Chapter 167: The Second Stage

Following Han Bing’s thorough breakdown, Lu Xin no longer hesitated and quickly reached a decision.

Agreed.

Giving up the entire payment was out of the question.

He couldn’t just let three million slip away. Absolutely not.

However, the information about the ‘Second Stage’ was crucial, something he genuinely wanted to understand. The upgrade within the special talent system was equally important. Since Han Bing had found a loophole in Qinggang City’s regulations, he naturally wouldn’t refuse.

Lu Xin didn’t even consider trying to get both the full payment *and* the special talent upgrade.

That seemed perfectly normal to him.

Qinggang City, with its main city and five satellite cities, was huge. Why should he alone receive special treatment?

…

…

“So, by my calculations, for this mission tracking the Knight Orders, Mr. Lone Soldier will receive 1.5 million… Invoking Article 12 of Qinggang City’s special regulations, I’ll ensure you get the full amount, tax-free…”

“In addition to becoming official, Mr. Lone Soldier, you’ll also be directly upgraded to Level 2 Special Talent status.”

“This corresponds to Level 3 Citizen status.”

…

“Mr. Lone Soldier, you’ll gain mission allowances specific to Qinggang Satellite City No. 2, retirement and medical benefits, the right to hold key positions in the Administration Hall, and the privilege to purchase property in designated special zones. Furthermore, you’ll receive a special pass granting unrestricted access to the other four satellite cities and entry to the Main City upon application…”

“The payment for this mission will be transferred to your account in installments within three business days.”

“I’ll prepare the formalization agreement and process your system identity upgrade as quickly as possible.”

“The items confiscated during the mission, along with the vehicle you requested, have been approved and will be delivered shortly.”

“Oh, right! I asked my colleagues in the R&D department to specially modify the motorcycle you requested…”

“Once you’re officially instated, you’ll have the authority for such things anyway…”

…

Listening to Han Bing’s cheerful yet clear explanation filled Lu Xin with an indescribable sense of happiness.

He loved listening to Han Bing explain these things; he could listen to her talk forever without getting bored.

The only slight snag was the missing 1.5 million, which still felt a little… off.

…

…

“Mr. Lone Soldier, if you agree, I’ll submit the application right away. You can wait for me at the Security Hall. I expect to have all the contracts drafted by this afternoon. Once you’ve signed, the process can begin immediately, and the disbursement will follow…”

“Okay…”

Lu Xin readily agreed.

After Han Bing hung up, he sat for a while and started pondering an important question: ‘How much did I earn in total?’

“Reporting the Xu father and daughter for hiding that painting: 10,000 reward. Wanzhong Mall pollution incident: 100,000. Dealing with the mental pollution bomb under the South Wall: 300,000. Then… there wasn’t actually a fine in Blackwater Town, but I applied for 3,000 reimbursement. Asking for directions in Happy Town earned an extra 100. Bullet expenses were covered, netting me 10 extra bullets, worth 10 yuan each…”

“Plus the 300,000 for exploring Happy Town.”

“Spoils confiscated from the Knight Orders, including the motorcycle and their weapons… eight thousand?”

“…So cheap?”

“Fortunately, in Blackwater Town, I also got a little something from that guy in the red suit…”

“The bounty mission: 1.5 million!!!”

…

“So, not counting the subsidies—who knows how much those will be—I’ve earned a total of…”

“2,221,200 yuan…”

After a moment’s silence, a faint smile touched Lu Xin’s lips. He decided to calculate it all again, just to be sure.

Time slipped by, and soon it was noon. The young female officer knocked before entering the meeting room. Thinking there was no training scheduled, she hadn’t expected to disturb the ‘special talent’. But upon entering, she saw him engrossed, a page filled with rows of apparently staggering numbers. Startled, she quickly looked away, quietly poured him a cup of tea, and discreetly backed out of the room.

Maybe next time I should just call him directly, she thought. Otherwise, I always seem to walk in on him calculating classified information.

