Two men were preparing for their thirty-minute patrol at the police station when the door swung open, and the third man entered. He was a small figure, with wavy black hair, blue eyes, and a slim build.


    “Aldred, did you hear about the new captain?” he asked eagerly.


    Aldred Crowther, the eldest in the group at 26, glanced up. Standing at 178 centimeters tall with a muscular build, he exuded a natural confidence that had earned him the respect of his peers. His short black hair and piercing black eyes only added to his commanding presence.


    “No, what about him?” Aldred inquired, a hint of curiosity in his voice.


    “He’s merely 15 years old,” came the surprising revelation.


    Aldred’s eyebrows arched in astonishment. “Only 15?”


    “Do not underestimate him, Walden,” came the stern warning.


    The person who spoke was the third man in the room, nearly matching Aldred in height. He sported short, black hair, dark eyes, and a modest nose. While possessing a muscular build, it was not as imposing as Aldred''s.


    Aldred gazed at him.


    "What do you know, Edric?"


    Edric always researched everything. In addition, he was usually holding a book.


    "From what I read, he reached the F rank in only three months, and he is trying to become an E- in one month from now."


    Walden''s jaw dropped open.


    "In one month..."


    He paused for a second before saying, with a smile on his face.


    "Still, he is a kid without any experience.”


    Aldred tightened his belt.


    “If he wasn''t capable, the Paladin Association wouldn''t have appointed him. Try not to joke around Walden; you could get us into trouble.”


    Aldred was well aware of Walden''s tendency to mock everything.


    Walden nodded “Don’t worry, I am not an idiot.”.


    Aldred sighed, "Ok, let''s go”.


    They ventured outside and began their stroll toward the association. The police office sat in the main street and in close proximity to the association, and within ten minutes, they arrived at their destination. Stationed outside, they awaited the arrival of their new leader. After a brief wait of two to three minutes, a young Paladin clad in white pants and a blouse emerged. Adorning his chest was a plus mark emblem of the God of Light, gleaming in golden hues, accompanied by black lines adorning both his sleeves and hems. Clad in golden and white gloves and shoulder armor, the hand armor appeared standard, while the shoulder armor cascaded in layered fashion. At first glance, it was evident to all that this young man was their leader.


    Edric scrutinized the young man, mentally comparing his appearance to the information he possessed.


    ‘In the document, it stated he''s 161, but he''s nearly as tall as Walden. Can one''s height truly increase that rapidly?’


    Aldred stepped forward, bowing slightly in respect.


    "Sir, are you Mr. Leo Mantine, the new leader of our patrol group?" he inquired formally.


    The young man before him nodded.


    “Indeed, I am. And you must be… Mr. Aldred Crowther, if I’m not mistaken?” Leo responded with a slight smile.


    A flicker of surprise crossed Aldred’s face, his eyebrow lifting.


    “You’re familiar with me, sir?”


    “I inferred from your file,” Leo said calmly.


    Walden, observing the exchange, leaned toward Edric with a knowing look.


    “He’s like you.”


    Edric gave Walden a sharp glance. “Shii… quiet.”


    Aldred quickly refocused, nodding. “Yes, sir. I''m Aldred Crowther, G-rank officer.”


    Edric stepped up next, placing a hand over his heart in greeting. “Edric Berger.”


    Walden followed suit, mirroring the gesture. “Walden Tanner.”


    Aldred felt relieved that Walden had refrained from making any unnecessary remarks, but then his relief turned to fear as Walden grinned mischievously.


    "Sir, I know it''s your first time as a leader, so please ask us any questions that you have."


    Edric and Aldred both showed signs of fear. But Leo just nodded.


    "Thank you, I will do that." He then glanced at each of them.


    "Let''s begin"


    Leo stepped ahead and began walking down Ashburn Street, and the three of them began to follow him. While strolling, Edric started to analyze Leo’s behavior.


    ''As stated in the document, his behavior is that of an adult man.''


    Aldred also sighed with relief. Even though he was a kid, he was still a Paladin and could cause a lot of trouble for them.


    …


    Before the patrol, Leo worried that his youthful appearance might cause the officers to doubt his abilities. Walden’s casual remark only deepened his determination to prove himself. He felt the weight of responsibility to demonstrate that, despite his looks, he could lead. His eyes darted from alleyways to shop corners, scanning for any small crime that could serve as an opportunity to show his competence.


    "Criminals may try to take advantage of this situation; be careful," Walden muttered just loud enough for Leo to overhear.


    The first two rounds of patrol went smoothly, with nothing but routine observations and casual greetings from passersby. Yet, Leo’s vigilance never wavered. His heart raced slightly, not from fear, but from anticipation—waiting for the moment that would let him step up and prove himself.


    On the third round, a piercing scream shattered the calm, reverberating from Orchid Street. The woman''s cry was sharp, filled with panic. Without hesitation, Leo and the officers launched into action, sprinting toward the source. Leo’s mind raced as fast as his feet, formulating potential responses for whatever awaited them.


