Ark, Just Tell Me Whether the Mission Was Completed

"That's impossible. No matter how arrogant that guy is, he wouldn't dare do something that could mobilize such a massive police force. If he really caused an incident like this, forget whether he'd rot in prison—he'd definitely lose his life."

Just as Motley was discussing it with everyone, distant sirens drew closer and closer, their flashing lights especially conspicuous.

At that moment, the secretary started doubting herself again:

"They can't really be coming for us, right?"

"We didn't do anything wrong."

However, the answer was soon revealed.

The Lungmen Guard Department's police cars screeched to a halt, and dozens of vehicles swiftly surrounded the market where Motley and the others were gathered.

Fully armed officers filed out of the police cars. They wore dark uniforms, steel helmets, stern masks, and carried batons and electric truncheons, looking imposing and solemn.

They quickly spread out, forming a tight encirclement that firmly trapped Motley and the others in the middle.

"Wait! This isn't how the script goes!"

Dear readers, this book will be going premium at ten tomorrow.

I've already set the premium chapters to publish automatically.

This is the second book your humble author has signed, and the first one I've taken premium.

My previous book focused too heavily on the system, which made the protagonist feel nonexistent, so I cut it at seventy thousand words.

After four months of reflection and preparation, I put together this book full of positive energy.

In the coming chapters, Luo Chen will stay true to his original aspiration, keep his mission firmly in mind, and continue tormenting this vast land without wavering, contributing his own strength toward building a harmonious Terra.

As for updates.

Originally, I'd stockpiled over a dozen chapters and wanted to go on an update spree, but I suddenly have to travel for a week, so I can only spread the drafts evenly across seven days.

Still, while I can't write on my computer these next few days, I can outline on my phone and wait until I get home in a week to write properly on my computer.

There'll be a reward event for this week first. Starting next week, I'll add extra chapters. Once I've finished the reward chapters, I'll decide whether to open another one.

The rules for this round are:

A guaranteed minimum of four thousand words daily.

Current monthly votes: 1,220. Every additional 150 monthly votes will add 2,000 words.

Current blades: 270. Every additional 100 blades will add 2,000 words.

Forget donations for now. Maybe I can try those during holidays. I dare ask for them now, but I definitely can't repay them, so I won't solicit donations. Gentlemen, exercise your strategic autonomy.

A Qualified Subordinate Knows How to Give Credit to Their Leader

It wasn't just the Villain Group members who were dumbfounded by being surrounded.

Even the vendors they had just helped, along with Texas passing by, were all stunned.

Why had the Lungmen Guard Department sent so many people?

Had these volunteers committed some crime?

"Officer, what are you here for?" Texas curiously asked the lined-up Lungmen Guard Department officers.

"We received orders from above to arrest the robbers who hijacked an armored truck."

"Officer, but the bank next door hasn't even opened yet. Aren't you mistaken to come arrest armored truck robbers now?"

"We don't know about that either."

The officers carrying out the mission were equally baffled. They had been resting at home when the Lungmen Guard Department suddenly summoned them back on an emergency basis.

The moment they returned to their posts, they were told they had to arrest armored truck robbers. But at this hour, neither the bank nor the armored truck had even started operating. Who exactly were they supposed to arrest?

Had someone gotten the drill schedule wrong?

Though the officers had their doubts, their ranks were too low for them to dare ask.

They would simply do whatever their superiors told them to do.

Motley recognized the superintendent leading the team and immediately went over.

"Brother Cavens, what's going on? Isn't it not time for the drill yet? What are you here for?"

Superintendent Cavens sighed.

"How the hell would I know what the higher-ups are thinking? I was one minute late just now, and Chief Swire docked a month of my pay."

"Chief Swire sent you here?"

"Yeah. Chief Swire only told us to assemble urgently. She didn't even explain what we were here for. Motley, your Villain Group is playing the role this time, right? What's the script?"

"Armored truck robbery, but our scheduled time is three hours from now. Chief Swire also told us the drill would only begin when the time came."

When Motley heard Swire's name, the heart that had been clenched moments ago finally settled back into his stomach.

Thank goodness, thank goodness.

Since it was Chief Swire's order, there was no way their drill could go wrong.

Maybe Chief Swire was just running an advance rehearsal to see how quickly they deployed.

Just then, Swire's sports car appeared like a gust of wind, drifting to a stop in a gap between the Lungmen Guard Department vehicles.

She stepped out with an imposing air, casually putting on a pair of sunglasses. Like a domineering female CEO, every movement radiated extraordinary presence.

Her emerald eyes blazed as she swept her gaze over everything around her, her tightly furrowed brow filled with displeasure.

Were these people taking the drill seriously at all?

She hadn't explained the details, but had they even forgotten the basic professional skills required to apprehend criminals?

After Luo Chen surveyed everyone present, he pulled out a form on the spot.

The form looked as though it had just been printed. The paper was clean and tidy, and the writing was clearly legible.

Holding the form in one hand and pointing at its contents with the other, he began to read aloud in an unhurried manner:

"1. Superintendent Cavens encountered criminals and failed to take coercive action, instead chatting about everyday matters. This is blatant collusion between police and criminals. I recommend the Lungmen Guard Department suspend him and conduct a character review."

"2. The Rapid Response Team officers collectively stood around in a daze when facing criminals. Deduct half a month's salary from all of them."

