Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 542 Highest Alert

Once the evening bell rings in Xinghuo City every day, it means that most municipal departments and production units have reached the end of their work and rest time.

Police Commissioner and Minister of Justice Yurio often leaves work on time, just like the other police officers in the police station building... However, unlike his subordinates who are eager to go home or go out for dinner, after leaving the police station, he often chooses to go in the opposite direction of his home route, patrolling several blocks in the inner city on a voluntary basis until the street lights come on and it is completely dark.

Theoretically, as the country's top security official, he doesn't need to go out on patrol missions, and he doesn't even need to personally capture foreign spies and murderers. But compared to handling heavy official business in the police station office and dealing with those rigid officials in City Hall... he prefers his past simple "local police" career.

A brand new, shiny, and well-maintained revolver, a sturdy mechanical arm made of metal... Just watching him patrolling alone at dusk from afar is enough to scare those newly relocated refugees and thugs - in fact, the senior superintendent himself has never fired a shot in his many years of law enforcement career. Most of the time, he relies on one hand to physically subdue criminals, making him a model of civilization who "convinces people with reason."

After living in the North for several years, he couldn't help but sigh every night when walking on the street... This desert city built by all the hardworking people was expanding at an alarming speed. When it was still called the Frontier Territory, he only needed to spend an hour every day to walk half a circle along the city wall, and finally stand quietly at the edge of the stadium with his capable subordinate Max to watch the night training of the rugby team.

Now, with 80% of the land in the inner city being included in the planning, buildings, factories and various departments and units are being built. Even if he only patrols the inner edge of the city wall in one direction, it will take him a full three hours. If he really wants to go around the inner city in a full circle, he may not be able to go home for the whole night.

This is only the inner city part, which does not include the farms in the east, the outer city industrial zone, the mines in the southeast that are gradually forming satellite cities, the garrison corps on the other side of the Icefield River that is also a small town, the forest farm in the west... and the temporary shelter areas outside the city gates in the east, south, west and north. In the future, these shelter settlements will gradually be planned as formal residential areas.

This has forced the National Police Agency to set up separate sub-stations in various areas and station a certain number of police officers and alchemy beast guards to achieve the effect of rapid police response and regional security management.

Although the population has exploded in recent years, Spark City's public security is still very low compared to any other large city in the South. The most common crimes are theft, fighting, and discrimination based on identity. Serious crimes like murder and robbery are rarely seen even once a month... Due to the local cold climate, people generally like to drink Icefield Vodka, and public security incidents caused by drunken disturbances are often the most frequent. However, with the successful development of an effective alcohol-cessation drug by the National Medical Institute, the uncivilized behavior caused by this bad habit was quickly curbed.

Because of this, Yurio's daily routine patrol after get off work is actually more like a "walk" - watching the people who have also finished a day's work returning home together with relaxed expressions along the way, occasionally running into locals who know him to say hello, and helping young people who broke down their bicycle chains on the way to repair them, always makes Yurio, who always adheres to the knight's creed, feel calm and happy in his heart.

Although there will never be another chance to mount a warhorse and charge into battle for honor with a sword in hand, becoming a respected law enforcer and working hard to achieve ideals and justice is the true spirit of chivalry in the new era.

Yurio firmly believed that he had found someone worthy of his loyalty, namely His Majesty and the people.

……

The street lights had just come on when I heard the panting sound of someone pedaling a bicycle behind me.

"Sir! Sir!" The young police officer stopped in front of Yurio with a foot brake, panting and laughing. "You're volunteering to work overtime again... Which other blocks do you want to patrol? I'll give you a ride on my bike!"

Dahl is a new police officer who was recently assigned to the outer city's east district. His hometown is Grizzlie Territory. Because he is temporarily living with his parents in the inner city, he has to pedal his bike for half an hour every day after get off work to get home.

"It's almost seven o'clock and you just got back from the outer city. The daily commute is tiring enough... Go home and have dinner!" Yurio waved his hand, indicating that his subordinates did not need to accompany him during non-working hours.

Dahl was stunned for a moment, then put on a smile and explained, "My parents both work on the farm. They just took a leave of absence yesterday and went out of town. They took the train back to Grizzlie Territory to visit relatives... Even if I go home, I won't be able to eat hot meals these days." Yurio rolled his eyes. It seemed that the young man was taking the initiative to show his courtesy in order to get a dinner from him later.

"Alright, follow me around the market area again, and then we'll go to the Honey and Bear restaurant for a quick bite."

"Great!" Dahl cheered. "My colleagues are right. The boss loves to treat everyone to dinner!"

Seeing Dal's cheerful expression, Yurio felt quite emotional. He was also making excuses not to go home. Old man Colen, who had been living with him, the one who had saved him from the evil orcs and treated him like his own son, was diligently arranging blind dates for him recently. Most of the candidates were teachers at the school where he worked... The young girl who would always show up at his house suddenly at dinner time really made Yurio feel a little embarrassed.

The two walked forward for a while, and just when they arrived at a block square, a low buzzing sound suddenly sounded over the entire city.

Woo-woo-woo-hum!

Yurio stopped immediately, his expression becoming serious.

It was not the bells commonly used to tell time in neighborhood squares, nor was it the sharp whistle that warned of fire or the like. This was a magical alarm that would only be heard when the city was invaded or there was a major crisis, coming from the large number of alchemical speakers hanging on the eaves of street lamps.

Three long and one short, low and heavy... It rang over and over again for nearly ten minutes, which was enough to make everyone realize that something was wrong - this was the highest defense alert of Xinghuo City. In the past, it was only sounded once when the remnants of the demon army were found roaming around. Many newly moved people didn't even know what it meant.

But Yurio knew very well that when the magic alarm sounded, the entire city would need to be placed under martial law, all armed forces would immediately be on combat readiness, even soldiers and police officers on leave would have to return to their posts immediately, and all staff at the City Hall would be on standby to respond to the Emperor's orders at any time.

Without Yurio's reminder, Dal, who had just returned to the inner city, turned his bike around with a determined expression and pedaled towards the east gate at lightning speed... His combat readiness post was in the outer city.

Yurio also quickly found a police substation at the intersection. When he walked in, he saw the police officers on duty receiving their weapons in an orderly manner. When they saw the highest commander in person, they quickly stood at attention and saluted.

"Sir!"

"We didn't receive any advance notice from the City Hall and the Police Headquarters. Could this be a drill?"

Yurio shook his head. He himself had no idea what the alarm was about. He borrowed the alchemy communicator from the sub-police station and was about to call the city hall... but the alarm suddenly stopped from the alchemy speaker above his head, and then a familiar gentle voice came.

"People of the North and Saint Valen, I am your Emperor. I will now personally announce to you a message concerning national security and the survival of humanity. This is an important warning regarding the alien enemies we have discovered in the northern wastes!"

(End of this chapter)