Original subtitles

[The Wanted Detective]

[Yingzhou]

[Maozhou]

[Bazhou]

[Tongzhou]

[Jinzhou]

[Lingzhou]

[Xiangzhou]

[Nest of Returning Wings]

Director,

someone from the Elite Constabulary Unit is here to see you.

The Elite Constabulary Unit?

[Xiangzhou]

[The Wanted Detective]

[Episode 24]

[Zuixian Restaurant]

How did it go?

Zhuge Kongyun is locked up

in the Secret Investigation Unit's prison.

We couldn't get in at all,

and we ran into those two idiots again.

They didn't say a word to us

and just told us to get lost.

Which two?

Dong Liang and Wang Lang.

Last time we came,

we took their clothes and wore them ourselves.

I can't believe this.

Those two are notorious in the Secret Investigation Unit

for holding grudges,

so there's no way we can get in today.

We can't get in...

[Zuixian Restaurant]

What are you doing here?

Helping you attract customers.

What customers?

To hell with that!

Do you really not know

what this place is for?

No, I don't.

Isn't this the Zuixian Restaurant?

If you set off any more firecrackers,

[Zuixian Restaurant]

there will be consequences!

[Zuixian Restaurant]

Setting off firecrackers here?

Are you here specifically to make trouble?

Li Long!

What's the occasion today?

Why are there

sounds of firecrackers outside?

What happened?

It's those from the Elite Constabulary Unit

making trouble outside.

Young Master, it's bad enough

that they've caused you to end up in this state,

and now they're celebrating

right at our doorstep.

Young Master, please don't be upset.

I'll drive them away right now.

Wait.

Li Long,

I need a favor from you.

You two have had enough?

Coming!

Got the supplies ready. This should be enough this time.

More firecrackers?

Set them off or not?

[Zuixian Restaurant]

Let's not do it for now.

Not doing it? No need to see him anymore?

Wait...

We paid for that.

What's going on?

They must be crazy.

Well...

Young Master,

I've already released

those pigeons.

Where are they?

Weird.

As soon as I released the pigeons, they left.

You may go now.

Zhuge Kongyun must have guessed

why we wanted to see him.

Releasing the pigeons

was his way of telling us

that he and his father

communicate

through carrier pigeons.

That's so ordinary.

I thought they'd use

some special means

for important information.

Sometimes, the most important information

is sent through the most common methods—

that's the safest way.

But...

how can we investigate pigeons?

There's no way to catch them.

We don't need to catch them.

We can go to the dovecote.

Huang Wuchang is a key criminal.

Even though Zhuge Tong

wanted to change the route,

he still needed approval from the Ministry of Justice

before he could pass the message

to Zhuge Kongyun.

The dovecote is no simple place.

Be careful when you go there.

[Messages on the Wings]

Director,

someone from the Elite Constabulary Unit is here to see you.

Show her in.

Yes.

Greetings, Director Blue Cat.

[Administrative Map of the Qi Kingdom]

[Blue Cat, Director of the Dovecote]

[Administrative Map of the Qi Kingdom]

I am Blue Cat, head of the dovecote.

Greetings, Constable Zhong.

I didn't announce my name just now.

You know me?

This way, please, Constable Zhong.

My master

once worked with your father, the King of Constables,

and admired him greatly.

And you, as his daughter, are the only female constable

in the Elite Constabulary Unit.

So, how could I not recognize you?

Besides,

what happened at the execution ground

has already caused a sensation in the capital.

Greetings, Director Blue Cat.

Your name is truly peculiar.

The Blue Cat is a breed of pigeon

with mostly gray feathers,

also known as the Mottled Gray.

It has a petite figure,

and when watching it fly over

a basin of water,

its shadow never exceeds the basin's edge.

No wonder you're dressed all in gray.

May I ask what business brings you here?

I'd like to ask you

to come to the Elite Constabulary Unit.

What crime have I committed?

Why are you taking me to the Elite Constabulary Unit?

