Early the next morning.

Faint morning light spilled across the land as the streets slowly came alive with the sounds of people.

A roadside breakfast stall lifted the lids off its steamers, releasing clouds of white steam. Office workers with hurried expressions clutched their briefcases and squeezed onto the tram.

The already narrow car became even more crowded. Many people were shoulder to shoulder, jostling for space.

Except for one person.

The doors slid open. Dressed in a black short-sleeved shirt with a satchel slung across his back, Lu Chao stepped firmly into the car.

His Fighting Level physique was far beyond that of an ordinary person. His somewhat burly frame blocked a portion of the light, momentarily darkening the vision of several people near the door.

The eyelids of two young men who had intended to crowd the doorway twitched as they both felt a palpable sense of pressure.

With a silent understanding, they both took half a step back, making room.

"Thanks."

Seemingly noticing, Lu Chao gave a small smile and a nod.

Once he had found his footing, the tram doors slid shut again.

The passengers around him lowered their heads to look at their communicator screens, a way to kill time during the dull commute.

Following suit, Lu Chao quietly activated his watch screen.

Thanks to the enhancement from [Basic Toughness], the injuries he sustained last night had almost fully healed.

As for the matter of the masked man, although it had been temporarily dealt with, he was still curious about the so-called God-Worshiping Church and those mysterious, strange syllables that could interfere with one’s mind.

He promptly began searching for information using various keywords.

The results were few and far between. They were either vague and unclear, or just absurd urban legends, with no useful information.

The only clue pointed to a large warlord faction that had once dominated the wilderness but ultimately met a bizarre end, supposedly destroyed in some kind of forbidden ritual.

’Could it be that so-called Seed of Corruption?’

Lu Chao suddenly recalled the information he’d sensed from [Plunder and Grow].

If he devoured the flesh and blood of the masked man’s corpse, he would have a chance to gain the attention of a higher-dimensional Demon God and be implanted with an unknown object called the Seed of Corruption.

Just thinking about it sent a chill down his spine. It might even hide some kind of risk, so of course he wouldn’t try it.

While he was thinking, the tram continued on, arriving outside the Patrol Department.

Lu Chao’s gaze sharpened. He finally suppressed his stray thoughts and stepped out of the car.

...

A four-story, white-and-blue building stood in the center of the district. Like a fortress of order, it was quite eye-catching.

A white-tiled wall enclosed a sizable open space. A plaque reading "Second Branch of the Patrol Department" hung by the entrance.

The heavy, black-lacquered iron gate was wide open. Inside a guard post made of explosion-proof glass, patrol officers in bulletproof vests stood, fully armed, warily scanning everyone who entered and exited.

The concrete ground inside was very flat. Seven or eight patrol cars were parked against the wall. There were also some green trees planted, dotting the area, and a flagpole stood in front of the building, where the planetary flag of the Alliance Country fluttered in the wind.

This was one of the five patrol branches of the Iron Ring District’s Patrol Department, responsible for maintaining order in the entire eastern sector.

Glancing around, the apartment buildings in the nearby blocks stood in neat rows. People walked back and forth on the streets, chatting and laughing. The flow of traffic was endless, and car horns blared.

In stark contrast to the anxiety of Factory Street and the restlessness of North Street, the air here seemed to be filled with a reassuring atmosphere.

’As expected of District Two, home to the Patrol Department.’

Nodding to himself, an idea began to form in Lu Chao’s mind.

Factory Street was full of all sorts of people, and public safety was terrible.

Coupled with last night’s attack and the sudden annihilation of the Rock Gang... all these unsettling events hung over him like a dark cloud. He felt that perhaps only District Two, where the Patrol Department was located, was truly safe.

With a tentative plan to move forming in his mind, Lu Chao strode into the Patrol Department building.

No one stopped him. The lobby was brightly lit, paved with smooth, deep-silver floor tiles.

Many people were coming and going, most of them residents of the Iron Ring District who were there to file reports or ask for help.

There were also one or two teams of uniformed patrol officers, their expressions grave, hurrying out in blue-and-white patrol cars.

After a quick glance around, Lu Chao retracted his gaze.

After making some inquiries, he arrived on the second floor of the Patrol Department branch.

[Third Patrol Team]

At the turn of the stairs, Lu Chao glanced at the sign on the wooden door and peered inside.

