Chapter 242: The Crucial Item

“Do you feel like this isn’t what you imagined the Second Stage would be?”

Professor Bai seemed to notice the hesitation and confusion in Lu Xin’s heart. He glanced down at his wristwatch and quickly explained:

“Actually, the Second Stage is just a concept; its essence is the enhancement and stabilization of an Ability User.”

“Normally, strengthening an Ability User requires complex preparatory work, including psychological counselling, ability testing, Psychic Magnitude model calculation, risk assessment, and so on. Before proceeding to the Second Stage, the Ability User also needs to undergo a series of surgical modifications.”

“The surgical process includes entering the cultivation chamber, enhancement using cultivation fluid and a Psychic Energy amplifier, fortifying neural circuits, stimulating specific areas of the cerebral cortex, increasing pituitary gland activity, and more. The entire purpose is to enable the Ability User to possess stronger Psychic Energy, withstand greater Psychic Energy, maintain personal stability, and avoid Loss of Control.”

“…”

Listening to Professor Bai’s words, Lu Xin couldn’t help but nod.

He had to admit that what Professor Bai described was what aligned with his own imagination of the “Second Stage.”

Lying on a bed, people holding little knives cutting and slicing…

Although he felt some resistance to this scene.

“But you are different.”

Professor Bai left only very short pauses between his sentences for Lu Xin to digest the information before continuing: “You naturally possess an extremely high Psychic Magnitude, so enhancement isn’t necessary. For you, ensuring your stability is the core of the Second Stage.”

“Therefore, I made some adjustments to your Second Stage enhancement plan, eliminating unnecessary procedures.”

As he said this, Professor Bai looked frankly at Lu Xin. His ordinary eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything:

“Now, I will ask you a few questions. You only need to nod or shake your head.”

“…”

Lu Xin looked up at Professor Bai. It seemed an unspoken understanding had quietly emerged between them.

“First, for you, when using your abilities, is the greatest disturbance the influence of your Emotion?”

“…”

Upon hearing this question, Lu Xin hesitated slightly before slowly nodding.

Professor Bai smiled slightly. “Second, does your ability, in some way, make you feel it doesn’t belong to you?”

Lu Xin looked at Professor Bai with some surprise but still nodded.

“Third…”

Professor Bai paused slightly. “Do you particularly crave inner peace?”

…

Lu Xin was now genuinely somewhat surprised.

He even felt a sense that someone had peered into his inner thoughts.

This feeling gave him a sense of crisis; even his gaze had become wary without him realizing when.

Shift!

Members of the Special Dispatch Team nearby sensed the shift in Lu Xin’s eyes. They tensed slightly, shifting their posture unconsciously.

Chen Jing, Mr. Su, and Minister Shen behind them also appeared concerned.

Only Professor Bai remained calm, looking at Lu Xin with a smile devoid of hostility.

After taking a moment to steady himself, Lu Xin nodded again.

A relaxed smile appeared on Professor Bai’s face.

…

“If that’s the case, then you meet the criteria for us to proceed with the Second Stage. It also confirms that my conjecture is correct.”

As he spoke, Professor Bai lifted the Silver Case in his hand and placed it on the hood of the Jeep. He then turned to Lu Xin and said, “For you, the stability of the Second Stage hinges on how you control your Emotion…”

“Remember, your own Emotion…”

“Therefore, I do not intend to use conventional methods like psychological counselling, or even surgical modification. I have chosen a novel approach… one that has very stringent limitations… and is also extremely expensive.”

Saying this, he unlocked the latch of the Silver Case and simultaneously said, “Before proceeding, I must ask you seriously…”

“Are you truly committed to undertaking the Second Stage?”

“…”

Lu Xin was momentarily taken aback but slowly nodded again.

For him, this was an exceptionally significant decision, laden with profound meaning.

As he nodded, his eyes had already moved to Professor Bai’s hand reaching into the case, watching the object he pulled out…

Then he watched as Professor Bai solemnly placed that object into his own hands.

He said: “First, sign this contract.”

“…”

…

Lu Xin was momentarily at a loss for words.

Seriously…

He’d already steeled himself mentally, and now they present a contract at such a crucial moment…?

Not just him. Nearby, Mr. Su, Minister Shen, and even Chen Jing wore expressions tinged with helplessness and a subtle tension. They all shared a complex feeling of reverence towards the unknown, wanting to voice opinions yet hesitant to interrupt.

