Chapter Fourteen: The Ubiquity of Class Distinctions

The moment Chief Dai pointed his finger, not only was the leader of Group One taken aback, but Ye Chen was also utterly astonished. At the same time, the other two group leaders behind them cast scrutinizing glances his way.

Just yesterday, Ye Chen had assumed that Jin Yinghui had relied on connections within the Outer City Patrol Bureau, which was why he had specially treated Dai Guangjun to dinner. Now, however, it seemed there were many details behind the scenes he wasn’t privy to. In other words, the one with real backing in the Inner City wasn’t himself, but this Jin Yinghui fellow.

In a society where the mere presence of a wall marked a vast class divide, having someone to rely on in the Inner City meant clinging to a truly powerful patron. No wonder Jin Yinghui could enjoy such an easy post. This only confirmed Ye Chen’s suspicion: this powerful patron must be a woman.

Heavens, the man’s almost fifty, and he still manages to live off someone else. One word—impressive!

At this very moment, while Jin Yinghui was busy searching for a small sofa in the front and back of the house, completely unaware, someone had already attached a new label to him.

“Come, let’s talk in my office,” Chief Dai said, nodding kindly to Ye Chen. “And close the door behind you.”

Ye Chen asked, “Who were those people with you just now?”

Pouring himself some water, Dai Guangjun gave a brief introduction:

“The one as round as a ball is Zhu Gan, leader of Group One, nicknamed Piglet.

“The bearded fellow behind me is Gong Xiao, leader of Group Three, known as the Big Mouth.

“As for the other, he’s just been promoted—Li Chuan. The former leader has been transferred to the Inner City Patrol Bureau.”

Ye Chen made a mental note—no wonder Jin Yinghui had mentioned a vacancy in the Patrol Bureau; it turned out to be true. But this Li Chuan—why did that name sound so familiar? The rent collector who came to his door was also surnamed Li. That guy used to boast that if any family dared miss a payment, he’d bring the patrolmen to smash their door down.

Could there be a connection between the two?

Chief Dai, seated behind his desk, pulled out the patrol’s special communicator from his pocket. He dialed two numbers, each time uttering a succinct, “Come here.”

Before long, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in!” The voice was crisp and meticulous.

“Boss, here!” The speaker was a stocky, swarthy man with a messy stubble, disheveled clothes, untidy hair, and a mischievous grin. He was fiddling with his communicator, his gaze roving lasciviously over Ye Chen.

Chief Dai pressed a hand to his forehead, unwilling to look at him.

Entering alongside him was a tall, lean man, even taller than Chief Dai, wearing his uniform immaculately. His hair was cropped short, his gear perfectly arranged. After saluting, he announced, “Reporting!”

He glanced at Ye Chen, then stepped to the desk, standing at attention, hands clasped behind his back, chin lifted, lips tight, saying nothing more.

Ye Chen was inwardly surprised—weren’t these the two who ate at the noodle stall yesterday and didn’t pay? Who would have thought he’d encounter them again on his first day at work? He’d have to quietly ask the noodle vendor later just how much these two owed.

Chief Dai sipped his tea and spoke solemnly: “Allow me to introduce you. This is Ye Chen, newly assigned to Group Two. The tall one is Chen Bingfeng, and that thing beside him is Xu Fan.

“From today, you three will work as a team.”

“Boss, I’m not a ‘thing’...” Xu Fan’s eyes brimmed with grievance.

“Hello, you can call me Bingfeng. Let’s learn from each other.”

“Thank you. I look forward to working with you,” Ye Chen replied.

Seeing Ye Chen mimic the others and line up, Chief Dai nodded quietly and said, “Bingfeng, take some time to explain the bureau’s rules to Ye Chen. Xu Fan, you’d better listen in again.

“Now, for your assignments.

“I just finished a meeting with the group leaders. Some members of Group Two will assist Group One in investigating a recently assigned case.

“Bingfeng, recap the case from two days ago for Ye Chen. He hasn’t received a communicator yet and can’t access the briefings.”

Ye Chen was taken aback—on his first day, assignments were already being handed out, with no time to even get acquainted? When did the Outer City Patrol Bureau become so efficient?

He remembered neighbors talking about a home invasion and murder in the tin-roofed housing district. The victim’s relatives had begged the Patrol Bureau for help, but no one was dispatched. In the end, an old hunter found the culprit—half-mauled by mutated beasts—in the wilderness. The fugitive had fled there in fear of capture.

Could it be that the Patrol Bureau’s standards had risen in recent years?

“Yes, sir!” Without even reaching for his communicator, Chen Bingfeng recited from memory: “The day before yesterday, there was a homicide in Residential District Seven. Upon investigation, two victims were confirmed: a thirty-eight-year-old man and a thirty-two-year-old woman, identified as husband and wife.

“They ran a shop in the market district, selling second-hand machinery and offering repair services.

“Preliminary findings indicate both died from being bitten by an unknown mutated creature, with evidence of internal organs having been consumed.”

Having finished, he glanced at Chief Dai, awaiting further orders.

District Seven? So that’s it! Hearing the district’s name, Ye Chen immediately understood. It wasn’t that the Patrol Bureau had become more efficient—rather, the victims’ status was a cut above those living in the tin-roofed areas.

The Outer City was divided into ten residential districts; the first five, all tin-roofed homes, housed the poorest of the poor. The latter five were home to the Outer City’s wealthy elite.

It seemed that not only was there a class divide between the Inner and Outer City, but even a district’s number determined a person’s standing.

“I’ll add the details on the latest case,” Chief Dai said, eyes on the briefing before him. “Last night, another person was killed on Bar Street. The victim was male, age thirty-five.

“The body was discovered by a customer who spent the night on Bar Street.

“Cause of death was again being bitten to death by an unknown creature, with the same signs of organ consumption.”

Ye Chen, listening closely, showed a fleeting change of expression before regaining composure—but Chief Dai, sitting opposite, caught it.

“This morning, the leader of Group One suggested at the meeting that the mutated beast might have slipped in from outside the group’s assigned territory, through the city wall.

“So, your first task today is to confirm whether there are any breaches in the Outer City wall within your patrol area.

“If any are found, report immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

As the three prepared to leave the office, Chief Dai suddenly called out, “Ye Chen, do you know something? I noticed your expression just now!”

Seeing Chief Dai’s eyes narrow, Ye Chen felt as though he’d been seen through. Next to him, Chen Bingfeng whispered, “Chief Dai is an awakened object-type user. His glasses work as both a telescope and a magnifier. No micro-expression escapes his gaze.”