Chapter 20: Work Focus
Chapter 20: Work Focus
“The point of intersection?”
Listening to them, Lu Xin was slightly startled in his heart and spoke up: “How long would that need?”
Corporal Han Bing on the channel paused thoughtfully before replying: “It’s still uncertain now.”
Lu Xin understood the issue she mentioned.
In today’s Highwall City, especially in the satellite cities serving as buffers for the Main City, the population was complex. It was unclear how many were recent arrivals without permanent residency status, or even sneaked in illegally. Not everyone’s identity could be quickly verified. Besides, public facilities like surveillance cameras weren’t even fully deployed in the satellite cities.
This wasn’t the Main City. Except for crucial areas like the Administrative Hall and the materials division, there were either no cameras installed — or they were broken.
Lu Xin had no doubt about the execution prowess and resources of the Special Operations Team.
But under these circumstances, it was inherently troublesome to quickly trace the movements before death of all these people and identify the intersection point quickly.
So he hesitated for a moment and said: “Is there a faster way then?”
After a brief pause, he explained: “After all, tomorrow is the eighth day. It’s highly probable someone else will get infected.”
Upon hearing him, there was a brief silence on the channel.
The three Investigation Team members also cast somewhat complicated glances at Lu Xin then.
They understood Lu Xin’s concern.
Judging by the pattern of those who had sought revenge against Qin Ran before: one person sought revenge on the first day, two on the second, four on the fourth… then tomorrow, there should be eight people coming for revenge. Or rather, it might not even wait until tomorrow— theoretically, after midnight tonight, eight new “Avengers” could appear.
Meaning, eight more innocent victims.
This concern was perfectly normal. Yet coming from Lu Xin, it felt somehow unexpected.
“I agree with Lu Xin’s view.”
After a moment, Chen Jing’s voice came through the channel: “Not because of saving lives. The work we do has always been about saving lives. Eliminating the source of contamination inevitably saves many people in the unseen process. But that cannot be the focus of our work.”
“The focus of our work, the highest priority target, is eliminating the Source of Contamination. It always has been.”
“I agree with him because efficiency is paramount in handling the Psychic Pollution Source.”
“If we thoroughly investigate the routes taken by the contaminated victims while alive and cross-reference them, it would take far too long.”
“During that time, the contamination source could very likely undergo unexpected mutations we cannot anticipate…”
After a slight pause, she continued: “Based on current data, since the contaminated ‘Avengers’ all claim to be seeking revenge against Qin Ran, and Cui Wang was the first ‘Avenger,’ it implies Cui Wang must have had a connection to the contamination source. Even if no clues were found at the place of murder or the body disposal site, it doesn’t preclude the real contamination source being nearby. In fact, it’s highly probable.”
“First, we’ll assume the contamination source is in that area and proceed with the analysis.”
“That abandoned industrial zone has no residents and very sparse foot traffic. So, the key isn’t to focus on where the intersection point is…”
“We should focus on what locations near that area are more likely to become the intersection point.”
Hearing this, Lu Xin’s eyes slightly brightened.
Chen Jing’s analysis surprised him somewhat, but he really liked her decisiveness.
“Understood!”
Han Bing’s voice on the channel faded for a moment. The sound of papers turning was heard, likely as she observed maps and data. Then her voice came back: “Near the abandoned industrial zone in South District, there are approximately four locations that could form population intersection points.”
“First is the chemical fertilizer factory to the southwest. Around two hundred workers work there. Usually, a shuttle bus transports them to and from work, but it’s possible some employees walk home alone and pass near that abandoned industrial zone. Second, about three kilometers west of the abandoned industrial zone, there’s a large dump site. Groups of street children and beggars often gather there to scavenge…”
“Also, according to information, some criminals also choose that area for exchanges!”
Lu Xin instinctively glanced at Qin Ran.
Qin Ran couldn’t hear the voices from the channel. He was squatting on the side smoking. Lu Xin’s glance confused him.
At that moment, Chen Jing had already made a decision: “Send these locations to the Investigation Team.”
“Beep… Beep…”
Soon, faint light glowed on the black screens attached to the arms of the three armed Investigation Team members.
Lu Xin leaned over to look. Lines forming complex maps and labels were displayed.
He focused and recognized it as the map of the entire South District of Satellite City No. 2, with several red dots marked.
“Sent over already?”
“That’s high tech…”
He marveled silently in his heart: “But the dean said before the Crimson Moon Incident, technology like this was commonplace?”
“You can start checking these locations one by one now.”
Chen Jing’s voice sounded in the channel again, seemingly explaining to Lu Xin: “Spiritual Contamination appears disordered and chaotic. But as long as it exists, there are certain patterns and characteristics. As long as we distill these laws and traits, we can eliminate it with minimal cost. A professor said when facing these crazy things, rationality is humanity’s only advantage.”
Lu Xin listened, deeply impressed: “Who was that professor?”
Chen Jing fell silent for a moment: “Your focus is misplaced.”
Lu Xin blushed. “Oh,” he said.
…
“Go straight, then turn left.”
The Jeep drove slowly through the desolate factory district of the South District. Night had long fallen, enveloping the surroundings in heavy darkness. Only a Crimson Moon hung in the sky, casting crimson moonlight upon the desolate, chaotic city.
As the Jeep’s headlights tore through the dark red night, illuminating the weeds by the roadside and the broken road, Lu Xin and the others had reached the edge of the South District, approaching the High Wall. Just like in every Highwall City, the closer you get to the High Wall, the more desolate and sparsely populated it becomes. Besides the patrols of the City Patrol Army on guard towers every few kilometers, there were no signs of life.
And this was already the final location Lu Xin and his group were to check for this operation.
Contrary to what Lu Xin had imagined, contamination investigation wasn’t as exciting as he’d thought. It felt somewhat tedious instead. At each location, they stopped to carefully inspect with instruments, confirmed repeatedly that there was no issue, and then moved to the next spot.
While conducting inspections, everyone remained highly tense. They only relaxed a little once back in the vehicle.
Soon, the vehicle drove into the fourth suspicious location marked on the map. They saw a construction site half-built — foundations long laid were clearly visible, now overgrown with weeds.
A soft explanation from Han Bing came through the channel: Earlier, after stability was restored within the High Walls, there was a time of population explosion. The Administrative Hall had considered renovating this area again as a mixed residential and industrial zone. Unfortunately, the attention of the Church of Technology caused severe population loss in Satellite City No. 4. The surplus population moved there, leaving this place abandoned.
In fact, the entire South District of Satellite City No. 2 now was essentially this kind of undeveloped reserve land.
It was said the Administrative Hall’s biggest dream was for more people to fill these areas.
…
As the Jeep’s headlights pierced the darkness ahead, they soon illuminated a shimmering spot.
Lu Xin and the others got out, only to find it was actually a pool of water.
It was probably originally a large pit. But the terrain was so low that accumulated rainwater had turned it into a decent-sized wild lake. Knee-high wasteland grass surrounded it. A faint, almost invisible path skirted the lake and stretched towards the city.
The moment he stepped out, Lu Xin sensed something wrong.
His Little Sister, who had disappeared somewhere while he was in the car, now appeared by the lake shore.
She was crouching in the wasteland grass by the water, her eyes sparkling brightly as she stared intently into the lake.
Hearing Lu Xin exit the vehicle, she suddenly turned her head and said excitedly: “Big Brother, there’s something fun here…”
“Something fun?”
Lu Xin’s heart clenched slightly. He hurried over.
He knew Little Sister’s aesthetic sense differed from others. So what she deemed “fun”…