Lu Xin obediently opened the contract and quickly scanned its contents:

He then realized that compared to the contracts he’d signed while working at the company, this one was strikingly simple.

The main points were: Qinggang would assist Ability User Lu Xin in achieving stabilization and enhancement for the Second Stage.

All costs associated with the Second Stage would be borne by Qinggang’s Special Clean-up Department.

Correspondingly, Lu Xin was to guarantee adherence to three core principles after signing.

One: Abide by Qinggang’s laws and regulations, as well as the rules of the Special Clean-up Department (Parenthesis: Exceptions may be appealed and discussed during special circumstances).

Two: Party B (Lu Xin) commits to assisting Qinggang in completing designated Special Contamination clean-up tasks (Parenthesis: Compensated).

Three: Should Party B (Lu Xin) terminate the contract, he must cover the full cost of the Second Stage enhancement plus triple the penalty fee.

…

Lu Xin read straight through to the end. There was no clause mentioning the “final right of interpretation.”

This lack made the contract seem somewhat less formal.

It carried the flavor of constraints relying not on law, but on the integrity of both parties.

“Is that all?” Lu Xin couldn’t help but glance at Professor Bai.

He felt even Sister Sun from his team could draft a more professional contract than this.

Yet Professor Bai’s expression was deeply serious as he nodded earnestly. “Yes.”

Saying this, he drew a fountain pen adorned with gilt patterns from his suit jacket pocket and solemnly offered it to Lu Xin.

Lu Xin looked at Professor Bai.

Under the gaze of countless eyes around him, he slowly reached for the pen and signed his name on the contract.

…

“Will this suffice?”

Lu Xin retracted the pen, casually pocketed it in his bag, and handed the signed contract back to Professor Bai.

Professor Bai took the contract, glanced at the signature, carefully stored it away, and nodded with satisfaction. “Yes.”

Though it felt like a meaningless triviality, a collective sigh of relief seemed to hang in the air.

“So that Second Stage you mentioned…” Lu Xin lifted his head to look at Professor Bai, unable to clearly define the tangle of tension and anticipation within him.

Professor Bai now appeared unruffled. He opened his suitcase once more. “Do you recall that painting you brought back?”

Lu Xin thought for a moment before realizing he meant the one he had taken from the Knights Order.

He nodded.

Professor Bai smiled at him. “You must have heard by now that many objects exist in this world capable of harboring Mental Power – artifacts where human consciousness can anchor itself. These Parasitic Artifacts exhibit characteristics similar to individuals, or perhaps Sources of Contamination.”

“That painting has undergone our appraisal. Its identity can be confirmed.”

“Its name is ‘Gaze of the Crimson Moon.’ It ranks among the rare high-level Parasitic Artifacts.”

“According to records from the Alliance Research Institute, thirteen such high-level Parasitic Artifacts exist.”

“Their uniqueness stems from the fact that each harbors one of thirteen fundamentally anomalous types of Psychic Energy.”

…

Professor Bai paused here, deliberately slowing his words and emphasizing his point. “And after conducting a series of tests, I have confirmed that this painting, the ‘Gaze of the Crimson Moon,’ is the vessel for one such anomalous Psychic Energy.”

“Its specific designation is ‘Gaze,’ characterized by a terrifying capacity to manipulate Emotion.”

…

As he spoke, Professor Bai had again opened the suitcase.

But now, the people nearby, even Chen Jing (whose face showed distinct confusion), seemed to have forgotten to look at its contents. His revelation was simply too staggering.

It was clear that even she was not fully privy to what Professor Bai was now disclosing.

Only Mr. Su and Minister Shen appeared able to follow his explanation. Evidently, they were aware of this classified information, though they still harbored unease about Professor Bai’s decision.

…

“These thirteen abnormal powers are all exceedingly dreadful.”

“Take the power codenamed ‘Gaze’ in this painting, for instance. It can disrupt human emotions, transforming a normal person who merely glances at it into a creature driven solely by instinctive desires. Its mode of contamination is also the most direct: visual contact. Thus, if this painting were exposed to a crowd, it could easily instigate utter chaos.”

“Yet, such power is not entirely impossible to harness.”

