Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Chapter 102 New Position, Awarding of B-Rank Badge

Siren took another sip of juice, placed the glass bottle on the coffee table, and went straight to the point: "Lord Lothas, what brings you here?"

Lothas waved his hand, walked to the large leather chair, sat down, crossed his hands on the table, and looked intently at Siron.

"Don't call me 'sir' anymore."

Lothas's tone was sincere and without any affectation. "I cannot accept such a title from a baptized person. In the extraordinary path, we are merely peers."

Siren paused for a moment, then readily changed his words, saying, "Then, Mr. Losas."

"When you're at work, just use your job title," Losas corrected with a smile.

"Losas District Governor," Siren spoke again.

Lothas nodded slightly in satisfaction, leaned back in his chair, and got to the point: "What are your personal thoughts on your future plans?"

Xilun paused for a moment, quickly considered the options in his mind, and then truthfully replied, "I don't have many ideas yet."

I originally planned to change into more gentlemanly and respectable clothes to match my current status.

However, I recently inquired and heard that once you reach the baptism level, the advanced breathing techniques, fighting skills, and mystical materials that aid in cultivation are all ridiculously expensive.

This made me hesitate; the little savings I had probably wouldn't even be enough to fill a gap in my stomach.

Upon hearing Xiren's undisguised complaint of poverty, Lothar was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, the sound echoing throughout the spacious office.

"You're really ambitious." Lothar pointed at Siron, his eyes full of admiration. "If it were anyone else, the first thing they would do after being baptized would be to announce it to the whole world immediately."

I spent over ten pounds to invite all my colleagues who usually looked down on me to my baptism banquet.

That night, I drank three whole pounds of strong liquor, got completely drunk, and couldn't even find my way home.

Lothar's smile faded, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes, before he said earnestly, "However, what you said is indeed something to worry about. The Path of the Extraordinary is a bottomless pit. But once your position is adjusted today, everything will change. Will you treat the true elites unfairly, brother?"

Lothar sat up straight, his gaze sharpening. "What are your prospects for your future work? Or rather, what kind of environment do you prefer?"

Xiren thought for a moment, and images of those turbulent days on the Greywater River and the unfathomable Lord Vol came to mind.

"I think I'm better suited to Lord Wall's side."

"The time I spent sailing with Captain Mark was an unforgettable experience," Celen said calmly. "The environment there was harsh, but it was also more direct and pure."

Upon hearing this answer, Losas's smile vanished completely, and his fingers tapped lightly on the table.

"However, the Greywater River is also quite dangerous."

Lothar warned in a deep voice, "You should know very well that down there are not only man-eating mutants, but also ruthless bandits even more ferocious than mutants. Although you have been baptized, you are still made of flesh and blood."

Xiren looked into Losas's eyes and carefully weighed the benefits.

"If it's a job with a high chance of survival and extreme danger, then I would definitely think it over carefully. I wouldn't joke around with my life."

Silen's tone was very frank, "But if it's just a little dangerous, within my control, I can handle it."

Lothas stared at Xiren for a moment, then relaxed his tense facial muscles and nodded slightly.

"You're very lucky." Losas took a sealed brown paper bag from the drawer. "Lord Yuri and Lord Vol's decision was officially issued this morning. It seems the two lords even made some compromises regarding your fate as a newcomer."

He untied the paper bag, pulled out a document stamped with a bright red seal, and handed it to Xilun.

Xilun took the document, his eyes quickly scanning over the cursive script, then paused slightly.

The document clearly lists his two current options.

First, he was transferred to the famous "Black Pearl" large ocean-going merchant ship as a third mate, with the main purpose of learning the management and navigation experience of large ships in a stable environment.

Secondly, he became the third baptized member of the "Grey Fleet" under Wall's command, with the title of "Guardian".

Xilun's gaze lingered on the document, which still smelled of ink, for a long time, his eyes shifting back and forth between two completely different job titles.

"The Guardians—" Siren raised his head, a hint of inquiry in his eyes, and looked at Lothar behind his desk. "Lothar District Governor, what exactly do you mean by 'Guardians'?"

