When Li Jinshui walked out of the company's front doors, a sleek, all-black luxury limousine was already waiting outside.
It was the car Ye Mei and the others had arranged for him.
It was broad daylight, so the Drifter Gang was unlikely to lie in ambush, but to make sure Li Jinshui reached his new post safely, the others had played it safe and temporarily dispatched one of the company executives' bulletproof cars.
After confirming the license plate, Li Jinshui waved off the driver, who had started to get out and greet him. He opened the heavy door himself, shoved his suitcase by his feet, and settled into the back seat with an air of command.
The luxury car really was something else. The cabin was spacious, the seats were upholstered in full-grain leather, and there was even a built-in mini-fridge stocked with alcohol and cold drinks.
"Good day, boss!"
The driver was a middle-aged man who had apparently received Li Jinshui's information in advance, because he recognized him at a glance.
"Ah, don't call me boss. That's way too formal. We're all fucking buddies here—just call me brother."
Li Jinshui was exceedingly humble, with none of a rich young master's airs. He waved a hand casually and picked out a few of the most expensive cold drinks from the mini-fridge, stuffing them into his pockets.
"All right, brother." The driver froze for a moment, then grinned warmly, visibly relaxing.
He'd worked this job for many years and driven plenty of important figures. He hadn't expected to get such a down-to-earth young man this time—one who didn't even need help carrying his luggage.
"Brother, how long have you been driving? What's your level? Why didn't they assign you a bodyguard?"
As soon as the car set off, Li Jinshui opened the floodgates and struck up a conversation with the driver.
"Me? At my age, my talent's limited. I'm only a First-rate Martial Artist. But that doesn't matter. This car and its license plate both belong to Daming Technology. I've been driving it for years, and I've never seen anyone in Rong City foolish enough to stop it."
"Oh, then you've got yourself a cushy job. I'm jealous."
Li Jinshui leaned back comfortably against the leather seat, crossed his legs, and let out a long, wistful sigh.
"Ah, I've got it rough! The organization has entrusted me with a great responsibility and sent me to take up a new post. It concerns the livelihoods of tens of thousands of ordinary people. You tell me, with me in such a high position, walking on thin ice, how much pressure do you think I've got on my shoulders..."
The two of them chatted away animatedly in the car.
Before long, they had driven out of Huayang District, and the streetscape outside the windows gradually shifted from bustling to desolate.
Li Jinshui's new post was in the outer city.
For one thing, he'd grown up in the outer city and knew the area better.
For another, the delivery-station network in the other districts was already too dense. Only a few neighborhoods in the outer city were suitable for setting up new stations.
The new station Li Jinshui would manage was on Shuanglong Street in the outer city, serving deliveries within a fifteen-kilometer radius.
But it was extremely remote, out in the sticks even by the outer city's standards. There were few delivery orders, and public safety was a major concern. The area might not even be as safe as Chenghua Avenue.
Fortunately, Huang Lichen and the others had done a decent job arranging the staff. They'd pulled five Class B trainees from the Youth Training Camp to serve as his core team, as well as ten experienced riders from nearby stations. They'd also assigned him a highly experienced deputy station manager. All of them had been sent to the new station to help Li Jinshui get things up and running.
As for the remaining vacancies, they'd have to be filled through recruitment.
By now, Li Jinshui's car had reached Shuanglong Street and was slowly turning into a narrow, secluded lane.
In this poor neighborhood, full of tin shacks and filthy drainage ditches, such a luxurious car had already attracted plenty of attention.
The Drifter Gang's informants, lurking in the shadows, began scurrying about like hyenas that had caught the scent of blood, passing along the news.
Halfway down the street, a shabby old two-story shop facing the road had quietly raised its roller shutter.
More than a dozen delivery workers in fluorescent yellow jackets filed out.
Led by the deputy station manager, they formed two lines and waited outside, their expressions varied.
"Vroom!"
As the low growl of the engine drew near, the glossy black limousine rolled up and stopped in front of the shop.
The deputy station manager was a thin, middle-aged man. He hurried forward with a beaming smile and opened the car door himself.
"Welcome, Station Manager Li! We're ready for your guidance!" he called out enthusiastically.
Inside the car, the driver turned around and smiled at Li Jinshui. "Brother, we've finally arrived. Best of lu—"
"Impertinent!"
Li Jinshui's voice suddenly turned icy.
The instant the door opened, his expression had gone cold and distant. He leaned back in his seat with an air of authority, gazing down at everyone as he spoke in a stern voice. "Call me boss!"
"Huh?" The driver was completely dumbfounded.
Wait, brother?
Hadn't you just said we were all fucking buddies and told me to call you brother?
Why the sudden change?
"I'm going to experience the hardships of life at the bottom for a while. Take the car back to my Half-Mountain Villa. You don't need to pick me up tonight." Li Jinshui spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
As the crowd stared in shock, he straightened his collar and stepped out of the car like some domineering CEO. His gaze swept over the surroundings, deep and inscrutable, as if none of it could faze him.
The driver inside the car was even more confused, utterly at a loss. "Huh? What do you mean? Isn't the car supposed to go back to the company garage? How can I—"
"Shut up. You're fired."
Li Jinshui delivered his icy verdict, then slammed the car door shut with a bang and walked away without looking back.
"Holy crap?!"
The driver sat in the car, wide-eyed and stunned, watching Li Jinshui's departing figure and beginning to question his entire life.
Meanwhile, Li Jinshui strode toward the shop with the air of a decisive, no-nonsense leader.
Several familiar faces among the delivery workers immediately came over.
"Li, is that the personal car you used to talk about? It's so impressive!"
"As expected of Li! That's a custom Phantom limousine. It must've cost at least ten million!"
"Captain, a few of us came early yesterday and got the station cleaned up and the equipment ready. We'll be counting on you to look after us from now on."
"But... Captain, we heard some rumors yesterday that things aren't safe around this new station. The Drifter Gang has its eye on us. Is that true?"
They were the Class B trainees from the Youth Training Camp who often fawned over Li Jinshui. Four of them had even chipped in to buy him a D-Grade Supplement Potion.
Li Jinshui was someone who valued old friendships. He'd specifically asked for them to be assigned to his station, saying he wanted to give them a hand.
"It's true."
Li Jinshui nodded calmly, his expression unchanged. "If nothing unexpected happens, we'll be facing a bloody battle for our lives tonight. I came here to put the battle plan in place. Come on, don't stand around out here. Let's go inside first."
With that, he parted the crowd and walked straight into the shop.
"..."
The trainees froze in place, their fawning smiles stiff on their faces.
A bloody battle for their lives tonight?
So the rumors they'd heard yesterday—the kill order from Wei Hu Security and the Drifter Gang against their captain—were all fucking true?
Their hearts sank, and they nearly burst into tears.
What the hell, Li Jinshui! Are you even human?
Didn't you say you were going to give us a hand?
So instead, you dragged us into the mess with you?