As he spoke, he pushed the case towards Lu Xin, saying:

“Your Second Stage enhancement borrows precisely this power. I’ve analyzed this ‘Gaze’ power and confirmed its true nature isn’t merely stirring negative emotions on the surface, but rather devouring human positivity.”

“Human emotions encompass negative aspects like despair and pessimism, but also positive influences like self-control and proactiveness. Emotions, thoughts, desires—all intertwined as a whole—shape our being. If any single aspect falters, everything topples like a tower. That’s why we are vulnerable to contamination.”

“But once the cause is understood, it can be guided towards a more stable state.”

“Those who lose control display severe negative effects precisely because they lack positive emotions.”

“Therefore, I applied a reverse process.”

“Through extraction and infusion of this Psychic Energy, I crafted this unique Parasitic Artifact.”

“…”

Lu Xin lowered his gaze to the case and saw the artifact Professor Bai described.

Surprisingly, it was a pair of Glasses.

The frames were made of red wood, or a wood-like material, veined with crimson patterns.

At first glance, the wood grain on the frames seemed to writhe slowly, as if the Glasses themselves were alive.

Moreover, staring at them, Lu Xin experienced an illusion:

The Glasses were sneakily watching him too…

“This is the key item for your Second Stage enhancement,” Professor Bai said to Lu Xin. “It possesses functions like information transmission and task assistance, but most crucially, it carries its own Psychic Energy trait. Should your emotions fluctuate, it can help restore balance.”

“Simply put, it’s a safeguard.”

“As long as you wear it, emotional shocks won’t cause you to suffer Loss of Control.”

“Naturally, the true Second Stage transition won’t be immediate. You’ll need time to adjust to it, and for mutual influence to occur.”

“But ultimately, with this, you will truly enter the Second Stage.”

“…”

Lu Xin fell silent at once, quietly observing the Glasses.

He had speculated about the Second Stage numerous times, yet never imagined it would manifest this way.

Knowing the horror of that painting, he felt wary of these Glasses linked to it.

Could such Glasses truly be worn on one’s face?

Could frames like these genuinely help him maintain emotional stability?

…

As Lu Xin silently examined the Glasses, the others maintained their silence.

“Boom…”

In the distance, beside the East Sea Grand Hotel, the Red-Cloaked Psychic Monster unleashed another shockwave.

Sensing it, the force this time felt far more dreadful than before.

Sporadic screams and panicked cries echoed from across the city, signaling the unfolding tragedies.

Professor Bai glanced at his wristwatch. “Two minutes left.”

He then looked openly at Lu Xin. “Proceeding with the Second Stage enhancement requires not only our belief that the Ability User won’t lose control, but also the Ability User’s trust in us. Take Gecko, for instance—he is a classic example: we trusted him, yet he did not trust us. You submitted an application. We chose to believe and approved it, creating this special artifact.”

“Now, we’ve presented the solution, and the choice is yours.”

“…”

Aware of countless eyes upon him,

Lu Xin, who had been silent all this while, finally lifted his head.

His gaze swept over Doll, who was watching him blankly, shifted to Chen Jing’s tightly pressed lips, passed over the tense Task Force members around him, crossed Professor Bai before him, and the amiable, round-faced middle-aged man behind him…

Finally, it landed on the man whose face was as hard as rock.

He could sense this man regarded him with the most intense vigilance in the entire room.

…

Thus, his voice hoarse, he asked: “You choose to trust me… aren’t you afraid I might… actually be a Maniac?”

The resolute-featured man, under Lu Xin’s stare, tensed slightly.

Slowly, he reached down, drew the gun from his thigh.

Tension thickened unbearably, throats went dry as everyone watched the man pull out the gun, check it, then take out a small pouch holding a spare magazine, and toss it directly to Lu Xin.

Lu Xin caught it; the pouch was full of Special Bullets.

“Even if you are a Maniac, you are Qinggang’s Maniac.” The steely-faced man—Minister Shen—said in a low, deliberate tone. “I have indeed always been wary of people like you. But I also know full well, and must admit, that this city of ours has always been protected by Maniacs.”

Lu Xin said nothing.

After a long pause, he stuffed both the gun and the Special Bullets into his pouch.

Then, a smile touched his face, and his voice lightened: “After this mission, my compensation should be enough to buy a house, right?”

“…”

The others seemed momentarily at a loss.

But Mr. Su, at the back of the group, chuckled: “I guarantee it will be enough.”