Chapter 179: Securing the Ghost

Tap… tap… tap… tap…

Outside the hotel, the rapid rhythmic footsteps announced the arrival of a fully armed Support Team charging inside.

“It’s her.”

Lu Xin pointed at the front desk girl and the Support Team immediately moved toward her.

“What are you doing?”

“Why are you arresting me…”

…

Confronted by the charging Support Team, the front desk girl cried out in terror.

She looked genuinely frightened, wanting to struggle but seemingly not daring to resist.

Han Bing watched the scene through the camera on Lu Xin’s chest and explained softly:

“She likely genuinely doesn’t know why right now. The Ghost must have hidden itself.”

“It can actively take control of its host’s actions and consciousness, but it can also hide deep within the host’s mind to avoid detection. However, as long as we’ve confirmed its presence, we have ways to force it out of this girl.”

…

Lu Xin nodded. He trusted Han Bing’s analysis.

The success of this operation against the Ghost was largely due to her insights.

After a moment’s thought, he asked, “What consequences will this Ghost face?”

Han Bing replied over the channel: “According to Qinggang City regulations, it will most likely face the death penalty.”

Lu Xin’s voice rose slightly, “Truly the death penalty?”

Han Bing paused before saying softly, “The death penalty means stripping it of its right to live.”

“So, in Qinggang, it’s already considered dead. Therefore, whether it’s sent to the Research Department for study or to the City Defense Department to become a member of the D-level special dispatch team, it would be considered a good outcome for it.”

…

Lu Xin nodded again. This answer didn’t surprise him.

He glanced around. With the Support Team now on site, he felt more relaxed.

He watched as the girl, amidst fearful struggles, had a protective mask secured over her head, an Ability Inhibitor clamped around her neck, and was bundled in two layers of triple-fiber protective suits, wrapped up like a dumpling. Then, a strong staff member bent down, scooped her up in a princess carry, and strode towards a vehicle outside equipped with a glass case.

The only words spoken during this were: “Please cooperate peacefully. We will ensure your safety, and you will receive compensation of at least ten thousand yuan afterward…” Upon hearing this, the girl’s cries noticeably weakened, though she still looked scared.

…

…

This whole series of operations made Lu Xin’s scalp tingle…

The Support Team was incredibly efficient…

Watching their procedure, unless this Ghost-type Ability User possessed telekinesis strong enough to shatter the inhibitor, break through the mask, suit, and the bulletproof glass case, there was no way it could escape…

…The only uncertainty was the fate of the implicated young girl.

Outside, rows upon rows of soldiers advanced, maintaining the lockdown of the area.

Lu Xin knew that even though he was certain the ‘Ghost’ had been caught, their work wasn’t over.

According to regulations, they would continue assessments until the capture was confirmed without error.

Furthermore, the people who witnessed the strange phenomena also required evaluation and final processing.

…

…

“Am I needed anymore?”

Lu Xin greeted the leader who had brought the team over.

It was Cheng Hui, an acquaintance and the leader of the Investigation Team Lu Xin had worked with before.

“Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Lone Soldier.”

Cheng Hui saluted Lu Xin before relaxing and smiling.

“Just doing my job.”

Lu Xin smiled back and turned to leave the hotel.

“Hey…”

A slightly trembling voice called out to him. Lu Xin turned to see the young girl.

Her name seemed to be Li Mengmeng. She hadn’t calmed down yet but still called out to him.

“You… you’re just leaving like that?”

“Yes.”

Lu Xin smiled at her. “My job is done.”

“You…”

Li Mengmeng hesitated, then looked up at Lu Xin, her eyes holding a hint of expectation: “What’s your name?”

“Hm?”

Lu Xin glanced at her, surprised.

Nearby, his sister, perched on the wall, suddenly let out a cold ‘Heh.’

Lu Xin’s gaze made Li Mengmeng blush, and she quickly explained: “You… don’t get the wrong idea. I just… I just thought maybe I’ll run into problems later, and then… I could call and ask you or something… Right, speaking of which…”

Her face was bright red now: “Could you leave me your phone number too?”

“It’s useless.”

Lu Xin shook his head. Even if he gave her his number, she wouldn’t remember it.

According to the special pollution handling regulations, she probably wouldn’t remember any of this after leaving the assessment facility.

However, after a slight pause, he still smiled: “Don’t be afraid. It’s been caught. There won’t be any more problems.”

