Chapter 53: Work Report
Chapter 53: Work Report
To begin with, this was Lu Xin’s first time going through a complete work process.
He followed Gecko out and first underwent a check under the instruments of the Support Team staff stationed at the Factory Building. Then, he boarded the vehicle that had been parked at the factory entrance earlier and had brought them there. Together with Gecko, they came to the Qingzhuo Tower.
At that time, the guards at the Qingzhuo Tower suddenly seemed much fewer, almost invisible. It probably was because those experts and professors had returned to the Main City. The staff who remained there led them straight to an Office. Here, two staff members wearing White Lab Coats handed files to Lu Xin and Gecko respectively.
Lu Xin looked down to see the file filled with extremely strange questions.
For example, there were sections to write one’s name, check off basic details, and even some simple reasoning puzzles.
By the time Lu Xin finished reading these questions, Gecko had already finished filling out his own quickly and with a flourish.
Turning his head and seeing Lu Xin meticulously and earnestly doing calculations stroke by stroke, Gecko said, “Just scribble a bit carelessly—it’ll do. These are all routine checks. For those of us on Field Duty, contact with the Source of Contamination is the highest, so we’re naturally much more prone to Contamination compared to others. That’s why this file covers three aspects: Memory, cognition, and simple logical reasoning respectively.”
“Writing the name is for verifying handwriting. When mentally contaminated, there’s always some subtle change, and handwriting is one sign. Even for us Spider-Types, it’s hard to write identically to last time without a reference after being affected. Basic details relate to personal cognition—it gets replaced each time.”
“This last item is a logic puzzle. Let me see…”
“A was a blind person living alone, with an obedient guide dog accompanying him.”
“Every night at bedtime, A extended his hand out of the bed, letting the guide dog lick his palm until he fell asleep. One night, lying in bed, A again extended his hand out as usual and fell asleep while the puppy’s wet and cute tongue licked his palm. But after waking the next morning, he called the puppy’s name and got no response. When he checked the room, he found the door was already open.”
“Then he heard a broadcast: Recently, a cunning and perverted thief has appeared in the residential area!”
“Thinking of this, A vomited uncontrollably and felt intense Fear.”
“Question: Why did A react this way?”
“…”
“What the hell kind of godforsaken question is this?”
Gecko looked on, his face becoming a little green, and said, “You actually answered it honestly?”
Lu Xin nodded and, pointing with his pen, said, “Look, the puppy couldn’t open the door itself, which suggests…”
Gecko watched him with his serious expression and looked even greener. “It should be normal if this problem couldn’t be reasoned out at all…”
“…”
Meeting Gecko’s gaze, Lu Xin guiltily lowered his head.
…
…
For better or worse, the file was filled out and handed in with some bluffing.
After that, came the final task…
…writing a Work Report!
“This thing is the most headache-inducing…”
Gecko held the report and said, “After completing each Cleanup Mission, we must detail how we accomplished it. Of course, we also need to account for bullets and other items consumed during the mission…”
“Actually, normally, I write this report slowly after returning, or sometimes I just don’t submit it and get Linda to write it for me.”
“But now, as an Old Man guiding you, I have no choice but to chew on the pen nib alongside you…”
“…”
Seeing Gecko writing there obediently, Lu Xin had to join in and ponder over it.
Fortunately, frequent practice at the company had honed his skill in writing Work Reports. Lu Xin simply faithfully recorded how he followed Gecko to the Factory Building, how they observed along the way, how they saw Gecko deal with Zheng Yuanxiong, and how while entering the Factory Building, they accidentally discovered a Secondary Pollution Source. Considering that leaving this Source of Contamination unchecked would sacrifice workers, he risked trying it himself.
Of course, just as in his earlier recounting, Mother’s appearance was omitted.
Because, in fact, Lu Xin felt a bit puzzled at that moment.
He knew that Mother sometimes went out and often said some chilling things.
But Mother and Little Sister were different. Little Sister frequently ran out to find him and sometimes pestered him to play, especially after he borrowed her abilities—she appeared more often. However, when Mother emerged, she rarely showed herself in front of him. No one knew what she did. This time, during his difficulty, she suddenly appeared and helped him resolve it, which was rare.
Lu Xin knew that if he wrote about Mother appearing, he would face interrogation.
But he couldn’t answer those questions.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, he preferred to first ask Mother about it and figure it out before reporting.
…
…
“Hey, yeah, just write it like that… You can cross out that part about me flirting with Linda… Focus on your losses.”
“Never mind, I know you didn’t fire a shot. Writing it down might actually help, accumulate more bullets…”
Lu Xin gave Gecko a surprised look.
Gecko had a stern face: “I’m telling you, this stuff is expensive on the black market…”
Lu Xin had to sneak a peek at the staff member beside them, who seemed oblivious to what they were saying and doing.
Then, he quietly wrote “2”.
“That’s right…”
The gecko continued instructing. “As for payment, since you’re learning with me, the payment was for me…”
“What’s wrong with you?”
Just as Gecko was speaking, Lu Xin suddenly fixed him with a serious, intense expression.
Gecko couldn’t help but inwardly startle.
“This payment matter…”
Lu Xin hesitated, looking somewhat embarrassed. “Should we… discuss this a bit more?”
Gecko’s eyes widened. “Is that necessary?”
Lu Xin nodded. “I think discussing it would be good…”
After a moment of silence, Gecko asked, “Are you really just trying to split the payment?”
Lu Xin struggled internally for a second, then nodded honestly.
“Brother…”
Gecko sighed. “It’s such a small amount, it’s really not worth it. When I saw your look just now, I honestly thought you were going to eliminate me…”
“Write it in, fifty-fifty…”
“……”
Lu Xin quickly wrote the request for an even split into the report, then turned to Gecko with sincere gratitude. “Thank you!”
After submitting the report, the staff member remaining on-site handed Lu Xin a separate document. “Mr. Lone Soldier, this is the specialized training course specifically arranged for you by Colonel Chen. It starts tomorrow. Please sign here and attend on time.”
“Training?”
Lu Xin glanced at the document titled “Special Contamination Cleanup Course,” visibly surprised.
“Yes!”
The staff member confirmed. “The location is the fourth floor Conference Room of the Guard Bureau. It lasts three months, with three hours of training each day.”
“This…”
Hearing this, Lu Xin hesitated slightly.
He hadn’t expected a training schedule stretching over such a long time. Wouldn’t this severely interfere with his work?
“You may freely choose the afternoon or evening session…”
The staff member seemed prepared for Lu Xin’s reaction and continued, “Additionally, Colonel Chen has specifically instructed that participants receive a daily meal and transportation allowance of one hundred yuan during the training period. We can also arrange for meals to be prepared by the Guard Bureau.”
“…Okay!”
Lu Xin signed the document.
“Brother, you really are the most obedient Ability User I’ve ever met…”
Even Gecko had to express admiration. He walked out with Lu Xin, chuckling. “Now, only the final step remains!”
Lu Xin paused slightly. “Is there still something to learn?”
Gecko’s expression turned unusually grave. “Yes. And it is the most important thing of all!”
“Next, I must teach you… how to prevent Loss of Control!”