A whole morning passed, and Lu Liang made quite a haul.
By relying on entrapment and the “one-for-one” pyramid scheme method of catching people, he managed to apprehend eight Scavengers in just one morning.
The last Scavenger lured in was a young boy who still looked innocent and childish, his face filled with bewilderment and fright as he was betrayed by someone he knew.
After catching so many Scavengers, Lu Ansheng and the others had grown familiar with the procedure: one person had the boy call a Scavenger he knew, while another searched him for any items like Worm Monsters.
The rest, having nothing else to do, simply kept watch nearby to prevent this Scavenger from suddenly going berserk and hurting someone.
While they were busy with all this, Lu Liang comfortably lounged on a chair, legs stretched out on the Table, and dialed Lin Deqing’s number.
Ever since gaining the Black Glove position, Lin Deqing had given Lu Liang his phone number when he left the Police Department, saying that if anything happened as Black Glove, he could contact him.
Of course, the real reason for giving his number was definitely not so that Lu Liang could treat Lin Deqing as some sort of problem-solving lackey.
The main point was to remind Lu Liang not to forget who helped him obtain the Black Glove position.
Lu Liang, being an old hand, quickly understood Lin Deqing’s meaning, so after leaving the Police Department, he did not contact Lin Deqing right away.
You see, the relationship between the two was now nearly equal, with each holding something over the other.
At a time like this, one could not appear too eager, or else he’d always be a step below, constantly being pressed down.
To give a vivid example, it’s like a relationship where the one who grovels is naturally inferior, and it’s only right they get looked down upon.
Lu Liang had no intention of being anyone’s lapdog; he wanted Lin Deqing to understand that he would never be someone’s subordinate, but rather a partner.
Still, Lu Liang didn’t plan on putting it off for too long.
First, Lin Deqing had indeed helped him a lot; since he’d received a favor, he should return it.
Secondly, giving someone the cold shoulder is a skill—one shouldn’t accept too soon, but also shouldn’t drag it on forever.
There has to be a time limit.
If it drags on too long, Lin Deqing would end up with a knot in his heart, and even if they worked together in the future, this would always be a source of discomfort.
“Hello? Deputy Director Lin, want to meet up?”
Once the call went through, Lu Liang spoke in a casual tone.
“Oh? It’s you, Xiao Lu.”
On the other end, Lin Deqing’s voice trembled a bit, an inexplicable excitement coming through.
Lu Liang had become the Black Glove of the Police Department, wielding power without men. Lin Deqing, as Deputy Director of the Police Department, had authority but no manpower.
The two complemented each other perfectly.
He’d planned to join hands with Lu Liang for a win-win partnership, but couldn’t bring himself to reach out first to a mere Scavenger, so he could only hope that Lu Liang would contact him.
Lin Deqing was like a pure-hearted boy waiting for a call from his beloved goddess, having waited an entire night for Lu Liang’s call with no result.
It wasn’t until he started getting anxious and torn about whether to reach out himself that Lu Liang finally called!
Hearing that pleasing voice in his ear, Lin Deqing instantly felt invigorated.
Not even the time in high school when he got a call from his crush felt this good!
His lips curled up slightly as he warned himself to stay reserved, not to act too frivolous, and to maintain the dignity of a Deputy Director.
Yet now that his wish was fulfilled, plus with Lu Liang’s high standing, Lin Deqing was quickly hooked:
“Alright, Xiao Lu. Where are you? I’ll come find you.”
“No need, I’ll come to you. This Black Glove job is still a bit difficult for me.”
Lu Liang fiddled with a handful of Worm Monsters confiscated from Scavengers, speaking calmly and without a blush:
“I’ll still need you, Deputy Director Lin, to give me some pointers on the job.”
“Haha! Good, good, good! It’s a good thing for young people to ask when they don’t understand—never too old to learn!”
Lin Deqing burst out laughing. Lu Liang’s form of address told him that Lu Liang still remembered his favor.
