"Don’t worry, the National Security Operations Department is your most trustworthy second home," Linz kicked the tip of the boy’s shoe, "Now that everything is settled, what do you want to do next?"
"Yeah, I’m going to have a chat with my girlfriend, then head home to sleep." Having said that, the youngster pushed open the carriage door.
His words took Linz by surprise, "Aren’t you the one who has a crush on my little great-niece?"
"Forget it, she doesn’t like me; am I supposed to love a woman who doesn’t like me for a lifetime... I’m not the kid I used to be, I can live just fine without her, so why should I keep loving her like a madman?" As he spoke, Engma glanced at Linz, "Besides, Mrs. Linz, you’re not exactly young anymore, can you stop wearing short skirts? Nobody likes an old lady in those!"
After a moment of silence, Linz thought it over and realized there was sense in what Engma said, so she patted the carriage, and the coachman in front opened a small window, "Miss, where would you like to go?"
"Back to the Palace in Central District, I need to find my dear Anna to give me some fashion advice." With that, Linz turned to look at the poster on the wall which read that being honest is a virtue, but not everyone likes kids who tell the truth incessantly, because sometimes, reason can deeply hurt a young girl’s heart: "Mr. Engma, you’re working overtime today, please make your way back to the Operations Department quickly."
The young man who slid down the wall slowly left a blood-red mark on it and flipped a middle finger.
Malin turned his head, standing in front of his room, feeling as if he had just heard some cursing noise.
He listened intently, but couldn’t make out anything besides the raucous laughter of the apprentices.
Opening the door, Malin walked in; this was his own single room—a privilege reserved for tutors.
The girls were spending the night at Faye’s. Malin sat on the bed, thought for a moment, and then decided to start writing a new book.
Even after arriving in this strange world, having property, a girlfriend, and a future worth striving for, the dream of becoming a widely admired scribe was still Malin’s most cherished aspiration.
Perhaps it was because, when he was young, he had read novels by the master of cliffhangers, Tanaka Yoshiki, that he innocently wanted to become a man ("bug") living off royalties. Unfortunately, in the days that followed, Malin realized that aside from creating cliffhangers, he hadn’t managed to learn much else from the master.
Now with such a great environment... wait a minute, upon reflection, this place is actually quite dangerous.
But anyway, it’s still possible to write a bit.
On the way back, Malin had already thought up the beginning of his new book, which he planned to write and later show to the National Publishing House.
Thinking of this, Malin sat down at his desk, took pen to paper, and began writing the beginning.
· My name is Leon. I’m a rookie who has just joined the First Police Station of Raccoon City. This small country town sure is strange. Although there aren’t many people, everyone in the police station surprisingly likes to drink. If it weren’t for the giant blood in my ancestors, I might have turned into the most spectacular human fountain at last night’s welcome party.
· Ah, a bit of a headache. I sat up in bed, stretched out my hand, and pushed open the window. There was a thick fog outside, but no sound of people. I glanced at the mechanical clock, 7:24 AM... that can’t be right, has everyone in this city got drunk?
· So strange. Anyway, it’s past the time to go to work. Although the chief said it’s okay to be late on the first day and a senior would take me around, Leon felt that, as a police officer, I should treat this job seriously. So I got dressed in my shirt, donned the gun belt vest, put on my coat, pressed the police cap onto my head, checked the bullets in my revolver, placed three spare speed loaders into the ammo pouch, slipped the gun into the armpit holster, and then opened the door of my room.
· A new day, a new job, let’s go, Leon.
Putting down the pen, Malin happily tidied up the paper and placed it in a folder beside him, then grabbed the basin and towel and headed down to the bathroom on the first floor.
Bathing himself, he freshened up his spirit, deciding to continue writing tomorrow after getting the dust off those little bastards.
As he went downstairs, it was the boys’ bath time. Malin opened the door to the bathroom and headed for the changing room, removing his coat and moving into the bathing area with his belongings.
He was greeted by the screams of the younger boys and splashes of water. These rascals seemed to have endless energy, squandering their youth in soap suds and pursuit.
It’s nice, isn’t it? Goodbye to the fatty me of the past.
Humming a song, he took a seat in the hair-washing area, watching Logan, who was washing his hair, "Why are you at the inn today? Didn’t you go out with your little darling?"
"No, the girls went to the big baths outside to see the world today," Logan said without lifting his head at the sound of Malin’s voice.
Malin nodded—Ah, when speaking of Sydney Union’s bath culture, it really is profound. Malin had his share of enjoyment in the North, but after coming here, he realized there were differences—the masseurs here could even treat minor injuries with a mere touch, truly providing an inner and outer massage experience.