Chapter 57: Elephant

"Independent individuals? Respect?"

In the warm room, a middle-aged man with a scholarly air between his brows listened quietly to his daughter's rambling outpouring, then pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose and smiled gently.

"Dad," Zhao Jiayi couldn't help but ask, "What exactly does he mean?"

"Xiao Yi."

The middle-aged man gently stroked Zhao Jiayi's head and said in a soft voice, "You must understand, this is not our homeland. They are the most primitive and pure people. They can hide their emotions and lack the eyes to communicate feelings. For such primitive souls, privacy is the cornerstone of freedom, dignity, and safety. This is different from us."

He smiled and said, "You cannot see his heart, and he cannot see yours either. The distance between people is great. To live here, the first thing you must learn is to keep your distance."

"Keep your distance?"

Zhao Jiayi tilted her head, seeming to understand yet not quite.

"Yes," the middle-aged man said softly. "Do you know there is a creature here called an elephant?"

"There are some in the zoo," Zhao Jiayi nodded.

"An elephant is a gentle herbivore and does not attack people on its own."

The middle-aged man said, "But whether it is the person who first discovered elephants or someone who does not understand them, they will fear its massive size and long tusks, and thus dare not approach."

Zhao Jiayi made a sound of surprise and said, "Dad, we seem a bit similar to elephants?"

"We are more extreme than elephants."

The middle-aged man smiled. "In their eyes, your telekinesis not only involves privacy but is also a symbol of great power. Even knowing that elephants are gentle and harmless, many people still dare not approach, dare not be lifted by an elephant's trunk. To them, you are also an elephant. Do you understand?"

Zhao Jiayi suddenly realized and said, "But if we know enough and get close enough, they won't be afraid, right?"

"Just like the starry sky above our heads."

The middle-aged man said softly, "The greatest fear is fear of the unknown. When he knows you well enough, he will not misunderstand you. Time will change everything."

"But..." Zhao Jiayi said, "Didn't you say it's best not to let him know I have telekinesis?"

"It's fine."

The middle-aged man smiled and stroked her head again. "He already knows."

"The Captain already knows?" Zhao Jiayi was momentarily stunned.

"Although he is somewhat cold, his heart can still distinguish right from wrong and good from evil, so he did not expose you," the middle-aged man smiled. "From now on, you can be more honest with him."

"Really?"

Zhao Jiayi's eyes lit up. She pointed one finger at her brow and picked up the pendant around her neck with the other, asking, "Can I tell him these two secrets too?"

On the pendant was a pure black crystal as dark as deep space, with specks of starlight visible within.

"Of course not," the middle-aged man shook his head slowly. "I have explained the principle to you. Elephants are hunted and killed for their beautiful tusks, and we are the same."

Zhao Jiayi fell silent for a moment and asked, "Will the people here be as cruel as the Star Sages?"

The middle-aged man sighed and said, "They are the most primitive and pure people. If they have enough power, they will certainly do so."

He stroked his daughter's head. "Of course, their hearts are also complex and multifaceted. When you feel he is trustworthy, give him the pendant. It is of little use to you now, but if he wears it for a long time, he will always remember you."

"I understand," Zhao Jiayi nodded slightly.

Lin Qing led the team back to the branch station, finished the summary report, visited Xiao Xiao Peidong at the hospital who was in a coma from poisoning, and took the opportunity to check the surveillance routes. After scouting the area, he returned home, and it was already night.

Back at home, after casually finishing dinner, he also paid off the debt for the Qiqi version of the cultivation method and combat technique "Micro" that he owed for today.

"The hospital surveillance is too perfect, and they even activated satellite monitoring to protect Xiao Xiao Peidong..."

Lin Qing pondered silently, "That makes sense. After all, he is an Inspector. When injured, he is easily targeted for retaliation by criminals. Mobilizing a satellite for real-time monitoring is normal..."

This is one of the privileges of an Inspector.

After pondering for a long while, he still couldn't figure out how to perfectly hide his identity while delivering a final blow to Xiao Xiao Peidong.

