168: Chapter 167 The Municipal Public Security Bureau Recruits People

He Yueyou's thought-provoking words were like a blow to the head that brought Cao Xiao to a sudden realization. At this moment, Cao Xiao felt as if he had woken from a dream; his mind felt light and clear, and his soul seemed to have been refined and sublimated. It was as if all the dust and grime in his heart had been swept away, leaving him with a heart as bright as the moon. The gloomy and obscure aura between his brows quietly vanished, replaced by a bright and kind expression. Looking closely, he now gave off a sense of uprightness and benevolence, and his temperament had become balanced and peaceful. The whole person looked very sunny and generous. From now on, Cao Xiao would no longer give rise to murderous intent recklessly, but once he truly felt the intent to kill, it would be—

He Yueyou carefully used a cotton swab to wipe away the blood around the wound on Cao Xiao's arm. Fortunately, the wound was not deep. After disinfecting it with alcohol, she applied some medicinal powder and two band-aids, and the treatment was finished.

"What happened to you just now? You looked like you were possessed! You scared me," He Yueyou said reproachfully.

Cao Xiao tenderly cupped He Yueyou's exquisite face, gave her a light kiss on the cheek, and said sincerely, "Thank you, Yueyou. I'm fine now; I just figured some things out. If you hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have even noticed that there was a major problem with my thinking."

He Yueyou felt a bit shy and pushed Cao Xiao's hand away, saying displeasurably, "Hmph! Even if you're thinking about things, you don't have to resort to self-harm! You bled so much."

Cao Xiao stood up and said with a smile, "Hehe! I was just testing something. It's just a minor injury, no big deal. I'll change my clothes and head out. Don't worry, I won't kill people easily anymore!"

He Yueyou gave a faint smile. "Mm, go ahead then!"

...

"Little Zhou, where is your hometown?" Inside the helicopter cabin, Cao Xiao asked the young police officer piloting the helicopter loudly with a beaming smile.

The Municipal Bureau's helicopter was an Enstrom 280FX. It had been in use for many years and looked somewhat old. Since it only had three seats, Cao Xiao didn't bring any bodyguards. He was heading to the Provincial Military Region Hospital alone to visit the members of the Linghu Family. Being in a good mood and high spirits, he couldn't keep his mouth shut and had to find the pilot to chat with.

"Chief, my surname is Zhang, and my name is Zhang Qiling. My hometown is in Luzhong," the pilot answered Cao Xiao's question loudly with a deadpan expression. In his heart, however, he was complaining. They had just introduced themselves when they met, yet in just a short while, Cao Xiao had not only forgotten it but even got his surname wrong...

"Zhang Qiling? Little Brother! That's a great name! But with a name like that, you're not suited to be a policeman!" Cao Xiao didn't feel the slightest bit of embarrassment for misremembering the name. Seeing the other party's expressionless face, he found it even more amusing.

"Chief, my name uses the 'Qi' from 'prayer' and the 'Ling' from 'age'." Zhang Qiling remained expressionless, though the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. One flies in the sky while the other digs into the ground—could a policeman and a grave robber even be associated with each other?

"Haha, they're both good names! Don't call me 'Chief' anymore. I'm a bit older than you, so just call me Brother Cao!" Cao Xiao laughed loudly.

"..." Zhang Qiling didn't want to argue about the age issue with Cao Xiao. Both looked to be around the same age, so it was uncertain who was older. He couldn't bring himself to call him 'Brother'. He could only look straight ahead and pretend he hadn't heard.

"Little Zhang, can you fly fixed-wing aircraft?" Seeing Zhang Qiling's silence, Cao Xiao took it as an agreement and continued to ask.

"I transferred to the local sector from the Air Force. I flew attack helicopters for a year, fighter jets for three years, and transport planes for two years in the military," Zhang Qiling replied loudly and concisely without looking back.

"Oh! An all-around pilot! Wait, that's not right! You're still so young. Logically, you should have continued your service! Why did you come to the Municipal Bureau to fly this kind of small helicopter?" Cao Xiao had just asked casually, but he hadn't expected Zhang Qiling to be an all-around pilot. He was currently worrying about where to find a qualified pilot for his private jet, and now a perfect candidate had appeared before him, so he couldn't help but ask a few more questions.

"There was an accident last year. Supplies were dropped into the sea."

"Oh! Ah? *Cough cough!* That 'Old Mother Hen'... er, the projector from last year was you?" Cao Xiao hadn't paid attention at first, but he suddenly recalled an incident that happened in the South China Sea last year. He looked at Zhang Qiling in shock and asked excitedly.

"It should be me you're talking about." Zhang Qiling still didn't look back, and his face remained devoid of any expression.

"It really is you! Little Zhang... no, Brother Zhang! Come fly planes for me, okay? You can name your annual salary. If you're reluctant to leave the official establishment, I'll transfer you to our department. How about it?" After confirming it, Cao Xiao spoke up impatiently.

"I'm used to it here now and don't want to change places," Zhang Qiling said firmly with a slight frown.

