Chapter 00181: New Captain of the City Patrol
# New Captain of the City Patrol
Chapter 181
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 181: New Captain of the City Patrol
Ding Huan and Yan Mei walked into the City Patrol office, where they saw four or five individuals lazily chewing on something long and stick-like.
Each of their faces radiated intense pleasure.
“Brother Huan, this is Joy Branch. I've heard of it before. This stuff can be addictive, but it's deadly poisonous. Once you start taking it, it's hard to quit. Over time, it can drain one’s vital energy and lead to death.” Yan Mei glanced at the Joy Branch with a look of fear, whispering to Ding Huan.
He came from a merchant family and was very familiar with Joy Branch, having lost his mother to it.
Regular people couldn’t even afford to eat it.
“We’re here to sign up for the City Patrol. Who’s in charge?” Ding Huan asked casually.
Seeing that there was no need for competition, he didn’t bother to mention he was there for a job.
“I’ll help you with the registration.” A timid voice replied.
Ding Huan had not used his spiritual sense before, but upon hearing the voice, he noticed a scrawny figure, weak like a monkey, stepping out from the corner.
The other five were still munching on the Joy Branch and didn’t even glance at Ding Huan.
They knew that soon, a few people would come looking for death, and it was these frequent visitors who allowed them to enjoy their pleasures for long.
If it weren’t necessary to have a record of patrols, they would have little desire to hire more.
“Are you two here to apply for the City Patrol?” the scrawny man asked cautiously.
Ding Huan replied, “We’d like to apply for the team leader positions. Are there any available?”
The skinny man shook his head. “Nope. The team captain earns two crystal stones a month, while the vice-captain earns one.”
“Great, let's get registered then.” Ding Huan said, picking up the laws of the Blaze Star Lord Nation that had been left aside.
The five members of the City Patrol, who had been lazily eating Joy Branch, looked over in surprise when they heard Ding Huan mention applying for leadership positions.
Yet, no one spoke.
“May I ask what the captain's name is?” the skinny man inquired, albeit a little comically.
“No one else but me, Ding Huan. This is Yan Mei, my vice-captain,” Ding Huan replied with a smile after finishing the laws.
He had spiritual sense, and though the book was a bit thick, it was easy for him to scan and memorize.
“Okay.” The scrawny man took out the appointment papers and wrote down Ding Huan and Yan Mei’s names before handing them over.
Ding Huan was surprised to see that the papers were actually two magical artifacts.
“You just need to stamp them with your handprint, and then your information will be recorded,” the skinny man said nervously.
Ding Huan and Yan Mei placed their hands on the appointment papers.
In the next moment, Ding Huan saw his information appear on one of them.
It was simply a line of text.
“Ding Huan, City Patrol Captain of Xifeng City, responsible for all security matters in Xifeng City.”
Before Ding Huan could put away the appointment papers, a man who just finished chewing on Joy Branch stood up, squinting at Ding Huan. “Since you’re the captain now, you can take charge of the case at the northern mine store today.”
Ding Huan replied slowly, “And who might you be?”
“I’m Qi Zhenyu, a member of the City Patrol for twelve years, currently a level four patrolman,” the man said, his tone sharp, clearly looking down on Ding Huan.
Ding Huan further asked, “And what am I to you?”
“Aren’t you just newly joined?” Qi Zhenyu scoffed.
“I’m the captain, so what qualifications do you have to order me around?” Ding Huan said coolly.
Hearing this, the others were momentarily stunned, then bursts of laughter ensued.
Once the laughter subsided, Qi Zhenyu sighed at Ding Huan, “Youngster, don’t bite off more than you can chew. If you want to survive here, remember that the longest-serving person is the one in charge. So, I can order you around, and if you refuse, I have the right to kill you.”
“Oh? If you kill me, won't my two crystal stones for the month end up in your pocket? Or if I die outside, won't my stones go to you as well?” Ding Huan retorted mockingly.
“Not entirely foolish, but now that you’ve stamped your fingerprint, there’s no turning back.” Qi Zhenyu sneered.
“Who made such a rule?” Ding Huan maintained his calm demeanor.
One of Qi Zhenyu’s companions, who had finished chewing Joy Branch, jumped up. “What, are you not convinced? This is a rule of the City Patrol and it has the approval of the lord of Xifeng City."
At that moment, a disheveled woman burst in. “Brother Qi, people from the Iron Power Alliance want to take my husband. They not only beat us, robbed our goods, but also want to take him away…”
“Outer city matters are beyond our jurisdiction.” Before Qi Zhenyu could speak, the man who had been mocking Ding Huan chimed in.