After all, once an Inspector is killed, the Inspectorate Headquarters will definitely open a case and investigate thoroughly.

As Xiao Xiao Peidong's competitor, he already had a motive and could not escape investigation.

Who knows what figures would come from Headquarters and what methods they would use. Once exposed, it would be self-destruction of his future.

"Forget it. Let's wait until he is discharged and the satellite protection is gone."

Lin Qing didn't care much. Anyway, Xiao Xiao Peidong was already hospitalized from poisoning; even if he didn't lose half his life, he would be weak for quite some time.

By the time Xiao Xiao Peidong was discharged, the merit would have already been distributed. Not only could he learn new combat techniques, but he might even be able to advance the original Chaoyang cultivation method.

By then, his strength would make huge progress! Even now, even if Xiao Xiao Peidong was hiding his strength, Lin Qing felt he should be stronger than Xiao Xiao Peidong.

Once he learned the new combat technique and mastered the original Chaoyang cultivation method, even if it was Chu Tianyao, the fugitive from Qinghu Island, he wanted to try to get that First-Class Merit.

What was a mere Xiao Xiao Peidong? "Hmm... deal with him after I become a regular member."

Lin Qing nodded silently to himself. "Anyway, his competition with me is only for the position of Team Captain. After I become a regular member, the motive for killing him won't be as strong as it is now."

He gathered his thoughts and immediately called out in his mind: "Order."

The next moment, the Entropy Reverser panel instantly appeared before his eyes.

【Current Order Level: 2.9】

【Number of Advanceable Items: 0/2】

【Advanced Items: Zizai Body Series Combat Technique "Micro" (10.4% completed)】

【Advanced Items: Qiqi Version Chaoyang Cultivation Method (37.8% completed)】

"2.9."

Lin Qing couldn't help but smile. "It increased quite a bit."

Although today was just cleaning up one underground boxing ring of the Yihong Society, the Order Level increased by a full 1.7 levels.

The main source was that woman named Zhou Yang and the boss of the underground boxing ring.

These two were core figures of the underground boxing ring and the key to the chaos. One was the person in charge, and the other was likely the enforcer. With these two dead, the Order Level rose by 1.1 levels.

The closure and investigation of the underground boxing ring also caused the Order Level to rise by 0.4 levels.

Unfortunately, those boxers, as vital assets of the underground arena, had already been transferred away before he breached the underground arena.

Among those boxers, there were certainly wanted criminals as well.

If such wanted criminals became boxers and served as enforcers for the Wutou Red Society, they would also be factors of chaos.

Once they were eliminated, the Order Level would definitely rise.

As for those archers, they were merely the security force of the underground arena, living within it constantly like tools; they did not significantly affect social order, and slaughtering them all would hardly raise the Order Level.

So...

All in all, this time raised the Order Level by a total of 1.7 levels.

"The more massive an underground faction, the more it resembles an orderly whole; the root of chaos often lies at the highest level, while the lower ranks must instead follow order, each performing their own duties..."

Through today's operation, Lin Qing became even more certain of this.

Just like the Blue Scarf Gang in Ironstone Street.

The key to the Blue Scarf Gang's chaos lay in its leader, the Camel; even if the Blue Scarf Gang were disbanded, the Order Level would rise by only 0.1 level.

"Next, I just need to wait for the merit awards to be distributed."

Lin Qing pondered silently, "The Captain-General said there are at least two Second-Class Merits; that would be enough to fully master the Free Body series and still learn another technique from a different series."

"And also..."

He took the box containing the Hyper-Sense Essence ampoule from his chest, gazing at the pale blue essence, "First, I must confirm whether this is real..."

Even though the change in the Order Level could confirm that this thing posed no danger to him.

It still could not confirm that this was indeed the Hyper-Sense Essence.

Moreover, no danger does not mean it is a good thing.

Just like Zhao Jiayi's telekinesis; when her intentions were good, guiding the subconscious carried no danger and would not cause any change in the Order Level.

But it could still cause other troubles.

Therefore, I must first confirm whether this thing is the Hyper-Sense Essence.

As for the method, Lin Qing had already thought of it.

(End of this chapter)