Chapter 230: Mounting Pressure
by xennovel“How could something like this happen?”
Minister Shen strode quickly into another office.
His face was grim. While he was busy managing security for the visiting Sea Country expert team, another urgent matter suddenly required his attention. This was highly unusual highlighting the severity of the situation.
This office was clearly set up hastily.
But the wall was covered in more LCD screens than the ones near the steel drawbridge at Qinggang City’s East Gate.
They displayed countless images: armed personnel in protective suits cordoning off a building, arrested individuals struggling and shouting in fear, and scenes from interrogation rooms where people wept.
Seeing all these images together created an intensely oppressive atmosphere.
“It’s Colonel Chen from the Special Cleaning Department…”
A staff member already waiting in the room immediately reported: “In just one hour she’s issued arrest warrants for nearly a hundred Main City citizens, locked down three buildings, two malls, and one administration hall…”
He paused, swallowing hard before adding, “And it’s not over yet.”
“Currently, the armed personnel directly under the Special Cleaning Department’s command and the Security Hall officers ordered to cooperate are all involved in capturing interrogating and isolating targets. Manpower is severely strained.”
“She has submitted a report on this abnormal incident to the higher-ups and requested support from the City Defense Department.”
…
“Arresting so many people…”
The normally fiery Minister Shen surprisingly kept his temper in check. “What’s the reason?”
“Her emergency report mentions abnormal pollution of unknown origin.”
The staff member placed a report on top of the files in his hand, ready for Minister Shen to review, but continued reporting quickly and thoroughly: “Everyone she’s arresting now is suspected of being affected by some kind of abnormal pollution.”
Minister Shen’s expression darkened as he snatched the file.
The staff member continued, “This incident has also been reported to Mr. Su and the High Administration Hall.”
“But the problem now is, because this happened so suddenly and many of those arrested are family members of administrative officials or people from major city corporations, the Special Cleaning Department hasn’t been able to provide an explanation yet.”
“These individuals are now scared, filing complaints and demanding releases through various channels.”
“The Administration Hall’s phone lines are practically overloaded and people have already gathered outside the Security Hall demanding releases.”
“If this isn’t handled promptly it could lead to terrifying consequences.”
…
“Shut them up.”
Minister Shen’s reply was exceptionally firm. “Anyone affected by the pollution gets arrested no exceptions!”
“Yes…”
The staff member swallowed. “But the problem is… we can’t prove they’re polluted.”
“Hmm?”
Minister Shen snapped his head up, his gaze fixed on the staff member’s face.
…
…
“Team… Team Leader we’ve arrested too many people…”
On the most bustling thoroughfare in Qinggang Main City’s core Chen Jing, who had rushed over to meet Lu Xin, gripped her walkie-talkie tightly. She silently watched several capture scenes that had already sparked panic, her brow deeply furrowed.
Beside her a fully armed soldier worriedly added, “Continuing these arrests exceeds our authority.”
Chen Jing’s face remained expressionless as she looked towards the car ahead.
Inside that car Lu Xin sat quietly in the passenger seat pointing out everyone he saw.
This was beyond what Chen Jing could relay herself so she had assigned an Information Analysis Team to record his identifications.
Anyone he pointed out was immediately arrested.
It seemed like a reasonable arrangement initially but no one expected so many people would need to be captured…
Faced with her subordinate’s concern Chen Jing clearly understood the crux of the problem.
She turned and asked in a low voice, “What are the interrogation results for these arrested abnormal individuals?”
“No results…”
The armed personnel replied, “Everyone arrested underwent expedited assessment and interrogation. But we found no abnormalities. Tests for psychological state or mental power fluctuations showed nothing beyond normal ranges. In other words everyone we’ve captured so far… are ordinary people. And that’s what worries us…”
“People in the Main City aren’t like those in the Satellite Cities. We need at least *some* justification for arrests or questioning.”
“More and more people are questioning why we’re arresting them.”
“Even the Administration Hall is buckling under the pressure!”
