Chapter 18: Class-D Special Contamination Source – 041
Chapter 18: Class-D Special Contamination Source – 041
“You can call me Captain from now on.”
Chen Jing seemed to have been by the phone; she answered quickly and replied succinctly: “Any findings?”
“There is something definitely strange. He was like this…”
Lu Xin promptly recounted everything he had heard from Qin Ran, narrating it exactly as it was.
This was his first mission. He relayed it very seriously, worried that missing any detail might cost him his pay.
“Truly, you’ve gained results so quickly?” Chen Jing sounded genuinely surprised, but she quickly answered with a calm voice: “You’ve done well. This can indeed be confirmed as another Psychic Contamination Incident. I’ll organize the contamination investigation team to follow up immediately… By the way, what’s your current location?”
“Sifang Transportation Company… the back courtyard…” Lu Xin reported his position and then asked cautiously, “What should I do now?”
“Wait there.” Chen Jing instructed. “A three-person squad will arrive shortly to rendezvous with you. You are to assist in the investigation alongside them. They are all seasoned veterans. However, remember you are the Mental Aberrant. Sometimes their experience offers no advantage against your intuition. Therefore, going forward, you should lead major investigations, with them following your command.”
“For now, considering your lack of experience, I will oversee this investigation.”
“Via radio.”
“…”
Chen Jing, efficient and decisive, hung up the phone, leaving Lu Xin alone muttering to himself, “The matter of compensation…”
Little Sister, bored out of her mind, had climbed onto a nearby garage roof, crouching there as she watched the moon.
Qin Ran’s Fear and barely suppressed curiosity hadn’t faded. He took a few steps toward Lu Xin but dared not get too close. He instinctively felt wary of Lu Xin at that moment but didn’t want it to show. Keeping his distance, he feigned calmness: “So… what are you going to do?”
Lu Xin, not wanting him to sense he was a rookie, adopted an equally composed demeanor: “Wait for now.”
And so, the two men dumbly waited for ten minutes.
Just as the atmosphere became unbearably awkward, each unsure how to break the silence, a screech of brakes suddenly cut through the air. A black Jeep raced into the company grounds. Its heavy, reinforced body exuded a cold, unyielding aura. It shot in at speed, executed a sharp half-turn in the Plaza, then its doors flung open, and three fully Armed Personnel jumped out.
The usually tough-talking employees of the company were now dead silent; not one dared to breathe loudly.
Then, one of the Armed Personnel strode over to Lu Xin, purposefully tightened his grip on his weapon, stood at attention, and saluted.
“Mr. Lu Xin, Special Contamination Investigation Team assigned to City No.2, reporting as ordered by Colonel Chen to rendezvous with you!”
“…”
Lu Xin instinctively straightened up too, inwardly exclaiming, “They called me mister… so formal.” Trying to dispel the tension, he smiled, “Just call me Little Lu…”
The man remained expressionless: “Yes, Mr. Lu Xin!”
……
……
The Armed Personnel dispatched by Chen Jing matched their curt, professional demeanor with a similarly efficient work ethic. After meeting Lu Xin, two quickly returned to the Jeep. After some swift maneuvering, they mounted several instruments onto the roof. These devices, covered with seemingly many protruding filaments, looked intricate, complex, and inherently imposing, filled the observers with a sense of instinctive reverence.
Then, Cheng Hui, leader of the Armed Personnel squad, handed Lu Xin a black box.
Maintaining a cool expression and movements to appear experienced, Lu Xin opened the box. Nestled in the black sponge padding inside was an earphone with an ear clip. Glancing up, he noticed every Armed Personnel wore one. Without needing instruction, he picked it up and clipped it to his ear.
He waited for a moment, genuinely unsure of what to do next.
One of the Armed Personnel silently stepped forward, pressed a button on the device for him, and then stepped back without a word.
Instantly, a synthesized female voice sounded in the earphone.
“Investigation Team channel connected…”
“Information Analysis Team channel connected…”
“Command Coordination channel connected…”
“…”
Lu Xin shot the Armed Personnel a grateful look.
“Field Duty Reserve Investigator Lu Xin, repeat your previous findings!” Chen Jing’s voice cut through the earphone after three distinct connections were confirmed. It was brisk and cold.
Lu Xin knew this was critical work time. Not daring to be careless, he meticulously recounted everything he had just reported to Chen Jing. Chen Jing listened without interruption. Only after he finished did she speak again, coolly and collectedly: “Information Analysis Team!”
“Hello Mister Lu Xin, this is Corporal Han Bing of the Information Analysis Team. Myself and my team will provide your information support today.”
The voice that came through next was remarkably sweet and gentle, yet her words were crystal clear:
“First, briefing the case details:
Temporary Designation: Class-D Special Contamination Source – 041
Target Level: To Be Determined
Infectious Level: Suspected Low
Threat Level: Suspected Low
Personnel Involved: Qin Ran of Sifang Transportation Company, Qing Harbor Satellite City No.2”
“…”
“Based on Mr. Lu Xin’s report, this is likely a previously undocumented new type of Psychic Contamination Incident. Recommended targeted actions: First, commence investigation immediately to locate the Source of Contamination and execute cleanup.”
“Second, directly detain the individual involved, Qin Ran, await the arrival of The Contaminated, observe subsequent developments, and collect evidence.”
“If necessary, the option exists to hand Qin Ran over to them to be killed, in order to sever the target’s Logic Chain!”
“…”
“Huh?” Lu Xin stammered involuntarily as the words echoed in his earphone.
It was his first exposure to such procedures, and his reactions felt sluggish.
For instance, he hadn’t considered that facing multiple Avengers, delivering someone to them as prey was even an option?
“This is your first participation in a formal investigation; it’s also a learning opportunity,” Chen Jing’s voice came through the earphone. “For every future Field Duty assignment, you will be assigned a dedicated Information Analysis Team as technical support. They will analyze information, provide intel, suggest actions, and more. You need to adapt to this workflow quickly.”
Lu Xin immediately understood Chen Jing was coaching him and nodded hurriedly, “Understood!” Then Chen Jing explained further: “Sometimes, attempting to fulfill the Contamination Source’s specific demands first can be an effective method to weaken the intensity of its Mental Fluctuation, seize an opportunity to find clues, or even execute cleanup. There have even been cases where the Contamination Source dissipated on its own after its characteristic demands were satisfied. However, insufficient information exists on 041, so this approach is temporarily ruled out.”
“My recommendation: Commence the investigation immediately to locate the Source of Contamination and execute cleanup.”
“…”
Corporal Han Bing’s voice promptly followed:
“In that case, the primary direction of the investigation is recommended as follows: the location of Qin Ran’s first murder, and the location where the remains were disposed of!”