Lu Liang had anticipated how Director Chen might respond, but he hadn’t expected him to squeeze out a “Amitabha” after holding back for so long.
Unable to resist, he teased,
“Director Chen, did you study at Shaolin in your youth? Why do you sound just like a monk?”
“Young people are quite humorous these days. I was talking about your family background—truly marvelous.”
Of course, Director Chen could tell Lu Liang was poking fun at him, but he didn’t get angry.
Instead, he sighed and remarked with some emotion,
“If those other people had even one-tenth of your family background, not a single one of them would have failed to catch my eye. Young man, your family background is excellent.”
“How excellent?”
“Indescribably so.”
Director Chen replied in an intentionally mysterious tone.
But even without him saying it, Lu Liang already understood what was “good” about his family background.
Previously, that group of Scavengers had all misunderstood the role of the Police Affairs Department.
They viewed the department as some kind of power organization, and naturally placed themselves in the position of organization members.
But Lu Liang was different. He understood very well the relationship between Black Glove and the Police Affairs Department—it was simply mutual exploitation, each using the other as a tool.
So he didn’t regard the Police Affairs Department as a law enforcement body, but saw through the surface to the essence, seeing it as a Company.
What the Police Affairs Department needed was a Black Glove to work for them—in a sense, recruiting a contract Employee outside their official roster.
And Employees are supposed to create economic value for the Company.
Think about it: If a company boss is choosing between two applicants of similar ability, would he rather hire an Employee with a happy family and no mortgage or car loan pressures, or someone whose health is worn down by debts and desperately needs money to survive?
The former requires all sorts of benefits and perks, while the latter only needs the most basic wage to keep the whole family afloat.
In fact, the Police Affairs Department could even skip basic wages altogether.
Given Lu Liang’s family situation, isn’t this precisely the legendary Cowhorse Saint Body?
No need to pay him, no economic pressure to worry about, and there’s no fear he’ll stop working after getting the Great Good Citizen Certificate.
The only drawback might be that such natural Cowhorse Saint Bodies often meet a quiet Bao Si-like end in some forgotten corner.
But then again, since Black Glove is a Scavenger who must keep out of sight, that flaw becomes a virtue.
“All right, enough small talk. Young man, my second question: If you get the Black Glove position and receive Official Endorsement, I trust your abilities will soon let you make a name for yourself in the Subway. So, what sort of compensation will you be paying us?”
Director Chen’s gaze was sharp, and that always-serious face now showed a hint of playfulness:
“Not everyone gets to be Black Glove, you know. How do you plan to thank us for giving you such an opportunity for growth?”
Usually, Director Chen’s second interview question was to ask if the Scavenger was skilled in a fight, but Lu Liang didn’t need to be asked that—his performance in the lounge had already proven his capability.
So for Lu Liang, Director Chen changed the question to how he’d show gratitude to the Police Affairs Department.
“Compensation, huh.”
Even though he’d already guessed this situation, hearing it straight from Director Chen’s mouth still made Lu Liang laugh.
He laughed in disbelief.
All right, all right, not only do I have to work for you, I have to pay you for the privilege, and I’m supposed to thank you on top of that? Playing the perfect good guy for you, huh.
But with Official Endorsement as his backing, this was Lu Liang’s only real chance to clean his record from the underworld, and his key to escaping pursuit by the Magical Girls.
The temptation was simply too great to refuse.
So Lu Liang thought it over and named a number:
“I’ll split all future proceeds with you seventy-thirty. What do you think?”
“Oh?” Director Chen furrowed his brow.
“You seventy, we thirty? Young man, you’re a little greedy.”
You should know, the Cleaner Profession is a bit like a law of the jungle—Scavengers struggle if they’re weak, but those who are strong are in high demand.
The Black Glove position is a fat one; the main job is to eliminate other Scavengers.
In the process, all their money and Monster Remains get seized as Criminal Proceeds—where do they go? Don’t ask too much.
Just thinking about it, the profit involved is staggering—even Director Chen, the highest authority in the Police Affairs Department, couldn’t help feeling tempted.
Young people can be naive, but hearing that seventy-thirty split from Lu Liang left him somewhat dissatisfied.
“Not me seventy, you thirty,” Lu Liang said calmly the next moment.
“It’s you seventy, me thirty.”
“Hmm?”
Director Chen, rarely caught off guard, couldn’t quite believe his ears at first.
Only when Lu Liang spoke again did he realize he hadn’t misheard:
“If I become Black Glove, I’ll give seventy percent of the Monster Remains I capture in the Subway to the Police Affairs Department to count as your internal results, and turn in all captured Scavengers. As for Criminal Proceeds, we split seventy-thirty. What do you think, Director Chen?”
“Naturally… very good.”
Faced with such huge profits, even Director Chen couldn’t refuse. His look toward Lu Liang grew noticeably gentler, and he adjusted his assessment of him.
Fresh out of school, yet already understands boundaries and is willing to yield profit—this is… a very sensible young man.
For the third time, Director Chen appraised Lu Liang, chuckling as he spoke:
“But you’re so sensible, young man, it makes our Police Affairs Department look stingy. How about this… If you become Black Glove, you only need to turn in twenty Scavengers or one Monster Remains each month to the Bureau. Of course, the premise is that you actually get the Black Glove position.”
