Chapter 123: Try Not to Harm Him

“A driver?”

Chen Jing seemed somewhat surprised by Lu Xin’s words. “I thought the last thing you needed was a driver.”

Lu Xin knew why she thought that. A Spider-Type Ability User should be exceptionally proficient at driving. An ordinary driver, no matter how experienced, couldn’t compare to the effortless maneuvers performed when a Spider-Type Ability User employed their ability; it was a matter of innate talent.

He didn’t explain it in detail, simply nodding. “I still need one.”

Then, thinking as he spoke, he continued slowly, “I need a high-performance vehicle for traveling quickly. Then, enough food and water for ten days. A skilled driver, preferably not an ordinary one. When necessary, he might need some self-defense capabilities… It would be even better if he’s a bit more familiar with me, so we can talk during the journey…”

Chen Jing responded quicker this time. “Are you talking about Gecko?”

At this moment, Gecko, who had been propped by the window focused on watching the beautiful women, visibly froze, his ears twitching slightly.

Lu Xin looked at Gecko and nodded. “Yeah.”

Gecko suddenly turned his head to look at Lu Xin, his eyes clearly panicked.

Chen Jing also fell silent for a moment before asking abruptly, “Is he listening right beside you?”

Lu Xin replied, “Yeah.”

Chen Jing’s voice seemed to carry a hint of amusement. “Then have him go and prepare directly.”

Lu Xin nodded again, a slight smile appearing on his face. “Okay.”

Then he hung up the phone.

“Hey, wait!!!”

The moment the call disconnected, Gecko sprang over. He leaped directly onto the conference table, craning his neck to yell into the satellite phone. “‘Have him go and prepare directly?’ What do you mean?! Did I agree?! Did you forget to ask for my opinion?!”

“Hey…”

“HEY?!”

Seeing Gecko looking both nervous and frantic, Lu Xin kindly reminded him. “She already hung up.”

Gecko stared wide-eyed at Lu Xin, nearly crying. “Bro, how could you say that?! Why drag me into this?!”

Lu Xin replied calmly, “From what you said earlier, you should have quite a bit of experience living Outside the City…”

“Having experience is totally different from this…”

Gecko’s face scrunched up in dismay as he shouted wildly, “It’s because I have experience that I want to go out there even less! How the hell did I just become the driver?! Now they give orders without asking us if we agree?!”

Lu Xin looked at the agitated Gecko, offering him only a somewhat apologetic smile.

He didn’t want to take the Investigation Team or a scout group out because he worried about accidents and didn’t want harm to come to them.

But Gecko should be tougher than them.

First, Gecko was already under directives from certain people to monitor him.

Second, Gecko had previously shown goodwill towards his family members and had always wanted to visit his home.

This trip out together could also fulfill that wish of his.

Of course, he didn’t need to explain these things to Gecko, nor did he need to convince him.

Lu Xin sensed that Gecko was probably about to receive a call…

Just as he thought this, the satellite phone hanging on Gecko’s waist buzzed suddenly.

Lu Xin sat quietly in the conference room, reviewing the unfinished training materials.

This trip outside might involve facing many problems, so the more he understood about these matters, the better.

“Big Brother, Big Brother…”

Little Sister had appeared beside Lu Xin without him noticing. She was crawling around the conference room energetically and reported cheerfully, “That guy’s on the phone. He seems really scared. He keeps saying something about agreeing to be recruited to make some money, and not getting arrested when he’s… uh… ‘taking care’ of someone else’s business, so he can marry three wives and have a bunch of babies in the future…”

After a short while, she crawled back excitedly. “He said he’s with the Special Clean-up Department, not the City Defense Department…”

Very soon, she crawled back again, sounding indignant. “He’s saying bad things about you now! Should I tidy him up?!”

Lu Xin shook his head softly and whispered, “What’s the other person saying?”

Little Sister perked up. “I’ll get closer and listen…”

With that, she happily crawled off again.

Lu Xin thought of the scene where Little Sister hung upside down from the rooftop, her face pressed close to Gecko’s while listening to the phone. He couldn’t help but shake his head.

“Several people have taken turns on the other end of the phone, some lecturing him, others seeming to threaten him…”

Little Sister quickly crawled back. “But this guy refused all arguments, soft or hard. He said he’d rather jump off the fourth floor than leave the city…”

Lu Xin was a bit surprised to hear that. “He probably wouldn’t die jumping from the fourth floor…”

Little Sister went out quickly and came back just as fast. “It changed again. Seems someone promised him that if he successfully cooperates with you on the mission, he’ll get a training assignment in the Main City after returning. A tin can will also be there…”

“…”

Hearing this, Lu Xin relaxed.

This matter was settled!

………

Gecko, who had run out to take the call, returned dejectedly after five minutes.

He placed the Satellite Phone upright on the table and silently sat in the chair, crossing his arms over his chest, his head lowered.

He seemed… withdrawn.

But alongside this withdrawal, the corner of his mouth kept twitching upwards occasionally, betraying a barely suppressed little excitement.

Even Lu Xin found his current appearance rather abnormal…

“How did it go?”

After a pause, Lu Xin finally broke the eerie atmosphere in the Conference Room, asking with some concern.

Gecko took a long sigh before answering, his expression turning serious. “Headquarters has made their decision.”

He lifted his head, looking solemnly at Lu Xin, his voice deep. “The higher-ups have decided to form us two into a Special Operations Team. I am the Deputy Captain, you are the Captain. Also, since this is an urgent tracking mission, we must seize all available time. The target’s intelligence is being transmitted; our equipment is being prepped. Departure is estimated in half an hour.”

Lu Xin nodded. “Didn’t expect so early.”

But he realized immediately it made sense. Chasing the fleeing Knights Order required speed, after all.

Gecko nodded back, his expression gradually shifting into one of reflection. “Brother, you have no idea how much I fought for you just now. I’d almost convinced the boss to assign you a different driver. But then I thought carefully… it’s genuinely dangerous Outside the City, so…”

Lu Xin gave Gecko a penetrating look. “I’m truly grateful…”

Slightly unnerved by the gaze, Gecko hurriedly adopted a serious expression. “No need, it’s what should be done. I…” He sighed, his voice low and filled with emotion as if he wanted to share something heartfelt with Lu Xin.

But when he looked up, the words died on his lips. He discovered Lu Xin wasn’t looking at him anymore, but gazing at another spot.

………

Lu Xin sat in his chair, his gaze directed downwards as though looking at someone crouching on the floor.

He listened carefully for a moment, then reached out and gently patted the seemingly empty air near his knee height. His smile was indulgent.

“Okay.”

He then spoke softly, “He’s accompanying us this time because he’s good at driving and can help.”

“No, you can’t treat him like a Toy.”

His expression turned stern. “The first important rule for our outing Outside the City is: don’t hurt him.”

The surroundings were utterly silent and still.

After a while, Lu Xin sighed softly, his expression seeming to compromise, yielding just a little.

“Well then… try not to hurt him?”

………

“Brother… I don’t know who you’re talking to, but…”

Gecko, watching beside him, had gone wide-eyed. Cold sweat dripped from his pale face; his voice shook with alarm.

“Are you serious about that ‘try not to’?!”