The briefing by the new captain, Xiao Peidong, had concluded.
Everyone had expected the new official to come in with a "clean sweep" mentality, with the sparks of his arrival flying from Lin Qing all the way to Captain Chen. Instead, the final result was the complete opposite. In the end, only a few temporary patrol officers who had greased palms to get in were let go.
However, this made it clear to the patrol officers of the Xiaoshan District Sub-bureau that Lin Qing, who had seemingly used Captain Chen’s influence to get his position, must have succeeded in his practice. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been labeled "outstanding talent."
Ever since the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall received investment from the Zhixing Group and its founder was elevated to legendary status, countless people had been attempting the Chaoyang Practice Method propagated by the hall. But even for the simplest 46th Edition Practice Method, only a handful of people ever truly succeeded. Throughout the entire Xiaoshan District Sub-bureau, with nearly a hundred permanent and temporary patrol officers combined, those who had succeeded were few and far between.
Once someone succeeded, their status naturally changed immediately.
"Lin Qing, you’ve only just become a permanent officer. Your experience is too shallow, so you aren't ready to lead a patrol squad," Xiao Peidong said. "You will start by learning with a squad. Once you’ve gained experience, passed your patrol assessments, and earned a merit or two, you’ll be able to handle things on your own. At that point, I’ll let you lead a squad."
Lin Qing hadn't intended to lead a squad anyway, so he nodded immediately.
"As for which squad..." Xiao Peidong’s gaze swept over the squad leaders, lingering on one person for a moment before saying, "Team Leader Han, you are experienced and rigorous. You take charge of Lin Qing."
Team Leader Han was nearly forty with a receding hairline, though one could tell he had likely been quite handsome in his youth. He kept a stoic expression, standing straight and tall at the front of the line. He was a man of few words, devoid of any fidgeting, and his uniform was crisp and neat, without a single wrinkle. Upon hearing Captain Xiao’s arrangement, he merely gave a stoic nod.
Lin Qing couldn't help but glance at Team Leader Han. He didn't seem easy to get along with. He only knew this man was the leader of the Second Squad, but since he’d had almost no contact with him, he didn't know the specifics. He decided he would ask his cousin at the hospital later.
...
After the dismissal, Lin Qing followed Team Leader Han to the Second Squad’s office to meet his four new colleagues.
Walking into the spacious, bright office, Lin Qing noticed that every item and piece of furniture was arranged with extreme precision. Team Leader Han looked around, seemingly considering where to put Lin Qing's desk, before saying, "You’ll sit across from Xiao Qin. I’ll have logistics bring a new desk over in a bit."
Lin Qing nodded. A petite, pretty girl with short hair sitting nearby waved at him with a smile; she was evidently Xiao Qin.
"Also, logistics will custom-tailor a new uniform for you. Just send your measurements to them, and you can pick up your new uniform and shoulder patches tomorrow," Team Leader Han added.
"Understood," Lin Qing replied.
"As for duty... at your age, I assume you want to focus on martial arts training?" Team Leader Han scrutinized Lin Qing, suddenly frowning slightly. He reached out to adjust Lin Qing's collar until it was perfectly aligned, only then relaxing his brow with a look of satisfaction.
*Obsessive-compulsive, is he?* Lin Qing thought, stunned. *No wonder the office is as tidy as if measured by a ruler.*
Team Leader Han withdrew his hand and continued, "You don't need to come to the sub-bureau for duty daily. When there is a mission, I will notify you, but you must keep your phone on. Focus on your training and don't waste your natural talent."
Lin Qing’s eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Thank you, Team Leader."
It seemed this Team Leader Han wasn't as difficult to get along with as he looked.
Team Leader Han thought for a moment and added, "If there is anything you don't understand regarding the work, just ask Xiao Qin."
Lin Qing nodded, then asked, "Team Leader, I heard that once a patrol officer becomes permanent and masters the 46th Edition Practice Method, they can learn the 77th Edition Practice Method for free?"
Team Leader Han glanced at him and said, "I’ll file an application for you later. The bureau will then arrange a suitable coach for you."
"Thank you, Team Leader," Lin Qing said immediately.
The other squad members couldn't help but look on with envy. All permanent patrol officers had this privilege, but it was only useful if one had mastered the 46th Edition Practice Method; otherwise, it was a hollow perk.
