Chapter 38: The Foreman (Please follow, bookmark, and vote with monthly tickets and recommendation votes)

[Name: Su Mu]

[Identity: Constable (Officer)]

[Points: 115]

[Cultivation Method: Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method (Minor Success)]

[Martial Arts: Wave-Subduing Saber Technique (Perfection), Archery (Beginner/+)]

As midnight arrived, the points earned yesterday were settled. Su Mu blinked, making sure he hadn't misread them.

"Could it be because I solved that massacre case that my 'performance' surged so much? It actually went up by thirty points."

Su Mu thought to himself, somewhat pleasantly surprised.

In the past, he would get a maximum of fifteen points per day, but yesterday it had surged to thirty.

Aside from slaying that killer, he truly couldn't think of any other reason.

"Thirty points every day... at this rate, I could earn three hundred points in six or seven days."

Su Mu thought excitedly.

However, he also knew that opportunities like yesterday's massacre case were rare.

To permanently increase the speed of earning points, he would have to raise his identity.

"Soon. Once I become a Squad Leader, the rate at which I earn points might increase."

Su Mu thought privately, "But once I'm a Squad Leader, I'll be qualified to enter and exit the Inner City. I can go to the Taiping Bureau to find Brother 'Taiping.' The future he promised me should be even higher than the status of a Squad Leader."

It had been exactly nine months since he received the Wave-Subduing Saber Technique from Brother "Taiping."

In these nine months, Su Mu's life had undergone earth-shattering changes.

He had gone from a refugee to a constable of the South City Bureau; he had mastered the Wave-Subduing Saber Momentum with his saber technique, and his Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method had reached the stage of Minor Success.

Soon, he would even become a Squad Leader.

After spending so much time and putting in so much effort, he had finally established a foothold in Wuling City and could finally stand before Brother "Taiping."

…………

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Su Mu was awakened by a series of urgent knocking sounds.

He instinctively grabbed his long saber before pulling open the door.

The moment he opened the door, he heard the crackling of firecrackers, and white smoke smelling of gunpowder rushed into his face.

Su Mu was startled, nearly swinging his blade out.

Fortunately, he quickly spotted several familiar faces.

"Congratulations, Squad Leader Su! Congratulations! May your future be bright and vast!"

A constable dressed in dark official robes shouted in a loud, resonant voice.

Congratulations rang in Su Mu's ears one after another.

Some people Su Mu knew, such as his colleagues from the South City Bureau, the neighborhood head of Guangfu Ward where he lived, and some neighbors he had encountered on the streets.

"Squad Leader Su, the Bureau has issued the official appointment. Starting today, you are the sixth Squad Leader of our South City Bureau."

The constable named Wang Liu said with a face full of smiles, "Constable Zhao specifically asked me to bring your new official uniform to you."

Su Mu took the new uniform from Wang Liu. Though called an official uniform, it wasn't much different from a constable's dark robes, except for a ring of cloud patterns embroidered on the collar.

So, this was being a Squad Leader?

Su Mu felt a sense of unexpected joy.

He had been wondering yesterday if He Yuxing and Zhao Ji would intentionally withhold his rewards, but he hadn't expected them to be so decisive this time.

"Squad Leader Su, your jurisdiction is this Guangfu Ward," Wang Liu continued.

Su Mu nodded somewhat absentmindedly.

He didn't care about the jurisdiction.

Because he had no intention of being a Squad Leader for long.

The position was merely a stepping stone. Without the status of a Squad Leader, he wouldn't be qualified to enter and exit the Inner City at will.

He wanted to be a Squad Leader for two reasons: first, to increase his point-earning speed, and second, to enter the Inner City to find Brother "Taiping."

With a better future ahead, why would he care about being a mere Squad Leader?

After changing into his new constable uniform and politely declining invitations from several gangs, Su Mu led Wang Liu and the others toward the South City Bureau headquarters.

As they walked through the streets and alleys, the neighbors stepped aside to pay their respects.

To them, a Squad Leader was already a high-ranking figure in the Guangfu Ward of South City.

Liu Hongyu leaned against her doorframe, watching Su Mu walk past her without even a glance, completely unaware of her presence. She bit her lip, her face filled with loneliness.

No wonder he had made that expression when she asked him to be a runner back then; it turned out he had already climbed so high.

In his eyes, she must be quite laughable.

Liu Hongyu felt a pang of regret, but she also knew that she and Su Mu were now people from two different worlds.

…………

Ordinary constables in the South City Bureau shared a common barracks, but a Squad Leader could have an independent room.

Because Su Mu's promotion was so sudden, his room had not yet been prepared.

"Squad Leader, please make do for a couple of days. The room designated for the Squad Leader will be tidied up very soon," Wang Liu said with a smile as he helped Su Mu clear out a clean corner in the shared barracks. "According to the rules, a Squad Leader has ten constables and thirty runners under them. When you have time, you can select ten constables to follow you. As for the runners, you'll have to recruit them yourself."

To put it bluntly, he was currently a commander without an army.

Although He Yuxing and Zhao Ji had readily promoted him, they clearly had no intention of letting Su Mu take over comfortably.

Recruiting runners was one thing, but selecting ten constables would not be easy.

No constable would be willing to follow a Squad Leader without a foundation.

Furthermore, all the constables in the South City Bureau already had Squad Leaders; which Squad Leader would easily let their people go?

Su Mu was almost certain that no matter whom he chose, he would ultimately be rebuffed.

It was only because he frequently patrolled the night for others and had built decent relationships with the constables that Wang Liu gave him this subtle hint.

Otherwise, his position as Squad Leader would be even more difficult.

"I want to go to the Inner City. Do you know what procedures are required?" Su Mu asked after a moment of contemplation.

"As long as you hold the Squad Leader's waist token, you can enter and exit the Inner City without special procedures," Wang Liu said. "However, your waist token hasn't been made yet. If you want to enter the Inner City now, you'll have to ask the Sima to issue a written document."

"How many days will it take to make the waist token?"

Ask He Yuxing for a document? Better not.

He Yuxing likely didn't have much goodwill toward him; who knew how he might make things difficult?

Moreover, before everything was settled, Su Mu did not want anyone to know his purpose for entering the Inner City.

No matter where you go, there will always be petty people who try to ruin others' futures.

"Three to five days at most," Wang Liu replied.

Three to five days.

Su Mu pondered. He wondered how much his daily points would increase after becoming a Squad Leader.

If he could cultivate the Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method to the stage of Great Success, he would have more confidence when meeting Brother "Taiping."

Even if he relied on the other man to promote him, he still needed sufficient strength.

Since he had already waited nine months, waiting a few more days wouldn't matter.

"By the way!"

Wang Liu suddenly slapped his forehead and whispered, "I almost forgot. A batch of contraband has recently appeared in South City, apparently leaking out from Guangfu Ward. Constable Zhao instructed that you investigate this matter."

"Alright, I understand," Su Mu said calmly.

Seeing that Su Mu didn't seem to take it seriously, Wang Liu's eyes flickered. He secretly scanned the surroundings, and seeing no one around, he lowered his voice. "The waters in Guangfu Ward run very deep. Squad Leader Su, be careful."

(End of Chapter)