Carry on with your work.

-Yes, ma'am. -Yes, ma'am.

Director, please don't overthink this.

Some things

aren't convenient to discuss here.

She brought

the director of the dovecote here?

Yes, Uncle.

Don't be anxious yet.

How can I not be anxious?

Uncle.

Do you really think that chick

is just a pigeon keeper?

Interrogate her?

Director Blue Cat, greetings.

Chief Fang.

My apologies.

Why would they

bring you all the way here?

You should ask your Constable Zhong about that.

Constable Zhong

is just

a very straightforward person.

I apologize if she offended you.

It's fine.

We're all colleagues at the Ministry of Justice.

Constable Zhong said

that someone would come to question me,

and that would be you, Chief Fang?

Where is she?

Where is she?

I'm here.

Chief.

Director Blue Cat.

Xiao Beiming.

Chief...

Well, this is a first.

A Ministry of Justice official is going to

be interrogated by a prisoner.

Director Blue Cat,

you misunderstand.

He is only here to observe.

We need his confirmation

regarding some details of the case and the evidence.

Today, Constable Zhong and I

have invited you here

solely to seek your guidance

on the case.

Then what exactly do you want to ask me?

Director Blue Cat, you're straightforward.

Then, I'll be direct.

There is a key criminal

named Huang Wuchang

who was rescued during transport.

We'd like to inquire about this matter.

And what does that

have to do with me?

The carrier pigeons used by the Secret Investigation Unit

come from your dovecote.

So, you're saying

that information was leaked

from my dovecote?

Of course,

we're not suspecting you, Director Blue Cat.

We both know

that the dovecote is actually

[Nest of Returning Wings]

our country's intelligence agency.

And you are

the director of the agency.

Stealing secrets from the dovecote

would be nearly impossible.

But...

is there a chance that the pigeons

could be intercepted during delivery?

Chief Zhuge and his son

are no ordinary people.

They have their own

unique methods of sealing messages.

If the messages were opened midway,

do you think they would not notice?

Our pigeons

are specially trained.

It would be very difficult

to tamper with them.

You're overthinking this.

I suggest that you

try a different approach in your investigation.

This topic ends here.

I should go now.

Director Blue Cat,

since you're already here,

why not dine here

before heading back?

I've told you everything I can.

The dovecote has strict rules.

My coming to the Elite Constabulary Unit

has already broken them,

and I've shown enough courtesy.

Chief Fang, please understand.

I understand. I understand.

Director Blue Cat,

Huang Wuchang has committed numerous crimes

and must be captured as soon as possible.

Please help us, Director Blue Cat.

This matter doesn't concern me.

I'm only responsible for gathering intelligence

and taking care of my pigeons.

Please wait.

Director Blue Cat,

I've heard some fascinating folk tales.

They say that in the eastern seas of the Qi Kingdom,

there's a small island with an ancient tribe

that has lived for generations

raising and training birds.

The thumbs of their people

are different from ordinary people's—

exceptionally long and slender.

Just now, I noticed that your thumb

exhibits the same trait.

Could the rumors be true?

That's not just a rumor.

I'm indeed a member of the Bird Tamer Tribe.

So the Bird Tamer Tribe really exists.

What about the Eastern Sea Kingdom?

They wanted our tribe

to become their spies,

working exclusively for them.

When we refused,

they slaughtered

our entire tribe.

I escaped by sheer luck

and fled to the Qi Kingdom,

where I've been living ever since.

I see.

Director Blue Cat,

may I ask how life is for you here

in the Qi Kingdom?

Very well.

The imperial court has taken good care of me,

and I have family and friends now.

Why do you ask?

Director Blue Cat,

Huang Wuchang is

a complete madman.

We've discovered that he's been orchestrating

a massive conspiracy.

If his conspiracy succeeds,

countless people in the Qi Kingdom

will lose their homes and families.

The common people are innocent.

You've experienced loss,

so you must understand

that feeling of despair.

