Chapter 25: Sea Without Light 25
“August 1 Port Patrol Record.
At 9:23 AM, an incident of fighting occurred; two individuals were detained, and three received education through criticism.
At 10:56 AM, workers at Port Number Five engaged in mutual fighting over trivial matters and were taken back to the port detention center for cooling down and criticism education.
At 3:11 PM, a robbery report was received. Upon arrival at the scene, the suspect had already fled. After collecting evidence from the crime scene, the victim was taken back to the security office for a statement.
At 6:05 PM, individuals loitering in Alley 168 on Peaceful Street gathered to use drugs and were arrested on the spot. They were taken back to the Investigation Building headquarters for further interrogation.”
“August 2 Port Patrol Record.
At 8:02 AM, a floating body was discovered in the southeast corner of Port Number Five. The deceased was identified as a dock worker who drowned due to intoxication. Preliminary investigation revealed no signs of homicide; the case was classified as an accidental death. The body was picked up by the family at 12:32 PM.
At 1:56 PM, a street brawl occurred, resulting in the detention of five individuals.
At 3:14 PM, another street brawl occurred, leading to the detention of four individuals.
At 5:09 PM, a street melee broke out, with both conflicting parties using steel pipes, pry bars, bone knives, and old revolvers. The patrolling Coastal Security Team’s warning was ineffective, resulting in the shooting of two individuals, while the rest were detained.”
“How nice… another beautiful, peaceful day is about to end. Today was also an easy day.” Kui Xin sat in the office, typing the last character on the screen and stretching.
As a newcomer, Kui Xin had to learn a lot of things. For example, how to write reports and how to correctly handle various disputes while patrolling the port.
The reports for the last few days had all been written by Kui Xin, who entered the work logs into Augus’s system for archiving.
For two consecutive days, nothing occurred.
Silverface methodically collected data daily, while Thorn Rose shared some of the workload after getting a mechanical hand. Red had contacted Kui Xin less frequently, indicating that their tasks must also be in a crucial phase. The dock was so large, and with the security officers patrolling so densely, collecting data was not an easy task.
Kui Xin hadn’t worked for Mechanized Dawn at night for two days in a row, making her feel a bit out of sorts. Working just one job made her relatively free, allowing her to spare some time to study after returning home at night.
Thinking of the stacks of thick professional books in her room overwhelmed Kui Xin; finishing four years of university courses in just a few days was simply a pipe dream. Luckily, she didn’t need specialized criminal investigation knowledge at the moment, as most unexpected incidents encountered in the port could be resolved through force.
“Are you done, Kui Xin?” Xueyao Shu asked while organizing documents at a nearby desk. He turned off the projector and said, “You worked hard today.”
“It’s not hard; the report is only a few hundred words. Captain, you worked much harder than me.” Kui Xin clicked save and then turned off the projector.
“It’s time to get off work; let’s go.” Xueyao Shu glanced at the time.
The Coastal Security Team’s patrol work was divided into day and night shifts. Daytime work was relatively easy, while nighttime was the most dangerous. Under the cover of darkness, all sorts of dirty deeds emerged.
Like disgusting bugs that hide in the ground during the scorching sun, they all crawled out at night.
People could never imagine how insane Hei Hai City was at night.
“We’re on night patrol tomorrow, right?” Kui Xin asked.
Xueyao Shu replied, “Yes, you can take the day off, and your work schedule is adjusted to start at 8 PM.”
Nighttime high-intensity patrols could lead to exhaustion, so the shifts were rotated; they rotated every two days. A few days ago, the Seventh Squad was on day patrol, and tomorrow it was their turn for the night.
“Shall we take a walk together?” Xueyao Shu invited.
“Sure, a little stroll. It’s quite cool at night, much better than during the day.” Kui Xin nodded naturally.
Patrolling at the dock during the day made her feel overly hot; in the thirty-to-forty-degree heat, she had to wear thick gear to prepare for any unexpected occurrences.
These past few days, Kui Xin’s usual posture while patrolling with her teammates was to stand tall, eyes sharp to observe every direction, and her right hand always resting on her belt holster, ready to draw her gun.
After hearing from older colleagues in the Coastal Security Team that they frequently encountered gang members armed with guns near the port, she had become somewhat paranoid. What if, while patrolling, a gang member with a grudge against the Investigation Bureau suddenly popped out and shot her?
Kui Xin didn’t want anyone to take her out, so she stayed vigilant while keeping her hand on the holster.
If someone wanted to take her down, she would preemptively take that person down instead.
And she indeed did so; during the street melee this afternoon, she showed no mercy, taking down the opposing gang leader with just two shots.
Kui Xin and Xueyao Shu changed into casual clothes and exited the Coastal Security office, with Xueyao Shu escorting her along her usual route home.
