Chapter 10: Warning

Under flickering, disorienting lights and deafening music, men and women dressed in fashionable, revealing attire swayed their bodies to the intense rhythm, letting alcohol and dopamine drive their minds as they freely rubbed and collided with each other’s desires.

Suddenly—

A sleek black figure leapt onto the DJ booth amid the flickering lights.

The blue-haired, scantily clad DJ had barely blinked when the frenetic music cut off abruptly; the neon and laser lights froze. A low voice came from the DJ booth:

“Routine inspection by the Patrol Unit. Everyone, stand against the wall.”

Amid panicked screams, the lights blazed on, dispelling the darkness and exposing every wild, frenzied person in the light.

Three patrol officers in black uniforms, carrying electric batons, entered the bar, shoving the crowd aside as their batons crackled.

“Stand against the wall.”

“I’m talking to you—get up.”

The middle-aged patrol officer on the DJ booth watched the inspection below with a calm expression.

Compared to the other officers, his uniform was noticeably more refined; on his shoulder insignia were three stars and a pair of wing-like patterns—clearly the rank of First-Class Patrol Officer.

“Officer, I’m the general manager of this bar.”

A slightly overweight middle-aged man approached, smiling up at the officer on the booth. “May I ask your name? Why the sudden inspection at this small place tonight?”

Officer Han glanced at him expressionlessly. “Higher-up order. No comment.”

The general manager of Iron Stone Bar could only force a smile. “My apologies for speaking out of turn, Officer. Rest assured, we’ll cooperate fully.”

Officer Han scanned the room; seeing all patrons now lined up against the walls, he leapt down from the platform and stepped into the center of the dance floor, fixing his gaze on Lin Qing and the other two.

“Lin Qing, check the bar area. Qin Qin, check that group. Wang Hengyi, check over there. I’ll handle the rest.”

After assigning duties, the four patrol officers began their search.

The bar wasn’t particularly large—total patrons, bartenders, and servers numbered barely a hundred.

Even with facial and fingerprint recognition for each individual, four officers working together would finish quickly.

The database was comprehensive; no ID cards needed—verification was instant.

Occasionally, a drunken patron would resist or go berserk, but with the patrol officers’ certified combat skills, subduing them was effortless.

Of course, electric batons were used in emergencies.

Lin Qing clipped his baton to his belt, took out the patrol bureau’s work phone, stepped before the crowd near the bar, glanced over them, and said:

“First, check the Blue Scarf Gang. You, you, you, and you—come over and stand still. Wipe your fingers clean.”

As he spoke, he pointed to several men wearing blue neckerchiefs, naming them one by one.

The faces of those singled out twisted with resentment.

This bar was their stronghold; right beside them sat the beauties they had been embracing earlier, and they had boasted endlessly about the power of the Blue Scarf Gang—now, they were being dragged out by these patrol dogs for inspection.

Especially this kid—he had no shoulder insignia at all. Just a temporary investigator, yet he dared act so arrogantly?

But other patrol officers were nearby, so they gritted their teeth and stepped forward.

One of them couldn’t help muttering under his breath.

“Fuck, even a temporary dog dares to bully others with borrowed power…”

He kept his voice low, fearing other patrol officers might hear—after all, temporary investigators had no enforcement authority; he could curse all he wanted without fear.

“Hmm?”

Lin Qing’s eyes turned cold. Suddenly, he kicked the man’s shin. The man collapsed in pain, furious and rising to his feet—when a crackling sound echoed.

He looked up to see a black electric baton hovering before his face, sparking.

His body trembled; instinctively, he shrank back, swallowing the curse he’d been about to scream.

“Raise your head.”

Lin Qing sneered, scanning the man’s face with his phone, then pressed his fingerprint. Suddenly, he kicked the man in the face. The hard boot sole crushed and shattered his nasal bone; blood gushed as the man clutched his nose, curling on the ground howling.

The other patrol officers nearby glanced over but ignored it, continuing their work.

Even if Lin Qing were just a temporary investigator, beating up a defiant troublemaker was no big deal—especially since he was a First-Class Patrol Officer.

Of course, temporary investigators had no official status and were ignored by the patrol bureau; they dared not offend anyone lightly. Though assaulting an on-duty temporary investigator was obstruction of duty, private beatings were treated as ordinary brawls—the patrol bureau wouldn’t intervene.

But if a formal patrol officer was attacked—even privately—the punishment was severe; if personal safety was seriously threatened, life imprisonment was possible.

Lin Qing continued scanning and recording with his phone.

After making an example of one, the others grew obedient—even the Blue Scarf Gang’s troublemakers stood quietly.

“Order.”

Lin Qing silently summoned the Anti-Entropy interface, glancing at the 【Current Order Level】—it hadn’t changed at all.

Of course.

Just a few petty thugs. They posed no threat to him. Even if they didn’t yet know he was a formal officer, the Blue Scarf Gang had dared openly establish themselves—they must have connections in the Public Security and Patrol Bureau. A quick inquiry would reveal who he was.

Once they knew he was a formal officer, such a minor grudge wouldn’t make them dare retaliate.

Naturally, the Order Level wouldn’t drop.

He’d confirmed this in his past life.

As long as others couldn’t threaten him—even if they held grudges—the Order Level wouldn’t decrease.

In his past life, the 【Current Order Level】’s warnings had saved him many times in the apocalypse.

…

In the shadowed corner beside the bar.

Two figures crouched low, lips moving faintly as they whispered to each other.

“Old Luo, can we escape through the back door?”

“I’ve had men posted at both exits, but now both are sealed. I don’t know what’s gotten into the patrol unit—they suddenly launched this inspection.”

“Fuck, didn’t you say before you formed the Blue Scarf Gang that you had contacts in Public Security and the Patrol Bureau as informants?”

“Brother Jiang, today’s inspection was a surprise operation—I didn’t expect it either.”

“What now? Fuck, I just came here to hide for a few days, get some fresh air—how the hell did I get so unlucky?”

“Brother Jiang, if you force your way out, you can still escape through the old underground passage.”

“Force my way out? Did you see that First-Class Patrol Officer standing there? Clearly a seasoned group leader—trained in combat techniques, no surprise. If he uses his techniques, I won’t stand a chance.”

“Brother Jiang, I wouldn’t dare use this bar as our base without backup. I can create chaos—you move fast enough, you can slip out during the confusion.”

“...Fine. Break out toward the front door through that temporary investigator. That’s our best chance.”

“He beat my men. Brother Jiang, go hard on him—kill him if you can. He’s just a lowly temporary investigator.”

“Easy. I’ve hated him since I saw him.”

…

【Order Level decreased by 0.2 levels】

As Lin Qing continued scanning and checking, a line of blood-red text suddenly appeared before his eyes.

“Hmm?”

Lin Qing’s gaze sharpened; instantly alert, his left hand kept operating the phone while his right hand subtly reached for the baton’s switch, gripping it tightly.

Suddenly—

“Boom!”

A spherical ceiling light above the dance floor shattered violently; thick smoke gushed out, mingling with a torrent of colorful party confetti that rained down.

In an instant, half the bar’s vision was obscured.

Simultaneously, a muscular figure shot out from behind the bar, moving with superhuman speed and agility, crossing the dance floor in a blink.

And his target—the front entrance—was precisely where Lin Qing stood.

(End of Chapter)