Chapter 198: Steps Forward
by xennovel“Mr. Lone Soldier, Drunkard has already submitted the complete mission report. The one you sent me earlier has also been polished and submitted. Someone specific will follow up on the investigation into the ‘True Hometown’ organization but your mission can be considered complete. And the higher-ups gave your collaborative effort a very high evaluation!”
Han Bing always had a way of brightening your mood the moment she called.
Lu Xin who was smoking in the stairwell couldn’t help but smile when he heard her words.
The Director happened to walk over with a cigarette as well. Seeing Lu Xin’s smile his face twitched in fear. He hastily waved his hands, awkwardly turning around as if he hadn’t come to smoke but was planning to go downstairs from here…
His mind trembled, *What’s he so happy about?*
*Did he chop up a few more people? Or did he take out the boss of a rival gang?*
“…”
“So I can upgrade to a Level 3 Special Talent now, right?”
Lu Xin couldn’t help but ask with a smile.
“Of course you can.”
Han Bing’s voice was also very light as she chuckled, “It takes effect immediately after the Special Cleaning Department leaders sign off. Drunkard allocated 500,000 of the payment to you because she said you basically handled the Ability User from the mysterious organization by yourself. As for Contribution Points the higher-ups gave special approval. The final result is fifty points each for you and Drunkard.”
“Five hundred… thousand?”
Lu Xin clenched his fist slightly, resisting the urge to jump up.
Honestly this five hundred thousand was quite unexpected.
To be honest this mysterious organization was much less formal than expected and wasn’t really worth such a high reward.
However the Special Cleaning Department usually sets mission ratings beforehand. Back then they thought this organization was very dangerous hence the high rating. Even though it was dealt with easily later the rating wasn’t lowered.
Simply put he’d lucked out!
Getting such a high reward for such a simple task made Lu Xin feel a bit undeserving…
…
…
“Also I’ve already prepared the application for the Second Stage for you, Mr. Lone Soldier.”
Han Bing continued, “Regarding the reason for application, does Mr. Lone Soldier have any specific personal reasons to add?”
“Specific reasons?”
Lu Xin paused for a moment. “What do people usually put?”
Han Bing flipped through some documents her voice soft and sweet, “Usually, in the application reason section people write that applying for the Second Stage is to better and more stably utilize their abilities, protect Qinggang protect its people and strive for the reconstruction of world civilization.”
“Of course if you really have any special personal reasons those can be written down too…”
“…”
Lu Xin was momentarily stunned. “No need. ‘Striving for the reconstruction of world civilization’ sounds great!”
“Okay…”
Han Bing drew out the last syllable melodiously then her tone lightened considerably, chuckling, “The moment the higher-ups approve and Mr. Lone Soldier’s profile changes to Level 3 Special Talent I’ll submit it for you. Timing-wise it should be within the next few days. After it’s successfully submitted Mr. Lone Soldier can also attend the Special Cleaning Department’s advanced talent training conference.”
“Advanced talent training conference?”
Lu Xin paused. He understood the meaning but the name sounded a bit awkward.
“Yes, the conference is held in the Main City focusing on training advanced talent. By then Mr. Lone Soldier who has submitted the Second Stage application will naturally be invited… Hehe Mr. Lone Soldier is coming to the Main City…”
“Ah, this…”
The surprise came rather suddenly. Lu Xin thought for a moment and chuckled, “Will they feel comfortable letting me go?”
Lu Xin had noticed long ago that the Special Cleaning Department was actually quite wary of him.
For instance the first assessment conducted by the six researchers was held in the Second Satellite City.
But during the mission outside the city to capture the Knight Orders he heard Gecko mention that he had gone directly into the Main City for his assessment.
Did that mean those people were afraid of him even making the professors come all the way to the Second Satellite City?
No wonder they left immediately after finishing his assessment.
The importance of these professors and researchers was no less than that of Ability Users. In fact they also belonged to the category of Special Talent and in terms of level they were likely much higher than him even after he became a Level 3 Special Talent.
…
…
“Mr. Lone Soldier, please rest assured. We follow all regulations.”
Han Bing seemed a bit surprised that Lu Xin discussed this so openly. She paused slightly then smiled, “So after your profile is updated the first thing will be issuing you a pass to enter the Main City. Additionally you’ll immediately gain the right to purchase property in certain key areas of the Second Satellite City. As for the Main City… it’s not quite enough yet…”
“Ability Users need to serve in a Satellite City for over three years or reach Level 4 Special Talent status to settle in the Main City.”
“…”
“Buying property…”
Lu Xin hadn’t paid much attention to the latter part.
He grew up in the Second Satellite City. Teacher Xiao Lu and the Orphanage were also there. He hadn’t thought about moving.
However Han Bing mentioning the right to buy property made his heart stir slightly.
After thinking carefully he said softly, “In that case I do have something to ask you to do…”
Han Bing chuckled, “Mr. Lone Soldier, don’t be polite with me. Just tell me what it is.”