“That’s right, you handle it yourself. The outer city is none of our concern.” Qi Zhenyu added.
“But when you accepted my crystal stones, didn’t you guarantee that as long as someone got robbed in the city, I could come to you for help? They might be from the outer city, but they stole from my shop within the city…” the woman said angrily.
“Get lost!” Qi Zhenyu kicked the woman out.
Afterward, he seemed to remember something and told Ding Huan and Yan Mei, “You two go out with her and handle this. Next time, remember to respect your seniors.”
With that, he raised his hand and aimed a slap at Ding Huan’s face.
Ding Huan sidestepped, and Qi Zhenyu's slap missed.
He chuckled, “No wonder you dared to question me with such confidence.”
Ding Huan ignored Qi Zhenyu, saying to the scrawny man, “According to the Blaze Star Nation’s City Patrol law, those who defy authority can be killed without mercy.”
With a smile, he looked at Qi Zhenyu, “Would you say you fit that description?”
“Your ancestors…” Qi Zhenyu was furious, but as he spoke three words, Ding Huan unleashed a gust of wind.
Qi Zhenyu’s head was cleaved off, rolling away several meters, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief.
Ding Huan carefully avoided the splatter of blood, turning to the skinny man. “The law states that no matter what happens, everything must be documented. Did you record everything that just happened?”
At this moment, Ding Huan realized that the scrawny man was the recorder, responsible for noting everything in and around the City Patrol.
“Y-yes, I’ll write it down…” The skinny man looked pale, nervously picking up the pen and hurriedly scribbling down all that had occurred, clearly scared of defying Ding Huan.
“You…” The man who had challenged Ding Huan was also paling in fright.
How did a person so fearless come into the City Patrol and kill a patrolman? It was unheard of for a patrolman to die this way.
Usually, they were killed while minding others’ business outside.
No, this man was also part of the City Patrol now; he was a captain.
Yet, there were no such captains in the City Patrol before.
Why was this situation so upside down?
“What about you? You just defied authority…” Ding Huan was about to continue when the City Patrol member knelt before him.
“Senior, no… Captain, I was just dazed from chewing Joy Branch earlier. Please, show mercy!”
Ding Huan’s expression darkened, “Why should I show you mercy?”
“I…I…” The patrolman broke into a cold sweat.
He was certain that Ding Huan was a formidable cultivator.
What was the point of fighting over a bowl of rice with someone like him?
“Although I can't overlook your earlier insults, I’ll let you off this time. Just handle the issue for that woman.” Ding Huan pointed towards the woman who had been kicked out.
“Thank you, captain! Thank you so much!” The woman hurriedly knelt and expressed her gratitude.
She had been terrified by Ding Huan’s fierce methods.
However, thinking of her husband’s fate possibly mirroring Qi Zhenyu’s made her panic rise.
“W-What…” The man hesitated.
The Iron Power Alliance outside was not soft, and he could easily be killed.
“If you don’t want to go, then forget it…” Ding Huan raised his hand as if simply ending the conversation when he released another blade of wind.
“I…” The man felt a breath of death wash over him.
Before he could even utter a word, Ding Huan unleashed another strike at his head.
Ding Huan looked at the trembling recorder. “He not only defied authority but also refused to obey orders. Everything that happened must be documented.”
“Y-yes.” The skinny young man hurriedly bent down to write.
Ding Huan turned to the remaining three individuals.
They still had some Joy Branch left, but now they had tossed it aside, the look of enjoyment vanished entirely, replaced by expressions filled with fear.
Ding Huan said calmly, “As your captain, I command you to handle the Iron Power Alliance’s occupation of a store. What do you think?”
The three men stood up reflexively. “We will follow the captain’s orders and go right away!”
Ding Huan nodded. “Yan Mei, you and Lao Liu go take a look and handle it accordingly.”
“Understood, Brother Huan.” Yan Mei replied immediately.
Ding Huan had full trust in Yan Mei’s abilities; he knew he wouldn’t face any losses.
Once the group left, Ding Huan looked back at the recorder. “What’s your name?”
“I am Peng Leizhi, and I’ve been a recorder for the City Patrol for three years.” The scrawny young man responded, anxiety evident in his voice.
Ding Huan nodded. “Good. Clean up this mess afterward.”
“Yes.” Peng Leizhi quickly agreed.
As Ding Huan turned to leave, he suddenly remembered something. “Where’s the best place to stay in Xifeng City?”
“In the Great Crystal District,” Peng Leizhi blurted out.
(End of Chapter)
(Note: The update ends here.
Good night, friends! Apologies for the half-hour delay today due to some matters.)
(End of chapter)