Director Blue Cat,

please, for the sake of

all the people of the Qi Kingdom,

help us.

Fine.

I admit

that I did keep something from you.

Actually,

the dovecote keeps a copy

of everything written on the messages

delivered by the pigeons.

In other words,

if I wish to,

I can know everything.

But didn't you say that many pigeon messages

are sealed in special ways?

We have techniques passed down through generations

that allow us to view the contents of messages

without leaving any trace.

Don't misunderstand.

That's the Intelligence Agency's duty.

The monitoring is to

prevent greater disasters.

The imperial court permits this

because Director Blue Cat's loyalty

has been proven beyond doubt.

What I'm trying to say is,

although I've seen

the correspondence between Chief Zhuge and his son,

I don't know the specific contents.

[Secret Letter]

Because they wrote in code,

which requires a codebook

to decipher.

You mean

the people who rescued Huang Wuchang

cracked the Zhuge family's code?

How is that possible?

Of course, it's possible.

Pigeon message intelligence holds value,

so naturally, there are people out there

who specialize in collecting and decoding it.

It has even become

a business.

There's such a business?

Indeed, there is.

In the martial world, there are people who collect

intelligence from pigeon messages—

they're called Book Merchants.

Then there are others

who decode the obtained intelligence

and transcribe it,

called Scribes.

Those who trade in intelligence are called Book Collectors.

Chief Fang is right.

The people who rescued Huang Wuchang

must be connected to this group.

I've investigated them before.

They frequently appear around Sibao Street.

Perhaps you could go there

and try your luck.

There is a copy of the correspondence

between Chief Zhuge and his son in the dovecote.

I'll have someone deliver it to you later.

I hope it'll be helpful

for your investigation.

Thank you, Director Blue Cat.

Why are you all just standing there

doing nothing?

Hurry up and escort Director Blue Cat out.

Please.

For the sake of the people here,

I implore you

to ensure that Huang Wuchang is

brought to justice.

We will.

Also,

I don't believe that someone

who could say what you just said

could possibly be the cold-blooded killer

the legends speak of.

Mr. Xiao, good luck.

[Prison]

Chief.

For my son?

The young master isn't used to

the food from the prison kitchen,

so he asked me to buy something from outside.

He's locked up

and still has so many demands.

Chief,

keeping him locked up like this isn't a solution.

After all, we've arrested Xiao Beiming.

How about

we go plead with His Majesty

to have the Young Master released sooner?

Plead with His Majesty?

If we can't solve the Yesha case,

you might need to prepare

prison meals for me too.

These are the pigeon messages

delivered by Director Blue Cat's man.

[Coded Letter]

What's this supposed to mean?

I can't even make sense of it.

That's exactly the idea.

Once we translate it using the codebook,

it'll make sense.

So we still have to find the codebook.

We'll need to go to Zhuge Kongyun again.

Zhuge Kongyun is locked up now.

No one can get in to see him.

Actually, it's not that difficult.

It's not like

we haven't sneaked in there before.

We can just go in again and look around.

You think the Secret Investigation Unit

is full of idiots?

After being fooled once,

they'll definitely be on guard.

If we get caught, we'll be in trouble.

There is someone who can help.

Who?

Li Long.

Zhuge Kongyun's

personal guard?

We've never had dealings with him,

and the Secret Investigation Unit

and our Elite Constabulary Unit

don't get along.

Are you sure he'll help us?

We can only try.

Alright, leave this to me.

What about Sibao Street?

How about... the two of us go?

Yeah.

I patrol there every day

and know Sibao Street

like the back of my hand.

I can spot any changes on the street

at a glance.

That's right.

Xueman,

let the two of us

help the Elite Constabulary Unit too.

Okay, I'll go tell Chief Fang about it.

Remember,

they're operating in secret,

so you must not wear official uniforms

and should dress as ordinary citizens.

Once you catch them, bring them back immediately

without any delay.

