"Harbor Patrol Log, July 31st.

At 9:23 a.m., a brawl erupted; two were detained, three reprimanded and educated.

At 10:56 a.m., workers at Dock No. 5 came to blows over a trivial matter, were taken to the port's detention center to cool off and receive a stern talking-to.

At 3:11 p.m., responded to a robbery alert. By the time we arrived, the suspect had fled. After collecting evidence at the crime scene, the victim was escorted to the security office for a statement.

At 6:05 p.m., a group of idle individuals were caught using drugs in an alley at 168 Anning Street. They were apprehended and taken to headquarters for further interrogation."

"Harbor Patrol Log, August 1st.

At 8:02 a.m., a floating corpse was discovered at the southeastern corner of Dock No. 5. The deceased was identified as a dockworker, presumed drowned while intoxicated. No signs of foul play at the preliminary investigation scene; the case was deemed an accidental death. The body was claimed by family at 12:32 p.m.

At 1:56 p.m., a street brawl resulted in five detentions.

At 3:14 p.m., another street fight led to four detentions.

At 5:09 p.m., a violent clash with a crowd wielding pipes, crowbars, boning knives, and antiquated revolvers. Warnings from the patrol security team were ignored, necessitating the use of firearms, resulting in two fatalities, with the rest detained."

"Ah, what a day... Another peaceful day draws to a close, and it was a breeze," Cyrus typed the final character on her light screen and stretched languidly in the office.

As the rookie, Cyrus had much to learn, such as report writing and the proper handling of disputes during harbor patrols.

She had been tasked with compiling these reports, entering the daily logs into Adam's system for archiving.

For two consecutive days, all was quiet.

Argentum collected data dutifully, Thornrose, now equipped with a mechanical hand, shared the workload, and Red's contacts with Cyrus dwindled, likely preoccupied with pressing missions of their own. With the vast harbor and dense patrol rotations, data gathering was no small feat.

Cyrus hadn't moonlighted for Mechanism Dawn in two nights, an adjustment that left her feeling oddly idle. Working only one job afforded her some leisure, allowing her to carve out time for study in the evenings.

The thought of the stacks of textbooks in her room was daunting. Learning the equivalent of four years of college in a matter of days was a tall order. Thankfully, she didn't need her criminology knowledge just yet, as most emergencies at the port could be resolved with a show of force.

"Finished with the report, Cyrus?" Shu Xuyao was tidying up documents at his desk, turning off his projector. "Thanks for your hard work today."

"It's nothing, really. Just a few hundred words. You've had a tougher day, Captain," Cyrus saved the document and turned off her projector as well.

"Time to clock out, let's go," Shu Xuyao glanced at the time.

The Coast Security team's patrols were split between day and night shifts. Daytime was relatively easy-going; the true dangers lurked after dark. Under the cloak of night, all manner of filth came crawling out.

Like repulsive insects, they hid from the scorching sun, burrowing into the earth, only to emerge and scuttle about in the dark.

One could never fathom just how wild Blackwater City became after sunset.

"We're on the night shift tomorrow, right?" Cyrus asked.

"Yes, you can take the day off and start at eight in the evening," Shu Xuyao confirmed.

The intensity of night patrols could be exhausting, hence the alternating shifts every couple of days. Squad Seven had been on day shifts, but tomorrow night it was their turn to brave the darkness.

"Shall we walk together?" Shu Xuyao offered.

"Sure, a walk would be nice. It's cooler in the evening, much better than during the day," Cyrus agreed readily.

Daytime patrols at the dock had been sweltering, the heat compounded by the necessity of full gear for safety.

Cyrus had adopted a vigilant posture during these patrols, standing tall, alert to her surroundings, hand always ready on her gun holster.

Ever since hearing from a veteran at the Coast Security team about frequent encounters with armed gang members near the port, she had been on edge. What if a gang member with a grudge against the Enforcement Department popped out and shot her during a patrol?

Cyrus had no intention of being taken out by someone else, so she remained on alert, hand on her holster.

If anyone tried to take her down, she'd take them out first.

