reception room. “Speak up. What benefits did your father offer me?”

  Cao Mingzhi’s expression turns strange. “One hundred thousand gold. Not a penny less. And from this moment on, you’re officially a Gold Locksmith of the court.”

  Locksmith isn’t a craftsman who makes door locks. Instead, it’s a special department jointly overseen by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review.

  A Locksmith is essentially a skilled artisan tasked with capturing wanted criminals. They hold official court ranks, receive a basic sary, and are dispatched by the government, but they don’t wield real authority.

  Each year, Locksmiths must complete certain bounty-hunting missions assigned by the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. Once these tasks are done, they can operate freely.

  If they need money, they simply capture a few wanted criminals and collect rewards from the two departments.

  After verifying the capture, they receive real gold and silver on the spot.

  In short, it’s basically a government-backed bounty hunter position.

  Compared to the Evil-Catcher Department’s Demon-Catcher Detectives or the Divine Detective Department’s Divine Enforcers, these are civil servants.

  Locksmiths are more like career officials!

  There are several ranks among Locksmiths:

  - Lockman: the lowest rank, no official grade, for beginners in the field.

  - Locksmith: ninth rank, experienced hunters who also complete specific provincial tasks.

  - Iron Locksmith: ninth rank, well-known in their province.

  - Copper Locksmith: eighth rank, requires approval from provincial judicial authorities.

  - Silver Locksmith: eighth rank, requires approval from both the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review, plus Entry Rank Martial Warrior strength.

  - Gold Locksmith: seventh rank, requires joint certification from both departments, Second Rank Martial Warrior strength, and the capture of criminals listed on wanted boards.

  Cao Mingzhi hands over a box containing a golden chain, about as thick as a finger and roughly four meters long.

  Henwell squeezes it, it’s as strong as an extraordinary alloy, quite a fine piece of equipment.

  Besides the golden chain, there’s an exquisitely carved badge inside.

  The relief on the badge depicts a prison gate wrapped in chains.

  This is the official identification of a Gold Locksmith.

  Finally, the box holds a stack of gold banknotes issued by the imperial treasury, totaling exactly one hundred thousand gold.

  After putting everything away, Henwell begins to expin to Cao Mingzhi. “You’re basically a bait that’s been put out. The enemy wants to get to you, so they have to make a move. Every government department wants to catch them, but none can send their own people, too risky, might tip off the enemy.”

  ”But they can’t just let you, the bait, get taken out either. So they have to hire an outsider to protect you. The requirements for this outsider are high! Not only must they be capable, but they can’t be a familiar face or have ties to any faction.”

  “And I just happen to fit that role! After all, this is a life-for-money deal. If they don’t offer a good price, it won’t make sense.”

  ”If I succeed in protecting you, it proves my skills are top-notch. Giving me a Gold Locksmith position is a smart move, it shows they recognize talent and it earns me a good reputation.”

  ”But if I die, no one loses anything, the gold is still gold. As for the promised Gold Locksmith position, that’s easy to handle too. If I’m dead, who cares about the position?”

  “So for all parties involved, this isn’t a harsh condition. One hundred thousand gold to have two Second Rank Martial Warriors and several Entry Rank Martial Warriors willingly go to their deaths isn’t a high price at all.”

  After hearing Henwell’s expnation, Cao Mingzhi is stunned for a long time.

  Then he suddenly jumps up, cursing loudly in a harsh, sensitive way.

  After venting, Cao Mingzhi grabs Henwell’s arm. “Brother! I’m entrusting my life to you! You absolutely have to help me survive this!”

  Henwell pats his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I took the money, so naturally I’ll get the job done. Until this mission ends, as long as I’m alive, no one can kill you! Of course, that’s on the condition that you behave and don’t act recklessly. If you try to get yourself killed, I’m not responsible!”

  Cao Mingzhi nods quickly like a little chick pecking grain. “Of course! I’ll follow Henwell’s orders. If you tell me to go east, I won’t dare go west!”

  Henwell smiles. “That makes things easier. Get ready.”

  Cao Mingzhi asks, “Prepare defenses? What do you need? Bows and crossbows? Traps? Hidden bunkers?”

  Henwell wraps the golden chain around his waist like a belt. “We’re going out for a stroll!”

  Cao Mingzhi’s eyes widen. “But there are people trying to kill us out there! Isn’t it dangerous to go out now?”

  Henwell corrects him. “First, they want to kill you, not me. Second, you forgot something important, you’re the bait! Bait doesn’t hide. As bait, you have to be out in the open, wherever it’s lively, wherever it’s dangerous!”

  ”Finally, do you think we get paid for nothing? They’re paying a high price, so we have to take big risks!”

  Cao Mingzhi pulls a miserable face and retorts, “You’re the one getting the benefits; I’m not getting anything!”

  Henwell rolls his eyes. “Your survival is the biggest benefit. Besides, the risk and reward are your father’s. If all goes well, your father might even become Minister of Works!”

  Henwell grabs the Dusk Greatsword and, accompanied by his mute guards, steps outside.

  Besides Henwell’s group of ten, Cao Mingzhi has twenty guards by his side.

  These thirty or so people protect Cao Mingzhi, parading openly around the outskirts of the capital.

  With such a grand dispy, anyone who doesn’t know might mistake Cao Mingzhi for royalty!

  For a full three days, Cao Mingzhi doesn’t face a single attack.

  That night at the Drunken Dream Tower, Cao Mingzhi quietly asks Henwell, “Henwell, do you think the enemy realized we’re bait and called off the assassination?”

  Henwell thinks for a moment. “Very likely.”

  “When will we return to the capital? Wandering out here makes me nervous. Even bait should have an end, right?”

  “Hold on for two more days. If nothing happens by then, it means the enemy truly knows you’re bait. At that point, you can send a message to your father and ask if we can come back, if the mission is over.”

  Two days pass quickly, and Cao Mingzhi’s father, Cao Yu, agrees to have him return.

  That afternoon, Cao Mingzhi enters the city proper through the inspection-free passage inside the walled city, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

  “Henwell, that was terrifying. I haven’t eaten or slept well for days!”

  As Cao Mingzhi speaks, he doesn’t notice Henwell signaling silently to the mute guards.

  After passing through the walled city, they finally step into the bustling capital.

  Looking at the vibrant city, Cao Mingzhi regains his energy. “Henwell, tomorrow I’ll take you to visit all the markets and neighborhoods!”

  No sooner are the words out than Henwell raises his hand and snatches a crossbow bolt flying straight at Cao Mingzhi’s face.

  He hurls the bolt back along its original path, piercing through doors and windows to kill the attacker.

  “Enemy attack! Anyone who comes near, no matter who, kill on sigh