Chapter 8 – Public Security Department

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November 8, 2021

Knight Of The Sea

Chapter 8 – Public Security Department

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Hai Lian’s destination was also the Bainiao District, or, more specifically, the outskirts of Bainiao District. That was where Jiumeng City’s Public Security Department was. This location was chosen to reach various violent crime locations in the Mud District in a timely manner as well as to easily arrest the young rumormongers speaking against the Amber Emperor.

The guard had long become familiar with Hai Lian, and didn’t bother checking his identity before letting him in. He passed through the sea of people with practiced ease, passing by the petty thieves trying to negotiate, and the officers practicing intimidation. The women caught on the wrong side of the law tended to be quiet. They leaned against the wall and rubbed their eyes, awaiting some officer’s summons.

Hai Lian was unfazed by these familiar sights and calmly left the chaotic main hall. He entered the long and narrow hallway, directly walking to the end and knocking on a set of large doors. A thin metal placard hung on the door.

Sheriff: Faluko

“Come in.” A voice came from inside.

Hai Lian pushed open the door.

Faluko was a stereotypical Tisuvian, with a high, well-defined nose and sleek eyebrows. Without his uniform, he would disappear among the vast sea of people. The only memorable trait was his voice. It was neither ugly nor beautiful, but was sharp and hard — as if Hai Lian was speaking with a piece of metal.

“There were a few circumstances out at sea, so I was delayed for a couple days,” Hai Lian said. He pulled a woven stool from the corner and sat across from Faluko. The man handed him some documents, but a swift glance shocked Hai Lian.

“This many?”

“This is considered many?” Faluko countered. “The cells of Niutou Cliff and Baihui Prison1 are stuffed way past capacity. If the higher-ups continue arresting people like this, we’ll be forced to lead them all to Amber Square to let them get some sun.”

“What’d they do, slander the emperor?”

“They were singing.”

“Singing?”

Faluko made a motion with his left foot and Hai Lian understood.

Originally, the Amber Emperor Abale wasn’t meant to inherit the throne. His birth itself was a mistake. The son of a prostitute and the younger brother of the late Emperor Suheer, his blood was unclean. He was born a red-haired, black-eyed cripple who spoke with a stutter. When he was nine, he tripped and cut his cheek. Like this, he was the shame of the entire royal family, a little imp hidden in the shadows. Back then, when Emperor Abale had no political influence, plays mocking him filled theaters from upscale opera houses to the run down alleys in the Mud district.

In the end, it was this imp that saved Emperor Suheer’s kidnapped daughter and was named next in line for the throne. That was perhaps the best decision he had made in his last few years of rule. But it was also the worst; not long after, Emperor Suheer passed away due to complications from tetanus.

Ever since Emperor Abale inherited the throne, the theaters dared not run the slanderous plays again, but the people’s contempt towards their ruler hadn’t decreased even a bit. They taught their children to sing stuttering nursery rhymes. When the police weren’t looking, they also put up posters depicting the Emperor as an ugly monkey with one leg as short as could be, and the other longer than a noodle.

“So these people are the ones being secretly executed?” Hai Lian waved the stack of papers in his hand.

“No, I’ve given you a different case.” Faluko replied. “We’ve been tracking a group of Beimo spies within the city, but they’ve proven to be very cunning and slippery. Nevertheless, if the spider’s web is destroyed, then the spider will come out sooner or later ”

“Same price.” Hai Lian was completely disinterested in politics.

“No problem. Complete this as soon as possible.”

“No problem.”

Faluko and Hai Lian had been cooperating for three years now. As long as Faluko paid Hai Lian, Hai Lian would help him deal with any sorts of people the public security department was unable to deal with directly. It was a fair trade. Faluko was very pleased with Hai Lian. Of all the people Faluko had cooperated with, this young Dongzhou man was the best — his prices were reasonable and he never asked too many questions.

“Anything else? If not, then I’ll get to work.”

“Don’t provoke the ‘Amber Scorpions2’ like last time. Avoid them if at all possible,” Faluko reminded him.

