Chapter 176: Closing the Net
by xennovel“Surrounded?”
Hearing Lu Xin’s words the old man froze for a moment, his expression turning puzzled.
A few seconds later the woman in the strikingly flashy leopard-print jacket suddenly sneered, “Are you messing with me?”
“You think I haven’t been paying attention to my surroundings?”
As she spoke she glanced mockingly towards the hotel entrance. Outside it was pure chaos. Many had heard the gunshots and were looking this way from afar while those closer were running around nervously. To her or rather the ‘Ghost’ this chaotic crowd was like an ocean perfect for soaring freely.
And just moments ago this Ghost had clearly peeked outside. She knew very well whether the City Patrol Army was there or not.
…
“I didn’t mean surrounded here.”
Seeing her arrogance and smugness Lu Xin turned to face her and said seriously:
“I meant this entire area.”
“To avoid alerting you and scaring you off we directly surrounded the three adjacent neighborhoods.”
As he spoke he frowned slightly, adding, “I came here initially because there were fewer people and the buildings made it easier to establish a tighter lockdown. While you were shouting nonsense like some lunatic the City Patrol Army was already sealing off this area completely. I don’t even know how many of them came but judging by their usual style…”
He shook his head slightly. “Not even a mouse could escape.”
The woman’s expression clearly shifted to shock then twisted slightly. “So what?”
“You think numbers can trap me?”
“The more people there are the better it is for me…”
“Haha…”
…
She seemed about to burst into that arrogant triumphant laughter and add a few more threats.
“Is this why you refuse to leave Qinggang?”
But Lu Xin cut her off speaking softly, “Makes sense. Your kind of ability is weakened in the Wasteland.”
Then he explained very earnestly, “We didn’t just surround this place. Every soldier blockading the area outside is wearing a mental pollution protective suit. Plus another two thousand suits are being transported here right now. Everyone within the cordon will put on a suit one by one. I don’t know how long it takes you to enter someone’s mind or from what distance…”
“But even if the suits can’t block you completely they can slow you down right?”
“Whether you’re a ghost or a specter if you rely on others’ minds as your fertile ground…”
“That ground will slowly shrink until you have nowhere left to run!”
“So…”
In the flickering uncertain light he looked up at the leopard-print woman offering a gentle smile. “You’re finished now.”
He smiled very confidently at that moment.
Because this wild Ability User clearly hadn’t undergone formal training.
One of the three major principles of Ability User confrontations stated:
The battle itself is never the key factor in determining victory; preparation for the battle is.
…
…
“Swish!”
Hearing Lu Xin’s words the leopard-print woman’s expression suddenly changed.
Her face instantly became vacant as if the Ghost had already left her and hadn’t appeared in anyone else in the lobby.
Lu Xin knew what ‘it’ had gone to do and wasn’t worried.
“Everyone stay calm…”
He turned to the panicked crowd in the hotel. “You are currently part of a military exercise. You will receive generous subsidies afterward… Will they really? Oh… Everyone please keep your distance from others as much as possible to avoid injury. Absolutely do not run around in panic or the City Patrol Army outside might shoot you directly…”
He maintained a calm expression relaying the words Han Bing was feeding him through the headset.
The lobby was in a state of panic making it difficult to restore calm. Cries of alarm rose and fell.
“Shut the hell up!”
Suddenly a roar echoed startling everyone into silence.
Lu Xin jumped too turning to see it was the police officer who had just been under control.
His face also showed some bewildered fear. He turned to Lu Xin his tone immediately changing, “Big Brother…”
“What… What just happened?”
…
Lu Xin thought for a moment before slowly saying, “Just now it was…”
Unexpectedly before he could finish the police officer had a moment of realization. “No need to say it.”
Meeting Lu Xin’s somewhat puzzled look he lowered his voice. “I remember now. I saw you at the Security Hall. I know you’re… a professional. Big Brother just tell me what… what should I do now to cooperate with your work?”
…
Lu Xin was taken aback for a second. “Don’t call me Big Brother.”
He then looked him over carefully. “Just help me maintain order.”
“Yes sir!”
The officer instinctively snapped to attention then immediately ran towards the lobby shouting, “Spread out! Everyone spread out keep your distance… Quiet!”
His uniform the gun in his hand and his rugged face were quite intimidating.
The chaos in the lobby subsided significantly.
“You… you…”
Nearby Li Mengmeng had also opened her eyes. She looked at Lu Xin trembling unsure if it was out of fear or curiosity.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Lu Xin nodded at her gave a gentle smile and said, “We’re the ones protecting you…”
He then looked outside the hotel. Watching his profile Li Mengmeng surprisingly felt an unusual sense of security.
A serious man is incredibly handsome.
Meanwhile Lu Xin let out a slight sigh of relief. “Good thing my motorcycle wasn’t hit during all that chaos…”
…
…
“Swish” “Swish” “Swish” “Swish”
Lu Xin wasn’t lying. Outside the hotel three blocks away rows upon rows of fully armed City Patrol Soldiers advanced. In groups of three they held guns and wore special glass helmets slowly closing in.
Within the entire cordon there were still many panicked people.
Seeing these heavily armed soldiers approaching some squatted down in fear while others dashed about randomly.
“Attention everyone! You are currently within a temporary military exercise zone. Please cooperate with our work…”
“Hands on your head! Squat down! Let me see your hands.”
“Anyone attempting to breach the City Patrol Army line will be shot but the bullets are tranquilizer darts. Do not panic…”
…
As the megaphones repeated the message over and over more and more residents squatted down in fear hands clasped over their heads.
But some still seemed utterly terrified suddenly bolting forward.
“Pak” “Pak” “Pak”
Whenever this happened someone immediately opened fire.
However the projectiles were indeed small syringes and the shots were fired with minimal noise.
This was to prevent the sound of gunfire from causing unnecessary panic.
“Prepare for phase two.”
At this moment seeing the situation largely under control the commander waved his hand forcefully.
“Vroom…”
Tall trucks drove in stopping at designated locations. Bright lights pierced the darkness of the city district.
From the trucks jumped rows upon rows of Support Team personnel clad in white protective suits looking somewhat bulky but extremely professional. They moved in groups of three: two rushing ahead one following behind carrying a large bag. After entering the cordon they approached the residents squatting with their heads covered. Two held the person down while one took out a mask.
It was a glass helmet identical to the protective masks worn by the City Patrol Army which could be placed directly over the head.
“It’s okay it’ll be over soon. Stay put for now!”
After placing the helmet on a resident they offered a word of comfort then rushed to the next person.
Once everyone within sight wore the special helmets the blockade line held firm. A specialized team ran over wielding thermal imaging devices scanning the surroundings inch by inch ensuring no person or animal was missed…
“Pow!”
The leading Squad Leader Cheng Hui raised his gun and blasted a rat sneaking out from a corner to bits.
He then issued a stern command, “First team maintain vigilance control the situation! Second team begin advancing…”
“Swish” “Swish” “Swish”
The second team of fully armed soldiers rushed in shrinking the cordon by another layer.
Step by step every move was executed with extreme care.
Contrasting their composure was a face within the crowd watching everything unfold in terror.
He felt a power that brought despair yet was utterly unstoppable.