Chapter 177: Utterly Cornered

“Must… must you oppose me?”

In the hotel lobby, with that Ghost away, most people had already fled the hall.

Those still too weak-kneed and panicked to escape were now crouching tremulously in separate spots under the Police Officer’s command, keeping distance from each other.

Lu Xin hadn’t insisted they all flee, as it wouldn’t have made a difference.

Less than a minute had passed. Just as a semblance of order seemed restored, a Security Guard suddenly jerked his head up. His gaze, twisted with hatred, fixed on Lu Xin as he shrieked, “Did you think you could capture me so easily?”

His abrupt change and incomprehensible words stirred a ripple of Chaos.

But the surrounding discipline kept the panic small; some even looked at him curiously.

……

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not opposing you,” Lu Xin said calmly, watching the Security Guard now that the spirit had returned. “We’ve no grudge, right?

“I’m simply doing my job. The higher-ups ordered it. No choice…

“As for whether I can capture you…” Lu Xin seemed to ponder briefly. “According to the files, it should be possible. Your ability to possess others takes two forms: physical contact or remote entry. Contact possession is faster, but requires touch, prolonging the process. Remote possession isn’t unlimited in range, correct? The maximum distance… shouldn’t exceed ten meters?”

He appeared to recall the data before nodding. “So, given the current situation…”

He paused. “…You truly can’t escape.”

“…”

“Ggrrh…” The Security Guard gnashed his teeth, facial muscles contorting.

He seemed desperate to hurl threats, but having checked the perimeter moments before, he knew Lu Xin spoke the truth.

This only infuriated him more.

This ordinary-looking young man hadn’t impressed him initially.

He who dared infiltrate the Main City and challenge authority—how could he submit to threats from such a commoner?

Yet, this unassuming, office-worker type speaking mild words ignited a searing anger within him.

A sliver of Fear even began to coil in his gut.

He’d truly seen the encircling forces. He knew they were tightening the noose.

“Fine!” He suddenly stood, bellowing through gritted teeth. “You brought this upon yourselves!

“You want to kill everyone?

“Within my power, everyone is my hostage!

“Since you insist on opposing me, I’ll slaughter them all!”

As he spoke, he abruptly whirled and rammed his head violently into a marble pillar.

The distance was too great, his move too sudden. In an instant, the Security Guard smashed his head bloody.

Immediately after, another figure leaped up nearby—laughing maniacally, plunging a pen into his own abdomen.

The surrounding Chaos exploded anew. Screams of terror erupted.

Even the junior Police Officer helping maintain order turned pale, stumbling backward several steps.

“Found it…”

A new voice rang out—the Front Desk Girl. She pulled a fruit knife from a drawer, pressed its blade to her slender neck, and stared deathly at Lu Xin. “Tell me! Are you forcing me to kill them all?”

Lu Xin’s gaze instantly frosted over.

He frowned, meeting the Front Desk Girl’s eyes. For him, this young woman’s face held the visage of a man.

Staring into that malevolent glare filled with raw savagery, he took a long moment before shaking his head.

“You were already breaking laws.”

His demeanor turned grave, almost detached, his voice devoid of particular Emotion. “We don’t yet know if those two injured men will survive. If they die, you’ll have two more lives on your hands. If you continue harming innocents…” His tone sharpened imperceptibly. “…then your crimes will be too great to simply punish by death. So now, you intend to…”

“…face something worse than death?”

As he spoke, he shifted slightly—flexing his limbs almost unconsciously. “Though I haven’t fought many Ability Users…”

“…I’ve gathered some experience on how to make such things hurt.”

“…”

“You…!”

Lu Xin’s calm expression and seemingly composed words sent chills through that Ghost’s core.

He didn’t understand why this young man’s words unsettled him so deeply. Only after a moment’s reflection did he grasp it…

…He was merely listing his sins, not offering the option of compromise.

…

This left the Ghost deeply conflicted. The muscles in his face twitched uncontrollably. Suddenly, he grabbed the fruit knife and pressed it hard against his own throat.

At the same time, he snarled viciously, “You—”

Before the word could fully leave his lips, Lu Xin lunged forward.

As he charged, his hand darted into his backpack, pulled out an object, and hurled it far away.

“Swish!”

Lu Xin initially rushed towards the front desk but abruptly changed direction midway.

He charged towards the uncle on the left and forcefully wedged the object in his hand onto the man’s neck.

Simultaneously, the object he had thrown flew through the air with an anomaly,

as if an invisible hand had grabbed the ring and precisely looped it around the neck of the Leopard-Patterned Lady on the right.

The Front Desk Girl briefly wore a look of confusion, which swiftly turned into sheer terror.

She still held the knife, but her hand trembled violently.

“The others, step back,” Lu Xin signaled to the Police Officer with a glance. He then looked ahead, assessing the Front Desk Girl’s condition.

He murmured into his headset, “Target contained. The Support Team can move in directly.”

…

What they had placed on the necks were two Ability Suppressors.

Neither Ability Suppressors nor Protective Visors were foolproof solutions.

Just like ordinary people wearing such masks couldn’t guarantee absolute immunity from Contamination. Against those of high Psychic Magnitude or potent Contamination, such Masks, even if not entirely useless, offered little practical difference.

Yet, they could still serve some purpose.

Especially against Ability Users whose primary power was influencing others, they could provide a certain mitigating effect.

The main function of the Protective Visor was to shield the wearer’s head. When under attack from an Ability User, Mental Power often took effect first through the head. If this “Ghost” tried to invade the mind of a soldier wearing a Protective Visor, the visor would at least prolong the process by three to five times. This would give those nearby enough time to react and finalize their plan.

If both entering and leaving were slowed down, this Ghost couldn’t flit mysteriously from body to body.

The reduced speed made it easy for others nearby to pin him inside a chosen target.

The principle of the Ability Suppressor differed slightly from the Protective Visor. Primarily composed of two parts – a psychic energy sensor and an electric shock chip – it detected abnormal fluctuations in psychic energy and instantly released a powerful electric current.

Whether rendering the Ability User unconscious or causing pain to disrupt their focus, both effects could suppress their ability.

…

What Lu Xin had just done was capture that “Ghost” using the suppressors.

The lobby was already less crowded, and the remaining people were spread out as much as possible.

Consequently, there was considerable distance between them.

When Lu Xin charged toward the Front Desk Girl, he knew the timid Ghost would flee, seeking another host. Lu Xin’s tactic was to separate from Little Sister. He rushed toward the person on the left to affix the Ability Suppressor.

Little Sister darted to the right to put the Ability Suppressor on the Leopard-Patterned Lady.

This way, no matter whether the Ghost fled into the body of the left or right individual – the two closest alternatives – he would be trapped.

If he attempted to retreat into the Front Desk Girl’s body, with the nearby potential hosts immobilized, escape became extremely difficult.

Thus, at this point, the Ghost’s escape routes were completely sealed.