Apocalypse: The Primordial Pearl Recognizes Its Master, Starting with Infinite Space

When Zhou Tiannian rushed over, Lin Chen was talking with Duan Rong, Huang An (Director Huang), and several other former security guards in the open space in front of the property building.

Duan Rong had changed out of her worn-out police uniform and was now wearing a set of dark-colored combat training uniforms that were standard for the inner city guards. Her hair was neatly tied up, and she looked less tired and travel-worn than before, and more capable.

Huang An was wearing the standard winter uniform of the outer city guards; it was not fancy, but it was neat and tidy.

The Jiang sisters, Jiang Yingxue and Jiang Yingyue, were also nearby. When they saw Bai Xin leading Lin Chen over and then seeing the group of police officers, they couldn't help but show a hint of tension and confusion on their faces.

He thought he had made a mistake in how he handled Duan Rong's request for help that morning, and that he had upset Lin Chen again.

"Brother Lin, did I do something wrong again?" Jiang Yingyue became uneasy.

Hearing her voice, Lin Chen turned around and noticed the twins' expressions. He walked over and patted their little heads.

He explained to them, "Nothing of the sort happened this morning, it's not your fault. In the apocalypse, caution is paramount for survival. You followed the rules, and you did nothing wrong."

He wouldn't bother explaining to anyone else, but the twin sisters are now his precious little darlings, so he can't afford to hold any grudges.

He paused, looking in the direction of Duan Rong and the others, "I came here simply because their situation is... a little different. These people, even at this point, still remember to save their comrades; such a heart is rare these days."

"Go on with your work."

His words were simple, yet they relieved Jiang Yingxue and her sister, and also made it clear that his concern stemmed more from compassion than from a denial of their work.

They knew that Lin Chen always valued character when choosing people, and these people's character was so good that it seemed to have caught his attention.

Having understood the cause and effect, the two sisters happily returned to their jobs.

Before long, Zhou Tiannian arrived.

"Boss Lin, you wanted to see me?" Zhou Tiannian jogged to Lin Chen's side, bowed slightly, and spoke with a respectful yet cautious tone.

He quickly glanced at Huang An and the others out of the corner of his eye. As shrewd as he was, he already had a vague guess in his mind.

"Hmm." Lin Chen responded, his gaze falling on Zhou Tiannian. "The outer city has been well managed recently, and the order is stable. You deserve a lot of credit for that."

"It's all thanks to Boss Lin's strategic planning; I was just the one running errands," Zhou Tiannian said with a forced smile, adopting a very humble posture.

"However, the population of the outer city has now exceeded 100,000, and the number of awakened individuals has also surpassed 10,000. The affairs are becoming increasingly complex, and it is inevitable that you alone will not be able to handle them all."

Lin Chen changed the subject, his tone still calm but carrying an undeniable air, "I've found you a deputy to help you share the burden."

He stepped aside and gestured to Huang An: "This is Huang An, the former director of the East District Public Security Bureau. From now on, he will be the deputy commander of the outer city, assisting you in managing the outer city."

Zhou Tiannian's heart skipped a beat, but his smile didn't diminish at all; instead, it became even more enthusiastic.

He quickly bowed to Huang An, saying, "Oh, it's Director Huang! My apologies! I've long heard of your esteemed name; you're upright and exceptionally capable! It's wonderful to have you here to help me; I was just worried about not being able to handle everything alone! Boss Lin, you're so considerate of us subordinates; you've thought of everything!"

He spoke quickly and sincerely, as if it were a heartfelt welcome, without the slightest hint of unease.

In fact, he had long expected this day to come.

With the outer city's power expanding so rapidly, no matter how much Lin Chen trusted him, it was impossible to hand over such a force to him completely without any checks and balances.

Sending someone as a deputy is not only a way to delegate power and provide oversight, but also a measure to stabilize morale.

Zhou Tiannian not only understood this, but even felt it was only natural—he would have done the same if he were in Zhou's shoes.

Huang An never expected Lin Chen to give him such an important position.

He originally thought he could be an ordinary member of the outer city guard and slowly accumulate merits, which would be good enough.

At this moment, filled with emotion, he stepped forward and solemnly clasped his hands in thanks to Lin Chen: "Thank you for your trust, Boss Lin! Huang Anding will do his utmost to assist Commander Zhou in maintaining order in the outer city and will not fail your trust!"

Then, he turned to Zhou Tiannian, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant: "Commander Zhou, we will be colleagues from now on. I am new here and am not yet familiar with many rules and situations. I would appreciate your guidance. I will definitely cooperate fully with your work."

He also changed his address, calling Lin Chen "boss" along with Zhou Tiannian. This was a gesture to show that he had integrated into the new system.

"No problem, no problem! Deputy Commander Huang, you're too kind!" Zhou Tiannian smiled broadly and patted Huang An's shoulder warmly. "From now on, we'll be partners, learning from and helping each other! It's all for the sake of getting the things Boss Lin assigned us done well and managing the outer city effectively!"

Lin Chen nodded. This was exactly the effect he wanted.

This not only provided Zhou Tiannian with "insurance," but also gave Huang An and others a high starting point to demonstrate their talents and integrate into the group. Furthermore, it allowed them to utilize the remaining public trust of Huang An and others to further regulate the management of the outer city.

"You can discuss the specifics yourselves later." Lin Chen concluded the brief appointment. "Zhou Tiannian, Huang An has just arrived. Show him the structure of the guard, the rotation areas, and the current rules."

"Yes." Zhou Tiannian then led Huang An and the other former security guards away and began to walk towards the outer city.

After everyone else had gone far away, only Lin Chen and Duan Rong remained.

Lin Chen looked at the policewoman standing ramrod straight beside him and cut to the chase: "Duan Rong, right? Tell me, what was it about you that you were so eager to see me this morning?"

Duan Rong took a deep breath, suppressing the anxiety surging in her heart, and stated in the clearest and most concise language possible: "Boss Lin, I want to ask you to save someone."

She paused, looking directly at Lin Chen, not daring to hide anything, "I have a colleague, who is also my best friend, Tian Tian. When the blood rain came, she was on vacation, sightseeing and shopping at the Canton Tower by the Pearl River... and got trapped there."

She spoke a little faster: "She and her colleagues on duty in that area, along with some surviving tourists and staff, hid on the top few floors of the Canton Tower and blocked the passageways, which is how they survived for the time being."

"But the situation there is terrible. For some reason, the clothing, food, and water stored in the tower's shops have been almost completely emptied, leaving only a few scattered items. They are now starving and freezing, but fortunately, Tian Tian's awakened ice-type ability has kept them going until now."

Upon hearing that "the supplies have been completely moved out," Lin Chen remained expressionless, but his right hand rose almost imperceptibly, and his index finger gently rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Well, he scoured all the supply depots in Guangzhou back then, and even the Canton Tower was among them... This was an unexpected cause and effect.

Duan Rong was completely focused on describing the crisis and did not notice Lin Chen's subtle movement.