Chapter 6: 6. Face-changing
Having found a random seat in the second-floor library, Lin Qing finally stopped after more than an hour of scrolling through the tablet.
“My memory seems to have improved quite a bit too.”
Lin Qing put down the tablet, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
The 46th Edition Sunrise Training Method offered a comprehensive enhancement of physical fitness – muscle tissue strength, bone density, nerve response speed, vision and hearing, memory… and even the sixth sense could potentially be improved, according to rumors.
Moreover, with the ability of a Memory Master, he wasn’t far from having a photographic memory.
If this continued, it wouldn’t take long before the written examination was no obstacle.
...
Even though the Patrol System written examination covered a broad range of content, requiring a lot of reading, it rarely involved logical thinking; mostly, it was about rote memorization.
“It’s almost ten o’clock.”
Glancing at the time, Lin Qing didn’t waste any more of it and hurried downstairs.
The swearing-in ceremony for the new Deputy Captain was about to begin.
…
Inside the hall, in addition to the Patrol Officers and temporary Patrol Officers from the six groups, members from the district command center, Political Work Department, Logistics Department, and others had also arrived.
Just as Lin Qing had guessed, the new Deputy Captain turned out to be the young man in the tracksuit he had met at the stairwell that morning.
Only now, the man had changed into his Patrol uniform, his shoulder showing two pairs of wings and a star, a symbol of his rank as a Level 3 Patrol Officer.
After the assembly sang the Internationale, the new Deputy Captain, Captain Xiao, as the oath leader, led the six group leaders in a collective oath.
“As a member of the Earth Alliance Patrol System, I hereby swear: to resolutely support the absolute leadership of the World Government, be loyal to the First Charter, uphold the authority of the constitution, perform my legal duties, and be utterly devoted to the noble cause of patrolling…”
Below the stage sat the sub-district director and leaders from the City Bureau, serving as the overseers of the oath.
Once the oath was concluded and the leaders had finished speaking, the ceremony for the new Deputy Captain to take office was at last over.
After the announcement of the conclusion, the leaders were the first to leave.
In a short while, except for a few individuals, most of the hall was filled with Patrol Officers and temporary Patrol Officers from the six Patrol Teams.
“Captain Chen is hospitalized due to injuries, so I will temporarily lead our Patrol work.”
Captain Xiao stood on the stage, his gaze sweeping over the Patrol Officers below, and earnestly said, “I don’t have as much experience as Captain Chen; however, our Patrol duties don’t allow me the luxury of learning slowly, so I must ask all my colleagues to fully exert their functions and cooperate actively with the work. I will do everything in my power to adhere to my responsibilities.”
Below the stage, someone eager to climb the ranks started clapping, followed by a round of applause from the crowd.
When the applause ceased, Captain Xiao continued:
“Patrol work is critically important and can’t tolerate any sloppiness or rashness, whether it’s me as Deputy Captain or a temporary Patrol Officer, we should all fully commit to our duties, with strict discipline.”
At this point, he swept his gaze over the crowd and added:
“But I also know that no organization is perfect, and there will inevitably be oversights. There are temporary Patrol Officers within our ranks who do not meet recruitment standards. This not only affects discipline but also, due to inadequate professional ethics, may impact the execution of Patrol duties in the future, which I believe is something none of us would like to see.”
As soon as the new Captain Xiao said this, many Patrol Officers involuntarily directed their gazes toward Lin Qing.
To infiltrate the Patrol Team, even as a temporary Patrol Officer, you at least needed to have the connections of a group leader.
Several group leaders had arranged for relatives or friends to be temporary Patrol Officers. After all, there were no positions available, they didn’t have access to any sensitive information, the work was simple and easy, and even without professional training, one could manage it, which was tacitly permitted.
Normally, as long as it wasn’t excessive, even City Bureau leaders wouldn’t concern themselves with such trivial matters.
However, Captain Xiao, having just arrived, was intent on dealing with these minor issues with such probity and integrity. It was clear to any discerning eye that this was aimed at Captain Chen.
At the end of the day, everyone else was merely collateral damage.
“I won’t name names.”
Captain Xiao said calmly: “Those of you who step forward to resign on your own and write a self-critique won’t be punished.”
Among the temporary Patrol Officers in the audience, there was first a silence, and then a few hesitated slightly but still stood up one after another.
Before long, five temporary Patrol Officers had stood up.
Apart from feeling helpless, all of them looked at Lin Qing with some resentment.
If it wasn’t for Lin Qing, they wouldn’t have lost this easy, money-making job.
“Is that all?”
Captain Xiao spoke in a low voice.
Quite a few Patrol Officers couldn’t help but look towards Lin Qing. After all that had been said, did Chief Chen’s cousin still think he wasn’t discovered?
“Do I really need to call names?” Captain Xiao’s gaze slowly swept over the temporary Patrol Officers and finally rested on Lin Qing, saying, “Lin Qing, you…”
“Captain Xiao.”
Captain Xiao had just said this name, but he heard a voice suddenly rise.
He turned his head to look, only to find that the Political Work Department’s Senior Director, who had never left, was watching him with a grin, and even pointed to the WeChat screen on his phone, signalling him to check the message.
Captain Xiao felt somewhat puzzled, but still took out his phone and glanced at the message sent by the Senior Director.
Immediately, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
Lin Qing stood quietly among the temporary Patrol Officers, and also glanced at the Senior Director.
It seemed the Senior Director had reminded this Captain Xiao?
“Continue, we were talking about Lin Qing just now.”
Captain Xiao put away his phone with an unchanged expression, as if he had never received any message, and continued looking towards Lin Qing, solemnly saying:
“Lin Qing, I didn’t want to mention you, but since you’ve remained silent, I have to speak up. Don’t you think your work in the Patrol Team is unsatisfactory?”
The Senior Director’s gaze shifted slightly.
He had given his reminder quite timely, yet this Captain Xiao, who clearly wasn’t in an impossible situation, still didn’t plan to give up?
“Lin Qing, don’t blame me for saying this.”
Captain Xiao said in a heavy tone: “For someone as talented as you to only serve as a temporary Patrol Officer in the team, without even being included in the regular staff, is truly a waste of talent. If I were Chief Chen, I would probably consider promoting you to team leader by now. Don’t you feel aggrieved?”
The audience fell silent.
Everyone was startled as they looked at Captain Xiao on the stage and couldn’t help but turn their eyes to Lin Qing.
Talented? A waste of talent?
Even to become a team leader?
Hadn’t Captain Xiao been ready to take advantage of the situation just a moment ago?
Why had he suddenly started to express sympathy for Lin Qing?
Even the informed Lin Qing and the Senior Director couldn’t help but be taken aback.
“I have to admit that Chief Chen is really selfless.”
Captain Xiao sighed: “His own cousin, clearly such a talented person, but because he hadn’t passed the professional assessment yet, and to avoid suspicion, he hasn’t been given an official position. This is… so upright and honest.”
Lin Qing was astonished.
This Captain Xiao… was truly a talent.
The Senior Director watched Captain Xiao switch faces on the stage and couldn’t help but sigh internally: “I thought he was just a young man with too much pride, but it turns out he’s an old slicker…”
On the stage, Captain Xiao took a silent breath of relief: “Just eighteen years old and already succeeded in the Sunrise Training Method. He might become my Deputy Captain in the future, his prospects might not be worse than mine, I’d be crazy to offend him…”