Chapter 24: Seventh Squad

January 13, Monday.

Today is the day the Seventh Patrol Squad of the Branch Bureau is officially established, and the patrol system has already sent the reporting time to the seven members selected by the Patrol Bureau.

Lin Qing also arrived at the branch bureau on time, preparing to meet his squad members.

The Seventh Squad's office was empty; right now, only he was there.

"If I want to quickly earn enough merit to learn new combat techniques, I might have to rely on the new squad members..."

Lin Qing sat behind the squad leader's desk, casually peeling a freshly bought tangerine, eating while thinking.

Recent patrol missions have been relatively smooth and uneventful; not even a single Third-Class Merit has been encountered, only catching one habitual thief who was on file with the Gongan Bureau.

Just one personal commendation, rewarding him with two thousand yuan; better than nothing.

He only hoped that the new squad member was truly a second-generation heir here to polish their resume, with some leads on hand that could allow him to share in the merit.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A knocking sound suddenly rang out, followed by a slightly timid female voice from outside the office: "Is anyone there?"

She's here?

Since there were no surveillance cameras in the office, Lin Qing immediately turned his hands into a blur, stuffing all the tangerine peels on the desk into a bag within one second to avoid affecting the squad leader's dignity.

Only then did he speak: "Come in."

A girl of about eighteen or nineteen pushed the door open and walked in; she was petite, estimated to be just over one meter sixty, with jet-black hair tied in a bun, wearing a retro-style forehead ornament, delicate features, ocean-blue eyes, and a small, upturned nose.

"Are you Squad Leader Lin?"

The girl carefully sized up Lin Qing before timidly asking the question.

"Yes." Lin Qing nodded. "You must be Zhao Jiayi, right?"

He had already reviewed the new squad member's file last night; this new member was quite good-looking and easy to leave a deep impression on.

However, cosmetic surgery technology in this era was advanced; distinguishing a so-called purely natural, mother-born face from a fake one was difficult.

This new squad member might have had surgery, going for a mixed-race style; after all, purely natural beauty like this, especially among mixed-race individuals, was very rare.

"Yes, it's me."

Zhao Jiayi nodded slightly shyly.

"No need to be so formal; just find a seat anywhere." Lin Qing said casually.

Zhao Jiayi looked left and right, then sat down at the desk opposite Lin Qing.

Lin Qing didn't mind.

As a young Patrol Officer, he was long accustomed to this kind of treatment.

"Didn't you go to university?" Lin Qing asked offhandedly.

"No, my grades weren't very good." Zhao Jiayi shook her head, her face slightly flushed.

Lin Qing asked in confusion: "The written exam for the Patrol specialty is quite troublesome; you managed to pass it and get regularized, yet your high school grades were poor?"

Zhao Jiayi's file record showed she was only nineteen; at this age to become a Patrol Officer without attending university, it was obvious her family background and college entrance exam scores were average.

But the regularization exam for the Patrol specialty was even harder than the liberal arts college entrance exam, yet she passed; this was somewhat strange.

"I had an uncle who was a Patrol Officer, so I've been familiar with it since I was young." Zhao Jiayi said somewhat embarrassedly.

"Oh, I see..." Lin Qing pretended to believe it.

The regularization exam for the Patrol specialty was so tedious and strict that merely being familiar with it since childhood was insufficient to explain it.

However, he didn't care about this girl's little secrets.

After waiting a moment longer.

The remaining three squad members also arrived one by one: one female and two males.

A normal squad configuration consists of one Patrol Officer as the squad leader and four Patrol Members as squad members; when short on manpower, temporary patrol officers can be called upon.

Zhao Jiayi, Han Ying, Ruan Bing, Teng Feiyu.

These four were Lin Qing's four squad members for the coming period.

Zhao Jiayi at least had the traits of good looks and youth, while Han Ying and Ruan Bing were truly just ordinary regular Patrol Officers, though fortunately they had prior work experience.

As for the last one...

"Teng Feiyu, the file says you have already mastered the 46th Edition Training Method?"

Lin Qing looked at the twenty-two-year-old young man opposite him and asked: "And you graduated from Jiangnan Gongan University, right? Why come to be a Patrol Officer?"

Teng Feiyu was quite sunny and handsome; in front of his superior, he was extremely calm, without any formality, his demeanor very relaxed.

Actually, there was no need to meet him in person; Lin Qing could tell at a glance just by reading the file that this Teng Feiyu was likely a second-generation heir here to polish his resume.

A graduate of the prestigious Jiangnan Gongan University who had also mastered the 46th Edition Training Method; he could have been directly assigned to the Municipal Gongan Bureau, yet he gave up a good Gongan position to specifically come to this Patrol Branch Bureau?

It was very likely he came to polish his resume.

After all, the Patrol system makes earning merit easy; as long as there is merit, one can learn combat techniques.

In the future, transferring back to the Gongan system, he would at least be a Senior Police Officer; this was much faster than climbing the ladder within the Gongan system.

"Reporting to the squad leader."

Teng Feiyu said calmly: "The regulations of the Patrol Bureau do not prohibit graduates of Gongan Universities from becoming Patrol Officers."

Lin Qing nodded slightly: "Reasonable."

Such an open retort made him even more certain that this young man's background must be significant. He didn't care about these things; he just wanted to earn more merit.

"Tonight is our Seventh Squad's first mission."