“Thank you, thank you…”
Lu Xin quickly expressed his thanks then said, “I’d like you to help me inquire about a property in the Qingyan Mountain area of the East District in the Second Satellite City. It seems there are many detached small villas there very spacious with small gardens and ponds…”
He sounded a bit embarrassed as he continued, “Help me ask if such a place can be bought and how much it costs…”
“Um… if possible I wonder if I could get a discount…”
“…”
“Okay I’ve noted it down. I’ll help you inquire carefully don’t worry!”
Han Bing agreed readily her voice light and cheerful.
“Thank you so much…”
“It’s what I should do…”
“You must have done a lot for me beyond your work duties. I’m really grateful.”
“Hehe I’m happy to do it…”
“…”
(Eight thousand words of pleasantries omitted) After the customary polite exchange Lu Xin hung up the phone.
Tossing away the cigarette that had burned down to the butt Lu Xin took a deep breath forcefully suppressing the urge to jump up and shout.
“They’re no longer resistant to me entering the Main City and they didn’t reject my Second Stage application…”
After the excitement subsided he gained a general grasp of the current situation…
…So Mom’s guidance was successful?
Her arrangements had indeed made his “friends” much less wary of him.
From the beginning when the “Second Stage” plan was set allowing him to see the report locked in the cabinet Mom seemed to have intentionally arranged things. That’s why starting from the “Capture the Ghost” incident his family rarely appeared around him. Even Sister became “playful.” Consequently almost all actions were completed by him borrowing his “family’s” abilities.
Sister occasionally helped out which in others’ eyes should look like he completed it using “Telekinesis.”
Mom arranging things this way naturally had her reasons.
It might seem like deception but as Mom said it wasn’t deception just guidance.
Besides Lu Xin himself wanted to smoothly enter the Second Stage.
Because he genuinely wanted to figure out the secret he carried…
…
…
Taking a deep breath Lu Xin prepared to walk out of the stairwell with the confident stride of someone daring to ask about house prices.
But unexpectedly the satellite phone suddenly rang again.
“Did she find out that quickly?”
Lu Xin picked it up saw it wasn’t the landline number and answered curiously, “Hello?”
“Brother, that’s awesome! I’m so touched…”
As soon as the call connected Gecko’s excited voice sounding like he was crying came through, “Did you know? Headquarters finally approved me for the advanced talent training conference! Hahahaha, Linda will be there too! Oh my god I can finally meet Linda! Calm down, calm down. If we chat well after meeting we can basically confirm our relationship first…”
“Then I just need to endure another year move into the Main City buy a house marry Linda and have three kids…”
“Tsk tsk tsk. Staying home with the wife watching the kids maybe have an affair on the side…”
“Hahahahaha…”
“…”
This barrage left Lu Xin stunned. Only then did he realize Han Bing had mentioned this conference earlier?
Was this the conference the higher-ups promised Gecko he could attend telling him Tie Cui would also be there?
If that’s the case then Han Bing…
“That’s great that’s great! Congratulations! I might be going too…”
Lu Xin quickly congratulated Gecko with a smile and mentioned his own situation.
“Huh? You’re going too…”
Gecko seemed to calm down slightly but quickly got excited again, “Doesn’t that mean we’ll be meeting up in person?”
“What about your little group flower? Will she be there?”
“Well…”
Lu Xin wasn’t really sure.
He was so caught up in his happiness earlier that he forgot to ask Han Bing about it. But if Tie Cui was going it would be normal for her to go too, right?
However Tie Cui was clearly older than her so it was possible her rank was higher.
Tie Cui could attend such an advanced talent training conference but Han Bing might not necessarily qualify.
But then again did Han Bing specifically mention the conference to hint that she would also be attending?
If that’s the case…
Lu Xin frowned deeply: What should he wear when he goes?
…
…
After agreeing to travel together later Lu Xin hung up the phone pondering this very important question as he returned to the office.
Just as he sat down in his cubicle he suddenly saw the Director who had gone downstairs for some reason earlier now approaching him with a friendly smile. “Little Lu ah don’t rush home after work tonight. Something’s come up…”
“Hm? What is it?”
Lu Xin was a bit confused.
When there were no cleanup missions he would go to the Security Hall for continued training every evening.
He wouldn’t want to interrupt it unless it was something particularly important especially since there was a daily subsidy of two hundred yuan…
“The Vice President of our company is coming down for an inspection…”
The Director beamed at Lu Xin, “As this month’s model employee and supervisor candidate you have to join us for dinner tonight…”
“Oh.”
Hearing this Lu Xin immediately agreed, “Okay okay.”
“Hehe take my car after work.”
The Director said with a smile then his expression became somewhat troubled. He lowered his voice, “But I have one small request…”
“After all he’s the group’s Vice President. During dinner tonight could you possibly… not bring your gun?”
“…”
Lu Xin frowned finding it difficult.