Chapter 2, Diligent Qiao

Qiao let out a whistle

No, I do not want to go back to that damned black prison

Five police officers looked at the two stunned youths, wearing cheerful smiles, took off their helmets, wiped the sweat from their foreheads, and walked towards the sausage stand

The owner of the fried sausage stand, a thin man in his forties, looked suspiciously at the two young boys, then glanced at Joe, who stood before him like a bear, and began to laugh happily: "What a wonderful evening, officer. How about a cold beer, officer? There’s a seat for you, officer. I’ll get you some delicious fried sausages from old Hank’s right away, officer."

Qiao ran wildly through the bustling streets, creating an illusion that the very ground was shaking and trembling. Wherever his robust figure went, people of all ages and genders in front of him hurriedly cleared the way in a state of panic.

Running west along the somewhat secluded Rongjun Hospital Street for a little less than half a mile, two young boys, panting heavily and spitting, darted south into Youqibing Street

"Boss, you are truly wise." Five short but equally plump police officers, each sporting a beer belly, cheerfully gathered around Joe. Their hefty backsides thudded heavily onto the petite wooden stool, and then they rubbed against it vigorously from side to side, creating the illusion that they would never part from it again

Boss, bring me a cold beer. I would like three fried sausages. A police officer snapped his fingers at the sausage vendor, and four other police officers also voiced their requests.

From a young age, abundant nutrition, a large intake of beef, milk, and seafood, combined with the customs of the Deren Empire, led Joe to start having beer with his meals before he was even ten years old. As a result, Joe grew to be robust and stout, and with his protruding beer belly, at first glance, he resembled a plump and powerful wild bear mingling among the crowd

Turen Port is located in the southern part of the Empire, characterized by a humid climate and year-round heat. Compared to the northern territories of the Empire, the people of Turen Port and the surrounding thirty provinces tend to be shorter in stature. According to the measurement standards of the Ice Sea Kingdom commonly used on the continent, the young men here typically range from 5 feet 4 to 6 feet 1 inches in height, and they are mostly lean and tall.

The reputation of the police station in Tulong Port is notorious. For these small fry living at the bottom of society, the temporary holding cells for criminals at the police station are undoubtedly the most terrifying hell in their hearts

A large group of residents from Tulin Port, holding grilled sausages and beer cups, gathered around the stage. Laughter, teasing shouts, and the surprised and delighted screams of young girls, who were taken advantage of by strangers in the crowd, occasionally echoed among the crowd

Feeling satisfied, he let out a refreshing burp and said softly, "Wait a moment, I will take everyone to a good place. Aha, remember this, tonight we are catching thieves, catching thieves! We have many eyewitnesses!"

The heavy police baton sliced through the air, producing a whooshing sound that could be clearly heard even from a distance of over twenty meters, exuding an air of intimidation

Breathless and with a round face glistening with sweat, Qiao was less than five meters away from them

After running for a short distance along Victory Street, turn west, and you will arrive at Veterans' Hospital Street

His voice is so loud that half the people on the street can hear his shouting

And on the street, Joe, who is over 7 feet 2 inches tall, is running wildly

The two boys gasped for breath like fish out of water, their mouths wide open, and their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. They desperately tugged at the red-clad men and green-clad women in front of them, struggling to find a way to escape through the crowded throng.

Joe already had a large tin beer mug in his hand. He lifted the mug, which held a full 2 liters of beer, and with a 'gulp', he downed a third of the dark beer in the mug.

Before there was time to evade, one was mercilessly knocked to the ground by the rushing Qiao, triggering a series of gasps and curses

Qiao raised his right arm high and swung the heavy baton with force

A group of extravagantly dressed men and women, adorned with heavy makeup, are performing on stage, belting out grand operatic vocals, portraying a complex and chaotic love story among a group of noble youths

However, the bustling streets made it impossible for them to move quickly. They occasionally turned back, and under the bright light emitted by the gas lamps on the roadside, George, who was more than a head taller than the crowd, appeared so striking and dazzling.

"If I go in again, I will die in there." Another boy swayed unsteadily, instinctively covering his face with his palm.

The thin-faced owner of the fried sausage shop smiled like a flower, busily getting to work, while simultaneously delivering a hard kick to a middle-aged woman behind him: "Hurry up, woman, bring the delicious beer brewed with the secret recipe of Old Hank to the officers... stupid woman, move faster."

Two unfortunate and talkative youths ran here, already drenched in sweat, their faces pale, and their legs trembling violently

The emaciated figures, having exhausted their last ounce of strength during the recent desperate escape, gazed at the densely packed crowd ahead, which was nearly impenetrable, and the two youths could not help but display expressions of despair and frustration.

It is truly a perfect evening. In a moment, we will go find some fun. Lifting the large wine glass, with a 'gulp', Qiao finished the remaining half glass of beer.

The five police officers exchanged knowing nods, accepted the beer mugs handed over by the middle-aged woman, and quietly cheered: "Cheers, to our wise leader"

With a shove of his shoulder, he knocked down two men whose faces were flushed from drinking. Swinging a heavy lead-filled baton in his right hand, he charged forward with an imposing stride, gathering more strength as he bellowed loudly.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Queen's Square could not accommodate all the residents of Turing Port. Therefore, many celebration sub-venues were established around the Queen's Square by the Turing Port City Hall.

On the street, two boys who had been completely hopeless were twitching their faces, gradually revealing a strange smile. They slightly hunched their bodies and silently merged into the crowd, then quickly vanished without a trace

He stopped, placed his hands on his hips, squinted his eyes, and shot a fierce glare at the two boys five meters away. He extended his right thumb and made a gesture of cutting a throat. Then, with an air of composure, he turned around and walked towards a mobile sausage stall under a streetlight.

Several police officers, all dressed in black uniforms, wearing gray metal helmets, and carrying wooden truncheons, pushed their way out of the crowd. With whistles in their mouths, they closely followed Joe, pursuing him down Victory Street, which runs along the southern side of Queen's Square

The faces of the two boys in front were contorted, and they fled in terror with all their might

Twenty sauerkraut sausages, with extra butter, fried a bit longer. Praise to Mutisete, it truly is a wonderful evening. Joe took off the brass helmet from his head, like a weary hunting dog, and forcefully stuck out his tongue

The sound of hurried footsteps approached, as five police officers wearing gray metal helmets, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, slowed their pace and staggered towards this direction

Crossing Ranger Street, one arrives at the brightly lit Fleet Street, where at the square formed by the intersection of the two streets, dozens of gas lamps illuminate a wooden stage brilliantly

"In the name of the law, you damned little thief, stop right there!"

The soles of Joe's boots were embedded with heavy steel plates. His heavy footsteps struck the solid cobblestones, producing a dull "thud thud" sound

With a hearty chew of the fragrant sausage, Qiao was thoroughly satisfied as he unfastened the weapon belt around his waist

The sauerkraut sausage sizzles on the scorching iron plate, filling the air with a rich aroma of grease, while the pungent scent of the seasoned garlic sauce stimulates the appetites of six diligent officers, leaving them eager for a meal