"Once you’re in the Monitoring Bureau, you lose your integrity like any other passerby."
Tang Fei stood in front of the ancient, outdated gate of the Monitoring Bureau, muttering an Old Blue Star proverb from before the great disaster.
He knew the extreme evil and danger within, but he was not afraid; he even felt a hint of excitement and anticipation.
Like a wild cat that had caught the scent of blood, he relished the feeling of walking through the darkness.
He was meant to belong to the darkness; the light only made him unable to hide.
"Who’s there? What are you skulking around the Monitoring Bureau’s entrance for?" A guard on duty from inside the gate came over and pointed at Tang Fei, asking.
In the bureau, they differentiated job functions by the color of their clothes; blue was for security, black for inspection.
"I’m here to report," Tang Fei said with a cheerful smile.
"Report?" The guard approached Tang Fei and asked, "Which department?"
"Supervision Bureau Fifth Division, Second Squad," Tang Fei replied.
"Fifth Division?" The guard was visibly unnerved, his voice lowering a great deal, and even a smile spread across his face, "So young, yet already in our Fifth Division? You’re really excellent, young man."
Initially, he had not taken Tang Fei seriously because he looked too young, clean, and like an inexperienced college student.
He had been scoping out the entrance of the Monitoring Bureau, muttering to himself without entering, which had drawn their attention and suspicion.
To think he was actually here to report for duty at the Supervision Bureau Fifth Division, Second Squad— a department with significant authority within the Monitoring Bureau.
This young man could become an inspector while still so young, his future was bound to be limitless.
Those of them working in security were inherently a level lower than the black-clad inspectors, with far lesser prospects.
Unless absolutely necessary, they wouldn’t dare to offend these young inspectors.
"What’s so excellent about that?" Tang Fei humbly said, "I’m just a minor deputy captain."
"Deputy captain?" The guard looked at Tang Fei, shocked, thinking the young man was running his mouth off.
Are you even an adult?
Even though it’s extremely rare to have such a young inspector.
And a deputy captain? Do you think the Monitoring Bureau is run by your family?
"Yes," Tang Fei nodded and asked, "May I enter now?"
"Sir, we need to verify your identity," the guard said, "If you’re here to report, we also need to confirm your appointment documents."
"Alright." Tang Fei nodded, showing his electronic appointment letter he had received a few days earlier.
When the guard saw the appointment letter, and after repeatedly verifying its authenticity, he snapped to attention and saluted.
If Tang Fei was just an inspector, their positions would have been equal. Although inspectors held slightly more power than their security personnel.
But if Tang Fei was the deputy captain of the Supervision Bureau Fifth Division, Second Squad, he was a level above them, effectively their semi-leader.
Tang Fei followed suit with a salute and asked, "May I proceed now?"
"Captain Tang, please come in." The guard stepped aside, making a welcoming gesture.
"Mm." Tang Fei nodded and asked, "Know where I should report?"
"Yes, at the HR department on the second floor of the main building," the guard said eagerly, "Captain Tang, need me to take you there?"
"No need." Tang Fei waved his hand, saying, "I’ll find my way there."
"Alright, alright, let me know if you need anything," the guard bowed respectfully again.
Tang Fei looked at him with a grin, thinking to himself, is this the charm of power?
I must not become a spineless person ...
Tang Fei knocked on the HR department’s door, held up his appointment letter, and said respectfully, "Hello, I’m here to report."
"Come in." A middle-aged woman who was slightly overweight was watching a movie on a virtual screen and said without lifting her head, "Which department?"
"Supervision Bureau Fifth Division, Second Squad," Tang Fei replied.
"Appointment letter? Oh, just a moment..." As the woman looked at the name on the appointment letter and then sized up Tang Fei, she asked, "You’re the new deputy captain?"
"Yes," Tang Fei replied.
As the woman pondered Tang Fei’s status, she stood up and said, "Come on, there’s nothing much going on; I’ll take you to Fifth Division."
"Thank you," Tang Fei gratefully said.
"My name is Gao Xing." The woman looked at Tang Fei with a warm smile and said, "If you don’t mind, just call me Sister Gao."
"How could I call you Sister Gao?" Tang Fei said earnestly, "Judging by your looks, you must be a few years younger than me?"
"Ah, young man, you sure have a way with words..." Gao Xing affectionately patted Tang Fei on the shoulder and said, "With that, if you ever need anything, just come to HR and look for Sister Gao."
"Alright, alright. I’ll be troubling Sister Gao then," Tang Fei said with a smile.