Lothas picked up the bone china teacup on the table, gently blew on the floating tea leaves, and slowly explained, "The Greywater Fleet under Lord Vol's command is all about high-risk, high-reward business. They operate year-round in the deepest and most remote waters of the Greywater River, and even venture into underground rivers not recorded on any nautical charts."

Lothas took a small sip of tea and continued, "Therefore, this fleet often encounters raids by outlaws or gets lost in special waterways inhabited by alien species."

As an escort, your daily management duties are almost nonexistent. You don't need to know how to sail the ship, nor do you need to worry about the sailors' food, drink, or other basic needs.

He put down his teacup, his gaze becoming extremely serious.

"Your sole role is to draw your knife and gun when danger strikes. You have an absolute obligation to protect the entire fleet, the lives of the crew, and the assets carried by the fleet. If the cargo is hijacked or the ship sinks, the escort bears primary responsibility."

Xilun nodded slightly, already having sketched out the outline of this position in his mind.

To put it bluntly, this is a pure, human-shaped high-level bodyguard, a position that maximizes the combat value of an extraordinary individual.

This aligns well with his current combat strength, but he didn't make a decision immediately. Instead, he fell into a brief silence, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the fabric on the outside of his thighs.

Losas noticed his hesitation and patiently analyzed the situation for him.

"Sirlen, you need to understand that these are two completely different paths in life."

Lothas stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the dockworkers bustling about like ants. "If you feel that your baptism has reached the limit of your potential and you want to live a peaceful life, then you can choose to go to the Black Pearl."

There, you can simply focus more on learning how to steer a boat and how to interact with people.

In the future, as a baptized person, you will gradually rise through the ranks to become second mate, first mate, and even captain of a giant ship, living a respectable and wealthy gentleman's life.

Lothas turned around, standing with his back to the light, his expression hidden in the shadows.

"But if you believe you have a better future on the path of the extraordinary, and you have the ambition to climb higher."

Then, you can choose a more loosely organized, but also more dangerous, escort.

The biggest advantage of this position is freedom. You won't be locked on deck from nine to five; you'll have a lot of free time to devote all your energy to your extraordinary path of self-cultivation.

Upon hearing this, Xilun's mind completely tipped.

He knew all too well what he wanted. All that talk of captaincy and gentlemanly conduct was utterly worthless in the face of true power.

As long as his stats remain and he can still acquire talents by hunting alien species, his path will definitely not be limited to the first tier.

He needs time, an unrestricted training environment, and to face life-or-death battles that will allow him to grow.

Xilun raised his head, his gaze firm and clear.

"Then, I choose to be a protector."

Hearing this straightforward answer, Lothar shrugged slightly, seemingly unsurprised by the outcome, but still symbolically asked, "Won't you reconsider? If you're willing, I'd actually love to have you directly replace Locksmith in your previous position and return to the docks as a district governor. That way, we can still have tea together often."

Xilun smiled, a smile that exuded the composure of a strong person.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I still hope to have more freedom."

Losas walked back to his desk and opened a drawer.

"Since you've already made up your mind, I won't waste any more words. This is your own path."

Lothas handed Siron a paycheck, "As a newly appointed escort, your weekly wage is set at three pounds. Don't complain about the low wage; it's simply because you're too young and inexperienced."

In contrast, Lord Vol's first escort, though also a first-order baptist like you, was more senior and received a weekly wage of five pounds and ten shillings, along with various allowances.

Xilun expressed his understanding. There's no such thing as instant success in this world.

Three pounds a week was several times more than the twenty or thirty shillings he earned as a foreman.

This money was enough for him to buy some basic secret medicines on the black market to aid his cultivation.

Lothas then took out a small black velvet box. Inside, a brass badge engraved with a crossed sword and shield design, lay quietly.

"This is your symbol of identity." Lothar handed the badge to Siron, his tone solemn. "A first-order baptized person is legally entitled to wear the Brotherhood's B-rank badge. This is not merely an ornament; it signifies your central position within this vast organization."