And indeed, she had done just that. This afternoon, during a gang fight, she had shown no mercy, taking down the ringleader with just two shots.

Cyrus and Shu Xuyao changed into casual clothes and left the security office, with Shu Xuyao accompanying her along her usual route home.

"How have the past couple of days been for you?" Shu Xuyao asked with concern.

"I'm doing alright," Cyrus said. "The first and second times doing something like this... you feel something. But after that, the feeling fades."

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"You're the most adaptable rookie I've ever seen," Shu Xuyao complimented.

"Thanks for the praise, Captain," Cyrus accepted the compliment with equanimity.

"You were an early intern recruited by the Enforcement Department from Black Sea Academy. It's hard for you to find someone with a similar mindset to talk to. Seeing you adapt to the work here, I'm relieved," Shu Xuyao said. "Normally, you'd need more training to be fully independent. Having you patrol might've been a bit rushed."

"Don't worry about me, Captain. I was prepared for the chaos in the harbor district," Cyrus assured him.

"Right, you're from the harbor district," Shu Xuyao noted. "In a month, we'll have external recruits, and having more rookies will ease the pressure. Right now, we just have to bear with it."

"I understand. It's a critical time," Cyrus said empathetically. "Things are more chaotic than usual."

The sky was darkening, a cool breeze wafted through as the low-rise buildings of the harbor district lit up.

"Cyrus, you should know that being a security officer isn't just about handling pressure; it's also about resisting temptation," Shu Xuyao advised.

"What do you mean?" Cyrus turned, feigning ignorance.

"You're young, and even though you've seen some darkness, the filthiest, darkest things are beyond your imagination," Shu Xuyao said. "Do you know why we rotate the Coast Security teams every month?"

Cyrus listened intently.

"Because of bribes," Shu Xuyao whispered. "The smugglers at the port have been bribing the long-term stationed security teams, turning them into accomplices."

Cyrus wasn't surprised; such things happened everywhere, varying only in degree and severity.

"Rotating the teams stationed at the security office each month increases the cost of bribes for the criminals, as they have to spend time and money ingratiating themselves with the new arrivals," Cyrus surmised, following his line of thought. "Is that it, Captain?"

"Yes, it's an unfortunate necessity," Shu Xuyao admitted. "We can't completely prevent such occurrences."

"Captain, I believe you're a good and honest person," Cyrus said hesitantly, looking at Shu Xuyao. "You wouldn't take bribes, would you?"

Shu Xuyao was taken aback. "What are you thinking? Would someone taking bribes explain all this to you?"

"What if you're trying to silence me, maybe even considering a cut for me?" Cyrus mused, stroking her chin.

"Alright, I know you're joking, Cyrus," Shu Xuyao said, half-amused, half-exasperated.

"You're a wealthy heir, Captain; I doubt you'd be swayed by petty cash," Cyrus said. "I feel secure working under you."

"Thank you for your trust," Shu Xuyao replied.

Cyrus pondered seriously: "You said we can't completely prevent these things... A month isn't short; someone might indeed be bribed. So, we face not just the threat of gang members, but also the possibility of betrayal by our own team?"

"That's the reality," Shu Xuyao confirmed. "The world is too complex, and so are the hearts of people. Cyrus, you've just graduated. You need to adapt to combat, and to society."

"I don't have parents or reliable relatives to guide me," Cyrus paused before adding, "You're the first to teach me about the ways of the world, Captain."

"Having someone to teach you is better than struggling alone," Shu Xuyao said. "Ask when you don't understand, learn what you don't know. You'll get the hang of it eventually."

"Okay, I will," Cyrus responded. "I'll remember that."

They reached Cyrus's building.

"I'm home now. You should head back too, Captain," Cyrus said.

"Rest well during the day, or you won't make it through the night shift," Shu Xuyao nodded in farewell. "Goodbye, Cyrus."

Standing at the entrance, Cyrus watched Shu Xuyao's figure disappear around the street corner.

She turned and made her way upstairs, unlocking her door.

Argentum sat idly at the dining table, toying with water balls: "Who was that guy? You talked for quite a while."

