338 – Police force

I don’t guarantee a 100% perfect translation.

Feel free to correct me in the comments.

I had to fact-check some names with earlier chapters so it took longer than expected. For those saying that i use different names from the last translator here’s a couple questions for now. Everytime i encounter a different name i’ll ask you guys what you think (because she’ll always be called Macy in my heart)

First one is Rox’s, second one would be my option and in parenthesis is the chinese spelling.

First off is the old man living with Vader, the dude who got 10 lashes some chapters ago, not much difference here but still, which one is better?

Kukasim 库卡西姆 Kukashim (kukashimu)

Next is the fat pigeon.

Maggie 麦茜 Macy – Macey (Mei chie)

And last are the self reinforcement type witches.

Extraordinary 超凡 Exceed (Literally translates as extraordinary but i’ve been reading it as Exceed for a long time that i totally forgot how rox translated it until earlier today)

Anyway, enjoy, next chapter in about 4 hours. And to give you a little extra, chapter 339 is titled Assassins

---

 

Vader got out of bed and tried moving his body. Surprisingly, his back did not hurt at all, seemed like the words of Sir Knight were right, and after being poured that water the wound indeed healed fast.

„Why don’t you rest for a few more days?” Kukasim asked.

„He only gave me two days” Vader puts on his worn-out coat, and places his feet into the cold boots „Also, the sooner I get to start working, I can get my share of wheat porridge. I can’t always eat from your share, and just one bowl isn’t enough for the two of us.”

„I think it’s actually pretty good, the porridge is much thicker than the relief porridge that other places offer, and you even can taste a little of meat in it” the old man shoke his head „Child, you were a patrol member before, so maybe you are not familiar with the life in the slums. The porridge they offered there was watered down, almost like a broth, and in the soup, were no more than a few wheat grains to make it look edible and it was often filled with grass and leaves and then cooked. The wheat porridge that Sir Feudal Lord sends maybe isn’t enough for the two of us to eat until we’re full, but at least we’re not hungry anymore.”

„But I want us to eat until we are full” he smiled while tying his shoelace.

„Alright” Kukasim sighed, „Then take care of your body, and try not to do anything reckless.”

He felt weird, obviously the old man was just a scapegoat the black street mouse had chosen, but now he felt like he had become something like his old man. But what was stranger was the fact he didn’t find unpleasant such unexpected feeling.

„I will” He shakes those thoughts and put on a hood „The same goes for you”

Just as he opened the door, standing outside were two men wearing a light blue embroidery on the shoulders and an armband over a white uniform, which indicated they were workers of the City Hall.

Vader cannot help but to frown slightly „Who are you looking for?”

One of them pulls out a paper and glanced at it „Are you Vader?”

„Yes.”

„What happened?” Kukasim noticed the situation happening outside.

„Congratulations” the other persons said while smiling „You have passed the preliminary test to join the public security force, next will be one week of comprehensive training” He hands over a small card to Vader „This will be your temporary ID card, bring it to the Second Army camp, there are people over there ready to receive you.”

His eyes went wide as he stares at it „I… …passed the selection of the Prince?”

„Not yet” the City Hall worker replied „The written test was only the first round, you still have to complete the training and obtain the approval of the Chief Knight after passing the ideological assessment, then you can become an official member of the Public Security team.”

After they finished, they just left, neither of them had asked for money, nor he have needed to get on their good side, almost as if they just made this trip specially to inform him.

„You succeeded!” The old man yelled excitedly as he patted Vader’s shoulder. „Even after you said that it would be impossible to be chosen.” 

Vader stood there frozen still while murmuring „I mean, the questions were too weird”

The old man hesitated to ask „What questions?”

He can’t help to think about the events of the prior week, he knew the Prince was recruiting members for the Public Security Bureau, which was a new name he gave to the town patrol guards, he went to check the requirements and applied at the City Hall for the job. The other side responded quite fast, and in just five days he received the test notice.

