Chapter 322 - 308: Anhe City Patrol Guard Recruitment
Meanwhile, Su Ling’er was getting a pounding headache from it all. *Sigh...* ’I had no idea until I heard it, and what a shock it is. I can’t believe how deep the corruption in Anhe City runs!’
But on second thought, something felt wrong. ’This is the City Lord’s city; these are the City Lord’s people. With all this mess going on, I, an "Immortal," haven’t even had to say a word. How can you, the City Lord, just stand there as if none of this concerns you?’
So, Su Ling’er fixed her gaze on Zhao Decang. But counting on him would be as fruitless as climbing a tree to find fish. If he had ever truly intended to rule justly, Anhe City wouldn’t be so overrun with thieves and crooks.
"Mr. Zhao," her voice wasn’t loud, but it cut clearly through all the noise, "Regarding the current state of Anhe City... don’t you intend to offer an explanation?"
The moment her gaze fell upon him, Zhao Decang felt a cold sweat break out on his back!
He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed deeply to Su Ling’er with his hands clasped in a salute, bending so low he nearly touched the ground. "Miss Su, please quell your anger! Please! It is my fault! It is all my fault for being negligent in my duties, allowing these villains to run wild in the city and corrupt the atmosphere of Anhe City! I am guilty! I am guilty!"
"Oh?" Su Ling’er raised an eyebrow. "Then how do you plan to handle this mess before us?"
"Handle it! I’ll handle it immediately!" Zhao Decang’s will to survive was off the charts. He quickly calculated his options. ’Miss Su is powerful now and clearly not someone to be trifled with. But in the end, she’s a cultivator, a person detached from worldly affairs. Perhaps if I just let her get this heroic zeal out of her system and make sure she’s satisfied, this whole thing will blow over.’
He spun around and roared at his aide beside him, "Aide! What are you gaping at?! Hurry up and take some men to register every one of these reports for me! We’ll go door-to-door to verify each one! If any are found to be true, there will be no mercy!"
He then quickly turned back to Su Ling’er with a fawning smile. "Miss Su! You see... this... this all happened because of my lax governance. How could we let you pay the reward money? The Anhe Government Office ought to bear the full cost!"
"I guarantee that after verification, we will distribute the reward money in full according to the rules you’ve set! As for the perpetrators, those with minor offenses will be fined and put in confinement. Those with serious offenses will all be thrown into the main prison to reflect on their actions!"
’Serves you idiots right for slacking off and cutting corners all the time! Now you’ve run right into the Immortal’s line of fire, haven’t you? Don’t you dare blame me for not turning a blind eye for you this time!’
And so, an extremely spectacular scene unfolded.
A massive, swarming crowd of people, all with reports concerning financial disputes—minor issues, but involving significant graft—followed the aide toward the government office.
Meanwhile, those in the crowd who were pointed out on the spot, with irrefutable evidence against them, were immediately taken into custody by the Government Officials.
Interestingly, the Government Officials recognized some of the restaurant owners. After all, when they went to eat at their establishments, the dishes they were served were always the freshest. As for what ordinary customers ate... they’d seen it, but as long as no one died, who would bother to interfere?
However, since Miss Su herself had spoken today, the matter had to be handled!
One Government Official quietly asked his companion, "Isn’t that the guy who always treats you to meals? You sure were quick to arrest him."
The other man shot him a look. "I was just observing his despicable behavior up close so I could catch him in the act. Got it?!"
Su Ling’er watched the scene unfold, her eyes moving to the long queue of people heading to the government office to file reports. ’If this many people have come forward before nightfall, won’t there be even more tomorrow when the official crackdown begins?’
She couldn’t help but look at Zhao Decang again. "Mr. Zhao, seeing how things are, do your office’s Government Officials... have enough manpower?"
Zhao Decang’s legs nearly gave out when he heard that. ’It’s over! Why does this Immortal love meddling so much? Aren’t you supposed to be detached from the world? Aren’t you supposed to be focused on your Cultivation? Why are you seizing mortal authority! You’re even worse than the Celestial Furnace Sect!’
’Lady, just get this righteous fervor out of your system and go back to your Cultivation, please!’