"Oh, one more thing, Team Leader." Lin Qing seized the opportunity to ask, "Is it true that permanent patrol officers can learn Combat Techniques? What are the requirements?"
He had heard so much about the power of Combat Techniques. In various rumors, they could turn a person into half a superman, which was the key reason he had joined the patrol system. Although his physical fitness had improved quite a bit, he would still have to run if surrounded by a group of armed people. Practice Methods were ultimately for building a foundation, while Combat Techniques were for actual combat.
"Want to learn Combat Techniques?" Team Leader Han looked at him and said, "There are two requirements. First, master the 46th Edition Practice Method. Second, earn merit. Once you satisfy both, you can begin learning them."
"Earn merit?" Lin Qing looked at him.
"Accumulate three Third-Class Merits, and you can attempt to learn one Combat Technique. Or, earn one Second-Class Merit, and you can attempt to learn two," Team Leader Han explained. He added, "If you earn a First-Class Merit, you can attempt to learn every Combat Technique in the Patrol Bureau's archives."
Lin Qing raised an eyebrow. The three ranks of merit couldn't be converted into one another. However, if one looked at it in terms of learning opportunities, one Second-Class Merit was worth six Third-Class Merits.
A First-Class Merit was out of the question; the City Patrol Bureau rarely issued those. One had to perform a heroic feat during a major disaster to save lives, recover critical evidence against a massive criminal organization, or capture extremely dangerous, wanted criminals.
With his current abilities, even a Second-Class Merit was a stretch, so he shouldn't get ahead of himself. Thinking about how to scrape together three Third-Class Merits seemed far more reliable.
...
Since he didn't have to be on duty, Lin Qing added Team Leader Han and his four squad mates on WeChat before leaving the sub-bureau to visit his cousin at the Xiaoshan District People’s Hospital.
"You’ve become a permanent officer?"
As soon as he stepped into the ward, Chen Yanan, lying on the hospital bed, spoke before he could even greet her.
"You already know, sis?" Lin Qing wasn't surprised. Chen Yanan was still a captain, after all, and not unconscious; how could she not know about movements within the patrol team?
"You thought you could hide it from me?" Chen Yanan looked him over. "Not bad. When did you master the method?"
"A while ago," Lin Qing said, sticking to his prepared answer. As long as he didn't deliberately reveal his strength, it was hard to tell from the outside; one needed a detection device to confirm it anyway.
"Then why didn't you tell me sooner? Didn't you say last night that you wanted to quit? And today you suddenly become a permanent officer without a word?" Chen Yanan frowned at him.
"Because I never intended to enter the patrol system before," Lin Qing said, using the excuse he’d prepared. "If I had told you I planned to turn permanent last night, you wouldn't have agreed to it, right?"
Chen Yanan glanced at the space where her right leg used to be and fell silent.
She was right. Having been wounded like this during last night’s mission, she still felt a lingering fear of the life-and-death danger she had faced. If Lin Qing had expressed his intent to walk this path last night, she would have certainly refused.
Chen Yanan sighed. "If you didn't want this life before, why suddenly choose it now?"
"A sense of crisis," Lin Qing said earnestly. "I want to learn Combat Techniques, but I can't get into a martial arts hall, and it takes too long to climb the ranks in the military or public security sectors. It’s hard to learn them. After thinking it over, the patrol system is the only place where I might be able to learn them quickly."
Chen Yanan went quiet. A sense of crisis? That was true. In the past, she had protected Lin Qing so well that he had never really experienced danger. Being shaken by her severe injury last night made his reaction reasonable. Perhaps... the child even wanted to avenge her in his heart?
"Fine. Since you've already decided, I won't stop you." Chen Yanan took a deep breath, looked at Lin Qing, and said in a low voice, "But remember: no mission is more important than your own life. You must always be vigilant for the scent of danger."
"I know," Lin Qing nodded.
His alertness to danger was something no one, no matter how battle-hardened, could compare to. It wasn't just because of his experience surviving the apocalypse; it was because the "Current Order Level" on his Anti-Entropist Panel could provide early warnings. As an ordinary person, that was the main reason he had survived so many years in the apocalypse.