His earlier unease vanished, and Lin Deqing’s mood brightened considerably. He gave his address:
“Then come to my place. We’re all on the same side. If you have any questions, I’ll help you solve them all.”
“Alright.”
After hanging up, Lu Liang dusted himself off, stood up from the chair, and looked over at his subordinates who were interrogating the Scavenger.
At this moment, the interrogation was nearing its end.
That Scavenger was pretty much a typical representation of the common Scavenger—no money, no skills, no resources, no opportunities, and no good connections.
Just because he’d read a few power-fantasy novels, he believed himself the Chosen One.
After hearing this industry was lucrative, he’d muddle-headedly followed a “senior” into the profession, not even realizing when he was sold out.
Lu Liang’s subordinates searched him thoroughly, but didn’t find a thing.
“Boss, this guy doesn’t have any Worm Monsters on him.”
“He doesn’t have much money either, and couldn’t call any Scavengers he knows.”
A young man handed the small change they’d found on the Scavenger to Lu Liang, who glanced at it and lost interest.
“No money, doesn’t know many people—what’s he doing being a Scavenger? Boss, should we turn him over to the Police Department for credit?”
Hearing he was about to be handed over to the Police Department, the Scavenger immediately dropped to his knees, pleading bitterly with Lu Liang and kowtowing over and over:
“Please don’t take me away, please, I’m begging you, let me go. I won’t do it again, I swear I won’t do it again next time.”
Seeing this Scavenger, who was around their own age, in such a humble state, the group felt somewhat at a loss.
After all, they were still small-time punks without much means, nor were they ruthless.
Seeing a bit of their past selves in this Scavenger, they felt pity.
But since Lu Liang had given his orders, none of them dared act on their own and all looked to Lu Liang.
“What are you all looking at me for?” Lu Liang glanced at them speechlessly.
“Do you really need me to give orders for something this small?”
He stood up from the chair, walked over, and with a look of disdain, grabbed the kneeling Scavenger to his feet.
“Have some backbone. Is a man’s knee meant to kneel so easily?”
He patted the Scavenger on the cheek.
“Do you know why you got caught by us?”
The Scavenger shook his head in confusion.
“Because you trusted the wrong person!” (Referring to being betrayed by the previous Scavenger.)
“If you’re at school age, just go study. If that doesn’t work out, go find a job. Why the hell would you get mixed up with Scavengers? It’s people like you that keep driving up competition in the Cleaner Industry! If I catch you doing Scavenger work in the sewers again, I’ll break your legs! Do you understand?”
Lu Liang growled fiercely.
Seeing the Scavenger nod in fear, Lu Liang finally let him go, then called out to his underlings:
“Your boss is in a good mood today, so I won’t be building up my record. Boys, let’s move out! I’ll take you to broaden your horizons!”
Hearing Lu Liang decided to let the Scavenger go, Lu Ansheng and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, people are complicated creatures.
Even if they knew they were doing underworld business, they still hoped the boss they followed wasn’t heartless:
“Boss, where are we going?”
“Just follow me, you’ll see. I’m taking you all out to eat well and drink well.”
“Bro, hehe.”
“Ansheng, why are you looking at me with that fawning face? If you want to please me, go find a girl; I don’t swing that way.”
Only after Lu Liang and his group had left did that Scavenger snap out of his earlier panic.
Having been used as a bargaining chip and abandoned by the “big brother” who brought him in, a wave of bitterness surged in his heart.
He suddenly wanted to cry, but recalling Lu Liang’s words about “having some backbone,” he forced the tears back.
Life’s tough, with tricks at every turn.
The youth decided to go home and never be a Scavenger again.
Dragging his weary body, he was just about to leave when, from the corner of his eye, he noticed something and paused in hesitation.
He turned towards a spot—the Table Lu Liang had earlier used to rest his feet.
On the Table were some coins and bills, the very money taken from him during the search.
And now, that money lay quietly on the Table— not a single cent missing.