-Yes, Senior! -Yes, Senior!

Be careful.

[Lanzhi Wine Shop]

Our young master prefers sour dishes.

For the vinegar-braised beef, make sure to use vinegar

that's been aged for over ten years.

Also,

don't put too much sugar in the osmanthus cake.

Very well, please wait a moment.

We'll arrange it right away.

Have you guys heard?

The most wanted criminal,

Xiao Beiming, has been captured.

Such big news—

who doesn't know about it?

I also heard that he showed up

for that female constable from the Elite Constabulary Unit

at the execution ground.

If he hadn't appeared in time,

that female constable

would have been wrongfully executed

by the Secret Investigation Unit.

Don't you think it's strange?

He killed the girl's dad,

but for her sake,

he came out of hiding

when he was safely concealed.

And that girl,

he's clearly the one who killed her father,

yet she doesn't seem to

have any hatred

toward him.

Those two people are

really hard to figure out.

Do you think

Xiao Beiming is really Yesha?

I somehow feel

that doesn't seem like something

a villain would do.

Those cases from back then

had no solid evidence,

just suspicions and speculation.

Now I'm starting to think

there might really be more

to the story than we know.

Maybe the Secret Investigation Unit

really did catch the wrong man.

That makes sense.

You people...

[Sibao Street]

This street is so long.

How do we search?

Search door to door.

Door to door?

This street has

at least a hundred households.

How long will that take?

And the sun is scorching.

Let's find a place to rest for a bit.

I've been watching over corpses

in the morgue for three years.

I've rested enough.

Let me tell you,

this isn't like your daily street patrols

where you can slack off.

If you dare delay Beiming's...

the Elite Constabulary Unit's business,

I won't let you off.

Alright, alright.

I'll tell you what,

I was just testing you

to see if those three years at the morgue

had made you rusty.

Looks like you've built up quite a bit of energy.

That puts my mind at ease.

Let's go!

I'll take the top of the street.

I'll take the top of the street!

I said I'll take the top of the street,

and you take the bottom end!

We'll meet up in an hour!

Feels like

we're back in the old days.

[Sibao Street]

Yeah.

If only nothing bad had happened

to any of them.

Alright,

let's get moving.

Don't keep them waiting too long.

You took Xiao Beiming away

right in front of us,

and now our entire Secret Investigation Unit

has become a laughingstock.

Yet you still expect me to help you?

Guard Li.

Guard Li,

please calm down.

Why are we still

at odds now?

We're all in this together,

on the same side.

Look,

your Secret Investigation Unit

lost Huang Wuchang,

and if we can find him,

we'll be doing you a favor...

Cut the crap!

If you want to find Huang Wuchang,

why not just interrogate

Xiao Beiming directly?

Why go to all this trouble?

Is it because you're old friends

that you'd bend the rules

and not torture him?

Why can't you

wrap your head around this?

If Beiming were really Yesha,

would we need to ask for your help?

What evidence do you have

that he isn't Yesha?

Our chief said

that Xiao Beiming is cunning and deceitful,

and everything he does

is just to throw people off the scent.

He has

ulterior motives!

If you show favoritism,

I will definitely

report this to His Majesty

and demand that you return him!

Tong Shuang.

Tong Shuang.

Guard Li, don't be hasty.

Please think it over again.

Our young master

has suffered greatly because of you.

And you expect me to help?

What a pipe dream.

He's such a blockhead.

Exactly.

If you ask me,

we should do what we did last time:

knock him out,

have Miss Huo disguise me,

and then infiltrate the Secret Investigation Unit.

That's much easier than begging that blockhead

for help.

I've checked.

Ever since last time,

they've been changing their passwords

and codes daily.

Even with disguises, we can't get in.

What should we do then?

Waiter!

Come in, please.

Coming.

We've walked up and down this entire street,

but there's no "Book Merchant" anywhere.

Since these people

dare to sell the intelligence from the dovecote,

they're certainly not to be underestimated.