…

Seeing Lu Xin’s smile, Li Mengmeng’s expression seemed complicated.

She lowered her head slightly. “If I encounter something like this again, will you come protect me?”

Lu Xin smiled. “That would depend on our leader’s arrangements…”

“…It might also be one of my colleagues who comes to protect you.”

…

Li Mengmeng faltered for a moment but still managed a smile. “Anyway, thank you…”

“You’re welcome.”

Lu Xin replied with an honest smile. “I get paid for this.”

…

The conversation suddenly seemed to hit a dead end. Li Mengmeng didn’t know how to respond.

After a moment, as if mustering great courage, she forcefully raised her head: “I still think…”

Before she could finish, there was a sudden *click*, and a glass hood was placed over her head.

Her subsequent words became muffled.

Lu Xin wore an odd expression as he looked towards the two Support Team members beside her.

The two members looked a bit stunned, glancing at each other, then looked apologetically at Lu Xin:

“Should we… take it off again?”

…

“No need.”

Lu Xin smiled at them, waved his hand, and walked out of the hotel.

Inside the hotel, Li Mengmeng kept looking up until a Support Team member wrapped her in a protective suit and carried her away.

…

…

“I’m heading back to the Security Hall first.”

Straddling his motorcycle, Lu Xin let out a soft sigh.

Thinking back on the entire capture mission, he felt a sense of absurdity and unreality.

But thankfully, it was resolved smoothly.

“Okay. I’ll help Mr. Lone Soldier prepare the payment application and submit it along with your work report later…”

Han Bing said cheerfully over the channel.

“Thanks, thanks! Oh, if there’s anything else I can do, please keep an eye out for me…”

Lu Xin said happily. Seeing his sister had climbed onto the handlebars, he notified Han Bing and started the motorcycle.

A cool breeze hit his face. After driving quite a distance, Lu Xin suddenly thought of something: “Sister…”

The sister sitting on the handlebars immediately turned to look at him.

Over the channel, it sounded like Han Bing had knocked over her tea cup. After a moment, she whispered a response: “Yes…”

Lu Xin blushed but, having started, had to continue: “Was I… pretty cool back there?”

“Blehhh…”

Sister stuck her tongue out and made a face at Lu Xin… she was really good at it.

Meanwhile, Han Bing burst into happy laughter over the channel: “Even though I didn’t see the process…”

“…You were exceptionally cool!”

…

“Handled well. Took less than two hours…”

As Lu Xin rode his motorcycle away from the scene, near the area still under lockdown and undergoing final assessment, three plainly dressed personnel sat inside an inconspicuous business vehicle. They faced a row of computers displaying constantly updating data, summarizing Lu Xin’s “ghost hunting” mission.

“To be precise, from contacting the target to implementing the capture, it only took one hour and four minutes.”

Another staff member added: “Of course, preparation time isn’t included. During the capture mission, two hundred City Patrol Soldiers and fifty Support Team members were seconded. Ten sets of Ability Inhibitors, five hundred sets of special protective suits, and several vehicles were utilized…”

“One hundred thirty-two civilians were affected, five injured, two seriously…”

“Latest news from the medical team: the two seriously injured are not in life-threatening danger. That’s a plus.”

…

After calculating all the data, they looked at each other and gave what they considered a reasonable evaluation:

“B-level.”

…

One of the younger-looking men asked, somewhat puzzled: “Just B-level? I actually thought it was pretty good. That kind of Ability User… one that lives inside someone else’s brain, is terrifying. For him to devise this plan without our prompting and successfully capture the Ability User in just over an hour… isn’t that already excellent?”

The other two staff members looked at the young man with smiles.

“We used to work under Section Chief Chen. Do you know how she would have handled it?”

One, slightly heavier, thought for a moment and chuckled: “Hindsight is 20/20, but I estimate Section Chief Chen, after locating the Ghost’s target, would have made covert contact, hypnotized the target, had her lure the ‘Ghost’ either directly to her or into an ambush circle away from bystanders, and then directly executed the capture.”

“And if the City Defense Department handled it, they might have selected suitable bait from D-level personnel, scattered them across the city. That way, no matter which target the Ghost fixated on, the bait could activate an electric shock attack during intimacy to subdue the Ghost.”

“…Of course, they might also just opt for long-range artillery coverage…”

“In those scenarios, there would be no need to deploy the City Patrol Army, and casualties would be at most two.”