Su Ling’er simply announced her second immortal decree in a clear voice: "Anhe City is rife with those who hide filth and harbor evil. The strength of the government office alone will likely not be enough to root them all out."
"I intend to recruit one hundred skilled martial artists to form the ’Anhe City Patrol Guard,’ to assist the government office in maintaining peace within the city!"
The moment her voice fell, a brand-new quest panel appeared before all the players with a BANG!
[Ding! You have triggered the Regional Martial World Quest (Long-Term): Anhe City Patrol Guard Recruitment!]
[Quest Giver: Anhe City Mr. Su]
[Requirements: Player’s overall level must be higher than the average for players native to Anhe City. Must be of upstanding character with no record of evil deeds.]
[Job Description: Assist the Anhe Government Office in maintaining daily public order. Possess primary enforcement authority over illegal acts such as theft, fraud, giving short measure, and forced transactions.]
[Compensation: A fixed monthly salary of 1000 copper coins! For each successfully solved case and captured criminal, you can also receive an additional commission bonus based on the case’s value!]
[Penalty System]: If a Patrol Guard knowingly breaks the law, abuses their authority for personal gain, or participates in illegal activities, upon confirmation they will be immediately dismissed and forced into a "Compounded Crime" red-named state!
The moment this quest appeared, the player base exploded again!
"Holy shit! City guards! They’re recruiting city guards!"
"We get to police people! And investigate cases! Doesn’t that basically make us a cut above everyone else?!"
Despite the strict penalty system, the law enforcement authority that placed them a cut above other players in the city and the generous compensation still made countless players shove their way over to the aide and start signing up like crazy!
This news also caused the steward of the An Mansion to break out in a nervous sweat, while Mr. Wang of Wang’s Cloth Shop turned pale, cold sweat dripping down his face.
Even Liu Yue, who had appeared calm and composed the whole time, couldn’t help but curl her fingers slightly inside her sleeve.
Su Ling’er’s Divine Sense clearly captured the subtle reactions of these three. ’It seems none of them have clean hands,’ she thought, but her expression remained impassive.
Most of the trivial reports were diverted to the aide, but some players who believed they had a "major scoop" remained, waiting for a chance to make a stunning impact.
"Miss Su!" a player squeezed forward and shouted, "I have a report! I suspect there might be some kind of... criminal enterprise in Anhe City that’s all about beggars with severed hands and feet!"
When Zhao Decang heard this, his heart skipped a beat. Before Su Ling’er could speak, he rushed to respond, "Brave warrior, there is no need to speak further on this matter! Just a short while ago, an unknown hero took action and captured that whole gang of villains, delivering them all to me! I have already locked them in the main prison!"
’Thank goodness I didn’t release Ma Tietou and his men. Otherwise, this would have been really hard to explain today!’
Su Ling’er nodded as well; that act had indeed been her handiwork.
And so, the "reporting frenzy" sparked by Su Ling’er’s words was temporarily postponed as night fell.
But everyone could feel that something had changed. Many players were rubbing their hands together, preparing to go out and "catch someone in the act" themselves tomorrow.
The crowd gradually dispersed. Some who had never engaged in any petty crimes looked forward to the good show tomorrow, while some players headed to locations where they thought trouble might break out and lay in wait.
But everyone knew that tonight was just the beginning. Tomorrow, Anhe City was bound to face an unprecedented storm.
Liu Yue mingled with the crowd, her head lowered as she walked away quickly. As she passed a corner, her gaze met that of another woman dressed like she was from a money-lending house. Their eyes locked for an imperceptible moment before they both went their separate ways.
...
「The next morning.」
The sun rose over Anhe City, just as it always did.
Most of the city’s common folk, many of whom hadn’t heard about the events, began their day’s work as usual.
The vendors at the market were still tampering with their scale weights, thinking about how to earn a few extra copper coins. In the kitchens of the restaurants, last night’s dead fish were still being passed off as fresh ones, ready to be served to customers.
Meanwhile, some people, unable to contain their greed, were no longer willing to heed Liu Yue’s warnings and were preparing to act on their own.
But on the streets, many figures with gleaming eyes had already appeared, searching for the... crime and rewards hidden beneath the calm surface!
However, none of this held any temptation for the players of the Guixi Sect. Some of them stayed to do their daily routines, while others had long since departed to explore other cities.