"I never thought I'd be heading back to the imperial palace on business after being here for such a short time. Haha..."
Wave scratched his head, looking embarrassed as he spoke.
Even though Wave acted so relaxed, Lin Feng could not forget what General Budo had just said.
"Keeping your talent for combat hidden all the time isn't necessarily a good thing."
From the first day Lin Feng met Wave, he had felt that Wave was someone who had practiced martial arts for years, possessing perseverance and determination that none of the others had.
Now, it seemed he really was an expert who kept his abilities well hidden.
And when it came to the station's affairs, Wave clearly had more experience than Lin Feng. It was only because he was a temporary member sent over these past few months to bolster their numbers and could leave at any time that Lin Feng had always been responsible for District Thirteen's affairs.
At that thought, Lin Feng felt deeply how much things had changed with time.
"Lin Feng will serve as the new captain of the District Thirteen Imperial Guard."
The envoy General Budo had brought soon announced the news at the station, and Lin Feng signed the notice, having already expected it.
With personnel transfers being relatively frequent, and Wave, who had the most experience handling Imperial Guard affairs, having also left the District Thirteen station, no one questioned Lin Feng's ability.
In other words, from today onward, Lin Feng would command the Imperial Guard, and the station would become his territory.
Upon hearing the news, Sheele felt something she could not put into words.
Although the position of Imperial Guard captain had seemed out of reach to someone who had once been a lowly restaurant worker, the two of them were childhood friends who had grown up playing together.
On the one hand, Sheele felt that her useless self seemed to be drifting farther and farther away from Lin Feng, but more than anything, she wished him well and admired him.
In Sheele's heart, Lin Feng would always be the same as he had been when they were children: that big brother with a sense of justice, who took responsibility and got things done.
Lin Feng looked at Sheele beside him and sensed the changes in her.
Back when she worked at the restaurant, Sheele could not even handle chores like washing dishes properly and was always forgetting one thing or another.
Her fingers had grown rough from long-term physical labor, and her skin had endured plenty of smoke and heat.
Now, though Sheele no longer faced the restaurant's intense daily workload, she never slacked off, choosing instead to seek out the owner to improve her cooking.
Even if it was only bringing him meals, this hardworking girl wanted to do everything she could to make them as good as possible.
The next day, at the Imperial Guard station, Lin Feng heard a voice he had missed dearly.
"I'm back..."
Just as he was about to begin routine training at the shooting range, Lin Feng heard that familiar voice again.
It was Seryu's voice.
She had not left her life in the Imperial Guard behind as Lin Feng had expected, nor had she vanished in dejection for three to five years.
In just over a week, Seryu had gotten herself back on track.
To be honest, Lin Feng would have preferred that she rest a little longer. After suffering such a blow, how could she easily find her way out of her confusion?
Yet Seryu's resolute gaze and sweet smile, just as they had always been, seemed to tell Lin Feng: I've been reborn.
Yes, Seryu had always been such a cheerful girl. That was the impression Lin Feng had formed of her on the first day they met.
"Seryu, what are you planning to do next?"
"What else! I need to hurry up and get out on patrol to make up for all the days of work I missed!"
Looking at Seryu, Lin Feng had never imagined this chestnut-haired girl could be so strong.
But a trace of warmth appeared on Seryu's face for the first time in a long while.
That was probably her boundless gratitude toward Lin Feng.
Without a doubt, Lin Feng was the benefactor who had helped Seryu understand herself and the world, clearing away the fog so she could face the road ahead.
"Don't you agree, Captain Lin Feng?"
"Don't call me captain... it's so embarrassing."
"What should I call you, then?"
"Just call me Lin Feng. From now on, everyone at the station can just call me Lin Feng. We don't have any superior-subordinate relationships here. I'd still prefer to get along with everyone."
Lin Feng's words moved every member of the Imperial Guard.
In this world where the strong preyed on the weak, it was perfectly normal for superiors to bully their subordinates.
The reason Captain Ogre had enjoyed such prestige within the Imperial Guard was that he offered his subordinates more guidance than harsh criticism.
Lin Feng went even further, overturning the station's hierarchy and making everyone a more cohesive whole.
Sitting in Captain Ogre's former office, Lin Feng gathered all the station's personnel and began announcing the station's new rules.
As the saying went, a newly appointed official lit three fires. These were all Lin Feng's own ideas.
"Members of the Imperial Guard, starting today, we'll be implementing flexible working hours."
"All requests for leave to attend to personal matters will be approved, but you'll have to make up the time afterward by working overtime..."
Only after announcing who knew how many detailed rules did Lin Feng get to the main point.
"Yesterday, General Budo's men issued a new batch of supplies and equipment. I'll distribute them to everyone now. There are firearms among them, so remember to use them carefully."
As he spoke, Lin Feng opened several leather air bags in the corner.
Inside were various models of firearms and blades, as well as batons for training new recruits and uniforms.
"Great, we finally have guns to use again!"
"I don't even remember the last time I got to use a gun!"
Hearing the members' excited voices, Lin Feng was thoroughly puzzled.
"Has everyone else not been issued firearms either?"
"No! We members of the Imperial Guard rarely get issued guns for patrol. Unless we're patrolling an area with a particularly high crime rate, we're usually equipped with swords!"
In fact, the Imperial Guard had more than enough firearms.
It was just that Captain Ogre had sold the large quantities of firearms issued each time to local criminal forces under the pretext of renting them out, making extra money on the side.
That was why the guards had been short of guns.
Lin Feng pondered for a moment. He truly had not known about any of this, and there was still much he needed to familiarize himself with.
"Understood. Collect these supplies first, everyone. From now on, remember to take your guns when you patrol the streets, and make sure to practice your shooting at the range regularly. I'll arrange the details."
"Yes, sir!"
"Then that's all for today's meeting! From now on, we won't hold meetings unless something unusual comes up. Also, Seryu, stay behind!"
"Me?"
Lin Feng singled Seryu out to stay behind and began speaking before everyone else had gone very far.
Although this matter did not affect Lin Feng's reputation, it was exceptionally important.
"I just wanted to ask about Teigu."
Lin Feng got straight to the point.
"Seryu, do you know what that device in the Teigu 'aptitude testing room' is?"
"That device? Isn't it a device that determines whether a Teigu matches its owner's aptitude?"
Seryu asked in confusion, but Lin Feng's brow furrowed.