City Guard

"Third Squad, everyone's here!"

"Hurry up. Get the others here as soon as possible!"

"..."

Sun Lei stood before the sewer entrance, looking at the iron gate sealed with layer upon layer of chains. A trace of reminiscence showed on his face.

He had come here three years ago. Back then, he had only just joined the City Guard as a squad member. Now, he had already become a captain.

"Captain Sun Lei, the squad has assembled!"

Sun Lei received the report from his subordinate, and the reminiscence in his eyes quickly vanished. He nodded and said:

"I know. Stand by where you are."

"Yes!"

The squad member answered loudly, then quickly returned to his post and stood neatly with the other eight squad members.

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

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

Sun Lei raised a hand in greeting, a brilliant smile on his face.

As a former member of Luo Wei's squad, Sun Lei deeply respected the two seniors who had guided his growth!

It was just that after becoming a captain, Sun Lei had not seen the two of them for a long time, except at headquarters.

The two smiled when they saw Sun Lei. Huo Lian instantly appeared beside him, hooked an arm around his shoulders, and said with a grin:

"Long time no see, Captain Sun Lei~!"

"Sister Huo Lian, don't make fun of me..."

Sun Lei smiled helplessly, a faint blush appearing on his face. Then he looked toward his old captain.

They had not seen each other for a year, and he noticed that Luo Wei's hair had turned even whiter. Even so, Luo Wei looked quite energetic at the moment!

"Hahaha, it really has been a long time, kid! Now that you're a captain, have you forgotten your old captain?"

That familiar large hand smacked Sun Lei hard on the back, making the corner of his mouth twitch as he sucked in a breath.

Rubbing his back, Sun Lei said helplessly:

"Of course not! Please spare me. Being a captain is busy. Just handling the squad's affairs has me running myself ragged."

"Hahaha... That only means you're still not working hard enough!"

Luo Wei laughed loudly as he patted Sun Lei, who had once been his squad member. A trace of emotion flashed through his eyes.

Three years ago, Sun Lei had accepted the City Guard's recommendation and gone to take the sect examination. The result went without saying.

After returning, Sun Lei became taciturn for a long time. It took him quite a while to recover.

Yet no one had expected that this experience would instead ignite Sun Lei's fighting spirit!

That young man who used to make mistakes all the time had actually risen to become a City Guard captain in only three short years!

"I've already worked very hard..."

Sun Lei scratched his head, looking thoroughly depressed.

Luo Wei and Huo Lian exchanged a smile and said no more. After all, they knew what kind of person Sun Lei was.

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

During their conversation, Sun Lei recalled the news he had heard earlier. He smiled and said to Luo Wei:

"Speaking of which, Captain Luo, you're retiring after this year, right? Congratulations..."

In this era, it was extremely rare for someone in the City Guard to live long enough to retire. Most people were forced to leave the City Guard after suffering injuries.

Luo Wei smiled without denying it and nodded.

"Then Sister Huo Lian will take over your squad as captain, right?"

Luo Wei shrugged and said with a grin:

"Heh heh, I'd like that, but your Sister Huo Lian won't agree."

"Tch, I'm not becoming a captain! You think that little bit of extra pay is worth working me to death? The magic cores I get from one mission are worth more than the salary!"

Huo Lian curled her lips in disdain. She had no desire to become a captain. Whoever wanted such an exhausting position could have it.

"Hahaha, that really does suit Sister Huo Lian's personality."

Sun Lei laughed, then glanced around. Suddenly sensing that something was wrong, he said to the two beside him:

"Huh? Why are there still so few people? The other squads seem to be moving a little slowly."

There were only forty-eight City Guard personnel around them—in other words, four squads!

That was a full half fewer people than the number usually required to deal with a World Gate!

Sun Lei could not help frowning. He had a feeling that something was wrong.

Luo Wei and Huo Lian noticed it too, and their brows furrowed.

Just then, several intense voices arguing came from the distance!

"A large number of monsters were spotted attacking the city gate! The City Guard doesn't have enough men!"

"Fuck, are you saying the four of our squads should handle the World Gate?"

"This is an emergency. We have to go!"

"You're sending our men to their deaths!"

"Wang Xian! This is an order!"

Two tall men shouted at each other as they hurried over, one in front of the other!

Sun Lei and Luo Wei exchanged a glance. Luo Wei jerked his head toward Huo Lian.

Huo Lian understood and nodded. She turned and walked toward the squad to calm the agitated members.

Soon, the two men arrived before Sun Lei and Luo Wei, their expressions both furious and solemn.

"Wang Xian, Li Wen, what's going on? Why do you both look so grim?"

Luo Wei wore a smile as he asked, despite already knowing the answer.

"Big Brother Luo Wei, you tell me! Only our four squads are going to handle this World Gate. Isn't that sending us to our deaths?"

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

The young Wang Xian spoke first. He looked at Luo Wei and said with dissatisfaction:

"Hmph! There are so many sewer entrances throughout the city. Can you seal them all?"

Li Wen was about the same age as Luo Wei. As a veteran member of the City Guard, he let out a cold snort when he heard Wang Xian and opened his mouth:

"We never should have agreed to the captain's plan back then and recruited a bunch of cowardly, useless fools!"

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

Wang Xian seemed provoked by Li Wen's words. He turned toward Li Wen and shouted.

Li Wen acted as if he hadn't heard him. He gave a disdainful laugh and continued:

"You've only been in the City Guard for two years. Everyone knows what you've accomplished. As for what you did before that, who knows whether you were just bragging?"

"You old bastard! You..."

Wang Xian was furious, but he didn't know what to say. His right hand gripped the sword hilt at his waist, making it creak. He looked as if he was about to draw his sword.

"What? You want to fight? As expected, people from an adventurer's background are nothing but crude savages!"

Li Wen sneered. He likewise grabbed his sword hilt with his right hand and glared back at Wang Xian without backing down.

"All right, all right, calm down, everyone... We can discuss whatever the matter is."

Luo Wei cheerfully extended his hands between the two men and pressed both their sword hilts back into place.

Standing behind Luo Wei, Sun Lei watched the two captains continue arguing, and his heart sank slightly.

He squeezed his sword hilt, and his ominous premonition grew stronger and stronger.

This mission was probably going to be somewhat difficult...

"All right, stop arguing! Since neither of you is willing to yield, we'll follow the rules and have the four captains vote on it!"

Luo Wei pushed Wang Xian and Li Wen apart as they remained locked in dispute, then looked at them with a cheerful smile.

The two captains snorted coldly at each other and said nothing more, which counted as tacit approval of Luo Wei's proposal.

Luo Wei glanced at Sun Lei. Seeing him nod as well, he said:

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

Three hands rose together. Luo Wei looked around and said:

"Looks like there's no need to continue. Assemble the team!"

"Hmph, birds of a feather!"

Wang Xian snorted coldly, but said nothing more.

Ding!

The chains blocking the entrance fell to the ground. Standing at the sewer entrance, Luo Wei shouted to the team behind him:

"Get your damn spirits up! Move out!"