Chapter 113: Aftermath and Apprehension
by xennovel“Mr. Lone Soldier has received the notification. All pollution source incidents in the Second Satellite City are under control. Preliminary investigations found no further hidden threats. You can go back and rest for now. I’ll contact you if anything comes up.”
About an hour later Han Bing called Lu Xin.
By then the survivors beneath the South Wall had already been led away from the wasteland by the Support Team. They were heading to a nearby temporarily designated isolation zone for treatment and observation. The bodies beneath the high wall were now enclosed within a hastily erected black tent with excellent sealing. More and more Support Team members arrived delivering various supplies.
Lu Xin noticed a line of over a dozen trucks had arrived near the scene.
Another vehicle carried stacks upon stacks of thick black fiberglass pockets being unloaded.
Those were body bags.
…
…
“Let’s go brother, get some rest first!”
Gecko must have gotten the notice too. After helping the Support Team with some matters he approached Lu Xin.
Not far away a Jeep was already parked by the roadside.
Lu Xin nodded and spoke into the satellite phone to Han Bing, “I understand, thank you!”
Han Bing paused for a moment before speaking softly, “Mr. Lone Soldier, I should be the one thanking you on behalf of Qinggang City.”
“You protected ordinary people like us.”
“If it weren’t for you I truly don’t know how bad things would have gotten this time…”
…
Lu Xin said softly, “I couldn’t have done these things without your help either.”
“No no…”
Han Bing quickly replied, “I could only offer a tiny bit of help. Mr. Lone Soldier is the truly amazing one…”
“You’re very capable too…”
“No no no, I feel so stupid, I wasn’t able to help Mr. Lone Soldier much…”
…
Gecko leaning against the Jeep listened looking a bit stunned. He finished his cigarette and saw Lu Xin finally hang up.
He gave Lu Xin a strange look. “Do you guys always talk like this?”
Lu Xin asked curiously, “Of course. Is there something wrong?”
“Of course there is.”
Gecko said, “Look how close Linda and I are when we chat. That’s how it should be between your own people!”
Lu Xin thought back carefully. *Is that what you call close?*
“Chatting like that won’t work!”
Gecko sighed like an experienced veteran, “If you keep being so polite how will she ever become one of your people?”
Lu Xin paused. “Why would I make her one of my people?”
“Hmm…”
Gecko gave Lu Xin a deep look. “I probably need another half a year before I can discuss this question with you in detail.”
As they spoke they both got into the Jeep and started driving towards the Security Hall.
Lu Xin was still wondering what matter required half a year before it could be discussed in detail when Gecko couldn’t hold back any longer. He suddenly perked up and whispered conspiratorially to Lu Xin, “But brother I can tell you ahead of time. I managed to dig up some info on your dedicated little secretary. She’s gorgeous, one of the flowers of the Information Analysis Team…”
…
It took Lu Xin a moment to realize he meant Han Bing. “She’s not my secretary. Her rank might even be higher than mine.”
Then he subconsciously asked, “How did you find out?”
“Asked Linda of course!”
Gecko said, “Linda is tight-lipped about her own stuff but she’s quite generous when talking about others.”
Lu Xin thought, *Linda already told you how old her kid is, that doesn’t seem very tight-lipped…*
Gecko on the other hand seemed rather excited.
He chuckled slyly and added, “I helped you out, shouldn’t you do me a favor too?”
Lu Xin asked, “What?”
Gecko said, “Ask little Han Bing for info about Linda for me. Like the question I care most about…”
Lu Xin understood. “Whether she has kids?”
“No!”
Gecko shook his head. “I’m more concerned if she really weighs 300 jin…”
…
Lu Xin was silent for a moment before answering, “Okay, I’ll try my best.”
…
…
When the Jeep arrived at the Security Hall it was deserted inside except for two people on duty. One could guess that probably all Security Hall personnel had been dispatched elsewhere to maintain order. Although the special pollution incidents were under control this was likely the time when certain areas were most chaotic putting more pressure on maintaining order in the city.