"3. The Rapid Response Team failed to promptly organize the evacuation of nearby civilians, constituting serious dereliction of duty. The leadership must be held strictly accountable."

"4. Officer badge number 5464 remained indifferent when facing robbery suspects, standing there blankly like someone with an intellectual disability. Upon assessment, he lacks professional competence and will be demoted."

Luo Chen, disguised as Swire, spoke clearly and forcefully. Every word seemed carefully considered, and every sentence carried the authority of a leader without needing emphasis.

Hearing Swire's firm, resounding words, the officers participating in the drill and the Villain Group members all froze as if struck by lightning, standing rigidly in place.

They looked at one another, their eyes full of confusion and disbelief, as though they couldn't believe what they had heard.

What was going on?

What the hell was happening?

They were still waiting for their leader to assign the drill objectives. Why were people being punished before the drill had even begun?

At that moment, an older officer seemed to realize something.

He swiftly extended an arm and firmly pressed down on the shoulder of the secretary nearest to him, preventing her from having any chance to escape.

Then he swung with force, throwing the secretary viciously onto the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw. The entire sequence was seamless, clean, and extremely efficient.

Even the secretary who had been violently slammed down didn't have time to cry out in pain.

After throwing her down, he immediately turned and shouted to the colleagues behind him, "Don't let the criminals escape!"

Upon hearing his voice, Luo Chen immediately read out his badge number.

"Officer badge number 2569 took the lead in charging the criminals. Record a first-class merit for this drill and raise his salary by 500 Lungmen Dollars."

With such an obvious contrast between rewards and punishments, even an idiot could tell what Swire wanted them to do.

So Chief Swire wanted them to use an extremely realistic method to violently beat up these Villain Group members.

No, she wanted them to use extremely realistic methods to hone their professional skills.

Looking at their Villain Group colleagues, whose weathered faces seemed to tell a week's worth of stories, they felt reluctant—but under their superior's tyranny, they could only extend strong, powerful fists toward them.

Thus, the officers swarmed forward, each pouncing on the nearest Villain Group member.

Even Superintendent Cavens grabbed Motley by the arm.

His eyes carried a trace of guilt, as though they were saying, "Sorry, brother. I need to borrow your head for a moment."

"Brother Cavens, isn't this a little inappropriate? I even took the blame for you before." Sweat seeped from Motley's forehead again. Previous drills had only involved putting on formations and acting. Why were they actually fighting this time?

And it wasn't even drill time yet.

Just as Cavens and Motley tugged at each other, Swire's devilish voice rang out again.

"Anyone who makes mistakes or isn't proactive in this drill will be assigned to the Villain Group as a bad guy in the next drill. You can have a taste of being a bad guy yourselves."

Luo Chen's tone carried a hint of provocation and teasing, as though he were saying:

"If you don't train these Villain Group members hard today, they'll be the ones training you next time."

Sure enough, the greater the pressure people faced, the greater their motivation.

To avoid becoming members of the Villain Group in the future and suffering today's beating, all the officers rolled up their sleeves, grabbed their former colleagues, and gave them a brutal pounding.

What should have been a model drill of back-and-forth exchanges and chasing turned into an utterly inhumane group beating.

The Villain Group members, who were already bruised and swollen, were beaten until they barely looked human.

Luo Chen watched the scene with great delight.

He knew that people only woke up and grew after suffering major setbacks. Let them taste the iron fists of their former colleagues and the vicious slaps of their old friends.

"Officer badge number 3147 struck a criminal with a heavy punch and knocked out a tooth. Raise his salary by 500 Lungmen Dollars."

Not only did Swire not call for them to stop, she was giving raises to the officers who hit the hardest.

That stirred up even more enthusiasm.

More and more officers began putting greater force into their blows. Even Motley's close friend pulled out a baton and viciously struck Motley's body.

For a time, wails filled the area as a hellish scene unfolded on the street.

The violence was so extreme that even the surrounding passersby couldn't bear to watch.

Was this an arrest? It was clearly enemies settling a grudge. Even gangs didn't beat people like this.

Those volunteers who had kindly helped them just moments ago were suddenly being brutally beaten by the Lungmen Guard Department. No one with a conscience could accept it.

"Enough! Even if they're criminals, you can't beat people like this!"

Finally, a shop owner could no longer stand it. He shouted and charged forward with a mop in hand. Led by him, other passersby, shop owners, and even Texas joined in.

The warmhearted citizens formed a defensive line and forcibly drove back the Lungmen Guard Department officers.

In that instant, the Villain Group members seemed to awaken from chaos.

Their urge to curse was deeply moved by the actions of the passersby, and a long-lost warmth surged into their hearts.

They had never expected their former colleagues to strike them so ruthlessly. That cruelty and heartlessness chilled them to the bone.

But what surprised them even more was that these strangers were willing to step forward so bravely, speak for them, and defend them.

At that moment, they finally understood what it meant to give someone a rose and leave fragrance on their own hand.

What it meant to say that those who love others will always be loved, and those who respect others will always be respected.

If they had a choice, they would never again endure this torment just to get promoted, receive raises, and become leaders in the Lungmen Guard Department—useless people who had to watch their leader's mood even when getting beaten.

Instead, they would become ordinary people who could contribute to the citizens of Lungmen.

Looking at the people of Lungmen standing in front of him, the former office director Wang clenched his fists.

He'd had enough!