The words and actions of those at the top were always laden with meaning.
Although Mr. Dong had not spelled anything out, Zhou Quan had gleaned plenty of useful information from his subtle guidance.
Zhou Quan did indeed harbor the ambition of becoming the second Police Force Number One after Hong Kong Island's return.
But judging by the current situation, that prospect seemed exceedingly remote.
Mr. Dong had already made it very clear that Zhou Quan's seniority was still somewhat lacking.
At his current age, becoming a Senior Assistant Commissioner of the Police Force already counted as an exceptional promotion.
But that had become a reality, after all, and he had an outstanding service record to underpin it.
What was more, the National Security Department was a fast track to promotion that he had built single-handedly.
But taking another step up to become a Deputy Commissioner of the Police Force was clearly impossible in the short term.
Yet Mr. Dong had specifically brought up the question of the Police Force's second Number One during their conversation. That could not have been without purpose.
As a trusted confidant in the current Number One's inner circle, Zhou Quan naturally knew his boss's circumstances very well. His boss was already nearing sixty this year.
Under Hong Kong Island's retirement system, his boss had at most two or three years left in office.
If Zhou Quan had two or three years, then with his abilities and foreknowledge,
and by solving every major case that arose, he might have had a chance of succeeding his boss.
But Mr. Dong's guidance had brought Zhou Quan a glimmer of understanding: his boss was probably about to enter honourable retirement.
And as he was currently only a Senior Assistant Commissioner of the Police Force, there was no possibility