Chapter 47: Promotion

“What?”

“Heaven… Team Leader Lin actually…”

“What team leader? The notice clearly says he’s now a patrol officer—he’s Captain Lin from now on!”

“Who still remembers? Team Leader Lin was only officially confirmed two months ago. Only two months, and he’s already promoted to deputy captain?”

“Damn, he’s on a rocket!”

“Two months ago, Captain Lin was just a temporary patrol officer with no permanent status. A genius…”

On this day, every official patrol officer in the Xiaoshan District Patrol Division received a shocking message from the patrol system; nearly everyone was stunned, unable to believe their eyes.

The news swept through the entire Xiaoshan District Patrol Division like a hurricane, then surged toward other divisions in Lin’an City.

A patrol officer who had only been officially hired two months ago had rocketed to the rank of patrol officer—this news alone was enough to ignite heated debate and turmoil across all of Lin’an City.

Even though there had been faster promotions in the past, they were exceedingly rare.

Everyone understood how bright the future of an eighteen-year-old patrol officer would be.

Even becoming the next patrol chief of Lin’an City would be perfectly normal! Suddenly, not just patrol officers and civil servants within the Xiaoshan District Division began offering friendly congratulations.

Even patrol officers from other districts in the WeChat group “Lin’an City Patrol Frontline Group” flooded the chat with congratulations, sending red envelopes with celebratory messages flying everywhere.

Even patrol officers who rarely spoke in the group surfaced to offer their congratulations and actively sent friend requests to Lin Qing.

Everyone in this group had at least mastered the Level 4-6 cultivation method and would eventually become patrol officers.

Most held the position of team leader.

There were also captains and deputy captains from the twelve district divisions—all patrol officers, making seventeen in total including Lin Qing.

But whether patrol officer or patrol captain, everyone treated Lin Qing with friendliness, naturally due to his current status and future potential.

The world’s kindness depends entirely on one’s position.

【You received a red envelope from Patrol Chief Yuan Anping: 0.01 yuan has been deposited into your wallet】

As Lin Qing was grabbing red envelopes until his fingers cramped, he suddenly noticed he’d received a 1-yuan envelope meant for a hundred people, and paused slightly.

When he checked who sent it, it was Yuan Anping—the overall chief? Could he really send such a tiny envelope??

【Patrol Chief–Yuan Anping: My salary’s been used entirely to aid impoverished people in society; my WeChat balance is down to one yuan. But it’s still a gesture of goodwill.】

So you’re using all your money to rescue fallen girls, huh? Lin Qing immediately replied—

【Patrol Officer–Lin Qing: No wonder you’re Patrol Chief—you effortlessly do what we can’t.】

Others might have thought he was just overly eager to advance and copied “+1” in unison, but Yuan Anping knew instantly the kid was being sarcastic—he sent a dumb smile emoji and went silent.

“Tsk…”

Inside the Group 7 meeting room, Lin Qing opened Yuan Anping’s private chat window with a blank expression, tapped his avatar, and sent a message: 【Patrol Chief, you’re generous—don’t forget what you promised me yesterday.】

【Yuan Anping: Don’t worry—I’m here, nothing will go wrong.】

【And I’m not stingy; I just don’t want anyone to notice our connection (pitiful)】

Lin Qing’s lips twitched slightly as he replied: 【Then how about you V-me fifty to prove your strength?】

Yuan Anping went silent again.

Lin Qing, at a loss, jabbed twice hard at the cartoon bear avatar.

“Hey, Captain Lin.”

Inside the meeting room, Zhao Jiayi sat lazily on the sofa opposite, legs crossed, and couldn’t help speaking: “It’s your big promotion day—why are you hiding here grabbing red envelopes?”

“My rank hasn’t changed yet—I’m still team leader,” Lin Qing glanced at her. “Besides, you grabbed more than I did.”

Zhao Jiayi coughed lightly. “Well, I’m not the star of today, am I?”

“I’m tired of hearing all the congratulations and flattery,” Lin Qing said casually. “Might as well grab red envelopes.”

At that moment, his phone vibrated—it was Division Chief Kou Guoyong calling.

“Lin Qing, come up. Your official promotion notice has arrived.”

“Got it.”

After ending the call, Lin Qing immediately stood up.

“Promoted to deputy captain?” Zhao Jiayi looked up at him with a smile.

“Sharp ears.”

Lin Qing glanced at her and suddenly said: “By the way, I heard the deputy captain’s office can hire one executive assistant from among the official patrol officers—no need to join a team daily. Interested? I can nominate you. Otherwise, I’ll let the bureau pick for me.”