Cyrus arched an eyebrow. "You saw?"

"I saw him, but he didn't see me," Argentum replied.

"Be careful. That's my superior at the Enforcement Department," Cyrus said as she entered, changing shoes and heading to the bathroom to wash off the sunscreen.

Inspecting the kitchen, she frowned. "We're out of groceries... I'll just pick something up from the convenience store. I don't feel like cooking."

She headed back to the door to put on her shoes. "Next time, remember to buy groceries after a mission."

"Okay," Argentum replied listlessly.

Cyrus walked down to the convenience store, following the direction from her memory.

Chill, her fellow transmigrant from the second world, had parents who owned a convenience store. Since she was already out, she figured she'd check up on him.

"Welcome," the old announcement machine droned as she pushed open the door.

The store was small but well-stocked with daily necessities and various foods.

The sound of wheels approached.

"Sister Cyrus?"

"...Chill?"

In shock, Cyrus took in the sight of Chill, his body swathed in bandages and casts, sitting in a wheelchair. His head was so tightly wrapped that only his eyes, nose, and mouth were visible. The sight was pitiful.

"What happened to you?" Cyrus exclaimed. "You were fine a few days ago."

Chill pressed his lips together. "I... got hit by a car delivering food... The guy who hit me was some rich kid, all arrogant."

"Was there any compensation?" Cyrus inquired.

"He said we'd go through legal procedures. Compensation would take at least three months to receive," Chill lamented. "My legs are numb; I need mechanical limbs. My parents are trying to raise money..."

Tears streamed down his face as he spoke.

Chill had tasted bitter hardship these past days, never before feeling life's cruelty so acutely. The pain and injuries in this world were real, as were his experiences. The game system he brought along was useless, offering nothing more than a fancy interface. There were no awakened superpowers, no golden fingers, no grand slaughters.

In this second world, Chill lived like any ordinary person—humbly and in earnest. He fretted over money and livelihood, subject to unexpected mishaps.

Indeed, this was how most of the lower-class residents lived in the second world.

If Chill couldn't change his circumstances, he was destined to remain ordinary in this world.

"I'm sorry, Sister Cyrus... I didn't mean to make a scene," Chill sniffed, trying to regain composure. "You came to shop, right? Go ahead and pick what you need. You can pay at the front with facial recognition."

Cyrus grabbed bread, milk, and some snacks.

As she was about to pay, a sleek black car pulled up outside. A well-dressed man in a suit stepped out and strode into the store, his gaze fixed on Chill.

"Good day, Mr. Chill," the suited man offered a business card. "I'm Zhang Rui from the talent acquisition department of Ruike Technology. I'd like to discuss our company's recruitment program with you."

Chill was stunned. "I got into Black Sea Academy, but I haven't graduated yet. Isn't it a bit early to recruit me?"

"You misunderstand, Mr. Chill," Zhang Rui clarified gently. "We partner with certain universities and noticed your profile. You're an excellent student, but the tuition at Black Sea Academy... let's be honest, few ordinary families can afford it. Our Ruike Technology Talent Foundation offers low-interest, even interest-free loans to students in need."

"You're doing charity work?" Chill's jaw dropped.

"Of course not, there are strings attached to the loan," Zhang Rui revealed his ulterior motive. "You'll need to sign a contract promising to work for Ruike Technology after graduation."

It was a monopoly on technological talent. Chill slowly grasped the implication.

His knowledge of Ruike Technology was virtually nil, so he instinctively looked to Cyrus, a "native" of this world, for advice.

"Sister Cyrus, any suggestions?" Chill asked.

"Ruike is a reputable company. I think you should carefully review the contract and discuss it with your parents when they're home," Cyrus pondered for a moment. "Whether to accept or not is up to you... If you don't have better options right now, you might consider Ruike Technology."

Zhang Rui nodded politely at Cyrus. "This lady's advice is quite sensible." His eyes fell on Chill's legs. "Our company leads the world in bionic technology. If you sign the agreement, we'll provide you with suitable mechanical limbs at a favorable price."