Chapter 58: Inspector Ranking

One night passed.

February 9, 10:00 a.m.

“Captain Lin.”

“Good morning, Captain Lin.”

“I heard Captain Lin achieved another major success yesterday—aren’t you about to be promoted to Level Two Inspector?”

“Won’t Captain Lin become a full team leader next month?”

After arriving at the branch, Lin Qing noticed that whether he passed patrol officers or staff from other departments, their greetings were no longer as warm as before.

Warmth usually appears among people of similar rank, but for those far above, it’s more about respect and fear.

In the Inspector system, personal strength and achievements are paramount.

Great strength, coupled with repeated accomplishments.

Just appointed as an Inspector, he had already achieved such a feat.

This made many immediately realize…

In just two months, this deputy team leader had risen to a height they could only look up to.

Their attitude in interaction naturally grew more restrained and cautious.

Though Lin Qing himself felt it unnecessary, once the news spread, his colleagues’ distant, stiff behavior left him with no recourse.

Fortunately, he was already used to being alone and had little social life outside work.

And yet, there was one person whose attitude had grown even closer…

“Captain, your ranking went up!”

In the team leader’s office, Zhao Jiayi had been lounging lazily on the sofa like a cat, but suddenly sat upright, staring at her phone with a gossiping grin.

“Huh?” Lin Qing paused slightly. “What ranking?”

“The Lin’an City Inspector ranking, of course.”

Zhao Jiayi blinked her blue eyes. “Someone ranked all seventeen Inspectors across Lin’an’s twelve districts by strength—you’ve jumped from No.17 to No.9!”

“I’ve told you before—use your official title during work.”

Lin Qing joked lightly, then added, “Who made this ranking? From No.17 to No.9 in one go? Is it really that high?”

“A mysterious person with the platform ID ‘Even a Dog Passing By Gets Ranked,’” Zhao Jiayi checked carefully. “Everyone calls him ‘Dog Rank Brother.’”

She held up her phone for him to see. “Look, when Dog Rank Brother ranked you, his comment was conservative—he said you alone could clear out the Yanhong Society’s underground boxing arena, so your minimum rank is No.9, and rising a few more spots is perfectly normal.”

“Who’s in the top three?” Lin Qing asked curiously.

“No.3 is Wang Xin’an.”

Zhao Jiayi read from her phone. “He’s said to have mastered all five combat methods of the Five Elements series, and he’s naturally very strong.”

“Mastered all five methods of the Five Elements series?” Lin Qing raised an eyebrow slightly.

The more combat methods one masters, the stronger one becomes, and the fewer weaknesses one has.

Once an entire series is mastered, there are virtually no weaknesses left—only different focuses among series.

This Wang Xin’an at No.3 is probably stronger than he is now.

After all, he’d only been officially promoted two months ago and had learned only three combat methods, all at instinct level, yet his combat power still only matched that of a full series—let alone the fact that Wang Xin’an was naturally immensely strong.

“No.2 is Zhang Shuhui.”

Zhao Jiayi read from her phone. “Besides mastering an entire series of combat methods, one of them has reached instinct level, and he’s also mastered one method from another series. Dog Rank Brother says he has exceptional combat method talent—he reached instinct level in just three years.”

As she read this, she couldn’t help glancing at Lin Qing.

Lin Qing knew what she was thinking. He sighed. “Don’t look at me. Tell me about No.1.”

“Oh…”

After speaking with her father last night, Zhao Jiayi had wanted to confess to Lin Qing, but she felt embarrassed and didn’t know how to bring it up—and Lin Qing hadn’t pressed her.

“No.1 is Xu Qiu.”

Zhao Jiayi blinked in surprise. “She’s a woman too—like you, she studies the Zizai Body series, and she’s mastered it completely.”

“Just mastering one series makes her No.1?” Lin Qing said involuntarily. “Could it be that she…”

“Yes, she’s probably perfected the original Morning Practice,” Zhao Jiayi nodded. “That explains it,” Lin Qing realized.

After mastering one series of combat methods, unless one has reached instinct level in a specific method, learning new methods brings only minimal power gains.

But the gap between the Qiqi version and the original Morning Practice is enormous.

“So this No.1’s strength is nearly at Inspector Chief level?” Lin Qing murmured in awe.

Promotion from Inspector to Inspector Chief requires two conditions.

First, strength.

Must have perfected the original Morning Practice and mastered one entire series of combat methods.

Second, achievements.

Must have accumulated six Second-Class Merits or one First-Class Merit.

Thus, this No.1 in Lin’an City’s Inspector ranks is only lacking in achievements to be promoted to Inspector Chief.

In terms of strength, Xu Qiu is probably on par with the escapee from Qinghu Island.

Just not as strong as Yuan Anping, who hides his true power.

“Xu Qiu really has talent,” Zhao Jiayi said. “Dog Rank Brother says she’s only twenty-two this year.”

“That’s truly brilliant,” Lin Qing nodded.

Seeing him say that, Zhao Jiayi couldn’t help adding, “Compared to you, all these people are far behind.”

Lin Qing gave her a weary look. “Don’t say that out loud.”

“I know,” Zhao Jiayi immediately covered her mouth and nodded.

“Alright, I’m going out.”

Lin Qing checked the time and immediately left the office, heading toward the second-floor corridor for combat method training.

Soon, after passing the identification check, taking the elevator, and walking through the corridor, Lin Qing reentered the secret chamber for combat method study.

“Lin Qing, why are you here today?”

The slightly hoarse voice spoke: “The headquarters records say you recently achieved a major success, but your merit hasn’t been verified or issued yet—you’re not allowed to study new combat methods.”

Merit issuance, after all the procedures, takes at least a week.

Lin Qing shook his head slightly. “I’m not here to study combat methods. I have a question for headquarters.”

“Go ahead,” the hoarse voice said.

Lin Qing spoke slowly: “I want information on Super-Sense Serum.”

“Super-Sense Serum?”

The hoarse voice sighed. “So you’re struggling with the original Morning Practice. That’s understandable… the first step of the original Morning Practice is notoriously difficult—no one can say when you’ll perceive the mysterious external energy.”

He paused. “Super-Sense Serum can help you, but it’s produced by Zhixing Group. Headquarters has no access. Senior officials might obtain it from the metropolis, but they’ll prioritize those they favor, and there are many waiting—it’s simply impossible.”

Lin Qing fell silent for a moment. “Can you send me the detailed files on Super-Sense Serum?”

“Detailed files?”

The hoarse voice said, “I can, but it’s produced by Zhixing Group. No research institute worldwide has been able to replicate or analyze it.”

“I just want to understand it,” Lin Qing shook his head.

“You do have viewing authorization. Read it here.”

As the hoarse voice spoke, a flood of data projected onto the wall before Lin Qing.

Alongside usage instructions, possible side effects, and symptoms, there was even a method to verify the authenticity of Super-Sense Serum!

“So it’s here…”

Lin Qing’s heart leapt. He quickly read and memorized the details, then said, “That’s all. I’m done. I’ll come back to learn new combat methods once my merit is approved.”

After leaving the chamber, he headed straight for the lab to borrow some reagents.

“Once I confirm the Super-Sense Serum is genuine, I can inject it today.”

Lin Qing quickened his pace, filled with anticipation.

(End of Chapter)