Inside the office were four or five reddish-brown desks. The space was a bit cramped but orderly, with each desk set against a different corner. There was also a small, separate cubicle shielded by Venetian blinds.

Some patrol officers sat in their chairs looking through files, while another walked toward their seat holding a mug.

The air was filled with the smell of ink and coffee.

After announcing himself, Lu Chao stated his purpose and submitted his documents.

Before long, he was led into the cubicle at the very back, where he met the friend Senior Brother Zheng had mentioned.

The captain of the Third Team, Yang Wangtao.

A professional-level expert whose Life Energy exceeded forty points.

"Captain Yang."

Lu Chao said in greeting. The sensory information on his panel showed only question marks.

Across from him, Yang Wangtao sat behind a red desk in his blue patrol officer’s uniform, his back to another window.

He looked to be in his thirties, with a square jaw, a side-parted hairstyle, and a stern, all-business expression.

"Mm."

Yang Wangtao gave a slight nod, his voice steady. On the desk lay Lu Chao’s application materials, which had clearly been looked through.

His eyes were sharp and focused. He raised his gaze and sized Lu Chao up.

"I’ve basically been briefed on your situation."

"Although it took you three months to break through, and your potential assessment is average, you’ve worked in the cleaning crew for a good while. That makes you practically one of our own, so you are indeed qualified to be a Level 3 Patrol Officer."

He paused for a moment after saying this.

A moment later, he stated the corresponding terms of employment.

"Eight rest days a month, a salary of 14,000 yuan, and a quota of twenty kilograms of Exotic Beast Meat."

"You can collect one Life Potion every two months. Additionally, you’ll earn contribution points for completing missions, which can be exchanged for internal resources within permissible limits..."

The benefits for a Level 3 Patrol Officer were even better than Lu Chao had expected.

The monthly salary and nutrition quota combined were worth nearly 20,000 yuan.

Then there was the so-called internal exchange channel.

According to Yang Wangtao, although a Level 3 Patrol Officer was technically a temporary position, it was still an official entry into the Patrol Department, so the benefits wouldn’t be too shabby.

Take the Life Potion, for example. On the open market, a single vial costs nearly 10,000 yuan.

But with the internal exchange, you could get a ten to twenty percent discount depending on your contribution level.

"As for housing allocation, temporary firearm permits, rank promotions, and so on—you need to be at least a Level 2 Patrol Officer to qualify for those."

"However, Level 3 Patrol Officers do have the right to freely enter and exit the inner city ring, the right to limited self-defense..."

Yang Wangtao explained point by point. Lu Chao stood there, committing every word to memory, feeling more and more certain he had made the right choice.

"However, patrol officers enjoy many privileges, and naturally, they also have corresponding duties."

"So let me get the unpleasantries out of the way first."

He looked at Lu Chao, seeing the bright, expectant look in his eyes.

Yang Wangtao leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his expression turning serious. "Patrolling the streets, apprehending criminals, investigating cases, handling sudden incidents... You should know why we’ve relaxed the recruitment requirements this time."

"If you’re afraid of danger, it would be best to find another path."

Unsurprised, Lu Chao naturally knew what the Patrol Department had to face. He was also aware that the city had been uneasy lately, with a vicious group of people supposedly on the loose.

But he didn’t hesitate. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Even a cleaner could die in a bombing, and corporate security could be killed by their employer’s enemies.

If you want resources and benefits, how can you not take risks?

"Thank you for the warning, Captain Yang. I won’t let you down in this job."

Lu Chao voiced his thanks, making his attitude clear.

Seeing his serious expression, Yang Wangtao nodded. He then called out to the main office, summoning a young patrol officer.

"Captain?"

"Xiaochen, this is our new colleague. Take him to complete the onboarding procedures for a Level 3 Patrol Officer. I’ve already notified the personnel team."

After these simple instructions, he turned his head to Lu Chao and said, "You’re hired today. Go home this afternoon and get your things in order. Report back tomorrow to officially start your duties."

The crisp, decisive words reached his ears.

Lu Chao was taken aback, slightly stunned.

’I’m hired? Just like that?’

The thought flashed through his mind as he saw Yang Wangtao give a casual wave of his hand, as if it were a trivial matter.

He finally understood just how precious this favor from Senior Brother Zheng was.