Lu Xin and Gecko went to the fourth-floor meeting room where coffee and candy had already been prepared.
Glancing at the huge conspicuous platter overflowing with a wide variety of candies Lu Xin suspected this might have been Chen Jing’s order.
“You two have worked hard tonight!”
A staff member in a white protective suit walked in holding two files.
“As per standard procedure could you please complete this assessment report?”
He smiled handing a file each to Lu Xin and Gecko. “Then you can rest here. If needed rooms for washing up and resting have been prepared next to the Security Hall. Meals are also available. However to ensure you’re available for any other potential tasks we hope you can remain on standby here until further notice.”
“Alright, get us some food first. I want alcohol instant noodles—the kind that hasn’t expired—and a big pan-fried steak…”
Gecko ordered generously then looked at Lu Xin. “What do you want?”
“We can order specific dishes?”
Lu Xin was a bit surprised. Previously he just ate whatever was provided.
Seeing Lu Xin didn’t answer Gecko waved his hand deciding for him, “Get him something with lots of meat, the expensive stuff.”
Lu Xin thought Gecko was a pretty good brother.
After detailing his requests Gecko finally sat down and asked, “Where are the others?”
“Members of the Special Action Teams from other satellite cities and the main city who came for support already returned after the situation stabilized.”
The staff member explained, “This incident has caused widespread panic. The Administration Halls in each city also hope to have Ability Users present for reassurance.”
“Alright got it. Go prepare the food!”
Gecko waved him away with a smile then slumped into a meeting room chair propping his long legs up on the table. He casually started ticking boxes on the assessment file clearly familiar with these routine procedures.
Lu Xin had done this once before too so he knew how to handle it slowly filling out the form.
“This thing is easy to fill out…”
Gecko scribbled a few marks and asked Lu Xin, “But how are you going to write the work report afterwards?”
“Didn’t I already tell you what happened? Just write it like I said before.”
Lu Xin glanced at Gecko replying nonchalantly.
He noticed Gecko frowned slightly but quickly smiled. “I support you.”
Lu Xin gave him a relaxed smile. “Thanks.”
…
…
He could tell Gecko was actually very wary right now!
Throughout the ride he had been talking non-stop trying hard to tell jokes and liven up the atmosphere.
And he knew why Gecko was wary.
When dealing with that Human-faced Monster he had lent his power to Sister allowing her to display strength far more terrifying than before. Especially the fact that she could actually pollute that mental monster—even Lu Xin himself was somewhat astonished by this.
He believed many more people were even more surprised than he was now.
During that mission they had quickly agreed to his conditions withdrawing from the scene and refraining from observation. But that didn’t mean they weren’t paying attention. Now they must also be very curious about how exactly he dealt with that mental monster. However due to certain reasons perhaps concerns about his emotional state they wouldn’t rush to touch upon this issue just yet.
The more normal everything seemed now the more it indicated many people were tense.
Perhaps Gecko staying with him now was also because someone asked him to keep an eye on him.
Lu Xin understood all of this.
But he didn’t plan on actually revealing everything.
Firstly he felt it was good for everyone to maintain a tacit understanding.
Secondly he himself had many questions right now. He hoped to figure things out first before considering other matters.
…
…
“Brother when are you planning to come home?”
A cool breeze blew in through the open window of the meeting room.
Lu Xin saw Sister hanging upside down on the electrical wires outside looking rather disgruntled.
Lu Xin turned to look at his sister a puzzled expression on his face.
He thought Sister had already gone back with Mom.
“That old monster is throwing a tantrum. I don’t dare go back right now…”
Sister hung upside down on the wires swaying slowly left and right with the wind.
“So you get scared sometimes too huh…”
Lu Xin thought but still felt sorry for his sister. He nodded pointed at Gecko and mouthed the words, “I’ll take you back later.”
As he spoke he grabbed a large handful of candy in front of Sister stuffed it into his pocket and gave her a smile.
Sister was a big help this time she deserved a reward!