    As they reached Orchid Street, the woman who had screamed spotted them. Her eyes widened, brimming with hope, and she screamed again, louder this time, her voice frantic. "He stole my bag." A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Her gaze was fixed ahead, pointing down the narrow street toward the direction of her fear. Leo’s pulse quickened as he scanned the scene, ready to react.


    When Leo observed a man fleeing, his mind began to work quickly. He looked at Aldred and the others.


    "Edric, head left towards the alleys in case he attempts to flee in that direction. Aldred, go right. Walden, remain here," Leo commanded, swiftly delegating tasks to his team.


    Aldred, who was concerned about Leo''s judgment, inquired doubtfully.


    "What about you?"


    Leo bowed slightly, ready to follow the man. He injects mana into his bracelets, deactivating them.


    "I will follow him directly."


    Before Aldred could say anything further, Leo began to run with incredible speed. Without his weight bracelets, he moved far quicker than a regular human.


    Aldred, Edric, and Walden''s jaws fall open. They couldn''t believe a 15-year-old could run so fast.


    Aldred quickly regained his focus and pointed at Edric.


    Edric nodded, and they began to follow their commands.


    The thief remained at a distance from Leo, but his pace was considerably slower, allowing Leo to swiftly close the gap between them. When he was merely ten meters away, the thief spotted Leo and attempted to dart into an alley on his right. Reacting quickly, Leo seized his cane sword and, without drawing it, charged at the thief, striking him on the side of the leg with his cane. The thief yelped in pain as he staggered backward and collapsed onto the ground, landing hard on his back. Using telepathy, Leo alerted the three police officers one by one, and after a time, they all arrived. The image of the thief laying on the ground left all three of them stunned.


    Leo gazed at Aldred.


    "Aldred, you and Walden take this man into custody; me and Edric will finish the patrol."


    Aldred respectfully placed his fist over his chest before tapping Walden on the shoulder, snapping him out of his daze. Together, they hoisted the thief by his armpits and guided him away. Meanwhile, Leo retrieved the stolen bag and gestured to Edric. Understanding the signal, Edric nodded and trailed behind Leo as they approached the woman whose bag had been stolen. Leo handed the bag back to her, returning it to its rightful owner.


    "Here you go, ma''am." Leo said as he returned the bag to the woman.


    The woman smiled gratefully and bowed. "Thank you, Mr. Paladin. My salary was in here; you saved me."


    "I was simply fulfilling my duty," Leo replied with a solemn expression.


    After thanking them multiple times, the woman left. Leo and Edric ended their patrol in front of the Paladin Association. He turned around and faced Edric.


    "Good job, the patrol is over; you can head off now," Leo announced, signaling the end of their duty.


    Edric placed his fist on his chest and looked as if he wanted to ask a question. Leo spotted this.


    "Do you want to say something?"


    "I wanted to apologize for Walden''s behavior, sir."


    Leo grinned as he realized what was going on.


    "Do not worry about it. It''s reasonable to be dubious of a 15-year-old''s abilities."


    Edric bowed. "Still, that wasn''t right."


    Seeing that his word was not working, Leo said it with the same smile on his face.


    "Apology accepted"


    Edric raised his head, and the corners of his mouth rose.


    "Thank you, sir; then I’ll see you tomorrow."


    He stated that and left.


    Leo entered the association and walked straight to the storage room, where he noticed Peter working on some enchanting stuff.


    "Mr. Peter I need a form to submit my report for today''s patrol."


    Peter raised his head, noticing Leo.


    "Form for your report? O Today was your first day as a group''s leader.”


    He took a moment to think before adding.


    "You only need a form if something happens; what happened?"


    Leo replied calmly.


    "It was just a thief."


    "What did you do?" Peter inquired with curiosity.


    "I followed him and knocked him with my sword; he went into custody."


    Peter responded with a laugh.


    “A problem on your first lead? I''m not sure if you''re lucky or unlucky.”


    "Everything went smoothly, and I believe I''ve earned the trust of my team, so I''ll chalk it up to luck," Leo concluded, reflecting on the successful patrol.


    Peter shrugged: "If you say so."


    He took out a paper and handed it to Leo. "Give it to Lara when you are done."


    Leo snatched the paper and went into the library; Samuel had already left. Leo sat at one of the tables and began writing his report. After approximately fifteen minutes, he picked up the piece of paper and entered the storage room. He changed into his own clothes and entered the main hall. He walked directly to Lara''s desk.


    "Ms. Lara, this is my report from today''s patrol."


    Lara was reading something, and she seemed tired. "Leave it on my desk."


    Leo nodded, setting the document on the desk before exiting the association. Five minutes later, he reached home. Upon entering, Leo noticed another person seated on the couch beside Rosie. Recognizing her as Eliza, Rosie''s friend, Leo recalled their previous encounters. As he stepped inside, Eliza stood up gracefully, offering a respectful bow like a lady.


    "Hi, Leo," Rosie said.


