Act.3 Patience

[Part 1: Business and Morality]

"Hasben Madison! Do you know what you're saying?"

In the Police Department office, the leader of the Spanish Bullfighter roared angrily at his new superior.

Why is he called "Boss" instead of "Sheriff"?

Because the bullfighters didn't consider themselves auxiliary police officers at all; they were the ones who called the shots in Yellow Bull Town. As for the soldiers from Guangling Zhixi, they were nothing more than muscle-bound guns with nothing but guns in their heads, only capable of fighting. These guns were weapons given to them by the Abyssal Railway Bureau; how could people obey the commands of weapons?

Young Mr. Hasben, naive Mr. Hasben!

He never understood this principle; this hot-blooded young man of eighteen or nineteen only knew one thing!

"You want to kill innocent people and claim credit for it? You want to kill innocent people and claim credit for it?!"

This story of killing innocent people and claiming credit for them refers to Xue Ming and Liu Xing.

Morian frowned, like an old wolf king in his twilight years, his face pressed against the chest of the new wolf cub in the pack, neither giving way to the other.

"Bullshit! They're criminals!"

Hasben was even more furious. "Where's the evidence?!"

At the crime scene, Hasben would still give the old bullfighter some face, but back in his office at the Police Department, he couldn't hold back any longer.

"Matador Morian! I'm your superior! What gives you the right to bypass me and proceed with law enforcement procedures!?"

Morian: "They passed notes to the criminals; that's irrefutable evidence."

Hasben: "You fucking want to kill innocent people and claim credit for it, using their heads to exchange for a reward?!"

"Oh! Whoa!" Morian's eyes were bloodshot. "Commander from the rapid reaction force, don't talk nonsense. You can joke around outside, but this is the police station."

With that, Morian kicked the office door shut, finished installing the blinds and soundproofing, and finally began to tell the truth.

"Little friend, do you know what's most important when it comes to handling affairs and enforcing the law in Yellow Bull Town, specifically in the Eleventh District?"

Hasben pursed his lips, furious and enraged. He was a soldier, one of the top assault troops in the rapid reaction force, required to immediately enter a state of rage to fight in any unexpected situation. This occupational hazard made him look like a hyperthyroid patient, and he had repeatedly lost control of his emotions when facing the gunsmith.

Morian, with an arrogant and condescending attitude, took the position of head.

"The most important thing is patience."

Hasben: "I want justice and the truth! To hell with patience!"

Morian shrugged and spread his hands. "What's the truth?"

"Didn't Jielina's statement come out? The robber said he just wanted a shopping list for an outfit from that Chinese woman! It was just a shopping list! How did it become evidence of collusion with a robbery gang in your mouth? I don't understand!" Hasben felt incredulous and gritted his teeth. "Morian! Imagine if it were your daughter! Your wife! Your parents going out!"

Immediately afterwards--

--Hasben waved his hand, speaking with righteous indignation.

"They go to the bank, and they become robbers! They go to the bar, and they become drug dealers! They go to the toy store, get a water gun, and they all become armed criminals! They have to be shot on the spot! Wherever they go, there are people like you who want to exchange their heads for money! Is that fair?!"

As he said this, Hasben leaned on the table, hunched over, and stared at Morian like a tiger. When he got excited, the spittle he spat out flew all over Morian's face.

"You're a Spanish Bullfighter! You're a militiaman! Militiamen protect the people, working with the military and police of Guangling Zhixi to protect the lives and property of the people in Eleventh District! What are you doing?!"

Morian: "Are you done?"

Hasben had vented all his anger and felt a sense of loss and exhaustion for a while.

He seemed to understand that simply getting angry wouldn't get him anywhere, nor would it help exonerate the two girls, because...

"They confessed, Hasben," Morian said with a smile. "Even if the main culprit Jielina, had protected these two accomplices in her testimony, they confessed voluntarily."

Hasben frowned. "This isn't right! It shouldn't be like this."

Morian: "Something's not right?"

Hasben immediately said, "Something's not right! Were they tortured?"

Morian raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "I didn't even have time to torture them; they confessed on their own."

Hasben: "Of course! You're so fucking ugly! Just go up there with a baton and yell a few times, and these girls will be scared stiff! They'll believe whatever you say!"

"No, no, Hasben, that's why I'm saying you're really too naive, too childish, too young." Morian rolled his eyes. "What did I tell you? These two little bitches are definitely connected to the robbers. Maybe they're [waitresses], prostitutes that some big shot at the Blackland Royal Hotel ordered through a middleman to find for himself. They can't wait to run to the hardened criminal section to serve their VIPs."

Seeing that Hasben remained silent, Morian continued to speculate.

"The tall one has a great figure. I interrogated her, and she was overjoyed. She acted like she was home when she got back to the Police Department. The short one is a complete idiot. He just answered whatever came to mind, spouting nonsense. He even said she was a real man, just a drug-crazed moron—do you think she deserves your sympathy? Sending her to jail is a blessing for society."

