29 Metropolitan Corps Branch.

''He said that we will be with them the rest of the day, but... Is it really just a day...?'' John asked with a bitter face.

Zhou Heng shook his head and replied in low voice, ''Not so high chances, young kids like us are from the best tools for criminals. That makes us stand out in the eyes of the officers.''

He clearly remembers, without the need of the system, all those stories his grandfather told him about ruthless foes that used children as tools, carrying secret messages, small objects, or to the point using them as cover in battle.

Children were a sure hesitation origin in combat. Causing the soldiers to handle them with far more care than any other individual, and this 'care' wasn't exactly the good one.

Currently, the two of them were walking towards the office branch located in the district, around them was the group of guards that entered the inn and 'gently' asked everyone if they could follow them.

Daniel was ahead with the other people of the inn. Handcuffed and with his head low, covering the swollen face caused by a blow, one of the guards gave him when whispered to John and Heng instructions for the next development.

'Be imaginative and enjoy the twenty minutes of preparation', For the first instructor to be the 'Live and Learn' type Heng could only smile bitterly.

''Any good idea?'' John suddenly asked with an innocent face as if recognizing Heng as his leader.

Zhou Heng frowned a bit, but he didn't say much about this detail, ''I don't have that much confidence in deceiving others... Don't know you, but I will just open my eyes and see others try to deceive each other.''

John's face froze for a moment and with a puzzled expression replied, ''That's okay, I mean, isn't that normal? What I mean is...'' He looked at his side and saw some guards coldly watching the surroundings as if to intimidate everyone in the street.

They were taking advantage of the situation to remark on their authority and maybe scare the two kids to obtain more answers later.

''...We are also suspects, aren't we? Do you wanna go and tell them the truth that we were in the place just to catch up with them? Or are you so sure that the 'We were there for the food' will work?'' John whispered.

''Why not? What is the need to complicate everything? If anything, Daniel will be there to save us.'' Heng replied calmly.

''...You just meet him today. Why do you trust in him so much? And even if he helps us in the end, isn't it our work to try it on our own? Isn't lame to expect others to do things for you? That is not domineering at all...'' John pursued his lips and frowned.

''We are kids. I don't need to be domineering yet. If Daniel doesn't appear and leave everything to us, then so be it. I will look for a way to get out at that moment, what is the worst that could happen?''

''...Don't jinx things, man...'' John was speechless, Heng's actions weren't in tune with his looks and temperament.

But he couldn't understand him, and Heng also didn't want to explain too much, not to mention that this wasn't the time or place to talk that much.

He was certain of a few things, Daniel will be near and even if don't, there won't be a danger. Heng can faintly perceive that this world; this city doesn't have 'Child protection laws' yet, only laws meant to deal with the most likely criminals, adults.

So in a sense, the ways to treat kids would be a tacit understanding. Killing them just for suspicions or any kind of sick mentality would be a big 'no' for these officers.

In Heng's mind, this 'lesson' of Daniel was just an attempt to scare two kids with the authority and open their eyes to future situations.

Heng's job was to take advantage, to see the world outside a wall; to learn about the authority in Ariethis, and increase his knowledge about human behavior.

''If they ask, just say part of the truth. You meet me today and the first thing you did after learning my name was to go to that Inn, the rest is up to you.'' That was the final thing Zhou Heng said to John.

John also didn't reply but he paused his movements for a bit and watched Heng's back which never waited for him.

*****

The Metropolitan Corps Branch in the rat district wasn't small, but it looked pretty worn out. It was a three-storied building with traces of time all around, a structure begging for some maintenance. Being what you can imagine as an authority symbol in the worst and most lawless district of the city.

Zhou Heng could hear the bustling coming from the inside, and on the outside officers along with what you could only call 'shady individuals' were laughing while smoking.

The word authority wasn't paired with discipline in a site like this.

Heng's lips twitched a little and wanted to laugh at the imagination of his strict Grandfather watching something like this.

''Move on!'' His thoughts stopped when a guard coming from behind pushed his shoulder.

Zhou Heng looked back at the cold expression of the guard and followed the others, he also saw how the guards were hurrying everyone but those ahead received the worst treatment, with some of the smuggling suspects being beaten with wood batons.

As the group entered the building the image inside was as chaotic as the outside. With some officers joking and sitting very relaxed and others competing with criminals on who can scold their family tree better.

