Chapter 198: Guidance Successful

“Mr. Lone Soldier, Drunkard has already submitted the full task report. The report you sent me earlier has also been polished and submitted. The investigation into this mysterious organization, ‘True Homeland’, will continue to be followed up by specific personnel, but your part of the mission is now officially concluded. Moreover, the higher-ups gave very high praise for this joint task you completed!”

The young woman Han Bing always had the ability to immediately lift someone’s spirits when she called.

Lu Xin, who had been smoking in the stairwell, couldn’t help but smile upon hearing her words.

The Director happened to walk over, also with a cigarette in hand. He looked up, saw the smile on Lu Xin’s face, and his own face instantly twitched in fright. He hurriedly waved his hand, stiffly turned around, and adopted a posture suggesting he wasn’t actually coming to smoke but was merely using the stairs to go downstairs…

Inside, his mind trembled anxiously: “What’s he so happy about?”

“Did he just cut down a bunch more people, or maybe he took out an enemy gang leader?”

“…”

“So, I can be upgraded to Tier-Three Special Talent now?”

Lu Xin also couldn’t help but ask with a smile.

“Of course you can.”

Han Bing’s voice was equally relaxed as she chuckled, “It takes effect immediately after the Special Clean-up Department leadership signs off. Drunkard shared the reward for this mission, giving you five hundred thousand units. She stated that dealing with the Ability User from the mysterious organization was essentially handled by you alone. For Contribution Points, it was specially approved directly by those above; the final result is both you and Drunkard received fifty points each.”

“Five hundred… thousand?”

Lu Xin clenched his fist slightly, barely resisting the urge to jump.

Truth be told, he was genuinely surprised by the five hundred thousand.

Frankly, this mysterious organization was far less organized than imagined and didn’t seem worth such a high reward.

However, the Special Clean-up Department’s task rating is generally determined before the mission. At that time, the Special Clean-up Department believed the mysterious organization was highly dangerous, hence the high rating. So even though it was handled quite simply afterward, they didn’t lower the rating.

Simply put, it was a win!

Getting such a high reward for handling something so straightforward made Lu Xin feel a bit guilty…

…

“Additionally, I’ve already prepared the Second Stage application papers for you, Mr. Lone Soldier,” Han Bing continued. “Regarding the reason for the application, is there any special reason you’d like to add, Mr. Lone Soldier?”

“Special reason?”

Lu Xin paused for a moment. “How is it usually filled out?”

Han Bing flipped through some documents, her voice soft and pleasant. “Generally, for the reason section, people write that applying for the Second Stage is for the purpose of better and more stable utilization of their abilities, to protect Qinggang, protect the people, and contribute efforts towards the reconstruction of world civilization.”

“Of course, if you have any genuine personal reasons, those… those can also be added…”

“…”

Lu Xin was stunned for a second. “No need. The reason about rebuilding world civilization sounds just fine!”

“Okay…” Han Bing dragged out the word in a pleasing way, then her tone suddenly became lighter. “As soon as your profile is updated to Tier-Three Special Talent and the approval comes down, I’ll submit it for you right away. Judging by the timing, it should happen within a few days. Once it’s successfully submitted, Mr. Lone Soldier, you’ll also be able to attend the Special Clean-up Department’s Advanced Talent Training Conference.”

“Advanced Talent Training Conference?”

Lu Xin was momentarily taken aback by the term. He understood the meaning, but it sounded a bit odd.

“That’s right. The conference is held in the Main City, focusing on training for elite talents. At that time, Mr. Lone Soldier, having submitted your Second Stage application, will naturally be invited to attend… Hee hee, Mr. Lone Soldier will finally be coming to the Main City…”

“Ah, this…”

The surprise came a bit suddenly. Lu Xin thought for a moment, then smiled. “Will they… trust me to come?”

A long time ago, Lu Xin had sensed that the Special Clean-up Department was actually rather wary of him.

For instance, his very first assessment conducted by the six Researchers took place in Satellite City No. 2.

Yet when he went out of the city to capture members of the Knight Order last time, he’d heard Gecko mention he went straight into the Main City for his assessment.

That implied they were afraid of him? So much so that they specially brought the Professors to Satellite City No. 2?

No wonder the Researchers left immediately after his assessment was completed.

The importance of these Professors and Researchers was no less than that of Ability Users. In fact, they were also classified as Special Talents, and judging by their level, they were likely ranked considerably higher than Lu Xin was about to be as a Tier-Three Special Talent.

…

“Please rest assured, Mr. Lone Soldier. We do everything strictly according to regulations.”

Han Bing seemed slightly surprised that Lu Xin would discuss this openly without reservation. She paused briefly, then continued with a smile. “So, after your profile is updated, the very first step will be to issue the Special Passage Permit granting you access to the Main City directly to you. Additionally, you will simultaneously gain the right to purchase property in certain key areas within Satellite City No. 2. As for the Main City… that’s not possible just yet…”

“Ability Users need to complete patrol duty in a Satellite City for over three years, or reach Tier-IV Special Talent status, before they can take up permanent residence in the Main City.”

“…”

“Buying a house…”

Lu Xin’s attention fixated on those words, tuning out what followed.

He grew up in Satellite City No. 2. Teacher Xiaolu and the Orphanage were also in Satellite City No. 2, and he’d never thought about moving.