"It's settled then! We're flying straight to the Municipal Bureau now, and I'll go talk to Director Liao," Cao Xiao decided decisively, regardless of whether Zhang Qiling was willing or not.

Setting aside that Zhang Qiling was an excellent all-around pilot, Cao Xiao was determined to take him away just for what he did last year.

Last year, Cao Xiao had seen an entertainment news piece online saying that one of our transport planes, while transporting supplies to a South China Sea airport, did not follow the predetermined route. After deviating from the route, the transport plane malfunctioned, and its altitude plummeted, nearly crashing into the sea. Moreover, due to an electronic system failure, the cabin door opened accidentally, and some supplies slid out, accidentally sinking a neighboring country's patrol boat. Fortunately, the pilot's skills were superb, and he cleared the malfunction in time, eventually landing the plane safely at Nansha Airport. In response, netizens jokingly called it 'the old mother hen laying eggs,' though the ones with red faces and thick necks were others—they were choked with indignation. This news was withdrawn shortly after it appeared. That evening, Cao Xiao saw a news report on TV about a neighboring country's patrol boat hitting a reef and sinking. Connecting the two and considering the South China Sea turmoil last year, one could guess the truth of the matter. How could there be such a coincidence in the world where supplies falling from a transport plane just happened to hit a patrol boat? Even an ace pilot flying an advanced dive bomber wouldn't be sure of hitting a target so accurately from a close distance. Thus, the matter sparked heated discussions online. Even if Cao Xiao didn't understand flight technology, he was filled with admiration for that pilot. Who wouldn't admire someone who could fly a transport plane better than a bomber? Cao Xiao had searched for information on that pilot online at the time, but the news didn't disclose any information about him, and even the related reports had all disappeared.

Meeting the real person today, Cao Xiao thought to himself that he had truly found a treasure. Zhang Qiling was wasting his talent at the Municipal Bureau; they only had this one old helicopter, and there weren't many opportunities to use it. Zhang Qiling likely had no place to use his skills there and lived a very leisurely life. It would be better to poach him to the Supervision Office. The role an excellent pilot like him could play would not be smaller than those super-powered individuals at the Dark Jin level. If equipped with a top-tier aircraft, he could become the Supervision Office's ultimate trump card. Therefore, Cao Xiao decided to recruit Zhang Qiling as his first important subordinate. Logically, Zhang Qiling didn't meet the recruitment criteria for the Supervision Office, but Cao Xiao's only superior was Commissioner Zhang, a leader who didn't involve himself in specific affairs. This meant that as long as Cao Xiao could afford to maintain them, no one would care even if he recruited ten thousand ordinary people.

"I don't want to serve anymore. Please don't force me, Chief." Zhang Qiling did not change the flight direction and looked at Cao Xiao seriously, his tone carrying a sense of resolve.

Cao Xiao thought Zhang Qiling had grown used to civilian work and life and didn't want to return to the barracks, so he said with a smile, "Don't worry, our department isn't military. There aren't that many restrictions; it's just changing your workplace."

"I can go over, but the working hours must be fixed, or you must help me transfer another person from the Municipal Bureau to the same department as me." Zhang Qiling's face turned a bit red, and he almost spoke these words through gritted teeth.

"Oh? Working hours can't be fixed, but my department is quite leisurely. If there's nothing to do, it doesn't matter if you rest at home for ten days or half a month. When there's work, you might have to go out for a long time. As long as their rank isn't high, transferring someone from the Municipal Bureau is no problem, but you have to tell me who it is. Also, would they be willing?" Cao Xiao didn't hide anything and told the truth directly.

"Her name is Zhou Qingxuan, a squad leader in the Public Security Team. If I tell her, she'll agree." Zhang Qiling's face flushed red; he was actually a bit shy.

"Oh? Haha! Good! As long as she agrees, there's no problem. Hmm, I see it this way: let her be my assistant, and when you're not flying the plane, you can double as my driver. That way, you two can be together every day! Hahaha!" Seeing Zhang Qiling's bashful expression, how could Cao Xiao not guess what was going on? It turned out he had a partner and didn't want to be separated! Naturally, Cao Xiao would help make such a good thing happen.

"Ah! Brother! Can a helicopter even make a sharp turn like that? Slow down! I trust your skills, but I don't trust that this plane can withstand your tossing!" Just as Cao Xiao finished speaking, he felt his body involuntarily lean to the side, only to see Zhang Qiling excitedly and rapidly operating the helicopter to turn. He was instantly scared out of his wits.

"It'll be time to get off work soon!" Zhang Qiling's eyes were fixed on the direction of the Municipal Bureau, wishing he could land there the very next second.

Hearing this, Cao Xiao was caught between laughter and tears. Earlier, when he told him to go to the Municipal Bureau, he hadn't budged, but now he was the one in a hurry.

...

"Yo! Director Liao, you're busy? Eh! Isn't this Director Ni? Why are you here?" When he found Liao Kai's office in the Municipal Bureau office building, he pushed the door open and saw Liao Kai talking to someone. He was about to greet Liao Kai, but upon closer inspection, he saw Ni Zhen, the female police station director from Baishui Town in Qian Province a few days ago.

