Chapter 3, The Night Walker
The wind, carrying a strong scent of the sea, blew into the alley, and not far ahead was the new dock No. 3 of Tulum Port
The sound of the flute is brief and subtle, resembling thin strands of steel slowly drilling into the ears and piercing the heart.
Indeed, it is a wonderful evening
The sound of the waves can already be faintly heard
They are highly experienced, with each of them having served in the rank of police officer for over ten years
A subtle sound of a flute drifts through the air
Joe and Billy suddenly stopped five times
They are truly a group of respectable individuals...! If they did not possess so many weapons and their gazes were not so fierce, they would be even more endearing!
A hoarse voice, tinged with a sense of decay, gently echoed in the alley: "Rotten, twisted souls, filthy, fallen bodies, my little darlings, will be raised plump and white by you."
They are truly a group of diligent, hardworking, and ambitious young men
A man, who was just about to start working with a crowbar, drill, and saw, suddenly stiffened his body.
Billy expressed his concern: "This is the territory of the Fox Gang, and the Fox Gang is not to be trifled with. If the Wolf Gang crosses the line, it will lead to serious trouble"
They possess outstanding abilities, being well-versed in various survival skills such as oppressing the common people, extorting vendors, and accepting bribes
Qiao instinctively dropped the pig's trotter, took off the police baton, and held it in his hand
Under the moonlight, one can see a dozen or so men emerging from the alley, each with a repulsive appearance, their faces filled with hostility. Their features are crooked and misaligned, and the other lines on their faces seem to naturally form a large inscription—'I am a villain'!
As a newcomer to the Turlon Port Police Department, a novice, Qiao graduated at the top of his class from the Turlon Port Judicial Academy. With a personal recommendation letter from the dean of the academy, he directly bypassed the qualification stage from a Level 5 officer to a Level 1 officer, becoming the youngest Level 3 constable in the history of the Turlon Port Police Department
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the wealthy surely flocked to the vicinity of the Queen's Square to fully enjoy the celebrations
Great Mu above, merciful Mutisete above, if it were not for the wise, intelligent, generous, and magnanimous leader, these poor little policemen would not have the spare money to indulge in that legendary den of debauchery
Let those unfortunate colleagues go on duty, stand guard, and act as wooden posts
Five stout police officers were laughing joyfully, their eyes slightly reddened from the effects of alcohol, gazing with immense admiration at the broad back of Qiao.
After Joe and the others had walked several dozen steps, Billy finally muttered softly, "It's the Wolf Gang members; I saw the wolf head tattoo on their forearms. Damn it, what do they want? This is not the territory of the Wolf Gang"
Because Qiao is extremely wealthy
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather was pleasant, truly a beautiful evening. Qiao nodded slightly at the man.
Because of Qiao, there is wealth
Therefore, we cannot take the main road. The heavy armament hung loosely on his shoulder, while Qiao held a piece of fried pig's trotter in his left hand and a wooden bottle filled with beer in his right hand, walking unsteadily through the alley.
In the port of Tula, there is a popular saying: "Copper coins represent order, silver coins signify truth, and gold coins, look, don't they resemble the glorious golden face of the great Muna? With gold coins, a sufficient amount of gold coins, you are a god"
They take a bite of the fried pig's trotter in their hands, sip from the wooden bottle of beer, and comfortably burp, feeling that life has reached its pinnacle, truly perfect
"They can't be caught by that group of bastards from the Inspection Bureau... Boss, you are truly wise." The shortest and roundest second-level officer, Billy, rubbed his rosy nose and sincerely flattered Joe
In the alley, a vague and rude voice was heard: "When working, if you encounter a black cat, what the hell, are we going to have bad luck tonight?"
Billy shook his head firmly and said, "Of course not."
In this regard, Billy and his companions are extremely dissatisfied and harbor resentment
In the alley, more than a dozen silent figures suddenly froze in place, having swiftly and nimbly emerged.
Six police officers, half-drunk and swaying, chuckled softly as they avoided the brightly lit main street. Instead, they followed the moonlight through a secluded alley, making their way out of the new district of Tulum Port and into the old town. They proceeded along the affluent area of the old town, passing through 'Grape Skin Alley' behind 'Silver Grape Street', heading towards the new dock number 3
Six diligent and responsible police officers walked briskly through the alley, laughing easily and whistling casually. A lively, cheerful, and upbeat rendition of the "Imperial Police March" was being played by them, albeit in a disjointed and breathless manner.
Praise the great Joe
A black cat hurriedly darted out from a forked alley. Just as it emerged from the mouth of the alley, a large foot clad in rawhide boots suddenly shot out from the shadows of the alley, kicking the unfortunate black cat far away.
A third-level constable, within the imperial police system, is the most junior officer who can lead a small team consisting of five police officers. Including Billy, the five highly experienced 'elite officers' from the Turun Port Police Station were thus assigned under Joe's command
This is Grape Skin Alley, adjacent to Silver Grape Street, one of the affluent residential areas of Tulum Port
A faint layer of mist inexplicably rose in the alley
They have extensive connections, with the scoundrels of Tulong Port, the ruffians of the streets, and various heroes who engage in shady dealings, all calling them brothers.
The alley without gas streetlights is still brightly illuminated by the moonlight
Qiao and his five subordinates quickened their pace in silence, brushing past these men. Billy and a few others even exchanged friendly nods with them.
Beneath the rigid skin of the body, minute protrusions rapidly emerged, and then their skin began to move in a strange manner
They are fortunate to follow their leader to the legendary Pink Mermaid Bar for some fun
They come from humble beginnings, constrained by the lower strata of society, yet they refuse to succumb to fate. They exert every effort to strive for a redistribution of social wealth, thereby changing their destiny
Because Qiao is very wealthy
However, in just half a month, Qiao managed to turn five seasoned individuals into his most loyal supporters
The other four police officers nodded eagerly
Flesh and blood withered, bones turned to ash. A great plume of phosphorescence rose slowly, with a dozen sets of filthy clothing, boots, and various tools scattered messily in the alley
In this way, how could a mere rookie who has just joined the police department have the capability to become their 'leader'?
Qiao glanced at the burly man who had just kicked the black cat away, cleared his throat softly, and hung the police baton back on his tactical belt
Qiao murmured softly, "But is this our jurisdiction?"
Qiao nodded vigorously and said, "Therefore, let us continue to seek enjoyment"
Joe and Billy quickened their pace. Behind them, a dozen or so unsightly men furtively glanced around for a moment before quietly approaching the back door of a large mansion.
The group of people in front of Qiao, on such a night, in such a narrow alley, carrying so many magical and uniquely useful tools, were stealthily wandering near the affluent area
Several moths, shimmering with phosphorescence, gently alighted upon the rigid bodies of these men
The sound of the flute became increasingly ethereal
A pungent body odor, disheveled hair, a dirty face, and a tattered, filthy short cloak that has not been washed for an unknown period of time hangs loosely over the shoulders. Through the loosely wrapped short cloak of these men, one can see daggers, short knives, and single-shot old-fashioned flintlock pistols hanging from their waists, while they also carry tools such as crowbars, drills, and short saws tucked under their armpits
A dozen or so men quickly glanced at the bottle of wine in Qiao's hand, gently turned to the side, and made way.
The Muse of the Night hangs high in the sky, generously casting silver moonlight upon the earth