Chapter 32

So, the kid from just now not only got lucky guesses, but he actually managed to guess right more than once? The supervisor, unwilling to believe it, picked up the telescope hanging around his neck and took a glance at the target’s position. His eyes instantly widened in disbelief, his face written all over with incredulity.

Long-range shooting, six bullets hitting the target? That young guy shooting at a 500-meter long-range target probably only fired about twenty rounds or so, right? And yet, he managed to achieve a hit rate of nearly one-third?

…The Public Security Bureau isn’t the Military Department specialized in firearms. In terms of combat, we might be on par, but people who can shoot this accurately are extremely rare.

If you add up all the police divisions across the Capital City, which consist of over thirty thousand people, those capable of hitting long-range targets while ensuring a certain level of accuracy could likely be counted on two hands! Truly… how old is that young man from earlier? Could it be that he really started handling guns since he was in the womb?

“?”

Seeing the supervisor’s expression changing repeatedly, as if discovering someone pressing hard on a bulldog like a teddy bear, the female police officer couldn’t help but deeply furrow her eyebrows and then spoke to explain:

“You don’t need to be nervous. I just happened to see that person’s target and casually asked about it. I don’t intend to cause him any trouble.

Although practicing such dangerous skills isn’t ideal, as long as he doesn’t use them during missions, it’s none of my business!”

“Ahhh? Ohhh!”

Hardly hearing what the female police officer said, the firing range supervisor, who had just snapped out of his shock, recalled his conversation with his colleague. His already black face immediately turned bright red.

That person dared to aim for a 500-meter target because they were confident they could hit it. But the two of us, seeing his youth, arrogantly insisted on persuading him to switch to a half-range target. Later, we didn’t even bother to check the target and directly assumed he wouldn’t hit a single shot. Thinking about it now, it’s truly embarrassing.

After mumbling awkwardly for a bit, the flustered supervisor left clumsily and scurried back to change the target, while the female police officer used this time to look back at the registration form at the entrance of the shooting range.

“The previous person… Leon… Leon Lane?”

Seeing that familiar surname, the already furrowed eyebrows of the female police officer formed an elegant little “川” shape.

Lane… how is it always someone from the Lionheart Duke family again?…

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, diligent worker Leon was walking along the chilly autumn wind on his way to work once again.

It wasn’t that Leon had to get up so early, but the distance from his home in Veteran’s Lane to the municipal office area where the Clearing Bureau was located was roughly five to six kilometers. It would take about an hour to walk there on foot, so naturally, he had to get up early.

As for why he didn’t take public transportation like the tram or steam carriages… well, public transportation, though nominally “public,” has such exorbitant charges—averaging one copper wheel every three kilometers—that it effectively excludes more than half of the residents of the Capital City from using it.

And after joining the Clearing Bureau, Leon, earning over sixty thousand copper wheels annually, wasn’t exactly unable to afford it. However, the “Gaut” cigarettes he bought for the Black Goat were incredibly expensive, costing three silver wheels per pack. Not only did they drain his two gold wheels of fieldwork allowance, but they almost emptied his wallet entirely.

Walking an hour in the cold wind to work may be tough, but compared to the hardship of having no money in your pocket, the former is clearly much happier. Moreover, walking to work seems to have its benefits… at the very least, it allows him to enjoy a warm cup of coffee.

“Boss, a strong coffee, two slices of thin bread.”

Leon, hunched against the cold wind, skillfully slipped into the coffee stall tent, carefully untying the scarf around his neck and finding a seat closest to the stove.

“…”

Looking at the smiling face of the coffee stall swindler, Leon hesitated momentarily.

A meal without butter costs only half a copper wheel, with butter it’s one copper wheel, and adding ham slices requires another copper wheel.

And the fare from his home to the Clearing Bureau is only two copper wheels in total. If he chooses butter and ham, those five kilometers he walked would’ve been wasted.

But…

Smelling the warm, sweet aroma of butter in the air, and the sound of fat sizzling and melting under high heat, releasing that irresistible fatty fragrance, the word “no” suddenly became lethargic, refusing to crawl out of his lips.

“How about this… it’s not as cold today, and there aren’t many customers. I also fried too many ham slices, which may not all sell…”

Seemingly seeing through Leon’s struggle, the seemingly honest swindler boss chuckled and suggested:

“How about… I’ll give you a discount of half a copper wheel if you add ham slices today, treating it as a special price for regular customers. You can also consider supporting my business. What do you say?”

“…”

Not a single mistake in content found on 69 Book Bar!

“Add it! Spread the butter thick!”

Ultimately unable to resist the allure of fat, Leon touched his deflated wallet and glanced at his frail arms before gritting his teeth and fiercely nodding.

There are only three days until payday at the Clearing Bureau. After deducting the money for buying drinks for the Red-haired Bureau Director, he estimated he’d still make seven or eight gold wheels. Two copper wheels wouldn’t make much difference! Besides, after receiving the new anomalous item from the director today, he still had to investigate at the Water Power Corporation. He probably wouldn’t be able to enjoy the free canteen of the Public Security Bureau at noon. If he didn’t eat something good in the morning, how would he have the strength to go on field duty?

“Alright~”

Chuckling and nodding in agreement, the swindler boss pulled out the remaining ham slices, dexterously drizzled some homemade sauce, and placed them on the stone slab above the charcoal stove alongside the bread, making Leon, who had gotten used to frugality these past few years, feel a pang of pain inside.

To ease his conscience, Leon looked up and avoided looking at the two slices of “copper wheels” being heated on the stone slab, striking up a conversation with the boss instead.

“Boss, what’s your name?”

“Chaer, Chaer from Chal Department Store.”

Working outside on a small stall definitely means you’re not socially awkward. The swindler boss responded cheerfully: “Guest, please don’t use honorifics. Just call me Lao Chaer.”

Chal Department Store… Chaer Company? Isn’t that the bastard company that dumps sewage into the public water pipes?!