…
“Can’t find any abnormalities…”
Chen Jing fell silent for a moment saying nothing more.
She had realized from the beginning where the problem might lie.
Even starting with the arrest of Xiao Yuan’s stepmother Lu Weiwei the signs were there. Lu Weiwei showed no abnormalities; even the Watchdog best at discerning such things couldn’t see it. But Lu Xin *could* see her abnormality. After her capture and interrogation it was confirmed Lu Weiwei had indeed encountered the ‘mysterious wishing incident’ suspected to be related to the pollution event.
But Lu Weiwei was just one person and someone who had only recently qualified to live in the Main City.
Now they were dealing with nearly a hundred arrested individuals and many more hadn’t even been caught yet.
In just two short hours the wishing incident had escalated into chaos capable of affecting the entire Main City.
And still she had no proof.
…
“What were the results of interrogating them about contact with the wishing incident?”
Chen Jing asked quickly and calmly.
“Interrogations revealed a few who admitted contact with similar wishing incidents.”
The subordinate reported, “But most deny it vehemently and we don’t have enough personnel or equipment to verify each claim. We haven’t even had time to interrogate many of them yet. Based solely on the previous investigation report on the mysterious wishing incident and the few interrogation reports we have now it’s hard to convince the Administration Hall and the City Defense Department to cooperate…”
“Firstly most of the personnel our Special Cleaning Department can mobilize are currently at the Donghai Grand Hotel handling security for the advanced talent training conference. Secondly we can’t keep arresting people. We’re already disrupting the Main City’s operations. If we continue…”
He hesitated before saying, “Others might suspect we have ulterior motives.”
…
Chen Jing fell silent again then slowly asked, “What did the City Defense Department say?”
“No response yet.”
“I understand.”
Chen Jing nodded lightly and walked towards the stopped car ahead.
…
…
“Why did we stop arresting people?”
Lu Xin was sitting in the passenger seat looking out at the bustling street ahead.
He saw more and more people with strange things about them.
It felt like he had entered some horrifying amusement park teeming with monsters of all kinds. Although there were many people around him they seemed pitifully few compared to the vast number of monsters completely unable to make a dent.
Especially as this chaotic feeling intensified he noticed the car had stopped.
So his serious task of pointing out individuals one by one also came to a halt.
…
“Mr. Lone Soldier how many abnormal individuals haven’t been captured yet?”
Chen Jing appeared outside the passenger window her gaze calm as she looked at Lu Xin.
“There are still many. That boy over there filming the capture scene with a digital camera is one.”
Lu Xin answered honestly trying to explain clearly, “And the deeper we go into the city core the more people we encounter and the more abnormal people I see. Right now just in front of me there are over a dozen people with obvious issues. This is the first time I’ve seen so many abnormalities so close right before my eyes and yet… we’re just watching them…”
Chen Jing paused briefly. “Besides seeing them do you have any other proof?”
Lu Xin shook his head. “No.”
Chen Jing’s brow furrowed slightly. “Just seeing them makes it hard to convince others. We’ve already arrested many people and no detection method has found anything abnormal about them. So I need to confirm with you now… How certain are you that the people you directly see with abnormalities are actually polluted?”
Lu Xin seemed a bit perplexed turning to look at Chen Jing.
Meeting Chen Jing’s face devoid of all negative emotion he slowly nodded. “You don’t believe me?”
Chen Jing suddenly tensed slightly.
“I can understand.”
Lu Xin continued even managing a gentle smile:
“When my family first appeared I also doubted whether I was hallucinating.”
“Otherwise why couldn’t others see them? Why only me?”
“It’s the same now.”
“If I see their abnormalities but you can’t detect anything wrong it’s reasonable for you to doubt me.”
“But I can’t answer the question you just asked.”
…
As he spoke he looked ahead. “After all discovering abnormalities and pointing them out is my job.”
“But whether or not to believe me… that’s your leaders’ job isn’t it?”
“Right?”