Since we haven't found any aecondhand book stalls,

I think...

they must have disguised themselves

as other vendors.

Other vendors?

Sibao Street sugar figurines!

Best taste in the world!

Come take a look!

Sir.

How much are your sugar figurines?

Pre-made ones are 5 copper coins each,

and custom-made ones are 8 coins each.

Would you like some?

Two, please.

Alright.

What are you doing? We have work to do.

[Jinxiu Fabric Store]

Yes, yes, there is.

At that intersection ahead,

turn left, and you'll find it.

Wait!

Yes, yes.

Yes, there is.

Sugar figurines!

You're good.

You could think of asking a street vendor like him,

who's been selling goods on this street year-round

and knows every stall

from one end to the other.

We can actually get information.

You're really something else.

Still so improper.

You actually thought

to ask about those things.

Their businesses

are just covers.

I think besides selling information,

they probably sell

some indecent items to make money.

After all, not many people

need to buy intelligence.

Judging by how you're acting,

this doesn't seem like your first time buying forbidden books.

I recall that in our Qi Kingdom, trading forbidden books

is punishable by a fine.

You usually...

Don't.

Working in that creepy morgue,

I had to find ways to keep myself entertained.

When the time comes,

just slip a note inside.

I... I...

I can't do that.

Why not?

We're just asking you to put a note

in the pastry, not poison.

What are you afraid of?

Customer,

I really can't do this.

No, customer, I...

I've never done anything like this before.

I... I dare not take

this... this money.

[Elite Constabulary Unit]

Listen to me,

we're working on a major case.

Follow our instructions,

and should anything happen,

the Elite Constabulary Unit will take responsibility,

and it won't concern you.

But if you keep making excuses

and delay our investigation,

you'll be committing a serious offense,

understand?

Well... I...

Yes,

I... I understand, sir.

[Elite Constabulary Unit]

You two, what are you doing?

Come here to cause trouble?

Why would we do that, sir?

I have a good book here.

Would you buy it?

A book from the government offices.

You two certainly look like people of distinction.

What good book do you have?

Tell me about it.

Of course.

I'm just running a small business here.

If it's too expensive,

I can't afford it.

If the book's what you're looking for,

wouldn't you buy it even if it's a bit pricey?

Well, that depends on what kind of book you have.

It's a secret book

from the Ministry of Justice.

You actually have such good stuff.

[Baofeng Mountain Goods Shop]

There are too many people around here.

Let's find somewhere more private to talk.

Will that work?

Let's take a chance.

Where is the book?

Let me examine it.

Which one of you is the Scribe?

Looks like we've found the right guy.

Wait,

what do you mean?

Guard Li.

This is the wine you ordered.

Thanks.

Let's go.

Behave yourself.

You... I...

Behave yourself.

-Kneel! -Kneel.

Kneel!

For the questions I'm about to ask you,

you must answer truthfully

or face the consequences.

Okay.

Please, go ahead.

Please, go ahead.

What's your name?

Du Gouzi!

Du Gouzi,

we know perfectly well

what your line of work is.

So, spare us the nonsense

and tell us how you usually

obtain information and intelligence.

Sometimes I buy information,

but most of the time

we intercept carrier pigeons.

But the pigeons from the dovecote

are all specially trained.

How do you manage to intercept them?

They let the pigeons out

for exercise every day.

Someone would scatter feed

near the dovecote

to lure the pigeons.

But those pigeons are quite smart.

They don't easily eat food from outside.

However, the bait we make

is very similar to

what they're fed at the dovecote.

Eventually, we managed to

lure them to eat it.

Over time,

those message-carrying pigeons

would fly off course to us instead.

That's how the contents

of the pigeon messages were leaked.

Have you recently intercepted

any intelligence from the Secret Investigation Unit?

No!

I swear!

T-The information I have

is all outdated,

not worth much at all.

If I had intelligence

from the Secret Investigation Unit,

I wouldn't be

setting up a stall on Sibao Street, right?