Some uniformed officers were running between desks carrying documents with anxious expressions while more casual-clothed officers used the same documents as legs supporters.

When the large group of guards and detained entered, only a few glanced at them to later ignore them. The leading also didn't pay attention to this reaction and he walked to the side.

''Where is Benson? He should be waiting for me here.'' The leading officer had a solemn face as he asked. Annoyance flashed in his eyes at the sight of the behavior of his co-workers.

The person he asked was one of the relaxed officers, hearing the question he lazily replied while moving into a more comfortable position, ''Who knows, everyone's so busy... Maybe someone asked him to help with another work or he just left like the others.''

The leading officer's expression darkened and his fist clenched, but he took deep breaths calming himself, once he was done he suddenly turned back towards the group, ''Let's do it ourselves. Register them and pack them. Send one by one.''

''Yes!'' It was at this moment that Heng noticed the clear difference between the team that brought them here and the stationed officers.

One of the guards near Heng called the attention of the leader, ''Sir!'' when he got the attention of the leader he raised his chin signaling at Heng and John. The leader frowned and looked at the kids.

John showed a fearful expression and Heng just looked the leader in the eyes. This caused the leader to frown even more, but after a few seconds he just raised his hand signaling to a door, ''Take them there.''

''...Yes!'' The guard answered and ordered the two kids to move.

The two of them followed the order and walked towards that door, Zhou Heng while walking keep watching the expressions of the officers, especially the leader.

The leader watched at him too for a few moments, then shook his head, and went back to his team.

When Heng was entering the room he noticed John's face showed a somewhat excited and mischievous face. He shook his head and just thought that he was in 'character' earlier.

The door led to a corridor, with many doors at the sides, and a window at the end where another officer was smoking while looking outside.

The guard made them go to one of those doors and opened it for them, he later looked at them with a cold face and said sternly, ''Stand in the corner.''

John again with a fearful expression nodded many times while glancing at the floor as if he didn't dare to see the eyes of the guard, Heng also nodded while looking at the guard in the eyes.

The two stood in the corner of the room. A room that was a bit small-sized, it didn't have too many things just a table and a few chairs. But Heng noticed something, this room was a bit too familiar to him.

It wasn't the kind of familiarity that made Heng think if he was once in this place, but the one that made him compare with another room he is very familiar with.

When he realized which room was, he wanted to ask why, but in an instant the very recently feeling he had helped him understand.

The display of authority, the eyes of the officers and the leader, he was also familiar with them. Just like when his Grandfather taught him with a stern face.

A small smile formed on his lips, and a warm feeling came to his chest. But at the same time, his expression became complex, after all, even though these people were trying their best for their society, he would be standing on the opposite side in the future.

These thoughts made him feel conflicted.

John that finished looking at the room, put his sights on Heng. He raised his eyebrows when he saw his 'companion' state.

''...What's the matter with you? At what point did you forget where and why are here.''

Heng regained himself and looked at John that had a very curious expression, even though his words sounded like a complaint he wasn't even a bit mad, or at least he didn't show it.

''I am doing what I came for. See and learn from others.'' Heng replied.

With a helpless face, John asked, ''Just that? At least try to put a more normal face weirdo, which kid isn't scared of being here?''

"You aren't.'' Heng said and John kept silent. After a few seconds without an answer, Heng continued, ''...And as I said before, I don't have confidence in deceiving them, at least, not yet.''

The two of them fell into deep silence and just watched at the front, where the table was. But Heng could feel that John keep stealing glances at him.

After what seemed ten minutes, the door opened and the leader from earlier entered with another guard, the two had cold faces.

The leader was a black-haired middle-aged man, he had a natural stern face and a robust body. His gray uniform was very well kept but had some time marks. The other officer was younger but he had many similarities with the older one, the two shared many features that made Heng realize that they were related.

Most probably father and son.

The two glanced at the kids and said nothing. They walked and sat down on the opposite side of the table.

The four people in the room looked at each other displaying different expressions. One fearful and one calm. One stern and the other aggressive.

A freezing silence reigned in the room. The tension kept raising until the door was knocked.

The older officer waited for a few seconds and then he broke the silence, ''Enter.''

The door was opened and a thin-looking man without a uniform was pushed inside, after him, a guard also entered and made him sit in the remaining chairs.

He then gave the younger officer a clipboard and exited the room.

The two officers set their sights on the new guest. The youngest officer looked at the information written on the document and said.

''Lester Greenrock? Good. Let's start.''