AZI Volume 1 Chapter 18

"Morning."

Stepping into the rundown office building of DB-06-07, Long Hua gently sets the door back into its position while thinking this should be the first thing they get fixed after a payment.

"Morning."

Waving back at Ye Chen, Long Hua looks to the sofa on the left side of the table.

"Uh…"

There, sits Yu Ji, who is holding onto his stomach with an expression of pain. Qing Yue sat next to him, while Li Xue sat on the opposing sofa.

(I didn't exactly hit him that hard, why does he look like he's expecting a baby soon?)

Walking over, Long Hua sits down on the sofa that is empty.

Placed onto the table directly in front of Li Xue is a white laptop.

"All hell broke loose in the fourth ward yesterday apparently."

The moment Long Hua seats himself, Li Xue brings this up as a topic of discussion.

"I heard."

Without breaking his composure, Long Hua answers as such, while Ye Chen—

"Ai, if only we were the ones called in. I heard the girl who got to take part in the attempted capture was compensated nicely."

(Did they mention any sort of head injuries? Would be nice if that hit managed to tighten up her loose screws.)

Recalling Shen Le's rotten eyes, Long Hua comes to the immediate conclusion that she must have a few screws loose in the head.

"Just be patient. We'll get our turn soon enough."

"You've done what I told you?"

Towards this question, Long Hua, Yu Ji, and Qing Yue can't help but look towards Ye Chen and Li Xue with confusion.

"What exactly did you tell the vice-captain?"

"You know how we're located in the sixth ward right?"

"What about it?"

"It's the ward that is focused on Sinner education. According to past statistics, we very rarely get handed a job."

As this is the ward that is heavily focused on Sinner education, issues regarding Sinners do not occur very often, for they tend to be taken care of ahead of time by means outside of the Disciplinary Bureau; mainly by the military instructors, who are stationed in the educational institutes akin to S09.

And if issues regarding Sinners do occur here, then the issues in question must be quite major.

"Wait… Doesn't that mean our place's income-"

"It's exactly what you think, 2nd Lieut. Yu Ji."

"So… Aren't we basically unemployed?"

"If there isn't a way, we create a way. I've told our vice-captain here to post an ad on the internet telling others that we're accepting odd jobs."

"…Somehow, this isn't what I imagined coming here."

Towards Qing Yue's words, Long Hua had to agree.

"Well, think of it this way. It just means we've got more freedom than most other squads. If it makes you feel any better, we're basically the reserve unit that gets called in when all hope is lost."

"What is up with that, we're the ace in the hole line of thinking?"

"I like how you described that, 2nd Lieut. Qing Yue. And 2nd Lieut. Yu Ji, no need to get yourself so bothered about low income. Like I said, if opportunities won't come to us, we simply need to create our own."

"Captain."

"What's wrong, 2nd Lieut. Long Hua?"

"You're a real positive guy."

"Flattery won't get you anywhere."

Judging by the air of satisfaction that comes from Ye Chen after hearing those words that is definitely a lie.

"I got things planned Sunday, so I won't be showing up unless it's an emergency."

Since Ye Chen has indirectly said that their office is a place with more freedom than most, Long Hua figured that he may as well take advantage of this conversation topic to request for a day off.

"That's fine, but what exactly are your plans that day?"

"Something like a company get-together."

What should have been a dinner for two people has turned into a company get-together at a luxury hotel located in the third ward.

"I sense something more."

"I'll leave that up to your imagination, vice-captain."

Just as it would seem like today was going to be just another casual day, where nothing will happen, the speakers on Li Xue's laptop raise a mild ringtone.

"Hm?"

"We got a job offering?"

Reading the message that was sent over, Li Xue blinks her eyes once, and reports—

"Another squad wants us to take over their patrol duty."

"Patrol of the wastelands?"

The areas beyond the city's barrier are typically called the slums, or the wastelands.

Much of what makes up that area are old ruins that are on the verge of collapsing. Those that are kicked out of the city for whatever reason, or are banned from entering—gather there.

Every two days after a patrol's conclusion, another squad would be sent out to perform it again.

This is done repeatedly because the Gears of Descension can occasionally teleport something into this world without triggering the city's detection system, which has a limited scanning range pass a certain point.

"How much are they offering?"

"50,000 NWD."

"Huh?"

Hearing such a high number, the others can't help but raise a look of surprise.

"50,000 for just a two-day patrol job?"

"…"

The fact that this other squad is willing to offer this much money for them to take over their area of patrol sounds far too good to be true.

"I doubt they'd answer honestly, if we asked them why they're willing to offer this much."

"Negotiate with them a bit. See if you can get them to raise the fees."

"So, we're taking it?"

"Of course. Beats sitting on our asses all day. If they say, they can't raise the price, remind them about the penalties involved with delaying their responsibilities."

A monetary fine would be the least of the other squad's concerns—if they were to delay the patrol schedule. In extreme cases, they could very well all get sent to the frontlines.

With that decided, Long Hua sends a text message to the Owner telling them that he would be absent from the café for two days.