Xilun took the badge, his fingers touching the cold brass surface, where he could clearly feel the exquisite patterns.

"Moreover, this badge grants you a privilege."

Lothas looked into Siron's eyes and said, enunciating each word clearly, "You can punish any low-ranking, unmarked worker who displeases you at any time. Whether they are overseers, laborers, or clerks."

At this point, Lothar changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat admonishing.

"However, you still need to be careful. You can break their legs or take away their pay. But if you go too far, such as killing someone in public without any reason or disrupting the normal operation of the dock, their direct superiors will hold you accountable for the sake of their reputation."

Xiren twirled the badge between his fingers, his eyes gleaming, as if lost in thought.

Lothar keenly noticed Siron's micro-expressions and couldn't help but laugh.

"Your eyes darted around looking at this badge just now. It seems you had something on your mind?" Lothar asked with interest.

Xilun didn't hide anything and nodded quite frankly.

"To be honest, when I was working as a low-level foreman at the docks, I was once extorted by the inspector in charge of auditing for 20 shillings."

Xilun's tone was calm, but it carried an undeniable chill. "That was half a month's worth of food money for me back then. To this day, I still hold a grudge."

Lothar picked up his teacup again, took a sip, and laughed, "You're so young, yet you hold grudges quite a bit. Most people would have forgotten about such old grievances long ago."

Siren nodded generously, pinned the badge to the chest of his old trench coat, and said with righteous indignation, "If I get promoted to a Baptist and suffer the hardships of the Extraordinary, but don't even dare to seek redress for the grievances I suffered before, then what's the point of this promotion?"

Lothas put down his teacup, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"I like your personality, frank and not pretentious in your magnanimity."

Lothar straightened his cuffs and stood up. "As for the inspectors—if any of the inspectors at White Raven Wharf are responsible for your area, they should all be under my supervision. Come on, we're just killing time anyway, I'll take you there myself."

After saying that, Losas pushed open the door and walked out.

Xiren followed closely behind. The two walked through a red-carpeted corridor and up the stairs to the second floor of the Internal Affairs Building.

This is the place specifically responsible for deducting, calculating, and distributing the salaries of low-level employees; it is also the capillary of power.

As the two approached the long row of inspection windows at the end of the corridor, Celen could see what was inside through the half-open glass window.

Those who can work as inspectors in this lucrative position are either connected to higher-ups or have been in the workforce for decades.

Aside from their direct superior, District Governor Losas, they didn't take anyone seriously at all.

At that moment, seven or eight inspectors were gathered in twos and threes inside the window.

Some people were looking down at their newspapers absentmindedly, some were chewing candy and talking incoherently about the women in the red-light district last night, and a fat man was yawning listlessly.

Just then, the yawning fat man inadvertently turned his head and, through the glass of the corridor, caught a glimpse of Lothar's figure striding closer.

The languid look on his face froze instantly, as if he had been struck by lightning, and he sprang up abruptly.

"Quick, quick! Stop talking!" the fat man screamed in a panicked whisper, frantically stuffing the candy and books on the table into the drawer. "Lord Lothas is coming to inspect! Get everything ready! Hurry!"

The office, which was originally as relaxed as a vegetable market, suddenly erupted into chaos.

Everyone was in a panic, like ants on a hot pan, with the sounds of tables and chairs colliding and documents falling everywhere.

While they were frantically trying to disguise their work as a diligent effort, Losas had already pushed open the wooden door.

The inspectors immediately sprang from their workstations, standing in a neat and orderly row with their heads bowed and their faces plastered with respectful smiles that were more like cries than actual crying. They showed none of the arrogant and condescending attitude they had displayed when receiving low-level supervisors like Xilun.

Lothar walked in with his hands behind his back, his steps steady. His cold gaze swept across the faces of everyone present like a knife.

Just then, Lothar keenly noticed that a thin inspector wearing gold-rimmed glasses, standing on the left side of the line, was staring blankly at Siron following behind him, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.

Losas immediately had an idea.