Officers,

please stop looking at me like that.

In our line of work,

we can't just sell out others.

If I did that,

I'd be dead the moment I stepped outside!

Du Gouzi,

I'm giving you one last chance.

Will you talk or not?

I...

I won't talk.

I'm dead either way.

Dead if I leave, dead if I stay.

I-I choose to die here then.

-Come on. Do it. Come on. -Come on.

Let's not waste any more words on him. Come on.

-Come on. -Hurry up, hurry up!

Give me a quick one!

I...

This is the lightest one.

Mine is pretty good too,

just a bit more severe than his.

If these two aren't enough,

there's another one over there.

Let's begin.

Let's do it.

Wait! Wait.

I-I remember now.

I have something to say!

Since you've remembered,

stand up and tell us properly.

No need, no need.

I'll say it on my knees.

Stand up.

Alright.

Well...

not long ago, I heard

that a Book Merchant

intercepted the intelligence from the Secret Investigation Unit.

He's a veteran in our trade,

but I've only heard about him.

I've never met the man!

Where did he send the intelligence?

And who is the Scribe?

They say

he usually works as a Book Merchant

and also works as a Scribe.

He even knows how to interpret codes.

I figure

this person must be

personally in contact with

those Book Collectors higher up the chain.

He rarely buys information from others

and mostly does the scribing.

And the information he releases is always related to

murder cases handled by the government.

So there's been

a rumor circulating outside

that this person

works in the Ministry of Justice.

Don't look at me like that, officers.

I... I really

don't know anything else.

I've told you everything I know.

Any news from outside?

What are Zhong Xueman and the others doing?

No new information

has come through.

Young Master...

I've been wanting to ask you,

was it worth handing Xiao Beiming

over to the Elite Constabulary Unit

and putting yourself

in such a...

dire situation?

Of course it was.

But the Elite Constabulary Unit and our Secret Investigation Unit

are sworn enemies after all.

Didn't you just

help the Elite Constabulary Unit?

Those pointless conflicts

are far less important

than human lives and the truth.

But Xiao Beiming is Yesha after all.

That hasn't been confirmed yet.

Haven't you been asking me

why, even though I discovered him

by Zhong Xueman's side long ago,

I delayed arresting him?

That's right.

His Majesty issued an edict long ago:

if we can't catch him,

both you and the Chief will be beheaded.

Why did you not only not arrest him

but also deliberately let him escape several times?

Because in this world,

apart from Zhong Xueman,

the person who least wants him to be Yesha

might be me.

But...

but haven't you always

disliked Xiao Beiming, Young Master?

Yes.

I detest him.

I detest that he's smarter than me,

more decisive than me,

♪ An elegant gentleman ♪

and better at solving cases than me.

♪ Beauty, yet prejudice ♪

If there's anyone in this world

who wants him dead the most,

♪ With courage ♪

it's probably me too.

♪ The gentleman understands ♪

I don't understand.

♪ Traveling freely in this world ♪

That's the contradiction of human nature.

♪ Only wielding his sword ♪

The person you detest the most

could also be

the one you admire the most.

♪ I cry alone ♪

The one you most wish

♪ Grieving over past grievances ♪

to see disgraced...

♪ Thinking about you again and again ♪

could also be

the one whose name

♪ It's just one glance ♪

you most want to see cleared.

The one you most want dead

♪ And I can't sleep at night ♪

could also be...

the one you most want

♪ Crossing mountains and seas isn't impossible ♪

to keep alive.

If he really is Yesha,

♪ The wind sweeps past the young man with a sword ♪

then wouldn't I,

who have been chasing after him all this time,

♪ Fear no storm, be free ♪

be the biggest fool

in the world?

♪ Bloodshed ♪

But there's also no evidence to prove

that he isn't Yesha.

♪ Crossing mountains and seas isn't impossible ♪

That's right.

