Chapter 98: Deepening the Investigation
Chapter 98: Deepening the Investigation
“Lone Soldier, can you see anything?”
Han Bing’s voice, tinged with nervousness, came through the channel.
It seemed that not only people like Mr. Xu knew Lu Xin could see Psychic Entities, hence specifically seeking him to handle problems, but within Headquarters’ records, they had also tacitly acknowledged Lu Xin possessed this ability, listing it as one of their reference standards.
But Lu Xin could only shake his head at that moment. “No,” he replied.
Han Bing released a barely audible sigh, as though she had already anticipated this answer.
After a slight pause, she lowered her voice. “I’ve already sent a request for support to the Main City’s A-Class Special Dispatch Team!”
“I’ve requested reinforcements from the City Patrol Armies of Satellite Cities No. 1, 3, 4, and 5!”
“However… Mr. Lone Soldier… other Satellite Cities, even the Main City, are also experiencing Special Contamination Incidents… so…”
“… their aid might not arrive in time…”
“…”
Han Bing softly relayed the Qinggang City upper echelon’s current arrangements. Though it yielded no immediate solution, she felt Lu Xin should know.
Normally, she would even analyze available data and intelligence to offer actionable recommendations for his consideration.
This time, she remained silent. Because, as things stood, she too was at a loss.
“Could we ask that… little girl called Doll to come?”
A possibility suddenly occurred to Lu Xin, and he voiced it quietly.
He had recently witnessed firsthand the terrifying influence Doll exerted on the contaminated.
Faced with such staggering numbers, perhaps only she could manage it.
……
……
“We have not yet received any report confirming Doll is available for support.”
“Furthermore… without first unraveling the Logic Chain of this mysterious incident… it is inadvisable to bring Doll in…”
Han Bing seemed to guess Lu Xin’s thoughts, her voice low. “Doll herself possesses a formidable, uncontrollable influence. If she were to come to the scene and her influence interacted with the unknown force affecting these individuals, it could trigger unexpected and unforeseen developments. Therefore, for us now, investigating the Logic Chain of this mysterious event remains paramount!”
Lu Xin understood her point. Yet, it meant they were back at a dead end.
They had no clue how to proceed with the investigation…
After pondering for a moment, Lu Xin silently made a decision. He began walking forward at a measured pace.
“What are you doing?”
Gecko, seeing his expression, gave a small start of surprise.
“Mr. Lone Soldier, do you have a plan?”
Channel Han Bing, likely having heard Gecko’s voice through her earpiece, asked urgently.
Lu Xin paused briefly. “I’ll go investigate,” he stated.
“Investigate?”
Han Bing’s voice seemed taken aback.
“Yes…”
Lu Xin replied softly. “We can’t just keep standing here watching…”
“Brother, it’s dangerous…”
Watching Lu Xin head downwards, Gecko behind him instinctively took a couple of steps forward, then stopped.
Even for an Ability User, venturing deep into a mysterious, unknown contaminated crowd was extremely hazardous.
Spiritual Mutation Ability Users possessed higher Psychic Magnitudes than normal people, making them more sensitive to Psychic Pollution Sources. And because they possessed “abilities,” they were better equipped to deal with, or at least survive, encounters with Psychic Entities or other anomalies.
However, Ability Users were also vulnerable to Contamination.
Especially when facing Pollution Sources whose Psychic Magnitude far exceeded their own; the risk of triggering their own Loss of Control was significantly heightened.
“Current eyewitness estimates suggest nearly two thousand contaminated individuals are gathered beneath the High Wall in the South District. This represents an unprecedented scale of Contamination. It implies that if a Source of Contamination truly exists, its Psychic Magnitude might also be beyond anything we’ve anticipated.”
“Mr. Lone Soldier, we still do not understand its mode of Contamination.”
“Therefore… if you venture among them… you too will face unknown peril…”
“…”
Over the channel, Han Bing neither dissuaded nor advised him. Yet, her worry seeped slightly through her words.
“It’s alright. After all, I’m drawing this salary,” Lu Xin answered her softly. He then started climbing down the wall, using a rope.
While descending, he glanced back at the concerned Gecko and offered him a brief smile.
Though, internally, Lu Xin mused: Judging by work ethic alone, my promotion prospects are definitely brighter than Gecko’s…
“Big brother, you’re being a fool again…”
As Lu Xin slid down, Little Sister crouched on the high building, looking down at him.
Backlit, her face was unclear, only her drooping black hair visible. Below her hair, two eyes seemed tinged with resentment.
Lu Xin simply smiled at her and took out a piece of black candy from his pocket.
He now knew this was chocolate.
“Tricking me again…”
Little Sister muttered discontentedly, yet she suddenly jumped down from the wall, landing on Lu Xin’s back. Her small hands encircled his neck, feeling icy cool, but they made Lu Xin’s movements suddenly agile and spry, setting his mind considerably at ease.
“Oh dear, I’m so tired today, you have to carry me…”
After Lu Xin turned around, he softly agreed, “Okay.”
“And right now, a single piece of chocolate won’t satisfy me. You have to get me a toy…”
Lu Xin replied with a smile, “Okay.”
Little Sister added, “Not a Screaming Chicken…”
Lu Xin hesitated for a moment, attempting to persuade, “A Screaming Chicken is really fun…”
“You keep it and play with it yourself…”
“…”
Amidst their conversation, quiet enough that only they could hear each other, Lu Xin moved deeper into the crowd gathered beneath the wall.
Slowly observing the weeping crowd below the wall, he saw people of all ages: seemingly retired elderly gentlemen, young girls who looked like they were still in school, factory workers, restaurant servers, and also some wearing gold-rimmed Glasses who appeared scholarly and refined, alongside individuals with immaculate makeup, looking as if they were heading out for a date under the cover of night.
A thousand faces, all different, yet now sharing only one expression: sorrowful tears.
Silent, statue-like, they stood at the foot of the High Wall, gazing upward at the towering structure, shedding soundless tears.
Lu Xin moved closer to them to see if, up close, he could discern the Psychic Entity attached to them. Like with Mr. Xu’s daughter, Xu Xiaoxiao – he hadn’t been able to see the Psychic Entity clinging to her either, until after he had subdued her, and then it became visible.
“So quiet. Only their faint breathing could be heard, though some didn’t even seem to make that sound.”
“One could sense they were living beings, yet observe no movement beyond basic existence.”
“Now, I’ll try to touch one of them, observe their reaction…”
“…”
Lu Xin lowered his voice as he narrated his observations into the comm channel for Han Bing, while slowly reaching out his hand.
Han Bing sounded tense, uttering only the two simplest words, “…Be careful!”
Lu Xin nodded, then remembered she couldn’t see it, and gently murmured, “Okay.”
His hand had already reached out before an elderly gentleman, gently waving in front of his eyes.
The old man didn’t blink, but his eyeballs trembled slightly. With a lurking, sideways motion, his gaze shifted. He moved his eyes from staring at the High Wall to staring directly at Lu Xin.
Just like that, fixedly, sideways, utterly motionless, he looked at him.