Lin Qing said: "According to the rules, a newly established patrol squad can choose any area within Xiaoshan District as its primary patrol zone. Secondly, if any regular Patrol Officers reside in Xiaoshan District, they can also conduct regular patrols near their residence."

His gaze swept over the four squad members as he said: "Who among you lives in Xiaoshan District?"

Judging from the files, these squad members were all transferred from other districts by the Municipal Bureau; none were from Xiaoshan District.

After all, with current unmanned transportation being so advanced, traveling anywhere within the entire Lin'an City area by car didn't take long, and Xiaoshan District wasn't considered remote.

But if someone specifically moves to the Xiaoshan District to rent a house, they can use this opportunity to apply for a patrol.

Just like on the day he was regularized, Group Leader Han specifically took him on a patrol demonstration along Tieshi Street; this was also to ensure the safety of the patrol officers.

Hearing Lin Qing's words, Ruan Bing and Han Ying both shook their heads.

"Report, Group Leader."

"Group Leader, I live in the Xiaoshan District."

Yet Teng Feiyu and Zhao Jiayi spoke at the same time.

Lin Qing glanced at the two and said, "You two both live in the Xiaoshan District? Tell me your locations; I'll just check if there are any missions."

Zhao Jiayi was too embarrassed to speak first, so Teng Feiyu immediately said, "Report, I live at New Century City, Changshui Street, Xiaoshan District."

Immediately after, Zhao Jiayi said, "Um... I live at Times Square, Xin'an Road, Xiaoshan District."

Lin Qing searched for patrol missions near these two locations on his work computer and said, "Seems there aren't any special missions. Tonight, you two lead the way and patrol freely."

He was giving Teng Feiyu a chance.

If Teng Feiyu really knew where there was an opportunity to earn merit, he wouldn't have let this moment slip by.

Since he specifically moved to live in the Xiaoshan District, perhaps it was for the convenience of being a new member, wanting to take the opportunity to patrol and earn merit.

"Alright, the new group doesn't need to take duty this month. Dismissed now. Keep your phones on, watch the work group chat, and wait for my notice to gather here tonight."

After submitting the patrol mission application on his work computer, Lin Qing didn't say much more, closed his computer, stood up, and left.

Before leaving, he glanced at Teng Feiyu out of the corner of his eye, secretly anticipating: "Don't let me down..."

After Lin Qing left, the few people in the office began to tidy up their desks.

They also introduced themselves and got to know each other.

"Jiayi, you're sitting opposite the Group Leader?"

Han Ying looked at Zhao Jiayi with a smile and deliberately said, "That's true; after all, our Group Seven's Group Leader is quite handsome."

Girls get close quickly; their attitude became intimate like sisters.

At least on the surface.

"No..." Zhao Jiayi's small face turned slightly red.

"Nothing much. Although the Group Leader looks mature and steady, he seems to be a year younger than you, right?" Han Ying lowered her voice, leaned close to her, and teased, "Actually, you two are quite a match."

Zhao Jiayi lowered her head and said, "I didn't mean that..."

"Haha, why are you so shy?"

Han Ying laughed, then suddenly noticed that Ruan Bing next door hadn't really tidied his desk. Puzzled, she asked, "Ruan Bing, don't you need to tidy up?"

"No need."

Ruan Bing shook his head flatly and said, "I'm transferring to Group Three this Wednesday. If it weren't inconvenient to change right after just arriving at the Xiaoshan District Branch, I might have gone directly to Group Three."

Han Ying was somewhat surprised.

She knew this kind of maneuver; trying to transfer specifically from another branch to a certain group is quite troublesome. Usually, one applies to transfer to a new group first, then uses the new group as a stepping stone, making it easier to transfer groups within the branch.

"Looks like you have quite some connections within the branch."

Han Ying said, "But isn't Group Leader Lin quite good? Young and full of potential. I heard Group Leader Lin's older sister was even a former team captain."

"He has potential, but I've been working for quite a few years already."

Ruan Bing shook his head and said, "I can't wait for a new Group Leader to grow slowly. Whether in experience or strength, Group Leader Lin, this newcomer, is at the bottom among the seven Group Leaders in the branch. The key is, if the Group Leader's strength isn't enough, patrol missions aren't very safe. Moreover... I also want to earn a bit more money."

Teng Feiyu glanced at him, frowned slightly, but didn't speak.

Han Ying understood Ruan Bing's meaning.

In the end, it was simply because the new Group Leader's strength wasn't enough, patrol missions weren't safe enough, and he lacked connections and networks, making it difficult to skim off some extra benefits.

"True. I heard Group Leader Lin only mastered the 46th Edition Training Method a month ago. Although he learned a combat technique, he has only just entered the initial stage." Han Ying nodded. "In terms of strength, he is indeed the lowest among the seven Group Leaders."

Anyway, since Group Leader Lin wasn't there, the members wouldn't be too restrained speaking privately, and what they said was all the truth.

"Are you saying Group Leader Lin has only just entered the initial stage of the combat technique?"

Zhao Jiayi couldn't help but ask, "Really? Is it a combat technique he just learned?"

"Yes." Han Ying looked at her strangely. "It seems to have been only half a month or so."

Zhao Jiayi made an "oh" sound, said nothing more, and continued tidying things up with her head down.

But there was a trace of shock in her eyes.

"How is that possible... He clearly..."

(End of this chapter)