Joining Second Squad

Police regulations-that is, the Royal Police Regulations.

In Hong Kong Island as it stood now, their full name was the Royal Police Regulations, rules the foreigners used to govern all members of the Royal Police.

These regulations had been part of Zhou Quan's thirty-six weeks of study at the Police Academy.

With his extraordinary ability to learn, Zhou Quan could recite the police regulations backward.

However, remembering Police Regulations was one thing; putting them into practice required years of experience as a police officer.

At that moment, the Police Regulations Mastery achievement reward was what enabled Zhou Quan to apply what he had learned.

For example, how police officers should respond to certain emergencies.

However, in Zhou Quan's view, the real purpose of the Police Regulations Mastery achievement reward should be to guard against the Political Department's foreigners targeting him.

Since they were the Royal Police Regulations, their contents naturally favored the foreigners.

Although the foreigners in the Police Force had already begun gradually relinquishing the power in their hands,

Chinese police officers such as Lee Man-bun and Wong Bing Yiu were slowly beginning to become the officers with real command authority in various departments and districts.

But there was one department in the Police Force that the foreigners still kept firmly in their hands: the Political Department.

The Political Department, code-named SB, nominally belonged to the Police Force, but was in fact directed by the foreigners' intelligence service.

It included departments such as the Complaints and Internal Investigations Branch and the VIP Protection Group.

The so-called Internal Investigations Branch was the department specifically responsible for investigating the Police Force from within.

If the hounds of the Internal Investigations Branch set their sights on someone and caught them with something they could use against them, it would certainly not be easy to resolve.

But if he put the police regulations into practice, at the very least, it would not be so easy for the hounds of the Internal Investigations Branch to catch him off guard.

The Police Regulations Mastery achievement reward was not as limited as it seemed at present, either.

After all, Zhou Quan's achievement rewards came from Earth Online, rather than being limited to a tiny place like Hong Kong Island.

Therefore, the police regulations he mastered included those of every police force around the world.

This would be extremely helpful to Zhou Quan in understanding his counterparts around the world, as well as in any cross-regional investigations that might arise in the future.

Besides, this was a benefit Zhou Quan had received out of nowhere.

He had not needed to complete any missions or face any dangers.

In that case, what did he have to be dissatisfied about?

With a joyful heart, Zhou Quan followed Kong Chi Lap and completed all the procedures for joining the force.

He put on a white short-sleeved uniform, donned the Probationary Inspector insignia, and equipped himself with a full set of police gear, including a .38 Revolver.

He tucked his blue Beret beneath the epaulet on his left shoulder. He looked spirited and sharp, a young cop brimming with confidence.

Seeing Zhou Quan in uniform, with the Appointment Certificate on his chest, Kong Chi Lap could not help nodding in satisfaction.

"You look sharp. Uncle Tong and Sir Lee should be especially pleased to see you."

He patted Zhou Quan on the shoulder and said with a heartfelt smile.

"Thank you, sir!"

Zhou Quan stamped to attention and saluted.

He looked so imposing and dashing that he could have been in the opening credits of Police News.

"Come on. I'll take you to meet the officer you'll be reporting to."

Kong Chi Lap returned the salute, then smiled and led Zhou Quan toward the Second Squad Office Area under B Company.

Each PTU company had a standard complement of 168 people.

It was commanded by a Superintendent, assisted by a Chief Inspector. A Station Sergeant handled the company's administrative and supply matters, while a Sergeant managed all its operations and internal affairs.

Each company had four platoons, and each platoon was divided into four sections, with a full complement of forty-one officers.

Of course, the terms "platoon" and "section" were translations of standard terms used by the foreign military. They appeared only in official documents.

That was because the Mobile Unit was defined as a paramilitary riot-control police force.

In practice, only the Mobile Units stationed in the various regional commands were called companies within the Police Force.

The remaining platoons and sections were usually called squads and groups.

Each platoon was commanded by two Inspectors or Senior Inspectors, and had one Station Sergeant, eight Sergeants, and thirty police officers.

As for why B Company had four squads, yet Kong Chi Lap was taking Zhou Quan to Second Squad,

the reason was simple: the squads were not ranked, but only Second Squad was currently stationed inside the Police Station.

The other three squads were out patrolling the district in groups.

When Kong Chi Lap and Zhou Quan arrived at the Second Squad Office Area,

a round-faced Senior Inspector with a beaming smile hurried over to greet them.

"Wow, Sir Kong's brought us a talent for Second Squad!"

The man raised a hand in salute, then put on an exaggerated smile and said.

Word that Kong Chi Lap had personally accompanied a probationary inspector through all the procedures had already spread throughout the B Company base.

This Senior Inspector had naturally heard about it already.

So when he realized that Kong Chi Lap and Zhou Quan were headed to the Second Squad Office Area, he had come out to greet them ahead of time.

"Man Chin, this is Zhou Quan, the newly graduated Probationary Inspector and this year's recipient of the Shirley Shield. He'll be joining your squad."

Kong Chi Lap first introduced Zhou Quan in a serious tone.

"This is Senior Inspector Kwan Man Chin, your squad commander."

Then he turned to Zhou Quan and said with a smile.

"Hello, Sir Kwan!"

Zhou Quan nodded slightly and immediately saluted Kwan Man Chin, then said with a smile, "I look forward to your guidance, Sir Kwan."

Zhou Quan was unfailingly courteous, so Kwan Man Chin did not dare take things lightly, either.

"Oh, Sir Zhou, you're too kind."

He hurriedly returned the salute and exchanged pleasantries with a beaming smile. "I wouldn't say that. We can learn from each other."

Among inspectors in the Police Force, apart from Chief Inspectors, who were usually deputy commanders of a district or department,

there was no particularly strict hierarchy between Senior Inspectors, Inspectors, and Probationary Inspectors.

What was more, Zhou Quan had been personally brought here by Big Sir Kong Chi Lap. How could Kwan Man Chin fail to understand what that meant?

The honor of receiving the Shirley Shield at the Police Academy alone would not have been enough to make a Superintendent with real authority treat him so seriously.

"Man Chin, I'll leave Chun in your hands. Get him familiar with everything in the district as soon as possible."

After introducing the two, Kong Chi Lap handed Zhou Quan over to Kwan Man Chin.

"Don't worry, Sir Kong. I'll have the most experienced Sergeant in the squad assist Sir Zhou shortly."

Kwan Man Chin's smile faded, and he nodded solemnly in reply.