Chapter 123: An Unwilling Driver

“A driver?”

Hearing Lu Xin’s words, Chen Jing sounded a little surprised. “I thought a driver would be the last thing you’d need.”

Lu Xin knew why she thought that. Spider-type Ability Users were naturally gifted drivers. No matter how experienced a normal driver was, they couldn’t compare to the effortless maneuvers a Spider-type could pull off using their ability. It was a matter of inherent talent.

He didn’t elaborate, simply nodding. “I still need one.”

Then, gathering his thoughts, he slowly explained, “I need a high-performance car for travel, stocked with enough food and water for ten days. Also, a skilled driver, preferably not just an ordinary one. He might need some self-defense capability if things get rough… And it’d be even better if I knew him well, someone to talk to on the road…”

“…”

This time, Chen Jing responded quickly. “Are you talking about Gecko?”

Just then, Gecko, who had been intently watching the beauties outside the window, visibly stiffened, his ears twitching slightly.

Lu Xin looked at Gecko and nodded. “Yes.”

Gecko abruptly turned his head toward Lu Xin, his eyes wide with obvious panic.

Chen Jing paused for a moment, then asked suddenly, “Is he right there listening?”

Lu Xin replied, “Yes.”

A hint of amusement crept into Chen Jing’s voice. “Well then, just tell him to get ready.”

Lu Xin nodded again, a slight smile touching his lips. “Okay.”

Then he hung up.

“Wait!”

The moment the call ended, Gecko scrambled over, leaping directly onto the conference table. He craned his neck toward the satellite phone, yelling, “What do you mean, ‘just tell him to get ready’? Did I agree to this? Didn’t you forget to ask my opinion?”

“Hello…”

“Hello?”

“…”

Seeing Gecko’s panicked expression, Lu Xin kindly reminded him, “She already hung up.”

Gecko stared at Lu Xin, eyes wide and looking close to tears. “Brother, what was that all about? Why are you dragging me into this?”

Lu Xin answered calmly, “From what you said earlier, you seem quite experienced with life outside the city…”

“Experience and *this* are two different things…”

Gecko’s face crumpled as he exclaimed frantically, “It’s *because* I have experience that I don’t want to go out there!”

“How did I suddenly end up being the driver…”

“Do they issue orders now without even getting our consent?”

“…”

Lu Xin watched the anxious Gecko, offering a slightly apologetic smile.

He hadn’t wanted to bring the Investigation Team or reconnaissance teams because he worried something unexpected might happen, putting them in danger.

But Gecko should be stronger than them.

For one, Gecko was already under orders from certain people to keep an eye on him.

Secondly, Gecko had previously shown goodwill towards his family, always wanting to visit his home.

Going out together this time could be considered fulfilling his wish.

Of course, Lu Xin didn’t need to explain these things to Gecko or convince him.

Lu Xin had a feeling Gecko was about to receive a call…

Sure enough, just as he thought it, the satellite phone clipped to Gecko’s back hip suddenly rang.

…

…

Lu Xin sat quietly in the meeting room, flipping through the training materials he hadn’t finished earlier.

This trip outside might involve many problems, so the more he understood, the better.

“Brother, brother…”

His sister appeared beside Lu Xin at some point, crawling cheerfully around the meeting room. She excitedly reported, “That guy is on the phone. He sounds really scared, rambling about how he only agreed to be recruited to earn some money, avoid getting caught while ‘taking care of business’ for others, and eventually marry three wives and have a pile of kids…”

A moment later, she crawled back. “He says he’s from the Special Cleaning Department, not the City Defense Department…”

Soon, she returned again, indignant. “He’s badmouthing you now! Should I teach him a lesson?”

“…”

Lu Xin shook his head and whispered, “What’s the person on the other end saying?”

His sister replied, “Let me get closer and listen…”

With that, she happily crawled away.

Lu Xin pictured his sister hanging upside down from the rooftop, face pressed close to Gecko’s as he listened to the phone, and couldn’t help but shake his head.

“Several different people have spoken to him on the phone already. Some are reasoning with him, others seem to be threatening him…”

His sister quickly crawled back. “But this guy isn’t budging, whether they’re nice or nasty. He says he’d rather jump from the fourth floor than leave the city…”

Lu Xin was a bit surprised. “He probably wouldn’t die jumping from the fourth floor…”

His sister dashed out and returned quickly again. “It changed again! Someone promised him that if he successfully cooperates with you on this mission, they’ll arrange a training assignment in the Main City for him afterward. Some ‘iron chunk’ will be there too…”

“…”

Hearing this, Lu Xin felt relieved.

This mission was a go!

…

…

Gecko, who had run out to take the call, returned five minutes later, looking dejected.

He placed the satellite phone upright on the table, then sat down silently, crossing his arms and lowering his head.

He looked somewhat withdrawn, almost autistic.

But despite the withdrawn look, the corners of his mouth occasionally quirked up, betraying a small, irrepressible excitement.

Watching him, Lu Xin couldn’t help but think he seemed a bit off…

“What did they say?”

After waiting a moment, Lu Xin broke the strange silence in the room, asking with some concern.

It took Gecko a while before he let out a long sigh, his expression turning serious. “Headquarters has made its decision.”

He looked up, facing Lu Xin gravely, and said in a low voice, “The higher-ups decided the two of us will form a special operations team. I’m the vice-captain, you’re the captain. Also, since this is an urgent tracking mission, we need to move fast. Intel on the relevant individuals is being transmitted now, and the supplies we need are being prepared. Estimated departure time is in half an hour.”

Lu Xin nodded. “Didn’t expect it to be so soon.”

But on second thought, it made sense. Since they were tracking escapees, naturally, the faster, the better.

Gecko nodded, his expression gradually shifting as he sighed emotionally, “Brother, you have no idea how much I did for you. I’d actually convinced the leader to get you a different driver, but then I thought about it carefully… life outside the city is so dangerous, so…”

Lu Xin gave Gecko a long look. “I’m truly grateful…”

Gecko felt a bit guilty under his gaze and quickly adopted a serious expression. “Don’t mention it, it’s what I should do. Me…”

He sighed as he spoke, his voice low. It seemed like he was building up the emotion, wanting to have a heart-to-heart with Lu Xin.

But when he looked up, he suddenly stopped talking. He realized Lu Xin wasn’t looking at him, but somewhere else.

…

…

Lu Xin remained seated, his gaze directed downwards as if looking at someone crouching on the floor.

He listened intently for a moment, then reached out to pat the air at about knee height, his smile fond and indulgent.

“Okay.”

Then he added gently, “He’s coming with us this time because he’s good at driving and can help out.”

“No, you can’t treat him like a toy.”

His expression turned stern. “Our most important rule for this trip outside the city is: you are not allowed to hurt him.”

Silence hung in the air, completely still.

After a moment, Lu Xin sighed softly, his expression seemingly compromising, conceding slightly.

“Alright then… try *not* to hurt him?”

…

…

“Brother, I don’t know who you’re talking to, but…”

Gecko watched from the side, eyes wide and fixed. Cold sweat beaded on his pale face, and his voice trembled with panic:

“That ‘try’… were you serious?!”