    "Hi, Mr. Mantine, it''s nice to meet you again." This time, it was Eliza, who resembled a small noble lady.


    "Hello, Ms. Eliza..."


    Leo had no idea what her last name was.


    "Brandon, Eliza Brandon I am delighted you remember my name.”  Eliza responded with a smile as Lisa approached.


    "Hi, Mom," he greeted warmly.


    "Hi, sweetie," Lisa replied affectionately. "Dinner will be ready soon."


    Leo, conscious of his sweat-drenched body after patrol, nodded. "I''ll take a shower first,"


    Leo headed straight for the shower, finishing up after about ten minutes. Meanwhile, Rosie and Eliza were chatting away in Rosie''s room, and Lisa was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen. After drying off, Leo changed into some comfortable clothes and went to help his mother set the table.


    “Sweetie, could you go call your sister and her friend for dinner?” Lisa asked with a warm smile.


    Nodding, Leo made his way to Rosie''s room and knocked gently on the door.


    "Yes?" Rosie''s voice called from inside.


    "Rosie, dinner’s ready. Come to the kitchen," Leo replied, keeping his tone casual.


    After a minute or two, Rosie emerged from her room, with Eliza eagerly following behind her. Eliza rushed to take a seat right in front of Leo, stealing glances at him every so often, a hint of excitement in her eyes.


    Before long, Lisa entered the dining area, carrying the dinner she had lovingly prepared. Knowing they hadn’t had many visitors lately, she went all out this time. The main course featured succulent roasted chicken accompanied by a medley of stewed vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes. For dessert, each of them received a glass of jelly-like ice cream, beautifully layered and topped with a slice of fresh strawberry.


    Eliza’s eyes sparkled with delight as she looked at the colorful dessert, but she maintained her composure while savoring each bite, making sure to enjoy the meal without losing her poise.


    After dinner, Eliza was standing at the door, ready to go.


    "I had a great time, Miss Mantine; thank you."


    Lisa smiled. “It was a pleasure to have you here. You are always welcome to return."


    As they prepared to leave, Leo expressed skepticism. "No one''s accompanying you?"


    Rosie interjected, "I''m going with her."


    Leo raised an eyebrow, questioning, "And who''s accompanying you back?"


    "Don''t worry, nothing is going to happen," Rosie reassured.


    However, Leo''s expression turned serious. "No, wait. Let me come with you," he insisted.


    Leo made his way to his room and quickly changed into his second set of clothes, slipping on a long coat over his shirt and trousers. As he rejoined the group and they prepared to leave, Rosie suddenly exclaimed.


    "You don''t need me if you''re planning to go." Then she winked at Eliza.


    Eliza''s face flushed red.


    Leo sighed as he ran his hand over his hair.


    ‘These kids, don''t they realize they''re only 11 or 12 years old?’ he mused to himself.


    Accompanying Eliza to her home, Leo waited patiently at her doorstep until her mother appeared. She greeted Leo with a smile.


    "Mr. Mantine, I apologize for any trouble my daughter may have caused," Eliza''s mother said apologetically.


    Leo smiled warmly. "No problem at all."


    Eliza nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Mr. Mantine."


    Leo returned the gesture with a nod. "I''ll take my leave now; have a good night."


    "Goodbye," Eliza and her mother bid farewell simultaneously as Leo turned to depart.


    …


    The next day, Leo awoke with excitement bubbling inside him. Today, he would finally meet his new teacher. Rising from his bed, Leo slipped into his freshly washed clothes and made his way to the kitchen. There, he enjoyed the breakfast his mother had prepared before bidding her farewell and heading off to work. Unlike his usual routine, Leo’s wristbands remained inactive, he didn''t want to break a sweat before meeting his new teacher. Upon arriving at work, Leo made a beeline for the storage area where Peter was busy at work. Before stowing away his belongings, Leo approached Peter to inquire about his upcoming class.


    Peter looked at him and noticed his excessive enthusiasm "Excited, aren''t you?".


    Leo responded forthrightly "Of course, my path is just getting started.".


    Peter grinned.


    "Well, there''s a slight change in your daily routine. You''ll still head to Faleria for your training, as usual, but now it starts at eight instead of nine. After that, you''ll spend time at the library until 12. Following lunch, you have your new class with Mr. Han from one to four. Then, it''s off to your patrol duties as usual."


    Leo''s eyebrows raised "Mr. Han? Lavi Han? The investigator?".


    "Yes, Mr. Han, his field is in illusion."


    Although he still had questions, Leo decided to get them answered in class. He looked at Peter and asked.


    "Then what about today?"


    Peter''s expression shifted as if he recalled something important.


    "Yes, for today, Samuel talked to the captain, and they decided that you go to the library right away to work more on your mana control; he wants to make sure you are ready for your illusion class."


    A smile appeared on Leo''s face. When he was about to go to his closet, Peter suddenly called him.


    “O and before I forget, every Wednesday you go on patrol with the captain”