"Major Cao, please take a seat. You also know Deputy Captain Ni?" Liao Kai was only slightly surprised to see Cao Xiao enter without knocking. He stood up to welcome Cao Xiao to the sofa and asked curiously.

"Major Cao, hello! Thanks to you, I've been transferred to work here," Ni Zhen also stood up and said with a bitter smile.

"Oh? Weren't you just transferred to Baishui Town not long ago? A deputy captain at the Municipal Bureau is at least at the deputy section level, so you've basically been promoted. Why do you still look unhappy? Does this have something to do with me?" Cao Xiao had some understanding of the basic structure of the Municipal Bureau, so he couldn't understand why Ni Zhen seemed so helpless.

"Deputy captain of the Criminal Police Team, full section level, with a parenthesis after it—I've been promoted several levels at once. Mr. Cao probably doesn't know what happened in Qian Province after you left, right?" Ni Zhen said ruefully.

"Uh, I haven't had time to pay attention, nor am I interested in knowing. If it affected Captain Ni, I can only apologize!" Cao Xiao didn't want to talk about the matters in Qian Province anymore and affect his mood.

"Major Cao, is there some urgent matter for you to come over now?" Liao Kai knew today was the day of Cao Xiao's engagement and reckoned that Cao Xiao's appearance at the police station at this time must be for something urgent.

"Uh, I slipped out. There were too many people there. It's nothing urgent; I just want to ask you for two... three people," Cao Xiao said frankly.

"Oh? I wonder which people Major Cao needs help from? I'll have them report immediately," Liao Kai asked in confusion.

"It's not for help; it's a job transfer. I want to transfer them to my department," Cao Xiao corrected him.

"Such a transfer doesn't comply with organizational procedures, does it?" Liao Kai knew of Cao Xiao's military status but had never heard of transferring people from local agencies to the military. He asked with a frown.

"As long as your Municipal Bureau is willing to let them go, I can solve the procedure issues. You just need to hand their files over to me," Cao Xiao said confidently.

"Specifically, which people are they?" Hearing Cao Xiao say this, Liao Kai no longer mentioned the organizational procedure issue. As long as he let them go, it would be fine; even if Cao Xiao couldn't manage it, keeping the positions at the Municipal Bureau wouldn't cause any impact.

"It's Zhang Qiling, who flies the helicopter; Zhou Qingxuan from the Public Security Team; and Deputy Captain Ni. No problem, right?" Cao Xiao said.

"Major Cao, you're really giving me a difficult problem! A huge one! Our Municipal Bureau only has one helicopter pilot, Zhang Qiling. If he leaves, where are we going to recruit someone? I also can't make the decision for Zhou Qingxuan from the Public Security Team. Captain Ni only reported for duty today and is a middle-level leader; I can't decide on my own. Besides, we also have to ask for their personal opinions!" Liao Kai said with a long face.

"Major Cao, please just let me go! Let me work peacefully for a few days, okay?" Ni Zhen hadn't expected Cao Xiao to call her name and said somewhat aggrievedly upon hearing it.

"Zhang Qiling and Zhou Qingxuan both agree, and Captain Ni will surely obey the organizational transfer. I don't care about the rest; I'm set on having these people. If you can't decide, I'll go find Commissioner Zhang," Cao Xiao said like a rogue.

Seeing Cao Xiao's roguish manner, the bitterness on Liao Kai's face deepened. He explained slowly, "Commissioner Zhang also has to understand our difficulties. Moreover, Commissioner Zhang probably can't even make the decision for Zhou Qingxuan's job transfer. Besides..."

Before Liao Kai could finish, Cao Xiao interrupted him, saying, "I see that helicopter of yours is a bit old and probably can't adapt to the increasingly fast-changing public security situation. I will personally donate a brand-new helicopter to your Municipal Bureau—a military attack helicopter! What do you think?"

"Major Cao, it's not..." Liao Kai saw that Cao Xiao might have misunderstood and was about to explain.

"Two of them, WZ-9s! If that's not okay, I'll go back and find Commissioner Zhang immediately," Cao Xiao said firmly, holding up two fingers. Two WZ-9s would cost around fifty million. To poach these people, Cao Xiao had truly invested a fortune. He thought to himself that he must tell Zhang Qiling later what a heavy price he paid to bring him and Zhou Qingxuan together, so he would fly the plane for him faithfully from now on.

"Even if Commissioner Zhang comes personally..." Liao Kai had been interrupted twice. Seeing that Cao Xiao wouldn't listen to his explanation, he stood up abruptly in frustration.

Cao Xiao didn't actually dare to go back and find Commissioner Zhang. Not to mention whether Commissioner Zhang would allow him to mess around with such an unreliable matter, once he went back, it would be hard to get away. So, he continued to interrupt Liao Kai impatiently, "I'll add ten of the best special anti-terrorist explosion-proof assault vehicles. Director Liao, this is almost a hundred million! If you still don't agree to let them go, I won't care about that explosion case anymore! Anyway, I have no one under me and can't do anything! Even if Commissioner Zhang comes, I'll say the same thing. You guys can worry about it yourselves then!"