The commission for Bangboo training and assessment had come to an end.
Billy declared confidently, "Well, Officer Zhu Yuan, are you satisfied with our professional capabilities?"
Zhu Yuan nodded. "Yes, thank you for your help. As for the payment for this commission, I'll make sure it's transferred to the accounts of Hare's House and the video store as soon as possible..."
Immediately after, Zhu Yuan wasted no time. With the Bangboo assessment report and the group of Bangboo, she left the Hollow.
The Hare's House crew—Belle, Hu Tao, and the others—also departed.
Zhu Yuan asked earnestly, "Do you need Senior Qingyi and me to escort you back?"
Belle shook her head. "No need. Nicole and I both drove. We can squeeze everyone in..."
Zhu Yuan nodded. "Alright, I'll head back first then."
...
Zhu Yuan drove the New Eridu Public Security patrol car, while Qingyi followed behind in a modified passenger van, transporting the thirty Bangboo who had completed the assessment back to the Janus District.
Soon, they arrived at Lumina Square.
Just as they parked the patrol car and the van at the branch entrance, another officer approached.
Upon seeing Zhu Yuan, the officer hurried over. "Officer Zhu Yuan, Officer Qingyi—where have you been all day? The Superior Officer has been looking for you all morning. It seems urgent..."
Zhu Yuan quickly replied, "Understood. Senior Officer Qingyi and I will head there right away."
Without delay, the two of them went straight to the Superior Officer's office.
Zhu Yuan knocked on the door. "Superior Officer, we're back..."
From inside came the Superior Officer's voice. "Zhu Yuan, you're finally back. Come in..."
When she entered, Zhu Yuan saw not only the Superior Officer of New Eridu Public Security but also several elite officers from the Janus District Branch.
Zhu Yuan asked seriously, "Superior Officer, I heard you wanted to see me..."
The Superior Officer spoke slowly. "High Command is preparing to make a move on Hollow Zero. When that happens, all major Hollows will be affected, and abnormal changes may occur. We need contingency plans in place..."
These contingency plans involved deploying Security Personnel around the Hollows in Janus District to maintain order and respond to any irregularities.
Soon after, the Superior Officer assigned tasks to the officers present.
When the others left, he called Zhu Yuan and Qingyi back. "Where were you two just now? I searched the entire branch and couldn't find you."
Zhu Yuan immediately explained about the Bangboo assessment.
The Superior Officer himself had planned and approved the training of this batch of Bangboo, so he naturally knew about it.
However, after listening, he frowned. "You went to test the Bangboo? If I'm not mistaken, they've only been training for a week, right?"
These Bangboo had all been recruited from the streets. Before joining Public Security, they were either homeless strays or street-toughs. Training them into qualified Security Bangboo was no easy feat.
If not for the urgent need, the Superior Officer wouldn't have taken them in.
By his plan, they would need at least two weeks of training just to pass the Level One Hollow Combat Assessment. Earning a Level Two Certificate would take at least a month—even under the best circumstances.
Seeing his confusion, Zhu Yuan quickly handed him the assessment report.
"Thirty Bangboo participated in the Hollow combat assessment. All thirty passed. Zero failed. Every single Bangboo completed the sixth-tier Hollow combat assessment."
"Hmm, not bad, they all passed..."
But the next moment, the Superior Officer froze.
What?
All thirty Bangboo completed the sixth-tier Hollow combat assessment?
He stared at Zhu Yuan in disbelief, then furrowed his brow. "Zhu Yuan, you didn't mistake the assessment levels, did you? Mix up Tier Six with Tier One, or something like that?"
Zhu Yuan shook her head firmly. "No mistake. They all cleared the Tier Six assessment and obtained sixth-tier Hollow Combat Certificates."
The Superior Officer scowled. "Impossible. How could they jump from Tier One to Tier Six so quickly? You must have gotten something wrong."
After all, the Tier Six Hollow Combat Assessment was notoriously difficult. Even regular Public Security officers struggled to pass—let alone street Bangboo trained for just one week.
Zhu Yuan quickly explained, "Reporting to Superior Officer—due to time constraints, I skipped the Tier One through Tier Five assessments and went directly to Tier Six. That's why the assessment was completed so quickly."
The Superior Officer frowned even deeper. "Reckless—"
Qingyi let out a quiet sigh. "It wasn't Zhu Yuan's fault. It was my suggestion to skip straight to Tier Six. Those Bangboo each possess unique skills. The earlier trials would have been a waste of time."
Then, together, Zhu Yuan and Qingyi described the assessment in detail—how each Bangboo displayed martial prowess and extraordinary abilities.
The Superior Officer was dumbfounded. "You're saying those Bangboo know martial arts? Each with their own techniques?"
Zhu Yuan nodded. "Yes. Apparently, they were taught by that little one called Guoba..."
The Superior Officer leaned forward urgently. "Where are those Bangboo now?"
Zhu Yuan replied, "In the branch courtyard."
At once, the Superior Officer rushed to the window. Opening it, he saw below a group of energetic Bangboo.
Some were practicing boxing. Others were swinging kitchen knives in sharp blade drills. A few leapt and flipped through the air, slamming their heads into the ground—splitting the concrete pavement open.
The Superior Officer nearly jumped back in shock.
He'd seen his share of strange things, but Bangboo trained in martial arts? That was a first.
Judging by their skills, they were far stronger than the Security Bangboo already in service.
Qingyi smiled faintly. "Now you believe us, don't you?"
The Superior Officer cleared his throat. "Ahem... Impressive. With these Bangboo, manpower shortages won't be an issue. Oh, and about that Guoba you mentioned—could you bring it here? Have it train the other Security Bangboo as well..."
Zhu Yuan replied earnestly, "Yes. I'll head to Hare's House now and ask Guoba to help."
With that, Zhu Yuan and Qingyi set off in the patrol car back to Hare's House.
...
Meanwhile, on the outer ring expressway near New Eridu, a slightly worn cargo truck sped down the wide road.
"Miss Piper, aren't we at New Eridu yet?"
"Don't be impatient. Once we cross that canyon up ahead, you'll see New Eridu's skyscrapers."