Chapter 122: Classification Level
Chapter 122: Classification Level
On the fourth floor of Satellite City No.2’s Guard Bureau, Lu Xin finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Chen Jing’s answer.
He had genuinely worried Chen Jing might firmly refuse; then he wouldn’t have known what to do next.
After all, the Family Meeting had already discussed and settled on this plan to head outside the city together to handle the matter. At the last minute, if the boss disapproved the request, it would feel like he’d boasted in front of his family only to end up embarrassed.
That could ruin the rare warm and friendly atmosphere they had at home right now.
And, it might also make his family feel he wasn’t trusted at work, or even that he’d been wronged…
…The consequences would be terrifying!
……
With the heavy stone lifted from his heart, Lu Xin felt a surge of happiness.
Honestly, the matter of the bounty Chen Jing mentioned didn’t play a major role in his decision.
His request for this assignment wasn’t just about ensuring those people paid the price; there were other worries too.
For instance, the severe losses this time in Satellite City No.2. Most of the deaths had occurred around the old textile factory in the South District. Previously, Teacher Xiaolu and the children from the Orphanage had lived within this very area. So, Lu Xin couldn’t even imagine what would have happened had Chen Jing not been vigilant enough to make the decisive call beforehand. Thanks to her, the Orphanage was moved near the Guard Bureau and provided with dedicated protection…
…What would the outcome have been otherwise?
……
But since Chen Jing had already agreed, there was no need to bring these things up now.
Over the phone, Chen Jing’s voice fell silent for a moment before speaking again: “Although I can approve your request, you must give me a rough departure date before formally setting out… This is standard procedure for the work. No exceptions!”
“I understand.”
Lu Xin gave it serious thought before saying: “Possibly… ten days?”
“Ten days?”
Chen Jing sounded clearly surprised: “Are you telling me you plan to track down and eliminate three Ability Users within ten days?”
“Yes.”
Lu Xin thought it over himself first, then confirmed: “Mainly… I’m not too familiar with the road conditions outside the city…”
“I’m concerned about wasting too much time tracking them, so… I added a buffer.”
“……”
Inside the entire Conference Room, not only did Chen Jing wrinkle slightly in pain due to her abdominal wound twitching from shock, but even those sitting around the conference table had silently gaped.
A balding professor wearing a wig nearly blurted something out, but stopped himself with a glance from the person beside him.
……
“Wait for me a moment.”
Chen Jing paused briefly before speaking into the receiver, then softly hung up the phone.
Instantly, a loud “BZZZ” erupted across the Conference Room as it grew chaotic.
Bespectacled Professor Chen, partially bald, spoke anxiously to Chen Jing: “Does he always boast this outrageously?”
Chen Jing shook her head slowly: “I’ve never known him to exaggerate.”
“This…”
The plump young professor with the wig gestured vaguely at his head: “We are sure his… up there… is normal, right?”
Chen Jing nodded slowly, thinking to herself: From his behavior, he seems considerably more normal than these professors.
“Could… could we…?”
The well-dressed female professor who always gave off an oracle-like vibe pushed her Glasses frame. She instinctively started to say something to Chen Jing but suddenly remembered herself. Turning towards Mr. Su seated at the table’s center, she declared: “Mr. Su, speaking seriously, have you considered transferring Lone Soldier to our Research Institute? Failing that, even sending me over to him would work…”
Mr. Su offered a helpless, bitter smile. Before he could respond, Minister Shen cut in decisively: “Absolutely not!”
The female professor instantly flared up in anger: “You are hindering scientific progress!”
Minister Shen retorted coldly: “This is to protect your life!”
Amidst this clamour, Mr. Su smiled and turned his gaze towards Professor Bai sitting at the head of the long table. The professor had spoken very little throughout the entire meeting, almost not at all. This subtle shift in attention drew many eyes.
Gradually, the Conference Room quieted down. Everyone watched Professor Bai with either nervousness or anticipation.
……
“I have only two opinions!”
Seeing everyone look towards him, Professor Bai gave a slight nod and then began to speak slowly.
His tone was somewhat heavy, and the attendees all became a bit more serious.
“The first one.”
Professor Bai said, “Increase the confidentiality level of all information related to Lone Soldier, and do not disseminate it externally!”
Everyone in the conference room was a bit surprised, exchanging glances, but no one spoke.
Mr. Su was the first to nod, replying simply, “Agreed!”