“Are these two questions still not enough to satisfy you, Director?”
Lu Liang picked up on the subtext in Director Chen’s words.
“I’m very satisfied. But, young man, you know how it is—there’s a shortage of everything in this society except people. Among the Scavengers interviewing today, there’s one whose answer wasn’t as perfect as yours, but who still moved me a little.”
“You mean that backdoor Night Owl?”
Lu Liang said coldly.
“Hey, let’s not say ‘backdoor.’ When discussing matters, let’s look past the irrelevant to the essence.”
At the mention of favoritism, Director Chen seemed a bit embarrassed.
“That young man might be a bit flashy, but he’s still very good.”
“But he’s not as good in a fight as me.”
“Fighting is a secondary factor; there are more important things than that.”
“But he’s not as good in a fight as me.”
“Anyone can make mistakes—everyone deserves a chance to grow.”
“But he’s not as good in a fight as me.”
“All right! Young man! I know you’re very good!”
Director Chen moved on:
“Good family background, very sensible, and competent too. But our Bureau doesn’t just look at these things in an interview; we look for something else as well…”
Director Chen narrowed his eyes:
“Last question: If you’re lucky enough to work with us, how would you handle your relationship with the Police Affairs Department? Do you know how Night Owl answered?”
Before Lu Liang could speak, Director Chen continued on his own:
“He knelt down on the spot, groveling at my feet like a dog. He even stuck out his tongue and licked my shoes clean.”
Recalling the scene, Director Chen seemed a bit moved:
“I have to say, though Night Owl had Deputy Director He’s special favor, that action really touched me. For someone like Night Owl to cast aside his man’s dignity for the greater good—how could that not move me! Even if you’re more capable, young man, it’s hard for me to turn Night Owl away without feeling a little guilty.”
“So, young man, what’s your answer?”
Director Chen asked with a pointed look.
He was forcing Lu Liang to declare his loyalty.
After the speech, Lu Liang stood rooted to the spot.
This time, Lu Liang was truly stunned.
He really hadn’t expected that guy Night Owl to go that far! To get the Black Glove position, he’d even thrown away his pride.
And seeing Director Chen so calm, it was obvious he was just hedging his bets between the two, waiting to see who’d offer more.
What to do?
Lu Liang hesitated a little.
Although it’s said that a man’s knees are worth gold, just not at cash-out time, with Lu Liang’s personality, he doubted he’d ever be able to do something like Night Owl, cashing in his dignity like that.
And even if he did show loyalty, with someone already kneeling and licking shoes, how could he possibly surpass that?
Is there any way to win beautifully over Night Owl without losing one’s dignity?
How could there be!
Wait…
A flash of inspiration struck Lu Liang’s mind.
Maybe, just maybe, there was a way.
The next moment, Lu Liang calmly asked,
“In that case, why doesn’t Director Chen just hire Night Owl directly?”
At these words, Director Chen, who’d been waiting for Lu Liang’s response, was stunned for a moment. Then he quickly realized Lu Liang was trying to probe him:
“You have to give others a chance, you know. Young man, you haven’t answered my question yet—what is your answer?”
“My answer is— I won’t get too entangled with the Police Affairs Department. I’ll only use my Black Glove authority when dealing with Monsters and other Scavengers.”
“Hmm? Young man, what do you mean by that?”
Director Chen looked at Lu Liang with a complex expression.
Trying to cut ties? Want to cut ties before even becoming Black Glove?
“Director Chen, I do mean to cut ties,” Lu Liang said earnestly.
“If I ever run into civilians and my Black Glove identity gets exposed, or I cause some major trouble… I’ll have no connection whatsoever to the Police Affairs Department. What do you think?”
“……”
So that’s the kind of cutting ties!
Director Chen started looking at Lu Liang with a stern and serious gaze.
Why? Because Lu Liang’s answer was simply too delightful!
Even though he’d appraised Lu Liang three times and thought he’d seen through him each time, Lu Liang managed to surprise him every time.
Remarkable! Truly remarkable! He’d even voiced the desire Director Chen held deep inside!
Director Chen’s heart was surging.
Honestly, after becoming Director of the Police Affairs Department, he’d never lacked people scrambling to curry favor or act like dogs—what difference does one Night Owl make?
Is what Director Chen needs now really wealth, glory, and sworn loyalty? Bah! Those are all empty promises! Before truly achieving wealth and glory, all those promises are crap!
At his level, what he needed most was, “If something goes wrong, just don’t drag me down with you!”
Out of so many people, only this young man saw through his real thoughts.
With a sigh, Director Chen raised his assessment of Lu Liang to an entirely new level.
This is a… truly frightening young man.
For the last time, Director Chen appraised Lu Liang. Over the years, he’d met many who could fight, many who were clever and shrewd, but never one like Lu Liang—skilled in battle, meticulous in thought, cunning and wise.
If this kid doesn’t die, he’ll surely become a pillar of the Police Affairs Department in the future!
Though he was excited inside, Director Chen outwardly maintained a calm demeanor:
“Young man, what’s your name?”
“Lu Liang.”
“Lu Liang, huh. Good name.”
Director Chen patted Lu Liang on the shoulder, his tone earnest:
“The Black Glove position is yours from now on.”