Chapter 21: Underwater Operation

Lu Xin didn’t make a commotion first. Instead, he approached the lakeside nonchalantly and slowly squatted down. To an onlooker, it appeared as if he had merely come to the lake edge and was gazing thoughtfully out over the water. In reality, however, he was quietly conversing with Little Sister.

“What’s inside?”

Lu Xin murmured softly, his gaze fixed on the lake water.

Beneath the Crimson Moon, this lake water seemed eerie and unnervingly still.

“Don’t know, but it feels like something I could play with for ages…”

Little Sister continued to stare intently at the water, licking her lips as she spoke, a hint of excitement in her voice.

“So it’s been found then…”

Lu Xin thought to himself, glancing towards the direction where the three Investigation Team members were.

At that moment, led by Cheng Hui, the three investigators had already started their routine sweep of the area, beginning from the lake shore. They were all very familiar with this type of work. Cheng Hui had organized things efficiently. He and his teammates were perfectly capable of handling this basic level of investigation; there was actually no real need to involve Lu Xin specifically.

In fact, they were always somewhat wary of him.

After all, he was rumored to be a “special person” of that kind!

Subconsciously, they preferred it if they didn’t need Lu Xin’s help at all.

Lu Xin, however, wasn’t in a hurry to alert them. He simply waited while they finished scanning the path and the surrounding terrain.

…

Since the first three locations had already been checked, the likelihood of the last site being the crucial one was higher, so the Investigation Team members were extremely cautious and meticulous. Strictly using their specialized instruments, they scanned every inch of the ground along the narrow path and the surrounding area.

“No psychic residue on the path.”

After finishing their sweep, the two team members returned to the side of the Jeep, their voices sounding noticeably heavy.

“I see.”

Cheng Hui’s eyes beneath his glass visor were visibly troubled as he looked towards the lake. If nothing had been detected along the roadside or within the surrounding Wasteland Grass, then the remaining unchecked expanse – this lake right before them – represented the highest probability of harboring dangerous Contamination.

Lu Xin lowered his voice, asking Little Sister, “Can you use your abilities underwater?”

Little Sister’s excitement was barely contained, “Haven’t tried, but I wanna try…”

“Such a brave Little Sister…”

Lu Xin patted her head. Then he stood up and walked back towards the Investigation Team. “Finished with the surface scan?”

The three Investigation Team members instinctively straightened their postures as they nodded.

Lu Xin nodded too. “Can your gear work underwater?”

As he spoke, he glanced at the equipment. While Chen Jing had given him a brief explanation earlier, fully grasping its principles was difficult. What piqued his curiosity now: Little Sister was crouching just four or five meters away at the lake’s edge, yet the instruments showed no reaction whatsoever. Could it be that Little Sister wasn’t detectable as a form of psychic energy by this kind of equipment?

… Surely Little Sister wasn’t just a figment of his imagination?

Hearing Lu Xin’s question, the bearded Team Leader Cheng Hui hesitated slightly, then spoke frankly, “The instruments might work underwater for short periods. The issue is… our Protective Suits are not waterproof.”

Lu Xin nodded, understanding their implication.

Land detection and underwater detection were two entirely different operational contexts.

Their current concern wasn’t just whether they could scan underwater, but the sheer apprehension they felt about actually going into the water.

While wearing bulky Protective Suits, entering the water would be extremely cumbersome. But taking the suits off near a potential Source of Contamination? Absolutely unthinkable.

However, their discipline was exceptionally strong. It was obvious that even if it meant significant risk, the moment Chen Jing issued an order over the comms channel, these three soldiers would immediately plunge into the water to conduct the sweep. Taking on risks was seemingly part of their inherent duty.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Xin offered, “Then I’ll go take a look first. You guys wait here.”

“What?”

The Investigation Team members looked at him in surprise.

While technically still within the high walls of the city, this abandoned industrial zone felt indistinguishable from the wilderness. Everything around them was pitch black, the darkness held back only by the narrow beam of the Jeep’s headlights. And at the bottom of this dark lake might lurk something bizarre and terrifying. Facing something like that on land offered at least a sliver of maneuvering room; encountering it underwater would be perilous. But here was this seemingly somewhat frail man, revealing an unexpectedly large amount of courage.

Could it be he sensed the fear in the three of them and was proactively taking the risk?

“Someone has to go,” Lu Xin said to them with a smile. He then stretched his arms and legs, giving himself a light warm-up.

When it came to work, he always took it seriously.

Officially, he was the team leader responsible for leading this investigation. The only reason Chen Jing had briefly taken the reins was his lack of experience earlier. She had seized the role to coach him through this opportunity. However, since hitting the field, he’d mostly been observing while the three soldiers did all the actual legwork.

Now, seeing these three clearly capable, hard-working soldiers noticeably reluctant—frankly, terrified—of this underwater search, which posed immense difficulty for them, it was finally time for him, the designated core team member, to step up.

He recalled his days at the Business Company. Those Employee of the Month plaques weren’t earned for nothing. Lu Xin knew his stuff.

Promotions and bonuses came from seriousness and dedication!

Of course, why he got Employee of the Month and nearly got fired at that company… now that remained somewhat confusing…

…

“Are the other locations confirmed clean?”

Just as Lu Xin resolved to step up his game and perform, Chen Jing’s voice abruptly crackled over the comms channel.

“Yes,” the three Investigation Team members snapped instinctively to attention. “Only this lake remains unchecked,” their Captain responded.

Chen Jing continued, “Confirming this is the final point of interest?”

From the channel, Han Bing from the Information Analysis Team chimed in, “Confirmed.”

Chen Jing paused for a fraction of a second. “The likelihood of a Source of Contamination being present in this lake is now exceedingly high.”

Lu Xin chimed in, “I’ll dive in and take a look then. Undertaking an underwater operation does seem a bit hazardous.”

The looks the three Investigation Team members directed at Lu Xin were visibly tinged with respect and a touch of gratitude.

They would never have directly asked Lu Xin to dive into danger for them, but him volunteering and clearly thinking of their apprehension was a completely different matter.

Even the usually crisp voices of Chen Jing and Han Bing in the channel seemed to hesitate for a brief moment.

“Underwater operations are indeed dangerous…”

After a short while, Chen Jing’s voice finally responded.

Lu Xin nodded affirmatively and began to shrug off his jacket, preparing to enter the lake. Then Chen Jing spoke again, her tone laced with the cool reason of a seasoned strategist:

“Well?”

Lu Xin paused mid-motion: “Huh?”

Chen Jing’s answer, delivered with a sharp, commanding efficiency that brooked no nonsense, sliced through the tension:

“Then why risk it?”

Her next words weren’t a suggestion, but an edict of pure operational efficiency.

“Call the Special Support Team immediately! Give them half an hour to mobilize and arrive on-site!”

Her final command was breathtakingly straightforward: “Drain the lake. Scan the bottom.”