Then he looked at the others, still with a harmonious expression, but his tone carried a bit more authority, saying, “Starting from today, Lone Soldier’s profile will be upgraded to Level A. From now on, all matters concerning him are to be classified as top secret.”
“Those in this office must not mention any matters about Lone Soldier, including those discussed in this meeting, to outsiders.”
As he spoke, his gaze swept across the group, “In the future, at least three colonel-level or higher officials from Qinggang must agree before his files can be accessed.”
“And two minister-level or higher officials must agree before he can be questioned.”
“…”
“As for those who have already learned some of his intelligence…”
He paused slightly and said softly, “Deal with them appropriately, or give them a warning!”
The entire conference room fell silent for a moment.
Clearly, they understood the implications behind what Mr. Su had said so casually with a single word.
Some felt it was sudden, while others nodded with grave expressions.
Meanwhile, the esoteric specialist who desperately wanted to study Lu Xin painfully tugged at his own hair.
…It seemed his wish to open the other’s brain was becoming increasingly difficult to achieve.
Professor Bai nodded to Mr. Su, then slowly spoke the second sentence:
“Additionally, since we have already approved Lone Soldier’s request, we must give him our full support…”
“Please note, this support is not just material, but includes our attitude!”
“…”
He was looking at Minister Shen as he said this.
Although his tone was calm, he spoke very earnestly.
After listening, Minister Shen remained silent for two seconds and said, “Agreed!”
In the conference room, everyone took a while to recover.
Various murmurs arose, and the atmosphere was no longer as light as when they had teased Minister Shen earlier.
At this point, Chen Jing glanced inconspicuously at Professor Bai.
Earlier, she had told Professor Bai about her experience at Red Moon Orphanage; Professor Bai’s response was to have her write a report that was directly submitted over level to Mr. Su. Apart from that, everything remained top secret without revealing it to anyone otherwise. And now, he had taken the opportunity to make all information about Lone Soldier confidential. Could it be because he had discovered something?
…
…
After hanging up the phone, Lu Xin silently waited for Chen Jing to call him back.
In his mind, since it was approved, there shouldn’t be anything else…
Perhaps she wanted to specifically mention the bounty matter?
Near the windowsill ahead, Gecko had been happily watching girls on the street. Only after Lu Xin had hung up did he reluctantly withdraw his gaze from the street and look at him curiously, asking, “Who were you just talking to on the phone?”
“Team Leader Chen.”
Lu Xin replied, “I was just applying for a business trip.”
Gecko’s eyes instantly turned strange: “Where to?”
Lu Xin said, “Outside the City.”
Gecko hesitated for a moment and exclaimed, “Brother, are you crazy?”
Lu Xin looked at him, somewhat puzzled.
“A fool is the only one who goes out there…”
Gecko muttered under his breath, “Don’t you know about the conditions Outside the City?”
Lu Xin seemed a bit confused and shook his head: “What’s the problem?”
“It’s not that I have a problem—you’re the problem…”
Glancing at him, Gecko sighed helplessly: “Did you think Outside the City is just like here in Highwall City, where you can easily find food and sleep peacefully at night? Compared to life inside the city, Outside the City is pure torture…”
“Those who haul goods out there earn so much for a reason…”
“Everyone wants to hide in the city—you actually applied to run out voluntarily…”
“…”
“This…”
Lu Xin was momentarily stunned by what Gecko said.
But just then, the satellite phone rang again.
Chen Jing’s voice came through briskly: “This trip Outside the City will be treated as a special operation task. The mission level is defined as A-grade.”
After a brief pause, the sound of papers rustling could be heard: “For this mission, besides essential transportation and maximal information support, I’ll arrange two investigation teams and a logistics squad to accompany you. If you have any special needs…”
Lu Xin interrupted urgently: “No need…”
Chen Jing paused: “What do you mean, no need?”
Lu Xin explained: “The investigation teams and logistics squad you mentioned—none are needed.”
Chen Jing’s voice clearly changed, pausing before replying: “Do you realize that operating in the Wilderness is different from a satellite city? Reconnaissance, logistics, information analysis, even essential rescue—none of it can be provided promptly. All this…”
“I’ve considered all that.”
Lu Xin nodded and said, “Don’t arrange anything—otherwise… it’ll be even more troublesome.”
Chen Jing seemed to catch something in his words and asked softly: “Confirming once more—do you need nothing?”
Hearing this, Lu Xin hesitated.
He thought silently for a while, his gaze shifting toward Gecko, who had returned to the windowsill and was whistling excitedly.
“I need a driver.”