Chapter 222: The Qinggang Nuclear Option
Chapter 222: The Qinggang Nuclear Option
“Am I really still not allowed to leave?”
“It is getting quite late…”
Lu Xin, who others would surely assume was ecstatic, sprawled languidly on the sofa, utterly bored.
He discovered that the most exhausting thing wasn’t doing any task, but sitting bolt upright for several hours in a space so immaculate he felt reluctant to disturb it. On top of that, the room’s occupant wasn’t particularly fond of conversation. Adding to that, the room’s occupant also possessed what could arguably be the world’s most beautiful face and the closest thing to a perfectly proportioned physique.
As a man, he admittedly had entertained the notion of appreciating such beauty.
But the crucial point was, he remained highly visible at that moment.
He needed to be reserved in front of others, so Lu Xin deliberately avoided looking at the girl entirely, keeping his gaze fixed solely on the television screen.
After a while, waiting for those above to provide a solution began to feel stifling for Lu Xin.
He had come to the Main City explicitly to attend the High-Level Talent Conference, to help Deputy General Manager Xiao solve a problem on the side, to address his own “Second Stage” issue as another aside, and also to catch up with colleagues, to see his Information Analysis Specialist, Han Bing…
…He also wondered if Gecko and the others were happily gathered somewhere right then, drinking and chatting.
He was even less certain if Han Bing was currently inside this very building.
Everyone else was happily attending the conference, while he was stuck here accompanying the prettiest girl in the entire world…
“Sigh…”
Lu Xin let out a long sigh and shifted his gaze away from the television screen, which had long since ceased to hold any interest.
He saw that the room’s occupant was still kneeling on the floor, intently arranging her small plastic blocks. From any angle, she appeared near perfect. The only imperfection was her lack of proficiency in conversing.
…
…
“The decision from above has been made.”
A slight crackle of static came over the channel before Chen Jing’s voice sounded.
“What is it?”
Lu Xin immediately perked up.
Chen Jing spoke slowly, “We hope you can accept a temporary assignment.”
“The task, for now, is: Accompany Doll.”
“Huh?”
Lu Xin was momentarily stunned, letting out a questioning sound.
His voice was slightly too loud. The girl instantly turned her head to look at him. Lu Xin hurriedly waved a hand, signaling that everything was fine.
The girl resumed fiddling with her little plastic blocks.
Only then did Lu Xin lower his voice, “What kind of mission is this?”
“A B-rank mission.”
Chen Jing stated, “Whether assessed by mission importance or the compensation offered, it qualifies as B-rank.”
Lu Xin was surprised.
“Furthermore, this B-rank assignment is merely preliminary groundwork.”
Chen Jing continued seriously, “During this period, there’s a possibility you’ll be entrusted with a significantly weightier, higher-priority task. However, undertaking that future task necessitates frequent interaction with Doll beforehand. The purpose is for you to understand her and for her to grow accustomed to your presence. Hence, this foundational mission of companionship.”
Pausing briefly, she then inquired, “So, what is your stance?”
“No objection to the mission itself. It’s necessary work.”
Lu Xin responded earnestly. He glanced at Doll again and whispered, “But must I just keep sitting here?”
“I haven’t been to the restroom for several hours now…”
“……”
Hearing this, Chen Jing was also momentarily at a loss for words. Suppressing a chuckle, she said, “Doll’s room has its own ensuite bathroom.”
“But that’s the girl’s private bathroom…”
Lu Xin answered awkwardly, “Can’t I just step out for a moment instead?”
Chen Jing fell silent for a brief interval, presumably consulting a map. She then chuckled lightly, “There should be a public restroom just outside the suite.”
Listening, Lu Xin frowned slightly and slowly rose to his feet.
He instinctively softened his footsteps as he moved towards the door. Reaching the entrance, he gently pushed it open, sensing nothing amiss.
Just as he began to feel a slight easing within, a sudden hint of cool, pleasant fragrance drew close beside him. Turning his head, he saw the girl had also stood up and was silently following him. Lu Xin shook his head and decisively strode out into the hallway beyond the room.
Finding the public restroom, he opened the door. He then turned and stopped the girl who was about to enter after him. “You can’t come in here.”
The girl gazed at him with an innocent look.
Lu Xin had no choice but to force a smile onto his face. “Wait for me outside, okay?”
The girl still looked at him innocently, but Lu Xin hardened his heart. Leaving her behind, he resolutely stepped into the restroom…
Emerging feeling unburdened, Lu Xin saw that the girl was still waiting faithfully for him outside.
Lu Xin reported helplessly to his superior, “She keeps following me… even tried to come into the bathroom.”
“That was to be expected.”