Hasben's lips trembled, unable to believe what he was hearing. "Don't any families come to claim them?"

Morian said mysteriously, "No, not at all."

Hasben finally realized that something was amiss in these clues.

"Could these two women be undercover agents? Or special agents of Ming De?"

Prior to this, news of the BOSS forming three councils—the Nameless One, the Quickblade, and the Gate of Wonders— had already spread throughout the entire underworld.

Morian looked innocent and helpless. "I don't know. If he really is an undercover agent, I might as well do him a favor."

Hasben asked again, "Impossible, that short girl looks too young. Is she only thirteen or fourteen? So short! So thin! What can she do? She can't even protect herself!"

Morian: "Keep guessing. It's a good thing to create unnecessary trouble for yourself. Otherwise, you'll get too idle and start picking a fight with me."

Hasben finally asked, "Could it be a contact for the criminals, a middleman relaying messages, or someone who completes the transaction?"

Morian's slumped posture in the chair was like that of a dissected duck placed in an oven, quite comical, a silent mockery of Hasben's work.

"That's a good thing. If he really is a middleman, I'll do him a favor."

Hasben finally understood what Morian meant by "patience".

This godforsaken place never distinguishes right from wrong. No matter what happens, you have to be flexible and deal with everyone "on a case-by-case basis".

In Morian's eyes, if these two women were to weep and wail to prove their innocence, he might be able to extort some bail money. But if they had powerful backers, such as the wife or daughter of a wealthy merchant, or the sisters of a high-ranking official, not only would he not get the money, but he would also have to go to their homes to apologize, smiling and begging for forgiveness from the first and second wives.

If they confess without resistance, it would be the thing Morian fears most. They would only be used as targets to earn credit, and he would have to take extra care of them. Whether these two people of unknown origin are agents of Ming De, middlemen of other war gangs, or even special industry workers hired by drug lords and criminals, he would have to weigh the pros and cons and try his best to gain their favor.

For better or worse, Morian would never leave empty-handed. Even the manager who was taken hostage was framed by him as a potential criminal colluding with the kidnappers. He would interrogate him thoroughly and extract some information; otherwise, it would be unbecoming of him as a matador.

This kind of shrewd and capable socialite, this kind of cunning and shrewd old fox, is simply not Hasben handle.

For Morian, and for all the bullfighters in Eleventh District, the job of auxiliary police and militiamen was simply a matter of clocking in and out, emphasizing a balance between work and rest and prioritizing performance.

Unlike the soldiers and police who risked their lives at Guangling Zhixi, bullfighters don't fight to the death, nor do they actually engage in shootouts with criminals. It's business, not some foolish game of justice or evil.

Hasben's eyes hardened. "I'm going to get involved in this."

"Why? Are you crazy? Just for these two women?" Morian earnestly advised, "Young man, your talent is outstanding, you've already transcended. An old fogey like me has seen many armed personnel, and I don't want you to bleed and sacrifice yourself for such trivial matters."

Hasben: "This is the first major case I've handled since taking over policing in Eleventh District."

"It's closed." Morian didn't understand. "You're interested in those two girls? You like Asians? How about I arrange a blind date for you? Forget about them! Whether they're warriors of the Ming De Army or mistresses of a gang leader, they're not people you can mess with! Are you being controlled by the two brains between your legs?"

Hasben: "Bullshit! Morian! I was just thinking, what if?"

Morian: "What if?"

Hasben: "What if they really are just ordinary people?"

"How could that be?!" Morian scoffed. "I've seen more women than you've ever seen on the cover of a porn magazine, more than all the men in your entire squad combined have had sexual fantasies about. An ordinary person? I'm asking you."

[Part ②: A Nest of Snakes and Rats]

So--

--Morian tossed Xue Ming and Liuxing's packing lists onto the table.

"Look closely! What are those things they're carrying? What do they look like that [ordinary people] should have?"

Liquid-related: 41 Universal Elixir of Panadol injection, 16 vials of serotonin solution.

Daily necessities related: La Mer skincare line, Hermès perfumes.

Women's clothing and shoes related: Swarovski winter collection, Dior autumn collection.

The most suspicious of the contents are Universal Elixir and serotonin.

"This neurotransmitter solvent can be used as an antidepressant, and in the hands of some master drug makers, it can be turned into a hallucinogen." Morian pressed on, asserting, "No matter where they come from, kid, they are not the ordinary people you imagine."

"The Universal Elixir and serotonin prove nothing; they might just be wealthy girls who ran away for fun." Hasben persisted in his belief. "The underworld is full of rich kids who travel far and wide, looking for fun, only to foolishly die in the treacherous wilderness. I can't just stand by and do nothing, and..."

