[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lawful-tyrant":3,"chapter-lawful-tyrant-lawful-tyrant-chapter-5":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lawful Tyrant",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2284889,4469,"Chapter 5: Outstanding Talent","lawful-tyrant-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>The Xiao Shan District Patrol Division is located on Dongmen Street, near the center of the entire Xiao Shan District and close to a transportation hub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight o’clock in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing passed through the access system’s iris recognition, entered the Xiao Shan District Patrol Bureau, and headed straight for the Political Work Section, which handles rank evaluations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Permanent status?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the office, a middle-aged man with silver-rimmed glasses studied Lin Qing across from him, his expression puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He adjusted his glasses and said, “I remember you’re Captain Chen’s cousin. You’ve only been in the unit for a few months—you haven’t met the service requirement, haven’t earned any major merits, and haven’t even taken the professional exam yet. You want permanent status?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” Lin Qing said, “Senior Gao, I heard that outstanding talents can be specially recruited for permanent status?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, temporary patrol officers seeking permanent status must complete five years of service, demonstrate excellent performance, have no criminal record, and pass the professional exam organized by the patrol agency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The evaluation includes physical fitness, technical skills, and several written exams—it’s complicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, you can only earn it through meritorious service, but that’s rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the rarest of all is special recruitment of outstanding talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Outstanding talent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao blinked in surprise, then stared at Lin Qing and asked, “Did you successfully complete the Morning Sun Training Method?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve had it for a while. I just never thought about applying for permanent status.” Lin Qing nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to regulations, anyone who masters the 4-6 version of the Morning Sun Training Method qualifies as an “outstanding talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an Entropy Reverser, his progress will accelerate quickly, so pretending he’d already succeeded long ago means any future advancement won’t seem suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You never thought about applying before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao was even more surprised, suddenly studying him again, then realizing, “I get it—you’re applying for permanent status because of your sister’s situation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He naturally knew about Captain Chen’s severe injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cousin of Captain Chen probably feared a new acting captain would be appointed soon and didn’t want to give his sister any ammunition for criticism, so he rushed to apply for permanent status right after her injury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something like that.” Lin Qing knew the man had misunderstood, but he had no reason to deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like you’ve got real talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao’s gaze toward Lin Qing grew warmer. He nodded and said, “In that case, special recruitment for permanent status is possible. Once verified, I can immediately grant you the rank of Level One Patrol Officer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’d be grateful if Senior Gao could help me process the paperwork.” Lin Qing said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No trouble at all, no trouble—it’s a minor matter.” Senior Gao smiled and waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a normal patrol officer seeking permanent status or earning it through merit, he wouldn’t bother being this courteous—but Lin Qing was a specially recruited outstanding talent, which was entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The former, even if granted permanent status, would typically only receive Level Two Patrol Officer rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But mastering the 4-6 version of the Morning Sun Training Method means starting directly as a Level One Patrol Officer, with rapid promotion to Level Three Patrol Inspector likely, and even Level One Patrol Inspector possible after future meritorious service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every team leader in the six patrol teams has mastered the 4-6 version of the Morning Sun Training Method—this is the hardest requirement for the position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professional exams and seniority? With enough effort, anyone can pass them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mastering the training method essentially guarantees a future team leader—naturally, it’s different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao completed the procedure on his work computer, then pulled a simple blood sampler from a nearby cabinet and handed it to Lin Qing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just one drop of blood—it’s only to detect whether your blood contains the mysterious energy activated by the training method. I’ll send it to the testing center myself; the report will be synced quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it.” Lin Qing took the sampler, clipped it to his fingertip, and said casually, “I thought the bureau had its own testing equipment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao chuckled. “Those advanced high-tech devices are produced by Zhixing Group. There are only a few worldwide—how could we possibly get one assigned to a district division?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing understood. “I thought technology had advanced a lot by now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you only look at the urban zones, yes, it’s advanced.