“This is the first time Doll has shown such strong affection and dependence toward another person. Therefore, she might not understand boundaries or grasp the normal sense of distance between people. Of course, judging by her past behavior, you could potentially command Doll to follow instructions. However, until we establish a detailed plan, I suggest refraining from such actions for now.”
“Because these… could all trigger emotional instability within her…”
Chen Jing explained patiently and concluded, “Therefore, we must ask you to accommodate her for the time being.”
“Sigh…”
Lu Xin sighed slowly, perhaps because he was too bored to end the call with Chen Jing just yet.
He asked instinctively, “This girl… Doll… what happens if she becomes emotionally unstable?”
Chen Jing remained silent for a moment before answering, “Doll protects this city. But she also possesses the power to destroy one.”
“That terrifying?”
Lu Xin was momentarily stunned.
He was currently within this city that appeared large enough to embrace everything.
Looking out the window, he could see boundless oceans of lights, encapsulating all that lay beneath.
Therefore, he understood the terror of her words all the more deeply.
“Yes.”
Chen Jing’s response was simple. “Originally, Doll’s files were Qinggang’s highest classified information. But since you are now a special operations agent, you possess the clearance to know these secrets. That is why I am telling you this. However, you must also sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.”
As she spoke, a crisp electronic chime sounded from within Lu Xin’s backpack.
Opening it, Lu Xin saw that a digital contract had been transmitted to his Tablet Computer.
This format was new to him, but after considering it, he felt he could accept. Guided by Chen Jing, he signed his name on it and added his fingerprint. He then sent the completed contract via the local network before finally putting the tablet down.
He asked softly, “Can you tell me now?”
“Alright, please be aware. What you are about to hear constitutes Qinggang’s utmost classified intel.”
Chen Jing began softly:
“Doll’s ability, as documented, is classified as A-grade.”
“But it’s more accurate to say Doll is not merely an A-grade. Or rather, she was an A-grade three years ago.”
“It’s just that, for reasons spanning a certain scope, we haven’t publicly disclosed that her abilities are still increasing.”
“This is to lower the vigilance of other entities, such as the Highwall Cities.”
“…”
Lu Xin paused before replying, “I suspected as much. But…”
He couldn’t help but glance at the girl fiddling with blocks nearby: “How can hers be so high?”
After all, he seemed to be A-grade himself…
Gecko was only B-grade…
“There should be a psychic detector next to you. It can measure the Psychic Energy radiation within the surrounding rooms…”
Chen Jing suggested quietly: “Why don’t you take a look?”
Lu Xin nodded. “Actually, I checked earlier. The reading seemed to be several hundred.”
“Not so high, does it seem?”
Chen Jing said softly, “This represents only the Psychic Energy radiating unconsciously from Doll. If she actively applied her ability, the reading would be far higher.”
“Even so…”
Lu Xin calculated silently in his mind, “It still doesn’t seem like it would reach that level…”
Perhaps because of his preconceptions, he instinctively believed only entities like the “Queen of Happy Town” truly qualified as S-grade.
“The secret of Doll lies here.”
Chen Jing continued slowly: “If we consider only her base capability, her ability should be fixed at A-grade. But reality is, her own Psychic Magnitude has been steadily increasing. Furthermore, besides this growth, there’s another terrifying aspect. Being a Princess-type, one of her core abilities is to borrow the Psychic Magnitude of those around her. The more people nearby, the more power she can draw upon.”
“In other words, in populous areas, Doll’s Psychic Magnitude becomes limitless.”
“…”
“What?”
Lu Xin truly felt shocked upon hearing this.
“The aspect that troubles us most also lies here…”
Chen Jing spoke again after a moment, deliberately measured: “Through our observation of Doll, one thing is confirmed: the range of her negative influence matches the range from which she can borrow Psychic Magnitude. When she was young, her negative influence range was about ten meters. At that time, her borrowing range was likely also ten meters. But as she grew older, this range expanded.”
“We ceased testing the extent of Doll’s influence range over three years ago.”
“The conditions were too difficult to meet, and the risks involved were far too high.”
“However, one thing is certain: if Doll were to become completely uncontrolled today, or deliberately amplified her power, her negative influence radius could encompass the entirety of Qinggang City. Similarly, she could harness the Mental Power of every single person within Qinggang City.”
“We’ve implemented various countermeasures. But thus far, no method can guarantee we can isolate her at a critical moment.”
“…Even the Safe House you are currently in only restricts her Psychic Energy radiation because she actively cooperates. Previously, as you witnessed, she can easily demolish such a ‘safe’ structure should she desire to leave.”
“…”
Lu Xin was rendered speechless, wide-eyed.
Chen Jing then concluded gently with a faint sigh: “Internally, the designation currently used to assess Doll in our files is: ‘Qinggang’s nuclear weapon’.”