“I’ll do my best,” Hai Lian said.

“Would you like to directly secure a job in the department? I’ll vouch for you.” Faluko asked as Hai Lian reached the door.

“Nevermind that, I know how much the officers in the security department make,” Hai Lian laughed.

“You also know that I lack money.”

Hai Lian originally wanted to get straight to work after leaving the public security department, but he suddenly remembered the employer he’d left at the mercy of his neighbor.

Even though Hai Lian knew that his employer was a cunning liar who didn’t need his help at all, he couldn’t help but worry.

“Let’s just say it’s for the money.” Hai Lian muttered to himself as he turned and headed back.

“I wonder if Oubuli An showed him to a hotel yet…”

The street peddlers were already packing up. Only a couple of young children selling flowers were still running about for every last copper they could earn. The factory laborers hadn’t gone home yet, as seen by the many points of light still peeking through the factories. However, some gathered in the corners in twos and threes to complain about their wages over a small drink. These were soon found by their supervisors, who came after the slackers with whips.

Halfway down the road, a traveler offered Hai Lian a copper to help lift his luggage into a cart. Hai Lian didn’t even have a chance to answer before a swarm of other street-drifters rushed up to claim the job. Hai Lian simply smiled at the man, before going around a boy who tried to pickpocket himself, continuing on his way.

He arrived at Zhenzhu Tavern at the same time that Oubuli An rushed out to throw up — the bacon had all gone bad, and what Oubuli An had spent a dozen or so coppers to stuff himself with had now left him.

Fang Tinglan stood next to him, patting his shoulder in a perfunctory manner. He was looking anywhere but where Oubuli An threw up and happened to meet Hai Lian’s eyes.

Fang Tinglan heard a marked thump.

In this putrid atmosphere, this sort of face would send anyone’s heart thumping.

“Looks like you two are drinking quite merrily.” The little pirate raised an eyebrow.

“I haven’t drunk a drop,” Fang Tinglan answered. “Where did you go?”

Hai Lian didn’t answer. Instead, he went to support Oubuli An.

“Give me a hand.”

Fang Tinglan cooperated silently. The two helped the drunkard home.

“Your neighbor is a good person.”

“I already knew that.”

“The good people in this world have a hard road to travel.”

“En, unlike you.”

“You forgot to tell me how to get to the hotel. Looks like I’ll still be squeezing in with you tonight.”

Hai Lian cursed him in every dialect found among the sixteen islands.

Fang Tinglan pretended not to hear.

“Oubuli An said you’ve lived alone for three years. You don’t have any other friends from Tisu or Dongzhou?” He cheekily returned.

“What’s it to you?”

The women on the street hitched their skirts up above their knees, naughtily shook their hips, and blew kisses towards the two men.

“I’m only trying to understand my comrade a little better. You didn’t even tell me you lived in the red-light district,” He smiled softly.

“Now you know.” Hai Lian pulled Oubuli An’s up again and spoke carelessly.

“I don’t recommend this landlord. Her girls make poor wine and steal your belongings.”

“You’re speaking from experience3?”

Hai Lian stopped, but Fang Tinglan’s momentum brought the man half a step forward. The poor drunkard between the two made a funny limping step.

“No.”

Hai Lian’s lips slowly raised to a smirk. He knew his smile was hostile and cold, but also carried an indescribable seductiveness.

“I have no experience with women, but have plenty with men. I know just how to move to make you hard and just where to touch to make you shoot. Satisfied with my experience? Still want to sleep in the same bed as me, Officer Fang?” The boy spoke word by word.

Stay away from me, don’t try to understand me.

“Good night.” He held Fang Tinglan’s gaze.

Fang Tinglan felt it a second time.

Thump.

 

A/N: Hai Lian’s self-destructive speech had a counterproductive effect [No]

T/N: I have no idea what the author means by “[No]” …

1

Baihui Prison: specifically, a prison partly filled w/ water.

2

Amber Scorpion: the Amber King’s CIA

3

experience: phrased so that it could refer to the girls stealing his stuff, or to his experiences with the girls in general.