There is indeed no evidence to prove

♪ The wind sweeps past the young man with a sword ♪

that he isn't Yesha.

The Chief always tells me

that solving cases requires evidence

♪ Fear no storm, be free ♪

and catching criminals requires evidence.

♪ Bloodshed ♪

But sometimes,

so-called evidence

is just a lie that blinds us.

♪ In this cold world ♪

The moment he appeared at the execution ground,

♪ So pitiful, have you ever ♪

♪ Believed in forever? ♪

I looked into his eyes,

and I knew I was right.

♪ Looking at the stars at the seaside at night ♪

♪ I'm lost ♪

♪ Love is beyond words ♪

If

he were truly

that cold-blooded killer,

♪ I cry alone ♪

how could he risk his life

for personal feelings?

♪ Grieving over past grievances ♪

And how could he have

a group of friends willing

♪ Thinking about you again and again ♪

to stand up for him,

regardless of their own safety?

♪ It's just one glance ♪

So, he definitely isn't Yesha.

♪ And I can't sleep at night ♪

♪ Crossing mountains and seas isn't impossible ♪

♪ The wind sweeps past the young man with a sword ♪

I've probably been locked up for too long,

and my mind isn't clear anymore.

♪ Fear no storm, be free ♪

If the Chief hears me say this,

he'll punish me again.

♪ Bloodshed ♪

Li Long.

Although you're my guard,

you're also one of the few people

I can truly call a friend.

Being able to say this to you today

makes me feel much better.

Come on,

let's eat.

Young Master.

What you've told me,

I don't understand,

nor do I want to.

I don't trust

those people from the Elite Constabulary Unit,

and I trust Xiao Beiming even less.

I understand.

Then just pretend

I never said any of this today.

Let's eat.

But I will

always trust you, Young Master.

Always.

What's this?

This is from the people at the Elite Constabulary Unit.

They wanted me to

pass a message to you,

♪ Crossing mountains and seas isn't impossible ♪

but I refused.

So they hid the message in these pastries,

♪ The wind sweeps past the young man with a sword ♪

but I found it anyway.

♪ Fear no storm, be free ♪

♪ Bloodshed ♪

Thanks.

♪ The gentleman understands ♪

[Codebook]

[Mandarin Duck Restaurant]

My young master received your message

and has sent me to respond to you.

Thank you.

The codebook is "Chronicle of Pacifying Pirates in the Eastern Sea."

But that's clearly

an out-of-print book.

I've looked everywhere

but couldn't find it.

Xueman,

you've read many folk stories.

Does that ring any bells?

You don't even know "Chronicle of Pacifying Pirates in the Eastern Sea"?

Wait.

What do you want?

Don't get physical.

You know that book?

Who doesn't know it?

It's about a general from the previous dynasty

hunting down pirates.

How do you know about it?

There's a storyteller

at the Bao Yi Xing Teahouse.

He often tells stories

from the book.

I've heard

that the book has been out of print for years,

so in the entire capital,

he's the only one who knows the stories in it.

Many of our men have gone to listen.

If someone is really using the book

as some kind of code reference,

they'd definitely have to go to him.

Earlier today, that Book Merchant confessed

that there's a very suspicious Scribe—

possibly someone from the Ministry of Justice.

So,

there really is a traitor among us?

Then, Constable Fang,

please help us and go check it out.

What?

Are you ordering me around now?

Is that a problem?

Fine.

Same as usual.

Eat while it's hot.

I'm on it.

Mr. Wang!

Constable Fang,

what brings you here?

I have something I'd like to ask you about.

Go ahead.

Have you recently

let anyone else copy your rare edition of

Chronicle of Pacifying Pirates in the Eastern Sea?

Especially someone like me, a constable?

Let me think.

Hardly anyone even knows to come to me

for the book.

I remember now.

There really was such a person

who came to copy it.

You should be quite familiar with him.

It was Constable Jiang

from your Elite Constabulary Unit.

No one else besides him.

Yi?