Yet, the idea of the right to buy property mentioned by Han Bing made his heart stir faintly.

Thinking it over carefully, he said softly, “Well then, there is something I’d like to ask you…”

Han Bing chuckled, “Mr. Lone Soldier, please don’t stand on ceremony! Feel free to say whatever you need.”

“Thank you, thank you…”

Lu Xin rushed to express his gratitude, then added, “I’d like you to help me inquire about a piece of property. It’s in Satellite City No. 2, in the Qingyan Mountain area of the East City district. There seem to be many standalone Villas there, very spacious, with small gardens and ponds…”

He sounded a little embarrassed as he continued, “Could you help me ask if those kinds of places are for sale, and how much they cost…”

“Hmm… And if possible, I wonder if they might give a discount…”

“…”

“Alright, I’ve noted it down. I’ll ask carefully for you, don’t worry!” Han Bing replied briskly.

“Thank you so much…”

“It’s my pleasure…”

“You’ve probably already helped me with a lot of things beyond your official duties. I’m truly grateful.”

“Hee hee, I’m happy to do it…”

“…”

(Approximately eight thousand characters omitted here)

After the usual pleasantries, Lu Xin hung up the phone.

He flicked away the cigarette that had burned down to the filter, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed the urge to jump up and shout.

“They showed no resistance to me entering the Main City, nor did they reject my application for the Second Stage…”

After the initial excitement, he also gained a clearer grasp of the current situation…

…So, Mother’s guidance succeeded?

Her arrangements did indeed make his “friends” significantly less wary of him.

Ever since setting the “Second Stage” plan in motion, starting from letting him see that report locked in the cabinet, Mother had seemed deliberately to arrange things. Starting with the “capturing the Ghost” incident, his family members had rarely appeared by his side. Even Little Sister became more “playful,” so almost all subsequent actions were completed by him borrowing the abilities of his “family.”

Occasional help from Little Sister would probably seem, in others’ eyes, like him using his “Telekinetic Power” to accomplish it.

Mother had arranged it this way for her own reasons.

It might carry a hint of deception, but just like Mother said, it wasn’t deception, it was guidance.

Besides, Lu Xin himself also wanted to smoothly enter the Second Stage.

Because he genuinely wanted to understand exactly what the secret hidden within him was…

…

He took a deep breath, ready to step out of the stairwell with the newfound audacity of someone inquiring about housing prices.

But unexpectedly, the Satellite Phone rang again.

“Did she find out so quickly?”

Lu Xin picked it up and saw it wasn’t the landline number. Curious, he answered, “Hello?”

“Bro! Amazing! I’m so touched…”

As soon as the call connected, Gecko’s voice came through, sounding so excited it was almost tearful, “Do you know? Headquarters finally approved me to attend the Advanced Talent Training Conference! Hahahaha! Linda will be at that meeting too! Oh my god, I finally get to meet Linda! Calm down, calm down… If things go well when we meet, then we can basically confirm our relationship first…”

“Then I just need to tough it out for another year, I’ll be able to move to the Main City, buy a house, marry Linda, and have three kids…”

“Mmmhmm… Sticking close to wife and kids every day, maybe having a little affair on the side just for fun…”

“Hahahahahaha!”

“…”

This torrent of words stunned Lu Xin. It was only then he realized—this was the conference Han Bing had just mentioned?

So, the fact that higher-ups had agreed to let Gecko go to this meeting and told him Tie Cui was also going… it was this conference?

In that case, what about Han Bing…

“Great, that’s really great! Congratulations! I might be going too…” Lu Xin hurriedly congratulated Gecko and mentioned his own matter.

“Oh, you’re going too?” Gecko seemed to cool down slightly, but quickly got excited again, “So we’re meeting our crushes together? What about your department flower? Is she going too?”

“Well…”

Lu Xin truly wasn’t sure.

He’d been too preoccupied with the good news earlier and hadn’t asked Han Bing about this. But since Tie Cui was going, wouldn’t it make sense for her to go too? Tie Cui was clearly older than her, she might outrank her.

If Tie Cui could attend such a high-level Advanced Talent Training Conference, it wasn’t necessarily true for Han Bing.

But then again, thinking back, could Han Bing deliberately mentioning this conference be hinting to him she would go?

If so…

Lu Xin’s brow furrowed tightly: What should he wear when he goes?

…

After agreeing to travel together then, Lu Xin hung up, pondering this crucial question as he returned to the Office.

He had just sat down in his cubicle when he saw the Director, who had been downstairs doing who-knows-what, approach him again with a kindly smile.

“Little Lu, tonight after work, don’t rush home right away. There’s something…”

“Huh? What is it?” Lu Xin was confused.

On nights without a Cleanup Mission, he always went to the Guard Bureau for further training.

Unless it was something especially important, he disliked disrupting that routine—especially since it came with two hundred yuan per day…

“It’s because the company’s deputy CEO is inspecting us…”

The Director beamed at Lu Xin, “As this month’s model employee and also a candidate for supervisor… you need to attend dinner tonight!”

“Oh.” Hearing it was this, Lu Xin immediately agreed, “Okay, okay.”

“Heh heh, take my car over after work,” the Director said, his smile turning a little sheepish as he lowered his voice, “But I have one tiny little request…”

“Since he’s the group deputy CEO… at dinner tonight… could you perhaps… not bring the gun?”

“…”

Lu Xin frowned with difficulty.