Chapter 464 2: Identity Change

The autumn wind carried a slight chill as the river water splashed against the banks.

Patrolmen lined both sides of the port, maintaining order and holding back the crowd. A mix of awe and curiosity converged on a single point—a well-built figure in a black trench coat, a black cat perched on his shoulder.

"Thank you for your hard work, everyone," Lu Chao said with a faint smile, shaking hands with Yue Zhenhong and the others one by one.

His current identity was Chen Tao. The corresponding documents and files had already been prepared for him, as was this welcoming reception.

"You're too polite, Special Commissioner Chen. You've traveled thousands of miles for the sake of the Alliance's affairs. You must be exhausted from the long journey," Councilor Zhang from the Political Affairs Department said, his face plastered with an ingratiating smile. He was clearly a smooth operator, adept at socializing. "We only waited for a short while. It was no trouble at all."

Lu Chao smiled and nodded, though a peculiar emotion inexplicably welled up inside him. There was a time when these people were big shots he had to look up to, but now... he had climbed higher than all of them.

Brushing the thought aside, he nodded and shook hands with Director Liu and the others. It had been over a year since he last saw this former deputy director who had helped him on multiple occasions. The man, now over seventy years of age, looked noticeably older. However, he had also been quietly promoted, officially taking over the position of director.

"Director Liu, your dedication to your work at such an age makes you a role model for us all," Lu Chao said with a smile, not minding showing a bit more respect. "From this alone, it's clear that Ring City's patrol affairs are undoubtedly handled with steady precision, giving everyone peace of mind."

Everyone was briefly stunned. Yue Zhenhong and Councilor Zhang shot Liu Xun an envious glance. They wondered if old age could actually earn one extra points.

"This... Special Commissioner Chen, you flatter me too much." Snapping out of his daze, Liu Xun hurriedly responded with humility, shaking his hand respectfully.

Lu Chao chuckled. After a few more brief pleasantries, he was escorted away by the crowd.

The doors of the parked motorcade opened one after another. Several Superpower Members, acting as security and drivers, stood to the side and took his luggage. The corresponding squads from the Patrol Department also quickly got into their vehicles. With their strobe lights flashing, they escorted the group as they departed in a grand procession.

"So majestic..."

Witnessing this scene, Xiong Cheng and his companion, who were maintaining order in the crowd, couldn't help but feel envious, as did the rest of the patrol members.

This was the pinnacle of success for any man.

Even the members of Hengjia Security, isolated among the crowd by the roadside, wore complex expressions filled with regret and remorse.

In contrast...

"Special Commissioner Chen..."

Yang Wangtao, who was in charge of managing the scene, stopped in his tracks by the port road, looking slightly absentminded. Watching the motorcade leave, a hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes.

Judging from the previous conversation, this Special Commissioner Chen seemed quite well-disposed toward the Patrol Department. Even Yang himself had been actively complimented the moment they shook hands.

Was it due to some higher-up connection, like the relationship between the General Patrol Department and the Special Investigation Team? Or... did it have something to do with Xiaolu?

***

"Captain Yang..."

As the motorcade drove away from the port, Lu Chao, sitting by the window of the commercial vehicle, quietly withdrew his peripheral vision.

More than a year had passed, and Captain Yang's appearance hadn't changed much. However, Lu Chao keenly noticed that the man had already stepped into the Elite Level. It wasn't too surprising. Back when Lu Chao first joined the Patrol Department, Yang was already at the peak of the Professional Level. Having stayed in the position of Brigade Captain for so long, with ample resources at his disposal, breaking through the bottleneck was only natural.

"This... is quite good." Lu Chao nodded to himself, feeling many of his worries dissipate in that moment. At the very least, these old friends hadn't been threatened by Biotechnology. That was enough.

As for the Jinshi Boxing Hall...

"Special Commissioner Chen, regarding the upcoming negotiation with Fortress Mountain City, Ring City has already received directives from above. Every department will fully cooperate with your work, including the military from the City Defense Department," Yue Zhenhong said in a deep voice from inside the black commercial vehicle, taking the initiative to declare their stance. "Whether it's manpower, resource mobilization, or intelligence data, everything will be at your disposal.

"Additionally, to facilitate your leadership, we have set up the first and second command centers at the Outer City Patrol Department and the Inner City Superpower Bureau, respectively. We can hold city-ring meetings at any time to receive your instructions.

"What do you think..."

"Let's go check out the Patrol Department first," Lu Chao said with a nod, offering no further explanation.

Yue Zhenhong and the others exchanged glances but didn't dare probe further. They all murmured their agreement.

The motorcade traveled unimpeded. The flashing strobe lights of the patrol cars caused many pedestrians to stop on the sidewalks, casting curious glances.

While waiting at a traffic light, Lu Chao looked toward the passing North Street.

A low-rise concrete building there looked familiar. However, the neon sign that once read 'Dreamfire Bar' had been quietly replaced, and its exterior decor had changed. The words 'Iron Ring Clinic' were painted on the grayish-white walls. From time to time, children could be seen being led in and out by adults. Although their faces were pale, their eyes shone with the light of hope, no longer filled with the gloom of the past.

"That's the newly established free clinic pilot area in our Ring City." Noticing the shift in Lu Chao's expression, Councilor Zhang picked up the conversation and said with a smile, "After the war ended, considering the influence of the Five Major Enterprises, Mr. Ji specifically instructed us to improve the city's welfare infrastructure to help more citizens tide over their difficulties.

"Therefore, our Political Affairs Department took over this place. It used to be the turf of a gang called the Hongyi Society. Following the gang's annihilation, there were quite a few disputes. We eventually repossessed the bar and converted it into a community clinic, lowering medical costs as much as possible to provide treatment and diagnoses for the people of the Iron Ring District."