“How have you been feeling these past couple of days?” Xueyao Shu asked with concern.
“I’m alright,” Kui Xin replied. “The feelings are stronger the first and second times doing such things… but they gradually fade.”
Xueyao Shu commented, “You’re the most adaptable newcomer I’ve ever seen.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Captain.” Kui Xin calmly accepted his praise.
“You were recruited early from Black Sea Academy to intern at the Investigation Bureau; you’re the only newcomer from that batch. It may be hard to find someone with a similar mindset to talk to. Seeing you adapt to the work in the Investigation Bureau puts me at ease,” Xueyao Shu said. “Actually, under normal procedures, you would need more training before you could handle things independently. Letting you patrol so soon was a bit rushed.”
Kui Xin said, “You don’t need to worry about my mindset; I anticipated the chaos in the Harbor Zone and prepared mentally, so it wasn’t hard to accept.”
“That’s true; you’re from the Harbor Zone,” Xueyao Shu noted. “In another month, we’ll be recruiting externally, and once we train more newcomers, the pressure will lighten a lot. For now, we just have to endure it.”
“I understand; it’s a special period,” Kui Xin said understandingly. “Things have been more chaotic than usual lately.”
The sky was starting to darken, the breeze was cool, and the low residential buildings in the Harbor Zone began to light up.
Xueyao Shu said, “Kui Xin, you should know that being a security officer requires not only learning to bear pressure but also resisting temptation.”
“What do you mean by that?” Kui Xin turned her head, pretending not to understand.
“You’re too young. Although you’ve seen some dark things, the dirtiest and darkest matters far exceed your imagination,” Xueyao Shu explained. “Do you know why our Coastal Security Team rotates every month?”
Kui Xin adopted an attentive posture.
“Because of bribery,” Xueyao Shu whispered. “Smugglers at the port bribe the long-stationed Coastal Security Team, and the team becomes accomplices of unlawful forces.”
Kui Xin wasn’t very surprised to hear this; such things happened everywhere, with only the quantity and severity varying.
“The monthly rotation of the squads stationed at the Coastal Security office increases the bribery costs for unlawful forces because they need to spend time and money building connections with each new group brought in,” Kui Xin guessed, continuing Xueyao Shu’s line of thought. “Is that right, Captain?”
“Yes, it’s a necessary measure,” Xueyao Shu confirmed. “We can’t completely eradicate such occurrences.”
“Captain, I believe you are an upright and kind person,” Kui Xin said hesitantly, looking at Xueyao Shu. “You wouldn’t embezzle or accept bribes, would you?”
Xueyao Shu was taken aback. “What are you thinking? Which corrupt person would explain all these insider dealings to you?”
“What if you wanted to silence me and collude with me over the spoils?” Kui Xin stroked her chin, saying.
“Alright, I know you’re joking, Kui Xin.” Xueyao Shu was both amused and exasperated.
“The captain is a rich young man; he shouldn’t care about that little money,” Kui Xin remarked. “I feel very assured working with you, Captain.”
“Thank you for your trust,” Xueyao Shu said.
Kui Xin pondered seriously: “You just said we can’t completely prevent these things from happening… A month isn’t short; perhaps someone will eventually be bribed. So, not only will we face threats from gang members, but we might also encounter betrayal from teammates sometimes?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Xueyao Shu affirmed. “This world is too complicated, and people’s hearts are too complex. Kui Xin, you just graduated from university; you need to adapt to combat and also adapt to society.”
“My parents aren’t around, there are no reliable relatives or elders nearby; no one is here to guide me through this.” Kui Xin paused and said, “You’re the first person who has taught me about worldly affairs, Captain.”
“Having someone beside you to teach you is better than fighting alone,” Xueyao Shu encouraged. “If you don’t understand something, just ask, and if you can’t do something, learn. Gradually, you’ll get the hang of it.”
“Mm, okay.” Kui Xin replied, “I’ll remember that.”
The two of them arrived at the entrance of Kui Xin’s building.
“I’m home now; you should hurry back, Captain,” Kui Xin said.
“Rest well during the day, or you won’t last through the night shift.” Xueyao Shu nodded to Kui Xin as he said goodbye. “Goodbye, Kui Xin.”
Kui Xin stood at the entrance, watching Xueyao Shu’s figure disappear around the street corner.
She turned and went upstairs, opening the door to her home.
Silverface was sitting at the dining table, bored, playing with a water ball. “Who was that person downstairs? You talked to him for a long time.”
Kui Xin raised an eyebrow. “Did you see?”
“I saw him; he didn’t see me,” Silverface replied.
