Chapter 33

In the market in downtown Placidium.

Jia Ruo and Neeko sat in a breakfast shop, tasting a Placidium specialty: porridge made from seven different grains.

According to the vendor, this traditional Placidium dish had to be prepared starting before dawn.

First, three kinds of coarse grains were placed in a large pot and simmered slowly for two or three hours with a few other ingredients. When a customer arrived, a portion was transferred to another pot, the remaining four kinds of fine grains were added, and the mixture was brought to a boil over high heat for a quarter of an hour before serving.

Now that was dedication, Jia Ruo thought admiringly.

The porridge was soft and fragrant, and with a few light side dishes to go with it, it was the perfect gift to welcome a wonderful new day.

No wonder people said Ionians loved peace. If everyone could live so comfortably and enjoy such a good life, who would go looking for trouble?

Jia Ruo praised the vendor's cooking and happily downed three large bowls.

Weaver watched him with a wistful smile. "It's a good thing to have a healthy appetite. It means you're in good shape. When I was young, I could put away even more than you in one sitting."

Jia Ruo chuckled. While Neeko was still eating slowly, he started chatting with Weaver.

"How long have you been at the Hall of Tranquility? It's the headquarters of the Placidium Sheriff, right? What do the sheriffs usually do?"

"I was transferred there when the Hall of Tranquility was founded. That was only two or three years ago."

Weaver gathered his thoughts, then continued. "You know, Ionia spent twelve years and countless lives driving Noxus back. The war is over now, but many people have changed their ways of thinking. They've grown fond of using violence to get things done."

Weaver gestured with his lips. Jia Ruo followed his gaze toward the center of the market, where a group of Warrior Monks was patrolling.

"Before, these Warrior Monks were enough to keep the peace in Placidium. But now, sudden incidents have increased dramatically, and that's why the Hall of Tranquility was established. Work hard, young man. Ionia's future is in your hands."

After saying so much in one breath, the old man seemed a little melancholy.

He shook his head, as if trying to cast off the gloom.

"Come on, I still need to ask Neeko for some guidance. Let's head to the Hall of Tranquility's Training Ground. It's spacious, and we won't disturb the people."

Weaver paid for the meal, then strolled with Jia Ruo and Neeko to the Hall of Tranquility and into the Training Ground.

"Then let's begin. Grandpa, watch closely!"

As Neeko spoke, she slowly began to use Plant Growth Spread. Weaver focused intently, sensing the magical elements around her.

Jia Ruo had also learned Plant Magic from Neeko back when they first met.

Even while studying Wuju under the Sword Saint, he practiced it from time to time. After all, who wouldn't want to be a powerful mage?

Though he couldn't get the hang of it, he'd still shout something ridiculously dramatic like, "Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!" Then he'd use up all his Magic Power to create a miniature version of Neeko's ultimate.

Leaning to one side, Jia Ruo watched Weaver studying Neeko with great interest and felt puzzled. Neeko's talent for magic was innate. Could Weaver really learn just by watching?

Maybe Weaver had some Secret Arts for controlling magic. Otherwise, after spending so much time with Neeko, why hadn't Jia Ruo figured out how it worked?

Forget it. He hadn't even mastered Wuju, so there was no point worrying about it.

Jia Ruo stood up. Weaver surely wouldn't be finished so soon.

So he decided to go find Elder Percy first.

"Well, look who's here."

Speak of the devil—a large hand landed on Jia Ruo's shoulder.

"Good morning, Master Percy."

"Mm. What are they doing?"

Percy returned Jia Ruo's greeting, then turned his gaze to Weaver and Neeko in the Training Ground.

"Weaver wanted to see how Neeko uses Plant Magic. He wants to learn her techniques."

"Ah."

Percy's already subdued voice grew even lower.

"His wife passed away early, and both his sons were killed in the war. These days, Plant Magic and his weaving are about the only things he has left to hold on to."

Jia Ruo hadn't known the old Weaver had gone through so much.

"Since I've run into you, I might as well explain your duties as a sheriff."

Percy remembered the matter at hand.

"The Hall of Tranquility's main task is to help the Warrior Monks in various regions maintain order and deal with sudden outbreaks of violence. The Hall currently has around two thousand members. Excluding support staff, twelve hundred are sheriffs capable of fighting. Of course, most of them aren't in Placidium. The northwest of Ionia needs them more. The Navori Brotherhood there has been restless, and bloodshed happens every day."

"Then how many sheriffs are left in Placidium?"

"Fewer than two hundred. If it weren't for the lesson of the War of Standing Tall, I'd send them all out. Placidium has enough Warrior Monks. It's the villages and small towns that need the most help."

Percy seemed to have said this many times before; his words came smoothly and with conviction.

"Next, let me explain the Hall of Tranquility's organization. Aside from the sheriffs maintaining order elsewhere, the two hundred sheriffs remaining in Placidium are divided into two groups: the Guard Group, which patrols the city alongside the Warrior Monks, and the Investigator Group, which hunts down wanted fugitives. Which would you like to join?"

Jia Ruo thought for a moment before answering, "I'd like to join the Investigator Group."

"Why?"

"I just don't want to patrol."

Percy: "..."

And so, Jia Ruo joined the Investigator Group, while Neeko became his partner.

From then on, they would hunt down criminals together on behalf of the Hall of Tranquility.