Chapter 64: Special Contamination Source – 072

Upon witnessing Chen Jing’s intense focus on the matter, Lu Xin naturally felt compelled to match her level of concern.

When leadership pushes with urgency, one can’t afford complacency.

Although he’d planned to fulfill both jobs simultaneously, Chen Jing’s explicit directive to request leave from the Business Company forced his hand. Considering the salary disparity—5,000 base pay versus 1,000—the choice seemed justified.

Despite this rationale, approaching the Director for leave the next day filled him with unease. Lu Xin knew his project, just stabilizing after chaos, demanded ongoing attention now; requesting leave felt neglectful. Shifting his gaze away, he tentatively broached the subject: “Director… I’d like to request some time off…”

“Time off?”

The Director blinked in surprise before a smile bloomed across his face. “For how long?”

“Won’t be too long…”

Avoiding eye contact, Lu Xin repeated his rehearsed excuse: “My Little Sister has fallen ill recently. I need to look after her…”

From the hanging light fixture above, Little Sister abruptly swung around, tilting her head:

“? ”

The Director heaved a sympathetic sigh. “No problem at all, no problem. Caring for your sister comes first.”

Lu Xin hadn’t anticipated such leniency and quickly added, “Rest assured, Director. Once she recovers, I’ll return immediately!”

The Director vigorously waved a hand, chuckling, “No rush, no rush…” His grin stretched ear to ear. “Ours is a company that values Humanity-based management… I’ll approve several extra days for you!”

Thus, Lu Xin secured a full week’s leave with astonishing ease. As he shouldered his backpack to leave, the Director even escorted him out with effusive earnestness. Lu Xin spotted the Director still teetering on tiptoes, watching intently from the staircase long after he’d walked a distance away.

This gesture stirred a pang of warmth in Lu Xin. Seems the Director holds genuine regard for me… To approve leave without hesitation during peak chaos, without even probing further…

Such a Human-centric company is exceptionally rare in this era.

He resolved to swiftly wrap up the city’s investigation duties and hasten back to work as gratitude.

—

With leave approved, Lu Xin entered an unaccustomed period of idleness.

Chen Jing had initiated extensive scrutiny of surrounding Satellite Cities. An unusual tension now permeated the Guard Bureau. Even on the streets, patrols of uniformed Police Officers and spirited aunties with red armbands swept block after block. They clutched signature rosters, sometimes balancing bundles of greens or strings of sausages, penetrating neighborhood enclaves.

The surge in roadside drunk-driving checks alone had transformed the city’s character. Even the women peddling illicit DVDs while cradling children had become scarcer.

Meanwhile, Lu Xin remained stationed on the fourth floor—the former training site.

As Han Bing phrased it, this was “standing by, ready to deploy.”

True deep investigation constituted an immense, intricate undertaking. Not just Special Operations Team members like Lu Xin, but even the Investigation Teams dispatched from Headquarters struggled to manage. Hence, these sweeps were coordinated with Investigation Teams forming the core, mobilized alongside Police Officers from respective Satellite City Guard Bureaus and neighborhood elders. They combed through territories methodically.

The Investigation Teams determined trace signals of contamination.

Special Operations Team members like Lu Xin only mobilized when an active Source of Contamination was confirmed.

In fact, certain sources might be neutralized directly by Investigation Teams if deemed manageable.

—

“The purpose of deep sweeps,” Han Bing clarified, noting Lu Xin’s restlessness, “is root-level hazard elimination. Similar operations occur routinely, regardless of recent Ability User incidents Outside the City. Indeed, numerous latent Sources of Contamination persist within city limits under constant surveillance. So, Mr. Lone Soldier, no need for urgency. We await Headquarters’ directives here.”

She added gently, “This process will likely recur many times yet.”

Lu Xin nodded to signify comprehension.

Reflecting briefly, however, he judged focused study more productive than mere waiting. Calming himself, he resumed scrutinizing the files.

Truthfully, lingering here proved agreeable. Unlimited coffee flowed freely, supplemented by three daily meals.

Breakfast typically featured congee with boiled eggs, occasionally accompanied by crisply fried crepes.

Lunch arrived as boxed meals with three vegetable dishes and one meat portion—often a chicken drumstick or pork trotter.

Evening meals, delivered personally by the little policewoman, rotated daily: Lu Xin savored intestine noodles, shredded pork in garlic sauce over rice, and once, even a container of fried chicken… Do they really have that here?

Such living standards surpassed his wildest prior imaginings.

Receiving premium sustenance merely for existing felt… almost excessive.

Especially with daily meal subsidies reaching 200?

Lu Xin felt vaguely undeserving of this degree of consideration.

—

Happily, this leisurely existence fractured abruptly on Day Three.

A red light pulsed on his earpiece. Recognizing the alert after a beat, Lu Xin snatched it up and fitted it to his ear.

“Lone Soldier, immediate mobilization required!” Han Bing’s voice snapped through. “Threat: Suspected Special Contamination Source – 072.”

“Location: Building C, Kuanggong Residential Area, Satellite City No.2, Northern District.”

“Target Rating: Suspected C-Class.”

“Infection Level: Currently no data.”

“Threat Level: Intermediate.”

“Profile: An unidentifiable Fear permeates surrounding areas focused on Building C. Trend indicates expansion.”

—

Even as Han Bing relayed the alert, Lu Xin was already striding into the adjacent chamber.

There, listening intently, he changed into combat gear ferried from the Main City.

Ten minutes later, descending via elevator to the lobby, he found a waiting Jeep outside. Having mastered operational protocols, Lu Xin exited under a staffer’s guidance and slid directly into the vehicle.

Simultaneously, Han Bing detailed the incident through the comms channel:

“Originated with a Kuanggong Resident Area report. Claimed persistent tailing with malign intent. Police Officers intervened, located the suspect—also a local resident—who’d merely crossed paths with the complainant at an intersection before heading home.”

“Thus, no stalking occurred: merely the complainant’s paranoia.”

“Dismissed initially as stress-induced error. Yet during questioning, inconsistencies surfaced.”

“The entire Kuanggong enclave—not just the reporter and suspect, but universally—dwelled under inexplicable, pervasive Fear. Many hallucinated…”

“Eyes peered suspiciously through cracks beneath doors, gaps in curtains…”

“Within these two or three days alone: two residents, nerves overwrought, escalated petty quarrels into lethal knife fights. Outcome: one fatality, the other sentenced to Land Reclamation.”

“One individual, fearing poisoned water, obsessively consumed only alcohol…”

“A pet-keeper, convinced cats and dogs conspired against him, now feared returning home…”

“Guard Bureau analysis flagged the anomaly. Thus, Investigation Team mobilized…”

“Assessment confirmed Spiritual Contamination presence. Yet investigative progress encountered obstacles!”

Lu Xin murmured, “What obstacles?”

Han Bing responded flatly: “They were too afraid to work.”