Morian asked impatiently, "Do you really have to get involved in this?"

Hasben nodded, earnest and determined. "This is my first job. I'm a perfectionist, and I won't let anyone suffer injustice—even if these two idiot women are just looking for thrills and want to go to jail, I won't just sit idly by."

Morian: "What are you going to do? Go into the cell and watch them 24/7? Ask them what they're doing here? Where are they going? Hahaha!"

The veteran's laughter was interrupted by Hasben's vicious punch!

That punch nearly killed Morian; his jaw split open instantly, bone spurs pierced the flesh of his jaw, and broken teeth scattered, rolling around on the desk and making a ringing sound, like the hissing of a money counting machine at work.

"You fucking... you fucking..." Morian covered his bleeding mouth. "Are you fucking insane?! You fucking..."

"Consider it assaulting a police officer." Hasben held out his hand, indicating that Morian should handcuff him. "Send me to Hedland."

Morian was almost furious. He grabbed his gun and pointed it directly at Hasben's head. After thinking for a long time, he finally gave in to the silent standoff.

The ruthless veteran performed bone-setting surgery on himself, trembling with rage. He pulled out a Universal Elixir from under the table, cured himself, and only the blood and broken teeth on the floor testified to his violent act.

"Why?! Why would you do this? You perfectionist?"

Hasben's dark eyes held only determination and perseverance.

"It's not just these things, Morian. Perhaps you're right—did you see my hair?"

The young man had beautiful, deep red hair, a gift from his mother.

"My mother was a victim, my father was a perpetrator, and my birth was purely accidental, stemming from a rape case. The woman you arrested for merit also had hair like that. She resembles my mother, and she reminds me of the most important person in my life—why do I strive for success? Why do I become a soldier? Because my mother never abandoned me, the child of a criminal. She never hated me; she wanted me to uphold justice and protect more people, so they wouldn't suffer like her."

Morian put down his gun, unsure what to say. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Go to the cloakroom. I'll take care of everything. Now, you'll be locked up in the hardened criminal section for assaulting a police officer with a gun."

Hasben: "Thank you, Morian."

Morian then added, "Your first day in office."

Hasben picked up the gun but found it was unloaded. He then left his fingerprints on the evidence to help his colleagues in the forensic department convict him.

Morian threw a blank bullet, helping the young man give false testimony.

"On your first day in office, I asked you to go drinking with me, but you refused."

Hasben replied, "The Consul wants me to cooperate with you, but I don't know how to cooperate."

Morian: "You don't even obey the Consul's orders?"

Hasben: "When you say drinking, you just mean drinking, right? Nothing else?"

Morian: "You want to do something else?"

Hasben: "Of course not."

Morian: "Hmph. Hahahaha, then you promise me that when you leave the Blackland Royal Hotel, you'll be unharmed, you can't die inside, and you can't meddle in other people's business. Just like you said, you'll find out everything about those two little bitches. Then..."

Hasben: "We'll see."

Morian: "Shall we go to the bar again? And properly complete this ritual of friendship?"

Hasben was like a broken record.

We'll talk about it later.

After the laboratory staff and colleagues from the administrative office took Hasben away.

Morian changed his tune--

--From enthusiastic and passionate to cold and ruthless.

He dialed the front desk of the Blackland Royal Hotel and asked the hotel's professional manager to forward the information to the intelligence agency in the Hedland hardened criminal district, and to present this information as a gift to every notorious criminal there.

"Two female prisoners are going to the serious crimes section; it's suspicious."

"Yes, it's uncertain whether they are an undercover agent, a middleman, a bounty hunter, or even a hitman who's paid to kill."

"If possible, have them identify the people in the dressing room. If they can't, they're not one of yours, and they're very likely from Ming De. Teach them a lesson, then kick them out."

"Jielina and Jello are already inside, getting ready for the wedding. Don't send me an invitation; I won't be coming. I can come when their baby is born, but not this time. Can I have Little Penny take the gift? I can't possibly attend a criminal's wedding right after catching a criminal, can I?"

"There's one more thing, that is..."

"I have a deputy named Hasben Madison, and he also ran into Hedland."

"No, no, no, it's not what you think. I didn't mean to plant a newsboy in the hotel. He's new, he doesn't know anything, but... I really miss him."

"He's been bewitched by those two female prisoners, those two little bitches I mentioned before. He wants to go into the prison to find out their identities and their motives. If he does anything outrageous, he'll be kicked out."

"You want to know why? He's my boss! How could I dare to order him around? He broke my jaw with one punch, just because a female prisoner looked a lot like his mother, that's all."

"Incredible, hahaha. Right? I can't figure it out either."

"Yes, no problem. The toll at the checkpoint on the border of Eleventh District should still be the standard 1,500. If you want to smuggle drugs, tell them it will cost an extra 4,000, calculated per kilogram."

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!