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao shook his head. “But those urban zones were built and funded by the extraterrestrial Zhixing Group. Even temporary residency requires genuine social elites—has nothing to do with the vast majority of people. Heh… our current standard of living is probably no better than it was before the Catastrophe a century ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing fell into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was born in the early 21st century and lived through the era before the Catastrophe—he knew this well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excluding the urban zones, 2120 hasn’t advanced much beyond 2025 before the Catastrophe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Senior Gao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing asked, “You handle personnel changes in the bureau—do you know who the new acting captain is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s been transferred from the Bai Lu District Patrol Division—a deputy captain, surnamed Xiao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao said, “Our division doesn’t even have a deputy captain—we have to bring one in from another district.” Lin Qing frowned. “Why doesn’t our division have a deputy captain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To qualify for deputy captain, you must hold at least the rank of Level Three Patrol Officer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao shook his head. “Deputy captain is essentially a captain-in-waiting. Merit and seniority aside—the key is strength. You must be like your sister: master the 7-7 version of the Morning Sun Training Method, and at least reach a moderate level in two combat techniques, before you’re even eligible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As far as he knew, Captain Chen was the only person in the entire Xiao Shan District Patrol Division who met this standard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once you master the 7-7 version, even without combat techniques, your speed, strength, and reflexes become several times greater than a normal person’s—more terrifying than the elite soldiers of a century ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even with that power, his cousin was severely injured by that fugitive—how terrifying must the fugitive be? “The new captain is one year younger than your sister—only twenty-five.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao warned, “He has a bright future and probably a high opinion of himself. You need to be careful—he’s your sister’s replacement, and you know her condition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty-five?” Lin Qing nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To become captain of a district at that age—his future is indeed wide open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, wait outside for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao stood up. “I’ll send your sample right away. Don’t worry—the testing center will have results soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving the Political Work Section, Lin Qing checked the time—it was 8:16. He decided to head to the second-floor library to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To advance further in the patrol system, physical strength is key, but professional exams are unavoidable. Since he’d have to study eventually, he might as well start now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to struggling for survival in the post-Catastrophe world, this was trivial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he reached the first-floor staircase, footsteps echoed above. Several people were descending the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing looked up and saw a young man in athletic wear, hands in his pockets, walking calmly, a faint smile on his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, several others wore crisp, neat patrol uniforms, following closely—unlike the young man, their steps carried clear caution and deference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing recognized the men behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all team leaders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was just a temporary patrol officer drifting through the unit, not assigned to any team—sent wherever needed, with little interaction with the team leaders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This young man outranked even the team leaders? Could it be…? Lin Qing suspected, and instead of climbing the stairs, he stepped aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, one of the men behind—the middle-aged man with dark skin—spotted Lin Qing and spoke up: “Lin Qing, how’s your sister?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Team Leader Liang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing hadn’t expected the Team Leader of Group Three to address him. “My sister’s still in the hospital, but she’s out of danger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man nodded and said nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man at the front glanced at Lin Qing curiously but said nothing, leading the team leaders toward the first-floor conference room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the group passed through the corridor and entered the conference room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After closing the door, the athletic-wear youth glanced at Team Leader Liang and smiled. “Team Leader Liang, that young man just now—what’s his connection to Captain Chen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Team Leader Liang nodded slightly. “He’s Captain Chen’s cousin, Lin Qing. His family is poor, so Captain Chen took special care to get him a temporary patrol officer position—just to let him drift through the unit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A temporary patrol officer who needs Captain Chen’s special care?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man raised an eyebrow, then smiled knowingly. “So he doesn’t even meet the basic requirements for a patrol officer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s just a senior high school student,” Team Leader Liang nodded. “He’s attended a few trainings—that’s already more than most. He doesn’t have time to study all the professional knowledge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s unacceptable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man shook his head. “Even temporary patrol officers are part of our patrol system. We can’t ignore problems just because they seem small. If all temporary officers are like this, how can we even carry out our duties?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right, Acting Captain Xiao. It’s our oversight.” Team Leader Liang nodded seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hesitated, then asked, “Since Acting Captain Xiao says so… should we dismiss these temporary officers who don’t meet basic standards today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Verify everything, document the records, and ensure this never happens again,” the young man said firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.” Team Leader Liang replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone could see the acting captain’s true intent—but such a lofty statement made it impossible to challenge him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Classic case of a new official lighting three fires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1643,"2026-06-20T02:41:34.488Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2d38e1857b230786fe0f05f388d8699f7b599b7f127f5964f8869dc8e2f3d846","lawful-tyrant-chapter-6","lawful-tyrant-chapter-4",442,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flawful-tyrant-cover.jpg"]