Chapter 225: The Stepmother’s Wish

Lu Xin frowned after carefully reading the report.

He then opened the interrogation video and fast-forwarded a bit. In a brightly lit room Ms. Lu appeared haggard, tears streaming down her face as she cried, “I really didn’t mean for this to happen… I never thought it would get this serious… I just…”

“I was just worried that if he took over the company he’d be bad to my children…”

“So when I heard someone mention a wishing method that was supposedly very effective… I… I went…”

“I… I just wished for him to have an accident… or die…”

“But… but after I made the wish I quickly felt something was wrong. I started having nightmares every day… I dreamed he turned into a madman and hurt my children… I even saw him… politely… eating my…”

“Really I’m telling the truth! Please you have to help me…”

“I think he’s a devil! He’s a madman!”

“You have to catch him…”

…

Lu Xin’s frown deepened as he watched.

After seeing this interrogation report things became much clearer.

This incident wasn’t as simple as an ordinary Ability User harming someone.

The matter was indeed related to Xiao Yuan’s stepmother. However she wasn’t a true Ability User herself. She had somehow through some unknown method attracted the attention of another Pollution Source… or rather another Ability User… and used this Ability User to influence Xiao Yuan.

The white shadow he had seen in the dreamscape back then was indeed her.

However she wasn’t the one wielding the ability. It seemed someone had borrowed her mental power to cast it.

That’s why she looked so utterly exhausted.

Analyzing the situation wasn’t that difficult.

What bothered Lu Xin was her attitude.

Xiao Yuan had always treated his younger brother and sister well. Even after the nightmares started despite the immense psychological pressure his main worry was that they would find out and misunderstand. So he kept it all bottled up nearly driving himself mad.

But how could he have ever imagined that he ended up like this because of this stepmother?

The stepmother who had always seemed so kind to him, the one he felt grateful towards had secretly wished for him to die?

…

…

Lu Xin took a moment to push down his emotions before continuing to read.

“So the key point is: Wishing?”

Lu Weiwei didn’t have any abilities of her own. She did this because of the wish.

And the result of her wish clearly spiraled out of her control.

She wished for Xiao Yuan to go mad or die.

The result was that Xiao Yuan might indeed end up exactly as she wished.

But the price was her own two children.

How exactly did she make the wish that led to this situation?

…

Lu Xin read on patiently noticing the highlighted points in the file:

According to Lu Weiwei’s statement she learned about the wishing method after moving to the Main City while visiting some former business clients and future neighbors.

It came from a mid-level manager at a company in the Main City that dealt with fast-moving consumer goods transport. Because the gifts Xiao Yuan’s family prepared were particularly generous and perhaps because they came from a Satellite City and seemed cautious in their speech and actions.

The manager’s family was very pleased with the couple and became quite friendly with them chatting easily.

It was after they had established this rather close private relationship that the manager’s wife on a whim mentioned her own faith to Lu Weiwei. She mysteriously told her that the god she believed in was particularly efficacious granting any request.

The eventual outcome was that one day Lu Weiwei heard Xiao Yuan’s father mention he was getting old his health was declining and that getting the whole family into the Main City had fulfilled his life’s greatest wish. He planned to start gradually handing over the family business entirely to Xiao Yuan. Hearing this panic set in and in a moment of desperation she made the wish.

…

Flipping further Lu Xin looked for the follow-up investigation.

Since someone else had told Lu Weiwei about the wishing the key obviously lay with that person.

He believed that with the Special Cleaning Department’s efficiency the manager’s wife should have been apprehended by now.

However turning the page he couldn’t help but frown again.

The page only contained a photo of a newspaper clipping. The headline read: “Woman Poisons Entire Family After Husband’s Affair Then Jumps to Her Death.”

“Dead?”

Lu Xin’s frown deepened.

…

…

*Crackle…*

A burst of static crackled through the channel followed by Chen Jing’s voice, “Finished reading the report?”

“The leader is really something knowing exactly how long I need to read a report…”

Lu Xin thought to himself quickly replying, “Finished. I was just about to go over it again.”

“Don’t waste energy on such minor details. You’re not a detective.”

Chen Jing continued, “An entire info team is already analyzing all her statements and interrogations. If anything significant is discovered it will be sent to you immediately… What I need to tell you now are the things to keep in mind when taking the Doll on a mission.”

Lu Xin paused for a moment then said, “Okay.”

“Because you’re investigating the ‘Wishing Incident’ while simultaneously carrying out the ‘Accompany the Doll’ mission I’ve merged these two tasks. Essentially you’ll form a temporary team… Oh right I checked the records earlier. Since a final conclusion hasn’t been reached on that oil painting called ‘Gaze of the Red Moon’ the corresponding Contribution Points haven’t been issued to you yet. Therefore the special operations team you formed with Gecko when you left the city to hunt down that Knight Order hasn’t been disbanded…”

“This team will be reactivated for this mission. The Doll will temporarily join as a team member and you will remain the Captain.”

Chen Jing’s words surprised Lu Xin slightly. “She’s a team member?”

He didn’t voice the thought, *Even Gecko is only the Vice-captain… and he’s just B-level…*

Chen Jing paused for a moment. “Do you think the Doll’s personality is suited for any other role?”

Understanding dawned on Lu Xin and he quickly nodded. “Understood.”

“As Captain you need to understand your team members. So I’ll now tell you the three principles for deploying the Doll on missions.”

“First due to the Doll’s special ability she can only stay in specific locations like her dedicated train car or temporary safe houses prepared for her by the Support Team. If she is exposed in public you need to cover her up immediately.”

“Second make requests to the Doll using a serious tone and clear language. This will put her into a working state.”

“Once she’s in a working state you can issue commands to the Doll including cleaning up Pollution Sources or dealing with Ability Users. However unless absolutely necessary it’s best not to have the Doll take action. She shows intense sadness regarding the loss of life.”

“Third if anyone displays unusual emotions towards the Doll protecting her takes priority over everything else.”

…

“Sounds like controlling a robot…”

Lu Xin thought for a moment then nodded in agreement. “Okay I’ve got it noted.”

“Good.”

Chen Jing seemed to relax slightly and added, “Also a heads-up: whenever the Doll goes out three support teams… or rather nanny teams… will be following nearby. But since you’re currently responsible for her these three teams will remain hidden. Don’t worry about them. If you have any questions or concerns you can call them out.”

Lu Xin agreed again increasingly sensing the special relationship between Qinggang and this girl.

“Anything else?”

“That’s all regarding the Doll.”

Chen Jing said, “Now I’ve just received the latest files from the City Defense Department regarding Lu Weiwei’s Wishing Incident.”

“The person who told Lu Weiwei about the wishing is named Yu Chen a forty-one-year-old housewife.”

“Although the lead went cold when Yu Chen was found to have committed suicide the Special Cleaning Department immediately investigated her entire social network and the people she usually interacted with. I’m sending the investigation results to you now. The mission can begin.”

…

“That fast?”

Lu Xin was somewhat surprised. He had just been wondering about this and they already had the screening results.

A hint of amusement entered Chen Jing’s voice. “I told you before we don’t play children’s games here.”

“Anything that can be solved with resources isn’t a problem for us.”