“Be careful; that’s my superior from the Investigation Bureau.” Kui Xin entered, changed her shoes, and went to the bathroom to remove her sunscreen.
When she looked in the kitchen, she frowned and said, “There are no ingredients left… I’ll just grab something at the convenience store; I don’t feel like cooking.”
Kui Xin walked back to the door, changed her shoes, and prepared to go out. “Next time, remember to buy groceries after finishing your tasks.”
“Oh, okay,” Silverface said, lying limply on the table.
Kui Xin thought for a moment after reaching downstairs and walked towards the direction of a nearby convenience store based on her memory.
Her fellow townsman, Xi Liang, had parents who ran a convenience store in the Second World, so since she was going down, she thought to get more information on his situation as well.
“Welcome.” An old-style announcement machine emitted a muffled mechanical sound as she pushed the door open.
The convenience store wasn’t large but it was well-stocked, offering daily necessities and various foods.
The sound of wheels turning echoed in the air.
“Senior?”
“… Xi Liang?”
Kui Xin was shocked to see Xi Liang sitting in a wheelchair, completely covered in bandages and plaster. Only his eyes, nose, and mouth were exposed, and he looked exceptionally tragic.
“What happened to you?” Kui Xin asked in surprise. “You’ve become like this after just a few days.”
Xi Liang pursed his lips. “I got hit by a car while delivering food… The one who hit me was a rich second-generation kid, and he was so arrogant.”
“Is there any compensation?” Kui Xin inquired.
“He said he wants to go through legal procedures; at the very least, I won’t see compensation for three months,” Xi Liang said sadly. “I’ve lost feeling in my legs and need to get mechanical limbs. My parents are trying to raise money for me…”
As he spoke, tears streamed down his face.
During this time, Xi Liang had experienced a lot of heartache; he had never felt life to be so difficult, so suffocatingly hard.
The excitement and expectations he had upon crossing over to this place were ground down by reality piece by piece. The injuries and pain he experienced in this world were all too real, and everything he had gone through was also genuine. The game system he carried was merely a decoration, serving no purpose apart from showing panels. Scenes such as awakening superpowers or obtaining golden fingers were completely absent.
Xi Liang lived in the Second World like an ordinary person, living humbly and authentically. He had to worry about money and livelihood and would experience various unexpected events.
In fact, most lower-class residents in the Second World lived like this.
Xi Liang’s identity after crossing was set up like this, and if he didn’t have the ability to change his circumstances, he would remain mediocre in the Second World.
“I’m sorry, Senior, for making you laugh at my situation… I lost control of my emotions for a moment,” Xi Liang sniffed. “You wanted to buy something, right? Go ahead; just scan your face at the front for payment.”
Kui Xin picked up some bread, milk, and a few bags of snacks.
Just as she was about to pay, a low-key black sedan suddenly stopped outside the convenience store. A well-dressed man in a suit got out, directly walked into the convenience store, and fixed his gaze on Xi Liang.
“Hello, Mr. Xi Liang.” The suited man handed him a business card. “I am Zhang Rui from the Talent Recruitment Department of Rick Technology Corporation. I would like to introduce our company’s talent recruitment program to you.”
Xi Liang was stunned. “I was accepted to Black Sea Academy, but I haven’t graduated yet; I haven’t even enrolled in school yet. Isn’t it a bit early to recruit me…”
“You’ve misunderstood our intention, Mr. Xi Liang.” Zhang Rui said politely, “We have a recruitment partnership with universities and have seen your information. You have excellent grades, but the tuition at Black Sea Academy… to be honest, not many regular families can afford it. Our Talent Cultivation Fund at Rick Technology Corporation can provide low-interest or even interest-free loans for impoverished students.”
“Are you doing charity?” Xi Liang’s mouth dropped open.
“Of course, we are not; there are conditions to obtaining the loan.” Zhang Rui revealed his true intent, “You need to sign a contract, promising to work at Rick Technology Corporation after graduation.”
This was… a tech talent monopoly. Xi Liang sluggishly realized.
Having almost zero knowledge about Rick Technology Corporation, he instinctively looked towards the “local resident,” Kui Xin.
“Senior, do you have any advice?” Xi Liang asked.
“Rick is a relatively reliable company; I think you should carefully review the contract. Once your parents return, discuss it with them.” Kui Xin contemplated for a moment, “Whether to accept it or not is up to your personal choice… If you don’t have a better option at this stage, then you can choose Rick Technology Corporation.”
Zhang Rui politely nodded to Kui Xin, “This lady’s opinion is quite reasonable.” He assessed Xi Liang’s legs. “Our company’s bionic mechanical technology is world-leading. If you sign the agreement, Mr. Xi Liang, we will provide you with suitable mechanical limbs at a relatively advantageous price.”
