Everyone in the Underground City eagerly flatters the Night Patrol, especially the captain of the Night Patrol. This kid really doesn't know how to take himself seriously; he's been overwhelmed lately.
"Oh, it's for me, just leave it here. You can leave work now," Luo Jin said, pointing to the table.
Kathy waved her hand, "Oh no, that's not okay. Being late or leaving early will get my salary deducted. I'll just be outside. Do you want a cup of tea, my Hundred Flowers Tea?"
"Alright, give me a cup then." Luo Jin couldn't help but laugh as he started flipping through Li Xin's information. He was quite interested in this kid.
As he looked, the corners of Luo Jin's mouth unconsciously lifted. Lin Fei... it shouldn't be a duplicate name. That case back then seemed to be right in front of him. Alas, they are all pitiful people.
Six years ago, Li Xin was adopted by Lin Fei, making a living through hunting. Judging from the prey, he should have awakened his spiritual ability five years ago. He has a strong combat talent, living off hunting, and because of selling game, protection fees, and conflicts with the Black Spade group, there have been several clashes.
Afterwards, not only did the Black Spade not retaliate, but they also became very well-behaved and regularized. They changed from smashing and robbing into unified protection fee collection once a month, and they also took up the responsibility of maintaining order in the Black Water Region. They even had several gang conflicts with outside groups; twice they were obviously weaker, but still won. As for the area around Li Xin's home, it became a safe zone in the Black Water.
This should account for the consistently good public order in the Black Water Region in recent years.
Luo Jin stroked his chin, thinking of Qi Badao's look at Li Xin, the two must have had some kind of agreement.
Getting an old gangster like Qi Badao to listen without some means is impossible. His methods are ruthless, but just being ruthless isn't enough. Gangsters also need to make a living. Without money, forget about risking their lives; the little brothers would ditch the boss instantly.
Not causing trouble openly is one thing, but secretly maintaining order must mean they've been subdued... Regularly collecting protection fees, maintaining order, building credibility, whether this strategy was Li Xin's or Qi Badao's, it's not bad. The City Hall doesn't care about the Underground City; having order is better than chaos.
Luo Jin kept reading, finding the Night Patrol's investigation revealed Li Xin still relied on hunting for a living and did not participate in the Black Spade group's earnings distribution and rarely had interactions.
This was interesting. At sixteen or seventeen, to have such skills and control over desires was something even Luo Jin admired. Frankly, if he were in Li Xin's living environment, he'd want a piece of the pie.
The Night Patrol's report was very detailed: Li Xin treated his adoptive mother and sister very well, valued family, and would not have poor character.
There was a list of some rather special exotic beasts and rare medicinal materials since special material shops or Hex material recycling stations would record sources. This kid had a small reputation in the market. Some exotic beasts are very challenging and dangerous to hunt, like the Charming Ear Rabbit, which wasn't strong in combat but had an amazing ability for insight. Nobles loved the Charming Ear Rabbit, but only he could catch them alive. His own insight and agility must have been…
?
Luo Jin couldn't help but smile wryly. Damn, I missed this; the kid must have already noticed him when he was hunting the Licker. He probably deliberately turned his back to give the worm a chance to lure him out. With his insight, he shouldn't have been unresponsive; no wonder he wasn't surprised at all when I appeared.
Additionally, it's normal for the Licker to want to run upon sensing his presence, but how did it suddenly get shot dead? Back then, he thought it was a problem with the Licker itself, but now thinking back, it wasn't necessarily so.
Luo Jin subconsciously rubbed his chin, couldn't help but laugh, thinking what was I thinking, this was too exaggerated, it was an occupational hazard, digging deep into everything that happened. After all, he's seen all sorts of people.
Previously, he was uncomfortable with the unclear relationship between Li Xin and the gang, but now it's different. This kid has his own set of principles and values family, which he admired. The Night Patrol requires someone ruthless but who doesn't lose their sense of self.
This kid is a born Night Patrol.
Regarding Luo Jin's admiration, the person involved had no knowledge. On the sixth day, the traveler finally returned home.
This time, he had lost his Bone Spear and his Dagger was missing too. The only canvas backpack had holes all over, clothes were tattered with strips hanging, hair seemed to have been rubbed by something, face was bruised and dirty with who knows what, smelling weird as if he took a bath in a soy sauce jar and was left to dry.
When he entered the house, Xueyin didn't recognize him at first and pinched her nose to hand him a bun.
Holding the bun, Li Xin was nearly moved to tears, thinking if he rolled those dice again, he would be no better than a dog.
Suddenly a warm embrace wrapped around Li Xin. Aunt Fei was patting Li Xin's head, pulling him into the house without a word, scrutinizing him up and down, "Are you hurt?"
Li Xin grinned, "No, I'm fine. Just came back empty handed this time, and lost all my gear."
"As long as you're okay, that's what's important. Go wash up, I've got food ready for you," Lin Fei said gently.
Li Xin nodded. Aunt Fei usually liked to yell, but was always extremely calm in times of trouble, with an especially stable mindset.
"What are you standing there for? Take off your clothes, let me see if anything can be salvaged."
Li Xin coughed a few times while Lin Fei chuckled, "Oh, all grown up, getting bashful, huh? There's nothing on you I haven't seen."
…
Li Xin squatted in the rudimentary bucket scrubbing off the mud of unknown origin from his body, having gone through every muddy ditch in the forest, completely fed up. He needed to find a better way.
To enter the city, you needed backing; Luo Jin might just be a good option. If he wasn't wary of Night Patrol's high risk of casualties, he'd have latched on long ago. But the current days weren't sustainable either -- Aunt Fei, constantly tousled, pretending to be strong, and the days passing one by one. Xueyin was also at the age for the Grace Class -- all of which required money and city status.
After thinking it through, Li Xin felt better. After bathing, eating, he slept soundly.
The next morning, clean clothes chosen, the best piece of dried cured meat was packed and wrapped, ready to be brought to the Night Patrol's post. Li Xin knew the way from the Underground City to the town with his eyes closed.
The Night Patrol is a subordinate organization of the City Hall, but due to its ties with the Awakened, the Church actually manages it. The post is close to the Church.
To avoid dirtying his clothes, Li Xin didn't take the shortcuts, instead, taking the longer ground path, arriving in town by nearly noon.