Vader was confident, he not only knew about the announcement beforehand, he also had more than five years of practical experience, and in this small town lacking someone to supervise people, he knew that if he was to be selected, the possibilities were big. If he could become a patrol guard, he not only could live in the city, he could also help Kukasim at any time.

But from the moment he went to take the test, everything went beyond his expectations.

More than 100 candidates sat in the hall, afterwards one Knight started distributing papers one by one and requested the candidates to answer the questions listed and to write in a neat fashion saying that the Prince personally will be the final reviewer of the tests. Immediately the crowd started to get restless, although the announcement clearly stated one of the requirements being able to read and write, nobody had thought it was actually for real.

That caused a large number of people to get scared, although Vader could read what was on the paper, the questions were so weird causing him to go over them again, but they were still the same strange questions, for example 「 You are the coachman of a carriage going on a narrow mountain road, in the carriage are two civilians. Then you spot a group of refugees in the middle of the road ahead, you can’t stop, your only options are to hit them or let the carriage fall off the cliff. The former will lead to the death of many refugees, the latter will kill the two civilians on the carriage, and in any case, with your agile reflexes you can survive, what will your choice be? Please elaborate on the reason why with at least 300 words. 」

This problem had him scratching his head, although one side is mentioned to be civilians, the other side is just a group of refugees, but the concrete numbers are unclear, making him unable to weight his choices. Moreover, he always felt like killing a group of refugees was not a big deal, but that’s not necessary the answer the Prince seeks.

Then is the best choice to let the civilians die? Is that really the correct answer?

And in the whole paper, similar questions are written, he even felt like His Highness was just toying with them and making them feel embarrassed, and in fact the personnel for the Public Security team had already been determined.

„Its nothing, it was just something that came to my mind” Vader took a deep breath „Anyway, I’m going to the camp now.”

„Well” Kukasim smiled while he said „I think you can certainly become a splendid Public Security member” 

 

…………

 

The Second Army camp was located north of the town, just outside the inner city wall, Vader arrived and spotted the Chief Knight awaiting in the camp.

„Starting today, you will begin your training to join the police” said Carter, after all the members had gathered „During one week, you will live in this camp and will receive a special training. Only those who pass will stay, the remaining unqualified people will go back to their original jobs! I’ll teach you all what discipline means, and anything you need to know to work under the service of His Royal Highness the Prince!”

He never counted them, but in Vader’s memory there were around 100 applicants… …but now there’s only 15 people left? He looked at their expressions and clothes, there was only another like him, the rest were probably local residents.

It really seemed like the requirement about being literate was not a joke.

„Question!” Someone raised a hand to ask. (TL: Original says “Report!” but I’m not sure how it was translated before, Roland introduced many regulations to the army in the early chapters, but I’m not sure if they say “report” for everything, I’ll need to check back, if anyone can confirm or deny I’d appreciate it)

Carter’s face showed a grin „Oh, are you familiar with the Army’s regulations?”

„Yes, my brother is in the First Army” that person scratched the back of his head and said „Sir, can I ask what is the police? Aren’t we Public Security members?”

„The police is part of the Public Security Bureau, and can be understood as security officers working in Your Highness’ territory, your job is to arrest criminals, fight against illegal acts, maintain the order in the territory and carry out the policies of His Highness and the City Hall, as well as to help the citizens.” 

„Helps the citizens? But a moment ago you said we’ll be serving the Prince…”

„There’s no difference between the two, helping the citizens of His Highness is the same as helping His Highness. Or what, do you want to enter the castle and take care of him personally?” Carter shrugged „First you need become an outstanding Knight to say those sorts of things.”

But a Knight is a noble… …Vader thought, the status of nobles and civilians is the same as heaven and earth, no matter how much one works, they can’t become one.

„Remember, you are not only the executors of the law, but also the protectors of the people. For now, just go to the tent and change into your uniforms” Carter said as he clapped his hands „Next, I will hand over your first assignments.”

 

 

<< Previous   Table of Contents   Next>>

• Release that Witch