“Of course I am!” Zhao Jiayi nodded instantly. “I don’t want to go out on duty every day. Better to cling to your leg.”

“Alright.”

Lin Qing nodded slightly, then turned and walked out of the meeting room. After he left, Zhao Jiayi muttered under her breath: “He’s close with the overall chief too… Looks like something big’s about to happen…”

…

Inside the Division Chief’s office.

“Lin Qing, starting today, you are deputy captain of the Xiaoshan District Patrol Division.”

Kou Guoyong smiled broadly. “Your work ID has been updated. Your patrol officer uniform and shoulder insignia will arrive tomorrow. Salary, benefits, and authority changes will follow shortly.”

Lin Qing nodded.

The salary for a Level 3 patrol officer was 11,000 yuan—but it meant little, just symbolic.

“As for your new responsibilities…”

Kou Guoyong turned to Xiao Peidong, who stood silently beside him, and sighed inwardly.

He knew Xiao Peidong—the acting captain transferred from another district—wanted to be confirmed permanently.

But that required time and achievements.

Captain Chen Yanan was still in the hospital, unable to resume normal duties for months; Xiao Peidong had a real chance to be confirmed.

But who could have expected a rocketing promotion like Lin Qing’s? Now deputy captain, and so young—a local of Xiaoshan. By next month’s 20th, during the city bureau’s annual evaluation, the higher-ups would surely prioritize promoting Lin Qing.

Even now, Xiao Peidong was merely acting captain, equal in rank to deputy captain.

“Captain Xiao.”

Kou Guoyong looked at Xiao Peidong, hinting: “Though you’re acting captain, you have more experience than Deputy Captain Lin. Handle the operational details with him.”

He feared Xiao Peidong might break down and act hostile toward Lin Qing, whose future was so bright—it would become ugly.

But—

“Haha, why talk about consultation?”

Xiao Peidong laughed. “I think before long, Deputy Captain Lin will be the real Captain Lin. I should be reporting to him.”

He beamed at Lin Qing. “Besides, you’re already a patrol officer at such a young age—your future is limitless. Maybe one day you’ll be the overall chief of Lin’an City.”

Kou Guoyong was slightly stunned—he hadn’t expected someone so young to be so adaptable. Though he doubted the sincerity, he felt somewhat relieved and smiled: “I think so too. This division’s little patch probably won’t hold Captain Lin for long.”

He said this to subtly remind Xiao Peidong of the gap—don’t act rashly.

“Absolutely.”

Xiao Peidong grinned at Lin Qing. “Even if you get promoted right away, I’ll stay as your deputy captain. When you become overall chief, I can say I was your deputy—that’ll be quite an honor.”

Lin Qing knew this man was deeply calculating—not open-minded, just skilled at hiding his true feelings.

Still, you don’t hit someone smiling at you. He could only guess, so he replied politely: “Captain Xiao, you’re exaggerating.”

“Haha, exaggerating? I mean every word from the bottom of my heart…”

…

Half an hour later.

Inside the private training room next to the captain’s office.

“Damn!”

Xiao Peidong’s face was dark as thunder, fists clenched tightly, eyes gleaming with chilling malice.

Thin, twisted black lines slowly spread from deep within his eye sockets, gradually covering his sclera, making him look even more monstrous.

“I should’ve eliminated him earlier!”

Xiao Peidong’s teeth ground together. “Even if I defeat him with my true strength during the evaluation, they’ll still pick him! Unless I master the original Morning Cultivation Method, I have no absolute advantage—but only a month and change left—impossible…”

He knew well.

He still needed time to reach the peak of the 7-7 method, and even if he obtained the Hyper-Sense Serum, it would take one to two months to activate.

But the evaluation started next month on the 20th—there was no time! “This is my biggest chance—I can’t lose it…”

Thinking of the dark, endless prison cell of the lab, Xiao Peidong trembled uncontrollably.

He took a deep breath, pulled out his hidden backup phone: “You forced me…”

【Big trouble—Lin Qing has been promoted to deputy captain. Have Chu Tianyao act. Don’t kill him—avoid triggering an investigation from the Patrol Headquarters. Break both his legs. Just keep him out of commission for months so he can’t compete with me.】

After sending this message through a secret website, Xiao Peidong pressed his palms together and rubbed the phone until it turned to powder.

His eyes grew colder.

“Blame yourself—you have no idea what kind of power you’ve angered…”

(End of Chapter)