Chapter 56: Ninth Rank
Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Ninth Rank
"I have one more question."
Su Mu asked seriously.
"Speak."
Zhao Poni was a man of few words.
"Before we officially join the Taiping Bureau, what is our status? Are we commoners, or do we have official standing?"
Su Mu asked, "Don’t misunderstand. I don’t care about having an official rank, I just want to know if we have the authority to enforce the law. A proper title legitimizes one’s actions, after all."
He had worked so hard to become a squad leader, earning forty Points a day.
If joining the Taiping Bureau meant becoming a commoner again and only earning one or two Points a day, he might have to reconsider.
Without the boost from his status, his comprehension and aptitude would revert to their original state.
"Once you join the Taiping Bureau, you naturally have official status."
Zhao Poni said, "In the Taiping Bureau, a Capital Captain is Seventh Grade, a Captain is Sixth to Fifth Grade, and a Governor is Fourth Grade."
"The grades are just for determining salary and benefits. From Capital Captain on up, we are treated as one rank higher when dealing with other officials."
"Before you earn the right to embroider the ’Taiping’ insignia and become a Capital Captain, you’ll receive the benefits of the Ninth Grade. When on duty, you’ll be considered equivalent to a Ninth-Grade official."
Su Mu was pleasantly surprised to hear this.
’Even trainees are equivalent to Ninth-Grade officials? And a Capital Captain is already Seventh Grade?’
The head of South City, the Sima of the South City Bureau, was only a Seventh-Grade official.
Besides, a Taiping Bureau Capital Captain was treated as one rank higher. That meant a Capital Captain’s true standing was above that of the South City Bureau’s Sima!
What did it mean to ascend to the heavens in a single step?
This was it.
No wonder everyone spoke of the Taiping Bureau with both envy and fear.
The Taiping Bureau was truly an organization of unparalleled prestige.
"Since you were scouted by Captain Lin Qi Huan, you’ll report to him from now on."
Zhao Poni said, "Let him tell you the rest of the rules."
With that, Zhao Poni strode off, disappearing down the alley after just a few steps.
"Brother Taiping" Lin Qi Huan clapped Su Mu on the shoulder. "Don’t bother staring. It’ll be a long time before you’re anywhere near Old Zhao’s level."
"Let’s reintroduce ourselves. I am Lin Qi Huan, a Captain in the Taiping Bureau. From now on, I’m your boss. You can call me that."
"Boss, what do I need to do now?"
Su Mu asked, a bit formally.
"I’m the one in charge of South City, so you don’t need to go anywhere. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing."
Lin Qi Huan said, "If you discover any trace of demons, don’t do anything rash. Just notify me immediately."
"I... don’t have to move to the Inner City?"
Su Mu asked, confused. He used to be a squad leader; wasn’t he a Taiping Bureau trainee now?
"What the hell would you do in the Inner City?"
Lin Qi Huan asked, puzzled. "Your mission right now is to keep an eye on South City for me. As long as no demons show up, you just do whatever you normally do. I don’t mind."
"But I’ve joined the Taiping Bureau. I can’t continue to be a constable for the South City Bureau, can I?"
Su Mu asked, baffled.
"Strictly speaking, you’re not a member of the Taiping Bureau yet."
Lin Qi Huan said, "We may have granted you the status of a Ninth-Grade official, but you’re still on probation. If you don’t pass, you’ll be sent right back where you came from."
"You’re too weak right now. I couldn’t bring you on a mission even if I wanted to. So, for now, just stay in South City, train up on your own, and keep an eye out for any demons. That’s all you need to do."
Lin Qi Huan said casually, "As for your constable identity, I suggest you hold onto it for now."
"First, it makes things more convenient. Second, you get to draw two salaries. What’s not to like?"
Su Mu was speechless. ’You can do that?’
But since his direct superior had said so, he certainly wasn’t going to object.
"I’ll arrange for someone to update your household registration and handle the necessary paperwork. I’ll have your uniform, waist token, and weapon sent over to you later."
Lin Qi Huan seemed cold and aloof, but he was actually a warm-hearted person.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gifted Su Mu the Submerging Wave Saber Technique back then.
"That’s about it. You’re too weak to do anything else right now anyway."
Lin Qi Huan added, not missing a chance to take a jab at him.
"Boss, does the Taiping Bureau have Cultivation Techniques or secret martial arts manuals? How can I learn them?"
Seeing that Lin Qi Huan was about to leave, Su Mu quickly asked.
"Two ways. You can either buy them with silver or exchange them with merit points."
Lin Qi Huan said, "Those below the rank of Capital Captain can only purchase or exchange for Body Tempering Techniques and one Blood Exchange Technique. If you want one, you can go to the Inner City and get it yourself."
Su Mu thought for a moment. There was nothing else for now.
At this moment, Lin Qi Huan had already started walking away with great strides.
"Boss, if I find a demon, how do I notify you?"
Su Mu slapped his forehead and shouted after him.
"You’ll know."
Lin Qi Huan’s voice drifted back. His figure soared into the air, and after a few leaps across the rooftops, he disappeared in the direction of the Inner City.
’Okay, that was kind of cool.’
Su Mu thought to himself as he watched Lin Qi Huan disappear.
He had no idea what level Lin Qi Huan was at, only that he was much, much stronger than him. Su Mu couldn’t see through his power at all.
’Although I didn’t get to move to the Inner City like I wanted, having the status of a Taiping Bureau trainee as a safety net gives me confidence even while staying in the Outer City.’
Su Mu thought, ’I can keep being a squad leader. Boss Lin is right—why wouldn’t I take two salaries?’
Just as he was thinking about this, Su Mu saw Wang Liu and two other constables come running hurriedly from the mouth of the alley.
"Sergeant, Chief Zhao summons you."
Wang Liu hurried up to Su Mu and said.
’Zhao Ji is looking for me?’
Su Mu was puzzled. Lately, He Yuxing and Zhao Ji had been completely out of the picture.
He hadn’t seen either of them in a long time.
’I wonder why they’re suddenly looking for me. Has He Yuxing finally come around and decided to officially appoint me as chief constable?’
’Or do they already know I’m a Taiping Bureau trainee?’
Filled with questions, Su Mu arrived at the South City Bureau’s Government Office.
Zhao Ji was the acting chief constable. Although not officially appointed, he was now using what had been Xing Zhao Fu’s office.
The office was spacious and bright, though the messy stacks of documents on the desk were an eyesore.
"Sergeant Su, several people have recently died of unknown causes in Five Miles Temple Village outside South City. The other squad leaders all have urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll have to trouble you to make a trip out there and investigate."
Zhao Ji said with a stony face, pushing a case file across the desk. "If it was murder, bring the killer back."
Five Miles Temple Village was located in the suburbs of South City and was also under South City’s jurisdiction.
Hunting down killers and thieves was part of a constable’s job description.
Zhao Ji was still the acting chief constable, so it was perfectly normal for him to assign tasks to Su Mu.
Su Mu hesitated for a moment but didn’t refuse. He picked up the case file, cupped his fist in salute, and said, "Understood."
Just as he stepped out of Zhao Ji’s office, Su Mu was pulled aside into a deserted corner.
"You took the Five Miles Temple Village case?"
Zheng Wang whispered, glancing around nervously.
"I did. Chief Zhao assigned it, so it was hard to say no."
Su Mu said. Besides, solving cases earned Points.
"That bastard Zhao is up to no good!"
Zheng Wang sighed. "You shouldn’t have taken it! I’m telling you, the case in Five Miles Temple Village is suspected to involve demons. We can’t handle something like that! It should be reported to the Taiping Bureau!"