City Guard

"Third Squad, all present!"

"Hurry up and get the others here as soon as possible!"

"..."

Sun Lei stood before the sewer entrance, looking at the iron gate sealed with heavy chains, a look of remembrance on his face.

He had been here three years ago. Back then, he was just a rookie member of the City Guard, and now he had become a captain.

"Captain Sun Lei, the squad has assembled!"

Sun Lei received the report from his subordinate, the memories in his eyes quickly vanishing. He nodded and said, "Understood. Hold your positions."

"Yes!"

The subordinate responded loudly and quickly rejoined the other 8 members, who stood neatly in formation.

Sun Lei gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist and walked towards the two people standing in the distance.

"Captain Luo, Sister Huo Lian, long time no see!"

Sun Lei greeted them with a raised hand and a bright smile.

Having once been a member of Luo Wei's squad, Sun Lei deeply respected these two seniors who had guided his growth!

However, after becoming a captain himself, Sun Lei hadn't met them much outside of headquarters.

Seeing Sun Lei, the two also smiled. Huo Lian instantly appeared beside Sun Lei, slinging an arm around his shoulder and saying with a laugh, "Long time no see, Captain Sun Lei~!"

"Sister Huo Lian, don't tease me..."

Sun Lei chuckled helplessly, a hint of blush on his face. He then looked at his former captain.

He hadn't seen Luo Wei in a year, and he noticed that Luo Wei's hair had turned a bit whiter, but Luo Wei still looked quite energetic!

"Hahaha, it really has been a long time, you brat! Have you forgotten your old captain now that you're a captain yourself!"

That familiar large hand slapped Sun Lei hard on the back, making Sun Lei twitch his lips and gasp.

Sun Lei rubbed his back, saying with a helpless expression, "How could I have! Please spare me. Being a captain is very busy. I'm already swamped with just my squad's affairs."

"Hahaha... that just means you're not working hard enough!"

Luo Wei laughed heartily, patting Sun Lei, his former junior, a flicker of emotion in his eyes.

Three years ago, Sun Lei had accepted the City Guard's recommendation to participate in the Sect examination. The results, needless to say, were obvious.

After returning, Sun Lei became very quiet and reserved for a long time, only recovering after a considerable period.

However, who would have thought that after experiencing that, it would actually ignite Sun Lei's fighting spirit!

The young man who used to make so many mistakes had actually been promoted to captain of the City Guard in just three short years!

"I've been working very hard..."

Sun Lei scratched his head, looking dejected.

Luo Wei and Huo Lian exchanged a smile and didn't say anything further, as they understood Sun Lei's personality.

The three stood there, chatting idly, waiting for the order to depart.

During their conversation, Sun Lei remembered some news he had heard and said to Luo Wei with a smile, "Speaking of which, Captain Luo, you're retiring after this year, right? Congratulations..."

In this era, it was rare for someone in the City Guard to live to retirement. Most people were forced to leave the City Guard due to injuries.

Luo Wei smiled, did not deny it, and nodded.

"Then will Sister Huo Lian take over as captain of your unit?"

Luo Wei shrugged and said with a smile, "Heh heh, I'd like that, but unfortunately, your Sister Huo Lian disagrees."

"Tch, I'm not doing captain! They want me to work myself to death for a little extra salary? I get more Magic Cores from one mission than my salary!"

Huo Lian pouted dismissively. She had no desire to be a captain; whoever wanted such a tiring position could have it.

"Hahaha, that certainly fits Sister Huo Lian's personality."

Sun Lei laughed heartily. He glanced around and suddenly sensed something was wrong. He said to the two beside him, "Huh? Why are there still so few people? The other squads seem to be a bit slow."

There were only forty-eight City Guard personnel around, meaning only four squads!

This was a full half less than the required number for dealing with Realm Gates in the past!

Sun Lei's brow furrowed, sensing that the situation was not quite right.

Luo Wei and Huo Lian, standing beside him, also noticed this, and their brows furrowed as well.

Just then, several voices in heated argument could be heard from a distance!

"A large number of monsters have been found attacking the city gates, and the City Guard doesn't have enough personnel!"

"Are you kidding me? Are we supposed to be the only four teams handling the Realm Gate?!"

"This is an emergency, we have to go!"

"They're sending our people to their deaths!!!"

"Wang Xian! This is an order!"

Two tall men, one after another, shouted at each other as they strode quickly towards them!

Sun Lei and Luo Wei exchanged a glance, and Luo Wei subtly nodded towards Huo Lian.

Huo Lian understood and nodded, turning to walk back to the team to calm the agitated members.

Soon, the two men reached Sun Lei and Luo Wei, their faces a mixture of anger and seriousness.

"Wang Xian, Li Wen, what's going on? You both look so grim."

Luo Wei asked with a smile, feigning ignorance.

"Brother Luo Wei, you tell him! We're the only four teams handling this Realm Gate, aren't they just sending us to our deaths?"

"For such a dangerous mission, I think we should seal off the surrounding area and wait for reinforcements!"

The younger Wang Xian spoke first, looking at Luo Wei with clear dissatisfaction.

"Hmph! With so many openings in the city's sewers, can you possibly seal them all?"

Li Wen, who was around Luo Wei's age and an older member of the City Guard, couldn't help but scoff at Wang Xian's words and retorted:

"I knew we shouldn't have agreed to the captain's plan back then and recruited a bunch of cowardly, foolish trash!"

"What did you say! Li Wen, I'm telling you, I've dealt with no fewer monsters and Realm Gates than you have!"

Wang Xian seemed provoked by Li Wen's words, turning to yell at him.

Li Wen, however, acted as if he hadn't heard, sneering dismissively and continuing:

"You've only been in the City Guard for two years, and everyone knows your track record. As for what you did before, who knows if you were just bragging?"

"You old geezer! You..."

Wang Xian was furious but didn't know what to say. He clenched the hilt of his sword at his waist, the sound of it clicking ominously, as if he were about to draw it.

"What? You want to fight? Just as I thought, people from an adventurer background are always crude and barbaric!"

Li Wen said with a cold smile, also gripping his sword hilt and glaring back at Wang Xian, unwilling to back down.

"Alright, alright, everyone calm down... We can discuss things if there's an issue."

Luo Wei said with a chuckle, reaching out to stand between them and pressing down on their sword hilts.

Sun Lei stood behind Luo Wei, watching the two captains still arguing, and his heart sank slightly.

He squeezed his sword hilt, his bad feeling growing stronger.

This mission was likely going to be quite difficult...

"Oh, stop arguing! Since neither of you will back down, according to regulations, let's have a vote among the four of us captains!"

Luo Wei pushed aside the arguing Wang Xian and Li Wen, saying to them with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the two captains snorted at each other and fell silent, implicitly agreeing to Luo Wei's proposal.

Luo Wei glanced at Sun Lei, and seeing him nod as well, he said:

"Raise your hands if you agree to carry out the mission."

Three hands were raised in unison. Luo Wei looked at them and said:

"It seems we don't need to continue. Let's gather the teams!"

"Hmph, birds of a feather flock together!"

Wang Xian snorted, but said nothing further.

Ding!

The locking chains fell to the ground. Luo Wei stood at the sewer entrance and shouted to the team behind him:

"All of you, get your heads in the game, let's go!"