…

…

Just as promised, an administrative staff member delivered a brand-new contract that afternoon.

After Lu Xin carefully reviewed it, he signed his name.

He scanned it carefully, specifically looking for any clauses forbidding special talents from keeping personal secrets after formal recruitment. Relieved to find none, he signed his name with confidence.

He felt a slight pang of regret, remembering that Chen Jing herself had handled his initial recruitment signing.

Now that he was becoming official, why was it just regular personnel handling it?

Did this mean the higher-ups trusted him now?

…

…

“Mr. Lone Soldier, I see your status has been updated to Level 2 Special Talent, and your permissions have changed.”

“Now, I can explain the concept of the ‘Second Stage’ to you.”

…

Han Bing’s call came at the right time.

Lu Xin hadn’t expected the girl with the pleasant voice to be so remarkably efficient. Composing himself, he replied, “Okay.”

“The Second Stage is actually a concept within the scope of ability development.”

As Han Bing spoke, the faint rustling of paper could be heard, painting a picture in Lu Xin’s mind of a diligent young woman consulting documents while on the phone. “Because Mr. Lone Soldier previously only completed *part* of the training on classifying and handling Special Pollution Sources… you haven’t yet covered differentiating between Ability Users or their combat parameters…”

“The two are interconnected, so this is a good time to explain it to you, Mr. Lone Soldier…”

…

“Have you heard that an Ability User can typically develop up to three distinct abilities?”

Lu Xin quickly snapped out of his daydream and nodded. “I have.”

“Mm.”

Han Bing acknowledged with a pleasant hum. “Individuals whose mental power becomes abnormal under the Red Moon’s influence can generally be classified as Ability Users. However, not every Ability User manages to develop three abilities. Many either lose control as their abnormalities worsen, becoming Pollution Sources, or lack the necessary Psychic Power magnitude to manifest any abilities at all.”

“Discovering one’s abilities, then developing and mastering all three while maintaining stability…”

“This is the First Stage.”

…

Han Bing paused slightly here, then said: “The Second Stage is an extension of the First Stage.”

“We assign different codenames to Ability Users based on the characteristics of their powers.”

“Currently, Qinggang City has documented nine types: Spider-type, Princess-type, Dream Weaver-type, Puppet-type, Ghost-type, Doctor-type, Dancer-type, Phantom-type, and Curse-type. We’re certain many others exist that haven’t been recorded yet.”

…

“Different ability systems also correspond to different ranks, based on inherent psychic power magnitude and the nature of the abilities themselves. For instance, a Spider-type, even developed to its absolute limit, normally only reaches B-level. Conversely, some Ability Users manifest terrifying A-level or even ‘unsolvable’ S-level powers from the very beginning.”

“Is this because Ability Users are inherently superior or inferior?”

…

Lu Xin paused, just about to answer, but Han Bing continued: “Actually, no.”

“The former Moon Eclipse Research Institute once theorized that there shouldn’t be inherent superiority among different ability systems. Some are just more common or stable. However, if enhanced, even common abilities can become terrifying.”

After saying this, the sound of a page turning came from Han Bing’s side.

Then, her voice lowered slightly, “Helping an Ability User strengthen their existing powers, or even guiding them to develop stronger, extended abilities… that is the Second Stage.”

“Simply put, the Second Stage is the Ability User’s… evolution!”

…

“Ability Users can actually evolve?”

Han Bing’s words gave Lu Xin a very strange feeling.

Firstly, it seemed incredible. Secondly, a peculiar sensation stirred deep within his mind.

He’d always found the very existence of abilities bizarre enough.

These individuals who gained abilities were already absurdly powerful compared to ordinary people.

Yet now he learned there were people who thought they *weren’t strong enough*.

They actually wanted Ability Users to develop *even stronger* powers…

For some reason, Lu Xin felt a deep, subconscious aversion to this concept.