Chapter One: Meeting

The August sun in Haigu was scorching. As the sun slanted westward, a young man in police uniform walked along the east side of Victoria Road.

He took long strides and walked quickly, but without any sign of panic.

As he walked, he also observed his surroundings.

As a police officer, he had long developed the habit of constantly observing the situation around him.

His name was Andrew Carter, a patrolman in the British Concession who had just started working three months ago.

Andrew Carter was not particularly tall, had a square face, thick eyebrows, and bright, spirited eyes.

But his looks were average—he was the type who wouldn't stand out in a crowd, but upon closer inspection, was quite pleasant to look at.

The dormitory of the British Concession Police Department was located just behind Gordon Hall.

After returning to the dormitory, he changed out of his police uniform, put on a slightly worn suit, carefully tucked the salary he had just received from the police uniform into his suit pocket, and hurried out.

Andrew Carter was twenty years old this year and had just graduated from the Haigu Police Training Institute in May.

Because of his excellent grades, he signed a three-year contract with the British Concession Municipal Council, serving as the patrol chief of Route 24 at the Police Department.

In the three months since joining the police, Andrew Carter quickly adapted to the work of a patrol chief, managing twelve patrolmen under him and being responsible for the security of four intersections on Route 24.

Although the work was hard every day, it was fulfilling.

He had to patrol Route 24 more than a dozen times a day, and after three months, it was as if he had walked the route nearly a thousand times.

Not even a newly sprouted weed could escape his sharp eyes.

"Patrol Chief Lu, heading out?"

As Andrew Carter stepped out, a young man from the neighboring dormitory came out, and upon seeing Andrew Carter, greeted him with a smile.

"Patrol Chief Yan? Yes, I’m heading out for a bit." Hearing the voice, Andrew Carter knew it was his neighbor, Harold Bennett.

Harold Bennett, like him, was also a patrol chief at the Police Department, but he had joined a year earlier, entering the department in the 22nd year of the Republic, and had just been promoted to patrol chief at the beginning of this year, responsible for Campbell South Road.

"Today’s payday, we should have some fun." Harold Bennett seemed to have just remembered, as the Police Department’s salary was always paid on time, on the twelfth of every month—never early, never late.

Andrew Carter smiled but said nothing.

He and Harold Bennett were not particularly close. Both were patrol chiefs, lived next door, and only exchanged greetings when they met at work—nothing more.

When Andrew Carter first joined the Police Department, he hoped to get along well with everyone.

But it wasn’t right to be too familiar too soon; everything had to proceed step by step.

Besides, he did have something to do today.

Harold Bennett didn’t mind either. After Andrew Carter left, he stood for a moment, watching Andrew Carter's back in thought, then left in another direction.

Andrew Carter was heading to a British-style café on Malta Road. After three months in the British Concession, Andrew Carter was already quite familiar with the area.

Before entering the café, Andrew Carter habitually scanned his surroundings, and only after confirming nothing was amiss did he go in.

Upon entering, Andrew Carter quickly searched the room with his eyes and soon spotted Richard Clark sitting in a corner.

Their eyes met silently in the air. Andrew Carter nodded slightly, gave a knowing smile, and walked over.

"Patrol Chief Lu, please have a seat." Richard Clark stood up from afar, and when Andrew Carter approached, greeted him with a smile.

Richard Clark was in his thirties, with an ordinary appearance. Sitting in the café, if he didn’t stand up, it would be hard for anyone to notice him.

In this respect, he was somewhat similar to Andrew Carter.

"Mr. Wu, you’ve helped me a lot. Just call me by my name from now on," Andrew Carter said modestly as he sat down across from him.

"If you don’t mind, I’ll call you Brother Lu from now on," Richard Clark said with a smile. Although Andrew Carter was younger, he had a maturity beyond his years.

Compared to Andrew Carter's position at the Police Department, Richard Clark appreciated this quality more. Someone steady and mature would go far in the future.

"Today’s payday. Here’s fifteen yuan—not much, but I’ll pay you fifteen yuan every month from now on," Andrew Carter said, taking out a few bills and handing them to Richard Clark.

As a patrol chief, he earned twenty yuan a month. After repaying Richard Clark fifteen yuan, he had to live on the remaining five yuan for the month, making life quite tight.

"You’ve just started working and have many expenses. My money isn’t urgent," Richard Clark said quickly. He had gone out of his way to lend money to Andrew Carter just to befriend him.

"That won’t do. I’m already very grateful that you lent me money. Since I can pay you back a little each month, how could I not?" Andrew Carter insisted.

"Alright then." Seeing the determination in Andrew Carter's eyes, Richard Clark had no choice but to accept the money. Some things couldn’t be forced. If he insisted on refusing, it might arouse Andrew Carter's suspicion.